John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

An Appalachian murder mystery and a vulnerable tale of raw resilience, Blame For a Quiet Death by Morgan James is a captivating mystery with a deep emotional core. Still haunted by grief over the death of her spouse, Promise McNeal is pulled back into the gritty sleuthing game when her supportive but crotchety neighbor becomes a prime suspect in a suspicious death. The deceased has left a posthumous puzzle for an intrepid investigator to solve, but as pieces fall into place, Promise must choose to trust her gut or the logical conclusions of the clues. Rich in vivid detail that […]

An addictive overload of sci-fi tech and visceral action, Dark Lyfe by Matthew Pine is a thrillingly immersive tale of a biotech-charged future. When cutting-edge nanotechnology is twisted into a covert weapon and hidden within a cyber-enhanced human host, bounty hunter Chess Ledger’s skills will be put to the test for a massive payday. However, this fugitive is on the run for a very good reason, and the sinister company he works for will stop at nothing to get their potentially devastating property back. Aside from some awkward sentence structure, this is a meticulously plotted thriller with a cautionary message, […]

An enchanting middle grade adventure about facing your fears and holding your family close, The Mirror Drifters: The Other Magic by D.D. Snows is a witty plunge into a parallel world of witchcraft and mystery. Three curious siblings discover their family’s magical birthright, but their rare powers attract dangerous enemies who wish to recruit the young sorcerers and rule over all humans who lack magical spirits. Supported by a colorful cast of fantasy creatures and long-lost family from Earth and Aether, the heroic trio must quickly master their powers and unlock their innate gifts before dark forces seize control of […]

Turning a revelatory lens on the contexts, choices, and seminal moments that defined his life, and an entire generation, Compliments of Pet Milk: A Boomer’s Odyssey Across the Millennium Divide by Steven J. Long is a thoughtful reflection on modern American history and our nation’s cultural future. An intimately penned memoir from a proud and passionate Boomer, the author examines everything from the immigrant experience, organized religion, and the evolution of family values to circumcision, Cub Scouts, and the shadowy side of the American dream. Packed with entertaining and deeply detailed anecdotes, as well as insightful analyses of cultural norms […]

Lyrical, reflective, and rich with visceral verse, Temporal Echoes/Ecos En El Tiempo by Ivan A Salazar M is a bilingual plunge into the depths of emotive poetry. Focusing on the natural world, family, indigenous culture, and the philosophy of life as well as betrayal, heartbreak, mortality, and societal tragedy, these poems explore the full spectrum of subject, form, and style. Whether touching on universal concepts, specific memories, or nuances of contemporary history, these pieces are impactful and layered with meaning, expressed via rhyming couplets or a creative use of short verse. Accompanied by striking art pieces that neatly match the […]