Tag Archives: mystery

October 24, 2016 · 5:00 am

The Keresa Headdress by Larry Shackelford (Book Review)

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It’s just a routine case at the FBI’s Salt Lake City offices. The young woman’s boyfriend is missing, possibly dead. Agent Karen Adams thinks he’s probably just out with another woman—but then the Royal Canadian Mounted Police come calling. Why would they care about a wayward addict cheating on his girlfriend in Utah? Soon, Karen is involved in a case like nothing she’s ever seen, navigating through an international criminal network of drugs, sex trafficking, murder, and the black market trade of priceless archaeological relics. Her new partner Marcus “Playboy” McCoy—handsome, charming, and almost unbearably crass—is equal parts help and hindrance as she navigates a seamy underworld in the Utah desert. But she also finds assistance from some unusual sources: a graduate student in archaeology, a dissatisfied sister-wife from a polygamous commune, and an undercover Canadian Mountie. Together they become entangled in the web of international crime and the only way out is to find the most priceless artifact of all: the legendary Keresa Headdress.

 
Kindle Purchase Link

 

(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
When a writer constructs a story dealing with historical facts, it’s easy to get caught up in the finer details and suddenly your story takes on the image of a wikipedia page. In this case, Larry didn’t cross the line from entertaining to overly informative. Sure, you could feel the passion and respect Larry Shackelford had for the Native American culture. Through the use of his characters, (Derek and Ruth), we learned much about their history but it wasn’t presented in a stuffy, clinical way. Knowing when to pull back takes talent. Larry, congrats on possessing such talent. 
 
However, as much as I enjoyed the history lessons, I didn’t connect to some characters. 
 
Constable Lee Bergerman’s focus seemed to shift drastically from work to pleasure once he met Ruth. Guess his “other head” did all his thinking for a bit until work/case struck a little bit too close to home. 
 
I didn’t really see the importance of Marcus except for comic relief. But, if we look at all the great detective shows, there’s always one funny guy to help lighten up the tension filled cases so I guess Larry felt his story would’ve benefited from a funny guy too. Actually, it kind of did. 
 
Karen: When I think of an FBI agent, I picture a woman who comes across as a leader, not a follower. Basically, I felt everyone was leading her around by the nose. Her detective skills were also lacking. She should’ve been able to realize sooner that Marcus had been using her phone for personal pranks. Others caught on fast. Maybe go back to FBI training camp?
 
I could discuss my take on the various other characters but I won’t. I will say despite my lack of love for them, they didn’t turn me off from the story. With the historical info, Marcus’ pranks, I found myself enjoying the story. 
 
So would I recommend this story to others? Yes, yes I would. 
 
 
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
 Score: ❤❤❤1/2
 
 

 

 
 
 

Larry was raised in southwest Missouri where he received his college degree, but he received his education after he graduated and began working in a maximum-security federal prison. After spending two years behind bars, he continued his law enforcement career as a criminal investigator, residing and working in eight states and two foreign countries. Larry retired from law enforcement after twenty-five years of service and resides in Salt Lake City with his wife and cat.

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September 27, 2016 · 5:00 am

Sexcastle by Kyle Starks (Book Review)

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Image Comics (March 31, 2015)

The Former World’s Greatest Assassin leaves the world of killing to a small town only to be pulled back in. An exciting action romp in the style of classic ‘80s Action Film.

 

REVIEW

Sexcastle was quite a comedic find and I’m so glad our paths crossed. Kyle wrote/illustrated a story so funny and unique I read it more than once.

Shane (Sexcastle), now one of my favorite characters, had no qualms giving anyone the middle finger and the stuff coming out his mouth was funny as hell. Ex. When he spoke about the times when a man should be able to cry. 1.) When his momma dies. 2.) His dick’s got messed up. Like by a bear attack. Don’t know about you but those seemed like two valid reasons to allow waterworks.

Something else I loved about Sexcastle — his weaponry. The man had freaking gunchucks (nunchucks with built in guns). Seriously, they were wicked cool!!

Oh and wait until you meet the assassins after him.You’ll recognize most, if not all, of the 80’s action stars and chuckle at some of their names. Thunderbutt happened to be my favorite. 

From start to finish, I adored everything about this book. I wish it was longer because I DID NOT want it to end. Brilliant…. absolutely brilliant! 

 

Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 

Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

 

 Amazon Print Link

Kindle Purchase Link

 

 

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September 17, 2016 · 5:00 am

The Guardian: Mended Souls, Book 1 by Jacquie Biggar (Book Review)

HOT NEW adventure romance. Spice up your summer with The Guardian

 

Can two lost souls stop a madman with the help of a sarcastic angel?


Lucas Carmichael and Scott Anderson had it all, money, fame, and fortune. But one night’s stupid mistake takes everything they thought they cherished and dumps it upside down.
A car accident ends Lucas’ life and leaves Scott injured and bitter.
As the local ME, Tracy York, investigates the case, discrepancies begin to point to more than a simple drunk driving incident.
When threats are made to Tracy’s life can Scott and his guardian angel, Lucas, protect her, or will she become another casualty?

Excerpt:
 

Scott couldn’t believe he’d escaped from a hospital just a few hours before and now here he was, riding in the back of an ambulance. He was pretty sure it wasn’t SOP to transport a canine, even if it was extenuating circumstances. But the moment the paramedics had shown up, his companion had run roughshod over their objections. It was sort of sexy.

Tracy York.

He had a difficult time equating her as a medical examiner. She seemed too… young. Naïve. Cute.

That is until a person got close enough to read the deep green pools of her gaze. They spoke of suffering, those eyes. They made him ache inside. He wanted to hold her. Offer to help, even though his world was a screwed up mess.

Her thigh rubbed against his every time the ambulance changed lanes and was slowly driving him crazy. Every nerve strained closer, waiting for the next teasing friction of silk and jean meshing together and then apart.

The vehicle took a corner and she lost balance, threw out a hand to steady herself, and came dangerously close to finding out exactly what she was doing to him.

Scott grasped her forearm in his good hand and stopped her forward momentum. He froze, their lips a hairsbreadth apart. Her eyes grew large and he felt like the wolf at Red Riding Hood’s door. His heart skidded along his windpipe like it was an Olympic medal winning luge run. How had he thought her merely cute? She was gorgeous, with hair like the finest brandy and skin that rivalled any fairy tale heroine he’d ever read about. He leaned toward her, solely focused on tasting that lush, honey-sweet mouth.

And she frowned at him.

Just like that the noise came rushing back in, the creak of the van, the beep of machines, and the stifled snort of the paramedic who suddenly pretended to act busy. Tracy pulled her arm free. She ignored him to reach out and pet the mutt’s gnarled coat, and move a careful few inches down the bench.

Scott glared at the grinning paramedic and sat back, his head resting against the cool metal wall behind him. He couldn’t honestly remember the last time a woman turned him down. He was disappointed, but there was no denying the fact that the doc intrigued him. If she were anyone else he’d be tempted to pursue the matter. But she held his and Lucas’ reputation in her dainty little hands. He couldn’t afford to alienate her.

 
GET YOUR KINDLE OR PAPERBACK COPY TODAY!! 
 
 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 
They say the Lord works in mysterious ways and HE sure did in The Guardian. He partnered up Mike and Lucas who’s paths crossed one unfortunate night. A night filled with pain, heartache and lost lives. 
 
When Mike visited his family and relived his final moments before the impact, I admit I cried. I pictured myself as Jules, chanting “I love you” to my family because I needed them to know, had to let them know, because the inevitable was about to happen.  Even as I am typing this, I’m tearing up and I am not a huge crier. So before you read chapter 11, grab a tissue. Trust me, you’ll need it. 
 
For the rest of the story, I didn’t shed one tear. I did raise an eyebrow at a few passages. I’ll share those with you now. 
 
1.) When Scott took Tracy on a picnic, he brought and drank wine. You’d think a man who was still recovering from an accident, where he lost his best friend and sister, would abstain from any form of alcohol. There was more at play with the accident but I’m not divulging any secrets. Lets just say at this point and time, Scott thought the accident centered around alcohol. Case closed. 
 
2.) Angels curse? Ok Lucas and Mike are NEW ANGELS so maybe that’s why they didn’t censure themselves. Maybe cursing isn’t going against the heavenly rulebook. 
 
3.) Without giving out a spoiler, I will say I was shocked when a certain deceased individual could still get hurt/be knocked out. 
 
Other than those three things, I rather enjoyed this book. I’m pleased to see Jacquie didn’t have the Lord appear only at the start of the book. Those who believe in HIM, hope HE watches out for us, guides us every day, will be delighted the number of times the Lord “appears” and his words of guidance. He was basically Lucas’ conscience, pointing him on the right path which is exactly what I expected of HIM to do.  
 
I should make note of one more thing, this book does end on a CLIFFHANGER and one I think will have you anticipating book 2. 
 
 
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5
(highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤1/2
 
GET YOUR KINDLE OR PAPERBACK COPY TODAY!! 
Goodreads Link
 


Jacquie writes Romantic Suspense with tough, alpha males who know what they want, until they’re gob-smacked by heroines who are strong, contemporary women willing to show them that what they really need is love.
She has been blessed with a long, happy marriage and enjoys writing romance novels that end with happy-ever-afters.
Jacquie lives in paradise along the west coast of Canada with her family and loves reading, writing, and flower gardening. She swears she can’t function without coffee, preferably at the beach with her sweetheart. 🙂
 
Follow Jacquie’s website below – if you check out her giveaways page you’ll find tons of great prizes every month!

 
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August 20, 2016 · 5:00 am

Author Showcase/Interview and Review of “Inevitable” – Lindsay Boyd

Welcome, Lindsay Boyd ❣
 

 
1. For those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a dear and tell the readers a little about yourself? How did you get your start in the writing business?

(Lindsay) I am originally from just outside the city of Melbourne in Australia and nursed the ambition to be a writer from an early age. I set myself the challenge of writing a novel at the age of twenty and succeeded by hook or by crook. It may not have been the greatest novel in the world but at least I demonstrated to myself that I could muster the self-discipline necessary to achieve such an aim. In my twenties I wrote some other novels and also penned a number of screenplays. While I received plenty of encouraging and positive feedback it would a number of years before I began publishing material.
 
2. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, please share how you handle it.
 
(Lindsay) Where I am concerned this is almost a N/A question. But if stuck in any kind of writing rut I adhere to the same philosophy I apply to a difficult patch on a long-distance run, ie, I ride out the storm and carry on regardless. Blocks or ruts pass. It is  simply a matter of working your way through them.    

 

 
3. Contrary to what some people envision about a writer’s life, it’s not all glitz and glam. Well not for the majority of us. With that bubble sadly busted, when you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
 
(Lindsay) Many writers would have ‘day jobs’. I certainly do and I doubt I would want to give them up even if I could. I am a personal carer and a traveller as much as I am writer. Work as a personal carer / community development worker was my way of making ends meet for numerous years and I continue working at that these days. I have lived and worked in numerous intentional community settings all over the world. Spirituality is very important to me. I have been in the habit of daily meditation for more than twenty years. As far as leisure time activities goes, I enjoy reading, music, films, photography, running, swimming, other languages and cultures, to name just a few.
 
4. I know many writers, such as myself, keep their pastime/career a secret. Do those close to you know you write? If so, what are their thoughts?
 
(Lindsay) Yes, they do. Since it is an integral part of who I am it would be hard to keep it a secret. I think for the most part those in the know appreciate my efforts, which is gratifying. There may also be equal parts astonishment that I have kept for so long at something that has been for me essentially a non-paying enterprise. Fortunately I learnt long ago not to concern myself overmuch with the question of how much money I might or might not earn from writing. 
 
5. Will you share with us your all-time favorite authors? If you’re like me, it’s a long list so give us your top ten.
 
(Lindsay) Hermann Hesse / Fyodor Dostoyevsky / C. P. Cavafy / Yukio Mishima / Nikos Kazantzakis / Albert Camus / Erich Fromm / Marilynne Robinson / Jhumpa Lahiri / Kazuo Ishiguro
Kam: I’m not familiar with all these authors so thank you for giving me ideas of who to check out next. 
 
 
6. If you could choose one book to go to the big screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love to see cast in the parts?
 
(Lindsay) Screen adaptations of books are arguably best kept to the work of genre fiction writers. As a writer of literary fiction I find this a tough question to answer. I generally believe the two mediums should steer clear of each other, though I have seen competent renderings of literary fiction books I like. I never write a novel with a view to the screen. What I do write with a view to the screen are screenplays, but only when I feel I have an idea that would translate okay and / or is best fitted for that.
 
7. Would you care to tell us what you’re working on now? That is if it’s not top-secret information. If so, just whisper it in my ear. I swear it’ll go no further.
 
(Lindsay) The recently released Inevitable is the first novel of an anticipated trilogy of self-contained works whose underlying link is thematic, principally the theme of new life. Aside from the second book of this trilogy I am also working on a novel titled Marginal, which takes as its starting point the death under suspicious circumstances of a long-term homeless Irishman and how this event impacts the lives of the diverse group of individuals with whom he came into contact in his final year. Concurrently, I plan to work on a couple of screenplay ideas and see what if anything comes of those.     
 
8. Where can we find your stories, and is there a particular reading order?
 
(Lindsay) I have published shorter pieces, both fiction and non-fiction, in numerous print journals and ezines. I have three books on smashwords, a two-part ‘travel memoir’ and also a book of stories. A few years ago I self-published a trilogy of self-contained novels on the theme of healing and reconciliation. The second was later published in ebook format by Brisbane, Australia based jaffabooks.com.au Books one and three and the original version of the second can be found on amazon, etc. The three components of that trilogy could be read in any order, I feel, though there is a progression in the treatment of the theme.

 

 

9. Would you please share how your present and future fans can contact you?
 
(Lindsay) A good place to commence might be my Facebook author page.  Then there is my blog / site. The most direct route of all, however, would be my personal email address: snowball5810@yahoo.com.au
 
10. Before we conclude this enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like to share? The stage is all yours.
 
(Lindsay) There is much to like about the writing life, as hard as it can be to earn a crust as a writer. But I would encourage anyone who feels they have this vocation in them to give it a go. The freedom to be able to work anytime, anywhere, is not to be sniffed at. In essence it is as down to earth as grabbing a pen, or a pencil, and a piece of paper (most things I write I prefer to write by hand in the first instance). Another great thing about writing, for me, is that it is a sublime meditative pursuit that never fails to take one within – hopefully to the discovery of more resonant ‘truisms’ than those obtainable outside oneself. My life would never have been the same without it.  
 
~~ Closing Remarks ~~  
Ladies and Gents, I hope you enjoyed my interview with Lindsay Boyd. If you have any questions or comments for Lindsay, by all means, leave him a message below. However, before you drop us a line, please take a moment and take a gander at Inevitable. Genre: mystery/suspense


Thanks!!
 
 
 
 

Having recently completed a twelve-year-prison term for a horrendous crime committed when he was fourteen, Vanburn Holding pitches his hopes for a new life in an intentional recovery community based in northeast Thailand. On the eve of his departure for Asia an encounter with an ailing American high school girl on one of the beaches of his Caribbean island home threatens to derail his plans. Van, however, contends with this frightening occurrence and upon journeying to Asia and establishing himself in the community setting makes great strides in fashioning the mode of life he has envisioned for years. But his past catches up with him, bringing the realisation that things left undone at home for too long cannot remain in that state. He therefore acts to take responsibility for all his actions, not simply those with consequences more easily borne.

(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
When I read a book, I notice my mood reflects the undertones of what I’m viewing. For the most part, Inevitable is a depressing read which, in turn, turned my happy mood — sour. 
 
I realize the subject manor wasn’t intended to elicit feeling of happiness. I went in with my eyes wide open on what I would be facing. Murder, missing teenager, is not light reading material at all. However, my main issue isn’t with the plot but how it was carried out. 
 
The characters didn’t really display any real emotion. Lindsay didn’t create enough emotional connection between his characters and the cases discussed in the book. 
 
For example, if your child goes missing, a normal reaction would be tears….. buckets of tears. I don’t think the majority of us parents (caregivers) would be taking a dip in the pool. Lindsay had Gloria’s family more concerned about public image than anything else.  Their detachment caused me to experience no interest to their plight, which is the adverse reaction a person should feel. Right?
 
As for Vanburn, no feelings expressed there either. When he “spoke” I heard it all in a monotone voice. Actually, as I was reading each page, I heard the man from the old Visine commercials in my head. (If you aren’t familiar with him/it, google it.)  Boring, lifeless, and I’m afraid to say so was this book. 
 
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤
 
Kindle Purchase Link
Print Purchase Link
 
 

 

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August 18, 2016 · 5:00 am

Deceptions by Dana Mansfield (Book Review)

Jack Petrov, lead singer of a successful rock band, is spending the Thanksgiving weekend with his wife and children in the Poconos. He has been out of the limelight for two years after a terrible car accident that resulted in the deaths of two of his children. Traveling with the family is the children’s nanny, Penny Shepherd. Penny and Jack have been best friends since their days at Princeton. After a verbal fight with his wife, Jack orders Penny to drive him after he gets buzzed in the lodge’s bar. Before they can return, they are abducted by kidnappers hired by someone called the Employer. Although treated okay at the beginning, their treatment worsens as the Employer demands information from Penny. After the truth is revealed, the Employer leaves after a final goodbye and Penny and Jack are left to try and survive, still as captives.

 
 
 
 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
I must warn you, before you decide to purchase Deceptions, you are in for page after page of torture. The gruesome acts against Penny were more brutal than anything Jack endured.
Why, you may ask? Because she took the brunt of any defiance by him and because the mastermind behind their abduction hated her with a passion. 
 
Penny suffered blows from a sledgehammer, sexual assaults, burns, and the grisly list goes on. It was very difficult to read. Yes, Dana described it all in much detail which takes talent. On the other hand, the book was nearly start to finish with one deplorable act after another. 
 
For her writing capabilities, I do respect the imaginative skill behind such an emotionally draining story. However, for me, all the violence became too much to take. 
 
I, like Jack and Penny, wanted a reprieve from the torture. The times they did have a moment to recover, they pondered who was the mastermind — the Employer. For the boss, I was hoping I’d be surprised who’d be unveiled. Unfortunately, I wasn’t. 
 
I’m sure you won’t be shocked who comes to visit them. 
 
I also want to make note Deceptions ends with a cliffhanger. I can’t imagine how much more these two can endure. I almost afraid to find out. 
 
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤1/2
 
 
 
I was born, raised, and still live in northwest Iowa. I enjoy the intricacy and problem solving of creating stories and thankful to have achieved remission from leukemia to have the chance to see my literary dreams come to fruition. I teach reading to at-risk high school students and spend my time writing, watching cooking and clothing competitions on television and being an overprotective mom to my two cats, Boots and Joey.
 


Feel free to visit my website where you can find more of my writing – http://www.danamansfield.com

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