Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Where’s Jackson Pollock? by Jim Davidson

A casually hilarious caper through the dirty end of the art world, Where’s Jackson Pollock? by Jim Davidson delivers a twisted plot and a swirling cast of cutthroat characters.

Russell Henderson is a charming white-collar criminal in dire straits, and with his offshore accounts drying up, he decides to liquidate two of his unexpected assets – a Mark Rothko and a Jackson Pollock that have been hanging in his bedroom for years. Despite their decidedly sketchy origins, his ex-art dealer girlfriend, Victoria Scarsfield, offers to help him move the high-end art through her old stomping grounds of Richmond, Virginia, without […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-12-09T16:08:39+02:00December 9th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: MIJO: We Bend, Not Break by Francisco Castillo

A stirring portrait of the immigrant tradition in America and the burdens of memory that can bury us, MIJO: We Bend, Not Break by Francisco Castillo is an absorbing tale of resilience and reinvention.

Capturing the intergenerational trauma and trajectories of one fearless Mexican-American family, the story depicts the diverse journeys of Joaquín, his son Alejandro, and grandson Gabriel. From the violent dead ends of rural Mexico and back-breaking work in the tomato fields of southern California to struggling up the white collar tower and assimilating into contemporary US culture, this sprawling narrative runs the gamut of the immigrant experience […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-12-09T09:50:37+02:00December 8th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, International Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Memory, Memory, Go Away by Christopher W. Selna

Laden with warnings for our troubled times, Memory, Memory, Go Away by Christopher W. Selna is a timely piece of speculative fiction that echoes with contemporary weight.

In a parallel reality to our own, citizens of the United Founded States of America can participate in a program that wipes away traumatic memories, thanks to the technology of a company called NeuroGlo. Challenging the timeless pillars of religion and the insidious healing power of pharmaceutical drugs, this technology has radically reshaped society’s collective response to trauma, grief, loss, and regret.

At the heart of this rebellion against the societal dominance of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-12-04T10:47:11+02:00December 3rd, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews, Speculative Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Seven Days of Mercy for the Apostatic Priest by Z. Bennett Lorimer

An imaginative plunge into battle for the very soul of a mystical realm, Seven Days of Mercy for the Apostatic Priest (The Divine Heretic Book 1) by Z. Bennett Lorimer is a uniquely captivating novel to launch a new series.

Tasked by her order to slay a reborn G-dling, Ruxindra is a cold and calculating weapon made flesh. Upon arriving at Mahakalpe to carry out her grim task, she discovers that the city hides even more secrets, including ancient wards linked to Eldritch arcana, and who or what they are remains an ominous mystery.

There appears to be a conspiracy […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-12-03T11:32:45+02:00December 2nd, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Winter Comes in June by David Crane

A visceral and intimate account of two future parents who know the world is about to end, Winter Comes in June by David Crane is an intriguing mixture of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction.

When a scientist on the moon discovers a planet-killing asteroid on a collision course with the Earth, humanity has 30 days to prepare for annihilation. Told through the converging stories of Oksana, an astronaut close to the disastrous discovery, and Michael, a geologist on Earth who survives the Amira impact, this is a before-and-after account of worldwide devastation.

From the impenetrable depths of Hydra Cave and the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-12-02T11:52:03+02:00December 1st, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Apocalyptic Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Being Human: A User’s Guide by David Ellis

A timely consideration of the foibles, failures, and turning points that define our lives, Being Human: A User’s Guide – Past Performance is Not a Guarantee of Future Results by David Ellis is a revealing combination of memoir and self-help manual, and a testament to the liberatory power of self-knowledge.

As a psychologist of more than four decades, Ellis sets out to answer some of the biggest questions that have been brought before him over the course of his career. From uncovering the root causes of our myriad existential problems and seeing the positive side of mistakes to eliminating despair […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-12-01T14:33:27+02:00December 1st, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: For Such a Time as This: Appointed to Rise by Amy Bragdon

A fearless collection of uplifting lessons and stories about the powerful potential we each possess, For Such a Time as This: Appointed to Rise by Amy Bragdon is a rousing call to life-changing action. Reflecting on her own biographical journey and the legacy she intends to leave behind, the author artfully distills a bounty of wisdom she has gathered along the way.

Structurally, the book presents ten Appointments – philosophical and personal truths that “will reframe your identity, restore your hope, and reignite your purpose.” These include embracing the purposeful “yes” in your life, choosing courage no matter the cost, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-11-26T13:55:57+02:00November 26th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: Revenge on Ice by Linda LeBlanc

Bad blood thrives on the mountaintops in Revenge on Ice by Linda LeBlanc, a vividly crafted second installment of the Sara/Ryker Mysteries.

When world-renowned mountain climber and local hero, Vance Miller, is found dead in a meat locker, the bizarre case lands in the lap of Sara and Ryker, the newest partners of the Reunion Heights Police Department. Members of the local Hiking Club – including the victim’s climbing team from a previous Everest summit – had gathered for the culmination of an intercontinental climbing contest Vance had presumably won, which included a small fortune in prize money.

However, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-11-25T18:04:55+02:00November 25th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Mystery Book Reviews|