John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Review: Girl Unseen (Beyond the Grave Book 3) by Athena Daniels

Writing a great mystery, capturing the soul of true romance, and driving the imagination beyond the world we understand are all tough tasks that certain authors face, but managing to combine all three in the same unforgettable novel is a rare feat. In Girl Unseen, the third installation of the Beyond the Grave series by Athena Daniels, readers are pulled into a paranormal tale of mystery and danger, peppered with plenty of heart-pumping romance and action.

Pia Williams is a key part of the first two novels in this series, but here she takes center stage with her unusual […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-12T03:10:23+02:00June 30th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Paranormal Book Reviews, Romance Book Reviews|

Review: Footsteps in the Dark by Carlo Armenise

★★★★½

The most terrifying stories are those that strike close to truth – those that make you question your understanding of the world and your grip on reality. In Footsteps in the Dark: Stories of the Bizarre and Unusual, author Carlo Armenise manages to capture the best elements of strangeness, teasing them out into brief, dark stories that are recognizable, and so all the more chilling.

From gruesome murders and strange bedfellows to magical potions and nightmares that can kill, the book is a fast-paced collection of scary stories that brush against the paranormal, but don’t quite leap over […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-03-10T12:34:44+02:00June 30th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Horror Book Reviews|

Review: A Killer’s Grace by Ronald Chapman

Many people seek out books as a form of escape – a chance to leave the world behind and live in another person’s thoughts for a time. In A Killer’s Grace, author Ronald Chapman introduces readers to a life they probably don’t understand, but the difficult, probing and personal questions raised throughout this book don’t leave readers much room to escape.

From the very first chapter, we are introduced to Kevin Pitcairn and Daniel Davidson, a journalist and a serial killer, the two key characters that drive this story forward. It all begins with a letter from Davidson, pleading […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-02-11T08:40:41+02:00June 28th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Crime Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Come As You Are by Steven Ramirez

★★★★

If anyone discovers a source of mysterious power that can help solve all their problems, it is probably too good to be true. That is certainly the case in Come As You Are, a chilling YA horror novella from author Steven Ramirez.

When Ivan, an often-bullied seventh grader, finds a magical notebook in an old locker at school, he thinks that his middle-school years might be salvageable after all. The list that this notebook contains doesn’t necessarily make sense, but Ivan knows that he must complete the list if he wants to unlock the full potential of this […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-02-16T11:45:39+02:00June 12th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Horror Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Federal Prison Handbook by Christopher Zoukis

There is a great deal of literature written about the prison system in the United States, and given that roughly 1 out of every 100 adult Americans will be incarcerated at some point in their lives, it is a subject that deserves attention. However, books written from the perspective of an inmate, about the detailed inner workings of life in prison, are far less common. In Federal Prison Handbook by Christopher Zoukis, no aspect of prison life is overlooked, making this a deeply compelling read for anyone who has ever wanted to learn more about life behind bars.

The book […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-02-11T09:50:00+02:00June 8th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Non-Fiction Book Reviews, Prison Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|

Review: The Will by Benjamin Laskin

★★★★

When Josh McCain’s father dies, all signs point to this young man inheriting a fortune and continuing in his irresponsible, hedonistic and self-serving lifestyle, but his father has other plans in store. In The Will, a unique new novel from Benjamin Laskin, readers are introduced to a stereotypical playboy, with a Bruce Wayne-level of cockiness and untouchability, only to see it stripped away by a clever father with a vision of what his son’s life could be.

In order to secure his inheritance, Josh’s father composed a two-year To-Do List for his son, which will require a complete […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-11-29T05:56:38+02:00June 6th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Before the Sun Goes Down by Clif Petty

Ancient beliefs and modern madness converge in Before the Sun Goes Down, a military thriller from Clif Petty that touches on everything from Native American traditions to the looming threat of global war.

Reuben Axtell is an unassuming college student, fumbling his way through the world, when his life is suddenly swept into conspiracy and confusion following the death of his friend Rains. What begins as a localized murder mystery – albeit a strange one – soon becomes a broad and sweeping thriller that goes far deeper than old ghost stories told around the reservation campfire.

Clif Petty captures […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-07-05T09:53:06+02:00May 31st, 2017|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Terrorist Thriller Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: The Custodian Chronicles, Volume 1 by Tim Will Hunting

Seeing the world through a new pair of eyes is what reading is all about, but when turning the pages of the Custodian Chronicles, Vol. 1 by Tim Hunting, you might want to wear safety goggles. This custodian, writer, philosopher and hilarious observer of the human condition gives readers a rare peek into the world of education by walking a mile in his shoes – those of a custodian at an elementary school.

Both laugh-out-loud funny at times and worryingly serious at others, this pen-wielding janitor has a lifetime of opinions and insights into the educational system and is more […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-02-11T09:49:38+02:00May 26th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Education, Social Science Book Reviews|