Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Depth of Lies by E.C. Diskin is a perfect blend of mystery, crime, and sleuthing, a well-crafted novel with compelling characters and a beautiful setting. Shea Walker is a woman that many like in her community, a mom who seems to have no problems, until she is found in the bathtub in unusual circumstances, overdosed with drugs and filled with alcohol. It's an event that startles everyone in her small suburban community, but her long-time friend, Kat Burrows, unable to reconcile with the fact that her jovial and responsible friend had reason to commit suicide, decides to dig deeper into the victim's life. Was it an accident or suicide, or did someone stage a suicide? Kat is about to discover a part of the victim she never knew — dark secrets, desires, and betrayal. Is she ready for what is buried beneath her friend's personal life? Has Shea's outward bubbly personality and responsible calm been a subterfuge, concealing a life of duplicity?

E.C. Diskin starts with a strong premise — a woman who seems to be loved by everyone and happy with her life dies in a way that contradicts the values she exhibited in life. The reader is intrigued and, like the characters in the drama, wants to find out what happened to her and what happens next. Kat Burrows' curiosity is justified by the strong connection she has with the victim and her desire for truth and closure. The plot evolves steadily with deep layers of secrets and surprises, and it is interesting how the protagonist's deception grows with the unveiling of each piece of the mystery. The story is emotionally and psychologically rich, which augments the keen sense of realism imbued in the narrative. The setting is vivid, with beautiful descriptions of locales and the social atmosphere within which the story takes place; it is cinematic.

Depth of Lies is cunningly plotted and the unpredictability of the plot creates the kind of suspense that makes the story a gripping one. While this is not a run-of-the-mill detective story, it does feature a character with a strong need for the truth and she follows her instincts as well as clues into the victim's last days in search of answers. I found the story to be engaging, the narrative voice hypnotic, and the plot intriguing. A real delight for fans of mystery and murder.

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

People are being murdered in an alarming fashion and a man and his ghostly sidekick race against time to stop a young boy from becoming the next victim in the chilling murder mystery novel Inspectre by D.W. Rigsby. When Lucius Stockhelm witnesses a woman being attacked, he goes to her rescue and quickly dispatches her attacker. Unsure what to do with the dead man, he hides the body in his basement. Since then, the spirit of the rogue moans every night, keeping Stockhelm awake. Weary and wanting to be rid of the ghost, whom he has dubbed Alarbus, Stockhelm consults his neighbor Mr. Decker; someone who understands how to deal with supernatural situations. Before assisting him, Mr. Decker charges Stockhelm to carry out a bizarre errand for him. In executing the dubious task, Stockhelm and Alarbus uncover a frightening plot where spiritual darkness simmers beneath the surface of the unwary town and a deranged murderer is on the prowl. Can they foil the killer's nefarious plans and at the same time satisfy Mr. Decker's requirements?

Set in the late 1800s, Inspectre by D.W. Rigsby is a bloodcurdling supernatural murder mystery where the things that go bump in the night are up close and personal. With uncanny characters and spooky settings, it is an eerie story that stays with you long after you put the book down. This spine-tingling tale has a haunting plot and chilling story line that deliver goosebumps from the first page until the last. It is the perfect book to curl up with on a stormy night, as long as you leave the lights on! Murder mystery fans will be delighted with this riveting supernatural thriller and will clamor for more. It is a magnificent beginning for an outstanding series, and I can't wait to meet Stockhelm and Alarbus again!

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

Fade Out: Behind the Mic Mysteries Book 1 by Laurie Fagen is three mysteries in one. Lisa is a young radio journalist trying to make a name for herself by investigating the crimes she reports on. We follow Lisa as she helps a daughter and son search for their missing father by working with the police and never giving up on finding him alive. Lisa is also busy looking for answers in the suspicious death of a woman found in her burned mansion. She also will not stop until she uncovers the answers as to why a bank executive was found murdered. Lisa finds herself in several scary situations, but never says quit. Adding some lightness to the story are the two orphaned baby kittens she takes home in an effort to keep them alive. When Lisa is not busy searching for clues, she is presenting a mystery podcast about two people who enter a very unusual fun house at the carnival and find fear and death as they search for a way out.

The best part of Fade Out was following Lisa, the radio journalist, and getting a real life glimpse into her world. While I did enjoy Fade Out, it was hard to follow at times. There was a lot going on at once, but it lacked a real element of suspense. I am not sure how much value the podcast added, though it had some good mysterious elements. I found this book to be entertaining and will continue to follow the Behind the Mic Mysteries. I look forward to sharing in Lisa’s next adventure in book 2.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

Suspense, intrigue, mystery, excitement and romance, Land Sharks: A Swindle in Sumatra has it all and more. Lexi is a fraud investigator for an exclusive Beverly Hills bank and the heroine of the story. She is sent on an assignment to Sumatra to bring back a client’s rich daughter. Steve is the boss’s son and is sent along on the journey to learn from Lexi. As Lexi and Steve arrive in Sumatra and find Karista, the rich daughter, they realize that the task of separating her from Javier, her new boyfriend, will not be easy. It quickly becomes apparent that Javier is a bad guy who has done many bad things and is simply interested in Krista’s money and nothing more. Steve and Lexi find themselves in life threatening situations several times. Much to Lexi's surprise, she discovers that Andre, her old boyfriend, is also in Sumatra and may be there intentionally to keep her out of harm’s way. There are several twists and turns before the case is concluded and everyone can go back home.

Land Shark is everything it claims to be and more. I read it very quickly because I just couldn’t stand the suspense and was really anxious to find out what would happen next. Nancy Raven Smith is a master with words and made the story come alive and the characters very real. This is a must-read book for all mystery, suspense and detective lovers - men, women, young and old. Please do not pass up the chance to read a really well written, exciting story.

Reviewed by Neil A White for Readers' Favorite

The Maltese Pigeon by David Bishop is the most current installment in the successful Matt Kile Mystery novels. And although this is the fifth book in the series, those readers only just jumping aboard need not worry; The Maltese Pigeon reads very well as a stand-alone novel and will have many furiously searching out the first four while salivating over the release of a sixth.

Bishop’s creation, Matt Kile, is a wise-cracking ex-homicide cop, ex-con, part-time private investigator and wanna-be author. In The Maltese Pigeon, Kile is hired by Catherine Martin, who has just inherited an original and priceless Faberge egg from her grandmother, to both find a buyer and to provide protection. Enter, stage left, a shady character (and requisite muscle) that will do anything to add the egg to their private collection. Add a subtle link to the last of the Romanov family, the last Czar of Russia, and a backup team employed by Kile of mischievous ex-cons. The rollicking adventure quickly builds up a good head of steam.

David Bishop’s Matt Kile is a light-hearted homage to the gritty L.A. noir books of the 1950s, featuring a delicious dash of humor that keeps the storyline moving swiftly along like an L.A. county culvert after a heavy downpour. Needless to say, all is not how it seems, and a clever plot twist leaves Kile with a weighty decision to ponder. At just over 180 pages, The Maltese Pigeon is a quick read and will have the reader thirsting for more.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Fans of James Patterson and David Baldacci will be enraptured by Francis Sparks’ Made Safe, a gripping thriller that involves crime and a gritty investigation. Moses Winter is a private investigator embroiled in an investigation of adultery. Hired by Fred Dunsmore’s wife, Sharon, he follows his subject for weeks and finally nails him in a red-handed scandal with his mistress, Šejla Tahirović. That is when things get really bad for him and his erratic client, with the subject ending in the hospital and Moses behind bars. The conflict escalates pretty fast as Moses and Sharon get released from jail because Fred Dunsmore goes missing. Now, Moses must find him. With the help of DCI agent Rakic, Moses has to walk an uncharted path into the most dangerous places and ultimately into downtown Des Moines’ underbelly of crime.

Francis Sparks has written a story that is as enthralling as it is entertaining, a boisterous ride into unusual places. The plot is well-paced and unpredictable, beginning with a humorous encounter between wife and cheating husband, and a detective who barely contains his laughter. The conflict is introduced from the very first paragraph and masterfully developed throughout the story. At some point I wondered if the author wouldn’t run out of tricks at the rate the story moved, but was utterly surprised that he kept the pace steady and rolling fast until the denouement. Made Safe features wonderful characters and a beautiful setting, captured in powerful prose, with each one of its elements vividly described. The interesting and engaging dialogues are an additional spice to the well-developed characters and the engaging plot. This is an exciting story that will be hard for any reader to put down.

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

The Big Overnight (Stella Reynolds Mystery Book 3) by Libby Kirsch is an exciting suspense novel featuring a Knoxville television reporter. While Stella is reporting on an arrest, she is stunned when the suspect confesses to the shooting on live TV. A few days later, the young man's mother is found dead in a burning building. An anonymous tipster emails Stella, insisting that the shooting and the murder are connected, and urges Stella to look further into the crimes. The unidentified source indicates that the law enforcement isn't all that it seems and not to trust them. But how can that be? Crime statistics have never been lower. As she delves into the murder, the FBI is following her, and gang members are threatening her life. When police members who are her friends have dropped out of her life and aren't answering her calls, and the local authorities are quite possibly corrupt, Stella doesn't know whom to trust. With all the new murders, it seems that there may have been an error made in the poll on the criminal element in Knoxville. With no one to turn to for help, Stella has to make a stand for herself. Will Stella survive or will she be another statistic in the growing crime rate in the city?

The Big Overnight (Stella Reynolds Mystery Book 3) by Libby Kirsch is a thrilling suspense murder mystery. The aspect of crime solving from a reporter's point of view piqued my interest. The story has a marvelous plot and delivers a satisfying conclusion. As this is the third book in a series, I found all the characters and how they correlated to be confusing in the beginning, but as the story progressed, I was able to connect their relationships and discern their dynamics. I enjoyed this book very much and am now a Stella Reynolds fan. I am looking forward to reading more about Stella's exploits and her amateur sleuthing. This novel is an excellent read for those who are fans of suspenseful murder mysteries.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Body Next Door: A Samantha Newman Mystery is a contemporary mystery novel written by Gay Yellen. Samantha was planning to raid the refrigerator and then collapse in the Houston condo her mysterious new love interest had loaned her when she finally got home from her all-nighter road trip. She was still reeling from the sequence of events that had led to the loss of her last job and the undue and unwelcome public exposure she was subjected to, but even more so, she was shattered by the loss of yet another loved one. She was on her way back from attending her friend's funeral in Nebraska. Yes, she should have made it a two-day trip or at least pulled over at a rest stop and indulged in a snooze, but she needed the security and sanity of home. She was dodging eighteen-wheelers on the highway when her phone lit up. It was nearly 5 a.m.; an odd hour for anyone to call her -- unless it was an emergency. Pulling over to the side of the highway, she took the call and was surprised to hear Gertie's voice on the other end. Gertie wasn't quite sure what to do with Samantha's neighbor, Brandy. She was drunk and hysterical, and she was also covered in blood.

Gay Yellen's contemporary mystery novel, The Body Next Door: A Samantha Newman Mystery, Volume 2, is an entertaining and fast-paced novel about a woman whose midlife crisis is prematurely and unexpectedly forced upon her, and the hazards she must get past to reach the next phase of her life. Samantha is fierce and determined, and she has the ability to put away an incredible amount of ice cream if the situation warrants. Yellen's plot is finely woven, and her characters are vividly portrayed, from the strange elevator companions Samantha seems doomed to spend time with to the folks on her boyfriend Carter's ranch. Yellen also admirably addresses the difficulties those coping with loss may experience in forging new relationships. Armchair sleuths will appreciate the clues and red herrings judiciously scattered throughout this breezy and romance-laced mystery. The Body Next Door: A Samantha Newman Mystery, Volume 2 is highly recommended.

Reviewed by Jessyca Garcia for Readers' Favorite

I loved A Cunning Plan by Astrid Arditi. The story follows Sloane Harper who is recently divorced but still madly in love with her scumbag ex-husband. Sloane is approached by an IRS agent named Ethan Cunning, who convinces her to help spy on her ex-husband’s new girlfriend’s boss. She did not count on possibly falling for the boss. This helps Sloane to discover who she is and what she really wants in life.

In A Cunning Plan, Arditi mixes romance with humor and a side of adventure. This recipe was the perfect combination and the reason I enjoyed this book so much. Sloane was a very likeable character who had great chemistry with everyone she came in contact with. At first I thought she was going to be annoying because of her weird obsession with her ex. Those feelings for her quickly changed as I read on. It was actually the “cookie incident” that had me laughing out loud and changed my perspective of her. The “whore incident” was another thing that had me spitting out my drink. That was a good reminder to watch out what you say around children. Arditi also taught me what a WASP is.

I was surprised at how the book actually ended. I was expecting something totally different. However, I thought the ending was perfect. I really hope that this is not the end of Sloane Harper. I would love to see more books about this accidental spy. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys funny romance books.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Case of Dr Dude: A Michaela McPherson Mystery is a private sleuth mystery written by Judith Lucci. Michaela was enjoying her retirement from the police force and had finally opened up Biddy’s Irish Pub in honor of her parents. She still remembered sitting in her dad’s pub and her enjoyment in being the pub owner’s daughter. Her friend and fellow sleuth, Dottie Borghase, who was a real live Italian countess, had other plans. She enjoyed their sleuthing work together too much to give it all up. Besides, there was a pressing problem that required their attention. Allison Massie, the granddaughter of Margaret and Beau Massie, Dottie’s friends, never came home again after her interview with Dr. Nicholas Smirkowitz, otherwise known as Dr. Dude, the dentist to the stars. Allison had just finished her schooling as a dental hygienist and was considering dental school. Dr. Smirkowitz was a talented cosmetic dentist, and she hoped to get a feel for the business first-hand by working for him. Allison’s parents were still en route from Europe, and her grandparents were getting frantic. Their granddaughter was diabetic, and her survival depended upon her receiving her insulin injections. Michaela knew all about Dr. Dude and had even been a patient of his at one point in time. She also knew he had had a number of complaints lodged against him by both his patients and his staff. Now, she and Dottie were racing against time to find Allison.

Judith Lucci’s private sleuth mystery novel, The Case of Dr Dude: A Michaela McPherson Mystery, is exciting and fast-paced. While it’s not the first book in this mystery series, Lucci gives enough background information to allow this book to be read as a standalone novel. The interactions between Dottie, the octogenarian armchair sleuth, and Mic are grand fun, and Lucci’s plot addresses a real and pressing crisis that is ongoing -- the trafficking of children and women. Angel, Mic’s retired K9 companion, often steals the limelight in this taut and well-written novel of suspense, and that’s just as it should be, it seems. After all, he did take a bullet in the hip in order to save Mic’s life when they were on the job and, even when retired, takes his guardianship of her quite seriously. The Case of Dr Dude is the first Michaela McPherson mystery that I’ve read, and I’m looking forward to reading about her other detective cases. It’s highly recommended.