Level Best Books – Rosepoint Publishing

Crime Writer by Vinnie Hansen #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog #NetGalley

Book Blurb:

In the peaceful California coast city of Playa Maria, CRIME WRITER ZOEY KOZINSKI joins a local police officer for a ride-along in hopes of breaking through her writer’s block. But during a routine traffic stop, the cop is shot, the victim of a brutal homicide.

Zoey realizes she is the only witness and the number one target on the killer’s hit list. PTSD kicks in, sending her into a tailspin. It doesn’t help that she lives on an illegal cannabis farm and that her estranged mother has just arrived. Even the police officer’s widow points a finger at the writer, claiming she was a distraction, and the police department knew it.

Lurking on the fringes is a man who stopped briefly at the crime. Good Samaritan or sinister suspect? For her safety, Zoey needs to find out.

My Review:

I’m fence-sitting on this one. I liked it okay, but didn’t really feel compelled to sit down and finish it up.

It’s one of those that gives you the who as it hooks. That doesn’t mean it’s all over. No. Zoe is up to her eyeballs in the thick of it, having witnessed the killing of the police officer who allowed a ride-along for Zoe, who is experiencing writer’s block.

Unfortunately, not only does she witness the killing, but she is, in turn witnessed. Not the best thing if she wanted to remain hidden and anonymous. Of course, her notes for her book appear to implicate her in the murder of the officer (something his widow latches onto—her being a deadly distraction)…and I always hate that obvious assumption. We know there are so many ways these days to prove it wasn’t her.

Zoe might have had some additional development, although she is not one-dimensional and she has an interesting friend in Harvey. I love the location, beautifully depicted in description as well as the town’s inhabitants. Once she realizes she has been exposed, things get dicey and ramps up the suspense considerably.

You can’t say it isn’t entertaining. I love those small California coastal town settings; they create such a vibe, but you’d better know the town better than the perp if you’re to survive! If you enjoy suspense thrillers, you may very well give this one a try.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Three point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Murder, Psychological Thrillers, Murder Thrillers
Publisher: Level Best Books
ASIN: B0FMGNWM2D
Print Length: 307 pages
Publication Date: September 9, 2025
Source: NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Vinnie Hansen fled the South Dakota prairie for the California coast the day after high school graduation.

A reading addict since childhood, Vinnie is now the author of the Carol Sabala mysteries. The seventh installment in the series, Black Beans & Venom, was a finalist for the Claymore Award. She’s also written two stand-alone novels titled Lostart Street and One Gun as well as over 60 published short stories. Her flash fiction, “Bad Connection,” won the 2015 Golden Donut Award from the Writers’ Police Academy.

Vinnie is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Short Mystery Fiction Society.

Still sane after 27 years of teaching high school English, Vinnie has retired and lives in Santa Cruz, California, with her husband and the requisite cat.

Happy Autumn

Late Checkout: A Mess Hopkins Novel by Alan Orloff #BookReview #amateursleuthmysteries

Book Blurb:

Motel proprietor Mess Hopkins is more interested in helping others than turning a profit, so he opens the doors of the Fairfax Manor Inn to those seeking refuge from a bad situation. But when his cousin Finn shows up in trouble, his world is rocked, because Mess had thought Finn was dead, having run away six years earlier.

Unfortunately, Finn was in the wrong place at the wrong time and saw the wrong thing—an incident with deadly consequences.

It’s up to Mess, his girlfriend/newspaper reporter Lia Katsaros, and buddy Vell Jackson to solve the crime before some bad men achieve their goal—killing the only eyewitness.
Mess’s frightened cousin Finn.

His Review:

Running a motel is not an easy task. Mess Hopkins expects to inherit one from his parents, but he has been left with the management task. Problem is, Mess is a very compassionate man and is a sucker for a sob story. The motel is barely staying afloat and continues to limp along.

Finn is his cousin who has been missing for years. He suddenly shows up after being a lost soul and his family is very irritated with him. Mess and Finn were best friends as youngsters and they are happy to be back together. Finn has declared that he is gay and also that he witnessed a murder. He is sure that the murderers are after him.

The manager that Mess hired to help run the motel is a character who really does all the work. He is continually admonishing Mess for his lack of attention to detail and also for letting rooms to vagabonds who are unable to pay.

Killers hunting for Finn and continual management issues keep this novel moving. Will mismanagement finally doom the motel? Will the killers catch up with Finn and eliminate the family problem? Will the rest of the family finally accept Finn for who he is and bring him back into the fold? Read this well-written novel and find out. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Note: The CE read and reviewed Sanctuary Motel last year and greatly enjoyed it. This series is well-plotted and moves smoothly through the storyline. Mess is an emotive character, garners empathy, and is easy to become invested in.

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: Amateur Sleuth Mysteries, Crime Thrillers
Publisher: Level Best Books
ASIN: B0DGJY67Q2
Print Length: 310 pages
Publication Date: October 22, 2024
Source: Author and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Before Alan stepped off the corporate merry-go-round, he had an eclectic (some might say disjointed) career. As an engineer, he worked on nuclear submarines, supervised assembly workers in factories, facilitated technology transfer from the Star Wars program, and learned to stack washing machines three high in a warehouse with a forklift. He even started his own recycling and waste reduction newsletter business. Now he writes fiction.

Alan Orloff’s debut mystery, DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD (Midnight Ink), was a 2010 Agatha Award Finalist for Best First Novel. He’s written two books in the Last Laff mystery series, KILLER ROUTINE and DEADLY CAMPAIGN (also from Midnight Ink), and writing as his darker half Zak Allen, he’s published three books: THE TASTE, FIRST TIME KILLER, and RIDE-ALONG. His novel, RUNNING FROM THE PAST, was one of the initial Kindle Scout selections.

His novel, PRAY FOR THE INNOCENT, won the 2019 ITW Thriller Award for Best E-Book Original.

His novel, I KNOW WHERE YOU SLEEP, was a Shamus Award Finalist for Best First PI Novel.

HIs YA thriller, I PLAY ONE ON TV, won both the Agatha Award and Anthony Award for Best Children’s/YA Mystery.

His short fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including JEWISH NOIR, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, CHESAPEAKE CRIMES: STORM WARNING, Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, WINDWARD, SNOWBOUND, LANDFALL, SEASCAPE, and MASTHEAD (BEST NEW ENGLAND CRIME STORIES 2016 – 2020), THE NIGHT OF THE FLOOD, MYSTERY MOST GEOGRAPHICAL, GUNS + TACOS, and MICKEY FINN: 21st Century Noir, Volumes 1 and 3.

His flash fiction story, “Happy Birthday,” was nominated for a 2018 Derringer Award, and his story, “Dying in Dokesville,” won a 2019 Derringer Award.

His story, “Rent Due,” won the 2021 ITW Thriller Award for Best Short Story, and “Rule Number One” (SNOWBOUND, Level Best Books) was selected for the 2018 edition of THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES anthology, edited by Louise Penny.

He loves arugula and cake, but not together. Never together.

Alan can be followed/stalked on Facebook (www.facebook.com/alanorloff) and Twitter (@alanorloff). For more info, visit http://www.alanorloff.com.

Have a great week!

Running on Empty by Karin Fitz Sanford #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

The Napa Valley of California draws thousands of luxury travelers annually sparking a multi-billion dollar impact in California.

A Wine County Cold Case

Book Blurb:

An unsolved murder. A Ponzi scheme. And a heist that has ex-FBI agent Anne McCormack racing throughout the wine country.

It’s been sixteen years since socialite Dinah Pardini’s body was found dumped in the backroads of Northern California’s wine country. But is her murder linked to the diabolical Ponzi scheme that now engulfs Santa Rosa, nearly bankrupting many Anne knows and loves? The ex-FBI agent-turned-estate liquidator certainly believes so and starts putting the clues together—which drives her into dangerous territory, both of the heart and body.

Anne will have to keep her wits about her if she plans on outracing thieves and on solving Dinah’s murder without becoming a victim herself, for dark forces are working against her at every turn and she’s running out of people to trust. Trust only in yourself, her uncle, a retired cop, once said. But to do that, Anne will have to forgive herself for a disastrous on-the-job judgment call that still haunts her, even as she hopes to bring criminals to justice and come out of this fever-paced adventure alive.

My Review:

Few areas of California more iconic than the Wine County of California. Beautiful rolling hills, fields of grapes and mustard, hot springs nearby. So it was easy to be drawn into this book, the cover, and the location.

Anne McCormack, an ex-FBI agent, runs an estate-sales business, along with her uncle Jack, retired law enforcement. The two have an extensive knowledge of police procedures and often assist the police with cold cases. They are doing that when they are led into this particular case, a question of murder, interesting connection.

Unfortunately, the recent victim had initialed a Ponzi scheme which bilked many friends, family, and anyone connected out of millions of dollars. He wasn’t exactly loved and there was no shortage of people who thought he got what he deserved.

Of course, I was looking for fun stuff about the wine country (would have appreciated more), but was interested in the main characters, who I found engaging including the dog, a golden retriever named Trailer.

The Ponzi tale is complex, the bad guys corrupt, the good guys (and gals) sincere but not infallible. Anne is well developed and I enjoyed reading about her skills in the estate sales business. Twists and turns lead to ever-widening clues and the ending zinger was fun.

Ordinary people doing their job the best they can while going about their lives. Believable characters, well-plotted and paced. I’ll be interested in another wine country installment.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Heist Crime, Financial Thrillers
Publisher: Level Best Books
ASIN: B0CYFRW77J
Print Length: 328 pages
Publication Date: May 7, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Karin Fitz Sanford, a former advertising copywriter, was born in New York but grew up in Northern California’s Wine Country, the setting for her WINE COUNTRY COLD CASE series. Having run her own award-winning ad agency for over twenty-five years, she now devotes herself full time to writing. She lives in Northern California with her husband.

#TuesdayBookBlog

Saving the Guilty by Liz Milliron #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

A Laurel Highlands Mystery Book 7

Book Blurb:

When defense attorney Sally Castle agrees to do a favor for an old friend she thinks the case will be simple: present the appeal for a murder conviction and the work is already done. But the more Sally looks into the facts of the case, the more problems she sees. Did sloppy police procedure result in the conviction of an innocent man?

State Trooper Jim Duncan is also working what seems like a straight-forward homicide: the execution-style murder of a man with suspected drug ties. But before the scene is released he learns the victim was living with a deep-cover fake identity. Why?

Jim and Sally pursue their separate investigations and lines begin to cross, leading them to wonder how separate the cases are. As they uncover murder, drugs, infidelity, and federal-level fraud, one thing becomes clear. Someone wants Sally’s client in jail. And they will go to any length, including murder, to keep him there.

My Review:

I enjoyed this character-driven plot where Sally Castle, an exceptional defense attorney and her boyfriend State Trooper Jim Duncan work together so beautifully, cooperatively, and supportively. She has a retired racer greyhound named Pixel. They work well as main characters while Sally’s law partner Tanelsa and Cavendish, Jim’s partner in the state police round out two strong support characters.

Sally agrees to take on a case for a friend in the hospital despite the bad timing which turns out to be a great deal more complex than viewed on first blush. When a second body is found that appears to be tied to the first, it’s Duncan and Cavendish who become involved in the case up to their eyeballs.

“I hope their definition of shortly isn’t the same as my doctor’s office.” (SOOO true!)

Matters become very convoluted very quickly as the author adds clues and twists that keep the reader turning pages. Dialogue is right on, authentic between intelligent and appealing characters. Easy to become invested between the good guys contrasting sharply against the bad guys. Ohhh, the tension.

An entertaining read from start to finish. The plot is well paced and complex but it was the characters I found most appealing. If you enjoy mystery, tension, legal fiction, and great characters, then this one will keep your interest. Recommended.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery Series, Police Procedurals
Publisher: Level Best Books
ASIN: B0D9ZRF8JM
Print Length: 345 pages
Publication Date: August 6, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Compassion, loyalty…and crime.

Liz Milliron is the author of the Laurel Highlands mystery series, featuring a Pennsylvania State Trooper and a Fayette County public defender in the scenic Laurel Highlands of southwest Pennsylvania, and The Homefront Mysteries, set in Buffalo in the early 1940s and following Betty Ahern, a Rosie the Riveter with dreams of being Sam Spade. Liz’s short fiction includes stories in Lucky Charms: 12 Crime Tales and The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Fifth Course of Chaos, as well as stories in Mystery Most Historical, Fish Out of Water, and the Anthony-winning Blood on the Bayou. She is a past president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Sisters in Crime, as well as a member of International Thriller Writers and Pennwriters. Liz splits her time between Pittsburgh and the Laurel Highlands, where she lives with her husband and a very spoiled retired-racer greyhound.

http://www.lizmilliron.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LizMilliron/

https://www.instagram.com/lizmilliron/

#TuesdayBookBlog

Obey All Laws by Cindy Goyette – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

A Probation Case Files Mystery

Book Blurb:

When Phoenix probation officer Casey Carson goes to work, she expects naked people to answer doors, meth-addicted clients to hit on her, and angry judges to chew her out in court. After a routine home visit with a client, a Diablo gang member, goes horribly wrong, she knows she must watch her back. Even she must admit that a one-eyed, bad-ass, angry gangster and his crew gunning for her is a bit more than she was trained to handle.

Casey has even more reason to fear Diablo when her cousin Hope goes missing, and it looks like their handiwork. With women vanishing at an alarming rate in the area, police treat Hope’s disappearance as a priority. Still, Casey can’t sit on the sidelines, even with her ex-husband leading the investigation. After she receives information that proves her suspicions about Diablo right, the gang will do anything to keep her from sharing it with police, even if that means taking her on a one-way trip to the desert.

My Review:

Well, here is a new and fresh take on a crime thriller coming from the unique perspective of a probation officer. Casey Carson is a seasoned, savvy PO officer. She is also a main character you can identify with. She’s smart when it comes to her job—well—not always as every main character I’ve ever known tends to go off by themselves without backup. As a reader, you can yell at them all you want. They won’t hear you.

Still, the author has packed some very likable characters behind her engaging main character, including an ex-husband, Barry Betz, that you keep asking why the “ex”?

“Detective Barry Betz that is, got out and walked toward me, shaking his head.

He looked good.

Damn it.”

From the opening action-packed chapter through the sub-plot with Casey’s cousin, the fast-paced narrative doesn’t lag or resort to constant repeats. It doesn’t help when Hope’s sister Joy arrives to help find her sister—only to heap on additional problems.

I love the dry sense of humor from the first person POV and the twists and turns, but no, didn’t need a new heat-inducing sexy neighbor clouding the issue with the ex. I liked the ex. But the new neighbor adds tension, suspicion, and a little fun.

So, really, this is a debut novel? I love the unique aspect and info coming from that side of the law. Since we lived for a short time just outside of Phoenix, I was fairly familiar with the area—and the heat—and descriptions give it an atmospheric and comfortably recognizable quality.

A great start for a new series and one I’m looking forward to.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my own thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Police Procedurals, Women Sleuths, CrimeThrillers
Publisher: Level Best Books
ISBN-10: ‎1685125344
ISBN-13: ‎978-1685125349
ASIN: B0CQ17GQ8V
Print Length: 310 pages
Publication Date: January 9, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Cindy Goyette is a former probation officer who had a front row seat to the criminal justice system. Her experiences helped her create fiction that mirrors real life situations. Her mystery, OBEY ALL LAWS, is part of a series published in January of 2024 by Level Best Books. Cindy lives in Washington state with her husband and two Cocker Spaniels.

The Great Gimmelmans by Lee Matthew Goldberg – #BookReview – #HeistCrime

Book Blurb:

Middle child Aaron Gimmelman watches as his family goes from a mild-mannered reform Jewish clan to having over a million dollars of stolen money stuffed in their RV’s cabinets while being pursued by the FBI and loan sharks. But it wasn’t always like that. His father Barry made a killing as a stockbroker, his mother Judith loved her collection of expensive hats, his older sister Steph was obsessed with pop stars, and little sister Jenny loved her stuffed possum, Seymour.

After losing all their money in the Crash of 1987, the family starts stealing from convenience stores, but when they hit a bank, they realize the talent they possess. The money starts rolling in and brings the family closer together, whereas back at home, no one had any time for bonding due to their busy schedules. But Barry’s desire for more, more, more will take its toll on the Gimmelmans, and Aaron is forced into an impossible choice: turn against his father, or let his family fall apart.

From Jersey, down to an Orthodox Jewish community in Florida where they hide out, and up to California, The Great Gimmelmans goes on a madcap ride through the 1980s. Filled with greed and love and the meaning of religion and tradition until the walls of the RV and the feds start closing in on the family, this thrilling literary tale mixes Michael Chabon and the Coen Brothers with equal parts humor and pathos.

BUCKLE UP!

My Review:

Well, knock me over with a feather.

I’m speechless.

Well, almost.

Nothing here I expected. Caught off-guard, more than once, the way this very well crafted, fast-paced narrative followed the thoughts of middle child Aaron Gimmelman. Aaron has an older and younger sister. His younger sister Jenny is a bit (no—a lot) different than other folks. But then, so are his mother and father.

Having been a successful and upper middle-class family, Aaron’s father Barry lost his job as a stockbroker in the crash of 1987. Not prepared, no clue what to do, where to go, or how to proceed, Aaron takes it upon himself to steal a few things for the family.

But his father, seeing a success replace the failures, takes on more and Aaron discovers he cannot close that Pandora’s box. The 80s grips his mom and dad and creates a monster he could not have foreseen. Caught between his father and the family, he goes along for the ride—literally—as the only remaining asset they have left is used to escape, first to Florida (and relatives) and then to California.

There is humor, but the humor is permeated with pathos. My mind kept reeling as the plot continued to spiral down into ever-deepening crevices into which none would scale unscathed. Disbelief rises and the reader is rooting for some way out, hoping for sanity to win out—the children to prevail—but this dysfunctional family has already gone too far.

I read with horror wondering how the parents could have degenerated this completely. The youngest child is scary—in fact, the characters are very well developed. Perhaps that was the problem, so real, could this actually happen? The writing style is poignant, the tragedy searing, the humor genuine.

“The sun peeking over the horizon, an orange flame mixed with purple dust.”

It’s a strongly mixed emotional message, using coming-of-age, humor, noir and thriller elements in themes of religion and family. No ending would satisfy everyone and my heart was crushed, the injustice of it all. Or was it? I kept going through the “what ifs.” What would you have done with Jenny? This book will hook and grip through the last heavy sigh. Brilliant, captivating storytelling. I’ll look for this author again.

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

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Heist Crime, Heist Thrillers, Suspense
Publisher: Level Best Books
ASIN: B0CCSPZD8Z
Print Length: 442 pages
Publication Date: November 14, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Lee Matthew Goldberg is the author of twelve novels including THE ANCESTOR and THE MENTOR along with his five-book DESIRE CARD series. His YA series RUNAWAY TRAIN is currently with actress Raegan Revord from Young Sheldon attached to develop his original written pilot. THE GREAT GIMMELMANS comes out in 2023. He is a finalist for an Anthony Award and nominated for the Prix du Polar. After graduating with an MFA from the New School, he’s been published in multiple languages and his writing has also appeared as a contributor in CrimeReads, Pipeline Artists, LitHub, The Los Angeles Review of Books, The Millions, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, LitReactor, Mystery Tribune, Monkeybicycle, Fiction Writers Review, Cagibi, Necessary Fiction, the anthology Dirty Boulevard, The Montreal Review, The Adirondack Review, The New Plains Review, Maudlin House and others. His pilots and screenplays have been finalists in Script Pipeline, Book Pipeline, Stage 32, We Screenplay, the New York Screenplay, Screencraft, and the Hollywood Screenplay contests. He is the co-curator of The Guerrilla Lit Reading Series and lives in New York City. Follow him at LeeMatthewGoldberg.com

His favorite authors are classic writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Hermann Hesse, Emily Bronte, W. Somerset Maugham and Raymond Chandler. For modern authors, he’s been influenced by Jay McInerney, Bret Easton Ellis, Denis Johnson, John Irving, and Paul Auster.

Enjoy Your Sunday

Death in the Ozarks by Erik S Meyers – #BookReview – #TraditionalDetectiveMysteries

A Sally Witherspoon Mystery

Book Blurb:

A cross between Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and a Cheers bartender, Sally Witherspoon, a 50-something accountant turned biker-bar owner, loves solving puzzles. Up to now, she has focused on helping neighbors and friends find lost jewelry, lost pets, and lost loves.

But when she finds her best friend and business partner, Bill Arnold, dead in a dumpster behind her bar on a Saturday night, she needs all her wits and grit to find out who did it.

And she won’t stop until she does.

His Review:

Berry Springs is a small Ozark town and is usually very peaceful. However, all that changes with a sudden spate of unexplained deaths. Sally Witherspoon owns a club called “Sally’s Smasher.” Some evenings a large profit is made which then has to go into inventory for continued operations. Also, Sally envisions herself as a detective who can augment the local overworked police department.

When someone close to her and associated with Sally’s Smasher is suddenly and brutally killed, she feels that she is the one to assist the local law enforcement professionals. The town of Berry Springs has a very close-knit community and Sally cannot think of anyone who could be culpable, however, the culprit had used an unusual method of murder.

The local police department considers Sally’s investigation of the crime meddling. She is reminded that she may be charged with impeding an ongoing investigation. She volunteers what information she has gathered and the police chief grudgingly shares some of the department’s findings with her. The victims begin to mount up though and they are all people associated with her establishment.

Meddling in police work and crime investigation can be very dangerous as Sally soon finds out. Can she solve the mystery or will she become the next victim? Read and enjoy this thriller. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

The first in a new series with promise for compelling characters and location. 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: Traditional Detective Mysteries, Amateur Sleuth Mysteries
Publisher: Level Best Books
ASIN: B0CKWT4FY2
Print Length: 298 pages pages
Publication Date: December 12, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Erik S Meyers - author — Erik S Meyers – author

The Author: Currently in Austria, I’m an American abroad for years and years who has lived or worked in six countries on three continents, the longest in Germany. I’m an award-winning author and communications professional with 25 years of expertise in a variety of corporate roles, including a broad range of communications disciplines, technical writing and translation, and corporate strategy. Reading and writing are my passions, when I’m not hiking one of the amazing trails in Austria or elsewhere. My motto is “fight the hype” and I enjoy taking a unique, perhaps unorthodox, view of the current topics and trends.

https://www.erikmey.com

Blue Ridge by Peter Malone Elliott – #BookReview – #politicalthrillers

Book Blurb:

What would you do if you were planning to kill your brother—but someone beat you to it?

After former Olympic contender turned burn-out horse trainer Cillian Clarke is framed for the murder of his identical twin Christopher, a rising-star Virginia politician, Cillian is forced to go on the lam. But when someone from Christopher’s past emerges and offers Cillian the chance to clear his name, Cillian is plunged headfirst into a sinister conspiracy that not only threatens the sanctity of democracy, but also promises to expose the devastating secret intertwining the brothers forever—the truth behind the death of a woman they both loved.

My Review:

For some reason, I seem attracted to the mystique that is the Blue Ridge Mountains—maybe from my riding days when the Blue Ridge Parkway was on my bucket list. So it was easy to grab this title, helped in no small part by the blurb.

“…the majestic, rolling landscape of the Blue Ridge is nature’s equivalent to the music of Patsy Cline…”

Oh, the prose.

Nailed it.

First, it was obvious from the author’s writing style that it was going to be unique. A good ole boy, Cillian, his musings—dark and honest as they were—confiding his sinister thoughts was a hook. He knew horses (his equine experience didn’t end well), but it was his estranged brother that fueled the fury within him. The resolve to kill his brother. The bane of his existence.

Interesting to get his side—then flip—and get his brother Christopher’s POV. And the immediate impression is one of a narcissist. Gees, no wonder Cillian had such a problem—but who was it said identical twins were opposite on the human spectrum. Everyone?

Christopher is popular; climbed the political ladder now viewing a possible run for governor. Is that even possible knowing what Cillian knows about his brother?

Cillian and Christopher share a secret, however, one so terrible, so horrendous there will be no reconciliation. Ever.

The author carefully develops his characters; molded, shaped by time, experience, love. Hate.

And then there is Audrey, Christopher’s carefully crafted love for Cillian’s beloved. His plot to secure her for his own gone terribly wrong. Irrevocably tragic. Each plotting the end of the other’s bid for her.

Then, the death of Christopher before Cillian can do it himself. Who? Why? Cillian so easily framed for his murder—a plot piece that fell neatly into the puzzle. How will Cillian find the answer without revealing the dark guilty secret each held?

A well-plotted and fast-paced narrative, this storyline just keeps adding intrigue, suspicions, twists and turns. The author adds just the right amount of hope and then yanks the rug out from under the feet. Can there be any escape here? Redemption? Solution?

I held out hope to the end.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts. I’m looking forward to what this author comes up with in a sophomore novel.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Political Thrillers & Suspense, Noir Crime, Psychological Thrillers
Publisher: Level Best Books
ASIN: B0CJKXKVJN
Print Length: 247 pages
Publication Date: January 9, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link: Blue Ridge [Amazon]

The Author: Peter Malone Elliott is an author, screenwriter, and developmental editor. Born and raised in Virginia, he now lives in Brooklyn, but still holds the magic of the mountains and Southern living near and dear to his heart. BLUE RIDGE is his debut novel. Other notable writing achievements include a Leo Award nomination for “Best Screenwriting, Motion Picture” and winning the Grand Prize of the Script Pipeline Screenwriting Competition. Peter is also the founder and owner of Fortiter et Recte Literary, where he offers bespoke editorial consulting for manuscripts and screenplays.