American Magic
What if magic is real? But kept hidden by a group as mysterious, and rich, as the Illuminati? When one member turns rogue, the lid is off American Magic. Okay, I admit it, the plot sounds lame—except when you are actually reading it. The author manages to do a DanContinue Reading
Polygamy: An Early American History
Beginning with the Spanish Franciscan priests attempting to baptize Native Americans, Polygamy: An Early American History tours polygamist practices in the New World. Not just interested in the what, the author looks into the underlying reasons for the popularity of multi-wife families. In the 1600s, wars cut down many NativeContinue Reading
Savage Appetites
Psychological archetypes and crime fiction are melded in the true crime tales presented in Savage Appetites. The four tales here describe the mother of forensic science, who did not have a formal scientific background. Another tale describes a person fascinated by the Manson cult’s murder of Sharon Tate. The thirdContinue Reading
Stolen Things
What is the worst thing that 911 operator Laurie can hear on the job? Her sixteen-year-old daughter calling in saying “Mama? Help me.” Welcome to the adrenaline-fueled ride of Stolen Things. And you are only in chapter two. The twists never let up in Stolen Things. It is an exhilaratingContinue Reading
Old Bones
Parallel stories of the work of a new FBI Agent and the search for the Lost Camp of the Donner Party drive the engaging thriller, Old Bones. Probationary FBI Agent Corrie Swanson is looking into a grave robbery and a recent death as her first real case. She believes thereContinue Reading
Chase Darkness with Me
“People read and watch and listen to true crime because it restores order from chaos.” Telling the real stories of searching for, and sometimes finding, murderers that eluded the police, Chase Darkness with Me is true crime at its best. A crime reporter decides to use targeted Facebook ads andContinue Reading
Doll Factory
A Doll Factory is the location of this fascinating look at Victorian life through the eyes of both a budding feminist and a serial killer. Iris is an aspiring artist painting doll faces at Mrs. Salter’s Doll Emporium in 1850s London. Mrs. Salter is a harsh taskmistress especially when inContinue Reading
Hidden Things
Suspenseful heist thriller where Hidden Things don’t stay hidden forever. When fourteen-year-old Carly is attacked in her house, the police post video from her home’s security system hoping someone will recognize her attacker. While it only takes 44 views to find her assailant, the video has now spread far andContinue Reading
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
“One day we shall all be nothing but corpses.” That day is today for Big Foot in Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead. There is no love lost between neighbors, Big Foot and our narrator, Mrs. Duszejko. Big Foot was a thief and just an overall unpleasantContinue Reading
Death in the Covenant
Seamlessly blending the history of Mormonism with a present day police procedural, Death in the Covenant is a fascinating look inside a secret world. Heber Bentsen is a beloved pillar of the Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormon) church. As a counselor to the church president, he is investigating aContinue Reading
Thirteen
What a great hook for a thriller! A serial killer is one of the Thirteen people on a jury and a former con man is working for the defense team. Luke is a killer. Today, he is killing a lookalike so he can become a juror on a high profileContinue Reading
Trust Me When I Lie
Trust Me When I Lie shines a harsh spotlight on true crime television series like Netflix’ Making of a Murderer while also containing a twisty mystery. Jack Quick is the creator of a true crime television series in Australia. The series digs into the kidnapping and strangling death of Eliza.Continue Reading
Twisted at the Root
Gideon is brutally murdered in his own home in Twisted at the Root. The only person at home at the time is Gideon’s husband, Rashad. Rashad insists in his innocence but is found guilty at trial. When additional evidence is found four years later, Rashad is retried. He asks forContinue Reading
And Then They Were Doomed
And Then They Were Doomed is a fun little pastiche of Agatha Christie tales. Zoe has a recently deceased mother who was ostracized by her entire family after giving birth without a husband in sight. Zoe is also a little person and a writer of author biographies. Since she isContinue Reading
A History of Art in 21 Cats
From ancient Egyptian tomb art to modern day graffiti and YBAs, A History of Art in 21 Cats describes and illustrates the principles of 21 different art movements. Each movement includes a cat illustrating the different characteristics of the art. Many of the cats replicate a particular painting. Though theContinue Reading
Aquaman Vol 1: Unspoken Water
Aquaman Vol 1: Unspoken Water is Aquaman and his universe’s origin story. Like traditional mythology, Aquaman’s universe is full of angry, vengeful gods. First, there was Father Sea and Mother Salt. They had a perfect marriage in the world’s seas. Unfortunately, their children, though fully grown, solved their problems inContinue Reading