Review: How the World Ends (Book One) by Rudolf Kerkhoven

Genre: Science Fiction/Post-Apocalyptic

Description:

“More than six billion people died on the 14th of August, 2007. Many walked into oceans and rivers. Some leaped from the roofs and balconies of buildings. Others attacked anyone within reach, forming marauding hordes that quickly left no survivors. Within an hour, nearly the entire human race is dead. Without struggle, without resistance, the world has ended. For one family of survivors, a new world now begins.”

Author:

The author of several novels, plus the co-author with Daniel Pitts of several choose-your-own-adventure books, Rudolf Kerkhoven lives in the Vancouver, British Columbia area. For more, visit his website.

Appraisal:

Well that was different.

As four word summaries go, I don’t think I can do better than that. Nor do I think you’ll find many books that would fit that summary any better. The description of the book explains what happened (most of the world’s population dying through various means, much of it inexplicably self-induced) and tells us about our protagonists, a small family who somehow survive. Then the fun begins. How do they decide what they need to do to continue surviving? What exactly is it that happened? Are the other surviving humans they encounter on rare occasions enemies or potential allies? It’s tagging along with them, trying to figure these things out, that provides the tension and draws you into the book.

How does it turn out? I’m not saying. No spoilers from me. However, I will say that while I didn’t think there were any unresolved story threads at the end, this does indicate it is Book 1 which implies a series with at least a book 2 yet to come.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

A small amount of adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 50-55,000 words

Review: Election 2064 by Scott McDermott

Genre: Science Fiction/Political Thriller

Description:

“Nearly five decades from now, America is finding its legs again after years of bitter conflict. Civ-2, as the Second Civil War came to be known, turned many of the nation's cities into battlefields and took millions of lives. Early in the 2060 campaign, Reformation League candidate Acton Granger made an unprecedented concession – he would forego a running mate and offer the vice presidency to his chief rival, whomever that may become. It was a gesture of unity that rocketed Granger to victory. Still stinging from defeat, the Conservative League’s Elijah Schroeder chose to swallow his pride and accept Granger’s offer, alienating his own supporters and political allies in the process.

Now two years into their fragile partnership, the 2064 campaign looms, and Elijah learns his selection was more complicated than the call for healing he and the country were led to believe. He must decide whether to continue toiling as a false symbol of harmony, or turn against the man who is now his boss and leader of the free world.

Meanwhile, other national figures emerge with their own designs on the election, from the Freedom League’s rebellious darling Shelby Monroe to the Progressive League's technology mogul Ben Allen, who could become the country’s first gay president.

As each contender charts their strategies and the barnstorming begins, a terrorist attack – orchestrated by a new, horrifying weapon – rocks the nation and turns all of their campaigns upside-down.

That is, all of them but one.”

Author:

“Scott McDermott lives in Virginia Beach with his wife and two furballs.”

Appraisal:

This is quite a story. I’m inclined to call it dystopian because it has a lot of the elements of that genre, specifically a political slant that looks at a current direction some are advocating or trying to take the country and projects the slippery slope of going too far that way. In this case that direction is using what’s often described as “big data” to predict how voters will react to certain things and politicians positioning their campaigns based on that. (Google “Robert Mercer” if you’re interested in learning more about this.) However, dystopian usually implies the opposite of a utopia, a world you wouldn’t want to live in. The US in 2064 when this story takes place is no utopia, but it isn’t a dystopia either. But the questions and concerns it raises if you read between the lines aren’t much different from what you’d expect in the dystopian genre. Maybe it’s dystopian lite as well as being a political thriller set in the not-so-distant future.

Those tuned in to the current political landscape will spot other similarities in this future world the author has imagined. But there are also some significant differences that are interesting food for thought, for example there have been changes that have happened, moving from a two-party system to a multi-party system with the parties called “leagues.” How politicians and voters react due to the recent second Civil War and some changes in the political divisions in the country (there are now something like 75 states) are a few of the changes.

Overall, I found this story a satisfying and thought-provoking read in the same way a well-done dystopian novel might be, but also with the same intensity that would come from a good political thriller. If you like one or the other, this should do. If you’re a fan of both genres, what are you waiting for? My only complaint is the cliffhanger ending which has left me wondering when book two will be out. I’m ready now.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

This is the first of a series.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 95-100,000 words

Review: Tempted by Mr. Wrong by Jacquie Biggar

Genre: Romance/Mystery

Description:

“Falling for her step-brother is a mistake T.J. doesn't want to repeat, but one look into those sapphire blue eyes and she's ready to give Jason whatever he wants.

Tammy-Jo Hawthorne's marriage was floundering, but she never expected her husband to make her the laughing stock of Magnolia.

And she definitely didn't expect to trip over him in their front yard after he'd been murdered.

Jason McIntyre was forced out of his home and the love of his life by the man who'd haunted his nightmares for ten long years.

Now Jason's back--and he wants revenge.”

Author:

“Jacquie Biggar is a USA Today bestselling author of Romantic Suspense who loves to write about tough, alpha males and strong, contemporary women willing to show their men that true power comes from love…

She has been blessed with a long, happy marriage and enjoys writing romance novels that end with happily-ever-afters.

Jacquie lives in paradise along the west coast of Canada with her family and loves reading, writing, and flower gardening. She swears she can't function without coffee, preferably at the beach with her sweetheart.”

To learn more about Ms. Biggar visit her website or follow her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Tammy-Jo Hawthorne is having the worst day of her life. Her husband has just humiliated her at the country club in front of all of their friends. He’s cancelled her credit cards, turned off her phone, and had her Jaguar towed away from the club. Now it is pouring rain and she’s twenty miles from home. To top it all off she breaks the heel off her Louboutin.

Then her savior, who had been in the bar at the country club and saw it all, pulls his shiny black Mustang to the side of the road to give her a lift home. Jason McIntyre, her step-brother who she hadn’t seen in ten years, isn’t home for a family reunion. He’s on a covert mission investigating her, her husband, and her father’s involvement in a colossal Ponzi scheme. He is going to find it difficult not to blow his cover, especially after he drops Tammy-Jo off at her gated home and she trips over her husband’s dead body.

The plot moves fast and the suspense is high as the case now involves murder. The characters are all well developed and realistic. The dialogue fits the situations that arise as the plot twists. It’s hard for TJ and Jason to deny their attraction is as strong now as it was in high school. And it’s heartbreaking watching Jason come to terms with his mother’s increasing dementia.

I only have one complaint. Jason leaves his Mustang for TJ to drive when he takes his mother to dinner, with a note for her to join them when she awakens from her nap. Men don’t just leave their babies for any woman to drive, it was a sweet gesture. However, when Jason and his mother leave the restaurant they end up in a car chase and Jason and his mom are suddenly in his souped-up Mustang. I understand he needed it at that moment and his mother is adorably priceless during the chase. It is one of my favorite scenes in the story. Since this situation doesn’t affect the plot, I am hesitant to take any marks away. It is also the ONLY editing or proofing issue I came across, so I’m willing to let it slide.

If you are in the mood for a sexy romantic suspense, I would recommend Tempted by Mr. Wrong.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

  

FYI:

Sexual situations and content. One F-bomb dropped.

Format/Typo Issues:

Only the issue I mentioned above.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 words

Review: For The Best Of Reasons (Magic Ink Book 1) by Jonathan Burchett

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Mystery/Young Adult

Description:

“For Nikki Raines, one of Chicago's best magical tattoo artists, life is good. Work is steady, she owns her own boat, and who needs a date when you have a ghost magically tied to your necklace to keep you company. So when a new customer walks into Inkslingers Nikki's only worry at first is if she can work the woman in before her next appointment. Then she gets sucker punched through the door, almost drowned, caught up in magical crimes, and finds herself fighting in an underground pit.

Some days you just should have stayed in bed.

But Nikki isn't about to let circumstances get her down. Before it's all over she'll kick some a**, find out a few names, and discover that the worst thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies.”

Author:

“Jonathan Burchett was born in a little town named Paintsville, Kentucky, in 1969, just before Sesame Street first aired and soon after the first man walked on the moon. He was always a voracious reader. I cut my eyeteeth on Mysteries and Science Fiction in elementary school, moving on to mostly Science Fiction and Westerns in high school. For the past decade or so I've been hooked on Military Science Fiction and Urban Fantasy. This is my first time writing and I've been blessed with a supportive family and people to help me along the way.”

For more info you can check out Mr. Burchett’s Amazon Author page or follow him on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Nikki Raines is intelligent, snarky, and well trained in fighting and weapons by the Chicago Knights, defenders of humans from the monsters who exist amongst them.  She is also one of the best magical tattoo artists in Chicago. And probably the only one who has a millennia old ghost, Leo, who was bound to her at the age of thirteen as a gift from her now absent mother. I do like Leo’s personality, he’s like Jiminy Crickey in her head trying to talk sense into her at times. Leo also makes a good sounding board to talk things over with.

Mr. Burchett has a unique urban fantasy here, but I think he has too many story-threads going on this early for a series book. Granted it is non-stop action with the stakes getting higher and more dangerous as the story moves forward. I think what the author has here is more like a serial series, especially with the cliff-hanger ending. With none of the story-threads coming to a conclusion in the one-hundred-twenty-six pages For The Best Of Reasons is not a complete book. Well, perhaps the part of the story where Nikki is bound to a shapeshifter, as well as Leo, is a complete story-thread because it can’t be undone. So now they are all still getting used to each other and their quirks. And this brought up the question in my mind about Leo and his binding to Nikki, which I’m sure was nothing like D’Niya’s binding fiasco.  

So, essentially the plot is captivating and draws the reader in quickly. There are good bones here, it just isn’t ready for prime time yet. For The Best Of Reasons needs a good copy editor to clean up the repetitions and a thorough proofreading to clean up the many typos I came across. I do think this story is worth polishing up. I do love the title, it fits Nikki’s personality, and it has a nice book cover.   

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Young adult appropriate.

Format/Typo Issues:

Too many proofing issues, I had to deduct a star.

Rating: *** Three Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 45-50,000 words

Reprise Review: Hustle by Tom Pitts

Genre: Crime Fiction

Description:

Donny and Big Rich work the streets for a living, turning tricks, doing drugs in their spare time in an endless downward spiral. But Rich reckons he has a meal ticket out in the form of Gabriel Thaxton, one of his clients. He's a wealthy man and wouldn't want his secret to be out there.

The trouble is Thaxton's already being blackmailed...

Author:

Tom Pitts learnt about life on the mean streets of San Francisco where he still lives, works and writes today.

You can learn more about the author at his website, or follow Mr. Pitts on Facebook.

Appraisal:

My expectation was raised when I saw the introduction to Hustle was by Les Edgerton - that the story would be of a certain type and quality. And I wasn't wrong. Hustle is a tightly written novel with a straightforward, no nonsense plant, excellent cast of characters and a real treat to read, surrounded by some testing subject matter.

Everything about this novel is neat. There are few characters and all are very well drawn. Pitts managed to make me care about and like or hate the whole cast. Donny and Big Rich are two kids who spend their time waiting for a score, whether selling their bodies to a client or taking drugs. Donny is new to the scene, Big Rich the more experienced hustler who teaches Donny the ropes.

There's Thaxton, once a tough lawyer, able to get any criminal off any charge - a legal version of Gordon Gecko - but now a shadow of his former self. He's paid a very high price for his success. He's being blackmailed by one of his ex-clients, a drug addict called Dustin. He's truly excellent, a lunatic of the highest order. Dustin has something over Thaxton and is using it to his advantage. And finally Bear, by name and nature, another of Thaxton's clients, but one who's trying to help him. And that's pretty much it for the cast, with another couple of ably supporting bodies.

Successive chapters flip between Donny and Rich, hatching their plan, executing it, then realising it's not going to work as planned, cut in with narrative on Bear or Thaxton. The conclusion is very well done. As I said, a real treat.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Violence, swearing and drug taking.

Added for Reprise Review: Hustle by Tom Pitts was a nominee in the Crime Fiction category for B&P 2015 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran April 2, 2014

Format/Typo Issues:

Nothing worth mentioning.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: Keith Nixon

Approximate word count: 70-75,000 words

Review: Sweet Sweet Country by Anna Bronislavska

Genre: Thriller

Description:

This book’s elements comprise the Swedishness of the main protagonist, Linda Strand: a travelogue aspect as we visit the cities of Kiev and Stockholm and countryside in Ukraine and Sweden: a thriller element, which deals with exploitation of children.

Swedish Linda Strand comes to Kiev to see her brother but he is missing, although nobody seems very worried by this. Linda later returns to Kiev to look for him. On her second visit, she penetrates a more dangerous world than the one she found on her first visit and, later in the book, the story of the children being used by the pornographers is poignant indeed.

Author:

Anna Bronislavska is a Ukrainian living in Sweden. It is interesting that she has chosen to write as a Swede about her homeland. The results ring very true. She has a good eye and ear for cultural specifics and she is – as she says of herself – passionate about both countries.

Appraisal:

Most of the action takes place in Kiev, we are shown the city through the eyes of a stranger, we see inside the museums, we share the food (a lot of it sweet, hence the book’s title). Some of the book is set in Stockholm, where we get a glimpse of Swedish family, professional and city life. There are excursions into the Ukrainian and Swedish countryside.

The first half of the book proceeds at an unhurried pace, interesting characters live their lives; they enjoy meals, visit places and friends, taking Linda with them. It is a fine travelogue, juxtaposing the cool efficiency of Sweden and the Swedish with the passionate underground theatre and indie-film scene in vibrant Kiev.

Bronislavska’s writing from the points of view of the teenage boy and the little girl being abused is very fine. A don’t ask/don’t complain attitude comes through, which feels like a hangover from Communist days. In Ukraine, says one character, even today it is not wise to question a disappearance. The description of the squalor in which the children are kept is heart-breaking

Unfortunately the sum of the book is less than the interesting, individual parts. There is rather a lot of repetition which slows the already leisurely pace (eg ‘He made it his home. He lived here. It was his.’). Sometimes we slip outside Linda Strand’s viewpoint to get a global view, but the ‘voice’ remains Linda’s. I found this confusing when her ‘voice’ was applied to a villain wearing aviator shades. Organisation of the material occasionally misled. There is a scene in which a stranger insists on buying Linda a ticket for the theatre for no apparent reason. They sit side by side but do not exchange a word. We do not see him leave. It is a bizarre scene. It is explained later in the book, but makes no sense at the time. The prologue would have been more help at the end of the book.

At the end of the book the various strands are ably tied, but earlier in the book the dangling ends became a little frustrating, for this reader.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

One strand of this book is child pornography. However, apart from a graphic beating, all the abuse happens ‘offstage’.

Format/Typo Issues:

An editor’s input to this book would have improved the reader’s experience.

Rating: *** Three Stars

Reviewed by: Judi Moore

Approximate word count: 90-95,000 words

Reprise Review: Mazie Baby by Julie Frayn

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Description:

“When Mazie Reynolds was a young girl, she believed monsters lived under her bed. Now a grown, married woman, she discovers one sleeps in her bed.

Mazie schemes to save herself and her daughter. Her plan will work, if she can out-maneuver the monster who is a master of manipulation and control. She’s got one thing going for her, the one thing she truly owns. Mazie has moxie to the bone. But will it be enough?”

Author:

The author of three novels and two short story collections, Julie Frayn lives in Calgary, Alberta where she’s a senior manager at a historical theme park. Her novel It isn’t Cheating if He’s Dead was the top vote getter in the Chick-Lit/Women’s Fiction category of the 2014 BigAl’s Books and Pals Readers’ Choice Awards.

For more, visit Frayn’s website, or catch Ms. Frayn on Facebook.

Appraisal:

I liked Mazie Baby for several very different reasons. The main one is the portrayal of living with an abusive husband. The family dynamics between Mazie, her daughter, and husband rang true and gave me insight into the difficulties someone in that situation has in surviving or getting out. It made for some intense drama as does the story of what Mazie finally does when she realizes the time has come for a change.

However, it isn’t all unrelenting drama and vicarious stress for the reader, Mazie goes through what I’ll describe as an adventure. Her next door neighbor, who helps Mazie along the way, also provides a bit of comic relief. Just as with It isn’t Cheating if He’s Dead, another of Frayn’s books I’ve read, I loved Frayn’s characters. They hit the right balance between being realistic (not unlike people you know), and unique, so you aren’t sure where they’re going to take the story. An excellent read.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Uses Canadian spelling conventions (a cross between the US and UK). Some adult language.

Added for Reprise Review: Mazie Baby by Julie Frayn was a nominee in the Women’s Fiction category for B&P 2015 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran September 26, 2014

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 75-80,000 words

Review: The Downfall of a Belly Dancer by Kerrie Noor

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Description:

The Downfall of a Belly Dancer is a comedy for women who love to laugh, believe in romance but like it served with a bit of reality.

Nefertiti’s life is sinking into the Scottish sunset…

At one time she ran a troupe of belly dancers, now she has three reluctant pupils. Zumba has stormed into Argyll and taken all her gigs. Her diary is as empty as her class and Nefertiti can’t cope.

Disappointed, Nefertiti turns to Rodger her ‘rock’, mentor and partner, but he has other plans and has retreated into his shed. And Nefertiti is desperate to find out why.

The Downfall of a Belly Dancer is the second in the Belly dancing series- a satirical look at romantic comedy with whole new meaning to a happy ending.

Author:

“Kerrie was born in Melbourne Australia in 1960 but has spent most of her adult life in Scotland. She arriving in Argyll in 1980's on a working holiday and 'just ended up staying'. Kerrie works for Alzheimer Scotland. She is also a regular on Dunoon Community Radio practising her comedy and storytelling skills while learning about obscure bands and the hidden night life of Dunoon. She teaches and performs Belly dancing and is currently trying to develop her talents as a story teller. In the past she has 'done' a little stand up and appeared at the Edinburgh Festival. She writes under the name of Kerrie Noor”

To learn more about Ms. Noor please visit her website or follow her onFacebook.

Appraisal:

As Nefertiti’s egocentric life is falling apart at the seams, she is sent into a tailspin trying to figure out what has gone wrong. The story is full of quirky characters who are well-developed and unique. Each one adds their own flavor to Nefertiti’s dilemma. But when Roger builds his ‘man shed’ on the spot Nef had chosen for her pyramid she is devastated. To make things worse all of her belly dancing class, women she referred to as her Sisterhood, have abandoned her for the new Zumba class in town. It seems like the only friend she has is the town’s bag-lady who has taken up a spot in front of Roger’s book shop, where Nef and Roger trade working days.

I wish I could say the bag-lady was the quirkiest character in town, however she isn’t, despite feeding and herding the geese and swans around the lake behind the church. When the town starts a petition to report her to Social Services to find her a proper home, Nef comes to the rescue by offering her a place in her home. That doesn’t go quite as planned though. The bag-lady constructs a teepee in Nef’s backyard by the garden to live in along with a fire pit, which becomes an evening gathering place with many stories. Nefertiti’s journey is an interesting one that ends up involving practically the whole town.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

The Downfall of a Belly Dancer is book two in BELLY DANCING and BEYOND Series. This book also contains several F-bombs and adult subject matter. There is also a small glossary at the end of the book to help with the Scottish terms, which Ms. Noor uses, along with UK spelling.

Format/Typo Issues:

I came across several proofing misses such as: wrong words, missing, or extra words. Also, Kay was called Kate on the same page she had just been called Kay. Because of these issues I had to deduct a star.  

Rating: *** Three Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words

Review: Dig Two Graves by Keith Nixon

Genre: Thriller/Noir/Police Procedural

Description:

“When teenager Nick Buckingham tumbles from the fifth floor of an apartment block, Detective Sergeant Solomon Gray answers the call with a sick feeling in his stomach. The victim was just a kid, sixteen years old. And the exact age the detective's son, Tom, would've been, had he not gone missing at a funfair ten years ago. Each case involving children haunts Gray with the reminder that his son may still be out there - or worse, dead. The seemingly open and shut case of suicide twists into a darker discovery. Buckingham and Gray have never met, so why is Gray's number on the dead teenager's mobile phone?

With his boss, Detective Inspector Yvonne Hamson, Gray begins to unravel a murky world of abuse, lies, and corruption. An investigator from the Met is called in to assist, setting the local police on edge. And when the body of Reverend David Hill is found shot to death in the vestry of Gray's old church, Gray wonders how far the depravity stretches and who might be next. Nothing seems connected, and yet there is one common thread: Detective Sergeant Solomon Gray, himself. As the bodies pile up, Gray must face his own demons. Crippled by loss but determined to find the truth, Gray takes the first step on the long road of redemption.

Set in the once grand town of Margate in the south of England, the now broken and depressed seaside resort becomes its own character in this dark detective thriller.”

Author:

During the day Keith Nixon is employed in a “senior sales role” by a high-tech company in the UK. But when he gets home you’ll find him working on this next book in one of two unrelated genres, either hard-boiled crime fiction or historical fiction.

Appraisal:

This is the first of the Solomon Gray series and I’m already a fan. Gray is a detective and the main story thread appears, at least at first, to be a straightforward (although certainly unique) murder case. I anticipated a straightforward police procedural. It might have been except for Solomon Gray’s past, which haunts him in many ways and I think tends to change the way he views and approaches crime solving. As the story alternates between the two threads, us learning about Gray’s past and observing his efforts to solve the current case (eventually cases) the two threads start getting tangled with each other. I never saw that coming.

The result can be viewed as a police procedural or noir crime fiction or a bit of both. But what struck me is that the underlying story has more depth than is typical of either.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words

Review: The Filled In Spaces by Michael Overa

Genre: Short Story Collection

Description:

“The stories in the Filled In Spaces investigate the intersecting lives of strangers and acquaintances, acknowledging that we are all a background character in someone else’s story. The stories investigate the nature of relationships and friendships.”

Author:

“Michael Overa was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. After completing his MFA at Hollins University Michael returned to Seattle where he currently works as a writing tutor and is a writer-in-residence with Seattle's Writers In The Schools Program.”

Appraisal:

The last few short story collections I’ve read have had stories that fell flat for me. The Filled in Spaces ended that streak. These stories were all interesting, entertaining, and didn’t leave me wondering why the author had bothered writing them. They tend to be on the darker side with characters living on the edges of society, so if you’re looking for inspirational stories or a certain kind of character that doesn’t fit that, these stories might not be for you. But if you like that sort of thing (I obviously do) then they’re very good stories.

Unfortunately, if you’re the kind of reader who gets thrown out of a story due to typos, missing or wrong words, obvious misspellings, or obvious grammar errors that didn’t get fixed in the final product, this book is ABSOLUTELY NOT for you. If it went through a copyediting or proofreading process, then that process fell well short of what it should have accomplished. In fact, if these stories were even run through a word processor’s spell check function, I’d be amazed.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language and situations.

Format/Typo Issues:

The copyediting and proofreading on this were … well, really, they weren’t.

Rating: *** Three Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 words

Reprise Review: A Man Alone by David Siddall

Genre: Crime/Thriller/Noir

Description:

John Doyle is a quiet man, that is until local crime boss, Barry Wood, threatens his step-daughter, April. Doyle has a past, one he’d tried to bury but is forced to bring back to the surface to protect his family.

Author:

David Siddall writes his crime in his home city of Liverpool. He had a number of stories published in magazines before writing A Man Alone, his debut work.

Appraisal:

This is an excellent novella full of excellent characters and a situation that ramps up the pressure on the protagonist, John Doyle. The initial premise, man protects family from local thug, isn’t unusual, but there’s something intangible about Doyle that keeps the pages turning. It’s dark, brooding and violent.

Doyle the underdog up against a man who’s used to calling the shots and is caught off guard when someone fights back. For Doyle has a past, one that’s gradually revealed piece by piece as he turns up the heat on Wood. He moved to Liverpool for some peace, hoping he’d left his past behind, but he can’t help but draw on his experience.

There’s also several neat little twists that add to the story, I can’t say what for fear of ruining the surprise. If you like your crime hard boiled, I strongly recommend this novella. I’ve only one complaint – it’s too short (although the story is really well paced and balanced) in that I’d like to see more of Doyle. I really hope the author brings him back in a future story.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Nothing of note.

Added for Reprise Review: A Man Alone was a nominee in the Crime Fiction category for B&P 2015 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran July 28, 2014.

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: Keith Nixon

Approximate word count: 15-20,000 words