Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

In Moonshine Mesa by A.W. Baldwin, seeking justice for his younger sister's death from a fentanyl overdose, Parker Barnes shifted careers and joined a property management company under Betty Coulter. Now, sent to replace the pressure gauges at a remote station in Cedar Flute ruins along with his partner Dom, Parker discovers anomalies that hint at a deeper conspiracy. When Dom is unexpectedly murdered, Parker is rescued by a reclusive moonshine-making loner named Relic. Meanwhile, bees, crows, and a university professor have mysteriously died at Cedar Flute ruins. After Parker and Relic inadvertently save the life of headstrong Deputy Dawson, who is investigating the case, they must find a way to catch the culprits and bring them to justice before the people pulling the strings flee the country.

Moonshine Mesa is a sleuth murder mystery, crime-drama thriller, and action novel all rolled into one page-turner. With some generous use of dry humor, A.W. Baldwin delivers a suspenseful novel that entertains you until the end. The plotting is intricate, and the narrative has a brisk pace that refuses to slow down for a second. Baldwin's witty dialogue and humor make for an enjoyable reading experience, enhanced by the vibrant characters whose personalities leap off the pages. I especially loved it when Deputy Dawson briefly joined the duo of Parker and Relic, creating a fascinating dynamic between the three. If you enjoy crime capers, dry humor, and quirky characters, you won't go wrong with Moonshine Mesa.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Olympus Bound is penned by author Zoë Routh in the science fiction, interpersonal drama, and adventure genres, and is the second novel in the Gaia series. The work is best suited to the adult reading audience as it contains explicit language throughout as well as some mild sexual references. Readers are plunged deep into a dystopian science fiction corporate thriller set within Gaia Enterprises. Commander Xanthe Waters leads the Moon base, Olympus, through a tumultuous period marked by eco-terrorism, environmental collapse, and political turmoil. As Olympus faces a crisis, a breakthrough in helium-3 technology reshapes its destiny, propelling it into the forefront of asteroid mining and becoming a sanctuary for climate refugees. Amidst the unforgiving lunar landscape, internal conflicts and fractured loyalties threaten the crew's survival. Xanthe Waters must navigate treacherous decisions while grappling with her suppressed emotions and the weight of leadership, as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

Author Zoë Routh crafts a darkly exhilarating journey through the complexities of space exploration and human drama. There are so many sharply-penned themes with strong perspectives, from Routh’s take on ecological disasters to political intrigue and emotive personal conflicts, creating a gripping narrative that weaves through different pressures and complexities with ease. This smoothness in the storytelling is enhanced by the control and confidence with which Routh presents her characters, detailing them with unique dialogue touches and close narration that lets us hear every tense heartbeat. Xanthe Waters' leadership struggles and inner turmoil are well expressed to allow us to bond closely with her, while the diverse cast of characters around Xanthe brought their own unique perspectives to the forefront. The exploration of survival in an alien environment, coupled with the examination of human dynamics and ambition, made for a riveting read that was well paced to have action-packed sections and slower moments of dramatic tension. Routh's vivid imagery and immersive storytelling transported me to the lunar landscape, where every decision carried weight and consequences echoed through the void of space. Overall, Olympus Bound is a thrilling sci-fi epic that leaves a lasting impression, perfect for fans of speculative fiction seeking an enthralling adventure beyond Earth.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

A Place Unmade is a work of fiction in the environmental issues, thriller, and intrigue subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience. Penned by author Carla Seyler, this fascinating novel delves into the consequences of a crime and a disaster orchestrated by a corporate executive, and the ensuing efforts to thwart his destructive plans. Valentina Sorelli, a part-time graduate student and marketing director, finds herself entangled in the web of deceit spun by Jack Stillman, who hijacks his company's research for personal gain. Their paths converge when Valentina encounters Jack's son, Sam, linking the realms of scientific discovery and corporate espionage. As Valentina and her classmates join forces to stop Jack, they receive assistance from a corporate whistleblower and the FBI. Amidst the chaos, Valentina's relationship with a classmate deepens as they confront imminent danger, unveiling the perils of biodiversity loss and patentable genetics.

Author Carla Seyler has crafted a masterful work of climate fiction that brings together elements of suspense, romance, and environmental awareness, creating a gripping narrative that resonates on multiple levels with current events. The characters are compelling and well-developed, each grappling with their own motivations and moral dilemmas in the face of Jack Stillman's machinations. I found the dialogue authentic, naturally placed, and used as a very clever tool to get a lot of exposition and explanation across easily. Seyler's exploration of corporate greed brings a very realistic sense of urgency to the plot, prompting readers to reflect on the real-world implications of unchecked scientific exploitation. I also really enjoyed the evolving relationship between Valentina and her classmate as a well-balanced emotional relief from the heavier aspects of the plot, offering a ray of hope in the face of disaster. Overall, A Place Unmade is an exhilarating and thought-provoking experience that kept me engaged from beginning to end, and I would highly recommend it to fans of intelligent, well-paced thrillers.

Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite

BJ Magnani's We'll Always Have Poison is the fourth book in the Dr. Lily Robinson series. Dr. Lily Robinson was a specialist in poisons and was often brought in to help with poisoning cases. A scientist, Daniel Williams, was scuba diving and documenting changes to coral when he was found dead on a beach off the northeast coast of Australia. A poisonous sea snake bite killed Daniel, but this sea snake was not usually found in that area. Lily was brought in as she was familiar with the climate scientist’s studies and poisons. She was still recovering from her previous mission and was joined by Parker and JP, a team primarily responsible for suppressing terrorist threats. JP and Lily were lovers but preferred to keep their relationship a secret.

We’ll Always Have Poison by BJ Magnani was intriguing and complicated. The story was fast-paced and jam-packed with action that never stopped. The study of poisons fascinated me, and I found it interesting how it was used in the story. The events were descriptive, and it was easy to feel as if I was part of the investigating team. The characters were authentic, and there were a few characters I did not like. I could relate to the characters who were sincere and trustworthy. Lily struggled to process and remember the events of long ago. Parts of her past were revealed now and then in the narrative. This story was masterfully written and hooked me from the start until the end.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

With a style so excellent and now familiar to me, Timothy S. Johnston has delivered the much-anticipated conclusion to his brilliant six-book series on the war beneath the seas: A Blanket of Steel. If you haven’t yet given yourself the pleasure of reading any of these books, Johnston expertly and cleverly brings you up to speed on the why, where, and how his futuristic oceanic epic began. It was the result of the author’s concern, research, and study of climate change. If the ramifications of climate change haven’t yet hit home for you, I guarantee you’ll find yourself thinking a lot more about what it will mean to our planet after reading just one of Johnston’s books. That’s how he hooked me with the very first book, The War Beneath. My fascination with Johnston’s ideas about resettling civilization on continental shelves in the oceans, which he so vividly depicts through his gripping plots and captivating characters, has made each book impossible to put down. No wonder I have now read all six books!

In A Blanket of Steel, the protagonist of the entire series, Truman McClusky, faces two formidable foes in his determined efforts to make the 15 undersea colonies, known as Oceania, fully independent of their climate change-ravaged mother countries on land. The mother countries rely for their existence on Oceania but refuse to pay what their products are worth. McClusky’s other foe is the Steel Shiv, an undefeated, merciless, and mercenary Russian assassin. When McClusky makes the long-awaited declaration of independence, the final, most decisive, and deadliest war begins. While McClusky is focused on leading Oceania to victory, the Steel Shiv is focused on killing McClusky. There is just so much mental and physical action and activity filling the pages of A Blanket of Steel that it’s impossible to capture it in a short review. Solution? Read the book and prepare to be blown away by one of the best writers I have ever had the pleasure to read. Timothy S. Johnston is simply amazing.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Olympus Project is a work of fiction in the science fiction and dystopian subgenres and forms the first installment in the Gaia series. It is best suited to mature readers and was penned by author Zoë Routh. In this opening adventure to what promises to be a clever, exciting, and well-developed series, we find ourselves in a future where humanity’s neglect of the global climate has left Planet Earth desolate and unliveable. The titular Olympus Project offers a means to colonize the moon, spearheaded by our central protagonists, the bright minds of Troy Bruin, Xavier Consus, and Xanthe Waters. But this intrepid trio is about to discover that there are those who don’t actually want salvation for the planet unless it’s under their total control.

Author Zoë Routh creates a superb dystopian setting for this thrilling novel, and one which is realized both in the cinematic aspect of the description, but also in its psychological atmosphere thanks to the sinister, tense undertones of the characters and the impending doom which they face should their mission fail. In terms of character development, I found the three personalities of the leading characters to be distinct in dialogue, approach, and attitude, which made it all the more exciting to see them put to the test in different ways and how they utilize the teamwork of their different skills to overcome the horrendous issues they face along the way. Overall, the fascinating concept and the vivid immersive qualities of The Olympus Project make it a fantastic choice for sci-fi readers everywhere and I’d highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite

Taquoma is an environmental thriller by Kevin D. Miller. Yara is collecting data to complete her dissertation for a Ph.D. She is a talented and promising young vulcanologist. A doctorate will enable her to buy a house near her parents for her and her six-year-old daughter. The USGS arrived at Mount Rainier and force Yara to go to Wyoming with them. There Yara is expected to join forces with an exclusive club comprising NASA and the USGS. The team of scientists examines data and plans to execute their strategy for the project. They are going to drill vents around the volcano and by injecting cold water at high pressure, they hope to help cool the magma chambers. Yara warns them against doing it, and she gets fired. Yara hires Clayton Red Sky to fly her over Yellowstone to assess the caldera when it erupted.

I was intrigued by the plot of Taquoma. It was fuelled by conflict and crisis. In this thrilling story, the apprehension builds slowly until the volcano finally erupts. Kevin D. Miller does justice to this disaster and the events that follow. It is fast-paced and full of action and there is never a dull moment. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat and it was a nail-biting experience. The characters were well-developed, and they all have a purpose. They were unusual, relatable, and strong throughout the story. It is skillfully written. Kevin has created a realistic story filled with drama while building tension with all the twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed Taquoma and recommend it highly.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Salt Island by Lisa Towles is a suspenseful thriller that forms the second book in the E&A Investigations series. In this installment, we find ourselves back with private investigator Mari Ellwyn and her new partner and former detective Derek Abernathy on a whole new case. Two accidental deaths turn out to be more than meets the eye, and a private investigation into blackmail claims leads our intrepid duo into a very dangerous situation. As a conspiracy of illegal drugs and toxic dumping comes to light, Ellwyn and Abernathy put their lives on the line to bring it all to an end.

Lisa Towles has a brilliant mind for suspense and plot links, and I was impressed with the craftsmanship of how the story comes together with its startling conclusion. Without wanting to say too much, there were unexpected plot strands that I thought were maybe only building character and flavor, and when these fed into the central story, I felt surprised and engrossed. The dynamic between Ellwyn and Abernathy is another highlight of the tale which lifts you every time their witty banter appears on the page. Their complementary skills are matched by wicked contrasts in personality that keep you sharp and interested in their growing bond. Overall, Salt Island is highly recommended for fans of intricately plotted mystery tales, high-stakes action, and dynamic detectives.

Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite

In a futuristic timeline on a different planet, insect-like creatures have evolved to the point where they control activities, similar to what we have on Earth. This planet is called Poo-ponic where almost-human size ants, bees, roaches, and worms coexist in harmony. However, a friendship between two ants with drastically different views on life is about to disrupt the harmony of this once-peaceful planet. Anthiery must decide if his friendship with Antilla is worth losing the respect of the ant he loves and what could be his greatest invention ever. Read on as a growing rivalry and its consequences push the planet to the precipice in Terry Birdgenaw's The Rise and Fall of Antocracy.

The Rise and Fall of Antocracy has the initial appearance of a book targeted at children but the more I read, I realized the storyline and content are of a mature orientation with present-day implications befitting a much older spectrum of readers. Terry Birdgenaw goes out of his way to superbly flesh out the background of this interesting story. The organization of the insectoids right down to their names, and the methods of calculating time, is impressive. The ease with which the story transitions across the different generations, and the characters that play primary roles, is remarkably fluid. What I like most about this story is the way Birdgenaw integrates real issues, such as deforestation, genocide, evolution, and the search for the perfect system of government, which is easy to understand and identify with irrespective of the age of the reader. With even doses of romance, action, and adventure, this tale is top-quality and in a class of its own.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Cold-Blooded Trade is a work of fiction in the mystery, crime, action, and thriller sub-genres, and it forms part of the Nick Tanner Crime Thriller series. Penned by Kerry K. Cox, the work is best suited to the adult reading audience through the use of explicit language throughout, as well as scenes of violence and sex. In this third installment, we find our innovative U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent wrapped up in another case that could lead to deeper, darker criminal motives. Busting traffickers in endangered reptiles ought to be a routine operation, but a sudden violent incursion reveals something far more deadly lurking in the backwaters of Mississippi’s swamplands.

Kerry K. Cox knows how to pace a thriller, and this next adventure with the unorthodox, sharp-witted, and enigmatic Nick Tanner leaves no room for boredom with its many twists and turns. I particularly loved the atmosphere and setting of this installment, with the ever-watchful eyes of the swamplands ramping up the tension as danger lurks from every angle, even the depths below. Nick’s development as a solo investigator is interesting to watch in the series due to the unusual challenges that this novel brings him. I found the realism in his dialogue and narrative presentation helped to ground the rest of the story so it always felt believably dangerous and tense. I would highly recommend Cold-Blooded Trade to fans of the existing series and the series in general for crime thriller readers seeking a unique premise and a highly engaging central hero.