The Other Side Of Night By Adam Hamdy

The Other Side of Night is a genre and mind bending story that will leave readers contemplating the subject matter long after the final word is read. What starts as a compelling criminal thriller drastically morphs into an existential examination of self, sacrifice, and survival. 

Dismissed and disgraced, former police officer Harriet Kealty finds herself lost and in search of meaning. When she stumbles upon a scribbled call for help in a used book, everything changes. With her instincts pinged and her psyche in need of something to focus on, this potentially meaningless message leads somewhere and, more importantly, to someone she never imagined. With a child’s well being on the line, she won’t back down in her investigation regardless of the personal and professional ramifications.

Adam Hamdy’s flowing, almost lyrical, prose is easy to get lost in. Unlike my usual reading style, I found myself savoring each page, rereading paragraphs, and dissecting every word written. I didn’t simply want to process what I was reading, I  wanted to experience it. Despite moving at a fraction of my normal pace, I still managed to finish this incredible story in the course of two late night sessions.

Others have said this is the book of the year and if I’m honest, I cannot disagree. As a father, a son, and a husband let me just say this… The Other Side of Night will imprint itself on every reader differently and will do so again and again each time it’s read. Like never being able to step in the same river twice, this book will strike a different chord each time it finds it’s way into your hands, because you will never be the same person you were the previous time. There is something magical about that and I think it deserves to be celebrated.

The Other Side of Night is not a book of radically new ideas, but it is singularly unique.

The Other Side of Night is not a book of overwhelming action, but it will have your heart rattling your ribcage.

The Other Side of Night is not a stereotypical love story, but it will make you feel emotions you thought long dormant.

The Other Side of Night is a book like any other, just words on a page… but it is somehow so much more than that.

My greatest hope for you is that you come away after having closed the book for the final time and feel the way I did… that you are overwhelmed with a sense of contentment, empathy, and love.

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The Maze By Nelson DeMille

There are few fictional characters that I enjoy reading more than John Corey. The off the chart levels of sarcasm, cutting wit, and (often time inappropriate) internal dialogue makes these books absolute pleasures to read. Sometimes offensive, but always well meaning… there is so much to love about Corey’s shenanigans and they are on full display in The Maze.

The list of John Corey’s previous jobs is longer than my… usual reviews. While we were first introduced to Corey as a NYPD Homicide Detective, he is now officially retired from the Diplomatic Surveillance Group, and they are not sorry to see him go. The one job title he never entertained adding to his resume was that of Private Detective. That is until his former flame Detective Beth Penrose uses a job offer at a local PI firm to entice him to stay out in Long Island for a summer of sun and fun, clothing optional of course. When Corey agrees to hear the pitch, he quickly discovers that something more is going on and it might be related to the increasing numbers of dead bodies being found along a stretch of beach not far from his current location.

With relationships blurred by shifting allegiances, Corey finds himself in a labyrinth of corruption and conspiracy that go to the very top of the political and legal structures in the area. When the only way out is through, Corey will have to fight his way out of the physical and emotional entanglements he finds himself trapped in.

The overall plot of The Maze is not groundbreaking in its own right and readers should understand that this is definitely a character driven novel. Luckily there are few characters like John Corey. DeMille continues to amaze me with his insights, prose, and hilarious one liners. Long time fans of the series should be excited to get their hands on this one.

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A Mourning Song By Mark Westmoreland

A Mourning Song is a swashbuckling saga, slashing its way through the shady side of southern society, sustained by savagery, sentiment, and sass. Mark Westmoreland is a gifted storyteller with a flowing writing style that seems to transport readers through the pages like the smell of an impending thunderstorm carries on a southern breeze. 

A year after the traumatic events of A Violent Gospel, Mack Dooley is a man unable to heal his mental wounds, deciding the blackness at the bottom of a whiskey bottle is preferable to the dark visions in his dreams. When a home invasion forces him to track down Marshall, his missing brother, he must start in a place he never wanted to return to. When Peanut Bohannon, the criminal kingpin of Tugalo County lays out the struggle between his family and a barbarous band of criminals going by the name Ghostface Devils, the Dooley brothers find themselves squarely in the middle of the action. Regardless of the existing animosity between Mack and his brother, the Bohanons, and the ghosts of his past, he must put it all behind him to protect his family and in the south, nothing short of God comes before that.

To say I was excited to get my hands on this book is an understatement. At any mention of the completion of final edits, I was borderline pestering Westmoreland for an early look. Ok, I was pestering him. I was just that anxious to see what the Dooley brothers had gotten themselves into. With highly authentic characters, plausible criminal activity, and intense action sequences, this is just one of those series that you get mad at when you flip the last page because you just have to know what happens next. 

If you have any interest in Southern Crime, then you need to pick up Westmoreland immediately. With his creativity and engaging writing, this is a series that will only continue to get more interesting and better as time goes on.

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Toxic Effects By Joel Shulkin

Toxic Effects is more than just a medical thriller. As you would expect there is a heavy focus on what is going on in Cristina Silva’s cranium, but in the second book in the series more attention is paid to Detective Wilson as he tries to solve a series of murders. With complex and intertwining plotlines, there is more than enough intrigue to keep readers guessing until the very end.

The follow up to Adverse Effects explores the aftermath of the conclusion of that book. Neuropsychiatrist Cristina Silva struggles to come to terms with the voice in her head, which just happens to be her former identity. As her mental state deteriorated she forced Detective Gary Wilson out of her life, but not out of her heart.

The Detective finds himself in a similar romantic state as he tries to bury himself in work, unraveling the mysterious deaths of a string of high school students. The only things connecting the death were the boys displaying heightened mental capabilities and erratic behavior immediately before their deaths, as well as mention of a hooded figure that has them scared for their lives.

Trying to start fresh, Cristina begins her new job at the Longwood Memory Center, unfortunately she cannot escape her past. Her contact at the FBI informs her that an assassin is eliminating anyone previously connected with ReMind, the pharmaceutical company she previously worked for. All signs point to the shadowy criminal enterprise Zero Dark is back. The only question is, is she next on the kill list?

Similar to the first book in the series, there is a lot going on in this story and readers will need to pay attention to keep the names and voices/personalities straight. Having read the first book in the series, I was able to slide right back with no problem, but if it’s your first book then it might take a few chapters. Overall, I enjoyed the story and was continually impressed by the author's ability to combine complex medical information without slowing down the pacing.

With multiple personalities, memory gaps, stolen identities, and killers running amok, this is not your typical medical thriller and a nice change up to the typical detective stories.

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Oath Of Loyalty By Kyle Mills

Twenty books into the series, we’ve seen Mitch Rapp hunt down about every terrorist plot imaginable. Then Kyle Mills looked at the state of the world and wondered… what if Mitch was the enemy being tracked by the full resources of the US government? How would he employ what he’s learned over his career to keep himself and those he loves alive?

Oath of Loyalty is as action packed as it is terrifyingly timely. The peril is constant, the writing superb, and the ending left me wanting to track down Kyle to sneak a look at the (insanely) detailed outline for the next one.

The world has changed since readers were first introduced to the incomparable Mitch Rapp. With the War on Terror all but finished and the United States fracturing along imaginary political lines, the premier counterterrorism agent finds himself short on purpose and unsure of how his future might take shape. President Anthony Cook sees Rapp as a real danger, not just politically, but to his actual life. Irene Kennedy manages to broker an uneasy truce in which Mitch must leave the country, but Cook and his minions will leave him alone.

However, the truce is too fragile to hold when Cook’s sycophant of a security adviser convinces him Rapp is not a man he can let live if he wants to stay in power. With an ingenious plan of leaking Claudia Gould’s real identity to her enemies who thought her dead, the President has a plan to neutralize Mitch without his fingerprints showing up.

Like all the best laid schemes of men, the universe has other thoughts on the matter. When a new breed of assassin, known as Legion, is hired by one of Claudia’s enemies, Rapp is forced to adapt to the increasingly dangerous situation and try to find a way to turn the tables to his advantage. Not an easy task against a highly creative killer who has never failed. 

This is the type of book that catapults an iconic series in a new and fantastic direction. Kyle Mills is taking the Mitch Rapp series boldly into the future and there is absolutely no one I’d rather see in command.

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They Come At Knight By Yasmin Angoe

They Come at Knight is one of the most balanced thrillers I’ve read all year. There is a plentiful amount of action to keep any adrenaline junkie satisfied, but all the blades and bullets are offset with enough emotional and interpersonal turmoil to touch even the most stone hearted individual. This is exactly the type of book I’ve come to expect from the supremely talented Yasmin Angoe.

As an assassin for the Tribe, a powerful organization intent on improving the lives of African people, Nena Knight dispassionately dispatches those the council deems necessary. When a mission goes sideways and the threats to the organization become more personal, Nena must find a deeper part of herself to keep those she loves from harm.

For those of you who follow me on social media, read my review of Her Name is Knight, or have talked to me about books at all… you know how much I love Nena Knight as a character and appreciate Yasmin Angoe’s skills as a writer. The second installment of this series was everything I was hoping it would be.

After having my soul crushed in the first book, watching Nena begin to heal was the emotional salve I needed. Yasmin impressively utilizes Nena’s personal story to illustrate the history of the African diaspora, the importance of understanding cultures' role in our everyday life, and the power that a united people could wield.

I was genuinely concerned… curious… contemplative about how Yasmin was going to outline enough of Nena’s backstory to solidify the emotional attachment for new readers without spoiling the insanely good manner in which Her Name is Knight was written. My worries were all for not, as Yasmin proves once again why her books are must reads and Nena Knight is one of the best characters in the thriller genre.

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Real Bad Things By Kelly J. Ford

Real Bad Things is a flowing narrative that sucks you in and the best you can hope for is to survive the rapids until the stunning conclusion. At times the story is serene with characters taking a dip into the still waters of their memories, then it turns violent and deadly at the very next bend. Kelly J. Ford has crafted a slow churning, heart breaking thriller that will keep you on edge and guessing until the dam bursts and all the dirty and vicious secrets of the past come flooding out.

The Arkansas River, like those who live along its banks, is full of secrets, mystery, and murder. When a body is fished out of the dam after spending decades below the surface, Jane Mooney is forced to return home and face the admitted sins of her past. While the threat of jail time looms over her head, it is the dangers from those who are supposed to care and love you that will put her life at risk.

This is a proper, evenly paced crime story that spends a large portion of the pages exploring the emotional anguish, unhealed trauma, and disastrous relationships of the characters within. While the physical danger is real, this is more of a story for readers who are looking for a thrilling experience of untangling the web of lies and mental intrigue of this all too real situation. You will float through chapter after chapter, unable to keep yourself from flipping the next page, unconsciously propelled as if you’re rafting down a river you can’t escape.

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Out Of The Blue By M.M. Harrold

Out of the Blue is a compelling concoction of chaos, corruption, and cults. M.M. Harrold has created a unique protagonist in Dan Stock. The former Atlanta cop displays a healthy dose of cynicism and sarcasm, but has the talents and tenacity to not let little things like laws get in the way when injustice is rearing its ugly head.

When a Baptist pastor is murdered in the rural Mississippi town Dan has recently moved to, the dark underbelly of the town and its inhabitants comes to light. The suspected murderer is none other than the pastor’s wife, who is being represented by Cherry Winter, a controversial defense attorney. Cherry just also happens to be Stock’s semi-secret lover. When she is killed as well, Stock finds himself swept up in a shit storm of corruption and illegality. Not one to let these things stand, Stock soon finds himself in more shootouts and fights with enemies ranging from gangs to shady police officers.

While not quite a southern noir book, Out of the Blue has many hallmarks of the subgenre, but Harrold adds his own twist and increases the action to create a blend of crime and thriller. For folks who are fans of Jack Reacher, this is the book for you.

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Hell Of A Mess By Nick Kolakowski

Hitmen, a Hurricane, and Hunka Hunka burning love headline this humorous and hostile story. Hell of a Mess is a quirky, fast paced thriller that demonstrates Nick Kolakowski’s ability to find the hilarity and heartfelt in the absurd.

In the midst of a once in a century storm, a simple heist in a New York City penthouse proves to be anything but. Fiona has spent most of her life thieving, and sometimes killing, so this job should have been a walk in the park. Unfortunately Mother Nature and Murphy’s Law have other plans. While Fiona has her own problems to sort out, her hustler husband Bill finds himself abducted and having to cut in some crooked cops on his caper to recover money from the Mob he used to work for. No matter how you look at it, it’s going to be a hell of… well, you know.

While it is not necessary that you have read Love & Bullets… you should. Definitely go get yourself a copy. Being familiar with the backstory of Bill and Fiona makes Hell of a Mess that much better, plus Love & Bullets is a fun read. I mean, how can you not love a book that features a hitman in an Elvis jumpsuit wreaking havoc in middle of nowhere Oklahoma? The other benefit of having read the first book is understanding how impactful that same hitman’s appearance in Hell of a Mess really is.

Either way, if you like biting, quick witted dialogue, borderline absurd happenstance, and deeply flawed characters that you can’t help but cheer for… then this is your book and Nick Kolakowski is your writer.

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Fox Creek By William Kent Krueger

I’ll warn you now, this review is likely to elicit a similar emotional response to the way a dedicated sports fan might feel after a new fan of the NBA (in complete sincerity) says “You know, those 1990s Chicago Bulls were pretty darn good”. You would think that as many thrillers that I’ve read in my life at some point a William Kent Krueger book would have made it into my TBR pile… and it should have. I have been missing out on something special and if Fox Creek is also your first entry into this amazing universe, you are in for a treat.

Fox Creek is a tumultuous tale of tracking, tenacity, and tradition. William Kent Krueger’s eloquent writing style and masterful pacing made this book an insanely fast read. I started this book early on a Monday morning and despite a mostly full day of meetings, managed to finish it before midnight. You literally had to pay me to put it down.

Henry Meloux, an Ojibwe healer of indeterminable age, has had a vision of his death. When Dolores Morriseau comes to his remote cabin in the Northwoods seeking his knowledge and wisdom, she unintentionally brings danger to Henry’s doorstep. Mercenaries are hunting for Dolores for information she may or may not have. Aware of their impending arrival, Henry ushers Dolores and his great niece, Cork O’Connor’s wife, into the Boundary Waters as they desperately try to out maneuver their pursuers and find their way to safety. Their only advantage is that Henry has spent his more than a hundred years of life in these woods and knows them better than any soul alive.

Back in Aurora, Cork attempts to discover the reason behind the disappearance of his wife and her two companions. As he sets off on their trail, his own tracking ability is called into question after a late season snow storm removes all evidence of their trail. Haunted by past pain and suffering his loved ones have endured, Cork pushes himself to the limits. 

This last part pains me a bit to write, but I am mature enough to admit my faults and wrongdoings and I throw myself on the mercy of WKK’s fans. Another reviewer on the BTB team has been singing the praises of this series for as long as I know him (go check out his reviews of the previous books) and I would be remiss if I did not officially and in writing say “Yes, Steve… you were right”. It is a crime that I have not read a Cork book until now. Fear not though, I have not already taken steps to ensure I read the entirety of this series as quickly as possible. I shall aim to make up for my willful ignorance and fully immerse myself in all things O’Connor.

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The Titan Protocol By David Scott

The Titan Protocol is a lightning fast read with a great level of complexity in both the characters and plotlines. David Scott laces the action and intrigue with the humor and ethical quandaries that will make you think and laugh at the same time.

Former Marine Isaac Northe has one of the more interesting jobs in the private security industry. Northe and his multi talented colleagues at Peregrine are paid small fortunes to explore and identify potential security weaknesses in some of the largest companies making up the military industrial complex. Riding the emotional wave after locking down their biggest contract, the team is informed of the death of a close friend in a botched special ops mission in Nigeria.

When they discover their new client has links to the disastrous and deadly events of the failed raid, the overwhelming desire for justice and revenge force them to reach out to the last place they want to.

David Scott has an efficient and concise writing style that allows for fast paced action scenes, but is also well suited to explaining the more complex technological portions effectively. His personal experience in both the military and computer software enhances every area of the book.

Also, if you’re a fan of cliffhangers that simultaneously make you angry and excited about the next book… then The Titan Protocol is the book for you.

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Firestorm By Taylor Moore

Firestorm is a story of love, land, and loyalty. Blurring the historical lines of fictional genres, Taylor Moore intertwines components of the timeless Old West tales and current elite operator action thrillers. This book is what I would define as a “modern western”, examining the changing landscape (both physical and political) and the individuals who continue to try to hold back the tide of change and modernity in an environment that measures time in decades, not days.

After a dangerous undercover operation in Mexico, Special Agent Garrett Kohl returns to his family’s home in West Texas to find a landman at his front door. The man, a representative of Talon Corporation, informs Garrett that his ranch holds a huge deposit of rare earth minerals and there is nothing he can do to stop the company from kicking off their mining activities. The operation threatens to cause irreversible damage to Garrett’s land, his finances, and (after Talon’s connection to a vicious mercenary group out of Russia)…his life.

What makes Firestorm such a welcome changeup to the usual action thriller these days is how Moore deftly explains complicated issues like land, mineral, and water rights in a relatable and emotionally relatable manner. The fact that these struggles are still relevant today in many parts of the country makes the story all that much more relatable to readers, even if they’re not horse obsessed and think life on a cattle ranch in Texas is the second-best thing to going to heaven. 

For the military, operator, CIA action thriller enthusiasts out there… fret not, there is plenty of action and intrigue to feed your addiction. While there is an emphasis on the emotional turmoil Garrett and his family are enduring (which is significant), the geopolitics, espionage, and bullets feature heavily and keep the tension constant and palpable.

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Heat 2 By Meg Gardiner & Michael Mann

Iconic is a word that is tossed around too freely these days. To be iconic, to truly be a representative symbol for a greater whole, to be worthy of praise and veneration is no small task. In 1995, Michael Mann’s film Heat released into theaters and immediately proved it deserved to be described as ‘iconic’. Every fan of action movies remembers the first time they saw it, remembers the feeling of watching the shootout on the streets of L.A., and remember the sense of dread at the end of that runway at LAX. Those same emotions will be evoked and rekindled in Heat 2 and that should excite everyone.

This is a sweeping, multi-layered masterpiece of fiction and storytelling. The grandiose universe Michael Mann created is enriched by the writing of Meg Gardiner. She was the perfect partner to continue this legacy in the written form.

While the title might indicate that the story picks up after the end of the original movie, Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner have decided to include a prequel story as well. The duo takes us back to the streets of Chicago and beyond. The unfolding events have a lasting impact on detective Vincent Hanna, as well as Neil McCauley and his elite crew. It is a surreal experience as we know how the story ends between Hanna and Neil, but knowing what happened back in the Midwest makes their exchange on the big screen so much more rich, meaningful, and devastating looking back now.

The sequel portion of this novel is every bit as action packed, tension filled, and dangerous as the previous portions. After the fallout of the heist gone wrong, Chris Shiherlis is on the run, severely wounded, and has just lost everything he holds dear. When he ends up in one of the most dangerous places in the world, he has only one thing in mind; get back to his wife and child. Despite the less than ideal surroundings, it is no surprise that he thrives and begins to evolve both personally and professionally. Living in the Triple Frontier, you must be ready to burn it all down to get what you want.

I cannot ever recall not agreeing with the old maxim stating that “the book is better than the movie”. Well, with Heat 2 the book is better BECAUSE of the movie. Being able to visualize the character and having gotten to know them on the screen did nothing but enhance the reading experience for me. The fact that Gardiner is one of the finest writers in the genre doesn’t hurt either. I re-watched the movie prior to diving into this book and I recommend every reader do the same.

To say I slammed through this book is an understatement. I pulled the book from its package, cleared my schedule, and did nothing but read until I had finished it. Then I went back and read some parts again to savor them at a slower pace. This book demands you make time for it, and you should. Once the front cover is open, you will burn through the pages.

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The Neighborhood By Matthew Betley

The Neighborhood is a relentless ride full of danger and dastardly deeds set in the most unlikely of locations. If you ever wondered what urban warfare would look like on the streets of Suburbia, well… Matthew Betley crafts a compelling story to give you a glimpse of just such a scenario.

Looking to secure a massive payday, a group of ruthless mercenaries lock down a suburban oasis to search for a laptop containing classified information. Expecting minimal resistance from the well-to-do residents, Hidden Refuge quickly becomes a battlefield as Zack Chambers, former operator within the CIA’s Special Activities Division, takes it upon himself to defend his neighbors. As events unfold and the laptops origins come to light, the violent actions of the past and present collide to ensure that karma has its say in the end.

Betley’s books are known to read like blockbuster summer movies, with over the top action sequences and all the sarcastic dialogue readers can handle. This one has a bit more realism to it compared to his previous books, but that only increases the tension and anxiety as the chapters zip by.

The Neighborhood also has an increase in the emotional and psychological aspects than Betley’s previous books. He really takes time to examine a variety of relationships and their impacts on the characters. With the relatability of his protagonists increased, despite the vast majority of us not being former SAC operators, the danger is that much more real and that much more terrifying.

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The Last Sentinel by Simon Gervais

Simon Gervais brings together blood, bullets, and betrayal in his latest Clayton White novel. The Last Sentinel propels readers through the pages faster than a RPG headed towards its target. This is a story that proves no target is fully protected from those who mean to do them harm, given enough time, resources, and motivation.

When previously unthinkable attacks occur simultaneously in southern Florida, Ex-Secret Service agent Clayton White’s vacation is cut short by a barrage of gunfire, thrusting him into action to save the love of his life, who also just happens to be the daughter of the Vice President of the United States. The VP, a man with his own violent past, does not escape the day's events unscathed. Despite the tension and animosity between Clayton and the VP, revenge is a powerful incentive to put the past behind them. While the Americans are busy trying to identify who is responsible for the attacks, their enemy is seeking his own vengeance for the murder of his father at the hands of Clayton and his former commander. The only question is the amount of collateral damage each party is willing to tolerate to complete their mission.

Gervais continues to utilize his past professional experience to enhance his storylines and that extensive knowledge is on full display in this book. Fans, both new and old, will appreciate the fact that the writing and storytelling somehow continue to get better and better each book. Any action or adrenaline junkies out there should pick up this book to help satisfy that addiction.

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The Devil Takes You Home By Gabino Iglesias

The Devil Takes You Home is a tormenting tale exploring the essence of evil. With a mixture of mysticism, money, and Santa Muerte, Gabino Iglesias crafts a genre blurring story about the happenings along our southern border. Initially this book asks the reader to contemplate the lengths they would go for their family, but quickly delves into the propensity for violence and cruelty inherent in us all, bubbling under the surface, just waiting for the right circumstances to explode upon the world.

Mario is an average man, dealing with a scenario no one in this life wants to face. A grave diagnosis for his young daughter buries him under a mountain of hospital bills and the inability to pay them off strains his marriage to the breaking point. With no alternative, he reaches out to an acquaintance with questionable morals and sinister connections. Willing to do anything for the right price, Mario takes a job as a hitman, finding that he enjoyed the work more than he should. As his new career takes off, Mario is brought in on a job that will clear him a couple hundred grand for one night of work… if he can survive it.

What makes this such an interesting book is that Iglesias just dips his toes into the paranormal, making the unfolding events that much more believable and terrifying. The cruelty within the pages is haunting, the motives are duplicitous, and the action is heart pounding. I often found myself wondering how I would react in similar scenarios. Contemplating how I would behave when the imaginary societal protections suddenly disappear and we are left dealing with nothing, but the raw animal instincts of our species.

While I will never claim to be smart enough to decipher what story belongs in what fictional subgenre, I don’t see The Devil Takes You Home as a Southern Crime novel as I’ve heard it described. While the underlying themes of class, race, and cultural norms are discussed, this book deserves to be separated and appreciated on its own. If I could, I’d establish a specific category called ‘Southern Border Crime’ and use Iglesias’ writing as the definitive work to compare future novels to. There may already be a particular place within the spectrum of fiction for this book, but no matter where it falls, it deserves to be read and any acclaim it receives.

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Kismet By Amina Akhtar

After reading the first few chapters of Kismet I knew two things with absolute cosmic certainty; the muscles in my face responsible for cringing were going to be tested to their limits and that I was going to love every second of it.

Ronnie Khan needed something in her life to change. What she didn’t expect was to find that the catalyst would end up being a wellness guru by the name of Marley Dewhurst. With a newly founded confidence, buoyed by a budding friendship with the blond socialite, Ronnie has decided to leave her tired existence in Queen and start fresh with Marley in the mountains of Sedona, Arizona.

Upon entering her new life, Ronnie was expecting things like the endless hikes, tasteless health shakes, or tortuous beauty routines to be the death of her, but when she begins having prophetic dreams and actual bodies start appearing in the picturesque landscapes… the banality of the wellness culture will be the least of her worries.

Anyone who follows my reviews knows that a novel based around the wellness industry and rich white ladies in the desert is not really something to be considered as part of my “usual” reads… and they would be absolutely right. The fact that Kismet is pretty far afield from my normal reading habits makes my love for this book that much stronger.

Only a handful of pages in, Amina Akhtar had me chuckling out loud as a person burying a body uttered the most relatable phrase I've ever read in a book. That takes skill. The biting criticisms, hilarious dialogue, and ridiculous events in the story gave me a serious case of fremdschämen in almost every chapter.

Another phenomenal attribute of this book is that I often found myself so caught up in the personal and emotional drama that I almost forgot about the mutilated bodies popping up around town. The interpersonal dynamics, socio economic critiques, and plot twists are just brilliant. You can’t help but root for this New Yorker in a new land. Ronnie may be a fish out of water, but we’re all right there with her. As someone who mainly reads espionage, military, and violent crime books, this was an absolutely perfect changeup in my reading habits and I cannot wait to read more from Amina. Much like the protagonist in this story, sometimes you have to get outside of your comfort zone to find something truly remarkable.

On a personal note… having grown up around kids from all over the world, being married to an immigrant, and having lived abroad, I have experienced similar scenarios as those described in Kismet. I like to think the hilarity of those memories enhanced my reading experience. And if you read this book, which you absolutely should, and you don’t feel some form of embarrassment on behalf of the ladies running around looking for energy vortexes in the hills, you might be part of the problem.

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The Poisoned Pen

Disturbing The Peace By Terrance McCauley

Disturbing the Peace is a sensational sequel in the Jeremiah Halstead series. With a character driven narrative, descriptive writing, and fantastic pacing… anyone who is a fan of drama and action should pick this book up immediately. McCauley definitely caught me off guard with the final twist and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Jeremiah Halstead is not a man accustomed to danger and gunplay. Though usually he’s dealing with criminals and outlaws. After the unfortunate events in Silver Cloud, Halstead finds himself swapping lead with everyday people looking to collect on an irresistible bounty put on the Deputy’s head. If keeping the peace wasn’t a hard enough occupation in the best of times, Halstead definitely has his hands full as he is ordered out to the edge of the territory to the town of Battle Brook where the local sheriff needs assistance handling a new group of criminals raising hell in the surrounding hills. The Deputy’s next fight will require every bit of brain as it will brawn if he is to survive.

Every good book needs a great villain and McCauley has crafted one of my favorites in Ed Zimmerman. Ruthlessness, cunning, and creative thinking in an outlaw is a deadly combination. Zimmerman helps push the story every bit as much as the protagonist. Half of the fun is seeing what traps and pitfalls Ed can come up with for Jeremiah. This book ends with an eye opening development and leaves one hell of a scenario going into book #3. I can only hope that McCauley writes as quickly as Halstead can draw his pistols.

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Portrait Of An Unknown Woman By Daniel Silva

Whenever I open the cover of a Daniel Silva book, something magical transpires. I give myself wholly over to the impending experience and immerse myself in the universe I’m fortunate enough to visit from time to time. I am transported to another time and place, finding myself wrapped in the comforting embrace of my favorite fictional characters. To open the latest Silva story, for me, is akin to the feeling of coming home for the holidays. There is a sense of relaxation, of calm, of certitude, of togetherness, and of stress melting away. Of the twenty two novels in the Gabriel Allon series, Portrait of an Unknown Woman evokes this sensation more than any other. In my opinion, this the purest distillation of what a Gabriel Allon book “is” and what first captivated me over two decades ago.

Finally untethered from his roles and responsibilities to The Office and Israel, Gabriel and his family have begun a new chapter in their lives. Back in Venice amongst friends and family, the Allons have settled into what passes for normalcy for a former spymaster. When life seems to have found a rhythm, fate has another idea. Julian Isherwood, an old and loyal friend, comes to Venice to request Gabriel’s assistance surrounding the provenance of a recently rediscovered painting he has sold for a hefty sum. Strange deaths, an elaborate investment scheme, and one or two brushes with death has Gabriel committed quickly to solving the mystery. If Gabriel’s instincts are correct, the fallout could be the downfall of Isherwood’s professional life, which is inextricably tied to the gallery owner’s sense of self. Never one to turn his back on a friend, Gabriel begins an investigation that will shock the art world to its core.

While this book leaves The Office and the geopolitical components firmly to the side, this is probably my favorite book since The Kill Artist. This book renewed and rejuvenated that initial rush I felt when starting this series all those years ago. While I absolutely love the espionage and political aspects of the previous twenty one books, Gabriel’s current station in life has opened up a world of possibilities for Silva to take this series in. The future is certainly bright for Allon and those of us devoted fans who are along for the ride.

A note of appreciation for his writing skills, I was having a conversation with an author and we were discussing what makes Silva such a unique talent. In the end, I feel that what sets him apart from every other author on the planet is his mastery of creating drama in the mundane. Unlike the vast majority of thriller writers, Silva does not describe action sequences in explicit detail, rather he cuts away at the pivotal point ending the scene at the moment you’d least expect. As the reader charges forward into the next chapter, we are allowed to reverse engineer the chain of events, piecing together the mystery through various viewpoints and evidence we’re presented.

It’s these little gifts that wrap themselves around a reader and keep us engaged in the story to the point of distraction. As someone who reads over a hundred books a year, I pride myself on being able to sort out plotlines, yet somehow time and again, Silva writing mesmerizes me and I always see the plot twist come too late. Each time it happens I smile, chuckle a little, and tip my imaginary hat to the master. It is these small, but profound details that reinforce my strong belief that Daniel Silva is the greatest storyteller alive.

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(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

The 6:20 Man By David Baldacci

A spectacular mix of cinematic overtures and a grittiness only the written word can convey, The 6:20 Man is sure to be another bestselling hit for David Baldacci as he continues to solidify his ‘Must Read Author’ status. This is a taught and streamlined thriller that moves faster than high frequency traders on Wall Street.

After leaving the Army under a cloud of mystery, Travis Devine has taken a job as a financial analyst in one of the fastest growing investment companies. His position is more of a means of serving self-imposed penance rather than chasing the almighty dollar. Devine is a man whose morals and modus operandi fly in the face of his new career, yet he is determined to climb his way to the top.

Like the countless hordes of commuters around him, Travis takes the 6:20 train into the city each morning. His only small joy on the ride is the chance to gawk out the window at the mansions he hopes to own one day and, more specifically, a blonde bombshell who makes frequent poolside appearances. Everything about his life is a bland cycle put on repeat. That is until the body of his former flame is found hanging in an office storage closet where they work, a supposed suicide. With the discovery, Devine’s entire world is thrown into chaos as the darker side of his company's founding begins to come to the surface.

The 6:20 Man is a masterfully paced story with chapters that move at a breakneck speed. Each character draws you in, no matter how secondary to the main storyline they might be, and you become quickly and heavily invested in the outcome of their particular journey.

Follow Todd on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase The 6:20 Man
BUY A SIGNED FIRST EDITION FROM VJ BOOKS

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

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