John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A brooding crimefighter and a teenage vigilante find their purposes entwined after a suspicious death in From Legend by Ian Lewis, a gritty urban mystery in a reimagined fantasy world. The method of the murder suggests a more sinister enemy than suicide – a merciless force of evil long thought vanquished, but perhaps instead has been waiting, scheming, and rebuilding its vicious power. Richly dripping in lyrical language and the ominous aura of a gothic horror, this first book in The Reeve series is a masterclass in world-building and mood-setting, elevated further by a thrilling but deeply haunted hero, and […]

An amusing and astute companion for anyone walking down the aisle, The Little Black Book of Marriage Wisdom: Quotes on Weddings, Divorce, & Happily Ever After by Mike Kowis, Esq. is a neatly curated collection of quotable advice. Offering classic takes on maintaining wedded bliss, clever quips for celebratory toasts, and sage one-liners for grooms and brides alike, this book draws on the wisdom of everyone from Groucho Marx and Mae West to Maya Angelou and Bruce Lee. Certain to alleviate the stress and spark a smile about the big day, this trove of clever witticisms reminds readers of the […]

Rebellious heroes in exile seek unlikely allies and a legendary weapon in Utcan’s Talisman by Stella Atrium, the epic fifth installment of the Tribal Wars series. In a world where magic and native gifts clash and blur with advanced technology and geopolitical scheming, loyalty is at a premium, but the power to see the future is priceless, and must be protected. Despite the far-flung premise of the series, and its unique kaleidoscope of cultures, philosophies, and supernatural abilities, Atrium weaves relatable tensions of war, resource scarcity, corrupt leadership, and indigenous wisdom across every thread of this tangled plot, for a […]

An investigator hunting down a shadowy murder syndicate and a mystery writer pulled into one of her own stories make Criminal Intent by Joanne Swain a compelling, multilayered thriller. This female-driven tale is a frantic spiral of brash characters, surprising plot twists, and tragic revelations, laced with eroticism and character-rich drama. With a consistent lack of formatting for dialogue changes and long paragraphs that cover too much ground, the clarity and pacing suffers, so an aggressive edit is recommended. However, the bones of this story are worth exploring, as are the two lead characters, so if more attention was given […]