Thriller | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Last Defender by Travis Pearson

If you were witnessing the end of free will and life as you know it, would you have the courage to stand up and defend what you believe in? This is the gripping question that author Travis Pearson tackles in his rapid-fire new novel, The Last Defender. Seamlessly blending social commentary, dystopian science fiction and thrilling action, this novel casts a wide net in terms of a potential audience.

When a larger-than-life politician is elected to rule a sovereign nation, his constituents have no idea what horror they’ve signed up for. A shift in tactics is one thing, but […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-06-03T03:20:46+02:00April 2nd, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Dystopian Fiction, Thriller, Travis Pearson|

Review: Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating

There are those who say that all acts of service come from the same place, but in the case of Warrior Monk by Ray Keating, all acts of service can also come from the same person. After living an entire life as a warrior, serving his country as a CIA agent and NAVY Seal, Stephen Grant decides to wear a different uniform in the next chapter of his life – the robes of a pastor.

With this unique scenario to start off this entertaining series, Keating tosses readers headfirst into the crossfire. When a deranged woman comes into […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-05-10T10:34:27+02:00March 27th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Ray Keating, Religious Fiction, Thriller|

Midnight Black: The Purge by R.J. Eastwood

Imagine being isolated from society for more than a decade, only to find out that the entire world has fallen to pieces when you return. In Midnight Black: The Purge, a new thriller by author R.J. Eastwood, that exact scenario plays out for the protagonist, Billy Russell, an ex-cop who had served 15 of his 20 years for taking well-deserved justice into his own hands.

Russell is brought back to the land of the living only to find that a nuclear conflict has ushered in a new world order, and his newly granted freedom will start with him swallowing […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-03-08T10:12:28+02:00March 8th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Dystopian Fiction, Thriller|

Review: Status: Missing by D.W. Maroney

In this day and age, military thrillers often seem ripped right off the front page, and as technology and terrorism rapidly evolve in a global arms race, stories like Status: Missing become all too believable. Author D.W. Maroney launches readers into a fast-paced, multi-faceted novel of heroism, desperation, loyalty and sacrifice that is both timely and terrifically entertaining.

In response to more and more commercial airplanes beginning to mysteriously disappear, a secret task force is gathered to assess Drone Theory, which relates to the ability to hijack planes mid-flight, redirecting them anywhere in the world, or to the bottom of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-04-02T06:10:23+02:00March 6th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller|

Review: The Siegfried Contingency by Steven Laskin

The Siegfried Contingency by Steven Laskin is a gripping novel that will satisfy thriller fans and book lovers alike. With a dangerous book containing a world-changing secret sitting at the core of this fast-paced thriller, the author has leaned into an old framework, but also twisted it within a new setting and time period that features definitively unique characters.

When bookstore owner Carl Traeger is accosted by some no-nonsense German mobsters in his Seattle shop, demanding that he turn over what they seek – despite not being clear on what the object is – Carl realizes that he is in […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-03-01T12:57:19+02:00March 1st, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: LGBTQI, Thriller|

Review: Urban Justice (Vigilante Justice Book 2) by John Etzil

Things can change fast in a small town, and a few weeks after Jack Lamburt handles the initial drama at The Red Barn and the violent fallout from the mafia, trouble is still lingering on the horizon. Urban Justice, the second novel in the Vigilante Justice series by John Etzil, picks up right where the first left off, welcoming back eager readers to Lamburt’s unique form of justice.

The sister of the Sheriff’s bartending lover is still missing, and despite using all the formidable tools at his disposal, Jack keeps coming up short. Inevitably, he has to leave the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-05-02T06:37:54+02:00February 27th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: John Etzil, Thriller, Vigilante Justice Series|

Tropical Doubts by David Myles Robinson

In Tropical Doubts, the third legal thrill ride from author David Myles Robinson, the lovable Pancho McMartin is back in the courtroom, and back at the heart of a tangled murder mystery.

When old friends come begging him for legal help, it’s hard for this down-on-his-luck lawyer to refuse, but this case of medical malpractice is anything but normal. As the body count begins to rise and lies become muddied with truth, this unlikely hero will have to do his own investigating to discover where the guilt should lie. With a well-balanced plot and plenty of moving parts, this […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-02-11T12:10:05+02:00February 10th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: David Myles Robinson, Legal Thriller, Thriller|

Review: Butterfly Hill (A Matthys Rossouw Pursuit Book 2) by Brendan Le Grange

Combining global conspiracies, powerful ancient weapons and complex, unknowable motives, Butterfly Hill is a skillfully penned piece of suspense from Brendan Le Grange. Following on from his debut book, Drachen, this second installment can stand alone, although reading the first book will provide quite a bit more character backstory for the key players, including Hiko, Matthys and Gu.

Unlike many other “good cop chases bad guy” stories, the lines of morality are far from clear in this novel, and in fact, it’s difficult not to like the bad guy, despite his psychopathic tendencies. Hiko Shimuzu may be the antagonist, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-22T10:29:03+02:00December 18th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Thriller|