Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Poison Pill by Anthony Lee

A probing examination into the darker sides of health, Poison Pill by Anthony Lee is a fearless medical thriller told from inside the belly of the beast.

In a span of two days, Dr. Mark Lin is presented with a pair of enigmatic patients – Hector, a person far too young for kidney failure who potentially faces a lifetime of dialysis, and Robbie, a severely obese man with rapidly worsening COPD and no clear cause. In the first case, Dr. Lin suspects the root cause to be an energy and weight-loss supplement called Motileaf, while in the second, he worries […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-04-01T10:31:52+02:00March 31st, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Abbot Lane by Jim Layeux

A slow-burning drama that crackles with contemporary fears and timeless heroics, Abbot Lane by Jim Layeux is a forceful spy-vs-spy thriller.

An existential threat to America has been identified, and “a highly placed official within US intelligence is hellbent on destruction.” In order to prevent a global holy war, reluctant college student Jesse Carlton is recruited by an aging intelligence agent, Lee Tondar, who moonlights as a history professor at the secretive Grissim Institute.

Plunged overnight into the bewildering world of international espionage, Jesse is tasked with quietly investigating the flow and unprecedented censorship of intelligence reports to Tondar’s particular […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-03-31T14:13:58+02:00March 30th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Spy Thriller Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Down to Earth: A Way of Being by Brian Gregory

Exploring everything from childhood development patterns to humanity’s meaning and purpose in the universe, Down to Earth: A Way of Being by Brian Gregory offers a curious and compelling new lens for life.

The book begins with an accessible introduction to popular science, the nature of our universe, the unique history of our planet, and humanity’s immeasurable impact on it, coupled with lesser-known concepts – e.g., holarchies of evolution and developmental thought. These “holonic structures” refer to the ubiquitous interconnections between the whole and part that shape every aspect of life, from “atoms—>molecules—>cells—>organs” at the physical level to “core being—>inner […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-03-27T17:26:00+02:00March 27th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|

Review: Qarsoon by David C. Jeffrey

Captain Aiden Macallan returns to the astral fray in Qarsoon (Space Unbound Book 4) by David C. Jeffrey, launching himself into a high-stakes race that could turn the tide of galactic supremacy.

When a Sympath activist is shot dead on his doorstep, Captain Macallan immediately informs the authorities, but only after removing the secret message from his wife, Skye, tasking him with his most important mission yet. An old crew member has been contacted by an isolated group of human cloneborgs – those victims of aspiring alien conquerors who did not develop psychopathically obedient brains – sending Aiden and his […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-03-26T19:23:30+02:00March 26th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Alchemy of Blood by Richard LaBrie

Raw, unguarded, and ultimately hopeful in the face of harsh reality, The Alchemy of Blood by psychologist and poet Richard LaBrie transmutes the creeping despair of an observant healer into a striking collection of sensitive artistry.

Divided into four distinct sections – Nigredo, Albedo, Citrinitas, and Rubedo – these poems mirror the progressive spiritual path outlined by Carl Jung. The work does not strive for clinical distance or assume authority in its proffered wisdom; instead, the speaker(s) in these poems are curious, playful, flawed, and often accidentally profound.

The first section, Nigredo, is marked by themes of self-destruction, anger, regret, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-03-24T11:03:21+02:00March 24th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: Powerful Mind: 12 Simple Keys by Bill Harvey

A compelling, optimistic, and original approach to mental focus, Powerful Mind: 12 Simple Keys by Bill Harvey is an innovative tool for self-discovery and creative liberation. With the stated aim of helping readers to best utilize the skills and knowledge they already possess, this is an ambitious but undeniably edifying read.

Framed as a second essential piece of his “Mind Magic” methodology, this book explains why his established techniques have proven effective for tens of thousands of people in recent decades. Expanding on the author’s extensive experience working with the “Flow State” – namely, how to access this graceful energetic […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-03-11T14:14:16+02:00March 11th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: God in Drag by Kristine Madera

A touching tale of humility, healing, and the unpredictable paths of every soul, God in Drag by Kristine Madera is a travel novel that positively shines with humanity.

Micah Connerly has spent over a year in India searching for his absent stepfather, a holy man named Raj who doesn’t seem interested in being found. Criss-crossing the sprawling country to reconnect with this last remnant of his family, Micah has arrived in the sacred city of Varanasi, and the ashram where Raj allegedly stayed. After performing a simple act of compassion, Micah’s own health and future are put in jeopardy, so […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-03-10T15:02:08+02:00March 9th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: International Fiction Book Reviews, Literary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Second Nature by Thomas Drago

A gritty, dread-inducing drama that explores lingering extraterrestrial trauma in small-town New York, Second Nature by Thomas Drago is a character-driven gem of science fiction.

When an alien force snatches nearly a dozen people from their homes, only to return them the next night to a hallowed stretch of indigenous land, it shakes the foundation of reality for the fictional town of Warrington. Eighteen months on, normalcy has yet to return, and the survivors remain haunted by the memories of their indescribable abuse aboard the alien craft. Some authorities explain away the mystery as a mass hysteria event, leaving the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-03-09T17:58:11+02:00March 9th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|