John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A gripping pastoral thriller that could easily be a movie or series, The Icehouse by J.J. Richards is a richly developed tale of a murderous specter reappearing from the past. An aging and charmingly out-of-touch detective is pushed to the edge of ethics and emotions when a dormant menace embarks on a deadly spree in the English countryside. The dense writing is deeply nuanced, packed with allusion and detail, summoning a vivid world to life, despite the ominous, slow-burning pace. There are occasional anachronistic or odd words that feel out of place in a UK setting, but overall, the novel […]

Pulled into the crossfire of another deadly conflict from the past, Stephen Grant must switch collars from wedding officiant to efficient warrior to save his friends in For Better, For Worse by Ray Keating. Fueled by a furious desire for revenge, a merciless arms dealer targets the nuptial weekend of two CDM team members, but with a guest list of hardened heroes on hand, it won’t be an easy party to crash. The story hits all the notes of previous installments in the Pastor Stephen Grant series, with a typically ferocious pace, high-tension storytelling, and a spray of breathless action […]

Teeming with extraterrestrial world-building, The Northern Route by Walter Robinson is a jaw-droppingly creative sci-fi adventure splashed on a truly epic canvas. Vesta Amore is a skilled investigator in any star system, but joining a controversial humanitarian mission brings unexpected dangers, temptations, and tests of loyalty. Challenging the most powerful corporations in the galaxy is a good way to make enemies, but along with a brilliant yet bitter sleuth, she won’t be unraveling the conspiracy alone. A breathless plunge into a fully-developed galactic collective of alien races, histories, traditions, and grudges, along with future-tech galore, there is something new for […]