Review: Crime Scenes by Joseph S. Walker

 

Genre: Crime Fiction/Short Story Collection

Description:

A collection of short stories, all crime fiction, each of them previously published in various magazines and short story anthologies.

Author:

An Edgar award nominated author of crime and mystery stories, Joseph S. Walker lives in Indiana. For more, check out his website.

https://jswalkerauthor.com/

Appraisal:

This is a fun collection of short stories. While each story stands alone, it should be clear that they are all crime fiction. If you’re a fan of that genre you ought to enjoy reading all of these. A few of the stories have the same protagonist, a guy who is a good guy in many ways, but has some issues as well. His stories were fun to read and even when you realized it was a story featuring him, you weren't sure what direction things might go. All in all, a fun and engaging 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: 90-95,000 words

Review: Short Grift by Simon Maltman

Genre: Short Story Collection/Crime Fiction

Description:

“In the world of the Short Grift, the plans are desperate, the criminals are questionable, and the outcome is usually messy. Simon Maltman delivers a masterclass in modern noir, blending razor-sharp crime fiction with a dark, cynical wit that cuts right to the bone.

This collection contains conflicted grifters, serial killer grifters, zombie grifters, and even Donald Trump.”

If you’re interested you can also find an album of music related to the short story collection here.

Author:

“Simon Maltman is the author of crime fiction novels, novellas and short stories.

He is also a T.V writer, reviewer, musician and the lead guide for the crime tour, Belfast Noir.”

Appraisal:

A fast read with eleven short stories that, while all crime fiction, have a wide variety of takes with the common theme being grifting, sometimes by zombies which, while as a reader you suspend belief, you realize isn’t true to Donald Trump making an appearance, where you just assume lots of grifting is going to happen. It made for a fun read and an enjoyable change of pace from my typical reading material.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language. The author is Irish and based in Ireland, so some of the verbiage and context is going to require some minor reading between the lines, but it wasn’t too difficult. For example, I had no idea what the reference to an Ulster Fry was, but Google quickly clued me in that it was a traditional Irish breakfast that apparently includes baked beans as one of the items.

Format/Typo Issues:

Review is based on an ARC (advance reader/reviewer copy) and thus I can’t gauge the final product.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: Bigal

Approximate word count: 20-25,000 words

Review: Painting Over Cracks by Lee Bukowski

 

Genre: Crime Fiction/Suspense/Thriller/Women’s Fiction

Description:

“Beth Collins lives her life shadowed by a secret, one she believes she can outrun by building a perfect family of her own with her attorney husband, Danny. And for a while, it seems she has—until a freak car accident kills Danny and shatters her world in an instant.

Desperate for a fresh start, Beth quits her job as a mortgage broker and buys a café. As she settles into the rhythm of her new life, she finds unexpected friendships, a sense of purpose, and eventually, even the spark of a new romance.

But when mysterious details about the crash emerge, leading to shocking secrets about her husband, Beth sets off on a search for answers. Every revelation pulls her deeper into a world she could not have imagined and forces her to confront the unthinkable—she’s mourning a man who never existed. When the illusion she’s relied on collapses, Beth must decide what future she wants and who the woman is she’s ready to become.”

Author:

“Lee Bukowski lives in Reading, Pennsylvania. When she’s not writing, she loves reading, traveling, and trying cocktails with creative names. She’s also a self-proclaimed Billy Joel superfan with a live concert count of fifty shows. She is the award-winning fiction author of A Week of Warm Weather, her debut, and Painting Over Cracks.”

Appraisal:

I loved this book. Beth, the protagonist has had her life disrupted in extremely disturbing ways, starting with the car accident that kills her husband and fetus that she hadn’t even told her husband about yet. As she struggles to get her life back on a path that feels right to her, she keeps running into things she couldn’t have anticipated and has to figure out the situation and how to deal with it. You’ve got a few mysteries and a whole lot of suspense through all of these threads, but are pulling for Beth all the way as you wonder what life’s going to throw at her next.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

A small amount of adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

Although the review is based on an advance reviewer version I spotted no issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 85-90,000 words

Review: Body in a Barrel by Aaron Mead

 

Genre: Novella/Crime Fiction

Description:

“A body in a barrel just appeared on the shore of Lake Mead, and Lenny Battaglia is worried.

Forty years ago, when Lenny was a henchman in the Las Vegas mafia, his partner, Frank, whacked the victim, and Lenny helped dump the body. But there’s another victim in another barrel somewhere in the lake, and it’s got Lenny’s name on it. For now, that barrel’s underwater, but the drought-ravaged lake keeps dropping, and Frank is talking to the cops.

Lenny tows his fishing boat to the lake to haul his barrel farther from shore, but his boat’s too small, the barrel’s too heavy, and he’s too old. Lenny needs a new plan. Can he cover the horror of his crooked past before it catches up to him in the present?”

Author:

“Aaron Mead is the author of Body in a Barrel, a Las Vegas mafia crime novella. His other work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and has been covered by NPR. In his Substack publication, sub·plot, he posts serial fiction and short essays on faith, philosophy, books, and the writing life.”

Appraisal:

This was a quick, fun, and intense read. How things are going to work out for the main character Lenny weren’t obvious at any point right up to the very end. (How I wanted it to end was up in the air too.) The story, while well out of my life experience, felt real. At the end we find out that while not a true story, it is based on a few real life people and events which I think helped keep it feeling real.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Has some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: **** Four Stars

Review: The Ethical Assassin by William Ferraiolo

 

Genre: Crime Fiction/Psychological Thriller

Description:

“A found journal whose author wishes to remain anonymous... After losing his family in a tragic automobile accident, one man’s reason to go on living is stripped away. That is until one day, by chance - some might call it serendipity - he overhears a conversation that moves him to consider a new life. A man needs to be killed, and our protagonist decides to kill him. But he doesn’t stop there. Keeping a journal at every step of his way, our anonymous protagonist archives the subsequent events, taking the reader through his accounts of the men he kills and the causal antecedents that facilitate these assassinations. Attempting to come to grips with the life-shattering car crash while trying to make sense of the moral ramifications of his deadly acts of vigilantism - the ethical assassin kills only men who need killing - he tells us his story while attempting to navigate the dangers of doing so.”

Author:

“William Ferraiolo received a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Oklahoma in 1997. Since that time, he has been teaching philosophy at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, California.”

Ferrailo has written several books which all seem to be non-fiction prior to this one.

Appraisal:

This made for an interesting read. The premise (we can pretend it is true if you want) is that this is a “memoir” that was found by a waitress in a diner and based on the wishes of the author (he even makes that clear in the story) was published as a book. The author, after a life-changing disaster in his own life becomes an assassin, not killing people for hire or killing famous people, but instead killing people who, based on their actions, “have it coming.”

This was an interesting premise. The author didn’t want to go to prison, which he makes very clear, so he’s careful in choosing his victims, not taking chances on some who he thinks deserve to die, but involving situations where he’d be more likely to get caught. He keeps on the move and does all that he can to prevent getting caught. A lot of the story is, instead of what I’ll call the “action” of planning and executing one of his victims is instead pondering what he’s doing, his reasons for doing it, and the philosophy of that. If these people really deserve to die, is him making it happen really a bad thing? These and numerous other questions are going through his mind over and over so at points it feels a bit repetitive, but it also feels real, like anyone struggling with an idea tends to review the same things over and over in their mind. Ultimately it made for a thought provoking read, even if I’m not going to follow in his footsteps.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

Review is based on an ARC (advance reviewer 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: Buenos Aires Triad by F.E. Beyer

 

Genre: Crime Fiction

Description:

“A portrait of small-time crooks and immigrant gangs in Argentina's capital... Lucas is a humble watch-seller moonlighting for a gang of armed robbers. He wants to go straight but instead becomes more entangled when he joins gang leader Gustavo in extortion work for the triads.”

Author:

“F.E. Beyer writes about dead-end jobs, travel, history and crime. He is the author of two books: Buenos Aires Triad, a tale of low-end criminals in Argentina's capital, and Smoko, a comic novel set in New Zealand. His articles and reviews have appeared in the South China Morning Post, Los Angeles Review of Books, Inside Indonesia, and Travelogues Magazine.”

Appraisal:

I’m no expert on Argentina where this takes place, so I can’t gauge how realistic it might be, but I had no problem getting into and believing the premise of the story. Lucas, the protagonist, is having a hard time getting by and so gets drawn into doing some questionable things. Once he starts, he finds it hard to get out. How it will end for Lucas is a mystery right up until the very end of this novella. It kept be engaged and guessing right up to the last page.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

A small amount of adult language. At least some of the time uses UK spelling conventions.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Review: Legal Tender (The Reluctant Hustler, Book 5) by J. Gregory Smith

 

Genre: Thriller/Crime Fiction

Description:

“Hustlers still need rules.

Chaos reigns across Philadelphia as lawlessness spreads like a disease. Even the Philly Irish Mob is unable to combat the rampant crime wave that hits businesses under their protection.

For some reason, the authorities refuse to curtail the growing violence and if Kyle Logan and his crew of misfit hustlers cannot find out why and then stop it, the city will be consumed by mobs and vigilantes warring for control and survival.”

Author:

J Gregory Smith is the author of several thrillers, some self-published and some published by Thomas & Mercer. He lives in Wilmington, Delaware with his wife and son.

Appraisal:

This is the second book I’ve read in The Reluctant Hustler series and I’m struck by the interesting place that Kyle, the protagonist, has positioned himself. He’s obviously a criminal by any reasonable definition, frequently breaking the law in various ways, the hustler part of the series title. However, as the rest of the name of the series indicates, he is reluctant about this. He has his limits and much of what he does, even when breaking the law, is doing something aimed at making things better in some way for others. It’s an interesting juxtaposition and I think sets the reader up to overlook more borderline actions from Kyle without questioning them than they might typically do for a protagonist. It also makes for a intense read that had me pulling for Kyle and his cohorts and never being quite sure where things were going or how it was all going to end. Definitely a fun and thought-provoking read.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

A small amount of adult language.

While the 5th book in a series that I’ve only read one other book in, each book stands alone and reading earlier books before this one is not necessary to understand what is going on.

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of proofing misses.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 90-95,000 miles

Review: Time Will Break the World by Aaron Jacobs

 Genre: Crime Fiction/Historical/Thriller

Description:

“On the second to last day of summer school in 1984, Calvin and Jason Schott hijack a school bus carrying nineteen students, an unthinkable act of violence that devastates the community of Brookwood. Thirty years later, twin sisters and survivors of the ordeal, Brenda and Emily Mashburn, are forced to relive the kidnapping as they film a documentary about the event in an attempt to thwart Calvin's looming parole hearing. Meanwhile, Jason fights for his brother's release, hoping that a reunited family can finally bring peace to their elderly mother and ease the guilt he feels over his role in the kidnapping. The result is a feud between the two families, with neither side willing to back down.

Inspired by the largest kidnapping-for-ransom scheme in American history, Time Will Break the World weaves a rich backdrop of place and circumstance-long-term trauma, dysfunctional family legacies, sibling rivalry, a granite quarry, and the Los Angeles Summer Olympics.”

Author:

“Aaron Jacobs is the author of the novel The Abundant Life. Other writing of his has appeared in Tin House, Alaska Quarterly Review, The Main Street Rag, and elsewhere. He lives in Brooklyn and the Catskills with his wife and dog.”

Appraisal:

My thoughts on this book could be summed up by describing this book as a unique approach to this kind of story.

You could almost view this as two short books with pieces of each alternating. The first book, taking place in 1984, is crime fiction or a bit of a thriller. A couple young adults from a formerly well-to-do family decide they’re going to get a bunch of money by kidnapping a school bus with 19 kids plus the driver and collect some ransom.

The second part of the book, taking place thirty years later in 2014, looks at what is going on with those involved, both the kidnappers, their victims, and some family members. It explores how the experience has impacted their lives and how they react to something involving the case going on at that point, specifically one of the kidnappers being considered for parole.

Throw it all together and you’ve got an interesting story that doesn’t fit the normal patterns for crime fiction or a thriller, whichever you want to use to describe this, but I found it got me thinking about a lot of things from different perspectives than normal.

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: 80-85,000 words

Review: The Savage Moor by Robert Fael

 Genre: Crime Fiction

Description:

“The Exmoor Beast is a creature of myth and mystery. Some think it's a phantom. Others that it's actually a big cat that escaped from a private collection. The bloody carcasses of deer and sheep found on the moor are often quoted as proof of its existence.

Now for the first time the Beast has taken human prey, and attacks seem to be intensifying. Ex MI5 agent Hollis is called in to investigate.

What he uncovers is more than just moorland myth. It's a clash between a quiet farming community, and big city gangsters. Things are becoming increasingly violent, and the bodies they find have been pulverized with incredible force. Shotguns may be no match for AK47s, but it seems the people of Exmoor have a surprisingly fearsome ally.”

Author:

“When he was a small boy Robert’s mother left him out in the forest, hoping the fairies would leave a changling in his place. Or maybe he’d be snatched by a she-wolf.

Is it any wonder he turned out a bit odd?

Actually Robert had a very ordinary upbringing in rural England. As an adult he traveled and has lived in several parts of Europe. His current home is near Valencia in Spain. When not working or writing you’ll probably find him in one of the region’s many fine seaside hostelries enjoying tapas and a glass or two of tempranillo.”

For more, visit Mr Fael’s website.

Appraisal:

While it is accurate to describe this novella as crime fiction, it has some elements that spice things up a bit, for example the rumors of the beast that rumor and myth indicate has been sporadically attacking people in the area where the story takes place. While there were some glimmers of where the story might go, it kept me guessing to the end. The basic story is entertaining and I’d give this book a ranking of at least four stars were it not for one significant issue. I’d be reading along and  stumble, throwing me out of the story, when I’d hit a missing or wrong word or some other proofreading miss. The number of proofreading misses I noticed were more than I’d find acceptable in a full-size novel and (depending on where you draw the line) this is either a long novella or a short novel, less than half as long as an average novel.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

Way more proofreading issues snuck through than I find acceptable.

Rating: *** Three Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Review: The Truth of It by Beth Orsoff

 Genre: Women’s Fiction/Crime Fiction

Description:

“Grace Hughes has finally uncovered the truth behind the tragic deaths of her husband and daughter. But now that she knows the truth, she must act on it. Her conscience demands nothing less.

With the help of an unlikely ally, Grace hatches a plan to insinuate herself into the lives of her family’s killers. Her goal is simple: infiltrate their organization and gather evidence to use against them at trial. But as Grace delves deeper into the criminal world, the danger to herself and her family escalates.

As the clock ticks down, Grace must balance her desire for justice with the need to keep her loved ones safe. With heart-stopping action and emotional twists and turns, The Truth of It will keep readers on the edge of their seat until the last satisfying page.”

Author:

When Beth’s parents told her they didn’t send her to college to be a professional lifeguard, she moved to California and enrolled in USC Law School to become an entertainment lawyer. She also became a regular attendee of the UCLA Extension Writers Program workshops. She lives in Los Angeles with her daughter.

To find out more about Beth visit her website.

Appraisal:

If you’ve read the first two books in this series like I have then this is where we finally resolve a lot of the questions that have been haunting us (and yes, haunting Grace even more) since the beginning. If you haven’t read the first two books, you should before starting this one.

As for the content of the story, I don’t want to say too much specific. I will say that some things happen that don’t surprise me while others definitely do. Grace finds the answers to some of the questions she had and ultimately finds herself in a better place, but things get tense and sometimes what you wish for may not be what you ultimately need.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

While there is a short prolog that will refresh the memory of what is happening in the series for those continuing from the first two books and a reader is likely to pick things up if they start with this book, I’d advise anyone to read the entire trilogy from the beginning.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words

Review: The Lies We Tell by Beth Orsoff

 Genre: Women’s Fiction/Crime Fiction

Description:

“Maybe some secrets should stay buried.

After the devastating loss of her husband and daughter, Grace Hughes is determined to rebuild her life. She has created a community for herself and forged a new career helping children in need. She evens starts dating again. But she cannot ignore the past forever.

As Grace delves deeper into her husband's secrets, she uncovers shocking truths that shake her to her core. Did she ever really know the man she still mourns?

The Lies We Tell is a gripping, emotional page-turner about the lies we tell each other, and the lies we tell ourselves too.”

Author:

When Beth’s parents told her they didn’t send her to college to be a professional lifeguard, she moved to California and enrolled in USC Law School to become an entertainment lawyer. She also became a regular attendee of the UCLA Extension Writers Program workshops. She lives in Los Angeles with her daughter.

To find out more about Beth visit her website.

Appraisal:

Those who have read the first book of this trilogy know that the protagonist, Grace, has been having a tough time since the murder of her husband and daughter. She’s found some purpose in helping a couple kids, MJ and Sofia. In the first volume of the trilogy, it appeared that helping these kids as well as changing the focus of her law practice to help children in other ways might be just the ticket to set Grace’s mental health on the road to recovery. Ultimately that might still be true, but there are complications in that regard. One complication is a minor mystery that Grace started looking into in the first volume of the trilogy starts getting more complicated and Grace discovers that some things she thought were true might not actually be the reality of the situation. The deeper she digs, the more complicated things become. Much of this volume is spent digging into this mystery and the story does an excellent job setting up the finale of the trilogy. I’m currently wondering how several things in Grace’s life are going to turn out, hoping she’ll come to a satisfying resolution in the finale, but worried that they might not.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

This is the second book in a planned trilogy. At least in theory, you should be able to follow the story here if read as a standalone. Early on the foundation and big picture of what has happened previously is reviewed so you’ll have some clue as to how the characters got to the starting point of this book. However, I’d advise reading the first book in the trilogy first to understand the complete story best.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words

Review: Fast Cash by J. Gregory Smith

 Genre: Crime Fiction/Thriller

Description:

“Hustlers Without Borders

Overseas scammers swindle an elderly Philadelphia woman out of her life’s savings. Soon after, the crooks use her stolen information to target her friends and neighbors in a relentless plague of cons. After getting nowhere with the local authorities, she takes her case to Kyle Logan and his crew of misfits who look after the neighborhood by operating outside the law with their own code of justice.

They’ve never gone after criminals outside of the country before and Kyle knows they’ll need to enlist help on the ground if they’re going to have a chance to recover any stolen funds. What he doesn’t realize is that their new allies may be more dangerous than their foes.

Meanwhile, closer to home, Kyle sees a disturbing invasion of cut-rate home contractors who sell themselves with the zeal of a cult. Called Sweat Equity, the business has formed a partnership with the city government amid glowing praise from the media. When Kyle digs deeper, he learns why the group refuses to take no for an answer and that the group is more than willing to add blood to the sweat.”

Author:

J. Gregory Smith used to work in public relations before he began writing full time. He has several books in thrill and mystery genres, some self-published and at least one published by Amazon’s Thomas & Mercer imprint.

Appraisal:

This is a mix of crime fiction and thriller. The “good guys” in this story are technically criminals since they’re operating outside the law, but they’re doing this to counteract criminals who are taking advantage of vulnerable people. The “bad guys” are two sets of people, one set is outside the country while the other is close to home. This mix of different criminals, different crimes, different techniques being used to take advantage of their victims, and different approaches to helping and protecting the victims makes for an interesting story with lots of variety that drew me in and kept me engaged to the end.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

A minimal amount of adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

Although the number of issues didn’t reach the level at which it is reflected in my overall rating, this book did have more proofreading issues that didn’t get caught than I like to see.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 80-85,000 words

Review: Murder So Sweet by Dave Vizard

Genre: Crime Fiction

Description:

“When bodies start to turn up on the rich farmlands of Michigan’s Thumb region, news reporter Nick Steele jumps on the trail of a serial killing family from Bay City. The victims, who come from cities across mid-Michigan, share one thing in common. As the reporter closes in on the murderous family, the cold-blooded killers are stopped in their tracks by the unlikeliest of smoking gun. Follow Nick Steele as he unravels the details of a murder wrapped in a murder mystery in this fast-paced novel you won’t want to put down.”

Author:

“Dave Vizard is a former award winning newspaper and magazine writer and editor. He has taught journalism and writing at the college level. Each of his murder mysteries is rooted in Michigan and revolves around the exploits of news reporter Nick Steele.”

Vizard and his wife live in Michigan’s Thumb region where his book take place.

Appraisal:

This is the second Nick Steele book I’ve read. My first (the fifth of Vizard’s books featuring Nick Steele) took place in Key West, Florida, so this is my first time reading one that is happening in Steele’s home territory. The rural area in what they call the “thumb” of Michigan and the culture of that area figure into this story and make it distinct from a lot of crime fiction or murder mysteries you might read. Actually, the normal “mystery” in a book like this, the whodunit part, is something the reader knows fairly early on in this book. But that doesn’t mean the tension is over, both because we don’t know if the authorities are going to figure who is committing the murders, on some level for part of the book the reader might have ambiguous feelings as to whether they even want the murderer caught.

All of this makes for an interesting read that keeps the reader engaged throughout. Just to keep things interesting, a teaser at the end might have you wishing for the next book in the series to come quickly.

FYI:

Although this author has several books featuring reporter Nick Steele, each book stands alone. Reading the prior books isn’t necessary in order to understand what is going on in the current story.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

My review is based on a pre-publication copy and may not be reflective of the final product, so I didn’t evaluate in this area.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 50-55,000 words

Review: Distant Relations by Rebecca Forster

 Genre: Crime Fiction/Thriller/Suspense

Description:

“A private plane explodes killing Finn's estranged uncle and his childhood love. Coming to grips with the tragedy, Finn O'Brien puts the accident behind him until a misdirected insurance settlement, a federal investigation, and an arrogant ATF agent pique his curiosity and provoke his anger. The explosion was no accident, the people on board had histories, and Finn O’Brien’s assistance in the investigation is not wanted. Unable to find justice, Finn goes rogue, incurring the ire of everyone while his investigation leads him through a deadly labyrinth created by big business and personal passions. In the end Finn discovers that his life, and the lives of those he loves, are in the hands of a distant and deadly relation.”

Author:

“Rebecca Forster will try anything once, but when she was dared to write a book she found her passion. Now a USA Today and Amazon best selling author with over 40 books to her name, Rebecca is known for her keen ear for dialogue, three dimensional characters, an eye for detail, twisted plots and unexpected endings.”

Appraisal:

As the fifth book in Rebecca Forster’s Finn O’Brien series there are a few things that every book has in common. Finn O’ Brien, his partner Cori Anderson, and an entertaining story that is never what you expect, with each one going somewhere totally unexpected. This one starts with a bang (quite literally), and involves Finn stepping on a few toes, digging into something that isn’t his job to investigate. Wondering who (if anyone) was responsible for the bad things that set Finn off and whether Finn or anyone else will be able to figure out who this was and bring them to justice kept me engaged and guessing to the very end.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Although the fifth book in the Finn O’ Brien series, each book stands alone well enough that reading of the prior books isn’t needed to understand the story in this volume.

Format/Typo Issues:

Review is based on a pre-release ARC (advanced reader copy), so I can’t gauge the final product in this area.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 85-90,000 words

Review: Loyalty by James M. Clifton

 

Genre: Crime Fiction

Description:

“Carlos and Lena Ramirez were the son and daughter of the biggest drug lord in southern Mexico. Ivy League educated and largely insulated from the seedier side of their father’s business dealings; they were well on their way to establishing their own lives when their father was murdered by his former partner.

Consumed by hatred, Carlos and Lena exacted their revenge. Carlos came to deeply grieve his violent and destructive actions and again abandoned his criminal heritage. Lena, on the other hand, embraced the role and took control of her father’s and his former partner’s illegal empire.

Carlos embarks on his new life, with hopes of remaining insulated from his past. Lena begins to consolidate her power and strives to ensure the long-term safety and security of her family dynasty.

Carlos’s and Lena’s plans come crashing down when they attract the attention and ire of the other drug lords. What follows is an epic battle, pitting the intellect and tenacity of Lena and her disciples against the ruthlessness and brutality of the other drug barons. At stake is control of the east coast drug trade but also the survival of Lena, Carlos, and their extended families.”

Author:

“Dr. James Clifton is retired from the U.S. military and also retired from a career as an engineer. He currently spends his time fishing the lakes of Northern Alabama, golfing, hiking, and, when he has time, writing stories.”

Appraisal:

If you’ve read and liked the first two books of this trilogy, you’ll obviously want to read this one. If you haven’t done that, look at them first. Understanding the full story of how the main characters in the trilogy have gotten to this point is necessary in my opinion to understand all of the implications of what is going on in this final installment.

As I was pondering what to say about this it hit me that this book and, to be fair, every other book in the crime fiction genre, requires the reader to be rooting for what most people would rightfully consider to be the bad guys. Unlike a detective mystery or police procedural where you’re hoping and expecting the bad guys to pay a price, in crime fiction there is typically someone committing a crime and the reader is setup to want the criminal to succeed and not get caught. Often that is because the person being hurt by the crime, criminal or not, is worse. With our two main characters here, we have one person, Lena, who fits the norm. While she’s not exactly doing great things, those who oppose her or would step in if she was gone, are much worse. In contrast the other main character, Lena’s brother, Carlos, is someone who is doing all he can to steer clear of his family’s propensity for criminal enterprises. The reader is pulling for both to succeed, overcoming the conflicts with the other drug lords. It makes for an intense, good read.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

This is the third book of a trilogy. Attempting to read this volume without reading the first two books in the trilogy first might work, but is more likely to leave the reader wondering what they’ve missed. I’d advise reading the prior books first.

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of proofreading misses.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 80-85,000 words

Review: Penance by James M. Clifton

 

Genre: Crime Fiction

Description:

“Carlos Ramirez is an Ivy League educated lawyer and the son of an infamous drug lord. He spent most of his life sheltered from the seedier side of his father’s business dealings, devoting his time to running his family’s legal business ventures. All that changes, however, when his father is murdered by his partner, the head of the northeast Irish mob. Consumed by hatred, he and his sister Lena exact their revenge.

Seemingly oblivious to the collateral damage he is causing, Carlos’s actions result in the death of a number of innocent people. The deepest of regret follows. Given the perspective of time, he comes to grieve his actions, leading him to the brink of suicide.

Carlos’s sister, Lena, is a very different person. While Carlos avoids his father’s legacy, Lena embraces it, maturing to become a major crime boss. As the story unfolds, Carlos devises a desperate plan to soothe his stricken conscience. What Carlos does not realize, though, is that Lena and her professional killer are watching over him, protecting him from danger.”

Author:

“Dr. James Clifton is retired from the U.S. military and also retired from a career as an engineer. He currently spends his time fishing the lakes of Northern Alabama, golfing, hiking, and, when he has time, writing stories.”

Appraisal:

In my review of Change of Heart, the first book in the Legacy of Loyalty series of which this is book two, I said the protagonist of that book, John Cooper, isn’t your typical crime fiction protagonist. Carlos Ramirez, who we met in that first book and is the main protagonist of this one, also breaks the mold. Although he certainly is far from perfect, his past has mostly been working in the more legitimate parts of his crime-lord father’s business empire, but since his father’s death events are pulling him more and more into the seedier side of things. He doesn’t exactly like that.

The main story of Penance is Carlos trying to maneuver things in such a way as to get his business interests back to a legitimate place while protecting his crime boss sister from repercussions. If other crime bosses feel backlash, that’s a good thing though. Almost a form of penance, a way for Carlos to try to atone for those questionable things he hasn’t been able to avoid. This was an engaging read. It kept me guessing most of the way and doesn’t read like a typical crime novel in many ways, yet still feels credible.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

This is the second book in what is currently a three-book series.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 90-95,000 words