Category: Novel

Political intrigue, a land fight, clashing agendas, and unearthed bones all propel new suspense novel ‘Trust Me’ by Richard Z. Santos

by Si Dunn

Trust MeRichard Z. SantosArte Publico Press This well-crafted suspense tale provides a nice debut for first-time novelist Richard Z. Santos. Trust Me also has a real-life tale of perseverance behind its fiction. Indeed, many writers can identify with Santos’s long struggle to get his first book finished and published. And that may inspire new hope … Continue reading Political intrigue, a land fight, clashing agendas, and unearthed bones all propel new suspense novel ‘Trust Me’ by Richard Z. Santos

‘The Secret Life of Anna Blanc’ – This debut murder mystery has everything from comedy to horror – #bookreview

by Si Dunn

The Secret Life of Anna Blanc Jennifer Kincheloe Seventh Street Books  –  paperback, Kindle   This feisty debut novel makes the case that it’s tough to be a female detective…especially in 1907. The Secret Life of Anna Blanc is a clever blending of mystery, murder, and social commentary, along with elements of a comedy of … Continue reading ‘The Secret Life of Anna Blanc’ – This debut murder mystery has everything from comedy to horror – #bookreview

GUN STREET GIRL: Detective Sean Duffy is back in action, by popular demand! – #mystery #fiction #bookreview

by Si Dunn

Gun Street Girl A Detective Sean Duffy Novel Adrian McKinty Seventh Street Books – paperback, Kindle At first glance, “Gun Street Girl” seems like the title for a cheap, unpromising paperback potboiler. But the good news is, it’s actually Adrian McKinty’s latest Detective Sean Duffy mystery. Readers literally begged McKinty to keep Duffy alive after … Continue reading GUN STREET GIRL: Detective Sean Duffy is back in action, by popular demand! – #mystery #fiction #bookreview

BLACK KARMA: A White Ginger Novel – Mystery and action in San Francisco’s Chinatown – #bookreview

by Si Dunn

  Black Karma A White Ginger Novel Thatcher Robinson (Seventh Street  – paperback, Kindle)   Life definitely is not easy for Bai Jiang, San Francisco’s best-known people-finder (souxun). As a beautiful, and single, female investigator, Bai gets hit on a lot, even by her ex-husband. People also try to hit her, shoot her, or otherwise … Continue reading BLACK KARMA: A White Ginger Novel – Mystery and action in San Francisco’s Chinatown – #bookreview

South, America – Action, mystery and gritty Southern noir – #bookreview

by Si Dunn

South, America A Jack Prine Novel Rod Davis (New South Books – paperback, Kindle) Here’s one way to get yourself into deep trouble: Try to perform a simple act of kindness. Jack Prine, the central character in this gritty, well-written new mystery novel, reluctantly tries to help a young woman understand what has happened to … Continue reading South, America – Action, mystery and gritty Southern noir – #bookreview

The Troubles Trilogy: Adrian McKinty’s Northern Ireland crime novels are powerful, engrossing reading – #bookreview

by Si Dunn

In the Morning I’ll Be Gone Book Three: The Troubles Trilogy Adrian McKinty (Seventh Street Books, paperback) I wish I had discovered The Troubles Trilogy and Detective Sean Duffy much sooner than Book Three. I really don’t like reading trilogies in reverse. But Adrian McKinty is an amazingly good crime novelist. And now that I have … Continue reading The Troubles Trilogy: Adrian McKinty’s Northern Ireland crime novels are powerful, engrossing reading – #bookreview

Man in the Blue Moon – Fine Southern fiction by Michael Morris – #bookreview #fiction

by Si Dunn

Man in the Blue Moon Michael Morris (Tyndale, paperback – Kindle) Book reviewers, particularly Southern U.S. book reviewers, frequently pick through new “Southern” novels looking for “echoes” of William Faulkner, Flannery O’Connor, Harper Lee, Eudora Welty, or Walker Percy. (I wish some of them also would look for echoes of that good but now almost-forgotten … Continue reading Man in the Blue Moon – Fine Southern fiction by Michael Morris – #bookreview #fiction

Five Dark Riders – A novel rich with history, intrigue, action & romance – #fiction #bookreview

by Si Dunn

Five Dark Riders Bill Sloan (Zipp City Press, paperback, Kindle) Bill Sloan is an acclaimed historian and veteran newspaper journalist previously nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He also is one of America’s best writers of World War II Pacific-theater combat narratives. (His latest, Undefeated: America’s Heroic Fight for Bataan and Corregidor, was published in April.) … Continue reading Five Dark Riders – A novel rich with history, intrigue, action & romance – #fiction #bookreview

Steven Saylor’s ‘The Seven Wonders’ – A fine intro to Gordianus the Finder, famous sleuth of ancient Rome – #bookreview #in #mystery #fiction

by Si Dunn

The Seven Wonders: A Novel of the Ancient World Steven Saylor (Minotaur Books, hardback, list price $25.99; Kindle edition, $12.99) To be honest, until I picked up this book, I had paid zero attention to best-selling author Steven Saylor’s long-running Roma Sub Rosa series of mysteries set in ancient times, in the Roman Empire. The hero … Continue reading Steven Saylor’s ‘The Seven Wonders’ – A fine intro to Gordianus the Finder, famous sleuth of ancient Rome – #bookreview #in #mystery #fiction