Reviewed by Jennie More for Readers' Favorite

Final Table: A Novel by Dan Schorr is an international political crime novel told from the perspectives of the Canadian Ambassador Jacques Bouchard, a former White House official, Maggie Raster, activist Priya Varma, and a broke divorcee and gambler, Kyler Dawson. Upon the death of investigative journalist Emily Kinum, these people’s lives unexpectedly connect, subtly unraveling the issue of sexual harassment. The novel explores how sexual harassment plays out daily in most interactions, with the perpetrators and even the victims unaware of the imminent violation of boundaries. Schorr explores issues related to sexual harassment, including reputation, financial stability, public obliteration via social media, and its impacts on the mental and even physical wellbeing of the recipients of these attacks. This is a subtle portrayal of these pressing issues of our time, yet the message is clear, direct, and unavoidable.

Reading Final Table was like watching a movie about the White House. I could vividly see every character in front of me throughout the novel, and I felt their misery and joy. The characters whom Dan Schorr chose to focus on came alive in the novel, especially Maggie Raster and Kyler Dawson. I could relate to many real-life scenarios in this novel where successful women are often sexualized by both successful and unsuccessful men. The book portrays instances where women refuse to believe other women’s claims of sexual harassment. In some cases, men assume that because they like a woman, the woman should naturally be interested, and thus don’t request permission to pursue further contact. Schorr delves deeply into the many nuanced ways sexual harassment plays out in society and its devastating consequences for both men and women.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

In the center of a well-executed blend of modern politics, media power, self-serving motivations, coverups, murder, and gun violence, author Mikael Carlson has placed a couple of female protagonists; journalist Tierra Campos and FBI Special Agent Victoria Larsen. Tierra's and Victoria’s paths intersect when they realize they are both looking for the same thing: the motivation behind a mass murder, something neither law enforcement nor the FBI ever established. Was the truth covered up? If so, by whom and why? And then there’s the media darling, gun-control activist and speaker, Ethan Harrington. How did he, covered in blood but unscathed, manage to escape the gunman’s killing spree? Why are there no video recordings of the event? And why is he now the spokesperson for a powerful female senator, Alicia Standish, who hopes to win the presidency with her gun-control bill? As Tierra and Victoria dig deeper for information and begin discovering startling truths, their individual careers are threatened but, worse yet, their own lives are in danger. When a state governor who is pro gun control, is gunned down during a rally, all hell breaks loose. The events, the people involved and the suspected coverups trigger a media frenzy, catapulting Justifiable Deceit to its brilliant, hoped-for ending.

I’m not all that sure if the word “unputdownable” has made it into the dictionary yet, but honestly, it’s the best word to describe my reaction to Justifiable Deceit by Mikael Carlson. What a riveting and unique read this is. From its heart-stopping introductory chapter in which a crazed high school student goes on a shooting spree leaving 66 people dead to its most satisfying last pages, this book kept me so enthralled I read it in just over 48 hours. Unputdownable! Carlson’s stylistic approach to this novel is intriguing: in short chapters with lots of dialogue, he skips around between the characters so readers can see more closely into their minds and motivations, but always giving us just enough to keep us reading...and do we ever. He slows the pace every so often to give us an Edward R Morrow look into what’s happening. By doing so, Justifiable Deceit reflects what is probably a daily activity for most of us: catching up with the latest news and insights, shaking our heads at what we read and hear, and always wondering just how much of it should we believe. There are many words to describe Justifiable Deceit: high-speed, riveting, realistic, and thought-provoking. But the best word is still “unputdownable”!

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

The Accidental Oligarch: A Ukrainian Saga by David Hoffman is a suspense novel revolving around a twenty-eight-year-old male protagonist named Yuri Yavlinsky, a Kyiv Zoo employee who, within moments of being first on the chopping block of the now underfunded zoo, is summoned to the Ukrainian tax court. He's broke, his great-grandmother is infirm, his sister has resorted to taboo money-making, and his stepfather is a violent brute. Meanwhile, an opioid kingpin is living off the fat trimmed from a government his money influences, which has the unfortunate side effect of starving out the other 99%. People like Yuri. But Yuri is about to have his day in court and our new proverbial David kicks off a high-stakes undercover war against an entire political system built by the richest and most powerful Goliaths.

There's so much to love about The Accidental Oligarch that it's hard to know where to start. It's undeniable kismet that David Hoffman's fast-paced underdog thriller landed in my lap the day after video footage was released incriminating a real person named in this fictional book. Somewhere out there Oscar Wilde is clapping enthusiastically. Yuri is a likable character in a hierarchy of unlikeable people. We get to know both good and bad intimately with Hoffman swapping points of view between characters and allowing us into rooms we have no business being in. The writing is tidy and the tension is thick, but the best part is how Hoffman structures the uprising of everyday people against a backdrop of escalating conflict with a hostile Russia, on a worldwide stage, culminating with the invasion of Crimea. Spectacular. Truly.

Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers' Favorite

We witness a return to Liberia in West Africa as Daniel V Meier’s hero Ken Verrier and his wife Sam take a month’s trip to buy diamonds to finance their future back in the United States. The country is run by the descendants of people of color who had returned to Africa as free people, referred to as Americo-Liberians, who comprised the government and all services – in effect a ruling class. When the Verriers arrive, they are unaware of the tensions boiling below the surface. Since they are familiar with Liberia and the typical way of life in developing countries, Ken agrees to run the local aircraft hire company for an old and valued friend for a couple of months. In the following weeks, the only disruption is coping with Bao, their adopted monkey – the locals are eying up the bushmeat. But then the people rise up against William Tolbert’s government, and the killing begins.

In both books, The Dung Beetles of Liberia and this sequel, Blood Before Dawn, author Daniel V Meier captures the essence of Africa. It’s a continent that is both majestic and undeniably cruel. It’s the battlefield where the clash between foreign influence with western ideals of life and a fair standard of living, tribalism, lack of compassion, minimal sanctity of life, and belief in witchcraft meet and struggle. Meier throws the Americans into this mix, who are worried that either China or Russia is gaining inroads into an area they wish to influence, and this lights the touch paper to the revolution. No one is safe; men’s basest behaviors are unleashed, destroying lives and livelihoods.

The mindsets in developing countries are almost incomprehensible to anyone who has not lived there. I have enormous respect for this author who has drilled down to the truth and presented it as it is. The story itself takes the reader on a page-turning, fast-moving exciting ride, and I found myself holding my breath as I flew through the chapters. I can’t recommend it highly enough. As I wrote in my review for book one in the series, this is another read that will stay with me for years to come.

Reviewed by Grace Masso for Readers' Favorite

Girls, Crimes & the Ruling Body: A Novel by Barry R. Ziman is an engaging story with interesting and well-developed characters. Ryan McNeil works in Albany for Assemblyman Somatos, a powerful politician. He has plans of getting married to the love of his life, but Ryan unwittingly witnesses the abduction of a legislative intern while flirting. Everything about his life unravels in a way he never could have imagined, with Caroline Tierney leaving him so suddenly that he does not even have the time to process what is happening, and his dreams of a political career are dashed against the rocks. After seven years, Ryan, now married to Annie, finds himself in an act of infidelity and witnesses another kidnapping of a woman in Virginia, and this time, he is a prime suspect. Follow him as he deals with a pathologically lying wife with whom he does not feel any emotional connection, and fights to prove his innocence while figuring out where Caroline, the love of his life, fits into the picture.

Girls, Crimes & the Ruling Body is an engaging story that follows characters readers will stick with from beginning to end, especially the protagonist, Ryan McNeil as his life is overturned again and again due to his sexual infidelities. He just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, or does he? This novel is an emotional ride with a strong appeal to fans of thrillers, and it explores themes of power and the connection it has to sexual desires, infidelity, and marriage. It is revelatory of the base natures of humans, especially those of the ruling class, and it shows readers how power can be used to manipulate others. Barry R. Ziman has an extraordinarily brilliant talent when it comes to weaving complex plot points and characters that readers can easily identify with.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Kobani by author FX Holden is a political thriller set in 2030, based on the geopolitical trends of current times. The Kurdish and Turkish forces are busy fighting their never-ending battle with the Syrian Armed forces backed covertly by the Russian government. American reluctance to directly join the war efforts of their Turkish allies ends when Russian state of the art stealth fighter jets named Felons bring down two 4th gen-combat drones of the American-led coalition. Told through multiple POVs including the likes of Marine Gunnery Sergeant James Jensen, an AI weapons handler, Royal Australian Air Force Flying Officer Karen 'Bunny' O' Hare, Flying Officer Meany of the Royal Air force, Lieutenant Yevgeny Bondarev, Israeli Intelligence Agent Shimi Rahane, and many more, Kobani is an action-packed war novel that keeps you hooked till the last page.

FX Holden's novel mirrors today's geopolitical trends and deftly showcases their possible repercussions a decade down the line. Kobani is a realistic depiction of a hypothetical war between world powers following their current political, strategic, and ideological stances. With compelling characters, cleverly written dialogue, and a riveting narrative that freezes your blood at times, Kobani is a blockbuster of a novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was particularly impressed by Holden's realistic depiction of war and global geopolitics. The plot moves at a breakneck speed, with the action sequences described cinematically in vivid detail. Overall, I found Kobani to be a smartly written political thriller. I would highly recommend it to fans of action-oriented political thrillers.

Reviewed by Grace Masso for Readers' Favorite

One Kingdom Under Heaven by Alastair Luft is a skillfully written thriller featuring terrorism and political intrigue, a novel set in the future and against a tense political backdrop. It is 2029 and China attacks the United States, leaving many casualties. Malcolm Kwong is a retired Navy SEAL who loses his family in the attack. Malcolm is a wounded man who wants nothing but revenge, and his target is the Chinese Presidency. He assembles a team. An alliance with Ismail Khoja — a Uighur whose attempt to kill the Chinese president was botched five years ago — can be a game changer in the war he is about to start. But can he succeed?

One Kingdom Under Heaven reads like an action movie. It is pulsating. As I read from one scene to the next engrossing one, I couldn’t help but remember the intensive action in the movie, Olympus Has Fallen. While it is set in the future, the author does an impeccable job of writing about the political conflict between the USA and China, an escalation of the perceived contemporary conflict between the two countries. One Kingdom under Heaven is a cleverly plotted novel whose action puts readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are sophisticated and elaborately written. Alastair Luft is a master at writing motivation into the characters and I particularly enjoyed how Malcolm Kwong evolved in this sense. This is a story with unforgettable characters, a plot that is twisty, and prose that is excellent.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Patriot’s Grill is a work of fiction in the action, science fiction, and thriller sub-genres, and was penned by author Steven Day. Suitable for mature audiences and containing some minimal scenes of moderate violence, this exciting futuristic thriller novel is set in the not so distant year of 2099, where America has devolved into a dystopian dictatorship and democracy is a long-forgotten word. We meet protagonist Joe Carlton, leading a mundane life as a bartender at the titular Patriot’s Grill, and go with him on an eye-opening journey to the true meaning of liberty when a chance encounters changes his life forever.

Author Steven Day has crafted a high relatable work of speculative science fiction and dystopian drama which has its feet in the future, but an eye firmly turned back to contemporary times. Witty, slick, and filled with intrigue and thought-provoking moments, this is a plot that encourages us to really get to know the dark realities of where our own future could be headed in America and other nations the world over. I enjoyed Joe as a refreshing narrator deeply entrenched in his broken society, a blank canvas for psychological discovery and rebellion against dangerous forces as the plot progresses. Everything in the world-building of this dark vision of 2099 rings the alarm bells for the agenda of certain parties in our current society, which overall makes The Patriot’s Grill a brilliantly penned cautionary tale, and a highly recommended read for political thriller fans everywhere.

Reviewed by Carol Coetzee for Readers' Favorite

A team of highly trained intelligence analysts are sent to Iraq on a mission. Whilst there, their convoy is ambushed and some of the team members are killed. The seriously injured survivors are treated in a hospital. Once released, Eugene "Boston" Hollinger starts to have strange dreams and consults a dream therapist, Dr Tara Winters, to help him understand his mysterious dreams. With more understanding of his almost prophetic dreams, he rounds up a team and sets off in search of a high ranking government mole. Corruption, betrayal, secrets, lies and a cat and mouse hunt all make for an exciting read. How will Boston's dreams help him to uncover this mole? They seem to be his only clues on this deadly hunt.

A twisting and gracefully woven plot unravels on the pages as Boston tries to determine the identity of the mole to save himself and others. It certainly keeps you guessing as you attempt to determine who this mole could be. Can you solve it before Boston does? Meanwhile, Dr Winters is trying to find out exactly what happened to Boston in the hospital, and if he really does have PTSD. The Eyes of Others by Mikael Carlson is a real page turner, filled with action, mystery, and intriguing, surprising twists and turns.

If you enjoy suspenseful genres with a twist, you should most certainly read The Eyes of Others by Mikael Carlson. The characters are well developed and the pace is steady and relentless. Mikael Carlson has a great writing style, and the book is well written and easy to read. The plot is intriguing and captivating, holding your attention throughout. Mikael has created realistic, unique and gritty characters which become like family, some of which you love, others which you dislike, but nonetheless you are embroiled in their exploits. There is very little gratuitous violence, which is refreshing in a novel of this genre. The ending was surprising and unexpected as well as thought provoking, and stayed with me long after I had read the final pages of The Eyes of Others. An excellent read!

Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers' Favorite

What if there was a conspiracy to rig the next national elections in the United States and elect a man who was prepared, even eager, to use nuclear weapons to regain America’s dominant place in the world? This is the basis of Don Helin’s book Missing. Zack Kelly returns to his hometown for a class reunion. One of his old schoolfriends dies in his arms before the event even starts. All too soon, the FBI, the local police, and the CIA are all involved in the case, which appears to reach the very highest levels. A break-in at a professor’s house in Fairfax is at first unconnected with a company owning and running five old age homes where the dementia wards are off-limits to everyone. A series of kidnappings, all of the personnel involved in the vote-counting procedures, and suspicions run high. Zack meets up with several old colleagues with whom he’s worked before, one of them going undercover, and together, they begin to peel back the levels of conspiracy and corruption.

Missing by Don Helin is a fast-moving, page-turning thriller set in the halls of power in the United States. There is a large cast of characters working together in teams which is refreshing and more realistic than one hero who accomplished everything by himself. There are several threads to the story as different teams investigate diverse aspects of the high-level conspiracy, but that did not detract from me thoroughly enjoying the story. The pace was excellent, it was almost believable, and I loved the way the teams all worked together to unravel the corruption crisscrossing locations and events. The dialogue flowed naturally and matched the speakers. There was a strong characterization of the villains as well, not that any of them had many redeeming features. I thought the idea of twins providing alibis for each other was clever, and then there was an extra twist to that as well. A tissue might be recommended for the last couple of pages. A good, satisfying read.