Review: The Melancholy Strumpet Master by Zeb Beck

Genre: Dark Humor/Literary Fiction

Description:

“Will Gilmore Crowell's humble member cross the line separating academic integrity from disgrace? Only if by doing so it can help others.

Every weekend, Gilmore Crowell crosses the border into Tijuana’s redlight district. He’s not there for sex; he’s there to save his failing academic career.

Gil's anthropological study of Tijuana streetwalkers had his dissertation advisor cheering him on. But that was years ago, before his best sources up and vanished. Now, with no connection to the sex worker community, his research has stalled and the faculty elders are about to kick him out of the grad program. Plus, he’s broke.

He takes a job teaching at a juvenile detention center. The steady income gives him the means to keep making his weekly trips across the border. Now he’s paying the girls to speak with him. In a sudden moment of insight, he realizes that giving them something besides cold hard cash might help him forge a new inroad to the community. But do they want what he's offering?”

Author:

“Zeb Beck lives in Los Angeles with his lovely wife and difficult pets.”

Appraisal:

This book was described to me as a “darkly humorous work of literary fiction.” That’s definitely a good description. The definition of literary fiction is one of a few genre labels that indicate the story is more character driven than plot driven. Of course, there is a plot. Things are happening around Gilmore Crowell, our protagonist. But ultimately those things are less important to the story and what I think a reader should be getting out of it than what Gilmore does (or doesn’t do) and what is going on in his head. While there are certainly people and events beyond Gilmore that figure into the story and influence what happens to him over the course of this tale, the lessons that a reader might take away from this story are more a matter of observing and questioning what goes on in Gilmore’s head. Yes, he is his own worst enemy.

As for the humor, definitely lots of humor in this book. Some of it will be the reader shaking their head at Gilmore, wondering what the heck he is thinking, and other will be events beyond him, but dark is a good description of both. If dark humor isn’t your thing, this might not be the book for you. For me, it was one of the draws.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language and content.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 75-80,000 words

Review: Lies by Seely James

 This is part two of what we call a "doubleshot review" where two reviewers give their take on the same book. If you missed the first half where Judi Moore gave her take on this book earlier this week, be sure to check it out too.

Genre: Thriller

Description:

“Jacob Stearne’s Top Secret mission to secure the nation’s future is thrown into chaos by his arrest for murder.

A group of young physicists sequester in Latvia to finalize a green technology worth trillions of dollars. Billionaires want to steal their work. While oil-rich nations want to destroy it. The president has tasked decorated veteran Jacob Stearne with bringing their research back to the US—which he intends to do as soon as he can break out of jail and beat a murder rap.

With an over-zealous police captain running the manhunt in dead-or-alive mode, Jacob is forced to find the real killer while fleeing the law. With ambiguous help from a dubious crew comprised of a young stripper, a claimant to the Russian throne, and the naïve physicists, he quickly discovers: everyone lies.

As the Latvian dragnet closes in, and betrayals come from friends and foe alike, Jacob must rely on Stearne’s Law for survival: Paranoia is the result of acute situational awareness. To save the scientists and repatriate the research, Jacob must outwit a Russian oligarch. But this time, as he holds a bomb with a ticking timer, he may have run out of luck.”

Author:

“His near-death experiences range from talking a jealous husband into putting the gun down to spinning out on an icy freeway in heavy traffic without touching anything. His resume ranges from washing dishes to global technology management. His personal life stretches from homeless at 17, adopting a 3-year-old at 19*, getting married at 37, fathering his last child at 43, hiking the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim at 59, and taking the occasional nap.

His writing career ranges from humble beginnings with short stories in The Battered Suitcase, to being awarded a Medallion from the Book Readers Appreciation Group. Seeley is best known for his Sabel Security series of thrillers featuring athlete and heiress Pia Sabel and her bodyguard, the mentally unstable veteran Jacob Stearne. One of them kicks ass and the other talks to the wrong god.

His love of creativity began at an early age, growing up at Frank Lloyd Wright’s School of Architecture in Arizona and Wisconsin. He carried his imagination first into a successful career in sales and marketing, and then to his real love: fiction.”

For more, visit Seely James' website and like his Facebook page.

Appraisal:

My only potential complaint about this book, that sometimes it felt like there were too many people and things going on to keep track of, was also part of its charm. Keeping track of who were the good guys and who wasn’t was tough, since the status seemed to keep changing, both in my eyes and those of the protagonist Jacob Stearne. As perceptions and stories changed Stearne had to adjust his approach, both to complete his primary task and to get out of Latvia, hopefully unscathed. Throw in Symone, a 15 year-old stripper who helps Stearne, but also isn’t quite up for the action that gets thrown at them, and it gets more tense.

In all of the above I didn’t mention the “God” that keeps appearing and having discussions with Stearne. This is specifically the ancient Roman god Mercury. No one else seems to see him and the “conversations” they have must be telepathic because no one else nearby hears anything. Does Mercury help? I’ll let you decide when you read the book.

Overall, I found this book was a fun and intense read. It at times got me thinking about real world issues (what would I want to happen if the premise of this story was real, for example). Definitely one that thriller readers should enjoy.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some mildly adult content.

Although part of a series, #13 of 13 thus far, this can be read as a standalone.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 115-120,000 words

Review: Lies by Seeley James

Longtime readers are familiar with what we call a "doubleshot review." This is when two of our reviewers each review the same book giving our readers two different viewpoints. Today you get Judi Moore's thoughts on the latest in Seeley James' long-running Jacob Stearne Thriller series. Then on Friday you'll have a chance to checkout BigAl's take.

Genre: Thriller

Description:

‘Gallant-yet-troubled veteran Jacob Stearne‘, is in Latvia for this, his 13th adventure. He’s in trouble from the off, as the book opens with him being transported to jail for a murder he didn’t commit. His situation appears hopeless. But then he escapes from custody because – you know – he hasn’t time to explain because he’s on An Important Mission, Time Is Of The Essence, and the story really starts. Once it starts it does not let up. The number of lies told (the novel is well named) is only outstripped by the number of violent set pieces utilising a gamut of spy stocks-in-trade ranging from car chases (in which Ubers figure prominently) to secret doors.

The plot is topical: a Hedy Lamarr-type movie star-cum-scientist is trying to bring together the three strands of a McGuffin (two of which are currently in other hands) which will give the world cheap, clean, energy forever. She wants to give it to the world. But there are those who want to sell it to the world for the squillions it is worth. The scientist has acquired a small team of clever postgrads and a potential investor, none of whom is who they seem.

Author:

Seeley James grew up at Frank Lloyd Wright’s School of Architecture in Arizona and Wisconsin, lucky man. What a kick start for creativity that must have been. But like the rest of us, James had to make ends meet, so he had a career in marketing before becoming a writer. One can see the influence: he likes to pack his novels full to bursting with content (if this one is a typical example).

Appraisal:

If you haven’t (as I hadn’t) come across Jacob Stearne before, he is an odd mixture of sexy yet paternal US navy SEAL and introspective basket-case. He’s the man Jack Reacher would go to if he needed help. He just never stops. He prefers to disable rather than kill – which is just as well, because otherwise the body count in this novel would be through the roof and sympathy for Our Hero could be no more than scant. But then every so often he sits down (usually while stitching a wound, usually his own) and cogitates on the meaning of life the universe and everything, why his love life is in the toilet, and why nobody understands him. It is the only time the reader gets to draw breath. Be advised, the inside of Stearne’s head is a pretty convoluted plot all of its own. Oh, and he has an imaginary friend – a jive-talking god (Mercury).

If you like your thrillers to be like the Duracell bunny, I recommend you take a crack at this series.

As I say above, this is #13 in the series – but I had very little difficulty leaping right into it, and the action. And yet, to his credit, James does not employ big ol’ information dumps to get the reader up to speed. Just remember to fasten your seat belt …

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Plenty of F-bombs

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: Judi Moore

Approximate word count: 115-120,000 words

Reprise Review: Shattered Spirit (Totem Book 4) by Christine Rains

 Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Mystery/Adventure

Description:

“A haunted house isn’t going to stop Ametta Dorn from doing her job.

Frustrated that her family has left her out of the search for the missing totem tokens, Ametta Dorn loses herself in her work. She’s offered a dream job of a complete interior renovation of a famous Cremaschi house. Not even discovering the house belongs to Lucky Osberg can dampen her enthusiasm.

Lucky’s plan to spend more time with her as she works goes awry when the spirit who protects his home tries to murder her. Ametta won’t be scared off, despite being tempted to run and never come back. She was going to flee Alaska and pursue her designer dreams anyway, yet that means giving up on Lucky and the totem that is just within her grasp.”

Author:

“Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not reading or writing, she's going on adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of S.C.I.F.I. and Untethered Realms. She has one novel and several novellas and short stories published.”

Check out her Amazon author page for all of her books or stalk her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Ametta Dorn, the youngest of the Dorn sisters, frustrates the hell out of me. Is it a common trait for the youngest sibling to be so self-absorbed and single minded? At the age of twenty-five Ametta has secured herself as an up and coming interior designer to keep an eye on. Despite being a polar bear shifter, she is intent on opening her own business in the lower 48 or perhaps even Europe. When she decides her family doesn’t need or want her help in recovering the totem tokens that will save all shifters, she moves her timeclock up for her move out of Alaska. Her attraction to Lucky is distracting her from her goal.

Lucky Osberg, a handsome Kodiak shifter who has his eye on Ametta, has the patience of a saint and a plan. He hires her to do a renovation on his house, which happens to be a famous Cremaschi house. This is a dream come true for Ametta, and here she thought Lucky was only a volunteer firefighter. She hasn’t taken the time to get to know him through his pursuit because he has no desire to leave Alaska and that doesn’t fit her dream for her future. Her short-sightedness also bites her in the butt when she discovers that she isn’t even aware of the totems that make up the totem pole, which scattered its tokens all over Alaska to protect itself. See why she frustrated me? Ametta is my least favorite sister. However, I love Lucky.

The addition of Lucky’s house being haunted was an interesting twist. Through the years the spirit has always been a protective entity and its change of character puzzles and disheartens Lucky. The spirit’s aggression is centered on Ametta, which forces her to take a hard look at herself. Lucky tries to protect her, but much of his effort is thwarted by the contentious spirit.

An additional bonus was Ametta’s two phone conversations with Saskia and then later with both Saskia and Sedge. So we gained another peek into their relationship, which I enjoyed immensely.

Shattered Spirit is Ametta’s journey to self-realization and she has redeemed herself, somewhat, in my view. This addition to the series is enthralling and I was able to read it in one evening, because I didn’t want to put it down.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Contains adult language with several F-bombs. Shattered Spirit is the fourth book in the Totem series. This series of novellas build on each other and should be read in order.

Format/Typo Issues:

I came across no proofing or editing issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 20-25,000 words

Review: The Dwarves of Dimmerdown by Laura Pruett

 Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Description:

“Meet the dwarves of Dimmerdown! These fun-loving creatures roam around their tiny world, exploring caverns and traipsing down riverbanks.”

Author:

After years working as a freelance editor, Laura Pruett decided to start writing herself, initially aiming at younger readers. This is her second children’s book with some aimed at older readers on the way.

Appraisal:

I read this to my 10-year-old granddaughter who we’ll call LBG here. Although at the top end of the age range this book is aimed at, LBG is a kid with an active imagination and this seemed like a good fit. The vocabulary was appropriate for the age range in question with words they should understand, but a few that might help expand the vocabulary of some of those reading or having this book read to them. The tale, talking about some mythical dwarves that might be out there wandering around, but trying not to be spotted by we humans, would get the imagination going, however, as presented isn’t too spooky. When I asked LBG what she thought of the story she gave me a definitive thumbs up.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No Issues

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 30 pages

Review: The Negotiated Death of Sara Glen by Brady Koch

 

Genre: Psychological Suspense

Description:

“The results of an at-home DNA testing kit reveal the key to eradicating an emerging threat. Getting that key may cost Sara her life.”

Author:

Prior to this book Brady Koch had authored three collections of short fiction (two of them flash fiction). This book is the first in a series of four novellas with a full-size novel anticipated to follow in the winter of 2023. For more, check out Mr Koch’s blog.

Appraisal:

The Covid pandemic has shown us how little many of our fellow humans are willing to do in order to help prevent spreading of a potentially fatal virus. This novella explores the flipside of this. What if all indications were that another pandemic was coming soon with the beginning already happening, the anticipated peak of the pandemic was coming fast, and the anticipated impact was going to be far beyond anything ever seen in the past. But researchers have discovered the route to a cure. Only one problem. That cure requires a contribution from one person, and that person would have to pay the ultimate price to bring the cure to fruition. Now imagine that you’re that person.

As you might imagine, no one is going to find this experience easy. What to do (or not to do) is going to make virtually any somewhat decent person feel torn. That’s the story chronicled here as we follow Sara Glen through this experience.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of proofing issues and misses.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 words

Review: Game of Twins - The Special Agent by Tom Ranseen

 

Genre: Thriller/Historical/Supernatural

Description:

“In 1950, FBI Special Agent Derbert Hinke is tasked by J. Edgar Hoover to investigate the murders of twin girls in ritzy New Canaan, CT because commie banners are found at the crime scene – but learns he’s up against something a lot more Evil than the Kremlin – and those weren’t the only twins murdered. Hinke is positive he's the only one who can solve the crimes -- but will he?”

Author:

“Tom Ranseen was a Nashville healthcare and marketing businessman for three decades. He has two amazing children, both graduates of Indiana University. Tom resides in Franklin, TN with his Airedale, Keri.”

Appraisal:

Something strange is afoot in this story. It starts with the murder of twin girls in 1950, but by the end of the tale there are multiple murders, some supernatural happenings, and a slew of twists and surprises where something that Special Agent Derbert Hinke as well as the reader discover something they thought was reality, isn’t. Although I’m a frequent reader of thrillers, the supernatural and historical aspects of this story added a lot to the story and made for a read that was different from my norm.

This is the prequel to a series that currently has two other books that I believe happen in more current times. The author says the prequel can be read first, as I’ve done, or last.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult-ish language and content.

This is part of a series that currently has three installments. While the other two books were written and released first, this book, a “prequel” to the other two, can be read first or last. I read it first and having not read the other two have no opinion on which would be the best order to read them all.

Format/Typo Issues:

I spotted way more proofreading misses than I like to see, primarily minor instances of the wrong word, a missing word, or an extra word It wasn’t quite enough to knock off a star from my final rating, but came very close.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 90-95,000 Words

Reprise Review: A Killing Truth by DV Berkom

 Genre: Thriller

Description:

“They say the truth will set you free, but what if it kills you first?

Before serial killers and drug cartels, Leine Basso faced the ultimate betrayal…

Leine eliminates terrorists for a living. After a routine assassination almost gets her killed, she chalks it up to a fluke. Her lover and fellow assassin, Carlos, has another idea altogether. He thinks their boss is setting them up for a fall.

When Carlos goes missing and a bombing thwarts another mission, Leine suspects the stakes are far higher than she could ever imagine, and wonders if the man in charge might have it in for her after all.”

Author:

“DV Berkom is the USA Today best-selling author of two action-packed thriller series featuring strong female leads: Leine Basso and Kate Jones. 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.”

Appraisal:

If you've read the books in the Leine Basso series that have come out prior to this, you know a lot about her history. That she worked as an assassin for a quasi-official government agency was always clear. That she no longer did was also clear. And at least to me it seemed that her feelings about her history were ambiguous, with some pride and some regret.

This book is a prequel, coming before any of the main series. It takes place near the end of Leine's time as an assassin. It works as a standalone thriller, with an intense, edge-of-your-seat story. However, those who “know” Leine from the main series will come to understand her that much better after reading A Killing Truth. And while I may be reading more into it than was intended, I think the way this book ended there may be another prequel in the future. Maybe more than one.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Since this is a prequel to the series there is no reason someone would have to have read the rest of the series to enjoy the story.

Originally published March 20, 2017.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 words

Review: All The Things She Says by Peter J. Stavros

 Genre: Short Story Collection

Description:

“Sadie says we have to leave …

With those few urgent words, the journey begins for this couple—from their chance encounter freshman year awaiting their college dorm assignments, through all of the roadblocks and detours and dead ends, until some thirty years later when they finally understand where they are meant to be. All The Things She Says is a chronicle, recounted in vignettes and episodes, of the course these two take in their relationship, told from the point of view of Sadie’s spouse, who witnesses firsthand, and often helplessly, the struggles and travails Sadie endures in trying to find herself with the constant fear that time is slipping away. Yet in the end, they arrive at a plan—the plan Sadie first had in that freshman dorm room.

Initially published nonsequentially in literary journals and magazines over a span of more than seven years, these sixteen short stories are now assembled into one complete collection. All The Things She Says is a discourse on life and love and commitment, and shows that while the path may be difficult to follow, the destination is nonetheless worthwhile.”

Author:

“Peter J. Stavros is a writer and playwright in Louisville, Kentucky, and the author of Three in the Morning and You Don’t Smoke Anymore, winner of the Etchings Press 2020 Book Prize for a Chapbook of Prose. Other works by him include the short story collection, (Mostly) True Tales From Birchmont Village.

A former reporter for the Associated Press, Peter has published his writing in literary journals, magazines, newspapers and anthologies …”

Appraisal:

As the description explains, this short story collection tells the story of a narrator’s relationship with Sadie, his friend when they first meet, later becoming a girlfriend and eventually his spouse. While each story stands on its own, since all sixteen stories in the collection were published elsewhere over several years before being gathered together in the collection, the progression of the stories also tells the realistic tale of a relationship and how it can evolve through the years, changing and hopefully getting stronger over time.

Another thing I noticed was that as Sadie and the narrator’s relationship evolved, they were also dealing with the positives and negatives of aging. One line that especially hit home for me said “Sadie’s been in a funk, feeling gravity’s pull, and it doesn’t help that her rock’n’roll heroes keep dying.” I knew where Sadie was coming from on that one. A quick, yet thought provoking read.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 20-25,000 words

Review: Horse to Water by Peter Bailey

 Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Description:

“A man who can’t forget, a cop who thinks corners are there to be cut and a bomb.

The smart money thinks the bomb was revenge for a bungled police operation and gives DCI Taplin the last job he ever wanted, finding out who tried to blow up the cop who stabbed him in the back. What he wanted was a nice simple case so he could forget the past, what he got was a nightmare that will drive him to the edge of sanity.

As more bombs explode across London, Taplin must fight a harrowing battle against disappointed and furious colleagues to reveal the devious plans of a brilliant but dangerous mind.”

Author:

The author of multiple books, Peter Bailey lives in England.

Appraisal:

Although this book has a police detective, DCI David Taplin, as the main character and a story that is ultimately a detective mystery with Taplin looking for the person who committed a series of crimes, it isn’t what I’d call a typical detective mystery.

The typical core story is there, but with lots of atypical parts to it. A couple of those qualities are the initial victim is a policeman who has an interesting history with DCI Taplin and based on who that victim is, a lot of people assume they know the motive for the crime.

Then there is Taplin himself, who we find out is a person who is not quite the person he presents to the world with some unusual qualities that sometimes helps him as a detective, and sometimes hinders his ability to do his job. As he chases after the culprit and he along with the reader think they know where things are headed, the story keeps taking unexpected turns, right to the end where Taplin gets one final surprise.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language. Since the author lives in England spelling and word usage use UK conventions.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 75-80,000 words