Upgrade
Imagine a world where gene editing had gone too far and caused famine and death. Then picture life ten years later, when gene editing is mostly illegal and highly regulated by the world’s governments. That is the near-future world of Upgrade, the latest novel by the author of the WaywardContinue Reading
The Night Shift
You are anticipating the best steak dinner you have ever had. Your mouth is watering picturing your first bite. Then, the server puts a large cheeseburger in front of you with an explanation of how the restaurant is out of steak. Sure, the burger looks juicy—but it is no steak.Continue Reading
Classic Monsters Unleashed
Take classic monsters from yesteryear like Dracula, Frankenstein and even Dr. Moreau. Add thirty of the best minds in horror wring today. Stir and you will concoct the tasty and thought-provoking horror anthology, Classic Monsters Unleashed. With 29 short stories, one poem and several illustrations, there is sure to beContinue Reading
The Color Meditation Deck
Once you have been a book blogger for a while, you have many options for books to review. I chose The Color Meditation Deck because I want to remove the stress of using the new watercolor supplies that I received for Mother’s Day. What stress could water coloring cause? IContinue Reading
The 60-Something Crisis
The 60-Something Crisis details the author’s difficulty with turning 60. I agree that reaching 60 is likely to contain both regrets and joyful memories. However, this book is less how to deal with either and more about the author venting about rich people problems. The 60-Something Crisis is less aContinue Reading
What Moves the Dead
What Moves the Dead? I am pretty sure it’s Edgar Allan Poe turning over in his grave after the publication of this anemic adaptation of his short story The Fall of the House of Usher. Location, location, location is the mantra of real estate agents. However, atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere isContinue Reading
The Binding Room
In The Binding Room, even the most upstanding people may have a secret or two hiding in their closets. Pastor Caleb is the leader of the popular church he named after himself. One day, the church cleaning lady is surprised to find him stabbed to death on the church floor.Continue Reading
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is the story of two childhood friends, Sam and Sadie. After being estranged for six years, they meet again when both are enrolled in nearby colleges. They decide to make a video game one summer that changes their lives. The plot, as stated above, doesn’tContinue Reading
Hotel California
Hotel California contains eight mystery stories not all of which are set in California. In a clever homage, the story titles are the names of the songs on The Eagles album Hotel California. The stories express all the different sub-genres of mystery. The stories vary from a new Jack ReacherContinue Reading
The Drug Trial
The premise of The Drug Trial is great. Elle is a woman constantly manipulated by her mother. When Elle realizes her mum has conned her out of her vacation funds, Elle gets drunk and signs up for an unbelievable deal. A free one-month island vacation and 20,000 cash at theContinue Reading
Acts of Violet
Acts of Violet is the latest twisty mystery from the author of Oona Out of Order. Violet Volk was a magician in the eighties. She was famous for her unfathomable stage illusions. In the nineties, she retired to write and hawk self-help books. Finally, in 2008, she returned to theContinue Reading
First Born
Twins, especially identical twins, have a stronger bond than any other humans. So, when Molly hears that her First Born twin, Katie, has been murdered, she rushes to New York City to solve the crime. It isn’t helpful that Londoner Molly is uber cautious, anxious, and scared of her ownContinue Reading
Golden Age Locked Room Mysteries
Who doesn’t love reading a locked room mystery? It’s fascinating how each author in this collection thought of a unique and intriguing impossible murder scenario. And then quickly unveiled their witty solution. Surely, one or more of the fourteen tales within the Golden Age Locked Room Mysteries will tickle yourContinue Reading
You are (not) Deadpool
You are (not) Deadpool is a fun and engaging mashup of Dungeons & Dragons with a Chose Your Own Adventure book plot! Join Deadpool on a search for alien guns in New York City. Don’t forget your paper, pencil and dice because there is quite a bit of recordkeeping requiredContinue Reading
Rizzoli & Isles: Listen to Me
A nurse is killed in her home. A teenage girl may or may not be a runaway. A new neighbor may be a serial killer or worse. It’s just another day in the life of Homicide Detective Jane Rizzoli in Rizzoli & Isles: Listen to Me. I admit that IContinue Reading
Trouble with Lichen
The premise of the Trouble with Lichen is great. A modern fountain of youth is found. How will it be shared with the public? How will it impact human society overall? I had some serious problems with the prose. It has long wordy sentences throughout. Clearly, the author never metContinue Reading