John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A whimsical story of youthful compassion and the opinions that divide us, V.I. Puptonians: The Mysterious Arrival by Dr. Trueblood holds myriad important lessons for young readers. When Ava and her 10-year-old brother Joe discover a spaceship bearing alien babies and bottles, their opposing views on what to do with the extraterrestrial visitors highlight the fears, instincts, and societal pressures that guide countless actions in our modern world. Cleverly exploring concepts of othering, fear of the unknown, and unfair judgments, this subtle allegory demonstrates the timeless values of patience and kindness, while instructing readers on the importance of critical thinking […]

A cloned squad of familiar space commandos returns to terra firma and battles for the future of humanity in Legion Earth by Nick Snape, the seventh book in his elaborate Weapons of Choice series. When an insidious alien force slides into the planet’s global infrastructure to lurk in wait, it’s only the beginning of attacks emerging from within. The relentless and haunted Echo Squad, borne from genetic material stored on the weapons of choice, are tested to their physical and psychological breaking points in this cerebral and action-oriented thriller. Moving the series away from the far-flung regions of space, the […]

An ambitious young soldier marches boldly to war, only to find disillusionment and a newly embattled spirit in Riding With Forrest: The Memoir of John Barrett, Escort Company, Forrest’s Cavalry, CSA, during the War Between the States by L. E. Denton. A fictional memoir set during America’s vicious internal war, this novel traces the journey of John Barrett and his devoted service to a legendary and ruthless commander, Nathan Bedford Forrest. A detailed imagining of life as a Confederate soldier, and the painful revelations that battlefields can bring, this is a carefully crafted and vulnerable coming-of-age tale. Despite its historical […]

Encouraging active navigation towards a perspective of abundance, Heart and Mind: A Synchronous Dance with Higher Dimensions by Verniece Ross is a refreshing guide for those seeking a more peaceful and fulfilling life. Though many of the more abstract concepts brush against spiritual ideas, the wisdom on these pages is non-denominational and grounded in well-established practices such as meditation and intention-setting. From the foundations of mindfulness, affirmations, and self-esteem to the nuances of creativity, intuition, and logic that define our existence, Ross has penned a comprehensive roadmap to inner alignment and mental wellness.

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Written to improve police procedures around drunk driving prosecutions and properly equip defense teams, Drink Driving: Police Custody Procedures by Joanne Caffrey is a comprehensive guide informed by the author’s direct career experience as a UK police officer, trainer, and expert witness. By identifying the problematic steps of common custody procedures, particularly as they relate to common mistakes, evidentiary lapses, or the unfair handling of detainees, this book intends to clarify and standardize procedures for UK authorities and legal entities related to the critical titular issue. The target readership of this officer-penned read may be relatively small, but as a […]

Dropping readers into the first-person perspective of Pastor Stephen Grant, Christmas Bells at St. Mary’s by Ray Keating is an intimate twist on this ever-growing series. Told through Grant’s journal entries about his pastor friends and one particularly eventful Advent, this epistolary novel pulls back the personal curtain on this series’ spiritual spymaster even further. Whether he is helping a young priest navigate a crisis of faith, exploring the cinematic nuance behind his favorite festive films, or investigating the mysterious resentment of a troubled young man, Stephen Grant continues to be an original and unexpectedly heroic protagonist. Cleanly edited, fast-moving, […]

Examining the nebulous nature of forgetfulness, Memory Neural or Not Neural by Annie De Muynck is a probing essay about Freud’s dynamic theories of anticipatory ideas, transference, and the emotional susceptibility of memory. Using Freud’s own experiences during a seminal journey to illustrate the malleable nature of memory, the author masterfully links different aspects of psychoanalysis to linguistic theory and the philosophical rhetoric of Lacan. Intended for a deeper dive into familiar realms of analytic thought, this brief yet comprehensive read is an illuminating thesis on one of Freud’s many paradoxical revelations.

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