John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

About John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Providing exceptional writing, editing and publishing services to hundreds of international clients, ranging from nutritional copywriting and long-form ghostwriting to substantive editing, assessment/analysis of academic texts and structural/content editing for bestselling novels.

Manning a Raptor by AA Freda

Manning a Raptor by AA Freda

Manning a Raptor by AA Freda is a deft mixture of drama and high-stakes political thriller, centering on the tumultuous lives of Sam and James. Despite being in the midst of a massive business venture, and adding a new member of the family, the Coppi couple is foolishly hoping for a relaxing next chapter. However, their ambitions mean getting in bed with the American military, slick politicians, and dirty money from guerrilla fighters in Chile, which threatens to put them squarely in dangerous crosshairs. While this globe-trotting thriller peeks into the lives of the wealthy and the towering halls of […]

2022-11-29T17:56:18+02:00November 28th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Earworms by Zack Duncan

Earworms by Zack Duncan

Blending character-driven drama and hometown heartache with a psychological crime thriller, Earworms by Zack Duncan is an addictive spiral of visionary sci-fi storytelling.

A lucid-dreaming journalist with a penchant for digging up truths people want to keep hidden, Max Barker has returned home after many years to bury his father. He hasn’t seen his old friend Oren West in over a decade, but the now-famous case-cracking PI is at the funeral with an unusual request: Oren needs Max to operate an illegal memory-accessing device in order to locate a missing 16-year-old girl. Still reeling from the shock and grief of […]

The Taste of Light by Giovanna Siniscalchi

The Taste of Light by Giovanna Siniscalchi

A sprawling 19th century drama with a flair for the romantic, The Taste of Light by Giovanna Siniscalchi is a lavish tale of tragedy, salvation, passion, and the endless puzzles of courtship. Pedro Daun haunts his winemaking estate like a shadow of his former self, within sight of his heartbreak, yet the soul of a warrior still burns within him. Anne may be the sister of his bitter rival, but the fire of their unexpected connection is undeniable, despite the dire consequences of their pairing. Capturing the tone, detail, and societal pomp of a Victorian classic, this titillating read is […]

2022-11-29T13:24:09+02:00November 25th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Temberlain’s Ashes (Age of Axion Book 2) by D.M. Wozniak

Temberlain's Ashes by D.M. Wozniak

A bold and breathtaking piece of sci-fi imagination, Temberlain’s Ashes by D.M. Wozniak is a fantastic second installment of the Age of Axion series.

The adventure of Dem, Blythe, Chireseal, and Chimeline is far from over, as they seek to eliminate the cruel practice of voidance across the land. Through their practice of eleutheria, they can free the trapped souls enslaved by dark arcane arts, but convincing people to give up power is no easy feat.

The legacy of magical oppression and unchecked power lingers, particularly in a scarred realm trying to rebuild after the bloody war and the defeat […]

2022-11-28T12:52:34+02:00November 25th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

The First State by Tshekedi Wallace

The First State by Tshekedi Wallace A vicious and power-mad despot rules over London 50 years in the future in The First State by Tshekedi Wallace, a dystopian thriller with chilling echoes of our present-day world.

As tensions rise between the metropolitan police and the urban fist revolution, the line between justice and violence blurs more dangerously than ever. With a myriad of players, from noble rebels and simpering yes-men to political charlatans and sadistic authorities, this dark drama is Shakespearean, yet pointedly contemporary.

Thematically, the novel offers a strong warning for readers, as great sci-fi so often does. Authoritarianism is on the rise around the […]

2022-11-23T12:03:46+02:00November 23rd, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

The ISSA Manuscript by Scott A. Ginn

The ISSA Manuscript by Scott A. Ginn

Addressing one of the most pressing and least-discussed crises facing young Americans, The ISSA Manuscript: An American Public Policy Statement by Scott A. Ginn confidently proposes an alternative to current Social Security policy that will ensure its longevity and sustainability for future generations. The text is relatively short, but quite dense, targeted specifically at those who are familiar with the system, or legislators who could potentially adopt these proposals. Comprehensive in its scope and impressive in its foresight, the argument for such a necessary shift in policy is presented logically and intuitively, and the professional/technical tone rarely slips, presenting a […]

2022-11-23T11:40:56+02:00November 22nd, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Contracts for Sale by Edward Izzi

Contracts for Sale by Edward Izzi A brilliant burst of crime fiction, Contracts for Sale by Edward Izzi is the latest of this author’s tension-dripping thrillers – a dark and gritty story of assassins for hire that is at once far-fetched and brutally realistic.

A hard-nosed journalist with an inside line to the Chicago PD, Paul Crawford is the mystery-unfurling investigator at the heart of this urban drama. It doesn’t take long to realize that solving a recent string of perfect murders is beyond the average detective’s pay grade, while Crawford’s sleuthing skills bring him to the deadly mix from a different angle. As he fills […]

2022-11-22T16:32:45+02:00November 19th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Dive Bartender: Flowers in the Desert by T.K. O’Neill

Dive Bartender: Flowers in the Desert by T.K. O'Neill

Painting a gritty and visceral picture of life on the road, specifically the rugged west, author T.K. O’Neill crafts a haunted hero in his latest novel, Dive Bartender: Flowers in the Desert.

Frank is itching for a new chapter in Denver, but there aren’t enough mountains in Colorado to keep old habits and bad luck from catching up. Navigating a seedy minefield of manipulation, desperation, desire, and even hope, this wandering rogue of a protagonist finds himself in strange company, compelled to stay just a bit longer in decadence and pleasure, and delaying his California dreams one day at […]

2022-11-22T16:01:19+02:00November 19th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |
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