Reviewed by Marta Tandori for Readers' Favorite

The Dark Trail is the smoldering sixth book in J.C. Fields’ Sean Kruger FBI thriller series and this latest offering certainly doesn’t disappoint. When Deputy Director of the FBI, Alan Seltzer, is brutally executed during an early morning bike ride, FBI profiler and his good friend, Sean Kruger, is tasked with hunting down his killer. The Director of the FBI suspects that Sean’s former friend had been looking into similarities between a number of FBI investigations around the country and that it may have gotten him killed. Assisted by his friend, JR, a member of the FBI Cyber Crimes Division, and associates Sandy Knoll, a retired Special Forces Major, and Jimmie Gibbs, a former Navy Seal, it isn’t long before Sean and his team set their sights on Alan’s killer – only to have him disappear right under their noses. When they finally track down their suspect some months later, Sean and his team quickly discover that Alan’s murder was just another in a series of recent killings targeting powerful individuals from various ethnic groups. With Sean’s fifty-seventh birthday and his mandatory retirement from the FBI looming in front of them, the team is in a race against time to find Alan’s killer and get to the bottom of what could potentially be a much bigger threat to national security.

The Dark Trail has all the requisites for a solid FBI thriller. There’s plenty of action, sinister characters, and the threat of Russian hackers and the dark web to keep things interesting. The theme of honoring the fellow fallen is prevalent throughout the story. Fields uses parallel narrative shifts to effectively build momentum and suspense but what makes the story so engaging is Fields’ protagonist. Kruger’s longstanding and illustrious career with the FBI has made him a legend within the Bureau, but in addition to being well-respected, he’s somewhat of an anomaly in that he’s also a nice guy who doesn’t like taking credit for his many accomplishments. Complementing Kruger is a cast of colorful characters who add their own special skill sets to the plot, ratcheting up the interest quotient. As expected, there’s not a whole lot of sentiment in this type of thriller, but there’s just enough to show that none of the characters is above a certain degree of vulnerability and humility which makes them all the more relatable. The Dark Trail checks all the right boxes. It's sure to leave lovers of the genre satisfied and is highly recommended.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Public Opinion is a gripping crime thriller by Nathan Pettijohn. Herb is a social media specialist who provides exclusive services to his clients, such as manipulating narratives, blackmail, and online character assassination. His publicist friend Elmer introduces him to Titus - a narcissistic movie star who is making his directorial debut in New Orleans based on the Marquis de Sade's novel, Justine. Herb quickly realizes that his new client may be even more depraved and morally flexible than he is. Witnessing Titus take advantage of his young movie stars doesn't deter Herb from working for him. Instead, Herb loses his last remaining shred of morality and soon crosses the point of no return to make the movie a resounding success. In doing so, he pushes his beloved girlfriend and his newborn baby away.

Public Opinion is a fascinating tale of the rise and fall of a man willing to push himself beyond his limits to satiate his never-ending greed. Nathan Pettijohn weaves an absorbing crime yarn that offers a striking critique of social media and how unbelievably easy it has become to manipulate public opinion through its abuse. The scary aspect of Pettijohn's narrative is that there are actual people in the real world performing similar services for their clients as the main protagonist of the story does. The characters are layered and complex, with discernible flaws that make them all the more compelling. If you love to read stories featuring intriguing antagonists, I can't recommend this book enough.

Reviewed by Frank Stephen for Readers' Favorite

Canaryville by Charlie Newton is a tale about a city about to destroy itself. Two dead bodies at the railroad track, an explosion at the Bayside Inn, and a white Catholic priest hanged at the clocktower. Chicago is on the verge of a race war, and Canaryville is at the center of it all. A few days before a federal takeover, the Chicago Police department will have to stop the lynching and bombing from bringing the city down to ashes. Homicide lieutenant Denny Banahan is the frontman for the job. He needs to prove that the killings are white-on-white and have nothing to do with a reenactment of the "Red Summer" of 1919. As he tries to make his case, he discovers even more that puts his life, the lives of those close to him, and the existence of his beloved city on the verge of collapse.

Canaryville by Charlie Newton is a fast-paced, fascinating, and realistic story about racism and law enforcement abuse of power in Chicago. Police brutality and corruption, racial slurs, political rhetorics, protests, riots, mob activities, and gangbanging are perfectly portrayed with a sprinkling of terrorism, international politics, and psychopathic killings. It has all the ingredients for an action-packed crime thriller that will keep readers glued to each page until the story is over. Just like the discoveries in this story, the characters are far from what they appear to be. Readers get to see that people with racist behavior can still go out of their way and risk their lives for a person of another race. It also concisely explains the political and historic nature of the racial tension in Chicago.

It may be hard to keep up with the names and how they connect with characters in the story, and international readers may have a hard time with the slang and names of landmarks that are familiar to Chicago residents. But they have an incentive to overcome these roadblocks with the promise of an intriguing narrative unfolding on each page.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Eagle Ascending is a nail-biting thriller written by Dan Whitfield. Detective Joseph Krueger's attempts to bring down a drug peddler in the streets of New York are halted midway through when a powerful blast erupts in a nearby Jewish museum, leading to the deaths of 96 people. Upon reviewing security camera footage, Krueger is devastated to discover that the person carrying out the attack is none other than his grandfather, General Wolfgang Andreas Krueger of the Third Reich, who supposedly died seventy years ago. Determined to discover the truth, Krueger embarks on a dangerous journey across multiple continents alongside history professors Tessa Brandt and Barnaby Grimm. What he discovers may change the course of history as he delves deep into a larger conspiracy involving neo-Nazi organizations who seek the True Cross to bring about Aryan dominance.

With a fast-paced and intricate plot, author Dan Whitfield weaves an absorbing thriller that incorporates real-life events and historical artifacts to keep you hooked throughout the pages. If you enjoy Dan Brown's novels, you're going to love Eagle Ascending. The author wastes little time in getting things moving and throws the reader directly into the midst of ever-escalating events. The characters are well-realized, each with distinct voices that make their personalities pop out of the pages. Joe Krueger was my personal favorite of the bunch, and I thoroughly enjoyed his relationship dynamics with his colleague and friends. The climax leaves a few plot threads open-ended, meaning there is room for sequels in the future. I look forward to them as I had a blast with Eagle Ascending. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Imagine a thriller with a metahuman character at its core. It begins when a mysterious helicopter crash sends journalist Diana Willis into a web of intrigue and mayhem. After the crash, she awakens from a coma only to be troubled by some disturbing dreams about an episode from her past involving human experimentation. As she struggles to overcome her trauma, someone guides her to reawaken the dormant powers that lie within her. And as her power grows, she begins to make a connection with her past--knowledge that the government doesn’t want her to discover. Through telepathic transference, Diana is given the task of sending an important message, and she must get it to the right channels before it’s too late in Star Revelations by Steven Paul Terry.

I can give you five to six novels or films that run in the same vein as Star Revelations. One familiar theme here is the government chasing after a superpowered human being. But you really have to read this book to see how the author makes the whole storyline feel fresh. From the moment that Diana awakens from the accident, Steven Paul Terry makes you enter a world with limitless thrills. He has created Diana as a fascinating representation of mutated humanity. Her climactic mission and personal struggle make you realize that Terry's narrative tells a deeper story, one that is not just exciting, but tragic. Star Revelations is a fun and exciting work. Its fast and tight plot will keep you engaged and make you wait for the next installment with eagerness.

Reviewed by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite

Death Mask by Eric J. Gates is an espionage thriller that makes you doubt your neighbor. Zoe Davis (or Sheran) is a bookstore owner living with the man she loves, which is normal enough. After he proposes, her past collides with her present and she puts him and his sons in danger. One freak mistake saves her life, giving her enough time to put distance between herself and Liam. Transforming back to her ghost agent days, she must decide if she will try hiding again or take the fight to them. It has taken them six years to find her, but now she doesn't even know who is leading this renegade team of killers.

I found Eric J. Gates' writing similar to Robert Ludlum's. Death Mask is a military thriller that will have you hanging onto every step Sheran takes. The Egyptian process of mummifying a person is behind the meaning of Death Mask. The Egyptians constructed a similar face on the outside of the coffin so that the soul would recognize and join its body in the afterlife. Sheran had to find her death mask when she left the special ops so she could distinguish her soul after she left it behind. This novel is a fast-paced journey from near-death to impossible odds. With an edgy precision for details and danger, Gates creates a web of espionage and deceit at the highest levels. I loved how the characters come alive, with strong personalities that connect readers to the terror that awaits them.

Reviewed by Emily Hegner for Readers' Favorite

Project Renaissance: White Wings by Brian Gates is a thrilling novel that quickly draws you in with its unique plot. Detective Booker is thrown into a chaotic bank robbery but it soon becomes apparent that this is no average bank robbery in Cleveland, Ohio and that there are greater forces in play. AI technology, corruption, and kidnapping are all major factors in a larger conspiracy. Brian Gates does a wonderful job of connecting all these major plot points while keeping the reader engaged. Detective Booker's need to locate his family is what ultimately drives this rich and well-thought-out plot.

Detective Booker is a wonderfully crafted character that questions the world around him and desperately searches for "the truth". Booker's partner Sam is a wonderful supporting character that plays off Booker well. The relationship between the two is that of a long-time partnership and Brian Gates does a superb job relaying this to the reader. Booker's psychedelic dreams will have the reader questioning what is real and what is simply happening inside Booker's head. If you are a fan of thrillers, you will relish Project Renaissance: White Wings. I have not read many thrillers but this book may change that. It has so many different components that it can appeal to just about any reader and that is what I truly loved about this book. The writing style is notable and it makes the book feel individualistic. Its quick pace and witty dialogue are just a few of the reasons that I thoroughly enjoyed it and I eagerly await the next in the series.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

The Killing of Faith by William Holms is truly different from any thrillers I’ve previously read, not just in the basic plot concept, but especially in the characterization of the female protagonist, Faith. When we first meet Faith, she comes across as a very pretty, but rather vacuous teen airhead who feels her looks can get her what an education can’t. As she matures, it appears Faith is right: she wins the heart of Ryan, a lawyer, and through several years of marriage, Ryan gives her a life of which most women would be envious. But, over time, the material trappings and even her 3 children aren’t enough for her. They divorce, much to Ryan’s heartbreak, and by the time Faith is in her mid-thirties, two more men have come into her life.

At this point, readers find themselves disliking Faith: she is self-centered and manipulative and blames everyone but herself when things go wrong. But karma is a bitch as Faith finds out in a most shocking twist that both readers and Faith don’t expect. Readers feel her pain, relate to her unfortunate plight, forgive her former treatment of Ryan, and begin liking the nicer human being she becomes as a result of her brutal misfortune. And just when we all think all is well, the author throws in another shocking twist that leaves everyone asking, “What just happened?”

The Killing of Faith is a riveting read, not just because of the clever twists in the plot, but because of the intimate look William Holms gives us into Faith’s psyche. Readers who enjoy knowing why and how people think, as much as what people do to themselves and each other, will appreciate this novel. Holms doesn’t waste time or words in telling his story; he uses dialogue well and often, and the pace is always moving forward quickly. As we watch Faith’s misfortunes mount, the book becomes very informative, but if I were to tell you in what way, I’d spoil the story for you. In short, read it for yourself. You’ll love it. A terrific book and great writing. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Miranda and the D-Day Caper by Shelly Frome is a sleuthing mystery story. Miranda Davis is a realtor. Her cousin Skip has turned up in town and she needs to deal with him. Babbling about conspiracy theories, Skip is on the run, his beloved cat has been abducted and he has nowhere else to go. Miranda doesn’t quite believe what Skip is telling her at first but her initial impressions prove to be wrong. Miranda gets onboard and together they try to figure out the conspiracy threatening the USA, even though the powers-that-be are intent on shutting them down. Skip and Miranda are heading straight into danger – can they save the day before their worst fears come true?

Miranda and the D-Day Caper by Shelly Frome is a sleuthing mystery set against a political backdrop of conspiracy theories and a plot to destroy the country. It has everything – good-old-fashioned mystery, a political thriller, humor, and plenty of suspense. It’s descriptive and well-written, with a smooth flowing plot and some great characters that are well-developed and relatable. It is an intricate story, and there is plenty going on with lots of twists and turns. At first, there seem to be lots of threads but believe me when I say that they all tie together very neatly. You won’t fail to be hooked by this story that seems more than just fiction, a story that draws you into its web and keeps you there until the end. If you love mystery stories and political intrigue, then you will love this story.

Reviewed by Grace Masso for Readers' Favorite

Revolution is the first book in The Sol Saga by James Fox, an enthralling science fiction tale with strong political themes and interplanetary intrigue. Brigadier General Keith Brennan of the Protectorate Forces is a skilled soldier who prefers battle to state dinners, and when we meet him, he is not comfortable in his dress-whites — the stiff collar, the constant fear of accidentally smearing the planet’s pervasive red-black dust on the too-tight fabric. But when the President of the solar system is assassinated on Mars, he is the best choice to carry out an investigation. He uncovers a conspiracy that is carefully designed to push the entire system into war, and only he can stop Earth and Mars from engaging in a full-blown war. He might be the best person for the job, but time is against him.

There couldn’t be a better opening for a promising science fiction series than Revolution, a tale with a world that is well thought out and carefully executed. The writing, from the first page on, is descriptive and atmospheric, exploring a world that instantly occupies the imagination of the reader. This is an interplanetary thriller with wonderfully written characters and a conflict that affects the very survival of the solar system. James Fox is an author who outfoxes readers, crafting a twisty tale that is hard to put down, keeping readers guessing what happens next. It was delightful to read this opening book in the series, and I must say that I was completely immersed in the story, gripped from the first to the last page, thanks to the author’s expert storytelling skills and the deft plotting.