Reprise Review: Music Speaks by Various

Genre: Short Story Anthology

Description:

In these pages are eleven short stories from nine independent authors. These stories cover a wide range of genres—from romance to dystopia—but they all share a single theme: the power of music.

Titles include:

Gone Too Soon by Christopher T. Grace

The Heart Never Forgets by Ann Cathey

Solo by David Antrobus

Heavy Metal Lovesong by Pam Bainbridge-Cowan

Save Me by Erin McGowan

Playlist by James Clark

Music Heals All Hearts by Laurie Sorensen

Punk Rock 101 by JD Mader

and three Jukebox Heroes Vignettes by LB Clark

100% of profits from the sale of this short story collection will be donated to the MusiCares Foundation—a non-profit organization that helps musicians in times of need.

Author:

See author list in description.

Appraisal:

Anyone who has read many of my reviews knows I’m a sucker for stories that have a tie-in to music. Stories that share the common thread of the “power of music” to lift our mood, inspire, entertain, and even change our lives are a perfect fit. I’d use the cliché that they’re preaching to the choir in my case, if only I could sing. The fact that the profit from sales of this book go to an organization that has provided a safety net for musicians who have experienced financial setbacks such as crushing medical bills is just an added benefit.

Short story anthologies sometimes suffer from unevenness. That wasn’t what I found here. Although you might have favorites based on genre preference and taste, there isn’t a single clunker in this collection. I tried to pick a favorite and, if forced, would choose the lead story, Gone Too Soon, by Christopher T. Grace. But every story was a contender.

Buy now from:    Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

A small amount of adult language.

Added for Reprise Review: Music Speaks was a nominee in the Short Story Collections and Anthologies category for B&P 2013 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran August 13, 2012

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 words

Review: Sleeping with the Blackbirds by Alex Pearl

Genre: Contemporary/Urban Fantasy/Young Adult

Description:

“Eleven-year-old schoolboy, Roy Nuttersley has been dealt a pretty raw deal. While hideous parents show him precious little in the way of love and affection, school bullies make his life a misery. So Roy takes comfort in looking after the birds in his garden, and in return the birds hatch a series of ambitious schemes to protect their new friend. As with the best-laid plans, however, these get blown completely off course - and as a result the lives of both Roy and his arch tormentor, Harry Hodges are turned upside down - but in a surprisingly good way.”

Author:

“Alex Pearl is an advertising copywriter living in NW London with his wife and two kids.

Sleeping with the Blackbirds - a black, comic urban fantasy, was initially written for his children in 2011 and published by PenPress, and subsequently republished by CreateSpace.

In 2014 his short story, Scared to Death - the fictionalised account of the first British serviceman to be executed for cowardice during the First World War, was published by Mardibooks along with 22 other short stories in an anthology entitled The Clock Struck War.

Alex is currently writing a very dark thriller set in London following the terrorist attack in 2005. He hopes to have this completed and on the shelves by 2019.

Alex's claim to fame is that he is quite possibly the only person on this planet to have been accidentally locked in a record shop on Christmas Eve.”

To learn more you can visit Mr. Pearl’s website, Amazon Author page, or Facebook.

Appraisal:

Eleven year-old Roy Nuttersley is living in a toxic environment of emotional abuse and often neglectful parents. To say nothing of the bullies at school. He finds solace in the back yard under their huge oak tree. Roy has built several brightly painted bird feeders to hang in the trees for the birds he considers friends. The large black birds understand and feel the sadness emanating from Roy. So, they devise plans to protect Roy. When one of their schemes goes awry, the result turns the lives of both Roy and his arch tormentor, Harry Hodges, upside down.

The characters are well developed with precision for the readers to properly understand each and every one. This includes the birds who are instrumental in several portions of the tale. The string of events are cunning and well thought out. There were twists to the story I never expected. The adventure becomes quite emotional at times and handles several heavy topics with humanity and grace.

This is a book that would be enjoyed by middle grade and young adults. I think they will easily identify with the characters and many situations. There are many morals to be learned in this story. The twists at the end of the book are brilliant and make the story worth sharing. 

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Author uses British spelling conventions.

Format/Typo Issues:

Nothing significant.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 words

Reprise Review: Eightball Boogie by Declan Burke

Genre: Noir/Mystery

Description:

“Freelance hack Harry Rigby likes a smoke, the easy life and Robert Ryan playing the bad guy in late night black-and-whites. Sweet. But when the wife of a prominent politician is murdered in her best nightdress, Rigby finds himself caught in a crossfire between rogue paramilitaries, an internal Garda inquiry and the heaviest blizzard of coke ever to hit Ireland’s northwest. If all that wasn’t bad enough, his relationship with Denise is on the rocks. And then there’s Gonzo, Rigby’s brother, back on the streets and meaner than a jilted shark …”

This book was originally published by Lilliput Press and may still be available through them in a paper version.

Author:

Declan Burke lives with his family in Wicklow, Ireland. In addition to this novel, he has written three others, two of them available for your Kindle. He also edited Down Those Green Streets: Irish Crime Writing in the 21st Century. For more, visit Burke’s blog.

Appraisal:

Imagine an Elmore Leonard book written by an Irishman, and you’ll have a good idea of what to expect from Eightball Boogie. Harry Rigby is a hanging-by-his-fingertips private eye who bills himself as a “research consultant.” His relationships are complicated and not always what they seem (to us or to him), and in this case he’s in over his head from the start.

Although I loved the story, what I found impressed me the most was Burke’s way with words. For example, this line:

Down in the Old Quarter, two times out of three you flip a double-headed coin, it comes down on its edge. Last time, it doesn’t come down at all.

Or Burke’s description of his favorite pub:

The benches were upholstered in worn red velvet. The carpet was pocked with tiny scorch marks. The low ceiling was tuberculosis brown.

Or when Harry said he’d “have spotted Helen Conway with one eye tied behind my back.” I’d be reading on cruise control, taking the story in, and then hit a line that had me do a double take because it was different, but also evocative, in a way you don’t often see. Eightball Boogie gets all the stars and thumbs pointing at the ceiling that I have to give.

Buy now from:    Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language and situations. The author is from Ireland where Eightball Boogie takes place, and uses spelling conventions appropriate for Ireland. There is also a lot of Irish slang.

Added for Reprise Review: Eightball Boogie by Declan Burke was a nominee in the Mystery category for B&P 2013 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran June 11, 2012

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of what I perceived as proofing or copy editing misses, almost all instances of missing small words. I’ve become convinced that these situations aren’t seen as errors in many English speaking countries. For example, “I was tempted to touch the ugly welts on her throat but I got out the car, locked it, crunched through the snow to the hospital,” seems like it is missing an “of” to me. If not, where did he get the car out from? Maybe his pocket?

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 65-70,000 words

Review: The Fading by Linda Taimre

Genre: Dystopian

Description:

“Something is awake.

Harriet’s wife, Katherine, is dying from an insidious virus that threatens humanity – and this is not just any disease.  This virus makes people literally disappear, swallowed by a rapidly evolving enemy.  Desperate to find a way to save her love, Harriet must move fast to discover a cure.  She’ll strive to find a way to defeat the virus before it takes Katherine, no matter the cost.

A cost that Lady Trinh, head of the Australian government, cannot bear.  From her seat in Brisbane's protectorate, a pollution-free haven for the lucky few, Lady Trinh will go to any lengths to protect her people – and not only from the virus. For her, failure is not an option, and loose threads must be quickly cut.

Something is awake. And it wants to feed.”

Author:

The author describes herself as follows:

“I'm an Australian author who writes speculative fiction - anything supernatural, fantastical and futuristic.

In the past, I've been an actor, corporate improvement analyst, teacher, producer, and operations manager. Nowadays, I'm also interested in neuropsychology, though I still love an occasional theatrical stint.”

Appraisal:

I’ve read dystopian or post-apocalyptic books where the spread of a disease is the current conflict the book’s characters are dealing with, but The Fading is unlike those I’ve read before. That uniqueness comes from two things. The first is the viral disease is unlike anything that has come before. Figuring out how to cure it and prevent its spread isn’t obvious. The other unique aspect is the setup of the future society where the story takes place. Dystopian societies are going to be divided into haves and have-nots, but how those differences are reflected in the future Australia depicted in this book goes beyond what is typical. The Fading is a short, quick read that should keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat as you root for Harriet to find a way to save her wife, Katherine.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

Review is based on an advance reader copy so I can’t gauge the final product in this area.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 40-45,000 words

Review: Glossy Lips: Cold Cream Murders by Barbara Silkstone

Genre: Cozy Mystery/Humor/Woman Sleuth

Description:

“Olive Peroni put out her family therapy shingle six years ago, never thinking her top client would be Myron Meyers, head of a New York crime family. When Olive’s grandmother dies and leaves her a condo in Florida and a secret recipe for miracle cold cream, she grabs the chance at a new life in Starfish Cove, Florida, making designer creams for ladies who spend far too much time at the beach.

Business is brisk and life is good! Olive even makes a wild new best friend in Lizzy, the real estate agent who handles the transfer of Nonna’s condo. When a dead body is found in the trunk of Lizzy’s car, Olive despairs that life in Starfish Cove won’t be any different than the one she thought she’d escaped. But this time, instead of listening to confessions of murder, Olive’s going to have to solve one. Maybe two…”

Author:

“Barbara Silkstone's most current series is Florence Nightingale Comedy Mysteries...The Giggling Corpse, The Killer Corset, and The Cheeky Coroner. Cozies all.

Silkstone is the best-selling author of both Regency Pride and Prejudice variations, including the popular the MISTER DARCY SERIES OF COMEDIC MYSTERIES ~ PRIDE AND PREJUDICE contemporary variations. All her books are light-hearted adventures based on Jane Austen's timeless tales of love denied and love discovered. ‘Feel good’ tales to warm your heart.

She is also the author of the Wendy Darlin Comedy Mystery series. Five coffee-snorting tales that combine cozy with outrageous adventures.”

For more from Barbara, visit her website and her Facebook page.

Appraisal:

Ms. Silkstone’s books are always a pleasure to read. Her characters are realistic, well developed, and diverse. Olive Peroni, a New York family therapist, receives word that her grandma has passed away and Olive has inherited her Florida condo and all of her possessions. Olive takes leave from her practice thinking she can handle Nonna’s affairs in two weeks’ time. She hires a realtor over the internet and heads south. Olive is level-headed, smart, and practical. When she meets the real estate agent she hired, Lizzy, everything changes. Lizzy is a compassionate free-spirit, everything Olive is not. However, they strike a quick friendship with mutual respect for each other.

A dead body shows up in the trunk of Lizzy’s car. Then Lizzy’s cottage is broken into and trashed with lip gloss graphite on the walls and mirrors. Her finches are gone and her dog is traumatized. This causes the two friends to unwittingly become amateur sleuths. Much to the dismay of head detective Kal, Lizzy and WonderDog move into Olive’s condo for the time being. The story twists and turns as the suspect circle widens. The plot is well thought out, original, and entertaining.

Olive’s training as a psychologist serves her well in rooting out the killer, and choosing friends. Ms. Silkstone has an extraordinary cast of characters for this new cozy mystery series set in Starfish Cove, Florida. I just hope they find the time to keep up with sales of Nonna’s Cold Cream. And I loved the last line of the book. :)

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

  

FYI:

Glossy Lips is book 1 in Barbara Silkstone’s COLD CREAM MURDERS Series. Contains a recipe for Olive & Lizzy’s super-creamy homemade lip gloss!

Format/Typo Issues:

No issues in proofing or formatting.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 45-50,000 words

Review: The Other Side of Elsewhere by Brett McKay

Genre: Paranormal/Suspense

Description:

“Ret McCoy was always the new kid, but after three years in the small town of Riverton, he thinks his family may have finally settled. He and his friends have the perfect summer planned before they start seventh grade, and his new job at the local mortuary promises enough pocket money for all the sodas they can drink.

A dare from an older boy quickly ruins their plans. Everyone knows to stay away from the Crooked House, but after Ret and his friends take on the dare to spend the night in the abandoned house, they become caught up in the house’s dark history.

Later, an outsider buys the house. When people start to disappear, Ret is determined to solve the mystery before it swallows the entire town. His obsession with the Crooked House and its strange new owner threatens to put him and his friends in danger more terrifying than anything they could have imagined.”

Author:

“When Brett McKay is not conjuring demons and bloodthirsty psychopaths to put on paper, he sells landscaping. He loves all types of music, but hard rock and heavy metal fuel him the most. He enjoys the outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and curling up in front of a good movie with his wife and a bucket of popcorn.

Brett lives in Utah with his wife and two sons. Fall is his favorite time of year because he gets to decorate his house for Halloween much too early for his neighbors.”

Appraisal:

For me The Other Side of Elsewhere had two levels. The first, higher level, is one that potential readers with comparable tastes are likely going to experience much the same. The second level is one that very few will connect with in the same way as I did. It’s at a much more detailed and personal level. Whether it is positive, negative, or even something that registers will vary by reader. I’ll try to explain.

At the high level this is a paranormal suspense or thriller novel. The protagonist is a twelve year-old boy and I don’t think it would be a stretch to call it a coming of age story as well. If when the story takes place is ever spelled out, I missed it, but there are subtle clues that would lead me to believe anytime in the period from the 70s to the early 80s would be a reasonable assumption. This could and I think would appeal to a wide range of ages, from young adult to a not-at-all-young adult who might have been coming of age when the story takes place. While the story isn’t happening in current times I think regardless of when you were 12, whether a couple years ago or several decades, you’ll be able to relate to Ret, the protagonist in the story. (Girls, might not see themselves in Ret, but they’ll surely see their brother or some other boy they knew.)

For me, much of this story, both in the behavior of Ret and his friends as well as the environment and culture of their hometown, were just like where I lived at twelve. In fact, Ret’s hometown is a real town in Utah, about 50 miles from where I grew up in the same period the story took place. I found myself nodding my head at something specific thinking that the author had it just right. But a few times I’d stop nodding and start wondering how the average reader would react. Would they understand the specific? Not likely. But maybe they’d get a sense for what was being said without understanding. Some of these things were terminology specific to the religion that dominates Utah like Primary (religious instruction for younger children) or Relief Society (a women’s organization within the Mormon church). Others weren’t religious, but still Utah specific, like a reference to the Dee Burger Clown (the “mascot” for a long-defunct fast food chain). I think these things were infrequent enough to not be a serious issue for those who don’t understand the reference. For those who do, it makes the story that much more credible and authentic.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 65-70,000 words

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Reprise Review: Color Me Grey by J. C. Phelps

Genre: Action-Adventure/Spy Thriller

Description:

A petite twenty-something tomboy with an unconventional upbringing and a yearning for adventure, Alexis Stanton is bored with her life. So she quits her job and starts the search for something more exciting. A strange and ambiguous help wanted ad might be the answer. Then again, it might be more than she bargained for.

Author:

Author J.C. Phelps has written three books in The Alex Stanton Chronicles (Color Me Grey is the first). She lives and writes in South Dakota. For more visit her blog.

Appraisal:

I started reading Color Me Grey late one night as I was supposed to be falling asleep. This was a mistake. I liked the character of Alexis immediately. Despite her unconventional and privileged upbringing (which could easily have had the opposite effect) she had an attitude and style I loved. She has a passion to experience life that most of us lack. She is always thirsting for knowledge, a quality very few people have. One thing that really stuck with me, since it hit close to home, was when Alexis said:

Reading is a habit of mine, not a hobby, but a habit. It seems I just can’t get enough. I will read anything.

Perhaps some of you can relate. I know I did.

The characters, including Alexis, are “larger than life.” Their adventures are beyond what you’d expect from real life, yet aren’t as over-the-top as you might find in a James Bond type novel.

If this sort of adventure-thriller is your sort of read, Color Me Grey might be the perfect read, although Alexis is a different kind of hero than you might have experienced before.

The only caution I have is Phelps writing style, at least in this book, is very narrative driven. One friend described it as stream-of-consciousness, although I’m not sure that description is quite right. But if you’re looking for lots of dialog, you won’t find it, if for no other reason than many of the characters tend to be close-lipped, letting their actions talk for them. If you’re not sure, read the sample. If your reaction is anything like mine, that will be more than enough to hook you. Just don’t start reading if you should be sleeping, or risk paying the consequences the next morning as I did.

Buy now from:    Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of typos that should not affect your reading enjoyment.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 75-80,000 words

Reprise Review: Frosty the Snowman by Mimi Barbour

Genre: Romance/Adventure/Novella/Christmas

Description:

“Strangers, Hali and Terry, and a cute but mischievous Samoyed puppy are stranded in the Alaskan bush. Due to a freak snowstorm, Terry is forced him to land his small Cessna on a frozen lake. From the beginning, Hali’s never known a man so independent and rigid in his need to have things done his way. And Terry’s never known a woman so willing to help, stepping on his pride in such a lovable way that he can’t take offense. The frigid temperatures are brutal and when Terry falls through the ice to save a puppy, the stakes for survival become enormous. Can their blossoming mutual attraction withstand their multiple challenges?”

Author:

Mimi Barbour is a “New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon best-selling author who's sold over 500,000 copies of her books world-wide. She says, “My husband is supportive and drags me out to feed me and plans occasional forays into the outside world… Gardening lights my inner fires, and I need no urging to get out into the yard when the weather dictates. I do have many hobbies such as quilting, crocheting, but alas – no time.”

Visit Ms. Barbour’s website to find out about her many books and series or follow her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

This story is book four in Ms. Barbour’s Holiday Heartwarmer Series. When a small Cessna has to make a forced landing during a freak snowstorm in northern Alaska wilderness, Terry Carlton, the pilot, and Hali Gibson, reluctant passenger, have to go into survival mode.

Hali is on a mission to deliver her cousin’s ten week-old Samoyed puppy to his new owner in Juneau, Alaska. Having yearned to visit this area of the country she sees this as the perfect opportunity to spend Christmas closer to Mother Nature in the far north. After getting bumped off the final leg of her trip she is able to find passage on a private aircraft into Juneau.

Terry is a confirmed bachelor and an introvert who purposely lives miles from town to enjoy his privacy. After barely being able to land the plane on a small frozen lake he must now find a way for them to survive the blizzard. Will he be able to count on this red-headed woman from the big city to listen to him and follow his orders? Is this even a challenge he is up to with a raging infected wound on his arm? He is about to find out.

Frosty the Snowman is an adorable story that stole my heart. Not only are Hali and Terry pushed to their limits trying to survive but they have to deal with a bundle of energy covered in white fur. It doesn’t take too long for Hali to whittle away Terry’s macho-man attitude with her can do spirit and fortitude. The surprise twist at the end was priceless and totally caught me off guard. This story will leave a smile in your heart and on your face.

Buy now from:    Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: This review is from LOVE, CHRISTMAS 1 – Box set of Holiday stories that will put a song in your heart! Original review ran October 17, 2016.  **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.**

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 20-25,000 words

Review: Magical Princess Harriet by Leiah Moser

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy/Jewish Mysticism/LGBTQ

Description:

“To put it simply, Harris Baumgartner was late to school on the first day of the seventh grade because something he saw in the abandoned lot at the end of his street changed his life forever…”

“Middle school can be tough, especially when you can’t figure out whether you’re supposed to be a boy or a girl. Homework and gym class are hard enough to deal with, but what exactly do you do when a pushy angel shows up insisting you’re a magical princess and that it’s your job to defend your school from the forces of darkness? For Harris Baumgartner, only one thing is certain — life is about to get a lot more complicated!”

Author:

Rabbi, author, teacher, fairy stepmother, and noted headscarf enthusiast Leiah Moser was ordained as a rabbi in the Reconstructionist Movement in 2017. Her first book, Magical Princess Harriet, was published in 2018. When not expanding the boundaries of Jewish fantasy fiction she works as a freelance teacher, endeavoring in her own quirky yet effective way to make the priceless treasures of Talmud and Jewish mysticism available and accessible to students from all walks of life… She lives in Philadelphia with her husband Ross and his amazing kids.

To learn more about Rabbi Moser please visit her website.

Appraisal:

Wow, I had no idea what I was stepping into with this book. I was looking for something different, and I sure found it. Twelve year-old Harris Baumgartner and his mother have recently moved into a smaller more affordable house after Mr. Baumgartner deserted his small family. With no explanation to Harris, whose life is already complicated enough moving up to a new middle-grade school. Francis, his Autistic best friend, has struggled her whole young life in a neurotypical world.  

So, Magical Princess Harriet tackles a lot of serious issues with compassion. I am not even close to this books demographic audience, I am not Jewish, transgender, Middle Grade aged, or Autistic. However, you do not need to be to enjoy this fantasy story that encompasses and explores all of these issues. The Jewish lore and magic is fascinating and endeavors to educate the reader in all its facets. Each chapter is started with statements or truths to Judaism lore.  

There is also one other character who Harris/Harriet and Francis accept into their tight knit friendship. Aiden is a school outcast who expresses his inability to fit in with his Goth wardrobe. This trio works together to support each other while they fight an evil that threatens not only their school but the town and eventually the downfall of the whole world if not stopped. The characters are diverse, well-developed and likeable. The settings are multiple and described well enough to put you right where the action is.

I did find the whole book a little wordy at times, but it has a lot of good lessons on morality, acceptance, and life. I also enjoyed the humor to lighten the gravity of such heavy subjects. The story ends with harmony and I can see more stories being told with these three friends.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of proofing issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 80-85,000 words

Review: Dark Return: A Leine Basso Thriller by DV Berkom

Genre: Thriller

Description:

“Former assassin and SHEN operative Leine Basso is fresh off an assignment rescuing an American teenager from a terrorist group in Libya when she thwarts the murder of a street kid in Tripoli. Leine agrees to help the girl find her family, but must first visit a refugee camp to uncover the reason behind a rash of mysterious abductions.

Leaving the camp, Leine comes under a surprise attack--but only a handful of people knew her true mission. Who has betrayed her? The more she discovers about the abductions, the more of a target she becomes, forcing her to revisit a dark and violent past she thought she'd left behind. But it's easy--too easy to fall back into her old ways.

And that could get her killed.

Will Leine be able to survive a dark return?”

Author:

“DV Berkom is the USA Today bestselling author of two action-packed thriller series featuring strong female leads: Kate Jones and Leine Basso. Her love of creating resilient, kick-ass women characters stems from a lifelong addiction to reading spy novels, mysteries, and thrillers, and longing to find the female equivalent within those pages.

After years of moving around the country and skipping off to locations that could have been movie sets, she wrote her first novel and was hooked. She now makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Mark, and several imaginary characters who like to tell her what to do.”

Appraisal:

Dark Return is the seventh book in the Leine Basso Thriller Series and I’ve read all of them. The aspect that defines Leine’s character for me is the balancing act that she does between good and evil. Her past is shady by any reasonable definition and it sometimes comes back to haunt her in different ways. Her present is entirely on the side of good, although she definitely needs to call on some evil skills in her quest to do good, even now. But that balance, that pull from both the good and bad sides, and the memories of the past when that balance wasn’t there is what drives these stories.

Those same qualities help drive and color the narrative of Dark Return, but as the story and this particular case wind down, Leine is out of balance, feeling too much pull from her dark side. Even though the story of the current case is concluded, so it wouldn’t be fair to describe the situation as a cliffhanger, we do leave Leine in a scary place. It’s disconcerting, but we’ll have to wait for the next installment of the series to see what that means for Leine.

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: 70-75,000 words