Barnes & Noble – Page 27 – Rosepoint Publishing

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell – #AudiobookReview – #Suspense

in Women Sleuth Mysteries (Audiobooks)
Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense (Kindle)

Rosepoint Publishing: Five stars

Book Blurb:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author known for her “superb pacing, twisted characters, and captivating prose” (BuzzFeed), Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast.

Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summer crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins.

A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.

Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realize that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.

But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.

Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?

My Review:

Talk about unreliable narrators! The hair goes up on the back of your neck almost at the beginning of his immersive, compelling audiobook.

Two women both celebrating their forty-fifth birthday at a local restaurant to celebrate the occasion. Josie Fair notices the happy conversation from the other table and introduces herself to Alix Summer. They also discover they were born at the same hospital—“birthday twins.”

Both women have vastly different stories, but Josie is aware of Alix, a renown podcaster. Josie has hit the wall with her life—looking to completely change her story and she sees an opportunity with Alix, who is currently winding down her podcast thread—looking for a new subject.

Alix is interested, though wary—fascinated but repulsed at the same time by Josie. Still, she sees a possible successful podcast thread. Follow a woman in her prime as she reinvents herself, the steps she takes. What is her backstory? How did she get here?

The reader was put on alert at the beginning. None of this is true, right?

Has either woman been truly successful at finding the right man, career, or motherhood? Perhaps Josie engineered her life, the marriage with a much older man, responsible for her now estranged children. As her story escalates, the plot line turns dark and Josie successfully invades Alix’s family. Aren’t they almost as dysfunctional, Alix’s husband being an alcoholic?

But no, not as damaged as the toxic relationship between Josie and her husband or her kids who have searing stories of disturbing family events of their own.

The well-plotted and fast-paced narrative veers sharply off the original intent of following a woman overcoming a life of abuse and control. The atmosphere is menacing, traumatic, manipulative—and Alix lost control of it some time ago.

The characters are well-developed. It becomes shocking to realize where this is going. Or, think you know where it’s going. Both Alix and the reader lose control of the situation at this point. I couldn’t begin to get into the terrifying mind of Josie. She is warped.

The conclusion lets fly with another twist and comes as a gut punch.

Oh no!

I can’t believe this is my first book by this author. I’ll certainly be on the lookout for another of these psychological thrillers. Totally disturbing, out of my realm of thinking and dark.

I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

Book Details:

Genre: Suspense, Women Sleuth Mysteries, Women Sleuths
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
ASIN: B0BHFBQ76G
Listening Length: 10 hrs 20 mins
Narrators: Lisa Jewell, Kristin Atherton, Ayesha Antoine, Louise Brealey, Alix Dunmore, Elliot Fitzpatrick, Thomas Judd, Dominic Thorburn, Nicola Walker, Jenny Walser
Publication Date: August 8, 2023
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: None of This Is True [Amazon]
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

The Author: LISA JEWELL was born in London in 1968.

Her first novel, Ralph’s Party, was the best-selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs, The Family Remains and The Night She Disappeared, all of which were Richard & Judy Book Club picks.

Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over thirty languages. She lives in north London with her husband and two daughters.

Happy Thursday!

Invisible No More by Scott Pitoniak and Rick Burton – #BookReview

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

Wilmeth Sidat-Singh is the greatest athlete you’ve never heard of—and so much more. A rocket-armed passer on the football field, an ankle-breaking playmaker on the basketball court, he was also a scholar, civil rights pioneer, patriot, and one other thing—forgotten.

In this historical novel based on Sidat-Singh’s life, sportswriter Breanna Shelton stumbles upon the riveting story of the former Syracuse University star who was forced to hide his identity in order to take the field, leading to climactic moments when race and sports collided. As a young Black woman making her way in a profession not ready to fully accept her, Shelton immerses herself in the research, determined to resurrect an inspirational man who time left behind. Along the way, she finds courage and perseverance to transform herself and her career.

Post–civil rights era society still grapples with dispiriting obstacles that Sidat-Singh faced more than a half century earlier, when he was “passing” to play; serving as a Tuskegee Airman in World War II; and interacting with luminaries such as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Grantland Rice, Sam Lacy, and Joe Louis.

This fictionalized account, as timely now as ever, honors an American hero whose life was cut short while serving a country that didn’t recognize him as a full-fledged citizen because of the color of his skin. After you read it, Sidat-Singh will be invisible no more.

His Review:

Children in Idaho were raised with admiration for the members of the Army Air Force. They were my heroes and I read of their accomplishments as often as I could. This novel gave me the opportunity to read about the exploits of the Tuskegee Airmen and one in particular, Wilmeth Sidat-Singh. My upbringing did not include prejudice towards people of color, because there were no persons of color in my hometown.

Wilmeth was the star football player at the University of Syracuse. In his first game against the University of Maryland, he was not allowed to suit up to play in the game. The U of M would have forfeited the game if he was allowed to play. Syracuse lost its’ game that year because of the prejudicial benching of their star athlete. U of M had discovered he was black rather than Indian which his name implied.

Prejudice was rampant throughout the United States during the 20s, 30s, and 40s and Wilmeth struggled with the problem. He was gifted in many sports and was given a full scholarship to the school of his choice. Growing up in Upper Manhattan he was introduced to many of the great African American minds of his generation. Everything segregated was the tenor of the day and restroom facilities and drinking fountains were jealously guarded.

After excelling in sports and just about everything he attempted, Wilmeth signed up for training as a black aviator with the Tuskegee all-black training squadron. His ability in the air and seemingly impossible maneuvers with an aircraft helped to mold the Tuskegee Airmen into one of the best fighter pilot squadrons in America.

His death in a training accident broke my heart. Long years later, I met Charles Williams, a Congressional Medal of Honor winner when a lad in Boise, Idaho requested he get to meet them. These pilots were impressive gentlemen and I was honored to be able to shake their hands. I would have also liked to know this outstanding American! 5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my own opinions.

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Biographical Fiction, Sports Fiction, Biographical Fiction
Publisher: Subplot Publishing
ISBN-10: ‎ 1637558635
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1637558638
ASIN: B0CK595VN2
Print Length: 336 pages
Publication Date: December 5, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Authors: A native of Rome, N.Y. and a magna cum laude graduate of Syracuse University, Scott Pitoniak has been telling compelling, award-winning stories about people and the games they play for a half-century. He has spent 51 years in the newspaper business, including 25 as a reporter, feature writer and sports columnist for the Rochester, N.Y. Democrat and Chronicle, and has published more than 30 books and hundreds of magazine and website articles. Along the way, he has covered Olympics, Super Bowls, World Series, NCAA basketball tournaments, Stanley Cup playoffs and major golf tournaments.

Scott has received more than 100 national and regional journalism honors. His work, which often deals with the human side of sports, has been cited in “The Best American Sportswriting” anthology and he has been recognized as one of the nation’s top sportswriters by the Associated Press Sports Editors, the Professional Football Writers of America, and Gannett, Inc.. Scott has been inducted into six Halls of Fame: Rochester’s Frontier Field Walk of Fame (1999); SU’s Newhouse School of Public Communications Gallery of Fame (2000); the Rome Sports Hall of Fame (2009); the Rochester Red Wings Hall of Fame (2013); the Camp Good Days and Special Times Ring of Honor (2016); and the Rochester Softball Hall of Fame (2021). He also was selected as a torchbearer for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Scott recently co-authored “Invisible No More,” a historical novel about a forgotten two-sport star athlete and Tuskegee Airman, and “If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Buffalo Bills Sidelines, Locker Room and Press Box.” Scott also recently updated “Juke Box Hero,” a collaboration with rock ‘n’ roll legend Lou Gramm, the former lead singer and co-songwriter of the mega-hit group Foreigner.

Scott’s first children’s book, “Let’s Go Yankees! An Unforgettable Trip to the Ballpark,” was published in the summer of 2017 by Ascend Books.

Scott writes weekly sports columns for the Rochester Business Journal. He is a regular contributor to the Baseball Hall of Fame’s bi-monthly magazine, Memories and Dreams, served as a columnist for USA Today and Gannett News Service (syndicated to 150 newspapers nationwide), and provided on-air analyst for CBS television affiliates in Rochester and Buffalo. A frequent radio and television guest, locally and nationally, Scott was interviewed extensively for two documentaries – ESPN’s Sports Century profile of Maurice Stokes, and Orange Glory: The 20 Greatest Moments in Syracuse Basketball History.

Scott is passionate about giving back to his community. Through the years, he has mentored scores of students, taught journalism at the college level, and been heavily involved in several charities and community service organizations. He is past president and current board member of the Rochester Press-Radio Club, which raised and donated more than 800,000 dollars to local children’s charities during a 20-year span.

He also is in demand as a public speaker.

His hobbies include traveling, photography and historical research. His most cherished moments are spent with his wife, Beth, his grown children, Amy and Christopher, his granddaughters, Camryn and Peyton, and their energetic family cats, Liam and Sunny.

Rick Burton is the David B. Falk Professor of Sport Management at Syracuse University and chief operating officer for Playbk Sports. Burton is a frequent contributor to publications such as Sports Business Journal and Sportico, and coauthor of numerous books, including Business the NHL Way; Forever Orange: The Story of Syracuse University; 20 Secrets to Success for NCAA Student-Athletes; and Sports Business Unplugged. His latest World War II historical thriller, Into the Gorge, was published by Subplot in June 2023.

Enjoy Your Sunday!

The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer – #BookReview-Historical Mystery Thriller & Suspense

Book Blurb:

For years, there have been whispers that, before his death, Van Gogh completed a final self-portrait. Curators and art historians have savored this rumor, hoping it could illuminate some of the troubled artist’s many secrets, but even they have to concede that the missing painting is likely lost forever.

But when Luke Perrone, artist and great-grandson of the man who stole the Mona Lisa, and Alexis Verde, daughter of a notorious art thief, discover what may be the missing portrait, they are drawn into a most epic art puzzles. When only days later the painting disappears again, they are reunited with INTERPOL agent John Washington Smith in a dangerous and deadly search that will not only expose secrets of the artist’s last days but draws them into one of history’s darkest eras.

Beneath the paint and canvas, beneath the beauty and the legend, the artwork has become linked with something evil, something that continues to flourish on the dark web and on the shadiest corridors of the underground art world.

Alternating between Luke Perrone’s perilous hunt for the painting, and a history of stolen art and stolen lives, The Lost Van Gogh is an intricately layered historical thriller perfect for fans of The Last Mona Lisa and The Night Portrait.

His Review:

The great masters have always been favorite subjects of art instructors. Who has not had the fantasy of going to a garage sale and finding one of their paintings among the items being sold? This painting was camouflaged by another painting.

The original painting underneath is a portrait of Vincent Van Gogh painted by the artist! A garage sale “find” turns into a multi-million-dollar treasure! Taking the painting to an artist friend turns into a nightmare for Alex. This leads to a whirlpool of deceit and treachery that almost costs the young artist her life. Paintings worth millions of dollars may be sold on the black market by people who play for keeps.

This author has a commanding understanding of the city of Amsterdam and herein lies the problem. Ruthless crooks who handle artworks taken by the Nazis find very wealthy people who want the art piece for their private collections. Stealing and killing, however, are among the tactics used to secure the pieces. Alex is immersed in this shadowy underworld and her painting disappears!

The action is fast and the danger palpable in this tome. Dreams of wealth are soon shattered as Alex wonders if she will escape with her life. The writer includes many actual art dealers and facts known only to those who trade in art world. Thousands of pieces are still unaccounted for after the fall of the Third Reich. I enjoyed this tale immensely and highly suggest it to those interested in art and art history. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Mystery Thriller & Suspense Fiction, Suspense, Suspense Thrillers
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
ASIN: B0BZ9CG15P
Print Length: 343 pages
Publication Date: January 2, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Jonathan Santlofer is the author of 5 novels, The Death Artist, Color Blind, The Killing Art, The Murder Notebook, and Anatomy of Fear, which won the Nero Wolfe Award for best crime novel of 2009. His first novel, The Death Artist, was an international bestseller and translated into 22 languages. He is co-editor, contributor and illustrator of the short story anthology, The Dark End of the Street, and editor/contributor of LA NOIRE: The Collected Stories. His short stories appear in numerous collections, including The Rich & the Dead, edited by Nelson De Mille, New Jersey Noir, edited by Joyce Carol Oates, the Strand Magazine and Ellery Queen Magazine. He has been a contributing writer to ArtNews, Travel & Leisure, and almost every crime and mystery magazine.

Santlofer is the recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts grants, has been a Visiting Artist at the American Academy In Rome, the Vermont Studio Center and serves on the board of Yaddo, the oldest arts community in the U.S. He also serves on the boards of the Mystery Writers of America and the International Crime Writers of North America.

He is currently the director of New York City’s CRIME FICTION ACADEMY, the only program devoted exclusively to crime writing in all of its forms. He also teaches Crime Fiction Writing in Pratt Institute’s Creative Writing program, and has taught at Columbia University and The New School. He has given numerous workshops at writing conventions and festivals and has been a sought after lecturer at colleges and universities and museums across the country, among them the Whitney Museum of American Art, MOMA, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and LA MOCA.

A well-known artist, Santlofer’s work is in such collections as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Art Institute of Chicago, and Tokyo’s Institute of Contemporary Art.

Santlofer has been profiled in the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Newsday, USA Today; been the subject of a Sunday NY Times Magazine “Questions For” column, and his work has been written about and reviewed extensively.

He lives in New York City where he writes and paints. He has recently completed a new novel.

k-luv-u-bye

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Book Blurb:

Twenty years after a baby is stolen from a stroller, a woman is murdered in a care home. The two crimes are somehow linked, and a good bad girl may be the key to discovering the truth.

Edith may have been tricked into a nursing home, but at eighty-years-young, she’s planning her escape. Patience works there, cleaning messes and bonding with Edith, a kindred spirit. But Patience is lying to Edith about almost everything.

Edith’s own daughter, Clio, won’t speak to her. And someone new is about to knock on Clio’s door…and their intentions aren’t good.

With every reason to distrust each other, the women must solve a mystery with three suspects, two murders, and one victim. If they do, they might just find out what happened to the baby who disappeared, the mother who lost her, and the connections that bind them.

My Review:

OMG, not like I haven’t read this author before, my first being His and Hers back in July 2021 followed shortly after that by two more of her successful audiobooks. I loved the first—but experienced a bit less enthusiasm with the successive choices.

This narrative begins with a baby kidnapped on Mother’s Day (twenty years previous) and the POVs of those most closely related to the scenario of the missing child after that. Now, Edith, 80 years old, is plotting her escape from a local nursing home placed there by daughter Clio—her greatest disappointment. Patience works at the nursing home and has bonded with Edith.

There is a jump between the original event and twenty years later when the POV goes to Frankie who lives and raises her estranged daughter, Patience, on a narrow boat on the Thames. Frankie found employment as a librarian at the local prison and is frantic to find her missing daughter.

The characters are obstinate, paranoid, distrustful, and alienated. The author carefully develops these characters bit by slow bit, adding a layer each time. They are wonderfully diverse and sympathies begin to divide and invite reader engagement or alienation. Can this dysfunctional cast of personalities possibly find a way to reconcile?

The storyline weaves in and out of the varied characters and timelines, adding a bit more backstory, information that fills in the blanks. There are secrets quietly divulged, lies, deception, and finally murder.

Yikes!! There are twists and turns but I couldn’t believe what I’d just read. Are you kidding? Somebody has a dark sense of humor…

This is a study of mother-daughter relationships like you’ve never read before leading to a raft of notable quotables:

(Motherhood) “A job I thought I wanted and now can’t quit.”

“Sadly it is human nature to squander love and stockpile hate.”

(A reference that brought a chuckle and mood-lightening moment)

“Am I supposed to Columbo what you just said…”

“Life seems better at punishing bad deeds than it is at rewarding good ones.”

(Of course, the mantra, theme of the narrative)

“The world is full of people who are good at being bad, and people who are bad at being good.”

(But my favorite)

“Mother knows best but sometimes it’s best Mother doesn’t know.”

It might be that you’d read the book for the pearls of wisdom doled out in bite-sized pieces—the easier to swallow—almost slipped by, but then you’d miss the lesson in a book with themes of dysfunction, abuse, manipulation, and reconciliation.

Is blood thicker than water? It’s gentle, but you can’t have missed that capsule.

You might need a chart to keep up or just pay attention so you don’t get lost. I did appreciate the conclusion. The novel is satisfying, in that defying kinda way, but on the whole, I found it rather depressing heartrending.

I received a copy of this book from my local library’s recommended list that in no way influenced this review. These opinions are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Domestic Thrillers, Kidnapping Thrillers
Publisher: Flatiron Books
ASIN: B0BST5X6GS
Print Length: 310 pages
Publication Date: August 29, 2023
Source: Library recommendation

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Alice Feeney is a New York Times million-copy bestselling author. Her books have been translated into over thirty-five languages, and have been optioned for major screen adaptations. Including Rock Paper Scissors, which is being made into a TV series by the producer of The Crown. Alice was a BBC journalist for fifteen years, and now lives in Devon with her family. Good Bad Girl is her sixth novel.

You can follow Alice on Instagram and Twitter: @alicewriterland

To find out the latest book and TV news, or to sign up for Alice’s free newsletter, please visit: http://www.alicefeeney.com

Cruel Lessons by Randy Overbeck – #BookReview – #AmateurSleuths

Lessons in Peril Book 1

Book Blurb:

On a school camping trip, fifth graders experiment with a dangerous new hallucinogen and die in a horrific accident, their deaths shattering the quiet town. Assistant Superintendent Ken Parks, hoping to redeem a fatal mistake from his past, grasps the opportunity to conduct the district investigation of how students are getting the drugs. Almost before he begins, the cops make a stunning arrest. But Parks battles on, convinced the real pusher is still out there, poisoning more kids until he receives an anonymous threat: if he continues, those close to him will pay. Is Parks willing to risk those he loves for a chance at redemption?

His Review:

Teaching could be a noble profession, but the introduction of hallucinogenic drugs into society has changed the focus of the teaching profession. Telling young middle schoolers of the dangers of drug use falls on deaf ears. Four students, one being a 13-year holdback are off to enjoy the ride of their lives. Stealing his father’s car, he takes three friends out for a “fabulous time” but dies in a chemical-induced wonderland. All are laughing as the car crashes.

The funeral was somber! Who could the school officials blame for the tragedy? The senior counselor and administrator were selected by the head of the school board. The die was cast and the career ruined for the man who was the trustee/coordinator at the event.

Parents of course are devastated and thrash around for someone to blame. The man was there to chaperone the students and keep them safe but was asleep when the four snuck out and went for their final ride. Everyone wanted answers.

Within the drug community, there is no conscience. The object is to make money and the more exotic the product the more funds to be made. Hidden behind the drug dealers and junkies are very rich and influential entrepreneurs. Many are the pillars of the community. Sure, people die but is it their fault? The drugs are manufactured in foreign countries and they only facilitate importing and distribution.

This narrative points out the problems, heartbreaks, and tragedies affecting all social and economic strata of our society. The drugs are becoming much more effective and lethal. Profit motivates the dealers and suppliers and they hide behind respectability. Meanwhile, lives are lost and families and futures shattered. Read this book and get a better understanding of the problems we face. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to Dr. Overbeck for providing us the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my own opinions.

[Note: Back in 2020 with most of the world devastated by a pandemic, I received a request from Dr. Overbeck that he might provide a guest post. I had read a couple of his Haunted Shores Mysteries and enjoyed his writing style. The guest post resulted in So, You Need an Escape. Now I am happy to present Cruel Lessons, the first in a new series and hope you enjoy as well. VW]

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Amateur Sleuths, Mysteries
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press Inc
ASIN: B0CDJ6GL5W
Print Length: 470 pages
Publication Date: October 11, 2023
Source: Author
Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades in a range of roles captured in his novels, from teacher and coach to principal and superintendent. His thriller, LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND (2012) and his recent mysteries, the Amazon No. 1 Best Seller, BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE (2019), CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY (2020) and SCARLET AT CRYSTAL RIVER (2021) have earned five star reviews and garnered national awards including “Thriller of the Year”—ReadersFavorite.com, “Gold Award”—Literary Titan, “Mystery of the Year”—ReadersView.com and “Crowned Heart of Excellence”—InD’Tale Magazine.

As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop. When he’s not writing or researching his next exciting novel or sharing his presentation “Things Still Go Bump in the Night,” he’s spending time with his incredible family of wife, three children (and their spouses) and seven wonderful grandchildren.

©CE Williams – V Williams

Enjoy Your Sunday!

Death by Cutting Table by Susie Black – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

Holly Swimsuit Mystery Book 4

“This fairytale happens when? The second Tuesday of next week.”

Book Blurb:

Mermaid Swimwear CEO Butch Oldham was an equal opportunity scoundrel who screwed anyone and everyone in his wake. So, the question wasn’t who wanted the bastard dead. The question was, who didn’t?
After Mermaid sales exec Holly Schlivnik finds colleague Queenie Levine standing over Oldham’s battered corpse nailed to a fabric cutting table with a pair of cutting shears plunged deep into his chest, the cops soon recover Queenie’s hidden blood-soaked sweater, discover her stormy relationship with the victim, and her public threats to make Butch pay for destroying Mermaid by stealing it blind.
When Queenie is arrested for Butch’s murder, Holly jumps into action to flesh out the real killer. But the trail has more twists and turns than a slinky, and nothing turns out the way the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth thinks it will as she tangles with a clever killer hellbent for revenge.

My Review:

What you say? The old girl is reading a cozy mystery? Yes, and I was craftily coerced by glimpsing the cover. Whoever came up with that one deserves a percentage of sales.

The unlikely protagonist is Holly Schlivnik, a houseboat resident, dog owner, and high-level executive of private label division of Mermaid Swimwear—in LA (of all places). Bucks all the normal trope background, except maybe that she owns a canine companion Sigmund (Siggie) who artfully answers all her questions with the appropriate woof.

Mermaid Swimwear CEO Butch Oldham has gotten his just desserts by being offed and pinned to a cutting table; spread-eagled like his butterfly collections. I won’t go into detail regarding further forensics; suffice to say you can’t unsee that one.

Of course, for me, it’s the snarky sense of humor that provides the hook and after that I’m lost—must finish the book and it’s a good one. Well-plotted and paced, the characters are way too much fun (including the Yentas), beginning with co-worker, Queenie Levine, who is accused of the crime. Well, you can’t ignore that one—no way Queenie would have done it—ample motive or not. How many others had a good motive? Lots! Good her bestie Assistant Medical Examiner Sophia Cutler MD (known as Snip) can be called on as Holly has Detective Josiah Jones to maneuver.

I ate it up. And loved most of it! Dialogue is a hoot, the writing style keeps you glued. Loved the characters with the exception of the possible romantic triangle (although it was resolved well).

“Two men frantic over the thought of losing me? Guess neither one got the memo. You can’t lose what you don’t have.”

I have to protest the number of times Nancy Drew is referenced and the conversations with both Detective Jones and Captain Alvarez—I can’t imagine speaking to high-ranking officers like that without receiving a stern warning immediately.

“You want me to quit interfering? Arrest the right suspects.”

Overall, however, the sense of humor was fun, the narrative gripping, and the romp through the investigation highly engaging and entertaining. Will definitely be looking for another in the series. Highly recommended.

I received a gratis copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Amateur Sleuths, Cozy Mysteries
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
ASIN: B0C62HRJXM
Print Length: 202 pages
Publication Date: August 2, 2023
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Susie Black biography

Named best US author of the year by N. N. Light Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.

Looking for more? Reach her at mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com

#TuesdayBookBlog

Happy Halloween!!

Head Case by Bonnie Traymore – #BookReview – #DomesticThriller

Book Blurb:

A heartbroken teacher in need of a change gets more than she bargained for in this page-turner thriller.

Never make a major life decision in the wake of emotional turmoil. Cassie Romano learned this the hard way, leaving sunny San Diego for a teaching position at a private school in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York after a painful break-up left her heartbroken and in need of a change.

It all seemed so perfect in June when she came to interview. But now it’s December, and she’s stranded on top of a mountain surrounded by snow, ice, and acres of wilderness, lonelier than ever and bored out of her mind.

When a fellow teacher turns up dead and Cassie receives an unsettling letter from her a few days later, it’s clear to Cassie that something twisted is going on at Falcon Ridge Academy. Everyone seems to be writing the death off as a tragic accident, but she’s not so sure.

Cassie has secrets of her own, though, so she’s initially reluctant to get involved. Torn between the urge to protect herself and the desire to investigate further, she decides on the latter.

And the consequences could be deadly.

His Review:

Kimi is excited to have a new position at a prestigious finishing school in the mountains of central New York. She is a little uneasy about the competition for the coveted position of Headmaster but feels she has an open path to the position. An assisted fall down a steep staircase shatters that dream and takes her life.

Teaching summer classes is always a pain. The students are less than motivated and some of them are here from foreign countries learning English as a second language. The passing of Kimi puts everyone on edge including the entire staff of the school. Such a tragedy, a young life dying in such a tragic accident. The question on everyone’s mind, “Was it an accident”?

Compensation is good for this position and housing and food are supplied to the educators. A year or two in the position and there will be enough saved to buy a house back in California. Cassie hates the winters in upstate New York and cannot wait to get back to the beaches of southern California. She will leave as soon as the winter break at the school commences but being one of the newer teachers she is stuck with staying and teaching the students who cannot go home for break.

Madeline wants to be the head of the school’s administration. She has worked towards this goal and will let nothing stand in her way! Kimi seemed to have an inside track to the position but Madeline feels better qualified and worthy of the title. Why should an upstart get this plumb when Madeline has worked so hard?

This tale embraces the politics of a small teaching institution that caters to the very rich and foreign students. The characters are well developed and the plot simple but tragic. Avarice is a terrible taskmaster. Mix that with a mental condition and you have the ingredients for an interesting and heartrending tale. 4 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Domestic thrillers, Psychological Fiction
Publisher: Pathways Publishing
ASIN: B0CGQ2QCMN
Print Length: 253 pages
Publication Date: September 23, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Author: Bonnie Traymore is the award-winning author of suspenseful, page-turner, domestic and psychological thrillers that hit close to home. Her books consistently hit the hot new release page on Amazon. Her thrillers have been described as entertaining page-turners. They aren’t overly graphic and sometimes include occasional touches of romance and humor, but all in service of a fast-paced thriller read. The plots touch on disturbing topics such as sexual assault, revenge, murder, psychological disorders, and the complexities of human behavior, so they aren’t exactly cozy either. She aims to entertain and engage readers, and maybe freak them out a bit, but not give them nightmares. FYI, she likes to include multiple points of view in her books. If you like that, her books might be for you.

Originally from the New York City area, she lives in Honolulu with her family but frequents Hudson Valley, New York City, and the Bay Area. She has been reading mystery and thriller novels her entire life, and she’s been writing short stories and non-fiction for decades. She is also an award-winning non-fiction writer, historian, and educator. She’s taught at top independent schools in Honolulu, Silicon Valley, and New York City, and she’s taught history courses at Columbia University and the University of Hawaii.

Mystery Writers of America, Active Member

International Thriller Writers, Active Member

Rescuing Crockett: A Western Historical Fiction Epic by David Pyke – #BookReview – #WesternFictionClassics

A Silas Grant Novel Book 1

Book Blurb:

What if Davy Crockett survived the Alamo?

Silas Grant prepares for a future with the girl of his dreams. The resourceful sixteen-year-old is learning the blacksmith trade from his father and frontier skills from Texas Revolution veterans. But when a portrait of David Crockett triggers hope that the folk hero didn’t die two years earlier, Silas joins a quest for the truth.

Exploring a world healing from the war, Silas and his fellow Texians investigate the accounts of Alamo survivors and pursue a witness to the battle’s final moments. Their odyssey turns lethal as layers of the last stand’s legend peel away to expose a shocking secret.

Will the revelation stun a nation or ignite a fatal showdown?

Rescuing Crockettis the gripping first book of the Silas Grant western historical fiction series. If you like rousing adventure, immersive storytelling, and commitment to authenticity, you’ll love David Z. Pyke’s captivating tale of redemption that Kirkus Reviewshails as “A thrilling historical drama, as engrossing as it is edifying.”

His Review:

Mexico had just won its independence in 1821 from Spain after 300-plus years of colonialism. Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836. The battle of the Alamo is one of the premier moments in Texas history and, according to historical records, there were no survivors. My recollection from history in high school noted the bodies stacked in the central area of the mission like cords of wood twelve bodies high.

General Santa Ana was President of Mexico and the head of the army during the attack on the Alamo. Santa Ana was a cruel general who accepted no prisoners and considered the Texas fighters traitors to the country. His orders were to leave no person alive after they conquered the fighters at the Alamo. Identifying all of the bodies was not foremost on his mind. (Mexican soldiers numbered 1500 to the Texan defenders of 200.)

David Pyke paints a very illuminating picture of the battle and the subsequent aftermath in San Antonio. A rumor that David Crockett may have survived the battle was the premise of this tale. At the time, the French had embargoed the Mexican ports and were not allowing any Mexican ships safe passage. The rumor was fueled by a drawing made by a gifted artist of someone near Vera Cruz who looked surprisingly like Crockett. Could he still be alive and be held captive by Santa Ana at one of his residences?

This book paints a very colorful and graphic analysis of life in the 1830s in the then Republic of Texas as well as Mexico. Because Crockett had been a U.S. Representative from the state of Tennessee, his history was very important to the population at that time. He became disillusioned with his political struggles in Tennessee and moved to Texas to join that new republic. He fought with the Texas dissidents at the Alamo and was either captured or killed outright. This alternative possible outcome is very fun to read. Enjoy! 4 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four stars

Book Details:

Genre: Western Fiction Classics, Historical Thrillers, US Historical Fiction
Publisher: Leonard Street Publishing
ISBN: ‎ 1959440020
ASIN: B0C1824MVZ
Print Length: 380 pages
Publication Date: March 31, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: David Z. Pyke has always been a writer. His relationship with words began in elementary school, where he read Beowulf and Dracula by the time he was 10 years old. He wrote his first stories for newspapers when he was 15 and has written professionally for 47 years.

His passion stems from his heritage: Pyke is a native Texan related to one of the Alamo defenders. His great-great-great-great-great-granduncle, Isaac Millsaps, was one of the Immortal 32, the reinforcements from Gonzales who answered William Barret Travis’s call for help, rode to San Antonio, and died in the Alamo on March 6, 1836.

In 1991, a mutual friend introduced David to Suzanne, an English literature teacher from Missouri. Their first date was on a Friday the 13th. She later confessed that before that first date, she read some of his stories to make sure he could write. Apparently, he received a passing grade. They were engaged five months later, married four months after that, and in 2022 celebrated their 30th anniversary.