“I wish that first scene had been a stand-alone short story and I could have stopped there.” This book was selected by my book club. I was expecting witty, clever, and engaging, and the story starts out exactly that way as Maud, our 88-year-old heroine, is visited by two police inspectors. It seems a man … More An Elderly Woman Must Not Be Crossed, by Helene Tursten [Review]
This book is not a traditional mystery. The interest for the reader is not in what happened, but rather in experiencing how the characters react as they discover what the reader already knows. This book is marketed as a “Psychological thriller.” For readers who enjoy getting deep inside the heads of characters and experience the … More Free Fall, by Nina Atwood [Review]
“a fascinating story . . . and historical record that’s worth studying. Unfortunately, Mr. Figueredo fails to make the story into a compelling novel.” Breaking Arrows, by Luis Figueredo [Review] The Chief of the small Kialegee Tribe in a suburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma is driven to despair following the death of his grandson. After years … More Breaking Arrows, by Luis Figueredo [Review]
“A short story mystery that hits every cliche.” S.K. Winters’ short story is described on its Amazon sale page as “A Thriller” (it’s not) and is not branded as a short story (which it is). Don’t expect a novel or a thriller. What you can expect is a quick read that is long on descriptions … More The Mansion, by S.K. Winter [Review]
“As a jumping off point for discussing these significant social issues, the book is a success. But as a story about Stephanie, the book misses the emotional mark and it is structurally challenged.” Ms. Kiser’s memoir (a book club read for me) succeeds in raising many important social issues through her journey working in her … More Wanted: Toddler’s Personal Assistant, by Stephanie Kiser [review]
A haunting story set in the late 1930s, Circle of Darkness weaves together a sinister present and a tortured past with exquisite prose and a complex heroine. The author captures the tone and atmosphere of the remnants of Southern aristocracy, clinging to the trappings of wealth even through the Great Depression. Gathered at a lakeside … More Circle of Darkness, by Phyllis M. Newman [Review]
In the February issue of InD’Tale Magazine, Perilous Gambit (Audiobook edition) received the publication’s coveted “crowned heart” rating as one of the top books in its genre. The magazine’s review is below and can be found at: https://indtale.com/reviews/audiobooks/perilous-gambit-mike-stoneman-thriller SUSPENSE: The last thing Jason Dickson wants to do right before his big Vegas wedding is solve … More Perilous Gambit snags top rating from InD’Tale Magazine
I try to ignore the occasional one-star review of my books, which tend to have an agenda, or sometimes are just a rating without a written review (very frustrating). In fact, I try not to obsess over reviews generally. But, every once in a while, I’ll get a review that is truly amazing. Such a … More Best Book Review Ever
This book is its own genre, to be categorized as gibberish satire fantasy adventure. I happen to be a fan of James Joyce, and have a dog-eared copy of Ulysses on my bookshelf. The Reeking Hegs starts out as a kind of retelling of The Odyssey, written in even more impenetrably language than Joyce, with … More The Reeking Hegs, by Pete Peru and Lord Tupelo [Review]
InD’Tale magazine reviews dozens of books each month. It’s reviewers hand out “Crown Hearts” to the books it recommends for its readers. The reviewers will award a Crown Heart to a review that garners 4.5 out of 5 stars. There are several of those in the November issue, but only a small handful of 5-Star … More 5-Star Review for Lethal Voyage in this month’s InD’Tale Magazine!
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