Showing posts with label murder mystery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label murder mystery. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Released Today "Little Boy Lost" a Racially Charged Thriller




Attorney Justin Glass is the scion of the first family of St. Louis politics, but depression and the death of his wife have reduced him to working for pennies in a ramshackle law office on the decaying North Side. Pennies are all that eight-year-old Tanisha Walker has to offer when she walks into Glass’s empty office one day, asking him to take up the case of her missing brother. Glass’s half-hearted inquiries turn up empty—until his contact at the St. Louis Police Department calls with the grisly news. Devon Walker’s murdered body has been found mangled in the woods—along with 12 other black teenagers, all discarded like trash in a mass grave. 

The timely thriller LITTLE BOY LOST (Thomas & Mercer; On-sale August 1st, 2017) tells the all-too-familiar story of a community in pain and a legal system that doesn’t work for them. When the police show indifference, the families of what the media is calling the “Lost Boys” have no one to turn to but their overwhelmed lawyer. But Glass has his hands full with his own family life, which is blowing up before him. His father, St. Louis’s long-serving congressman, returns home to announce that he is retiring—and wants Justin to succeed him, betraying the arrangement that had been long planned by his politically ambitious brother, Lincoln. Glass must sort out his feelings in his turbulent yet dispassionate extramarital affair with an old friend—who also happens to be the sitting mayor of St. Louis. And as he trains his attention elsewhere, Glass’s headstrong daughter, Sam, begins rebelling at school, in ways that threaten to become a political liability.

After years of standing still, Glass must now act in order to survive. As rumors about his political campaign spill out into the open, he finds that he has become a vessel for the pent-up grievances of St. Louis’s inner city. Clients pack into his previously empty office with stories of being wrongfully accused of crimes—their uncomfortable truths as ignored by the white establishment as the fate of the Lost Boys. As Glass maneuvers a justice system stacked against the black community, he grows increasingly distrustful of his allies of convenience in the city government. Is their plodding investigation into the Lost Boys murders the result of racial prejudice...or a cover-up of an inside job? As police violence descends upon his community—and even Glass himself—he takes the investigation into his own hands. With the help of an alluring, whip-cracking assistant and a shady computer programmer, Glass stares down the twin dangers of a vengeful political machine and a merciless killer who knows Glass is on his tail. Feeling the heat from all sides, Glass resorts to one last desperate gambit that could destroy his personal life, shatter his professional ambitions, and endanger the very people he is trying to save.


On Amazon

In a city divided and broken, this revelation will set it on fire…
Attorney Justin Glass’s practice, housed in a shabby office on the north side of Saint Louis, isn’t doing so well that he can afford to work for free. But when eight-year-old Tanisha Walker offers him a jar full of change to find her missing brother, he doesn’t have the heart to turn her away.
Justin had hoped to find the boy alive and well. But all that was found of Devon Walker was his brutally murdered body—and the bodies of twelve other African American teenagers, all discarded like trash in a mass grave. Each had been reported missing. And none had been investigated.

As simmering racial tensions explode into violence, Justin finds himself caught in the tide. And as he gives voice to the discontent plaguing the city’s forgotten and ignored, he vows to search for the killer who preys upon them.



J.D. Trafford on Goodreads

J.D. Trafford is an award-winning author whose books have topped numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including reaching #1 on the Legal Thrillers list. He has been named “a writer of merit” by Mystery Scene magazine, and IndieReader selected his debut novel, No Time to Run, as a bestselling pick. Trafford graduated with honors from a top-20 law school, and he has worked as a civil and criminal prosecutor and as a nonprofit attorney, where he handled issues of housing, education, and poverty.



J.D. Trafford is the author of the 'No Time' legal thrillers


These books are all free with Kindle Unlimited.
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Monday, July 17, 2017

(REVIEW) A Merciful Death by Kendra Elliot


A Merciful Death

(Mercy Kelpatrick Book 1)




Author: Kendra Elliot
Category: Mystery & Suspense
Suitable for: Adults
My Rating: 4 Stars
Format Read for Review: Kindle
Pages: 353


Description:  Mercy is an FBI agent that is sent on an assignment to investigate multiple murders. The town in which the murders occur just happens to be the town that Mercy grew up in. Mercy grew up in a small town with a family of disaster preppers. A tragic event happens and Mercy's father kicked her out of the home. Mercy struggles with keeping the secret of her past and seeing her family members for the first time since then, while also trying to solve the murders. Much to Mercy's shock she's not the only one keeping secrets.


In Short: This is a suspenseful murder mystery book that at times was a little scary.


Pros: This book was suspenseful and kept me wanting to find out what was going to happen next.


Cons: Although the main character (Mercy) was likable enough most of the characters were actually very unlikable. Some of the characters actions didn't make any sense and left me feeling frustrated.


Parent's Guide: This book contains violence/abduction/rape and swearing. This book is for adults only.


At the time of posting this book is free with Amazon Prime! If you don't have prime click here: to Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial. I love prime because it comes with free music, books and I get to watch movies and TV shows for free!



Saturday, January 28, 2017

Dizzy in Durango (REVIEW)



Dizzy in Durango

Andy Veracruz Mystery #3 



Author: D.R. Ransdell
Category: Murder Mystery Suspense Thriller
Suitable for: 17+*
My Rating: 5 Stars
Format Read for Review: Paperback copy from the Author
Pages: 214

Description: Set in both Mexico and Arizona this story takes a while ride that begins with good ol' Andy watching a woman's bag for her. When she disappears and he is left holding her mysterious bag he is unwittingly thrown into another adventure looking for two missing women. The mystery takes deadly turns and Andy and his friends find themselves trying to not only find the missing women but also reunite stolen children with their family all while avoiding a very dangerous and powerful person.

In Short: This is a great series for mystery novel lovers. I found "Dizzy in Durango" to be more of a suspenseful thriller than the previous book. If you are looking for a very well written series with realistic characters look no further. Enjoy a good mystery while watching the slow natural development of Andy and Rachel's relationship and Andy's professional journey as a musician.

Another stunning tale by D.R. Ransdell.

Pros: Even though these books are part of a series they can be read alone! I read book 2, "IslandCasualty" before this one and absolutely loved it! It was also our Book of theMonth in July! That book gave me the background on Rachel and Andy and their relationship but pertinent details from past books are explained in this story, so you wont miss out. Although these books are all stand-alones if the series appeals to you, read it in order, you wont regret it! The story in this book was very different from "Island Casualty", showing that Andy's life is absolutely full of crazy twists and turns. The poor guy can't seem to go anywhere without murder following him. But it isn't all madness and peril for him! In this installment he auditions for a symphony and makes plans to start a life closer to his friend, lover and could-be-something-more, Rachel.

These books are incredibly detailed. Every setting is so well described that you feel like you are actually there. The cultures of the people in these places are also well highlighted. In this story you see a spotlight shone onto Machismo culture.    

Cons: I have no notable issues with this book. 

*Parent's Guide: Murder, gun violence, some language, alcohol, and brief sexual content.

Links:
D.R. Ransdell Official Site
Twitter
Dizzy in Durango on Amazon
Island Casualty on Amazon
D.R. Ransdell Guest Post


I was given a free copy of this book in return for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.






Monday, January 23, 2017

Book Spotlight - Schism (The Detective Mike Eiser Series Book 1)


Schism 

(The Detective Mike Eiser Series Book 1)





Description off Amazon:

Atlanta’s infamous Bowen Homes Projects is no place for children, especially two teenaged boys. If anyone knows, it’s Kat Thomas. The single mom has seen enough senseless death and broken dreams to last a lifetime, and she is seeking a different future in Poplar Bluffs.

But dark shadows fall on even the brightest futures.
“Mad Dog” Lincoln lives up to his name every day on the streets; never more so than the time he killed Kat’s fiancé to leave her broke, pregnant, and alone. Now, the Dog is demanding one of her sons as the newest recruit for his gang, the Raven’s Claws.

Kat is desperate to save her family from a life of crime, but a single mother is no match for a raging criminal like Mad Dog, whom even the police avoid. All but one, that is: Detective Mike Eiser. Determined to end Lincoln’s reign of terror once and for all, Eiser will soon discover that ruining Lincoln’s plans might just turn a mad dog rabid.




About the Author: 

Clabe Polk is into a second career as a fiction author. He has written two novels, several short stories, assorted screen plays and has a couple of novels in process. Mr. Polk has taken his professional experience in civil and criminal investigation combined with a scientific background, and a lifetime of practical skills and used them in action stories about real people using a tongue-in-cheek style all his own.


He currently lives in Powder Springs, Georgia with his wife, two daughters and the family’s cockerpoo named ‘Annie’.


Links:



Friday, October 21, 2016

BOOK MAIL - Dizzy in Durango by D.R. Ransdell



It's taken me too long to post this particular book mail but as it gets closer to the top of the pile I'm getting really excited to read it! 

At long last... Tah dah! 

Dizzy in Durango 

by D.R. Ransdell

Dizzy in Durango is another Andy Veracruz Mystery, this series can be read out of order. :)

D.R. Ransdell is an amazing author, that is why I am so psyched to read this novel! If you love mysteries you should check out my review of another one of her novels: Island Casualty. Island Casualty is such an immersive, realistic and beautiful read that it won Book of the Month July, 2016




Here is the Description for Dizzy in Durango:

 Dizzy in Durango An Andy Veracruz Mystery Missing women, abandoned children, and a crazy mariachi fan add up to further trouble for Andy Veracruz. After a fellow traveler disappears, he can’t concentrate on vacationing. Worse, he’s saddled with two children who aren’t his, an angry would-be girlfriend, and a self-appointed younger brother who is more reckless than he is. No wonder he starts seeing double!


Author Links:

Official Site
Twitter


Books by D.R. Ransdell Amazon links:

Mariachi Murder
Island Casualty
Dizzy in Durango


And remember, you could win a SIGNED copy of this book at 

A Bookish Halloween Giveaway Contest!



My review for Dizzy in Durango is just around the corner, stay tuned!



Sunday, October 2, 2016

Book Spotlight - A Can of Worms by Wayne Zurl

Recently released, Sept. 27, 2016:

(A Sam Jenkins Mystery Book 6)

by Wayne Zurl



Description:

Against his better judgment, Police Chief Sam Jenkins hires Dallas Finchum, nephew of local corrupt politicians.

Now, Finchum is accused of a rape that occurred when he attended college three years earlier.

The young man claims his innocence, but while investigating, Jenkins uncovers corruption in the local sheriff’s department, evidence that detectives mishandled the investigation and the loss of the entire case file. Sam meets one of the most distasteful characters of his career, a PI named Telford Bone, who claims to represent young Finchum. Trouble is, no one knows who hired the man.

False accusations, scandal, and extortion threaten to ruin Jenkins’ reputation and marriage unless he drops the investigation.

Based on real police incidents

Links:



Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Murder at Rough Point (REVIEW)




New Release! 


Murder at Rough Point

(A Gilded Newport Mystery)

 

Author:  Alyssa Maxwell
Category: Historical Fiction Murder Mystery
Suitable for: Teens+
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Format Read for Review: Kindle
Pages: 304

Description: Emma is an independent woman and journalist from Newport, RI in 1896. She tends to find herself surrounded by murders she must solve with the help of a police officer and friend, Jesse. Will she be able to solve these puzzling mysteries and will she fall in love along the way?

In Short: This is a great mystery novel full of clues and suspicious suspects who each have intriguing motives of their own. The cast is an eccentric crew of artists and nobles who all seem to have a love-hate relationship with one another.

Pros: This is a very good book. I am very impressed with both the writing and the story. I was worried about starting with this book when it isn't the first in the series but I had no reason to fear. It is a great stand-alone that requires you to know no back-story. I imagine you could read the series out of order and not miss out on anything. I liked the inventive style of the killings. It really made me wonder what kind of person would do that. The murders almost seemed to show resentment for the victim's individual style of art. The characters are such an odd bunch that every one of them could be a suspect. Even the opera singer has means, motive and opportunity and the ballet dancer is crazy! It doesn't help that this group of "friends" is at odds with each other. The protagonist is likable and overall the journey of this story is a fun one. It is very fast paced and never leaves you bored.

Cons: The ending fell flat for me. It unfortunately took that cliché mystery route where the crime isn't so much solved as revealed and the murderer/motive is a bit random. The killer's personality, motive, and clues against them are not revealed until the very end, unlike every other character. The bratty, deluded murderer and the artistic complexity of the murders don't match each other. So that disappointed me.

Parent's Guide: This book is a murder mystery so there is some violence and minor gore. There is no sex or swearing. 


I was given a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.
This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. Click on the images for buying options on Amazon.









Saturday, March 12, 2016

Guest Post by Author D.R. Ransdell

The following is a guest post by author: D.R. Ransdell
Author of: Mariachi Murder,  Island Casualty, and  The Secret Lives of the Pink House Cats: Prose Poems by Five Felines
Find her on twitter: https://twitter.com/dr_ransdell

Meeting the Unexpected

One of the priceless aspects of being an author is that I get to meet interesting people I wouldn’t have met otherwise. Sometimes such meetings are virtual: that’s how I met Simon (STRAY BULLET) Duringer, who interviewed me for his website. Last week I met Franci Washburn; we were doing a joint reading on musical mysteries at Antigone’s, a local, independent bookstore. The irony is that we both work for the same department at the University of Arizona!

But often I meet people who are even more unexpected. A month ago I contacted Antigone’s to see if they would carry my books. Sure, no problem. They would take copies on consignment, and all I had to do was to show up and sign the paperwork. It didn’t matter what time I went in; either way, all the necessary paperwork would be behind the desk.

Yet somehow I didn’t make it to Antigone’s. The store was less than two miles away, and I had a car. It was a store I enjoyed going to anyway--even though it’s one of those dangerous bookstores where you always find something you like. Yet day after day, I didn’t go. Oh, I didn’t have time before rehearsal. Oh, they might already be closed. Oh…. I had a wealth of excuses.

Now I understand why. I had some kind of weird universal clock that was ticking. When it finally went off, I headed for Antigone’s. As instructed, I asked the woman behind the desk about my paperwork.

“What was that last name again?” the woman asked.

“Ransdell. That’s R-A-N….”

“Did you say Ransdell?” a female customer asked enthusiastically. “How do you spell that?”

After I confirmed the spelling, she became practically joyous. “I’m a Ransdell too!”

My dad had always maintained that Ransdell was an English name. Although it’s a more common name now, it used to be that whenever we were traveling to a new city, my dad would check the local phonebook for other Ransdells. He hardly ever found one. Here, however, was a Ransdell standing right before me!
“Let me introduce my husband,” the woman grinned. “He’s the ‘real’ Ransdell.”

We exchanged information about our family histories. Keith’s relatives had come from Missouri. As far as I knew, mine had come from Illinois. I wasn’t too sure, however, and neither was Keith. I vowed to ask my dad for more details; Keith vowed to take a look at a few genealogical websites. Then we congratulated one another on our unusual names. Keith laughed about the way some people insisted on Rans-DALE instead of RAN-sdell. I shared my mirth over the many ways my students have chosen to misspell my name. Somehow the string of three consonants gets them into trouble. Thus I have been renamed everything from Ransted to Rendell.

Keith and I had a delightful conversation about our ancestors—both the ones we knew and the ones we could only guess about. And I was able to share information with them about the area. I learned from Keith that Ransdell meant Raven’s Dell. While I should have guessed at the etymology, I’d never actually thought about it before. Best of all, Keith’s wife was so excited to see her name in print that she bought one of my books.

Soon we parted ways, but I had learned two valuable lessons. One was that there is real joy in being an author and meeting people who otherwise would not have crossed your path. The other was that sometimes you procrastinate, unknowingly, for exactly the right reason. When you finally perform the task at hand, it might turn out to be the exact most perfect moment. I’ll never chide myself for procrastinating again!



Find her on twitter: https://twitter.com/dr_ransdell

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Island Casualty (REVIEW)

Island Casualty


Author: D.R. Ransdell
Category: Mystery
Suitable for: Teens+
My Rating: 5 Stars
Format Read for Review: Paperback
Pages: 243

Description: Andy Veracruz desperately needing a vacation accepts an invitation from a new friend to visit her in her home on a Greek island. His vacation should have consisted of swimming by day and visiting the taverna at night to hear the wonderful music of his friend. However, his trip doesn't go as planned and his life is threatened numerous times. He seems to be the only one concerned about the man who turned up dead on the first day of his trip, but that concern may just be the end of him.

In Short: This is a well paced mystery novel that goes as follows: it starts with excellent character development, then the plot takes an intriguing twist and you find yourself getting more and more curious as the story progresses, then it gets exciting and full of action, finally the mystery is solved in a whirlwind of surprises.   

Pros: The book is so descriptive and the characters are so well crafted that I completely lost myself in it by the middle. This is the first book that has so thoroughly sucked me in that I felt like everything was real. Even the conversations were genuine, especially between Rachel and Andy. In real life men and women often have a way of talking to each other where they aren't really understanding each other, it can be difficult to communicate and so much gets left unsaid. That is how this book is. It isn't phony, where everyone says the right things, makes grand romantic gestures and lives happily ever after. No, this book is real, from start to finish. I'm dying to know what happens between our heroes, Andy and Rachel, in the next book of the series.

Another great thing about this book is that it is a perfect stand-alone! You do not need to read the first book to know what is going on and you do not get left on a cliffhanger at the end. The conclusion is solid and satisfying and the only cliffhanger is what will Andy's life be like now, and what will Rachel do next. The mystery wraps up nicely and is almost suspenseful in its reveal. I was definitely happy with the resolution and didn't see that ending coming.

I'm blown away by the overall quality and fascinating story in this book and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery.

Parent's Guide: There are sexual references but the sex scenes are not described with any detail. Some violence (shooting guns), mild language. 

I was sent a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.


Find the author:








Sunday, March 6, 2016

Fur Ball Fever (REVIEW)

Fur Ball Fever

 Author:  Maureen Fisher
Category: Mystery & Romance
Suitable for: Adults
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Format Read for Review: Kindle
Pages: 298

Description: This book is both a steamy Romance novel and a Murder Mystery. The mystery is multi-leveled and unveiled as two characters work to solve different crimes that are all intertwined. The love story is passionate and the crimes are equally fascinating. It starts with the disappearance of a poodle and gets a lot more complicated from there.  

In Short: This book is exciting, fast paced, full of action and romance, and incredibly fun to read. I think primarily adult women, those who like both romance and mystery novels will find this a great read.

Pros: The characters are very well developed and quite likable. You get a vivid impression of their personalities, feelings, fears, backgrounds and so on. Everything is very believable and the love story doesn't fall into the trap of being cheesy. This story has a very satisfying ending and I appreciate that this is a perfect stand-alone book. I thought the mystery was good, not cliché, and not predictable. There is not much else I can say without giving away spoilers so I will just say overall I think it was a good story and I very much enjoyed reading this book.

Parent's Guide:  This book has swearing, some violence, drug reference, some kink and sex scenes.

I was given a free copy of this book for my honest review. 


Friday, June 6, 2014

Shore Excursion (REVIEW)

Shore Excursion (A Sidney Marsh Murder Mystery)

Author:  Marie Moore
Category: Mystery
Suitable for: Teens+
My Rating: 5 Stars
Format Read for Review: Kindle
Pages: 244

Description: This story is about a travel agent (Sidney) and her co-employee (Jay) that take a group of elderly people on a cruise.  Before leaving New York Sidney notices that someone is following her. Once arriving in England to catch the cruise ship the group of elderly travelers start experiencing the wrath of what is about to come. The group starts to get murdered one after the other. Sidney is the only one trying to find out who the killer is and she risks her life to stop them.

In Short: This is a great murder mystery with great characters. This book has many twists and turns and keeps you glued until the very end. A must read for fans of mystery novels.

Pros: I couldn't put this book down. It has interesting characters and a great setting. It also had some parts that had me laughing.


Cons:  I had no notable issues with this book. 

This book is currently $4.95 for the kindle version on Amazon. Find it here


Friday, May 30, 2014

My Formerly Dead Boyfriend (REVIEW)

My Formerly Dead Boyfriend

Author:  Stacy Ataree
Category: Mystery
Suitable for: teen thru adult
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Format Read for Review: Kindle
Pages: 120

Description: This story is about a girl whose boyfriend dies. While suffering from this loss he starts contacting her through her cell phone and computer. She wonders if she is  going crazy or if he is trying to warn her about something. She starts contacting him back only learn some disturbing things.

In Short: This is a great book with spooky ghost haunting and a lot of plot twists and surprises.

Pros: I couldn't put this book down. It has interesting, well developed characters. The mystery between the ghost and the people had me wondering what was going to happen next.

Cons: The author starts a lot of the sentences using the same word twice. The double word thing got a bit annoying.


Monday, May 26, 2014

Miz Scarlet and the Holiday Houseguests (REVIEW)

Miz Scarlet and the Holiday Houseguests (A Scarlet Wilson Mystery)

Author:  Sara Barton
Category: Mystery
Suitable for: Teens+
My Rating: 4 Stars
Format Read for Review: Kindle
Pages: 111

Description: This story is about a woman name Miz Scarlet that runs a bed and breakfast. She has a friend that needs help because her divorced parents are both flying in for Christmas and her work load as a detective for the police department is full. But things get much worse and Miz Scarlet and her friends must help.

In Short: This is a great book with great characters. I love the setting which is at a bed and breakfast at Christmas time.

Pros: The characters and setting are well crafted.


Cons: This book is a little drug out and not enough action. For the short length of the book the plot could have flowed better. 

This book is currently free on Amazon for the kindle edition. Find it here


Friday, May 23, 2014

Death by a Honeybee (REVIEW)

Death by a Honeybee (A Josiah Reynolds Mystery)

Author:  Abigail Keam
Category: Mystery
Suitable for: Teens+
My Rating: 4 Stars
Format Read for Review: Kindle
Pages: 223

Description: This book is about a mysterious death on the property of a Beekeeper. The beekeeper, Josiah, quickly becomes the prime suspect and must do her own investigation to find out who the real killer is.  

In Short: This is a great mystery novel that keeps you guessing until the end. This book is unique because it has elements of humor, some heart racing action, and even fun little tid-bits from history and interesting facts about bees. If you like mystery novels similar to the Murder She Wrote books you will love this book. This is also a very clean book (the language isn't too graphic and there is no sexual content). So if you prefer your mystery novels a little on the cleaner side you will appreciate this.

Pros: The main character is a very believable, real person. She is a middle-aged southern woman who is just trying to get by and not get framed for murder. The entire cast is well crafted. This book has a great, exciting ending and leaves you wanting to read the next book in the series. I enjoyed the conclusion with the killer and it even made me think about what I would have done in Josiah's shoes.

Cons: There are a few odd things in this book that didn't make a lot of sense. If you over think everything said in the book you can see the errors and get a bit annoyed. That being said I ignored these flaws and still thought it was a great book.


This book is currently free for the Kindle edition on Amazon. Find it here