Reviewed by Shrabastee Chakraborty for Readers' Favorite

Dr. Diane Nelson’s lifelong love of the ocean, nurtured by her Uncle Bo, culminated in her getting a post-doctoral position at Ocean Science and Climatology Foundation. Her prior research on dinoflagellates is invaluable in preventing the red algae bloom that has been spreading through the Gulf of Mexico at an alarming rate, wreaking havoc on marine biodiversity and contaminating freshwater supplies with neurotoxins. As the death toll keeps rising with each passing day, OSCF deploys a group of excellent scientists working around the clock. While happy to have joined the dedicated researchers, Diane cannot help noticing a few oddities. Why are the co-founders of OSCF so reluctant to find out the root cause of the bloom? Why did a former employee become so distressed that he threatened his labmates with a gun before taking his own life? Read Bleeding Sea, an eco-thriller by K.A. Kirtland.

The novel boasts a fast-paced, engaging plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from the first page. The enormity of the environmental disaster helps us realize how vulnerable we are to nature's wrath. K.A. Kirtland highlights how the insatiable greed of a few corrupt people can lead to utter devastation. Added to this, the hair-raising sequence of events, including a harrowing shooting, undersea missions in the poisonous water, or midnight investigations in an off-limit plant, makes the storyline taut with palpable tension. Despite all odds, Diane’s resolute persona and unrelenting pursuit of truth make her a true researcher. We admire her logical approach to problem-solving and strength, especially when a series of possible sabotages puts the integrity of her labmates in question. Kirtland weaves a complicated tapestry of corruption, half-truths, and betrayals, mystifying readers till the end. I recommend Bleeding Sea to anyone who loves climate fiction and environmental thrillers. It will be perfect for fans of Michael Crichton’s State of Fear.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

In The Vulnerable by Ed DeJesus, after entering a relationship with Robin O’Rourke, Dan DeCosta is driven into a dangerous situation involving her violent former partner, legal consequences, and the threat of financial and physical collapse. His father, Dick DeCosta, a targeted climate activist who had moved to Florida to avoid hostile groups, is compelled to return to Boston when Dan’s situation worsens. As Dick attempts to help his son, his wife falls seriously ill, and his daughter is threatened with advancing wildfires. Meanwhile, Meghan McCormack, the family’s promiscuous physical therapist, begins to uncover evidence of concealed identities and long-suppressed truths. As events escalate, Dick DeCosta and his family confront multiple personal and external pressures that threaten their safety, stability, and relationships.

The Vulnerable by Ed DeJesus is a simmering, well-written novel that goes a long way in pulling readers into a world inhabited by realistic characters facing genuine life situations. Dan’s experience with substance use, Joanna’s health anxiety, Jim’s quiet grief, Dick’s fatigue with family responsibility, and Robin's fears, among many others, are portrayed with honesty in their flaws, allowing their humanity to shine through as people who feel authentic. I found Robin's state to be the most interesting, and the presence of Sean, even when he is not there, and the lingering trauma he causes create a persistent psychological toll that kept me invested emotionally in her story. DeJesus thoughtfully incorporates social concerns such as climate change, police misconduct, workplace toxicity, and the influence of social media to ground the storyline by showing how these issues affect the characters’ lives. Through clear, straightforward prose and skillful development, DeJesus strikes gold. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Centaurius Fractured Earth: The Key by SJ McGarry opens with a bang, and then it never lets up, launching readers into a thrilling YA sci-fi world full of mystery, danger, and heart. We're with Allen, who discovers that the artifact he has carried since childhood is a powerful tool called The Key, and is suddenly thrust into a secret war that will decide the fate of Earth. With enemies closing in and trust in short supply, Allen must reckon with the truth about who he is and what role he is meant to play. Alongside a girl who knows more than she says and may be tied to his destiny, Allen embarks on a journey filled with hidden powers, government conspiracies, and emotional stakes.

Author SJ McGarry has a real sense of scale in the worldbuilding of this novel, and there's such an energetic and immersive world going on around the characters that it feels like a real place that readers can slot themselves into alongside the heroes. This creates a brilliant sense of comfort and confidence in the author for McGarry to then rocket us off on a really wild ride. Allen is a likable and layered protagonist whose uncertainty feels just as real as his bravery. The sci-fi elements are exciting without being overwhelming, and the relationships at the story’s core add depth to the action. I especially appreciated how the novel kept me guessing without ever feeling convoluted. Overall, Centaurius Fractured Earth: The Key is a captivating blend of high-stakes science fiction and heartfelt coming-of-age drama that will hook fans of young adult adventure from the first page, and I would not hesitate to recommend it.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Tick... Tick... Tick... by Steve Zettler is a taut environmental thriller that propels readers into a world teetering on the brink of ecological collapse. We’re with federal agent Harlan Stone when he’s dispatched to Pennsylvania Dutch Country on a seemingly mundane inquiry about a sterile bull, but his investigation quickly uncovers something far more sinister. Within weeks, the global beef market implodes, and cascading environmental catastrophes threaten humanity’s survival. With no clear enemy and time running out, Stone must unravel a web of sabotage, extortion, and eco-terrorism that could signal the end of life as we know it. The clock is ticking, and the fate of the world rests in the hands of a single operative with everything to lose.

Author Steve Zettler has a way of drawing you into his world with interesting details and questions, creating a high-stakes, edge-of-your-seat thriller that makes you think about science and the world we live in. The confident writing style paces its suspense well, with natural-sounding conversations that convey a sharp geopolitical insight without ever getting preachy or spoiling the pace of the action. The details are cinematically penned, with an explosive blend of mystery and environmental urgency that is well-timed and suitably sensational for this plot, but also feels terrifyingly real and relevant to the modern age. I enjoyed Harlan Stone as the central focus for the story, with his tough exterior, but thoroughly intelligent approach to his work that’s perfectly suited to this globe-spanning race against time. I found myself diving into chapter after chapter, unable to put the book down without finding out what the next twist would be, and there were certainly plenty of genuine environmental concerns that have followed me out into the real world for some important lessons about our planet’s future. Overall, I would certainly recommend Tick... Tick... Tick... to fans of intelligently penned, genre-spanning thrillers for the modern, climate-conscious age.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Nocturne in Ashes by Joslyn Chase is the first book in the Riley Forte Suspense Thriller series. Concert Pianist Riley Forte is trapped in her community by the violent eruption of Mt. Rainier. She’s still struggling to come to terms with the deaths of her husband and son. The eruption has caused chaos, with no power and little food and water to go around, but things are about to get a whole lot worse. There’s a killer on the loose, picking off people one at a time, and Riley doesn’t want to be next. This was meant to be her chance to push her guilt to one side and start living again, but she can’t do that with a killer roaming the streets. She has no choice. She has to hunt the killer down for her one chance at redemption. Can she stop the killing spree?

Nocturne in Ashes by Joslyn Chase is a wonderful thriller that will have you gripped by suspense all the way through. A fast-paced novel, each chapter is told from a different character’s point of view – there are quite a few, but Joslyn has done a marvelous job of keeping them separate while integrating them seamlessly into the story. Each character has their personality and is likable in their own way, and the action will keep you on the edge of your seat. Some twists and turns will throw you off track, but there are plenty of clues – you just have to put them together. This is compelling reading, written in a way that transports you into the story, experiencing everything the characters are going through, and several subplots that all tie neatly into the main one. The chapters are short, making you think you can get away with reading one or two a night, but trust me, once you start reading, you’ll be up long into the night, desperate to find out what happens. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to embroil themselves in a heart-pounding environmental thriller.

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.