Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Five Days in Bogotá is a gripping thriller by Linda Moore. It's the year 1990. Seeking to save her family from financial ruin, Allison Blake (Ally), an art gallery owner, arrives in Colombia to attend the Bogotá Art Fair, hoping to find wealthy collectors for her collection. But soon after her arrival, one of her art crates gets stuck at customs, eventually finding its way to Ally with two additional paintings that don't belong to her collection. Ally suddenly finds herself entangled in a sinister conspiracy involving the US government, drug cartels, and local criminals. When her ex-boyfriend, an American diplomat, turns up dead, Ally has no choice but to formulate a plan to escape Colombia while selling valuable artwork that belongs to a wanted drug lord. Can Ally beat the odds and succeed?

Featuring actual historical personalities and events, Linda Moore has penned a captivating pageturner that has you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Five Days in Bogotá provides thrills galore alongside a healthy dose of suspense, mystery, and intrigue. Moore paces the narrative nicely and uses well-placed curveballs throughout the plot that will keep you guessing as to what's coming next. There is a palpable sense of tension in the narrative that makes you sympathize with Ally's plight, and, as a reader, you want her to make it out alive and well. Moore also perfectly captures the socio-political turmoil of Colombia in the early 1990s, making the setting feel rich, vibrant, and lived-in. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to thriller and historical fiction readers alike.

Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite

A Deadly Game by Gayle Brown is a thriller full of twists and turns. Jaden Pierce went missing while playing manhunt in the woods by Lake Cypress with his fraternity brothers. When the police organized a search party for Jaden, Nicole joined them. Nicole stumbled upon her son Kyle’s license during the search and hid it. Kyle was her only child, and Nicole would do whatever was necessary to protect him. Nicole was not sure if she could believe Kyle when he said he had nothing to do with Jaden’s disappearance. While searching for answers on her own, Nicole noticed that she was being followed. Nicole was unsure what to do with the information she had obtained; should she keep it to herself or go to the police?

Gayle Brown had me hooked from the first page of A Deadly Game until the end. This thriller is fast-paced, jam-packed with action, and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. It was a roller coaster of suspicion, murder, betrayal, and surprises. It was a page-turner, and I could not put it down because I was too afraid I would miss something. The characters were outstanding, and I could relate to them. Nicole hid information about her son from her husband, only to find out that he was no longer the man she married. The story was excellently written, and the ending was fantastic; there was a major twist that I didn't expect. I was barely over the shock when another truth was revealed that I didn't see coming or expect at all.

Reviewed by Tracy Traynor for Readers' Favorite

In When You Read This I’ll Be Gone by Anne Moose, Valerie Hawthorne might never have climbed out of bed on the day she drove to Montana if she’d known what lay ahead. Valerie had taken a gap year from teaching to write her next book, so she happily agreed to be a keynote speaker at a writers' conference in Gallatin Valley. Treating herself, she booked into a posh spa hotel to relax and enjoy the view. In this idyllic setting, she met Tom, a dashing, charming man who was there for the fishing. Having just discovered something about her husband, Valerie had a one-night stand for the first time in her life. When she woke up in the morning, the Paul Newman lookalike had gone. Feeling guilty, she prepared for the long journey home but then her world exploded. Revenge had driven Tom to adopt dire measures and he seemed hell-bent on destroying her life. The devastation that followed was catastrophic. As Tom began to reveal his reasons, Valerie had to try to salvage as much of her wrecked life as she could by doing what he asked.

I was gripped by Valerie’s opening letter until the emotional ending. I cried quite a bit. When You Read This I’ll Be Gone is full of raw feelings. As Valerie's, Tom's, and London’s stories evolved I was so invested in what happened that I couldn’t put the book down. Anne Moose writes superbly and masterfully controls the plot, revealing a little more with each chapter. Her writing style is elegant and her portrayal of how violence rips people’s lives apart was sensitive but real. The ripple effect that spreads out from one act of violence is presented with riveting clarity. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would like to read something more by this talented author. An utterly gripping thriller.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Love Lost Adventure: The Lie is a work of fiction in the romance, suspense, and interpersonal drama subgenres. It is best suited to adult readers and was penned by author Roseann Gargiulo. This captivating journey through time and emotions follows protagonist Theodora Hayes, affectionately known as Teddy, a determined and passionate woman who embarks on a quest to rekindle a love she left behind many years ago. Her unwavering desire to find Cole, the love of her life, drives her forward, even in the face of danger, murder, and the complexities of love itself. The storytelling takes readers on a whirlwind adventure that spans from 1998 back to the Civil War era.

Author Roseann Gargiulo's characters are richly developed, and their deep connections evoke a range of emotions, taking readers from laughter to tears at the turn of a page. This deft command of emotional vulnerability is down to the intricacies of the dialogue and narrative presentation, which allows us a close look at Teddy and those around her when her emotions are put to the test. The novel keeps you engaged and always guessing at what may happen next as it navigates through mishaps, human connections, and a cast of fascinating ensemble characters. Overall, Love Lost Adventure: The Lie is a beautifully written tale that explores the enduring power of love and the mysteries of the human heart. I would highly recommend it as a must-read for those who enjoy a blend of historical fiction, romance, and adventure, all wrapped up in a compelling, emotive narrative.

Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers' Favorite

In Guidance to Death, Daniel V Meier Jr opens his story with a horrific plane crash. The wreckage is so severe the authorities cannot tell what caused the crash. Was it a pilot error, a mechanical fault, or sabotage? Aviation crash expert Frank Adams is hired by the widow to investigate because she suspects her husband and the two other passengers were murdered. What begins as a simple investigation becomes deadly as Adams discovers some people are determined to cover their tracks and leave no loose ends. From the information Adams discovers, he has become a loose end and his life, and that of the people he works with, are at risk from those who are as ruthless as they are criminals.

I enjoyed reading Daniel V Meier Jr’s Guidance to Death. It is fast-moving, page-turning, and exciting. Meier's knowledge of planes makes the plot realistic, but he does not overstretch you with too many technicalities. His hero Frank Adams is no James Bond. He doesn’t win every fight, nor shoot like William Tell. He is relatable and likable and you cannot help but cheer him on. Other characters are equally down to earth, as they battle one twist after another as the action speeds up. I loved his girlfriend The Major, who is more of a friend with benefits, and even Helen Rawlson, the widow, who at first is not a likable person, but who softens toward the end. I have read several of Meier's titles and I have enjoyed them all. This is a little different as it is pure adventure, firmly in the crime genre, and is up there with the best. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

When news of their deadbeat dad is delivered by their dying mother who had left them to their own devices for years, Charly and her brother Jacob have an unexpected change in their financial circumstances. In The Excursion by T.O. Paine, Charly is handed the paperwork to a trust fund and the keys to a Colorado cabin where memories of the good outweigh a lifetime of the bad. Charly invites their two cousins, Amanda and Cam, who used to join Charly, Jacob, and their parents while they stayed at the cabin in their youth. Amanda is wildly manipulative and Cam has sadistic tendencies, perpetrating cruelties that terrified the neurodivergent Jacob and continue to haunt him as an adult. On arrival, there is confusion about the ownership of the cabin. A man named Randall, who says his company is the owner, is there to entertain a wealthy client named Barry on a mysterious excursion worse than any of the horrors that Charly and Jacob have experienced even in the worst of times.

The Excursion is a deliciously grim thriller with all the best components necessary to hook a reader and keep them almost obsessively engaged. From a literary standpoint, T.O. Paine is pitch-perfect with prose that reveals only enough to satiate readers on a need-to-know basis, employing a slow unpeeling of what's to come with skilled pacing and organic dialogue. I loved the variants incorporated into Charly's experiences through her point of view in the present, alongside the excursion organizer, Randall. This contrasts with her view of her past and a game her father once organized at the cabin. The nuanced theme of how we cannot escape our past and that life has a way of coming full circle whispers through a plot that is thick with tension. Even the perpetually drunk Kennedy and the paying hunter Barry remind Charly of her parents. The hunts by Zaroff Excursions are only nominally different from the years Charly was forced to survive, reinforced when Randall himself says to Kennedy, “It's hostile outside.” There are some excellent surprises, including a MacGyver transformation from the least expected in a cast of fully-fleshed-out characters. This is a fantastic read that, despite its colossal size, can be devoured in a single weekend.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

In Obedience, when we meet Emma and the only parents she knows, she calls her father by the odd moniker of “Leader”. Our first question is why? The woman she knows as her mother is the icy Monique. Emma is on constant tenterhooks around both of them as she is trained to “learn, grow and obey”. She does attend school but has no friends. She and her “siblings” participate in social functions with their parents but each child is given a mission to fulfill at these events. Lying or disobedience is harshly punished, but the children are being brainwashed to believe it’s all for their own good. Of course, while Emma complies out of fear, anger and the desire for freedom are raging within her. When a persistent young suitor offers escape, the resulting conflict within her and with the family brings everything to a head with catastrophic results in unexpected ways for both Emma and the reader. What will happen next? That we will find out as Nichole M. Willden writes the continuation of the “Guild” series.

As a victim of childhood abuse, I am incessantly drawn to books, both fiction and nonfiction, that depict the psychological effects on growing children of harsh discipline, curtailed freedoms, unfair parental expectations, and constant activity monitoring. Obedience by Nichole M. Willden explores all these aspects in a cult-type setting, and the result is a tension-filled tale that keeps readers perplexed and glued to its pages. Though a long book, Obedience is well-crafted. The plot is engaging, the characters captivating in their uniqueness. Willden has aimed her story at young adults who will quickly identify with the emotions and pastimes of the teens in this story while being somewhat “freaked out” by the circumstances of Emma’s home life. I was intrigued enough by Obedience to check out Nichole M. Willden’s bio. It explains everything about what prompted her to write this engrossing story. The seeds of her novel are rooted in her upbringing. You can learn more about that on the author's website.

Reviewed by Andy Hutchings for Readers' Favorite

I’ve been lucky enough to spend my reading time with Christopher Amato’s Shadow Investigation, an espionage thriller that follows DEA agent Sam Dahl as he takes a break from his mundane role at LAX to help a friend find their missing parents. Sam is an excellent lead character in this book. He is nuanced and grounded in reality in a way that underscores the entire work with a plausibility that quickly elevates it above standard thriller fare. As Sam launches an off-the-books investigation into the missing people, it quickly becomes apparent that his experience as a DEA agent will be key when a powerful drug kingpin is implicated.

There’s a nail-biting thrill ride that positively prickles with danger and intrigue lying wait for you in the pages of this novel, with author Christopher Amato utilizing his years of real-world experience in law enforcement well to breathe a refreshing level of realism into a genre that too often relies on the suspension of disbelief to work. The way the characters behave, talk, and even the way they dress felt different from almost every other thriller I’ve read. This is due to both the deep understanding of how this world works that the author brings to the table, and also their deft sense of prose that leads to the world feeling dynamic and within our reach. Shadow Investigation is a thrill ride that has everything fans of the genre will love and more, with expertly mixed intrigue, action, and even romance packaged together in one unforgettable narrative.

Reviewed by Anelynde Smit for Readers' Favorite

The Key to Kells by Kevin O’Connor is an exciting read. We follow Key Murphy, an almost police officer, who gets visions of an old Irish monk who fought against the Vikings and saved a treasure. The valuable object is a book, the Book of Kells. Highly decorative, this was a rare object. Some of its pages that were torn out were clues to the location of a great treasure that is said would unite all of Ireland. The visions seem to run in the Murphy family bloodline, a genetic mutation that allows them to see through the eyes of others in the Murphy clan line. Mack Murphy was the most recent to find the treasure and hide cryptic clues to its location. They follow the clues and try to find the treasure but they are not the only ones. Padraig Collins is also after the treasure and the book, his motives being something entirely different and he will use any method to get what he wants. Along with Arin Murphy, a Jamaican professor, and Buck, a long-term friend and colleague, Key tries his best to avoid being killed and find the long-lost treasure. Will Key find the treasure before Padraig? Could the treasure be the Holy Grail?

The Key to Kells by Kevin O’Connor was an action-packed read for me. I loved the character of Key and his visions. I loved how all the Murphy clan got these visions and it wasn’t just him. It made for an interesting story idea. A genetic mutation was something I didn’t expect to see and it was a good twist. I adored the character of Buck too, the ever-present big brother figure that only had Key’s best interests at heart. Some shocking twists and turns waited for me and I loved every second of it. The action sequences were delightfully detailed as well, and the fighting and the treasure hunting were fun to read. Padraig was your not-so-typical bad guy, which made him interesting. Each character in this book played an important role. I found myself loving each character in their own unique way. I highly recommend this book; it was a joy to read. Absolutely a good read.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Come, Gentle Night is a work of fiction in the thriller, mystery, and drama subgenres and is the latest installment in the Natalie Marsh series. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author Stephanie Black, continuing the saga of Natalie Marsh as she urgently tries to avoid getting involved in another murder inquiry. But when her intern asks for help quelling family drama during a social gathering, Natalie’s agreement to get involved leads her to a feud with an unsolved murder at the center of it. Once again investigating a mysterious death, Natalie quickly finds her very life is on the line as the case pulls her in deep.

I found the idea of a lead character who begins the story actively trying not to end up as a lead character again quite an entertaining one, with author Stephanie Black showing wry and genre-savvy humor in her work. The story that follows once Natalie accepts her fate and begins investigating a murder on behalf of Rowan Montrose is a positively electric tale of suspense and mystery. The danger brought about by being too close to the Montrose family and its secrets becomes palpable and poses a clear threat to Natalie’s safety. The mystery itself is an outstanding web of secrets and complex relationships that weave together to create a stunning enigma for Natalie to resolve. Overall, Come, Gentle Night is an excellent and absorbing mystery that continues Natalie’s journey into the world of the detective with a story that will absorb and mystify readers whilst it keeps them on the edge of their seats.