John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Blending the thrills and danger of Hollywood’s Golden Age with the visceral vibes of Mardi Gras, Blood at the Bayou by CB Laurence is another well-penned page-turner in the Express Investigations series. When a frightening and theatric serial killer takes aim at the Chateau, the leading lady of this noir-leaning series gets caught up in a sinister family affair. Some of the dialogue is used as heavy-handed exposition, but the plot moves quickly, and the story offers plenty of twists and turns to keep pulp fiction fans on the edge of every page. Though loyal readers to the series will […]

A relatable and character-driven read, Viral Stories by Cameron Dusting takes a poignant look at our modern era of self-obsession, fleeting fame, and increasing disconnection. Setting this story in a hyper-contemporary setting of the Covid pandemic, this novella reflects the shaken foundations that so many have experienced in recent seasons. The language tends towards simplicity, and the descriptive choices are often familiar, but there is an appealing sincerity in the struggle of the core trio of protagonists. Musing on the vulnerabilities exposed by the global pandemic, while also celebrating the wild unpredictability of survival, Dusting delivers a raw and timely […]

Continuing the Legends of Karik series in epic style, Evan Oliver has crafted a masterful tale with Ylmi’s Saga, a femme-driven YA adventure with an unforgettable new hero at the helm. Cast out into the unforgiving wild by a dragon’s petty wrath, Ylmi’s childhood is one of hardship, resilience, and dreams of revenge. When Karik, the hardened hero from Book 1 of this series, arrives as an unlikely ally, Ymli has the chance to begin forging her own story as a legendary warrior and defender of her people. Penned with a clear love of the natural world, a reverence […]

An entrancing and cryptically told financial thriller, As Sure as Death and Taxes by Rush W. Sterling is far from your standard spy fiction. Grave mistakes from a decade ago haunt a financial director whose expertise and ability to survive is tested in the dangerous crucible of spy craft and brinksmanship. While some of the more dense financial and in-depth details may cause readers’ attention to drift, the bursts of action and streams of prose that are both matter-of-fact and creatively visceral will grip readers to the last page. Sterling balances authentic character development with timely subject matter and a […]

Blending domestic scenes with her signature supernatural style, Linda Watkins delivers another addictive read with The Blood of the Viper, the fifth installment of her Kate Pomeroy Mystery series, which never ceases to entertain. Kate faces an ancient evil that has been waiting centuries to mingle with human blood, but she also has a family to protect – a new life that has been nearly denied her one too many times. The tension of action-packed storytelling via fully-developed and nuanced characters makes it hard to stop reading, while the nerve-twisting scenes of gothic horror will thrill loyal fans of […]