Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

How the Ə Got Producted: A Love Story is an unusual work of fiction in the humor, alternative thinking, and adventure subgenres. It is aimed at the general adult reading audience, contains moderate usage of explicit language throughout, and some unusual sexual situations. It was penned by author N K Von S. The story follows the exploits of protagonist N. after she is left in emotional ruin by a failed love affair. Throwing herself into her work in Washington D.C., N. enters a world of influence and lobbying surrounding the biomedical technology industry. Here she discovers the Ə, a technology that could change the world forever.

Politically savvy readers will find much to engage with in the central plot of this highly original and intriguing novel. Author N K Von S packs a surprising amount of detail, critical thinking, and plot points into a concise space, moving the story along at a pace that allows readers to let the details sink in, but also keeps things hurtling along as N. gets more and more deeply involved in the consumerism and competition of it all. There’s much to be said about our modern take on technology so closely integrated into our modern lives, and this novel really homes in on why we feel such a desperate need for “the next big thing” all the time. Overall, How the Ə Got Producted has to be read to be fully understood, and it comes highly recommended to satire fans seeking critical commentary on our world today, as well as those looking for original storytelling with unpredictable new ideas aplenty.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Awful Truth About The Herbert Quarry Affair is a work of fiction in the dark humor subgenre. It is best suited to mature readers owing to the use of strong language throughout and was penned by Denis Shaughnessy, writing as the central character of the book itself, Marco Ocram. In this first novel of The Awful Truth series, Marco finds that he has written himself deep into trouble, thanks to his mentor’s encouragement to write with total freedom and devoid of thought. When his mentor, Herbert Quarry, finds himself caught at the scene of his lover's murder, it’s up to Marco to write them both out of this terrible mess.

This fascinating work of satirical mystery fiction has much to offer those who have grown tired of the many tropes and conventions of the typical murder mystery. Denis Shaughnessy has plenty of tricks up his sleeve writing in the guise of the surreal Marco Ocram. This book breaks just about every taboo that publishers tell new authors to stay miles away from. The book does it so bravely in the narrative style, dialogue, and plot delivery that it cannot fail to bring a brazen smile to the faces of rebellious readers everywhere. I also enjoyed the character development and the mentorship between Herbert and Marco, which was suitably sharp-witted and ridiculous in all the right places. I would recommend The Awful Truth About The Herbert Quarry Affair to fans of convention-breaking and highly engaging mystery tales.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

A Hole in the Head (James Strait Mysteries Book 3) by John Eidswick is an out-and-out action thriller that takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of action, excitement, and emotion. When retired F.B.I. Special Agent James Strait’s estranged brother is murdered, the day after he had sought help from James and been refused it, the former law enforcement officer is stricken with pangs of guilt. Forced to leave his partner and their troubled, teenage foster daughter behind in the small northern Arizona town of Pine River to travel to Tucson to formally identify his murdered brother, James has little idea of the chaos and mayhem he is about to encounter and his own family secrets that he will uncover along the way. James will find himself not only caught up in a massive manhunt for the man who killed his brother but also a serial killer guilty of murdering scores of illegal immigrants who have crossed the Mexican border seeking freedom, asylum, and a better life. James, with his immense bulk and height, plus his history with the F.B.I., is considered by many to be a true American hero but this adventure will test all his physical skills as well as put his emotions through the wringer.

As a professional reviewer, I read hundreds of books a year but few have captured my absolute and undivided attention as much as A Hole in the Head did. Author John Eidswick grabs your attention from the very first paragraph and never lets you get even the slightest bit distracted from the compelling narrative he is spinning. The author’s plotting skills are second to none and even I struggled to pick some of the intricate plot twists he throws in along the way. I particularly enjoyed that this was a substantial story and one that, once started, was impossible to stop. He did a superb job of not only narrating the violent and graphic action scenes in the story but there is also a significant amount of time and effort that went into character development and analysis of James’s motivation and his emotional state. I did appreciate that the story was incredibly timely with the current political situation in America and the state of illegal immigration, especially across the Mexican border. What the author highlights perfectly in this book are the incredibly entrenched viewpoints that seem prevalent across all aspects of American society these days. There are no grey areas anymore, it seems, no middle ground, just two firmly delineated sides to every argument, both of whom appear incapable of empathizing with even a smidgeon of the other’s opinions or beliefs; understanding and compromise are things of the past. This is the third book in the James Strait Mysteries and if this book is to be used as the benchmark, I definitely want to read the first two and indeed any more iterations that this author pens. This is a fantastic story, one of the best books I’ve read in a long time and I can highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The Price of Silence by Ulla Hakanson is the story of Amy Robinson who joins her cousin on a kayaking trip in the wilderness of British Columbia. She tries to put an abusive relationship behind her and start life afresh. She makes new friends and together they enjoy the kayaking trip. But she finds herself trapped because her ex-fiance Tyler has been following her. He is on the run from drug gangs and he desperately requires money. He knows Amy has saved some cash for expanding her hair salon business. One of Amy's new friends, Ben Malik, is a cop and she finds herself drawn towards him. But then Tyler pulls her away from her good friends and drags her along with him into his world of drugs and gangsters.

The story is thrilling and exciting. It makes the reader want to know what is going to happen next. The plot is extremely intriguing and filled with suspense. The reader gets a peek into the filthy world of drugs and gangsters. The theme of the story is relevant. It is something that can happen to anyone, getting trapped with the muck of bad boyfriends. The character of Amy trying to escape and find a good life for herself is understandable. British Columbia lends a good backdrop to the story. The destruction that drugs can cause in one's life is portrayed well here. Will Amy be able to get out of the mess? Will Ben Malik be able to save her from Tyler and his group?

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

When an attorney's aunt unexpectedly dies, she discovers her aunt's life was more complex than she realized in the legal mystery, The Advocate's Labyrinth: The Advocate Series Book 12 by Teresa Burrell. When attorney Sabre Brown's Aunt Goldie dies from a heart attack, she becomes the trustee to Goldie's estate. The very first thing Goldie charges her to do is hold off on telling her children of her demise and to change her locks. Believing Goldie has very few assets, Sabre can't believe her eyes when she unlocks her aunt's front door. Goldie was a hoarder, and as Sabre and her brother Ron sift through Goldie's belongings, they discover she had secrets few knew. While juggling her greedy, unpleasant cousins and the legal aspects of Goldie's estate, Sabre finds a few more surprising new elements in Goldie's life, substantially affecting the assets and their distribution. Can Sabre keep the peace long enough to fulfill her aunt's wishes? Can she protect Goldie's legacy?

The Advocate's Labyrinth is a riveting legal mystery depicting the difficulties and surprises a lawyer confronts while performing her duty. It is a brilliant novel with a complex plot and well-defined characters. Several intriguing and intense subplots thread through the storyline, creating a suspenseful and captivating book. The author, Teresa Burrell, did a magnificent job of intricately weaving them together, tying them off, and bringing the story to a satisfying and brilliant finish. Even though this is the twelfth book in a series, it does perfectly well as a standalone. Details and characters from previous books are flawlessly assimilated into the storyline. Even characters from the Tuper series have cameo roles in this book. Skillfully written, it is a sensational novel in an outstanding series. Everyone who enjoys mysteries that include the justice system will not want to miss this novel.

Reviewed by Stephanie Chapman for Readers' Favorite

Hidden Behind The Robe by Matt Graham is a legal drama. Judge Dunning received an anonymous letter accusing Judge William Davis Hyde of sexual misconduct. The allegations stated he'd had sex with a court clerk in his chambers. Included in the message, the person stated they'd also had sex with the judge. Opening an investigation, Judge Dunning included human resources detective Ricardo Mijares, who consulted his esteemed colleague Judge Doreen Schultz. She advised Mijares to talk to the mail clerk, Mary Presley. After Mijares confirms who the author of the letter is, Judge Dunning orders cameras to be placed in the chambers of the judges, hoping to prove the allegations. An inept police officer sends out a mass email confirming the completion of the camera installation. Judge Hyde and several of his supporters condemn the action. The following day, Judge Dunning receives a threatening phone call. When he arrives at work, he receives an email proving his life will be altered.

Matt Graham detailed the emotional effects of criminal court cases by using Judge Dunning’s position. Media scenarios that are inaccurate, protestors with a misguided agenda, and social isolation from everyone could drive a person to insanity. While this is a fictional story, I have seen the same persecution by the media in trials like Kyle Rittenhouse and Derek Chauvin. The political agenda of elected officials is often the reason for scandals to surface. Dunning’s investigation threatened Hyde’s career. Labeling a person a racist is a surefire way to end someone’s career. I liked how the leads for Mijares and a student reporter opened before me. The ending was unpredictable, and the storyline was captivating. I would recommend Hidden Behind The Robe to readers who enjoy a suspense story with realistic scenarios in the justice system.

Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite

Miguel and Mary Carmen Gonzalez emigrated from Venezuela to Lincoln Park, a suburb of Detroit, in 2011. They have two children, 9 and 7 years old, and both work in a nearby plant. Although they entered the country legally, they never sought citizenship due to their fears about governmental authority. Canan and Karim Izaly are naturalized citizens of America; they were from Kurdistan and citizens of Syria. They fled their home in 2014 when ISIS came to their city. Although Karim had many concerns about Canan’s insistence in taking their young daughter to meet her relatives, he eventually relented. He called upon a friend to escort Canan and their daughter from the airport to their hometown. Both scenarios resulted in major immigration cases. Attorney Marshall Mann, a partner in Blake’s firm, is an immigration law expert and led the defense in both cases. These cases are featured in the novel, Betrayal at the Border, written by Mark M. Bello.

The storyline in this seventh book in the Zachary Blake Legal Thriller series has many compelling features. Mark M. Bello writes in a fast-paced manner, filled with exciting and intriguing moments. He also includes constitutional and legal information in easy-to-understand terms. The characters are developed in balanced ways. For example, although Zach Blake likes the publicity he receives, he is a strong advocate for human rights, his clients’ well-being and is generous in supporting their causes. Author Mark M. Bello skillfully depicts two aspects of American immigration laws in Betrayal at the Border. The book is engaging and informative – an exceptional legal thriller.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Sleeper List: A Spy Novel by Patrick Oster is a work of fiction in the thriller, suspense, and espionage subgenres. It is intended for the general adult reading audience owing to some moderate sexual references and the occasional use of explicit language. In this truly thrilling novel full of exciting twists and turns, we find ourselves following two sleeper agents hiding out in the USA who decide that they don’t want to return to Mother Russia after having had a taste of what life could be like for them in America. As tensions rise and their quest for freedom burns ever brighter, these two formidable agents will have to use all the skills at their disposal to get what they want out of life.

Fans of slow-burning suspense reads are sure to enjoy this episodic and highly intriguing novel by author Patrick Oster, which offers a huge amount of emotional realism alongside the more exotic aspects of the espionage plot. The central characters become more and more relatable as we discover their current and previous lifestyles, and it’s in the clash of these influences that we truly begin to understand their choices, both then and now. Oster achieves this both through some very telling and emotive dialogue and the exposition of the plot in the narrative, which explores the concept of freedom on a wider level that everyone can find common ground in. The Sleeper List is a compelling novel that’s got plenty of in-depth intrigue and excitement to offer fans of the thriller and spy categories.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

The Russian Woman by Alex Lukeman is a spy thriller and the first book in the new Michael Thorne series, headed by its titular protagonist and CIA operative, Michael Thorne. Thorne has a history of being in tight spots but even his extensive experience is put to the test when the undercover agent is assigned to handle a Russian patriot named Anya, a woman with her own deeply honed skillset. Her ties to Russian defense go back generations but the success of lineage does not transfer to the success of her relationships, which is perhaps the only thing Anya and Thorne initially seem to have in common: National honor and crappy personal lives. A deep personal loss turns Anya into an asset, and assets are at risk and risky, especially when there's a mole. Secrets, sizzle, cat and mouse spycraft, nuclear war, and death by brass lamp are just a sampling of the world Lukeman creates in this fast-moving suspense novel.

I love a good spy series and Alex Lukeman delivers in The Russian Woman. Both Thorne and Anya are compelling, thoroughly developed characters who do not require much suspension of disbelief when it comes to the lengths they are willing to go to in a profession most of us know nothing about. Perhaps this is why, as readers, we are always so intrigued by Russian agents turned American counterparts and the men in intelligence work who are paired with them to save us all from nuclear extermination. I love how Lukeman gives us multiple points of view characters, including the President of the United States, and this works well to flesh out the mechanisms of politicking and the chess game of military might. The writing is sublime, the dialogue is pitch perfect and, as a whole, this Jack Ryan meets Red Sparrow novel is a worthy new addition to the genre of espionage and intrigue. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

The Unquiet Genius: A Classic World War II Spy Thriller (A Conor Thorn Novel Book 3) by Glenn Dyer is a riveting espionage thriller that would appeal most to a mixed audience of young adults and adults who enjoyed the previous books in the Conor Thorn series and do not mind a few swear words. It's 1942 and the Nazis are determined to get the key to an atomic weapon, but Conor Thorn, a man who will stop at nothing to end Hitler’s reign, is just as determined to thwart them. Does Conor Thorn have what it takes to deliver this win to the Allies or will he perish in the attempt to take down Hitler?

The Unquiet Genius by Glenn Dyer is a very well-written book with an intriguing plot and a captivating cover. This is the first book in the Conor Thorn series that I have read, yet I was able to get pulled into the story with little to no confusion over the storyline. I liked that I was not left in a pit of confusion for not having read the previous books, but was instead quickly enthralled by Conor Thorn and his desire to end Hitler’s terror. The addition of the Vatican and the Italian monsignor brought some suspense-filled twists and turns to the story that had me trying to read faster and faster to find out what Conor Thorn would do next and how the book would end. Overall, I loved this book and plan to check out the previous books in the series too as I really liked Conor Thorn as a character.