Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Hallowed Halls by H.E. Kline is an engrossing crime thriller with a lot of courtroom drama featuring an exceptional female protagonist. Becky Lawrence graduated from Harvard Law School and lands her dream job. She is the Assistant U.S. Attorney. But she has a huge problem. She is irresistibly attracted to her intelligent, handsome, and brash boss, Zach Woods, who happens to be a married man. She has an even bigger problem—a ghost prowls the courthouse, seeking the justice he was once denied.

H.E. Kline lets readers in on what happens in the courthouse — the injustices, the crimes, and the controversial situations that are capable of blowing the reader’s mind. The reader is left in no doubt that this crime thriller is written by an expert, someone who has worked the courtroom for many years and paid attention to everything happening there. The narrative combines crime and legal themes with romance to create an exciting reading experience for readers. The characters are complex with deep layers, but they are real; even Charlie, who will arouse the reader’s sympathy and sense of pathos.

Hallowed Halls is a story that is filled with symbolism and irony. It is ironic that a place that is supposed to represent justice becomes one of the places that reflects the worst forms of injustice. Hallowed Halls narrates a reality that is filled with ignominy. The prose is wonderful, the drama exciting, and the characters hugely entertaining. This thriller kept me reading through the night.

Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

The Company of Demons by Michael Jordan is a wonderful blend of crime and mystery, a riveting story with sophisticated characters. Lawyer John Coleman is shocked, like everyone else, at the murder of his friend, a murder that is brutal and that looks like the handiwork of a serial killer who had cooled off over the years, the Torso Murderer. Hired by Jennifer, the dead man's daughter, to take care of the estate, John finds himself unwittingly developing romantic feelings for her. But this is just the beginning of trouble for him because he faces a ruthless biker gang, a cop with a questionable past, and the addict son of the dead man. Is the murderer watching his every step?

There is just such a lot that this author does impeccably well. First, he opens the narrative with a dramatic moment, presenting the crime and introducing the protagonist. He captures the scene with descriptions that are terrific and detailed with forensic clarity and goes on to create a premise that implicates the protagonist and subtly links him to the murder. The suspected murderer is someone his detective father had failed to apprehend in the past and fact that the newspapers are talking about it leaves a moral obligation in his mind. The prose is unique and the narrative is awesome in the first person narrative voice. The imagery is vivid and this makes readers feel like they are also part of the plot. Michael Jordan is a great storyteller and he has the ability to keep the narrative emotionally intense and psychologically disturbing. The Company of Demons is a real page-turner.

Reviewed By Jane Finch for Readers' Favorite

Betrayal in Blue: Zachary Blake Betrayal Series (Book 3) by Mark M. Bello follows the fortunes of Jack Dylan and his team as they try to foil a deadly plot to release Sarin upon the unsuspecting town of Dearborn, where the perpetrators seek to take their revenge for a past defeat by the lawmakers of Dearborn. When the FBI becomes involved and messes up big time, Jack takes matters into his own hands in his quest to bring the main perpetrator to justice. By doing so, Jack finds himself in trouble with the law and has to call on his friend Zachary Blake to defend him in a tense courtroom drama.

Mark M. Bello has crafted an exciting mixture of a crime and legal thriller which takes the reader on an exciting journey through the investigation, the chase, the deception, and then the legal trial, so just when the reader thinks the story is done, more is to come. In a well-written story with strong characters that endear themselves to the reader, Jack Dylan and Zachary Blake are on a quest to right a wrong that should never have happened. The title, Betrayal in Blue, perfectly portrays this novel, with an enticing cover that is sure to attract readers of both crime and legal thrillers. This is book 3 in the Zachary Blake Betrayal Series, but for those who have not read the earlier books, this works as a stand-alone book. The reader soon becomes familiar with the main characters, and it was a nice surprise to have the story followed by the courtroom scenario. Nicely done.

Reviewed By Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

Author Joel Burcat’s credentials reassured me that Drink to Every Beast, with its plot centered on the illegal disposal of dangerous chemicals, wouldn’t be a flight of fictional fantasy...and it wasn’t. Not only is it a captivating legal thriller, but it’s also a rather delightful look into the romantic side of human relations, and Burcat handles both his main plot and the romantic subplot with admirable skill. From the word go, Burcat rivets us with his very frightening depiction of two happy teens diving into toxic river waters and the horrific consequences. The main plot is up and running in no time as members of the department of environmental protection search not only for the toxic waste dumpers but for the boreholes into which they are dumping. Of course, ultimately it’s all about lack of conscience and greed, a theme that carries over in different forms into other minor subplots involving politicians, crooked lawyers, and cops on the take...and it makes for exciting, eye-opening reading.

Giving readers a break from the mounting thriller tension is the protagonist’s unplanned involvement with two beautiful women at the same time. Mike is a nice Jewish guy, not as confident in dealing with affairs of the heart as he is with environmental issues. Lacking the courage to tell either woman about the other, he goes back and forth between the two, fully aware of the complications should each find out about the other. When they do, the fallout is almost as deadly as that toxic waste. Apart from giving readers a captivating primary plot, Burcat’s strength lies in the realness of his characters. Unless we’re made of granite, we can relate to Mike’s ambivalence about the two women in his life, and even more to how these two women, Patty and Sherry, cope with Mike’s bungling. It’s all so very human and credible. With excellent handling of dialogue, description, characterization, and plot, Drink to Every Beast is quite a feast and a wonderful debut novel.

Reviewed By Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Rattlesnake & Son is the eleventh novel in the Rattlesnake Lawyer Series by Jonathan Miller. Dan Shepard was called to Truth and Consequences, New Mexico to represent a boy who had been caught shoplifting. Thinking that this would be an open and shut case, he drives there to find out that the boy he is going to defend is his son. He meets with his ex-wife and his now fourteen-year-old son Marley. Taking it as the perfect opportunity to reconnect with his son, Dan finally experiences what it means to be a father. However, life has other plans for him and his son, as Marley is charged with some terrible crimes that he might have committed at his school. It is not your usual trouble at school and Dan has to work especially hard to get his son’s name cleared. This could be the toughest battle that he has ever fought and it might be the one that he loses.

Fast-paced and heart-racing, Rattlesnake & Son by Jonathan Miller had me sitting on the edge of my seat. It was a quick novel to read, the characters were well developed, the plot was well-thought-out and everything was given proper time and space to grow naturally. Nothing was hurried and the author never tried to wrap up something. Every twist and turn of the story was necessary and it all tied together in the end. The author did a wonderful job at not only writing an amazing mystery novel but doing it justice. Reading Rattlesnake & Son was an amazing, very entertaining experience.

Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

The Weight by award winning author Hubert Crouch is a unique thriller and the third book in the Jace Forman legal thriller series. After Leah Rosen, a young reporter, publishes her article “Texas Justice Gone Wrong,” she receives an unexpected response from Cal Connors, a powerful lawyer, who is featured in the article as being a perpetrator of a multi-million dollar fraud in the justice system involving an insurance company. The reporter is being sued for defamation. Now Jace Forman must defend the young reporter, but the task is far more than standing behind a defendant because the plaintiff is as cunning as he is ruthless. Forman has to follow a trail of blood and deal with a disgusting case of kidnapping to bring the enemy down.

Hubert Crouch has a knack for writing prose that is tight and with emotional insight. This story will absorb thriller fans that also enjoy compelling courtroom drama. The plot is complex and there is so much in it to wow the reader. The author shows great mastery of the law and seems to have been around the courtroom for a while. I love stories that feature great and vivid descriptions with plot-driven dialogues that do not come across as forced, and the author masterfully blends the two aspects of storytelling in this compelling story. The characters are awesome. I loved the way the antagonists of the story are created. Cal Connors and his daughter are hard-core criminals who are very ingenious in executing their criminal plans and it is enjoyable to watch them against a formidable adversary. The Weight exceeded my expectations and I was absorbed from the beginning to the end.

Reviewed By Lucinda E Clarke for Readers' Favorite

Betrayal of Faith by Mark M Bello tells the story of a family ripped apart after widowed Jennifer Tracey persuades her two sons, Kenny and Jake, to go on a church camping weekend led by the newly arrived Father Gerry. On both those nights the boys were subjected to rape and for weeks they would not talk about it. In one weekend their behaviour had changed drastically. On mentioning this to the church, they arranged for the boys to receive professional help and the story finally comes out. Jennifer decides to pursue the matter through the courts to prevent any more children becoming victims. She consults her former lawyer, who in the meantime has fallen on hard times. It’s the start of a long, hard road as she fights for justice, not only against Father Gerry but also against the Catholic Church.

I was so glad I chose to read and review Betrayal of Faith by Mark M Bello. It is one of those books when I ignore the dishes in the sink, the unmade bed, and sit and read, totally absorbed, from beginning to end. The characters are well drawn and spring to life off the page. The pace was brisk, never stalling on too many technical and legal details as the legal battle continues. There are heart stopping moments when you’re not entirely sure of the outcome. Vital witnesses go missing, one witness won’t commit to appearing for the defence. I liked the private investigator called Micah Love with his idiosyncrasies, and admired Zachery Blake as he pulled himself back on track. In the background are the shadowy figures of the Coalition, a church group set up to spy on how priests behave, but more importantly to cover up any mistakes and prevent any publicity detrimental to the Church. There is nothing they are not prepared to do to preserve the perfect image of their religion. There was a surprise twist at the end and the author did a great job in tying up all the loose ends. A modern book that peels away the layers of secrecy that surround the sexual abuse of children by the very people they trust. It’s a topical subject and Mark M Bello has created an excellent story. A well deserved 5 stars.

Reviewed By Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Deviant Agendas: A Victoria Rodessa Legal Thriller by Katherine Smith Dedrick is Volume 1 of the V-Files. Victoria Rodessa has graduated from law school and has gone to join Acker, Smith & McGowen, one of the top international law firms that pushes female lawyers to succeed. The partners have high ambitions and when a top case falls into Victoria’s lap, a case that is important to their ambitions, she starts the journey to become the first female partner of the firm. Things are not what they seem at first glance though, and Victoria could be heading for trouble. She has to make a big decision – listen to her conscience and risk losing all she has worked for, or stay quiet and pay a far higher price. Which path would you take?

Deviant Agendas by Katherine Smith Dedrick is a cracking legal thriller. This is real edge of your seat stuff, a gripping rollercoaster ride of a story. Victoria is the kind of character you can instantly feel an affinity with, a smart woman who is good at what she does. The development of the characters throughout the book was excellent and I really felt as though I were a part of their world. This book has a great plot, intriguing and deep without being complicated. It was an easy story to read and follow, highly entertaining with plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked. Absolutely loved this story and I am so looking forward to reading the next installment. I would recommend this book to anyone – it has a bit of everything!

Reviewed By Sandy Appleyard for Readers' Favorite

First time author Emme Dun has done a remarkable job of pulling together a thought-provoking and important story about the gay rights movement, one that will touch many readers regardless of beliefs or sexual orientation. The title is apt since at the heart of Bully are two couples; one homosexual, another heterosexual, who are being bullied into surrendering their full parental rights as retribution from the other party for breaking up the relationship.

There is an important lesson to be learned in this novel, and it isn’t simply about ‘coming out’ of the proverbial homosexual closet, or fighting for LGBT rights; it’s more about reading the signs of a failed relationship and acting on them, especially when children are involved. Bully illustrates the anguish and familial turmoil that can happen when an unstable person is pushed away much too long after they've been given a free ride. It’s about what can happen when people exploit laws, and corrupt members of the justice system work hand-in-hand for their own personal benefit, dismissive of what damages they inflict on families.

Emme Dun’s knowledge of the American justice system is clear and well-defined as she paints an unambiguous picture of court proceedings and the sabotage occurring behind each custody case. Bully is a nail-biting, heart-breaking, and educational account of what can unfold when hot worldly issues are mixed with the failure of the systems that have been put in place to protect us. This is an account of the domino effect that can happen to anyone involved in a parental relationship, whether homosexual or heterosexual; Bully is entertaining, enlightening, and has been tastefully written to maintain equal understanding and respect for all walks of life.