Eris, Boreas and Lethe venture to the unknown world to discover the truth of the world the world they have always known. Their explorations have some imaginative and kind of scary places. I would have liked a little more physical descriptions of these places. Overall, an enjoyable read.

Danger on the Red Train needs major editing and proofreading. The writing is also somewhat juvenile. A little stilted. Practically no description of anything. The summary of this book was very enticing. Unfortunately, it did not live up to its promise.

To Outwit Them All is an excellent historical fiction. Revolutionary War. Young woman uses her social acquaintances to gather information for a secret spy ring serving the Patriots. Betty seems a little naive at first then gains confidence as she falls in love with Major Andre. The writing flows smoothly, has good pacing. The last Part is, I think, the most affecting. The descriptions on the “Hell Ship” are intense and realistic making one feel as if the suffering of Betty is shared. Recommended.

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1930s, gangsters, fight over alliances. A mysterious kidnapping that is investigated by local gangsters and the mayor with help from an inexperienced and obedient man who is made promises if he obeys instructions. Aided by FBI agent who learns who is behind the kidnapping but not why. Smoothly written.

An ok story of a machine, found in a library, which transports Malik to another time and place. A dystopian world that examines memory and technology that consumes.

Drake Miller and his wife and son are in a car accident (or maybe not an accident).
After the accident something’s happens to Drake. He awakes to two different realities of his life. He moves from one to the other not knowing which is real. Reveal is the truth of the acccident, conspiracies. Small quibble with the writing: Drake runs his hand through his hair too many times and in different emotional situations. There is also another character who has the same tic.
Otherwise a very good story.

Good story, clues to murder mystery revealed one at a time. I had no doubt as to the innocence of the defendant, how his innocence is proved is the real story. A violent ending is revealed. The writing is good and smooth taking you along from beginning to end.

Horror, gruesome, inexplicable. A house appears in the playground near an elementary school. Several odd and evil things take place involving the children and teachers. The beginning is a little too detailed and slows getting to the action. Each few chapters tells the story of how the children are affected by the house. These children’s stories are never revisited or connected. Finally, at the end the house reveals the evil within.

I’m not sure what to make of this book. The story begins just as the story of The Little Princess. It follows the stoclose the story until it has a very different ending. I’m not sure if that was the intention; to provide an alternative ending.

In the town of Cemetery people are missing And dead with the blood drained from their bodies (no not vampires). The reason will surprise you. Great story and mystery with a few surprises along the way. A sweet, endearing relationship between the two major detectives (father/daughter). At times I felt myself reading faster in excitement. Only quibble: the main detective gets seriously injured at least three times, but keeps going, even though she is in great pain. Stretched credulity. One less serious injury might have been better. Overall, an excellent read.
Books needs proofreading.

Nordic Shadows is a short police procedural. Nordic novels usually have
descriptions of the cold, hard weather conditions; acting almost as a character. Nordic Shadows has none of this, which was a disappointment. The solving of the crime seems too fast and too easy. All evidence comes easily, including a computer that just happens to be open to a page describing the crime. Writing is a bit cliched.

A novella about a career criminal with no way out, he is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity. In the course of a day he experiences things beyond his imagination. At the end, this once in a lifetime opportunity is not free and not without risks. Is this opportunity a way out, a way to salvation or a way continue on his path?
Very imaginative, different, surprising story with some breathless moments. Give it a try.

This is a short story that I wished was a full length book. The story is about Frank, a detective who has experienced Deja vu, and can’t tell the difference be what’s real and what is not. An eerie, gripping story. Recommended.

Amaya is being gaslighted by her husband so he can control her money. It works until Amaya is helped by a therapist and good friends. There are quite a few surprises along the way. My only negative comment is that the writing is often awkward and a little stilted. Otherwise, an enjoyable story.

Lies Weaved in Ivy is a twisty read that engages from the first page. The writing is excellent with descriptions you want to read twice. This is a 54 page story that will hold you at every page.

La Belle Famille is a historical novel that takes place in 1759 during the French and Indian war. It is an authentic telling of friendships, love and family. The characters are real and compelling. This emotional tale with its stressful moments, survival instincts and growing love is highly recommended.

The Requisite Courage is a fast-paced story of a female spy when women were seen as weak and unintelligent. Adele takes on the assignment of routing out a German spy planning to assassinate King Edward. It’s a pleasure to see Adele in a strong capable role. There are hints of her past that may have included a handsome man. This was a very entertaining read. Give it a try.

The Consortium has an original premise. “Mad” scientists take homeless and hopeless people and induct them into the Consortium and torture them to see how much pain they can endure. The torture is described in detail (not for the squeamish) twice with less detail the second time. In the last part of the book we learn that Amelia (one of the most tortured) has acquired special powers. I was anxious to finish this book because this part became annoying, characters do not seem real, Amelia is just too much to believe. Even though she was a victim, I could not root for her. First of a trilogy.

“Functionals” with distinct powers are useful to society. Clara is able to take other’s pain onto herself. Her friendship with Morgan develops.
The internal thinking of Clara is full of snarky comments, that are very amusing. Unfortunately, Morgan can read her her mind.

This is a wonderful gothic, paranormal story in the great tradition of the best epistolary novels of the 19th century. Ravenswood Hall is haunted, (or the hallucinations of one man, set to inherit the Hall.)
In the grip of mysterious murders. Ghosts, real and not real, the reader is pulled into the lies, loves, unexplained phenomenon of the Hall. The author does such a wonderful job of creating suspense and consternation, that the pages fly by. Highly recommended.

Intelligent sci-fi story, intelligent writing. Unfortunately, not enough to keep me engaged. Characters are a little flat. Takes too long to get to the action. Disappointing.

I thought this would be more historical fiction, but it turned out to be a (steamy) romance. I don’t read Romances, so I am not sure I can fairly rate this book. The historical fiction part was non-existent and the writing style was not one that I enjoyed.

Unique story, intelligent writing and most characters are likable. Science fiction with a touch of romance and detectives story. A subtle look at our immortality and what we make of our time. Wild Bolts Electric. By Adam Dompierre

Botanist's Tracks is another of Michael Reit's superb books about the death camps. Based on true stories, he takes an unflinching look at the horrors of the concentration camps. You feel every one of his character's fear, horror, determination and grief at the loss of friends and family. One way to survive is to make yourself useful. Felcia is assigned to work in the laboratories where they are researching plants that will produce rubber for the Nazi war effort. Sabina is not a prisoner but joins the resistance. Their narratives are told in alternating chapters.. Highly recommended, this book will make you feel and remember their stories long after finishing the book.

The beginning of this book is all dialogue with no explanation of the British-isms used. The newly married couple Catherine and Chance go to their hotel, they eat, they sightsee, go back to their hotel, discuss what they should do the next day. It is not until the very end that three bodies are found in a ruin that was going to be torn down. What little that is left of the book is more talk of the bodies. Then the book ends rather abruptly. Perhaps I missed it but the mystery of the dead bodies is not explained.

I rarely read a book in 2 sittings, but I did with K.T Carlisle’s Reasonable. It’s the story of an obsession to find the truth behind the suicide of Rachel’s best friend Mia. Her obsession with seeking answers destroys her relationship with the man she loves. It is also the story of Cat who is accused of murdering her best friend, Elaine. Alternate narratives by Cat and Rachel show the people who are involved in both situations. Although not an ‘action’ story Reasonable has a fast pace and mysteries.
Twists, false starts, wrong conjectures, emotions that run high make up this compelling novel. Recommended. Book 1.

Fast paced SciFi story in which humans become biomaton slaves when their body parts are replaced with mechanical parts and all human emotions are taken out of their brains. There are airships, automatons are used as weapons, castles are filled with malice. The ending suggests a sequel.

Creative, original, unsettling supernatural horror. Great use of foreshadowing.
An ending that is as shocking as it is open-ended. Still puzzling over what would happen next, if there was a next. Engrossing. Recommended.

The Donnybrook Affair that sails along until the final twists. A detective, a best friend and a woman who only wants money and a husband. The story seems rather routine, but there is something about the detective and the writing style that kept me engaged.

This is an excellent book of historical fiction based on real events and real people.
It is the story of ordinary men and women who showed great bravery, determination and resilience in the face of the horrors of the Holocaust. Cringeworthy and suspenseful, even though you know how things might end. Highly recommended.