December 2023 MBR The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Hercule Poirot's Silent Night
Sophie Hannah
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9780062991638, $30.00, HC, 384pp

https://www.amazon.com/Hercule-Poirots-Silent-Poirot-Mysteries/dp/0062991639

Synopsis: It's December 19, 1931. Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool are looking forward to a much-needed, restful Christmas holiday, when they are called upon to investigate the murder of a man in a Norfolk hospital ward. Cynthia Catchpool, Edward's mother, insists that Poirot stay with her in a crumbling mansion by the coast, so that they can all be together for the festive period while he solves the case.

As Poirot digs into the mystery, he discovers that the murdered man was a retired post office master, and by all accounts very well-liked. The local constabulary's investigation failed to uncover how someone could have entered a hospital room and killed him under the noses of the staff. Cynthia's friend Arnold is soon to be admitted to that same hospital, and his wife is convinced he will be the killer's next victim, though she refuses to explain why.

With no obvious motive or suspect, Poirot has less than a week to solve the crime and prevent more murders, if he is to escape from this nightmare scenario and get home in time for Christmas. Meanwhile, someone else (someone utterly ruthless) also has ideas about what ought to happen to Hercule Poirot.

Critique: Talented novelist Sophie Hannah brings back one of the legendary Agatha Christie's greatest detectives in a new and baffling 'whodunnit' Christmas murder mystery with the publication of "Hercule Poirot's Silent Night". Exceptionally well written and true to the original characterization of the Belgian detective, this new Hercule Poirot mystery will delight the legions of Poirot fans and prove to be an immediately welcome and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Hercule Poirto's Silent Majority" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212699174, $41.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Sophie Hannah (www.sophiehannah.com) is an internationally bestselling crime fiction writer whose books have sold millions of copies worldwide. Her crime novels have been translated into 49 languages and published in 51 countries. Her psychological thriller The Carrier won the Crime Thriller of the Year Award at the 2013 UK National Book Awards. In 2014 and 2016, Sophie published The Monogram Murders and Closed Casket, the first new Hercule Poirot mysteries since Agatha Christie's death, both of which were national and international bestsellers. She went on to publish a third, The Mystery of Three Quarters in 2018 which was an instant bestseller, and her fourth Poirot novel, Sophie helped to create a Master's Degree in Crime and Thriller Writing at the University of Cambridge, for which she is the main teacher and Course Director. She is also the founder of the Dream Author Coaching Programme for writers which launched in September 2019.

Rim of the Pit
Hake Talbot
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613164655, $15.95, PB, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Rim-Pit-American-Mystery-Classic/dp/1613164653

Synopsis: "I came here to make a dead man change his mind."

So begins a creepy and unusual mystery celebrated to this day as one of the greatest "impossible crime" novels of all time.

When a family's promise to protect the beloved pine grove of their dead father creates a financial strain, a seance is suggested to summon the ghost of the late logger and ask its permission. A mixed group of skeptics and believers convene at a snow-bound lodge to call the spirit with a group that includes a gambler, a businessman, a clairvoyant, a professor, and a refugee, among others. With so many diverse interests at the table, the tensions run high -- but when one of the participants ends up dead, there is reason to suspect that a nefarious spirit is to blame.

The body is discovered in a locked room, impenetrable from the outside -- just one of many bizarre and inexplicable circumstances surrounding the scene of the crime. There is also the trail of footprints in the snow, beginning and ending amid a field of untouched powder; another on the roof, with the tracks leading for a short distance before vanishing into nothingness; and, there are fingerprints on a gun suspended at an unreachable height...

Supernatural undertones and eerie atmosphere clear away in the third act to present a logical conclusion to the case, teasing out the clues and murder methods that unscrupulous readers may have missed. With its off-beat exposition, puzzling plot and exceptional prose, "Rim of the Pit" is a cult classic of the Golden Age era deserving of a wide audience today.

Critique: Another time-lost treasure brought back into print by American Mystery Classics for a new generation of appreciative readers, "Rim of the Pit" is an inherently fascinating, deftly crafted, and unreservedly recommended pick for community and college/university library traditional detective and amateur sleuth 'whodunnit' murder mystery collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery fans that "Rim of the Pit" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Hake Talbot was the pen name of the American writer Henning Nelms (November 30, 1900 - May 1986). Nelms reserved his real name for writing non-fiction about showmanship (his chief occupation was as a stage magician), but wrote several mysteries and stories under the Talbot moniker.

Murder At The Abbey
Sue Cook
Linford Romance Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444851830, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 318pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-at-the-abbey-sue-cook/1143941421

Synopsis: 1536. England. Abbey cook Agnes Morrow nurses a secret that she dares not let Abbot Mark de Winter discover -- not yet, anyway. Not until she is sure he is ready for it. But then King Henry VIII's men come to strip the abbey of its treasures, and two murders threaten to destroy all her hopes. Will her future happiness be torn asunder, or will her long-cherished dreams come true?

Critique: First published in England in 2020 and now available to an American readership in a large print paperback edition from Linford Romance Library, "Murder At The Abbey" is an original and creatively crafted historical novel of romance and murder in the reign of King Henry VIII. A splendidly written and thoroughly fun read from first page to last, this new edition of "Murder At The Abby" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists as well as community library Historical Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Sue Cook writes short and long stories for the women's fiction market. Her novels include contemporary or historical romance sprinkled with crime, intrigue or suspense. You will find her short stories in The People's Friend and My Weekly.She lives in a damp and windy corner of northwest England with her husband and five ducks. She finds writing a marvelous antidote to the urge to do housework.

Death Washes Ashore
Patricia Skalka
University of Wisconsin Press
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299328207, $24.95, HC, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Washes-Ashore-Cubiak-County-Mystery/dp/0299328201

Synopsis: In the wake of a brutal storm that lashed the Door County peninsula, Sheriff Dave Cubiak assesses the damage: broken windows, downed trees, and piles of mysterious debris along the shoreline. He leaves the comfort of his home and heads out into the aftermath, checking in with folks along the way to offer help. His assistant, marooned at the justice center overnight, calls with an ominous message about a body discovered on the beach. When the medical examiner discovers the man didn't simply drown during the storm, Cubiak searches for answers.

Chasing leads, the sheriff learns the victim directed a troupe of live-action role players living in an ersatz Camelot. In a setting where pretense in the norm, Cubiak must determine if suspects are who they say they are or if their made-up identities conceal a ruthless killer. As tensions escalate among neighbors unhappy about the noise and commotion, the sheriff discovers that more than one person on the peninsula has a motive for murder.

Critique: The newest title in the 'Dave Cubiak Door County Mystery' series by novelist Patricia Skalka, "Death Washes Ashore is another simply riveting read by an author with a complete master of the hard-boiled detective genre. Colorful characters, deftly crafted plot twists, a memorable reveal, "Death Washes Ashore" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Death Washes Ashore" is also available in a paperback editions (9780299328245, $16.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.10).

Editorial Note: Patricia Skalka (http://www.patriciaskalka.com) is the author of Death Stalks Door County, Death at Gills Rock, Death in Cold Water, Death Rides the Ferry, and Death by the Bay, the first five books in the popular Dave Cubiak Door County Mystery series.

'Twas the Bite Before Christmas
David Rosenfelt
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250828842, $26.00, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Twas-Bite-Before-Christmas-Carpenter/dp/1250828848

Synopsis: Ever the reluctant lawyer, Andy Carpenter is at the Tara Foundation's annual Christmas party. The dog rescue organization has always been his true calling, and this is one holiday tradition he can get behind because every dog that's come through the rescue (and their families) are invited to celebrate.

This year's party is no exception. But before the stockings can be hung by the chimney with care, homicide detectives ruin the evening. Derek Moore, one of the foundation's best foster volunteers, is arrested for murder.

Andy discovers Derek (whose real name is Bobby) is in the witness protection program after giving evidence against his former gang. The police believe Bobby murdered a member. But Bobby swears to Andy he didn't do this. He's built a new life, a new business, has two new dogs after being a double foster-failure.

There isn't much Andy likes about this case, but he likes Bobby. If he's innocent, Andy wants to help. Before Andy can settle down for his long winter's nap, he has a client's name to clear, a murderer to catch, and two new dogs to look after: a golden and a Dalmatian. Andy's golden retriever, Tara, will have to adjust to not being the only golden at the house while Andy gets to the bottom of this one.

Critique: One of the hallmarks of an Andy Carpenter mystery by novelist David Rosenfelt is an extraordinary number of unexpected plot twists and turns. 'Twas The Bite Before Christmas is Rosenfelt at his storytelling best as the reader find this to be riveting read from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended for all community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal lists of all dedicated 'whodunnit' murder mystery fans that 'Twas The Bite Before Christmas is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Macmillan Audio, 9781250909817, $29.99, CD).

Editorial Note: David Rosenfelt is the Edgar-nominated and Shamus Award-winning author of more than twenty Andy Carpenter novels, including One Dog Night, Collared, and Deck the Hounds; its spinoff series, The K-Team; the Doug Brock thriller series, which starts with Fade to Black; and stand-alone thrillers including Heart of a Killer and On Borrowed Time.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord
Celeste Connally
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250867551, $27.00, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Like-Lady-Think-Petra-Inquires/dp/125086755X

Synopsis: London, 1815. Lady Petra Forsyth, daughter of the Earl of Holbrook, has made a shocking proclamation. After losing her beloved fiance in an accident three years earlier, she announces in front of London's loosest lips that she will never marry. A woman of independent means (and rather independent ways) Petra sees no reason to cede her wealth and freedom to any man now that the love of her life is gone. Instead, she plans to continue enjoying the best of society without any expectations.

But when ballroom gossip suggests that a longtime friend has died of a fit due to her "melancholia" while in the care of a questionable physician, Petra vows to use her status to dig deeper -- uncovering a private asylum where men pay to have their wives and daughters locked away, or worse. Just as Petra has reason to believe her friend is alive, a shocking murder proves more danger is afoot than she thought. And the more determined Lady Petra becomes in uncovering the truth, the more her own headstrong actions and desire for independence are used against her, putting her own freedom (and possibly her life) in dire jeopardy.

Critique: What fans of the cozy mystery genre can only hope is the first in a long series of novels starring as an amateur female sleuth Lady Petra Forsyth, "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Lord" by Celeste Connally is a fun read from cover to cover. Deftly crafted characters, unexpected plot twists, and set in the Regency era of early 19th Century London, "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Lord" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Historical Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for dedicated cozy mystery fans that "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Lord" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).

Editorial Note: Celeste Connally (https://celesteconnally.com) is an Agatha Award nominee, and a former freelance writer and editor. A lifelong devotee of historical novels and adaptations fueled by her passion for history (plus weekly doses of PBS Masterpiece) Celeste loves reading and writing about women from the past who didn't always do as they were told.

The Lover of No Fixed Abode
Carlo Fruttero, author
Franco Lucentini, author
Gregory Dowling, translator
Bitter Lemon Press
www.bitterlemonpress.com
9781913394905, $16.95, PB, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lover-No-Fixed-Abode/dp/1913394905

Synopsis: "The Lover of No Fixed Abode" is the story of a passionate affair set in Venice between a Roman princess searching for undervalued paintings and a mysterious tour guide. Art shenanigans become unavoidable, but the guide's true identity is the mystery that drives the story.

Their passion will last three days, long enough to be exposed to unscrupulous art dealers and scammers passing off worthless paintings as part of a famous collection. She goes to cosmopolitan parties given by Venetian social and art glitterati. Mr Silvera, a guide whose erudition and distinction sharply contrast with his beat-up suitcase and stain-spotted raincoat, drags his shabby tourists from monument to monument.

Of special note are the canals and lagoons of Venice which, as a city, becomes a character in the novel in its own right.

Critique: Co-authored by Carlo Fruttero and Franco Lucentini, and ably translated into English for an American readership by Gregory Dowling, "The Lover of No Fixed Abode" is a riveting read of particular interest to fans of psychological thrillers and romantic suspense novels. it is also an original work of mystery and intrigue that is raised to the level of true literary excellence. While especially recommended for both community and college/university library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Lover of No Fixed Abode" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note #1: Carlo Fruttero (19 September 1926 - 15 January 2012) was an Italian writer, journalist, translator and editor of anthologies. He is mostly known for his joint work with Franco Lucentini, especially as authors of crime novels. The duo were also editors of the science-fiction series Urania from the 1960s to the 1980s, and of the comic-strip magazine Il Mago.

Editorial Note #2: Franco Lucentini Franco Lucentini (24 December 1920 - 5 August 2002) was an Italian writer, journalist, translator and editor of anthologies.

Editorial Note #3: Gregory Dowling is an author, translator, literary critic and Professor of Anglo-American Literature at the Universita Ca' Foscari in Venice.

Bulletproof Barista
Cleo Coyle
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780593197592, $28.00, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Bulletproof-Barista-Coffeehouse-Mystery-Coyle/dp/0593197593

Synopsis: Only Murders in Gotham, the smash-hit streaming program, is famous for filming in authentic New York locations and using real New Yorkers as extras. For its second season, they've chosen to spotlight the century-old Village Blend and its quirky crew of baristas. Shop manager and master roaster Clare Cosi is beyond thrilled, especially when her superb bulletproof coffee lands her a craft services contract for the production.

Madame, the eccentric octogenarian owner of the landmark shop, reveals an old kinship with the star of the show, comedian Jerry Sullivan. Now a Hollywood legend, Jerry frequented the Blend during his early years performing in Greenwich Village comedy clubs. But the past may hold more than nostalgia for Jerry. Suspicious accidents begin plaguing his shoot. Then a real bullet is fired from a stage gun, and Clare becomes convinced something sinister is afoot.

While Jerry's production moves to exciting new locations, Clare keeps the coffee flowing (and her investigation going) even as a murderer lurks in the wings. But can she root out the rotten player in this Big Apple production before the lights go out on her? Includes a stellar menu of surefire recipes.

Critique: A part of 'A Coffeehouse Mystery' series from Berkley, "Bulletproof Barista" by Cleo Coyle is another deftly crafted and fun read from start to finish for dedicated fans of the cosy mystery genre. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99), "Bulletproof Barista is a very special and unreservedly recommended introduction to this simply outstanding series and will prove a welcome and enduringly popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Cleo Coyle (https://cleocoylebooks.com) is the pseudonym of Alice Alfonsi who writes popular fiction in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. With more than one million books sold, Alice and Marc are the authors of two long-running, "relentlessly entertaining" (Criminal Element) mystery series: The Coffeehouse Mysteries and Haunted Bookshop Mysteries. Cleo Coyle has been awarded starred reviews by Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews and honored with Best of Year selections by multiple reviewers. In addition to their popular mysteries, Alice and Marc have written many works of fiction and nonfiction for adults and children. They are also accomplished tie-in writers who have created bestselling properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, Toho, and MGM.

Sniffing Out Murder
Kallie E. Benjamin
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780593547359, $17.00, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Sniffing-Murder-Bailey-Bloodhound-Mystery/dp/0593547357

Synopsis: After deciding that life as a teacher wasn't right for her, Priscilla found inspiration for her first children's book in her three-year-old bloodhound's nose for truth, and so The Adventures of Bailey the Bloodhound was born. After the book's massively pawsitive response led Pris to move back to her hometown of Crosbyville, Indiana, to continue the series, she's surprised by how things have changed in the town, but even more so how they haven't.

Pris is frustrated to discover that newly elected school board trustee Whitney Kelley (a former high school mean girl) is intent on making Crosbyville more competitive by eliminating "frivolous spending" on the arts and social programs, including Pris and Bailey's beloved pet-assisted reading program. A minor altercation between them isn't anything unusual, but after Bailey sniffs out Whitney's body in a bed of begonias, locals start hounding Pris and Bailey as suspects for the crime.

With Bailey's sharp senses and Pris's hometown know-how, can they prove to the community that they're all barking up the wrong tree?

Critique: An original and fun read from cover to cover, "Sniffing Out Murder" is another cosy mystery from the pen of Kallie E. Benjamin and the newest addition to her 'A Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery Series'. Of very special interest to all dedicated cozy mystery fans, "Sniffing Out Murder" will prove a prized and memorable pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for persona reading lists that "Sniffing Out Murder" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: Kallie E. Benjamin (https://www.vmburns.com) is the pseudonym of novelist Valerie Burns who is the author of three mystery series. She is also a mentor in the Master of Fine Arts program for writing popular fiction at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA, where she earned her own MFA degree.

Viviana Valentine and the Ticking Clock
Emily J. Edwards
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105229, $30.99, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Viviana-Valentine-Ticking-Friday-Mystery/dp/1639105220

Synopsis: New York City, 1950. Viviana Valentine and Tommy Fortuna have a lot of resolutions for the new year -- whether it's continuing to build up their detective agency or planning their wedding, the two are looking forward to the future. On their way to Times Square to celebrate, the two witness a brutal stabbing. When Tommy tries to chase down the culprit, Viviana tries her best to save the man. She's unsuccessful, but Viviana hears his final words: a whispered apology to an unknown friend.

Clues are hard to come by, with the only leads being the fraught last words and a few nondescript matchbooks in the victim's overcoat. Their investigation is halted when Detective Jack Lawson of the New York Police Department arrives, immediately ruffling Viviana's feathers and bumping chests with Tommy, who he nearly arrested for murder just months earlier. The two know there's more to the story, but there are other pressing matters at hand.

Clients are clamoring to get the detectives to work on their cases: a man is being blackmailed by a criminal who only writes in code, Tommy's old friend needs his fiancee tailed, and an investment banker has mysteriously vanished. To add to their workload, Viviana knows something strange is happening at her boarding house. Will all of this (plus planning for a wedding) be too much for one Girl Friday?

Critique: The third novel in author Emily J. Edwards' A Girl Friday mystery series, "Viviana Valentine and the Ticking Clock" is a fun read from start to finish for fans of the cosy mystery genre featuring amateur female sleuths dealing with 'whodunnit' murder mysteries. Like in the two previous novels ("Viviana Valentine and the Ticking Clock" and "Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River", the action is near non-stop, replete with unexpected plot twists and unique storylines. "Viviana Valentine and the Ticking Clock" is a deftly scripted and highly recommended pick for personal and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for all dedicated cozy mystery fans that "Viviana Valentine and the Ticking Clock" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).

Editorial Note: Emily J. Edwards (https://www.msemilyedwards.com) earned her degree in writing, literature, and publishing from Emerson College and took the long road to becoming an author, working for over a decade as a wine and spirits journalist, radio producer, and podcaster. She currently resides in Connecticut with her husband and several quadrupeds.

Cry Wolf
Lark O. Jensen
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639104550, $31.99, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Cry-Wolf-Alaska-Untamed-Mystery/dp/1639104550

Synopsis: With boat tours off the coast of Alaska shut down for the winter, tour guide Stacie Calder is joining the dedicated team at the Juneau Wildlife World, a wild animal sanctuary. Along with Sasha, her husky companion, she's prepared to spend the long season in the scenic park. But not everyone is so chipper about the newcomers -- least of all, Stacie's new manager, Oliver Brownling. He constantly gives Stacie a hard time, specifically because she brought Sasha along with her. That is, until his mauled body is found in a remote part of the sanctuary containing wolves.

When it becomes clear that a human was responsible for the brutal murder, all eyes are on Stacie. Encouraged by her friend, Officer Liam Amaruq of the Alaskan State Troopers, Stacie is resolved to find the murderer but knows that her investigation will be difficult with the long suspect list she's made. Did the sanctuary director plot to get rid of Oliver? Or maybe it was one of Oliver's coworkers, upset over a missed promotion? Stacie wonders about some of the newer employees, especially since Oliver's personality made it easy to make enemies.

With the weather worsening, Stacie and Sasha are forced to stay at the sanctuary with the wolves -- and her colleagues. As the storm gets worse, it's clear that this killer has a taste for blood and may strike again. Will Stacie be able to find the murderer, or will the hunter become the hunted?

Critique: A deftly written and riveting read from first page to last, "Cry Wolf" is an Alaskan Untamed Mystery novel by Lark O. Jensen and will be of very special interest to dog story enthusiasts and dedicated fans of the cozy mystery genre. Engaging dialogue, memorable characters, unexpected plot twists, and a dramatic 'whodunnit' finale, all combine to a solidly entertaining novel that is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Cry Wolf" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).

Editorial Note: Lark O. Jensen, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, has published 53 books so far, including mysteries and romantic novels. She has written several cozy mystery series including the Barkery & Biscuits Mysteries and Superstition Mysteries for Midnight Ink, and the Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mysteries and Pet Rescue Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. She also writes romances for Harlequin, including Harlequin Romantic Suspense. Her latest release is Colton First Responder, for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. Nearly all of Lark's current stories involve dogs!

The Well
R. Chapman Wesley
High Top Publishing
https://hightoppublishing.com
B0CDMDC6NM, $9.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CDMDC6NM

Think bio-terrorist thriller, add a heavy dose of medical mystery intrigue, then polish it off with the world-hopping potential for a cure that will change mankind for a sense of the special style of high-octane, nonstop action that is The Well. The theft of such a possible promise combines with a murderous competition in which Professor Anatoly Popov, an esteemed virologist and Russian-born defector, steals the world's deadliest virus from a lab with the objective of altering it to produce a cure that will change the world. Unfortunately, his adversaries (which came from all walks of life) don't share his vision. A power struggle emerges which holds the dual prospect of either destroying humanity or altering it forever.

R. Chapman Wesley cultivates a special blend of mystery, myth, and hope for the future. These pose quandaries and questions as characters vie for control of a force that humanity has never faced before. Moral and ethical values collide with legend and science in satisfying ways that juxtapose the shifting realities of everyone involved. Readers will find their own ideals and values buffeted in the course of a story that reads like a mystery, holds the back-and-forth globetrotting tension of a thriller, and creates unusual associations between military and scientific special interests as new possibilities are pursued.

As if these elements weren't already enough to command a compelling read, Wesley adds the impact of an indigenous tribe into the mix who "... are the Keepers of the Secrets and the Protectors of "The Well." It is they who have discovered that the true "Well" lies within each of us, already an embedded perfection of ourselves, given by the One Universal Mind, simply awaiting a recognition to unleash the perfection." From inquisitive priests and cultural revelations to a search that leads Popov and his unlikely associate, ex-Seal medic and budding scientist Cmdr. Rex Lee, to probe the jungles of Brazil for answers, readers embark on a rollicking world tour of frightening power struggles and possibilities. These represent swift action and thought-provoking twists and turns throughout.

The Well is marked by a sense of discovery and the possibilities of miracles that evolve from unlikely associations and sources. This atmosphere lends it a tense aura of expectation that doesn't always lead in predictable directions. The result is an engrossing thriller that is dressed in a broad spectrum of metaphysical and philosophical reflections perfect for readers of The Jerico Manuscript, The DaVinci Code, and similar tales of resolution and revelation. The disparate, powerful favors of The Well will make it a main attraction for not just thriller collections, but libraries looking for exceptional book club recommendations: "He could understand the worthiness, even practicality of not judging others, but how could he not judge himself? His father had preached that the universe was filled with forgiveness. But he also taught a form of spiritual preservation; that each action provoked a reaction, like a reflection in a mirror; that the universe was just; and that one could not escape the consequences of one's actions... unless there was atonement."

Out of the Far North
Amir Tsarfati and Steve Yohn
Ten Peaks Press
c/o Harvest House Publishers
https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com
9780736986441, $14.95 Audio/$15.99 Paper/$11.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Out-North-Tavor-Mossad-Thriller/dp/0736986448

Opening a story with a glossary of Hebrew, Arabic and Russian terminology (as well as a listing of characters from different nations) lends a sense of anticipatory complexity to Out of the Far North that thriller genre readers may not be used to, but that's not to say this story comes overly laden with demanding detail. From its opening lines, Amir Tsarfati and Steve Yohn present powerful international settings, reflections, and experiences that grab attention to keep readers thoroughly immersed in the specter of international confrontations and intrigue.

This third book in their Nir Tavor Massad series will benefit from prior familiarity from fans who appreciate the authors' special blend of contemporary political inspection and action, but it also stands nicely alone for newcomers. Thriller audiences will find the revelation of the Kremlin's plans for a major attack against Israel to be intriguing and engrossing. Hostilities that explode threaten to overtake Nir Tavor and Nicole le Roux, testing the latter's newly gained Christian faith as the two struggle to prevent global disaster. Amir Tsarfati and Steve Yohn specialize in a style of action and psychological immersion that juxtaposes romance, drama, and tense confrontations at personal, political, and global levels. Dangerous games played by opportunists come to light as forces from Russia, Israel, and the West intersect to face not only present-day danger, but ghosts from the past.

From issues of patriotism and profit to business and personal interests tested by bigger-picture altercations between nations as well as individuals, Tsarfati and Yohn supplement and support the work begun in Operation Joktan and By Way of Deception with a notable atmosphere of authenticity. Perhaps this reflects Amir Tsarfati's spiritual foundations and his position as a former major in the Israeli Defense Forces, which combines well with co-author Steve Yohn's experience as a pastor in the group Tsarfati formed, Behold Israel, which provides Bible-based teachings about Israel from a prophetic viewpoint.

The power of this story lies not just in its political maneuvers and action-packed tension, but in the revelations and growth individual characters experience as events unfold. Inspired by real events but steeped in the best trappings of fictional drama and the overlay of spiritual revelations and experiences, Out of the Far North is a multifaceted thriller about beliefs and actions that will attract libraries and readers seeking vivid stories featuring strong characterization and sizzling scenarios of transformation and adversity.

Oracle
Marc Rainer
Rukia Publishing US
www.marcrainer.com
9798989108435, $16.99 Paper/$6.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Oracle-Jeff-Trask-Crime-Drama-ebook/dp/B0CJCN6XPV

The thriller genre grows yet again with another Jeff Trask crime novel - but the drama here doesn't take place in the courtrooms or streets of America but overseas, where special operations specialist Buck realizes that he's being tailed through the streets of Athens in a vastly changed post-COVID world. Buck loves his job at the CIA, working in the Special Activities Division identifying the kinds of patterns that cause problems. His clandestine meeting with old friend (and agent of a foreign intelligence service) Yuri Gilfoy at the Acropolis introduces him to the dilemma of missing suitcase nukes the Russians lost track of, others that were sold to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and an emerging terrorist plot that involves Russian goals for Ukraine and nations beyond their western borders.

A highly-placed source of intel in Iran (codenamed Oracle) is in a pivotal position to either reveal information or further the danger over what the Iranians plan to do with their expensive secret acquisition ... which is: to change the world. Buck discovers that Athens may be a target of interest, placing him literally in the hotspot of destruction if the threat can't be located and nullified. In an intriguing twist, the Oracle can't safely give out further intel, effectively placing countermeasures in a blind spot that gives Buck only warnings, but next to nothing concrete. There's nothing an intelligence officer hates more than a dead end - particularly when it's his life that is heading for the brick wall, along with millions of innocent citizens.

What does Jeffrey Ethan Trask, Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, have to do with a situation that immerses Israel and Greece in a deadly game? As usual, he's busy in a courtroom in America laying a drug kingpin to rest in prison while on the cusp of going on a much-needed vacation. The destination? Greece, of course. A cat-and-mouse game evolves which places Jeff, Buck, and others in a dangerous place as a holiday in hell evolves, testing the perspectives, determination and survival traits of all involved. Jeff's wife Lynn has needed this get-away, too: "I was just beginning to like this world again. No emergencies for you to tackle."

As events heat up and Lieutenant Hamid Rashidi of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps and other characters perform reconnaissance and stake out territory and possibilities, tension ramps up as events move between Greece and Israel, with Buck and Jeff trying to save five million people from a nuclear holocaust. To further complicate matters, Lynn must not only be kept in the dark, but away from trouble. Marc Rainer crafts another powerful Jeff Trask novel, proving his prowess at moving the nonstop action away from American soil and onto the desks and grounds of operatives whose political and anti-terrorist objectives intersect in surprising ways. The tension is superbly developed, the motivations and secrets of opposing forces play off nicely to the point of revelations readers sometimes will see coming and sometimes will not, and the characters and their motivations come to life against a vivid backdrop of discovery and interpersonal connections.

Libraries and readers who have thoroughly enjoyed the numerous other Jeff Trask thrillers produced by Marc Rainer will find the action and international flavors of Oracle further expands the series while standing entirely alone as well-constructed, engrossing work particularly and notably powerful for its tense twists and turns.

Native Blood
Leonard Krishtalka
Anamcara Press
www.anamcara-press.com
9781960462176, $22.99

https://www.amazon.com/Native-Blood-Harry-Przewalski-Mystery/dp/1960462180

Hard-boiled detective Harry Przewalski returns in another investigation that challenges his abilities in Native Blood, which mingles First American issues and struggles with the death of an academic researcher. When an Athabaskan native, archaeology student, and chancellor's son is implicated in the crime, Harry suspects that far more is going on (and at stake). His involvement will prove him right in unexpected ways as the puzzle unfolds.

Concurrent to the evolving murder mystery is a probe into Native American culture, genetics, and the conflicts that evolve from prejudice and the perception of all these elements and more. Harry has his hands full as he reveals these politics and influences and, especially, the mercurial and controversial conflicts between race and racial theory that embroils the science, academic, and outside communities in a struggle to discern truth from prejudice. The social facets and aspects of Native history and studies add an extra layer of value to the tale as Harry evolves a long list of suspects and begins to absorb facts and truths he never knew about before this latest case:

"Motives for murder are like weeds, Harry thought. They sprout adjacent to the dead...

'She's ... she's a difficult individual. Bitter.'

'Oh yeah? Bitter enough for murder?'" Good question. Even more important are the cultural and political revelations that emerge as the underbelly of university processes and politics are revealed, exposing new details about protests, historical precedent, and scientific pursuits. One facet of Native Blood that keeps it so thoroughly engrossing is the surprises that keep emerging from Harry's case. Readers receive a healthy degree of thought-provoking inquiry into racial theory, cultural and historical precedent and expectations, and the rationales of scientific method and prejudice that (in this case) justify murder as a resolution tactic (albeit a poor one, if one attracts the tenacious attention of an investigator like Harry, who is operates like a dog on a bone).

The writing is astute, revealing, and commanding. Leonard Krishtalka builds insights not just into historical and political influences, but Harry's evolving character and responses to dilemmas well outside his comfort zone. Creative chapter headings (such as 'White Guy History,' 'Dose of Derangement' and 'I Promise to Confess') add tension and reflection to the story, while a sense of comic relief emerges at unexpected moments to lighten the load of Harry's investigation. The result is a spirited, thought-provoking brush with death and racial issues that will attract both prior fans and newcomers. Native Blood is dedicated to using classic hard-boiled detective devices in modern social and racial inspections replete with scientific and history quandaries that (apparently) are worth killing for. Libraries and readers seeking engrossing stories packed with atmosphere and intrigue will find plenty to appreciate as Native Blood unfolds its extraordinary circumstances and revelations.

The Fourth Prisoner
Brandon Hughes
www.BrandonHughesBooks.com
Tension Books
B0CGY449CW, $4.99 ebook/$16.95 paperback

https://www.amazon.com/4th-Prisoner-Escapes-Barclay-Griffith/dp/B0CJSYGH3C

The Fourth Prisoner is the second Barclay Griffith thriller in the series. It opens on Alcatraz Island in 1962, where a daring escape is being staged from the most infamously secure prison in the world. The fates of three prisoners is known, but the focus here is on a mysterious fourth prisoner whose story reaches from the treacherous waters of the San Francisco Bay to Alabama and the terrible massacre that changed a small town forever. As District Attorney Barclay Griffith navigates career-ending choices, small town history, murky family trees, and a cold case that unfolds to reveal a labyrinth of wrong turns and deadly consequences, readers receive a tense blend of detective investigation and thriller.

The story cements its problem-solving evidence and conclusions in the kind of unpredictable, fast-paced action that marks the thriller genre's finest productions. From insights into genealogy DNA to a search that leads to political bombs of dangerous realizations and history, Barclay discovers that the truth about murder is poised to release a concurrent tidal wave of controversy. Brandon Hughes links past and present events in a crime thriller that excels in both its descriptions of police procedures and in the dilemmas faced by a host of characters from different walks of life, from detectives and attorneys to politicians. His ability to bring these relationships and their simmering history to life makes for a story replete with twists and turns of discovery that many readers won't see coming, resulting in edge-of-your-seat reading and revelations.

Libraries and readers seeking thoroughly engrossing stories that pepper their murder puzzles with the influences and objectives of different characters at odds with not only each other, but themselves, will find The Fourth Prisoner both expands the character of the prior Barclay Griffith book but stands nicely alone for newcomers.

Boom Days
Montana Kane
www.montanakane.com
Bird on a Head
9798986807447, $4.99 Kindle/Paperback $12.99

https://www.amazon.com/BOOM-DAYS-Brandy-Martini-novel/dp/B0CJXGRXJC

Thrillers usually don't present a sense of humor embedded into their action, but Montana Kane's special brand of wry inspection, demonstrated so adeptly in the first Brandy Martini book High Crimes, appears from the opening lines in Boom Days: "After the first explosion, most everyone in town spent the next few days announcing to anyone within earshot exactly where they were at the time it happened. Me, I was jonesing for my usual triple shot of espresso but the line outside High Country Bean on that fine summer morning wrapped clear around the corner of Main and 3rd and there was no way I was going to stand there on the sidewalk like an idiot and patiently wait my turn with all the others. And it was precisely as I was cruising past the tourists on my way inside to pour myself a drip at the DIY counter at the back of the coffee shop that Boomville went Boom."

Brandy's reaction to the explosion is instinctive - she hits the ground. Then she hits the streets on a search for explanations and answers, tapping her former experience as a big city cop to answer the questions that arise from the Boomville explosion. Readers quick to absorb the humor in the story's opening lines will also appreciate Montana Kane's creative descriptions, which supercharge Brandy's pursuits with a fine blend of astute insights and descriptions of place and people. It's no light achievement to dovetail an intense investigation with equally powerful examinations of disparate possibilities, from a "bomb-making vegan terrorist" to facing fellow investigators' feelings of frustration and anger. No matter Brandy's path, she weaves through personal and professional challenges with equally wry inspections and humor that keep the story on track and delightfully unexpected, filled with twists and turns even seasoned thriller readers won't see coming.

Brandy is a formidable character whose alter ego as Katie buries a truth she doesn't want to confront. But her readers do. These insights drive a discovery process that dashes hopes and raises new questions as Brandy pursues impossible answers and equally elusive relationships. The result is not just an explosion in crime-solving processes, but one of self-discovery as Brandy puts her life on the line, only to find unexpected support under life-or-death circumstances. Readers need not be familiar with Brandy Martini or her prior adventures in order to immediately immerse themselves in Boom Days. The fast-paced action, exceptionally strong characterization, and satisfying mysteries Brandy faces in all kinds of ways make for a highly recommended pick for libraries interested in multifaceted thrillers that go the extra mile to add humor and attraction to all their characters.

The Billion Dollar Sugar Cube
Charles Jacobs
DartFrog Plus
https://dartfrogbooks.com
9781961624153, $17.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Billion-Dollar-Sugar-Cube-David/dp/196162415X

Fans of The Pangaea Solution (a thriller which excelled in nonstop action and fast-paced twists and turns that pitted protagonist and wealth advisor David Blum against a bizarre conspiracy) will find David's return here reflects a renewed battle against the Global Futures Alliance which continues to plot to reshape humanity with its special vision of technology and profit.

The story opens in Switzerland in 2019, where artificial intelligence's promise has resulted in a computer that can not only emulate emotions, but manipulate them in human beings. When such a technological venture melds with social media, it can prove just as effective a battle influencer as wars fought on the ground via conventional methods. Charged with preventing this next impossible war scenario, David Blum and his team embark on a world-hopping venture to confront and disable forces that would artificially reshape world order and the nature of reality itself.

One reason why The Billion Dollar Sugar Cube proves especially engrossing is that the crux of its possibilities lies in the impact and experience of modern social media which, today, is assuming a center role in directing not just the politics but the state of mind of its audiences. It's too easy to imagine the scenario which plays out in David Blum's world - and all too easy to realize that the forces at work, driven by technological advancement and manipulation, could become those underlying human choice and perception themselves. Jacobs pairs revelations with fast-paced action. This will please thriller readers looking for stories replete with satisfying twists and turns that are unexpected and thought-provoking.

As neurobiologist Mindy Tanaka's love for Angel Atash is threatened by events that drive them apart and David delves into questions surrounding sound and facial recognition patterns, the story's dual complexity of technological and social issues introduces a thoroughly engrossing adventure that evolves a whirlwind of challenges and choices. Libraries and readers seeking thrillers that both support prior writings yet stand alone, laced with emotionally vivid layers of discovery, will find The Billion Dollar Sugar Cube a winning, world-hopping story about the struggle for a power that will change everything.

Backlash
Ana Manwaring
www.anamanwaring.com
Indies United Publishing House, LLC
https://www.indiesunited.net
9781644566596, $16.99 Paperback/$3.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Backlash-Ana-Manwaring/dp/1644566591

Prior fans of Ana Manwaring's thrillers will find Backlash: Venom and Vengeance from 'Nam a welcome addition to and expansion of the JadeAnne Stone adventures set in Mexico. The story centers on JadeAnne's father Quint, who remains in Mexico to investigate why his former superior office in Vietnam is trying to kill him. By the time he realizes that not just he, but his daughter JadeAnne, who has gone to California with her new love Dylan, is in Nadar's crosshairs, the man could be well on his way to apprehending his daughter. And so the drama moves from Colorado to Mexico in a nation-hopping chase that features an explosive plot and many satisfying twists and turns as Quint struggles to survive political subterfuge and zealots that have Mexico's best interests at heart.

These special interest forces that coalesce and struggle receive winning, engrossing feature via dialogues that capture not just action, but underlying intentions. Clashes are vividly portrayed as the story evolves: "He met the fight at the pantry door. Trampoza's man had one hand grasping at Horacio's throat with a large can of tomato juice in the other. Quint batted away his hand quashing the thugs' attempt to bean Horacio with the can. Quint grinned as Horacio balled his fist, sending an uppercut into the man's chin. The thug flew backwards into his arms."

When married to a story steeped in Mexican culture and mayhem, with the lingering effects of Vietnam relationships injected into the present-day picture of adversity and vengeance, the result is a vivid portrait of traitors and a dangerous man whose wrath and cleverness threaten everyone Quint has believed in and loved. Ana Manwaring does an outstanding job of crafting a story that stands alone on both its psychological and thriller components. Prior readers will appreciate the plot while newcomers won't need an introduction to past relationships to appreciate the characters and actions that represent international relationships and survival efforts. The tension is nicely built, premises are logical and embedded into the story's action-packed scenarios, and readers receive a high-octane work well steeped in Mexican affairs. Libraries and readers seeking thrillers that center around themes that challenge individual and national interests will find Backlash: Venom and Vengeance from 'Nam seamless in its action and characters and hard to put down.

All Roads Lead to Murder
Stewart Bird
Independently Published
9798850121686, $35.00 Paper/$14.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Roads-Lead-Murder-Stewart-Bird/dp/B0C9RYSVDB

All Roads Lead to Murder charts NYPD homicide procedurals, stems from Stewart Bird's working day (spent with NYPD Detective Sergeant Detective Vernon J. Geberth, who was investigating a homicide in the Bronx), and provides three murder stories based on his real-world experiences. The resulting novellas here (Murder at the Yeshiva, One Murder at a Time, and Go West Old Man) all feature explorations by NYPD homicide detective Mo Shuman, who is on the cusp of retiring, but never more involved in his profession. Rather than backing away from cases, Mo not only embraces them, but finds these cases reaching into his personal life as his last involvements involve hunting down murderers whose actions heavily impact his own future.

The progressive nature of these tales makes them perfect for presentation under one cover, linking Mo's shifting objectives in a manner that is uniformly appealing, logically presented, and compelling in their ability to move between murder mystery and personal impact. The trio opens with Murder at the Yeshiva, in which Mo and his partner Detective Dynaburski are charged with hunting down a murderer whose ability to affect Mo's future is dangerously powerful. Shuman has grown up on the Lower East Side and still lives there. His familiarity with the area, his Jewish background, and the nature of both murderer and victim leads him to dark examinations and connections a Shuman traces the pathways of past and present to find answers to seemingly disparate clues that just seem to lead to more puzzles.

Stewart Bird's ability to craft a winning story steeped in a powerful sense of time and place, where the savvy detective must tap these roots in order to both find resolution and resolve a murderer's real intentions, creates an especially intriguing set of circumstances as rabbis and rules coalesce to produce insights Mo struggles to weave together. One Murder at a Time sees Mo not retiring, but reuniting with former partner Mike Gallagher on a twenty-year-old cold case that turns hot once again, with new evidence and ideas fueling its continuing relevance. As the duo find their probe igniting simmering passions of the past, their families and lives are threatened by forces that still hold a vested interest in keeping the past subdued against all odds. In this case, the only odds for resolution rest on two dogged investigators whose noses for trouble uncover situations that lead them away from the Cold Case Squad and the NYPD to situations far outside their familiarity or comfort zones.

The answers lie in arenas that challenge both detectives on personal and professional levels as events provoke questions about connections between love, money, and the two detectives who draw ever closer to a dangerous truth. Bird crafts a simmering tone of investigative quandaries and interpersonal relationships in this story which further expand Mo's life and habits while adding the overlay of a case which reaches from New York to the New Jersey suburbs, Alexandria, Virginia, and beyond. His expansion of Mo's identity and processes from Murder at the Yeshiva to this very different challenge enhances an approach that personalizes the processes of investigators, perps, and the motivations and experiences that lead them down a deadly path of confrontation and trauma.

Go West Old Man brings the personal aspects of investigative prowess home as Mo once again finds any hopes of retirement thwarted - this time, by a gang war that destroys any ideals of peace. In trying to escape this life-altering experience, Mo instead finds himself embroiled in a different style of gang war far from his native New York and connections. Working with Deputy Sandoval in southwest Texas on the Mexican border, Mo finds he must employ his most savvy procedural processes in order to resolve not just this gang war's fits and starts, but the impact a similar situation has made upon his life.

Once again, Bird crafts a story of investigative strength that derives its main attraction from juxtaposing personal and professional challenges. It's unusual to have events evolve in a murder mystery from a series of progressive cases that also follow character growth. Receiving these three novellas under one cover gives readers the rare opportunity to better know Mo, the NYPD, and the cases that lead not to pat resolution, but life-changing lessons. Libraries and fans of detective procedurals who look for stories steeped in a gritty sense of place, an attractive lure of psychological growth, and questions about making it home alive from this kind of work will find All Roads Lead to Murder outstandingly realistic and compelling. Stewart Bird pairs thought-provoking drama with crime stories that feature, as their main attraction, a series of plots that lead to a greater result: a thought-provoking, involving story of a detective's ongoing evolution.

Plausible Liars
Lin Wilder
Wilder Books
9798218297305, $17.95, PB, 322pp

https://www.amazon.com/Plausible-Liars-Lindsey-Medical-Mystery/dp/B0CL6GTVHB

Synopsis: Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Kate Townsend knew she would lob an incendiary device into the contemporary culture if she wrote and published her series, Corrupting America's Children: Creating Chemical Eunuchs. But because of what she'd witnessed in her son's pre-kindergarten, she felt obligated to do it.

In a remarkable convergence of events, Lindsey McCall is also drawn into the explosive world of transgender politics. For the second time in four years, Lindsey is facing indictment for unintentional murder. The US Department of Justice has indicted both McCall and Townsend in a conspiracy of mammoth proportions.

Critique: "Plausible Liars" is the fifth novel of author Lin Wilder's award-winning Lindsey McCall medical mystery series. Once again her readers will find embedded into the original storyline innovative medical research loved that is so deftly combined with a dramatic courtroom scenario guaranteed to provoke and challenge her readers. Showcasing Wilder's genuine flair for originality and the kind of narrative storytelling style that keeps the reader's full attention from start to finish, "Plausible Liars" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Plausible Liars" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.49).

Editorial Note: Lin Wilder (www.linwilder.com) holds a doctorate in Public Health from the UT at Houston with a background in cardiopulmonary physiology, medical ethics, and hospital administration. During her thirty-plus years in academic healthcare administration, Lin authored numerous texts in these fields. She began writing fiction after leaving her Hospital Director position at UMASS Medical Center. Since then, Lin has received many awards for her two series of novels. Her medical mystery series also includes: The Fragrance Shed By A Violet, Do You Solemnly Swear? A Price for Genius and Malthus Revisited.

Strangers in the Night
Peg Tyre
Dead Sky Publishing
https://deadskypublishing.com
9781639512003, $29.99, HC, 270pp

https://www.amazon.com/Strangers-Night-Peg-Tyre/dp/1639512004

Synopsis: Novice reporter Kate Murray is determined to make a career for herself covering crime for a New York City tabloid. But after she botches a big murder story (writing that the victim was a Harvard-bound undergraduate instead of a notorious crack dealer) her bosses give her six months to redeem herself.

Kate scrutinizes the police activity reports on a Sunday morning, searching among the Saturday-night homicides for a victim the public will care about. She finds one. Margaret Severing, a hard-working nurse, is inexplicably shot to death in the lobby of her building in Bushwick, and Kate is determined to beat everyone (including the cops) to the story.

Her investigation leads her to two men. Detective John Finn, who has just had a close scrape with death, decides that Kate is his last chance at love. Dominick Donatti, a brooding psychopath and the only witness to the nurse's murder, sees Kate as his ticket out of the neighborhood. Kate is attracted to Finn and repelled by Dominick, but she knows both men can get her onto the front page.

She begins a dangerous dance, protecting herself from increasingly obsessive and violent Dominick and trying not to lose her heart to Finn. By the time Kate Murray, John Finn, and Dominick Donatti meet in the same room, ambition must take a backseat to survival. And the shattering climax leaves none of them unchanged.

Critique: This special 30th Anniversary Edition of "Strangers in the Night" from Dead Sky Publishing features a new foreword from author Peg Tyre. Of particular interest for fans of crime thriller fiction, "Strangers in the Night" is deftly crafted and simply riveting read from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections as well as the personal reading lists of a whole new general of appreciative fans of a suspense thriller with murder and just a touch of romance.

Editorial Note: After three decades as an award-winning journalist and a New York Times bestselling author, Peg Tyre (https://www.pegtyre.com) now helps run the EGF Accelerator, the country's premier incubator for education-related nonprofits. She's written best-selling books and award-winning articles for The New York Times Magazine, the Atlantic, The New York Times, Hechinger, Politico, Smithsonian, Forbes, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, Scientific American, Time.com, and many others. Her work has been widely recognized the media.

Tales of Mystery and Horror
Atyanni Bhattacharya
Dorrance Publishing Company
585 Alpha Drive, Suite 103, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.dorrancepublishing.com
9798889250302, $30.00, PB, 74pp

https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Mystery-Horror-Atyaani-Bhattacharya/dp/B0CMG3VTCS

Synopsis: Tales of Mystery and Horror is a collection of original horror stories that are set all over the world. Each one of these tales of terror have come from the imagination of "Atyanni Bhattacharya, an eleven-year-old author who is fascinated by ghosts, the supernatural, paranormal activity, and mysteries in general.

Critique: Featuring some full page illustrations, and a fascinating and fun read from start to finish, each one of the dark fantasy short stories comprising "Tales of Mystery and Horror" by Atyaani Bhattacharya showcases the active imagination and storytelling talents of this young and very promising author. "Tales of Mystery and Horror" would prove to be a unique and welcome addition to school and community library collections, and the personal reading lists of readers with an interest in the supernatural.

Editorial Note: Atyaani Bhattacharya is eleven years old and in fifth grade at Rodgers Forge Elementary School. She lives in Towson, Maryland with her family. Bhattacharya is Indian American and has a younger brother and sister. Her hobbies include writing, drawing, reading and coding. She loved writing this collection of short stories over the months and years and cherishes them all.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review