SPR’s book reviews of new self-published books
Simon’s Dream by Jeremy Howe
A psychological and paranormal crime thriller, Simon’s Dream by Jeremy Howe is a gripping hunt for long-overdue justice. Surreal, spiritual, and undeniably creative, this slow-burning novel digs into powerful themes of unfulfilled purpose, vengeful justice, and the casual violence of our modern world.
Simon Verner is still figuring out his future in the waking world, but once he falls asleep, he has begun occupying the life and memories of John Stinson, a heroic Chicago police officer whose brutal murder has become a cold case. Compelled to find the cop-killers, if only to get a good night’s sleep, Simon enlists the […]
A haunting and heavy anthology of emotionally driven poems, Marching with a Broken Shadow by Dyson Russell is a wide-ranging collection that tackles romantic ironies, universal agonies, and the simple pleasures of existence.
A laugh-out-loud punchline of a read, Murphy’s Luck 4: Jinx vs. Fate by Benjamin Laskin continues the tongue-in-cheek tradition of this brilliantly strange series.
Author Aaron Grahame captures the struggle of chronic illness and the transient nature of memory in Memoirs of Forgotten Yesterday, an emotive long-form reflection on one man’s complicated life.
A gritty, erotic, and heart-pounding read from Georgia Adler, The Machinist’s Daughter is an empowering story of resilience and hope in the face of impossible loss.
AlieNation: The Imitated Life by Jayma Anne Montgomery is a surprising autobiographical work reflecting on family, culture, and identity, particularly in the context of immigration and mental health.