Review: Woman With Doll & Other Stories by Joan Slowey

Genre: Literary Fiction/Short Stories

Description:

“The characters in this collection of short stories live on the edge of life, reaching for harmony, for stillness and for a sense of joy. They have difficult situations to deal with and their solutions are often unexpected or harsh or, sadly, just as you would expect.

The sea is a constant in their lives; for some it is integral to their livelihoods and for others a source of peace and solace. Albert (Woman with Doll) is a recovering alcoholic who tries to help others whether they want help or not, and Julia (No Way Out) wants to change her life completely but lacks the courage. Middle-aged Brigit (Safe as Houses) longs for romance but is shocked by her parents’ reaction when she gets a date, and Andy (Andy) tries hard to find some happiness in his bleak life, longing for America and motor bikes. Henry (The Collection) is angry with his wife, resenting her growing independence, while Jim and Connie (Waterbabies) have strange ideas about saving a young man from the cold. These are just a few of the characters readers will meet in this collection; they are calculating, devious and just a bit odd, but funny sometimes too, and brave…”

Author:

“Joan Slowey, an Irish writer, has lived in Dublin for most of her life but is from Co Down originally. She has been writing for many years and has published short stories, poems, and novels for children.”

Check out Ms. Slowey’s other books on her Amazon author page or friend her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

As Ms. Slowey states in this books blurb, the sea is a constant in this collection of short stories. Most are miserable couples, meddling siblings, or individuals struggling to survive the status quo or trying to improve their lives. Some of the tales are twisted, some are macabre, and more than a few deal with abusive relationships.

That Cold Place was a good start. After the death of her husband, Vera decides to visit her spinster sister, Rosemary, who is far from thrilled for this visit to her quiet coastal home.

Adam and Eve is a poignant story of Jemima, who never really quite fit in anywhere. It’s a lovely story that left a smile on my face.

One of my favorites was Waterbabies; it was twisted but funny. Not nearly as dark as I found several of the other stories. I had my hopes up for Wedding Night, I was sure this one would end well, I thought with stars in my eyes; instead it left me sad. (The only defense I have here is I read too many romances with happy endings, I suppose.) In The Green Boot, I was mostly happy for Marian. Her biggest boon was realizing she needed a better friend than Irene.

A Bit of Comfort is an enjoyable and interesting character study with bits of wry wit. I caught myself giggling during this story, although it had some editing issues. Several times the digital number 1 was used where I am sure an ‘I’ was intended.

This is a diverse collection of short stories that explored different aspects of the human condition. I am sure if you enjoy literary fiction, you will find this a satisfying read.

Buy now from:    Amazon US    Amazon UK

FYI:

Ms. Slowey is an Irish author and uses British/Irish spelling conventions and slang. There are some physical and/or emotional abuses depicted in a few of the relationships within. You will also find a number of F-bombs dropped.

Format/Typo Issues:

I came across a small number proofing issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 50-55,000 words 

Reprise Review: Blind Sight by @Nicole_Storey #Kindle

Genre: Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal/ YA

Description:

“Jordan has visions of monsters, demons, and death. Seventeen, orphaned, and born into the family business, she doesn’t have friends, she doesn’t have choices. Her uncle, older brothers, and a few annoying angels dominate her life, demanding she tow their lines – and the punishment is severe when those lines are crossed... In a game between Good and Evil where God seems to have tapped out early, lines are blurred and not everything is as it seems.”

Author:

“Nicole Storey lives in the hot and humid part of Georgia with her husband, two amazing children, and plethora of pets. When she isn't traveling to magical realms with potty-mouthed pixies or fighting demons, she enjoys reading and reviewing books, blogging, and gardening.”

You can follow Ms. Storey at her website or find her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

The Celedon Circle is a secret society of human demon slayers. Jordan is a seeker, born and raised to fight demons along with her family. Being a seeker makes her rare and highly valued for her visions of demon activity. The story starts with one of Jordan's visions of an unusually horrific monster which has been summoned in a small Tennessee town. Ms. Storey paints graphic pictures of the carnage this monster wreaks and the reader is grabbed by the throat and dragged into the story.

Other than her unique ability and special family circumstances, Jordan is more or less a typical teenager and her humanity is demonstrated throughout the book. With the story being told through Jordan's eyes we get to know her well along with her perspective of some not so good angels and not so bad demons. The lines between good and evil are blurred and the twists in this character-driven plot are startling. I also found all of the characters realistic and well developed, their dialogue was believable, and the relationships authentic.

I have to confess I was held captive through the entire story. The Tennessee story thread is tied up nicely at the end so there is not a cliffhanger ending. However, I can't wait to see how things develop as Jordan's world is turned upside down by an unexpected twist at the end. This could turn into a stellar series. If you are looking for a different sort of urban fantasy this may be a book you would enjoy.

Buy now from:    Amazon US    Amazon UK

FYI: Added for Reprise Review: Blind Sight was the winner in the Fantasy category for 2014 Readers' Choice Awards at BigAl’s Books and Pals. Original review ran February 9, 2014

Format/Typo Issues:

I found no significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 70-75,000 words

Make Wizardry Great Again by Rednal Sua

Genre: Humor/Satire

Description:

“A short story about a dynamic American businessman who is visiting his properties in Scotland when he is told by a mysterious lake monster that he and only he was born with the powers necessary to free the world from the terrors of the Magic Ministry.”

Author:

Rednal Sua's Amazon page gives no details about him or her. (As you can see, I don't have enough information to guess gender.) All I can tell you for sure is Rednal has several stand alone short stories and one short story collection available for purchase.

Appraisal:

I have a confession. Unlike every other person in my household old enough to read, I've never read a Harry Potter book or even seen a movie based on J.K. Rowling's series. Going in I knew this was a story set in the Harry Potter universe that satirized a certain small-fingered US presidential candidate. (If you can't figure out who from the title, this story might not be for you.) I wasn't sure if my lack of Potter knowledge would be an issue. But it was a quick read, so I gave it a shot.

I was amused and entertained. I think I caught and understood most of the satirical references to the presidential candidate. What surprised me was how much about the Potter characters and universe has apparently permeated my brain through means other than reading the books. I suspect Harry Potter fans who lean a bit left politically would fully appreciate this story.

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: 8-9,000 words

Reprise Review: A Reason to Live by Matthew Iden @CrimeRighter #Kindle

Genre: Mystery/Police Procedural

Description:

“In the late nineties, a bad cop killed a good woman and DC Homicide detective Marty Singer got to watch as the murderer walked out of the courtroom a free man.

Twelve years later, the victim's daughter comes to Marty begging for help: the killer is stalking her now.

There's just one problem: Marty's retired...and he's retired because he's battling cancer. But with a second shot at the killer--and a first chance at redemption--Marty's just found A Reason to Live.”

Author:

“Matthew Iden writes fantasy, science fiction, horror, thrillers, crime fiction, and contemporary literary fiction with a psychological twist.

An eclectic resume--he's held jobs with the US Postal Service, international non-profit groups, a short stint with the Forest Service in Sitka, Alaska and time with the globe-spanning Semester at Sea program--has given him inspiration for short stories and novel ideas, while trips to Iceland, Patagonia, and Antarctica haven't hurt in the creative juices department, either. A post-graduate education in English Literature wasn't necessary, but it helped define what he didn't want to do with his life and let him read a great deal of good books.”

For more, visit the author’s website or his Facebook page.

Appraisal:

I’d barely started reading A Reason to Believe when I hit this paragraph.

I was killing time at a coffee shop, slouched in an overstuffed chair that had been beaten into submission years earlier. The café—I don't know the name, Middle Grounds or Mean Bean or something precious—was a grungy, brown stain of a place flanked by a failing Cajun restaurant on one side and a check-cashing store on the other. A crowd of Hispanic guys hung around out front looking simultaneously aimless and expectant, hoping their next job was about to pull up to the curb. I looked up from my cup and stared at the girl who'd called me by name. She was slim, with delicate brown hair worn past the shoulders and intense, dark eyes set in a face so pale Poe would've written stories about it.

I was impressed. In a single evocative paragraph I understood the coffee shop, the neighborhood it was in, the crowd outside (which figures into a later scene), a lot about the narrator Marty, and not only pictured the girl who’d approached him, but was curious about what she wanted. I was hooked. And I stayed hooked.

The premise, that a murderer who escaped punishment has returned and is stalking the original victim’s daughter, is a good one that gives the protagonist, Marty, a chance at some kind of redemption. That Marty is retired because he has cancer complicates things in a couple of ways. First, although this is much like a police procedural, technically Marty isn’t even a cop anymore, so he doesn’t have ready access to the resources he had in the past. Then his chemotherapy treatment interferes with his ability to do much of anything some days, so detecting is out of the question.

This is the first of a series with at least three more books already available. I’m not sure if that means chemo goes well, but I’m eager to find out what his next case turns out to be.

Buy now from:    Amazon US    Amazon UK

FYI:

Adult language.

Added for Reprise Review: A Reason to Live was a nominee in the Mystery category for B&P 2014 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran January 17, 2014

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 85-90,000 words

Review: Scar by Caitlin O'Connor

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy/New Adult

Description:

“The scar on Vinny’s wrist is nothing compared to the scars on her psyche. She isn’t a hero, she isn’t even a good person, and when a skirmish with one of the Handmaidens of the Skaath Diurga ends badly, she knows it’s partly her fault.

Nobody in the Circle could’ve guessed at the truths that attack would uncover.

One woman has sacrificed everything to end the war between Handmaidens and Awakened. Now, she’s prepared to damn everyone for her freedom. One final betrayal is all it will take to change our world forever.

Scar is the second instalment in the Celestial Talisman sequence, an adult Urban Fantasy series featuring dark, psychological themes. If you like multifaceted, compelling characters and unusual settings then this novel is sure to thrill you.”

Author:

“Caitlin O’Connor searches for truth in fiction, and drags her characters through hell to find it. A proud eccentric who aspires to be omniscient, she enjoys listening to music, trying to understand physics, and admiring unusual works of art. She lives in South Africa with her son and a malevolent lovebird that requires daily libations of blood.” Learn more about her at her website, or visit her Facebook page.

Appraisal:

In this second installment of The Celestial Talisman series, the complicated plot twists and turns continue. There are a lot of players in this story, many of whom I had forgotten since I read book one, Finding the Phoenix, more than six months ago. I had some trouble recalling certain plot elements as well. Perhaps a little more back-story would have been helpful. This could just be my old brain becoming overloaded because I do read a lot of books. Despite that, I enjoyed the deeper development of the main characters. Blake is worming his way into my heart. But my favorite has to be Alistair. It's always the bad boys that grab my affection first. Not sure what that says about me.

The chapters alternate points-of-view between Vinny – the main character, and Amanda, the mastermind behind an evil plot to make herself lord over a new world order. Chapter headings denoting which character we are experiencing, even if they only show the character’s name, would have been a nice addition. Once I caught on to the pattern, though, it wasn’t a problem. Scar is a brilliant and unique urban fantasy, which should capture the attention of many new fantasy readers. The characters are diverse, distinctive, and suffer from realistic insecurities despite their special abilities. Vinny is a strong heroine who is becoming more secure within herself. It’s been interesting to watch her come into her own after coming from such an abusive background.

Scar has it all: a smart, intriguing plot, physical battles between light and dark, internal conflicts, excellent dialogue, and a bit of romance. This book comes to a satisfying ending with a few elements and questions still hanging for the plot to continue. Things are far from settled and I am looking forward to watching relationships develop, as well as finding out where the whole story is headed now. Caitlin O’Connor is definitely a new fantasy author to keep an eye on.

Buy now from:    Amazon US    Amazon UK

FYI:

Scar is the second book in The Celestial Talisman series. It contains strong language and British and/or South African English spelling conventions. There is a glossary for South African vernacular at the end of the book. There are several F-bombs dropped.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant proofing errors.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 75-80,000 words

Review: The Doll Harvest by Ron Savage aka @DoctorRonz

Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Description:

“The twins say I’m perfect and rare. ‘We had to look very hard to find someone like you.’ I am admired.

On the steps of her quiet brownstone, Nettie Harnell smells the sickly sweet scent of chloroform moments before she is abducted. When she awakens she’s in a dark basement chained to a post with nothing but memories of her mother and Paris to keep her company while she awaits her fate. 

There is a shortage of medical donors in Philly, not that Carl and Vern Wachoski consider it a problem—it’s another business opportunity. Taking without permission has turned out to be incredibly lucrative, especially with Carl’s motto being ‘waste not, want not.’ But Carl’s arrogance could cost them everything if they don’t watch out. 

Dutch Harnell is no stranger to depression since the tragic and violent death of his wife and son thirteen years before. Now it’s time for Dutch to pull himself together to save his one remaining family member, Nettie. With the help of Kapil Talpur, a young graduate student who witnessed the abduction, he finds himself drawn deeper into a world of greed and intrigue, where they can trust no one but themselves.”

Author:

“Ron Savage was a senior staff psychologist at a state mental health facility in Virginia and also had a private practice. Ron is the author of seven novels and two volumes of short stories, and has published more than 125 stories worldwide. He is the recipient of the Editor’s Circle Award in Best New Writing and was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Ron is a member of PEN America and has also been a guest fiction editor for Crazyhorse. Some of his publications can be found in Film Comment, the North American Review, Shenandoah, the Baltimore Review, and the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.”

To learn more please check out Mr. Savage’s website, or Facebook page.

Website:  

Appraisal:

The story has three interwoven threads: Nettie and her abductors, her father’s attempts to rescue himself and his daughter, and professor Phan from Vietnam. First, I loved the way this novel was constructed. With three threads and their associated characters, things can easily get confusing. But the author used short chapters each prefaced by a piece of dialogue associated with that chapter’s point of view character—it worked very nicely and kept the plot straight in my mind.

I really enjoyed the albino twins who abducted Nettie. They were easily visualized and interestingly deranged. The father was a little difficult to connect with, possibly because of his depressing backstory, but his sidekick was believable and likeable enough to have me rooting for the two of them.

The Phan character didn’t really work for me. I never quite understood why Nettie’s father, Dutch, would want to do what the man expected of him, and he seemed a little stereotypically evil. But I can’t say that took much away from my enjoyment of the tale.

The author categorizes this as a thriller. I’d go more for suspense because I never really thought things weren’t going to work out. There was no end-of-world-level tension. Yet I did want to know how the threads would each be tied off.

Overall, a well-written, fun, fast read. Oh, and I loved the cover and the tagline—“waste not want not.”

Buy now from:    Amazon US     Amazon UK

FYI: 

There are a few F-bombs dropped, so be aware if you are sensitive to that sort of language.

Format/Typo Issues:

Very few.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: Pete Barber

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words

Reprise Review: Lay Death at Her Door by @ElizabetBuhmann #Kindle

Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller

Description:

“Twenty years ago, Kate Cranbrook’s eyewitness testimony sent the wrong man to prison for rape and murder. When new evidence exonerates him, Kate says that in the darkness and confusion, she must have mistaken her attacker’s identity.

She is lying.

Kate would like nothing better than to turn her back on the past, but she is trapped in a stand-off with the real killer. When a body turns up on her doorstep, she resorts to desperate measures to free herself once and for all from a secret that is ruining her life.”

Author:

“Elizabeth Buhmann is originally from Virginia, where her first novel is set, and like her main character, she lived several years abroad while growing up. She graduated magna cum laude from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, and has a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh. For twenty years, she worked for the Texas Attorney General as a researcher and writer on criminal justice and crime victim issues. Elizabeth now lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, dog, and two chickens. She is an avid gardener, loves murder mysteries, and has a black sash in Tai Chi.”

Appraisal:

In 1986, a man was murdered. I was beaten and raped. The ensuing trial dominated local headlines until my eyewitness testimony sent a man named Jules Jefferson to prison for life.

I lied.

You what? Oh, my.

Common wisdom says an author should grab the reader from the first few words, which is correct (or at least a good idea if you don’t want to lose too many readers). But that same advice says the way you do that is with action or conflict of some kind. I’m not sure these first words fit any of the most touted techniques for grabbing a reader’s attention, but they sure did mine.

From those first words we slowly learn what happens when Jefferson, convicted based on the narrator Kate’s testimony, is exonerated based on DNA evidence as she tells her side of the story. I’m hesitant to go into any kind of detail for fear of a spoiler other than to say that despite knowing from the outset that Kate knew she lied (and therefore must have some clue what the truth is) that each new revelation changed my perception of where the story was going, right up to the very end. A well written, unpredictable story. You’ll love it.

Buy now from:    Amazon US    Amazon UK

FYI:

A small amount of adult language.

Added for Reprise Review: Lay Death at Her Door was a nominee in the Mystery category for B&P 2014 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran June 18, 2013.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 95-100,000 words

Review: The Moreva of Ashtoreth by Roxanne Bland

Today's review is the first from a new Pal. Welcome Joan Slowey.

Genre: Fantasy/Alternative Universe/Romance

Description:

When I started reading this book I thought it would be about warring tribes, about hate and destruction. But instead it is about love and peace as realised through a passionate and tender love story between two people of different race and background. Their situation calls for patience and tolerance and a willingness to learn about the "other". They have to question their accepted perceptions, their core beliefs and their place in society.

Author:

Roxanne Bland grew up in Washington, D.C., and began making up stories when she was very young. She discovered strange and wonderful new worlds through her public library and bookstores. Agatha Christie was a great favourite, followed by Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Robert Heinlein. She graduated from law school and only began to write seriously when she fell ill for a while. She lives in Rosedale, Maryland with her Great Dane, Daisy Mae. Ms Bland has published another book, The Underground. For more information visit the author's website.

Appraisal:

This story takes place in an alternative universe where there are extra suns and moons and where people have two hearts. I stepped into this wonderful world and accepted it but I would have liked a bit of information about the effect on the planet of all the extra light and heat, and the function of a second heart in an otherwise normal, human body. The story involves two types of people, the Morevas and the Hakoi. The Morevas consider themselves superior to the lowly Hakoi and behave accordingly.

The main character, Moreva Tehi, is banished from her home for breaking the rules of her grandmother - The Most Holy One. For a year she is to be steward to a garrison in a Hakoi village, Mjor, in the far north of the country:

" . . . cold and dark, with dense woods full of wild animals."

Spoiled from birth, she assumes she is smarter and more knowledgeable than anyone else and she hates the Hakoi, considering them all stupid. She is reckless and impulsive but she is also a marvellous healer, working hard to find a cure for the Red Disease. Her grandmother forbids her to continue her research when she goes away but she packs up her mobile laboratory and her notes and takes them with her anyway.

And this, for me, is where the story becomes enchanting. I loved the colourful Hakoi village. I loved climbing the tower where Tehi lived, and I loved spending time with the kindly, local healer, Hyme, in his clinic. Tehi meets the Laerd Teger who runs the village; he is a Hakoi with no time for Tehi's people. They clash immediately, each determined to best the other but very soon they fall in love, and it's a wonderful love story. Tehi's hearts are opened up and she realises that anger and hate are based on fear:

" . . . My hate, a black blot upon my soul."

And later:

" . . . we may find there was nothing to fear at all, and we can replace our hate with love."

The narrative drive of this book is very good; it's what makes us all read, and the characters of Tehi, Teger and Hyme are very likeable. The best thing, for me, was the atmosphere; it was so strong. I really felt I was there, in the village, and when it snowed it was pure magic. The dialogue is realistic and the whole story is well paced with hints of the outcome skilfully placed here and there with a glance, a word. The main theme is love and how it heals the damage caused by bigotry and prejudice. I wondered as I read, how all the problems were going to be solved and I found the resolution both clever and unexpected.

On the negative side - there are a couple of villains in the village but they appear rarely and we know little about them. And I think a few more main characters would add to the interest of the story, and maybe a sub-plot. I have to mention the repetition - locking and unlocking doors, going up and down the stairs, going to meals, eating the meals, walking back to the tower or laboratory, putting on and taking off costumes and make-up.

But in the overall story this is a small complaint. I really enjoyed this book and often find myself thinking about the village and the forests and mountains, and wondering how everyone is getting on.

Buy now from:     Amazon US     Amazon UK

FYI:

There is some sex in this book and some mild violence.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: Joan Slowey

Approximate word count: 165-170,000 words

Reprise Review: Forty-Four (Book 7) by @JoolsSinclair

Genre: Horror/Paranormal/Romance

Description:

“Abby Craig’s worst nightmare has come to life…

When an old friend suddenly reappears, a mysterious darkness begins to hound her. Shadowy truths will claw their way to the surface to finally see the light of day. Life and death hang in the balance when a long-buried secret refuses to stay dead.

As Abby’s black and white world spirals down into a treacherous sea of grays, she is forced to confront the evil stalking her before it consumes everything she loves.”

Author:

Jools Sinclair is an author from Bend, Oregon which is also the setting for the 44 series. Along with continuing this series, she is working on the first book in a new paranormal series.

You can find out more about her and the 44 series on her blog or follow her on twitter.

Blog: http://joolssinclair44.blogspot.com/p/about-jools.html

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoolsSinclair

Appraisal:

I am so glad 44 showed up as a recommendation for me on Amazon back in November of 2011. The eerie cover and book blurb grabbed my attention. The fast-paced story of Abby’s visions — a result of drowning and being declared dead for 44 minutes — drew me right into the story and had me eagerly waiting for the next six books. Ms. Sinclair’s descriptions of the Bend, Oregon area and knowledge about activities available there bring the setting alive. Several of my friends began reading the series and were just as involved with the story as I was. Three of us are reading the books together, discussing the events, and making predictions for the future.

In book seven, Abby continues to harness her ability to deal with her visions and her relationships with Jesse and Ty. One of the strengths of this series is the fully developed secondary characters. My favorites are Abby’s sister Kate, and her co-worker and friend David. What happens between the brothers Dr. Ben and Dr. Nathaniel is chilling. A new intriguing character is introduced that I suspect will be important in the future. Ms. Sinclair’s use of current social constructs enhances the plot and gives the story a realistic, happening-right-now feel. I really enjoy the parts of the story detailing Abby’s culinary skills. I am a foodie, so these moments are mouth-wateringly fun! I am reluctant to share more specific details or give too many clues about what happens, as it could ruin the suspense for other readers.

My only disappointment is my sadness at reaching the end of the book and having to wait for the next to revisit these characters. Ms. Sinclair’s mix of paranormal abilities, evil characters, romance, and normal life routines makes for an addictive read. I look forward to seeing what is in store for everyone next time. The waiting begins again.

Buy now from:    Amazon US    Amazon UK

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: Forty-Four (Book Seven) was a nominee in the Paranormal Romance category for B&P 2014 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran April 14, 2013.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: Fredlet

Approximate word count: 45-50,000 words

Review: Gino's Law by Candace Williams

Genre: Mystery/Suspense

Description:

“Gino Gibaldi is a multi-phobic recluse who’s been framed for murder. Since he's claustrophobic, it’s too bad that he has to go on the run while trying to prove his innocence. Gino is a gifted creator of three-dimensional display items, such as life-sized holiday scenes for shopping malls, a pink cow that dispenses liquor for a farm-themed party, and ice carvings for hotel banquets. You should also know that he lives in a rather … quirky East Dallas neighborhood.”

Author:

Candace Williams lives with her husband and dogs in Dallas. This is Williams' second novel. Her first, The Earthquake Doll, was a nominee in the 2015 BigAl's Books & Pals Readers' Choice Awards.

Appraisal:

The book description describes Gino's Law as taking place in a “quirky East Dallas neighborhood.” That quirkiness comes from the people who populate it. The story combines mystery (who really committed the murder Gino's been accused of) and suspense, which normally implies a serious and intense story, which this is at times. But the quirkiness of Gino and his neighbors also lighten things up some of the time.

Gino's Law should be a satisfying read for a typical mystery reader, especially those who don't mind a story that's a bit offbeat. It should also appeal to readers who prefer their stories to focus on the characters as much as the plot, which is not typical of the mystery genre.

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: 80-85,000 words