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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
The Day After His Crucifixion
Merikay McLeod
Independently Published
9781662955518, $12.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
https://gatekeeperpress.com/product/the-day-after-his-crucifixion-9781662955518-paperback
The Day After His Crucifixion personalizes the murder of Yeshua in a manner few fictional coverages can match, offering the first-person perspective of a follower who awakens to the unthinkable -- his execution:
That truth slashes like shattered glass shards. The man who saved my life. Our Promised One. Gone. And here I am, breathing. How can this be? It's not right. On my knees, sobbing, I roll up my sleeping mat and its covers, and stash them in the corner. He gave us purpose. He taught us everything. He revealed God as our loving Father. And they've killed him. His healing hands pounded to pulp. His feet viciously impaled. Our strong and gentle master savagely murdered!
There are questions about political impact and ramifications of Yeshua's death and the permeation of hate and cruelty in Gentile Roman society.
The story's atmosphere and emotionally charged "you are here" feel places readers in an thought-provoking milieu with a world-altering event that impacts humanity from that day onward. As this perspective and ensuing events unfold, Merikay McLeod creates a powerful female-centric focus that is as avid and faithful as Yeshua's disciples.
This is a collection of women's experiences, perceptions, and lives that serves not as a religious study, but as a reflection on women's issues and faith.
Deliberate choices have been made in the tailoring of these experiences, from the choice of the native name Yeshua (versus the English name 'Jesus') to how various women perceived and aligned with the Son of God. Biblical passages influenced and sparked these stories, giving Christian readers a foundation of faith-based considerations that pepper each story and bring it to life.
The concluding Author's Notes reference particular Biblical passages which influenced each story's creation. This gives Bible study groups fine access to background and supporting material. Discussion groups will thus find it easy to make important connections between Biblical representation and creative writing.
Of equal strength, and lending to discussions, is the 'Questions for Deeper Study' section which encourages readers to consider how and why the different events are impacted by their being narrated from a woman's viewpoint. Stories unified by Yeshua's crucifixion thus serve as a powerful testimony to how women's lives were impacted and their choices and perceptions altered by their convictions and the social, spiritual, and political atmosphere of their times.
The short stories comprising The Day After His Crucifixion are especially recommended for Christian libraries, reading groups, and women's literature study programs. It provides an unparalleled view of the times as seen through the disparate eyes of narrators whose lives and mindsets are forever changed by these events.
It's not all about despair and oppression. Perhaps this collection's greatest strength lies in how faith emerges like a phoenix from disaster to rejuvenate and heal -- a powerful message of hope for modern times and women, as well: Yes, His love fills me and His peace calms me. And I realize that our understanding of his mission was far too small. Far too limited. Far too weak. Yeshua has more than overcome Rome. He has overcome death, that powerful presence of evil's reign. He has opened the door to this whole wide suffering world and ushered in the love-saturated, life-filled Kingdom of God. The magnitude of who He is and what He has done stuns me. I have never before felt so hopeful about the future.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
Lost in the Reflecting Pool
Diane Pomerantz, Ph.D.
Muse Literary
https://www.museliterary.com
9781960876744, $30.99 Hardcover/$20.99 Paperback/$5.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Reflecting-Pool-Surviving-Narcissistic/dp/1960876740
Lost in the Reflecting Pool: Surviving Narcissistic Emotional Abuse is psychologist Diane Pomerantz's memoir about her own mental challenges and survival process. It provides readers with a multifaceted blend of professional insights and personal experience. This adds strength and revelation to a story that charts the specific approaches and impact of the narcissistic personality and the costs of becoming involved with one. The result is a much more insightful analysis than the usual memoir about emotionally abusive, toxic relationships.
Dr. Diane Pomerantz opens with a review of the purpose and approach of her memoir, presenting her desire that it will bridge the gap between psychological analysis and daily experience for others on the same path: Writing my memoir allowed me to process and reevaluate my memories, thereby changing my perception of my internal reality. That broader understanding allowed me to move on. I hope that sharing my story and understanding of what it means, allows others to find a new way to rewrite or restructure their own life narrative.
Specific examples of the drama of decompensating narcissists, the differences between quirks and dysfunctional personality traits, the impact of the author's illness on children and partner, how dysfunction adds to hardship and challenge, and the effort to rise above family connections and complexities to realize truths that can lead to escape will help readers navigate their own lives: I also now knew what I hadn't been able to admit before: that my emotional and physical chains had been strangling me for many years before that. I just hadn't been able to acknowledge what I saw or what I felt was happening. I hadn't been able to accept that my very early misgivings had become the horrors of my existence.
All these elements are why libraries seeking memoirs that can serve as beacons of support and hope will want to place Lost in the Reflecting Pool at the top of their acquisition lists. The book's ability to outlines specific circumstances that indicate deeper problems will enable readers in similar situations to better understand their reactions, choices, and options.
The General Fiction Shelf
Boy With Wings
Mark Mustian
Koehler Books
www.koehlerbooks.com
9798888244272, $29.95 Hardcover/$19.95 Paperback
https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Wings-Mark-Mustian/dp/B0DP1Q6T7V
Johnny Cruel is no ordinary boy. Born with appendages on his back that can only be described as wings, he faces danger when his community of the 1930s South deems him a devil and tries to capture and kill him. Forced to flee, Johnny and his mother hit the road in search of a safe haven.
This effort sends him into associations with other social outcasts, from the freaks in a circus to relationships in which he questions why and how others can love him: "You say that she loves me?"
"Well, not like I love you." I touched his neck and face.
"You love the fact of my oddness."
Author Mark Mustian raises many questions as he follows Johnny's journey through life in search of acceptance, a safe place, and love. These issues also emerge from Johnny's influence on those around him who are not extraordinary -- but might long to be: Only Johnny was truly aloof, the look on his face one of concern or maybe revulsion. Or was it envy? I thought I recognized this and knew of it. As a nonfreak, I felt it too. Why was I so common, so depressingly middling and bland? Placed among people who were truly remarkable and unique.
A strong device utilized to explore the extent of Johnny's world is that of shifting perspectives, easily identified in chapter headings. Dwarf Esmeralda ("Tot")'s daughter Winifred, tattooed lady Sheila, and others add their own observations and experiences to the freak show focus on of finding a place in life. This immerses the characters in a strange miracle that embraces them all. Mustian's story is a study in acceptance, diversity, kindness, and the possibility of marvels in life. Through Johnny's eyes and others, the intricacies of relationship-building develop in a way that imparts intriguing lessons on differences and shared perceptions.
Magical encounters, transcendence and the human drive for connection and life meaning reveal a compelling contrast between individuals who all reside, one way or another, in realms that force them to grow beyond their physical incarnations. Libraries interested in novels that explore such potentially life-altering realizations will not only find Boy With Wings a thoroughly compelling story accessible to a wide audience, but highly recommendable to book clubs seeking novels that will spark discussions about family, diversity, fate, and the origins of understanding and acceptance.
Vibrant with discovery, Boy With Wings is a winner.
Jane
Jamey Gittings
www.jameygittings.com
Attila Press
https://www.attilapress.com
9798992182712, $21.00 hc/$12.00 pbk/$8.00 ebook
In Jane, nineteen-year-old Jimmy reflects on Jane Deriksson, the mother of his girlfriend, with whom he's fallen in love. The literary quality of this reflection portends an excellent read which grows from the start.
The setting is New Jersey during the summer of 1967. The literary influence on the narrator's mind is Huckleberry Finn, a classic that has fueled his desire to be a notable published writer while co-opting the "disdain of Hemingway, Steinbeck, and Salinger" into his worldview, and the fact that he considers his education to be "undistinguished." A rebel and a truant who squeaked into graduation by the skin of his teeth, his sojourn to Long Beach Island for the summer leads to some unexpected forays into romance, intrigue, and self-discovery. Jimmy gathers material for his stories while probing the birth of the Jersey Devil, a gargoyle-like figure that is part of the Pine Barrons mythology which captures his reporter's eye for trouble. Think a blend of The Graduate and a coming-of-age story.
This drives Jimmy in unexpectedly fresh directions as he embraces the complexity of new adulthood while fielding the literary and social blows and snafus of growth. Jamey Gittings grows a thoroughly compelling story. Jane will especially attract readers interested in stories that sizzle with self-inspection, feature unexpected twists of plot, and embed the main character's psyche and evolution with descriptions that are alluringly forceful: It's amazing what you can get used to, and how fast you can get used to it. Things you thought were impossible become commonplace in no time - it is truly amazing. It was like that with Jane. All you needed was an injured cat and a hurricane, then you'd be laying naked next to the love of your life, all seeming natural. That was the bliss I experienced for two days in the hurricane on the Jersey shore. Jim and Huck (of Huckleberry Finn fame) intersect with Jimmy's observations in this story -- so seamlessly and fast that the bridge between fiction and literary reference sometimes blurs.
Readers of literature will thoroughly appreciate the references and allusions to classic writing which appear in droves throughout the novel as its plot and characters evolve. Libraries interested in contemporary coming-of-age sagas centered on one transformative summer's events and the shifting aspirations of a young man who falls in love and steps into his skills against all odds will find it easy to recommend Jane. It will especially intrigue book clubs seeking fiction that is compelling, refreshingly different, and filled with thought-provoking moments and encounters. Jane's compelling revelations and thought-provoking literary references produce a thoroughly engrossing hit that will engage an unusually disparate audience.
Sequins and Starlight
Margaret Porter
https://www.margaretporter.com
Gallica Press
https://gallicapress.com
9798985673463, $15.99
https://www.amazon.com/Sequins-Starlight-Margaret-Porter/dp/B0DSY5VJWS
Sequins and Starlight is a companion follow-up to Margaret Porter's invigorating novel A Change of Location, but since it is an adjunct and not a sequel, it will attract newcomers to the stage world as well as Porter's prior audience.
The new protagonist is Ellie (aka Stella Nue), who is in the process of closing her final performances at the Archway Cabaret Club at the end of her farewell tour. Burlesque is about to leave her life forever... and with it, the colorful, dramatic, bizarre and beautiful influencers of her life. Ellie's lasting legacy is an extensive product line of branded products. Commercials and endorsements will keep the income coming for years, fueling her retirement years. All seems set and conclusive... or, is it?
Once again, Porter brings to vivid life the world of stage personalities, behind-the-scenes political and social encounters, and even the ballet world that Ellie finds herself involved in. Hannah, the main character in A Change of Location, returns as an adjunct to Ellie's life, further expanding the perspectives and involvements of characters whose ties to entertainment are lasting and eye-opening. As Ellie finds herself not retiring, but transitioning into a different entertainment milieu, she fuels a forward momentum into the world of musical ballet which is a far cry from the risque milieu of burlesque.
Porter's ability to contrast these seemingly disparate entertainment interests allows readers to step (or dance, as the case may be) into and around the industry as a whole, with its casts, directors, production challenges, and personalities. The relationship that develops between Ellie and Dan Wheeler also adds a realistic and engrossing component as career, training, and personalities undergo sea changes and grow, professionally and personally, as a result. From the special strengths and backgrounds that can translate between seemingly disparate forms of entertainment and their audiences to the challenge of leaving behind one role to assume a very different position on and off stage, Porter's juxtapositions of personalities and worlds are nothing short of exquisite.
Libraries that reach for novels steeped in entertainment experiences and quandaries will find Sequins and Starlight a compelling story that stands nicely alone and draws its readers into the demanding world of stage production at all levels. Readers that choose Sequins and Starlight are in for a real treat, between its immersive descriptions, strong characterization, and challenges that emerge from unexpected arenas to contribute thought-provoking insights to a story that dances through new opportunities and old habits alike.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Periscope City
Ben Talbot
Current Words
www.currentwords.com
9781957224435, $15.99 pbk / $4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Periscope-City-Where-Lonely-Alone/dp/1957224436
Periscope City: Where the Lonely Go to Live Alone is a series of interconnected short stories that revolve around themes of connections lost and found. Thought-provoking black and white photos pepper this haunting collection of tales. They are each designed to both stand alone and join together growing pieces of the interlocked puzzle of individual psyche and society.
The collection opens with the title story 'Periscope City.' Thirty-four-year-old loner Joe sees a sign describing Periscope City, is intrigued by its subtitle and invitation, and finds himself in the Cramden Hotel, which has been designed for maximum isolation and minimum human contact. One thing about the lonely is that they can be both satisfied with their chosen state, yet tired of isolation. First-person narrator Joe thus accepts the possibilities of a dating app for loners, meets alluring fellow recluse Raylene, and finds his growing connection to her in direct conflict to his stated mandate in life: to avoid people and revel in his aloneness:
Stalking was the opposite of my worries. It was someone actually following me and desiring me that I wanted, but I also wanted my space. I didn't know what I wanted. Let's put it that way. When Raylene vanishes, his obsession over her grows. Ben Talbot excels at depicting a world both alien and familiar at the same time, employing descriptive insights that are refreshingly novel and captivatingly thought-provoking: ...the Lone Dragon allowed only one person at a time. I waited outside in the cold for the single customer to come out of the restaurant so that I could go in. One robot, as the restaurant staff, would bring out trays for the all-one-person-can-eat buffet and seemed to know how much I could eat. I cracked open a fortune cookie: You shall be alone forever. It didn't comfort me, so I cracked another one and another one. Each fortune was about loneliness. The robot kept bringing them, and I kept cracking them for something to show Raylene, if we were ever to meet again. All of the fortunes were too negative. The sliced oranges they came with had piled up to an awkward extent. I crammed the slices of orange on top of my leftover fried rice as best as I could and stuffed the last one in my mouth like a plastic smile.
Coming off of 'Periscope City,' the stage is set for further explorations of loneliness, aloneness, and situations that challenge both as different characters emerge, sporting their unique backgrounds that intersect isolation and connection. 'A Word from My Sponsor' creates a different situation, for example, in which Ian, raised outside of Periscope City "before it became a thing," struggles with AA, a new sponsor, and the odd lure of Periscope City: I passed a movie theater, where an animatronic doll in a tuxedo watched me from a box office. Creepy. How could I ever adapt to a town that looked like an amusement park for loners?
Each short story features a different perspective on Periscope City's concept and incarnation. Each adds further depth and revelation to situations where many of the characters begin question their sanity. Talbot's compilation blends elements of speculative fiction with psychological examination and reflections on oddballs who navigate their lives in unusual ways. This approach will prompt rich book club discussions about all kinds of subjects, sparking intense satisfaction in thinking readers who will relish the juxtaposition of fiction and philosophical life inspections.
Libraries that choose Periscope City: Where the Lonely Go to Live Alone for their collections will find it especially highly recommendable to book clubs seeking short stories that are accessible, connected by Periscope City, and filled with lively inspections that will provoke many a discussion. Periscope City's vibrant, lively "aha" moments are novel and delightful attractions that make this book stand out from the crowd.
A Time of Your Choosing
Gordon MacKinney
Trailmark Media
9798985736830, $11.99 Paperback/$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Time-Your-Choosing-Gordon-MacKinney/dp/B0DPJBMYFP
A Time of Your Choosing is a speculative fiction novel steeped in issues of assisted suicide. Though this topic might prove challenging for sensitive readers, the manner in which Gordon MacKinney develops his story is designed to appeal on many different levels of philosophical, moral, and psychological inspection. As such, A Time of Your Choosing is far more accessible than other fictional representations of this topic.
Readers anticipating the inclusion of religious thought should know that this perspective is not part of MacKinney's bigger picture. A Time of Your Choosing's contrast of disparate viewpoints is meant to encourage readers and book club discussion groups to reflect on different aspects of assisted suicide, both in practice and in theory.
The story opens with Ketch Immer's assignment by his father to take dog Reggie to the vet for his final journey. Ketch never asked for this task -- but here he is. The dog had been the father/son company's mascot for some fourteen years, gracing the halls of Immer Funereal and Statuary Services. Little does Ketch know that his father's choice to put the old dog to sleep rather than treating it will lead on bigger-picture questions about assisted suicide's concept, methodology, and possible ethical conundrums.
By opening his story with a dog's fate, MacKinney makes the entire potentially challenging subject gently accessible. In making his protagonist a participant in the death industry, further complexity is introduced as issues move from dog to man, miring the protagonist in questions that he'd set aside even given his close professional relationship with death. From the start, intriguing questions arise about the assisted death process featured in this novel - questions that lead to moral and ethical inspection by readers, in turn: ...once the countdown begins, only the client can stop it. No, technology wasn't the problem. The problem was the pre-procedure meeting with the client. The staff called it the exit interview, but that was shop talk, never spoken around the client. The official terminology was Interview in Preparation for Transition, or IPT.
Ketch had never conducted an IPT and never wanted to. What would he see in the client's eyes? Eyes say more than words, and without euphemisms. Eyes say love and hate and joy and misery. Ideally, the eyes during an IPT would show absolute certainty.
Complete faith.
But what if the eyes showed fear, as if the client were escaping something in this life? What if they showed uncertainty, as if the client's belief, even belief built over a lifetime like layers of lacquer, contained cracks? Fissures in faith. What would Ketch say? He wasn't allowed to dissuade. State licensing left no discretion. He was legally obligated to fulfill the client's wishes.
From the politics and regulations surrounding a future where assisted suicide is sanctioned and guarded by irrevocable processes to the funeral industry's central position in its aftermath, MacKinney raises many important issues. These deserve widespread attention and debate in all kinds of circles, from book club speculative fiction reading groups to social issues classrooms and debaters currently immersed in assisted suicide's ideals and threats. As the philosophy and perspective of 'Bridgers' who advocate for and participate in this sanctioned way of leaving evolves, readers continue to receive thought-provoking reflections: The freedom to die.
No, that wasn't fair. Bridgers did not believe they were dying, but rather relocating. And who could prove them wrong? No one. These develop as Ketch faces business challenges ranging from poor choices in trust to financial power plays, majority company control measures, and the industry monopoly that will come from the merging of two key companies.
The NEO technology which is at the heart of these opportunities and debates is vividly portrayed -- also a possible trigger for some readers, but of special interest to those who would consider just how assisted suicide is carried out.
Libraries interested in novels that do more than entertain, but embrace the depth of social, political, and psychological issues that swirl around life and death in general and the death industry in particular will welcome the strength, vivid characters, and equally compelling dilemmas presented in A Time of Your Choosing. It's a milieu in which nothing is set in stone, simple, or without its moral and ethical quandaries. These questions will delight thinking readers who hold opinions or ideals about assisted suicide.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Triangle of Blood
Bob Richards
Ukiyoto Publishing
www.ukiyoto.com
9789361727887, $25.25 Hardcover/$14.50 Paperback
https://www.amazon.com/Triangle-Blood-Bob-Richards/dp/9361727885
Triangle of Blood is a challenge to categorize. The initial impetus is to feature it under 'Thriller' because its nonstop action and espionage intrigue creates a story typical of the genre. But, to peg this story as a thriller alone would be to do it a disservice -- there is so much more of value that will appeal to a wider range of readers, from historical fiction and Caribbean island enthusiasts to readers seeking global romps and political encounters that sizzle with action.
The setting opens in Bermuda, where a cat-and-mouse game of Cold War has elevated the region's political attractiveness to both Russia and the U.S. The Americans are up to something there, with a new sound technology being tested in the region. The Russians are hard at work trying to uncover these hidden actions, but as intrigue spreads from Bermuda to California, London, and beyond, a crisis builds that threatens the world with nuclear holocaust.
The atmosphere of Bermuda comes alive under Bob Richards' pen, likely because he's from Bermuda and has the country's culture and history well under his belt. The novel's personal points and observations thus add depth to the intrigue portion to bring the evolving events to life as Bermuda moves from a small insignificant outpost in World War II to assume center stage in world affairs, becoming an important early-warning post during the Cold War. The real evolution of SOFAR technology and the men, women, and nations that were involved in its development and deployment emerges in an exciting stream of action and counter-response which propels the story into thoroughly engrossing territory.
A prologue introduces tension from the start with the murder of a charter boat captain and the distress call that leads a SOFAR T-Boat to respond to the killers. Intrigue grows as events move from this individual case into the world of electrical engineering PhD student Jack Bessemer and his fiancee Evelyn. They become increasingly involved in political affairs and situations that test their mettle and expand their horizons.
Richards is especially strong at injecting historical facts into a novel which also explores psychological connections between sometimes-disparate characters. Points of view shift from Russian to American interests and beyond, creating a multifaceted examination where no one nation's perspective assumes a central role. The tension is well-developed, satisfying twists and turns that play out on an international area provide hard to predict and delightful to absorb, and a wide cast of characters juggle their own special interests and motivations with broader perceptions of social and political connection.
At the heart of events is Bermuda's journey into world affairs as the country evolves under the hands of special interests that would take advantage of its geographical locale to further their own objectives. The dialogues between characters cement these viewpoints and comment on the forces at work both within their own systems and in opposing forces, creating tense, realistic reflections about walking the line between peace and World War III: "Comrade Kapitan, what is the meaning of this message? What ships are these, and what cargo do they carry that is so important?"
"I don't know, comrade, I don't know. We've been down here dodging the Americans for five months. I have no idea what's happened in the world since we've been submerged. Obviously, something very bad has happened and it involves Cuba." Then he paused and scowled at Popov. "But here's what I do know. I know that Red Banner Northern Fleet Command knows the capability and weapons onboard this boat - that we have "special" missiles and a "special" torpedo aboard. If we have to use that special torpedo to prevent the Americans from boarding either the Indigirka or the Berdyansk then we might be starting World War III. Perhaps it's already started, but I think not, because our orders would be specifically about launching our missiles."
Libraries and readers interested in dialogues and events that embrace both confrontation and transformation, and especially in historical precedents laid down for evolving countries as small as Bermuda which hold suddenly-strategic positions important to future goals, will find Triangle of Blood not just a fine sequel to its predecessor, Triangle of Treason, but an excellent standalone read. The novel's key explorations of the Caribbean in general and Bermuda in particular makes it an essential choice for fiction readers that look for engrossing plots, realistic characters, and events based on a history that comes alive through Richards' vivid presentation of fast and possibilities.
Mayhem on Mulberry
Vincent deFlippo
ViennaRose Publishing
9781960299567, $19.99 Paperback/$7.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Mayhem-Mulberry-Book-Rise-East/dp/1960299565
Mayhem on Mulberry, the first book in the Rise of the East series, blends romance and crime in a most astute, intriguing manner as New York City teeters into an AIDS epidemic in 1990. Even the dominant Italian Mafia is not immune to change and attack as rival ethnic gangs erode its power and control.
Enzo DeCarlo is a Mafia figure who observes that the empire he's set to inherit is crumbling. Some of these changes are happening within the crime syndicate's structure, as exemplified when Enzo encounters Chinese crime family daughter Jen Mo Li, falls in love with her, then must reassess his changing position in the crime community, as a result.
This isn't just a story of star-crossed lovers, as readers might anticipate. It also becomes one of vengeance and pain as Jen's brother is murdered (supposedly by Enzo), which impacts their relationship as heavily as their initial attraction.
Vincent deFlippo excels at drawing astute connections between seemingly disparate characters holding special interests that dovetail in unexpected ways. Spiraling events and discoveries challenge Jen's assumptions and role: Once again, her life had changed around her, leaving her in the dark when it came to vital information, such as from what quarter she should expect attack. Another big plus to the story is its discussions and incarnations of empowerment which both Jen and Enzo experience in disparate ways. deFlippo fully explores the political and psychological marriage between power plays and emotions, presenting his evolving story in such a way that readers will walk alongside the characters that step into new opportunities and possibilities: Jen wanted to laugh out loud. This was what it felt like to be in the driver's seat. To take control. She celebrated the dark revelation, and she feared it. She hadn't striven to manipulate, merely to not be the victim of manipulation. But this...
From sexual conquests to assassination attempts that revise the perspectives of all involved, deFlippo creates a living, breathing work of discovery. Many a reader won't see these twists and turns coming. Call it a romance, a tale of mob relationships and social change, or a crime novel of intrigue, as you will. What remains clear is that libraries that choose Mayhem on Mulberry for their collections will find it easy to recommend to a wide cross-section of readers in all these genres, plus those who seek a moving, thoroughly engrossing story. Individuals who come across it in their own pursuits of memorable, engrossing stories will relish its swift action and solid characterization.
Cold Warrior
Robert Tucker
Wise Words Publishing
c/o Tell-Tale Publishing LLC
9781952020315, $4.95 eBook/$34.00 Paperback
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DR6LGQH5
Cold Warrior's engrossing story of political intrigue opens in 1957, where Soviet moles Vasily Kerenski and his wife Nadia are assigned to move to America and have children born there so they will be American citizens. Directed to become citizens themselves and assimilate into American society (but they are to teach their children English and Russian) the implants employed by the KGB don't know the end result of their mission - just that their lives depend upon following orders and keeping their Russian involvements secret. So far, the move from Russia to Canada and then the U.S. has been good for them. There's no reason to believe these plans will result in diminished lives. Robert Tucker weaves real history and political perspectives into his story that add value for their insights and facts about the times:
Since Nikita Khrushchev had become Premier, Soviet life had changed. He had brought reconciliation and healing to the people oppressed by Stalin, released those imprisoned during the Great Purges and restored them to a liberalized society that encouraged and supported freedom of expression in the arts and literature, music and poetry, and in clothing fashions. This background gives readers basic knowledge that supports the unfolding events and confrontations, making the choices faced by the characters both logical and understandable. As trade embargos, company subsidies and involvements, and clandestine field agents on both sides emerge and clash, readers are treated to a thoroughly engrossing cat-and-mouse game of politics and special interests which brings the story alive and makes for riveting reading.
Another plus is how Tucker builds characters with disparate interests and abilities, contrasting their strengths against the bigger picture of global interactions and subterfuge. Many of those assigned to solve problems are actually contributing to them, such as field agent Roger Laekin: Although Roger Lakein's assignment was to solve the mystery, his own personal secret agenda was to distort the situation and the information coming from South American countries and discover that nothing was out of the ordinary. Many characters come with surprising backgrounds, such as movie director Michael Sloan, who becomes involved with Kasia, Vasily and Nadia's daughter. Her advocacy for solar and wind-powered energy over nuclear choices leads her to become a speaker against unregulated multinational corporations. This places them both in the crosshairs of danger and change as she pursues political activism in addition to being an actress.
Tucker doesn't ignore social undercurrents, but explores them in a manner that adds further insights and believability to the story: Everything she did to convince the public she was ordinary only served to convince them she was anything but ordinary. They did not want her to be ordinary. She was a movie actress, a goddess symbol, and only became more so despite what she said to deny that perception. A myriad of subplots involving others evolves against the backdrop of political and social special interests that successfully reflect the complexity and entwining of global influences in America.
Tucker creates a story that is vivid, accepts and presents facts about the times, and weaves action based on revelation and encounters such as kidnapping to spin a fine thriller that is satisfyingly unpredictable.
Libraries seeking stories of different forms of battle and connections that sport a thriller countenance but embed it with historical observations will welcome Cold Warrior's astute ability to prove thoroughly engrossing as well as educational. Its fine blend of facts and can't-put-it-down shifting scenarios lends to a complex and completely engaging read that will attract a wide audience, from thriller and political history readers to those looking for a powerfully captivating story.
The Final Account
Jeff Cooper
Red Adept Publishing, LLC
https://RedAdeptPublishing.com
9781958231616, $15.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Final-Account-Jeff-Cooper/dp/1958231614
The Final Account opens with Tom Nelson assuming the role an estate executor for newly deceased Samuel Heller. He's standing opposite of Kyle Stone, who continues to hold him in thrall because many con operations could not be conducted without Tom's expertise. Even though Tom's nearing retirement, apparently there are few escape routes from previous nefarious connections and expertise. Robbing from the newly deceased is no light crime of opportunity, but traverses moral and ethical quandaries that become personal.
Kyle holds no hesitation about doing so, but Tom balks. His job in a new firm was supposed to distance him from this former world: Joining the firm was supposed to mark his final break from his dealings with all of this. The new firm was supposed to be a fresh start, where he could transition his clients to his partners before drifting off into an uneventful retirement. Instead, it only draws Jack Collins into Tom's life when Jack's senior partner in his struggling new law firm turns out to be walking on the dark side of the law.
By opening with Tom's dilemma and connections he cannot seem to escape, Jeff Cooper leads readers into treacherous territory in which good intentions rapidly devolve into old patterns of deception. In this case, Tom draws Jack onto his turf in unexpected ways. When Jack catches him embezzling money from the deceased's estate, he doesn't realize that this is only the tip of an iceberg of dangerous precedence and deadly associations.
Cooper's ability to build and then meld the life experiences of two men who approach the world in very different ways adds an undercurrent of not just intrigue, but moral inspection to the story, which thriller readers will find captivating. The thought-provoking moments of revelation that emerge from their newfound association and discoveries test many facets of Jack's approach to crime-busting. They also entwine with rising threats and tension as a bigger conspiracy involving Connecticut's elite emerges to present Jack with further dilemmas about how to approach the rich with accusations that could place his life in danger.
Community connections, subterfuge, and a web of associations that prove nearly impossible to break give thriller readers the type of exquisite tension they relish from the best reads of the genre. Jack, Kyle, and Tom wind up in a dangerous dance that seems endless and irresolvable. This will delight seasoned thriller audiences adverse to plots that are too predictable. There's nothing staid or stale about Cooper's story. Jack's dilemma increases the more he discovers, with no easy outs or answers.
As political ambition and legal probate operations come enter the fray, readers will appreciate the many layers of complexity that drive a powerful story of how deeply Jack needs (or wants) to shake Connecticut's social, business, and political structures. How he will solve such issues without threatening his professional life or personal safety? The events ring with an authenticity and attraction that makes the book nearly impossible to put down: "Okay, go on. What does Jack know? Did you give him any names?"
Something was wrong. This guy should be asking about the money, about Kyle, about the wires. But he wasn't. It was almost as if he already knew all of that. Oh, shit. A wave of nausea overcame him as he broke out into a cold sweat.
Libraries that choose The Final Account for its promise of a fast pace and intrigue that spreads in many directions will find it easy to recommend to thriller audiences - and also to book clubs seeking thrillers steeped in moral, political, and ethical conundrums that are ripe for group discussion.
Lucky Duck
Mike Garretson
Torchflame Books
www.torchflamebooks.com
c/o Top Reads Publishing LLC
9781611535099, $18.99 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Duck-mall-80s-dog/dp/1611535093
Few authors can pair comedy and crime like Mike Garretson, as demonstrated in his novel Lucky Duck. Nor do they create such appealingly flawed characters as new college grad Joel, who thought he had a life successfully worked out with his girlfriend and job, only to lose the girlfriend and the job. Both circumstances place him in the unenviable position of remaining a shoe salesman despite his college education. His concerned father pushes Joel to do better. And so he does.
Perhaps robbing the mall's bank on the night of Black Friday wasn't what his father had intended; but it sure raises Joel's possibilities for his future in unexpected ways that readers will find delightfully humorous. An important thing to know about Joel is that he considers himself lucky. He could fall in a dung heap and emerge smelling like roses... usually. Will his luck hold out?
Garretson develops a story packed with unexpected logic and many twists and turns. Set in the 1980s, it captures the full flavor, ironies, and events of the times while remaining true to building engaging characters and crime scenarios. These contribute to a spree packed with social, psychological, and legal reflections.
Garretson grounds these considerations in Joel's family history, farm experiences, and the dichotomy of living in two worlds: Living all spread out in the country is just a way of life where you feel like you are part of the land. You're connected to nature until the school bus shows up in the morning, then you are back to real life. As Joel pursues happiness at all costs, he is forced to consider the price of choices and consequences which are not always mired in upbringing, family values, and the norm.
This notion will spark intriguing thoughts and book club discussions alike as crime and growth marry with intrigue and revelation in unexpected ways. Readers seeking a crime-based story filled with engrossing moments of reflection will relish Lucky Duck's ability to depart from the genre's typical formulaic writing style to venture into satisfyingly unexpected territory.
Libraries will find Lucky Duck especially accessible, highly recommended reading for patrons who love a good story, well-developed characters, and insights about misguided influences that dictate different outcomes than can be found in the usual staid crime novel.
Puppied to Death
C.B. Wilson
https://cbwilsonauthor.com
Dog Tales Furever
9781964056043, $13.99
https://www.amazon.com/Puppied-Death-Mystery-Barkview-Mysteries/dp/1964056047
Puppied to Death joins the other cozy mysteries in C.B. Wilson's 'Barkview' series, exploring a puzzle tackled by humans and dogs alike. One of the humans is Maryann Ohana's daughter Cat, a savvy sleuth whose visit to her Hawaiian family results, perhaps predictably, in a new case. Mystery unfolds from the start as a jet-lagged Cat fails to make a decision supporting her own safety: Note to self: Ask the guy at the airport holding the sign with your name on it who sent them before you get into the back seat of his SUV.
In retrospect, I should've known better. Indeed. The fact that the vehicle is equipped for a kidnapping quickly leads Cat to understand she's in danger. What she doesn't comprehend is who could be threatening her. The death of a notable tea sommelier and the discovery of his body by her half-sister Lani draws Cat into a Hawaiian community beset upon by a seeming myth come to life. In short order, Lani vanishes and Cat's kidnapping delivers a clue (and a threat) that immerses her in yet another case. Ironically, Cat wonders, as she sizes up the nonstop events that began upon her landing in Hawaii: Would my husband believe that none of this was my fault?
The story is delivered steeped in the alluring flavor of Hawaiian culture, meals, and atmosphere. Anyone who has been to Hawaii will relish these moments, as they compliment the dog-centric focus and events that create further conundrums and puzzles. Newcomers to the many other books in the Barkview series which profiled Cat's unusual cases need have no prior familiarity with them (or Cat) in order to appreciate how this latest conundrum evolves. The standalone component of Puppied to Death gives it an attraction that will widely appeal to many cozy mystery audiences, whether they are interested in Hawaii, dogs, or murder mysteries.
Family connections and characters emerge as a powerful adjunct to Cat's problem-solving abilities. These result in a whirlwind of events and discoveries that lead in unexpected directions while building community ties amidst the alluring backdrop of Hawaii.
Libraries either seeing popularity with the other series titles or looking for a standalone cozy mystery involving Hawaii, dogs, and dilemmas will relish the warm, compelling lures and mouthwatering flavors of Puppied to Death: "Come. We've found another clue on the Mahjong helpline." We obediently followed Auntie Mae's finger crook.
The distinctive aroma of roasting taro leaves encouraged me not to delay. "Is the Lau lau chicken almost ready?"
"Almost. I'll serve while you look over the tiles." Not hard to interpret Auntie's grin. Bribed with Lau lau chicken worked for me. Its ability to build upon the unexpected while embracing the rich heritage of family and community that make up Hawaii translates to a vivid, attractive read that's hard to put down and easy to recommend.
Regardless of the Consequences
L.D. Lauritzen
Independently Published
9798533918152, $10.00 Paperback/$2.99 eBook/$0.99 Audiobook
https://www.amazon.com/Regardless-Consequences-L-D-Lauritzen/dp/B09C3D59VS
"You walk the line between white and Apache, and only you can choose your path."
Fans of police procedurals that look for mysteries steeped in shifting investigative processes and discoveries will find Regardless of the Consequences a satisfying study in contrasts. It juxtaposes Sheriff Lance Tallbear's mandate to uphold the law with a crime that alters his beliefs and knowledge.
The event is a plane crash in the Superstition Mountains -- his territory. His partnership with FBI agent Brad Hanley leads to quandaries for both as they probe what really happened, each other, and their individual troubled inspections of life. Crash victim skeletons provide them with insights about what really happened, but the truth (and the perp) is so unbelievable that each investigator finds his traditions and modus operandi thoroughly shaken -- especially when it becomes evident that uncovering the truth also brings the threat right into their homes and hearts.
L.D. Lauritzen does an exceptional job of creating contrasts in psyches, objectives and white and Native American worlds and belief systems. The conundrum created by police procedures actually reveals too many dangerous facts and ideas that move well beyond a simple whodunit examination. Lauritzen's special talent lies in detailing Native culture, a family buffeted by fine lines between worlds, and the weight of Tallbear's mandated legacy: to become the future shaman of his people.
These threads emerge against the backdrop of greater concerns in a manner that immerses readers in Native perspectives, the dichotomies between worlds and between life and death decision-making, and the moral and ethical dilemmas that stem from participating in a democracy: "The records say you're an honorable man, Sergeant Tallbear, a man of your word. I see you turned down a battlefield commission in Iraq and left the service. If I might ask, why?" I questioned we were doing the right thing there," Tallbear said. "And felt we shouldn't be a party to someone's civil-war."
Another strong plus to the tale is its satisfying focus on unexpected developments that build tension, construct exciting scenarios, and embrace heart-stopping moments of confrontation. These move in unexpected directions to completely involve Regardless of the Consequences's audience.
Libraries seeking thrillers that reflect the force of Native American culture, feature an investigator who doesn't always operate within normal Western parameters of questioning, and builds an evolving deep mystery that keeps readers guessing to the end will completely enjoy the characters and unexpected truths that drive Regardless of the Consequences into novel territory. These features also lend to the book's high recommendation to book clubs and reading circles interested in debates about ethical and cultural consequences of choices and decisions: "Before this case started, I was questioning my life and who I was. I came to realize my heart will always be with The People, but the law will always walk in my boots."
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Quasi-Crystal
J.D. Rasch
www.JDRasch.com
Lamina Press
9781962247023, $17.99 Paperback/$.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Forest-Book-Two-Wanderer/dp/1962247023
The Quasi-Crystal, the third book in The Wanderer series, pairs gem cutter Theb's discovery with the new and as-yet unsettled atmosphere of peace that has descended on Bracat since the Moment allowed everyone's minds to connect with one another.
Theb's strange crystal leads to equally odd dreams about a woman (Ran-Dhal) calling for help on an unknown, mist-shrouded island. It turns out that he's not the only one receiving this plea, and so he joins forces with an unlikely trio of former ne'er-do-wells to embark on the journey of a lifetime.
J.D. Rasch delivers all the usual trappings of a superior fantasy (magic, mayhem, a quest, and a question) but couches these themes in bigger-picture thinking about enlightenment, connection, and life purpose. This gives readers an opportunity to better appreciate Theb's dilemmas, which evolve in the course of making difficult decisions not just to rescue, but transform others.
"This is where the wizards have gone wrong. They seek the Tree without seeking understanding." Roots of enlightenment evolve during an eventful sojourn that draws four disparate characters together in the journey of a lifetime. These events hold meaning for modern times, too - but perhaps this isn't an intentional move by Rasch, because many of the wise inspections could apply to any moment in time: "Their message is of understanding, of compassion. What is not fundamental about that?" Tiox said.
Lefi replied, "You are correct, Tiox. What they preach is fundamental. But the problem is that they preach." Telepathy holds its pros and cons. While peace is the first major benefit, the Moment also poses dilemmas that the wanderers and the people of Bracat have yet to realize and confront.
Rasch weaves all these elements of personal, political, and social discovery into an action-packed series of encounters designed to keep readers engaged and thinking. This flavors The Quasi-Crystal with a satisfying depth, containing the ability to appeal both to leisure readers of magic and adventure and those who look for deeper underlying themes for thought-provoking reading. Another plus is that while prior familiarity with the series is recommended, it's not an absolute requirement for newcomers who stumble into The Quasi-Crystal without prior series knowledge.
Libraries that choose The Quasi-Crystal for its powerful blend of contemplative transformations and action-driven scenarios will find it a worthy fantasy collection addition, indeed. It's vibrant, fast-paced, and driven by memorable characters and circumstances that are often satisfyingly unpredictable.
The Poetry Shelf
Harmony River
Stephen Jaech
Pleasure Boat Studio
https://pleasureboatstudio.com
9798990335813, $18.00
https://www.amazon.com/Harmony-River-Stephen-Jaech/dp/B0DMYRJ8WP
Harmony River is a poetry collection gleaned from the culture and wilderness of the Pacific Northwest and its major poetic influencers. Stephen Jaech's efforts are steeped in the literary traditions of such names as Theodore Roethke and Pablo Neruda. These roots come to light through poetry that vividly embraces nature and philosophical reflection while paying subtle tribute to these literary predecessors. One example lies in the poem opening the collection,
"Enduring Grace":
Before words appeared on vellum,
before moonlight shone on river ripples,
before hoofprints tamped tracks on mudflats where deltas
adjoined seas, even before chants
rose from clans squatting
near driftwood bonfires,
it lay dormant like bone marrow stem...
The free verse creates intricate connections between nature and human affairs in a manner that will simply delight creative writing teachers, fellow poets, and literature students seeking contemporary poetry collections that represent the intersection of natural history and human affairs. Jaech is especially adept at capturing moments in time and experience, as in:
"Deep Darkness Grows Darker":
End of a rural road, close to an abandoned
cowshed, I duck through a gap in barbed
wire and walk across windswept fields.
On grazing land, miles from city lights
and ballparks, beyond up-lit billboards,
I merge with a pasture and a sweep of sky.
These "you are here" creations are powerful observations which also juxtapose human and natural abodes in an intriguing style, as in "Other Side of the Door," where:
This atrium swallows sound.
Scuffed by generations of foot-
steps, the oak flooring reflects
a tinge of pewter light winnowing
through a frosted glass transom,
crescent moon, above an ironwood door.
What's on the other side?
Readers and libraries seeking infusions of nature, human affairs, and the connections that lie between them, whether physical or emotional, will relish the opportunity to appreciate Harmony River. Steeped in literary tradition, influenced by other major poets, and delivered in an accessible free verse style designed to appeal to a wide audience, Harmony River stands head and shoulders above many other contemporary poetry collections with its special brand of nature-infused, thought-provoking inspections.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
www.midwestbookreview.com
Diane C. Donovan, Editor & Senior Reviewer
12424 Mill Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
phone: 1-707-795-4629
e-mail: donovan@sonic.net
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