John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

David Myles Robinson raises the bar once again with the legal exploits of Pancho McMartin in Tropical Deception, the fourth installment of his series. Combining the tension of a murder mystery with the procedural drama of a legal thriller, along with a colorful cast of suspects, this novel is a quick and enticing read. Despite the occasionally flat delivery of dialogue and exposition, the story is laced with tempting red herrings, cleverly penned language, and a deftly crafted plot. For those readers seeking an immersive escape with a healthy dose of tropical swagger, Robinson makes it hard to stop […]

An ambitious and visceral work of dark fantasy, Wolf Omega by Joseph Stone is a fantasy delight for lycanthrope lovers, and anyone who enjoys a wild, generation-spanning epic. Expanding the literary lore of werewolves in new and creative directions, this 17th century adventure is a well-researched novel of self-discovery, empowerment, family, and vengeance. Dripping with rich language, the storytelling is patient, thanks to the author’s confident voice, and undulates between dramatic dialogue, intrigue, and action. Aside from the occasional clumsy or hackneyed description, this second installment of The Lykanos Chronicles is a ravenously good read.

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An homage to fatherhood, history, and America’s beloved pastime, Shadows of Swayne Field by Ronald R. Harrington is a masterful journey of memory and a nostalgic adventure into the past. Family secrets and paternal legacies give this book a looming sense of mystery, while Harrington’s patient storytelling and creativity will appeal to readers of all genres, whether they’re sports fans or not. While there are some editing errors and occasionally heavy-handed passages of exposition, the narration is charming and the characters are relatable. Ultimately, this book is a love story to baseball, a celebration of forgotten history, and a narrative […]

A bilingual adventure through memorable moments of childhood freedom, The Last Day of School? by Jordan Saez is a unique and timely children’s book that opens children to the possibilities of education and new languages. This simple read not only explores the rapid changes for children in elementary school, but also highlights the fundamental joys of education – even when we are forced to study apart. The author takes her real-life experience as a teacher and transforms it into a colorful memento of these unprecedented times, imbuing the book with both charm and a sense of authority about everything school […]

Adapting the legendary battlefield wisdom of Sun Tzu for the conflicts of the inner self, The Ordinary Leader by Geoff Lew is an original and easy-to-read guide for personal improvement. Profound mantras and insights abound, not only from Sun Tzu’s classic advice, but also from Geoff Lew’s anecdotal storytelling and depth of research. Told partly in parables, history lessons, and practical lectures on attitude and resilience, this book is both existential and academic. While the writing occasionally takes tangents, this is part of the ultimate message – “victory” can take on many forms, as can the profile of a good […]

A powerful and timely children’s book, My Black Life Matters (What I Tell Myself) by Michael A. Brown is a celebration of community, friendship, and open communication. Told through a cast of young African-American characters, each of whom are struggling with their own sense of purpose and value, this book reminds young readers that adversity doesn’t diminish personal worth. Touching on a number of delicate issues, from physical and sexual abuse to self-esteem, truth-telling, and cultural stereotypes, Brown is unafraid to look modern problems square in the face and produce work that challenges unfair norms. The dialogue and prose could […]