John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Review: The Gambit by Brad Carlson

★★★★★

International intrigue and political thrillers have always been a popular genre, but in these tumultuous times, the fodder for such writers seems to have increased immeasurably. In The Gambit, Brad Carlson tears the tension from the headlines, postulating a world where Iran becomes a nuclear nation, and in the face of American hesitance, Israel must make a dangerous decision to protect itself.

Every chapter is packed with the gravitas of the present world, making this novel both timely and prescient. For those trying to escape these difficult times, this book may not be the most appealing read, but […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-07-05T09:52:58+02:00March 1st, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Terrorist Thriller Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: In Albuquerque, Abandoned by Tower Lowe

Keeping the adventures of a sleuthing duo fresh can be a challenge for any writer, but it seems as though Tower Lowe has figured out the secret to success. Within the pages of In Albuquerque, Abandoned, the seventh novel in her Cinnamon/Burro New Mexico Mysteries series, readers are not only sucked into the story of a mysterious fraternal murder, but also the strange depths of Cinnamon and Burro’s lives.

This uniquely named crime-solving team is not your average pair, and both have deeply rooted issues that define them as characters. From Burro’s schizophrenic visions to Cinnamon’s demons of abandonment, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-02-11T09:10:05+02:00March 1st, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Mystery Book Reviews|

Review: Choice and Consequence of “Normality” by Albert Oon

★★★

In Choice and Consequence of “Normality,” author Albert Oon challenges readers with a blunt and fast-paced tale of dangerous dreams and waking nightmares.

Rose, the heroine of this story, is having trouble sleeping through the night – what with the terrible nightmares that she’s been facing, which seem steeped in symbolism and prophecy, along with terrible monsters who seem determined to end her life. Reality and dreams begin to twist together, and this often-times terrifying story begins to get truly strange.

There are countless battles between Rose and unknown enemies, paranormal events and narrow escapes, set within a surreal […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-03-15T07:19:13+02:00February 14th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Maybe God Was an Irishman by Bernie Donnelly

The complexities of religion, faith, love and tragedy tangle in the pages of Maybe God Was an Irishman, an entertaining and insightful novel by Bernie Donnelly. With an overflowing cast of peripheral characters and multiple story lines that brilliantly overlap, this is an expansive novel that stretches across oceans and philosophies, making it an addictive read for anyone who appreciates clever writing and heartfelt narratives.

Initially, it is difficult to determine who the protagonist of the story is, but that is Donnelly’s way of setting the stage for what is to come. Readers are soon introduced to Sean, an […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-05-28T10:12:35+02:00February 12th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: International Fiction Book Reviews, Religious Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The University of Corporeal and Ethereal Studies by Wolfgang Edwards

★★★★½

For readers who are looking for an exciting ride past the boundaries of the unknown, the wild tales of The University of Corporeal and Ethereal Studies are right up your alley. Author Wolfgang Edwards shows that his powers of creativity are not to be trifled with as he builds an unforgettable world of magic and supernatural science that rivals some of the great fantasy authors of the past.

The book is broken up into 8 stories centering around various students of this peculiar university as they face impossible challenges, life-changing decisions and their own unbelievable potential as practitioners of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-03-02T03:57:33+02:00February 10th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Paranormal Book Reviews, Steampunk Book Reviews|

Review: Reverence by Joshua Aaron Landeros

Reverence by Joshua Aaron Landeros is a suspenseful work of dystopian science fiction about a not-too-distant future. In an action-packed novel that touches on many of the issues of the day, readers are dropped in the near future (2065), where a new empire has risen to power, the United Nation Republic, leading the world and dominating all who threaten their security with a cyborg army.

Will, the protagonist of the novel, is one of these enhanced cybernetic soldiers, and his incredible abilities are put on display before the end of the first chapter. The premise reveals itself in a very […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-02-11T08:42:33+02:00February 9th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews, Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Humming Blade by Christopher Clark

★★★★

Fantasy readers love the promise of epic battles, inexplicable power, walking corpses, ancient cats, magic swords, and heroes with impossible destinies to discover. All of that and more is on display within the first 15 pages of The Humming Blade, the stunning new novel by Christopher Clark. The author wastes no time sucking readers into his fantastical world, and while the use of a dream sequence to kick off a novel isn’t unique, it certainly works for this book.

Wyatt Arden is an unremarkable kid living in the tiny town of Ven with his mother, working the farm […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2017-03-01T02:23:08+02:00February 8th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Game Changer by Dave Dröge

★★★★

The Game Changer by Dave Dröge is a complex, character-driven portrait of individual revolution. To say this novel is unusual is an understatement, but certainly not a critique. The Game Changer has countless different angles and subplots for readers to devour, ranging from visceral descriptions of Rotterdam to complex familial relationships and tough moral quandaries.

The crux of the novel is the connection between Henk van Wijnen-Swarttouw, prominent businessman and entrepreneur, whose empire stands in stark contrast to his daughter’s progressive outlook on life. Julia is a passionate focal point, freshly graduated from high school, and using her interim […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-10-11T10:53:52+02:00February 3rd, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Literary Fiction Book Reviews|