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 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 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.

Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

AT Once (An Alex Troutt Thriller, Book 3) by John W. Mefford is a terrorist thriller novel based on the quote: “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” AT Once follows FBI Agent Alex Troutt in Boston as she tries to uncover who is behind the bombings, if her boss is a mole, and who she can trust. This book is best suited for those who enjoy fast paced thriller novels filled with terrorism, agents, and suspense.

AT Once by John W. Mefford reminded me of the 24 TV series from the very beginning, with the differences being a female lead character, less torture, and a unique plot line. Alex Troutt is a strong female agent who has been tasked with the impossible and yet she is not a woman to give up - instead she throws herself into her assignments with a steady determination. In addition to having amazing characters, AT Once is a well written book with a breathtaking plot that truly pulls the reader in deeper and deeper with every page turned. I found myself on the edge of my seat, wondering who would live and who would die after every attack. By the end of the book, I was very glad that AT Once is a part of a series as it means that John W. Mefford will hopefully write more on Alex Troutt!

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Murder in A-Minor by Janis Thomas is the first in a series of Sam Wedlock Musical Mysteries. Samantha Wedlock used to work for the NYPD, but her career ended in disaster. Heading back to California, she finds the only way she can cope is through the internet and alcohol. Lieutenant Jack Hudson, an old flame of Sam’s, suddenly turns up, asking her to help him on a case. Two college co-eds have been viciously murdered and he needs Sam to help him find out who did it. Sam doesn’t want to get involved and turns him away, but the pull is there. Sam needs to find her drive again and she needs to know that she has a future so, grudgingly, she accepts. The music plays full blast and nonstop in her head, music that has always been there, allowing Sam free rein to learn how to trust her own instincts again if she is to catch the killer.

Murder in A-Minor: A Sam Wedlock Musical Mystery was quite brilliantly written. Janis Thomas has a clear and professional grasp of the true written language and knows exactly how to draw a reader in. The prologue hooked me and, from there on, that book wasn’t going down until it was read. The plot was very cleverly written and there were plenty of twists and turns, lots of action, and a little bit of old-fashioned romance thrown in for good measure. I grew to know the characters so well; it was almost as if I were reading about people I truly knew. I love a good mystery and this book had every ingredient needed. There is also the matter of a message here: no matter what life throws at you, when the chips are down, there is always a way back and a way forward. Excellent book, I'm looking forward to the next one.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

The Rector – A Christian Murder Mystery is loaded with suspense, drama, twists and turns, and a good dose of godly religion. There is a large cast of characters and Martha McRae, boarding house and newspaper owner, is the leader. Oneeda, Mary and JJ need protection, but are also her companions in crime solving. Thomas Cain and Capp are the main bad guys. We arrive in the small Southern town in the late 1950s and all is as it should be until the local rector dies and Martha sets out to prove that perhaps he has been murdered. The story takes many twists and turns from this point until the conclusion. More murders take place, Mary is raped and gives birth to Michael, JJ's honey becomes a local sensation but that will cause more mystery, court cases will be heard and a new rector will arrive in town. There will be excitement on each page as the plot thickens and the suspects multiply.

As I sat and read The Rector, I was drawn into the book. Michael Hicks Thompson had just enough of everything to make it intriguing, exciting, likeable and then he added a perfect touch of good old Southern religion with Bible quotes and Christian ethics. It is the perfect blend for a Christian Murder Mystery and you will be very glad that you decided to read The Rector.

Reviewed by Marta Tandori for Readers' Favorite

Successful artist Jessie O’Bourne has returned home to judge a painting contest as well as to paint. She’s out early in the morning with her sassy orange tomcat, Jack, and sets about painting a landscape on her father’s property when she notices a patch of turquoise near the side of a haystack. When she goes closer to it to investigate, she’s horrified to discover a sneaker and a foot attaching to it. Both belong to an unconscious native girl lying between two haystacks. She quickly calls the police. The girl is in and out of consciousness, but is lucid enough to mutter that the police had done this to her. Jessie is shocked and becomes even more unsettled when one of the cops to arrive on the scene is none other than Sergeant Russell Bonham. Russell had been her dead brother, Kevin’s, best buddy and had once lived with them. Jessie blamed him for her brother’s suicide, and for being a no-show at her mother’s funeral, which followed in relatively quick succession after her brother’s death.

Death on Canvas by Mary Ann Cherry alternates between the present and the past – 1918 rural Montana, to be exact, where an unexpected tragedy occurs at the impoverished St. Benedict’s Mission School when the school’s teacher, Sister Mary, is murdered in the middle of the night, her murder witnessed by a young native boy. However, the murder of the good sister is only one of the mysteries that plagues the small school and haunts its descendants. There’s also the issue of several paintings that disappeared which had been painted by Thomas Moran, worth millions of dollars today.

Death on Canvas by Mary Ann Cherry is Book 1 of The Jessie O’Bourne art mysteries. A fascinating story that combines both historical intrigue and a modern-day mystery, it’s sure to be a treat for both mystery lovers as well as those readers with a passion for art. The author has crafted her characters well in that all are vividly and effectively portrayed and could easily be anyone’s next door neighbor or relative. She’s placed these characters in a setting that is both vivid and has almost a ‘grass roots’ feel to it, and then juxtaposed this with a backstory based on stolen art, a subject that has global reach. And Cherry’s effective portrayals don’t just stop at people. The territorial attitude of Jessie’s cat, Jack, and Arvid’s bruiser with slobber issues and a penchant for baloney, are also wonderfully portrayed and add the perfect touch of comic relief where needed. There’s plenty to like about Death on Canvas. It’s got intrigue, betrayal, and dirty little secrets galore. Time to put down the paint brush and get reading!