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.

The Scheme by Amethyst Drake

The Scheme by Amethyst DrakeWhen Olivia Ames, the brilliant daughter of a domineering CEO, goes missing, Katherine Carson and her crack team of private eyes reluctantly join the hunt in The Scheme by Amethyst Drake, a gritty and gripping first installment of the Carson Crime Files series.

Locating an uber-rich runaway is not the typical Carson Investigations case, but the deeper they dig, the more sinister the trail becomes. Olivia had a wildly promising future in the profitable realm of bio-printing research, and appears to have caught the attention of some powerful people, leading to a tangle of motives, family members, red herrings, suspects, […]

Review: The Book Binder by C.A. Cordova

The Book Binder by C.A. Cordova

A captivating piece of ancient historical fiction, The Book Binder by C.A. Cordova is an unpredictable plunge into deception, decadence, and the dangerous power of knowledge.

In a world where women are forbidden from higher education or the wealth of literature, young Aria is a rebellious exception – a polyglot and a sponge for knowledge, thanks to her father, the bookbinder. When she saves the son of the pharaoh’s life with her hidden talents, she is quickly adopted into his cadre as an aegis – a highly respected mistress, as well as a secret spy. However, hunting down the heart […]

2024-10-24T18:17:38+02:00September 25th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Moscow Nights Return by Beth H. Macy

Moscow Nights Return by Beth H. MacyA fast-paced plunge into contemporary spycraft with some classic Cold War twists, Moscow Nights Return by Beth H. Macy is a gripping international thriller.

Despite being a respected elder in the realm of espionage, Elda Ainsworth can still throw down with the best of them, but there is risk in every mission – especially when it comes to extracting Russian agents in possession of dangerous secrets. Shaking off the rust of near-retirement, Elda must lose her tails and find an exit route for her precious cargo before a merciless assassin ties them both up as one more loose end. Getting […]

2024-09-19T18:40:24+02:00September 19th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

10 Points from Walt Disney on Entrepreneurship by Ray Keating

10 Points from Walt Disney on Entrepreneurship by Ray Keating

Combining the author’s extensive professional experience with the savvy insight of an empire-building legend, 10 Points from Walt Disney on Entrepreneurship by Ray Keating offers a broad source of specialized knowledge for potential visionaries. Digging into the finer points and nuances of Walt Disney’s entrepreneurial style, and providing a richly researched review of the Magic Kingdom, this book is both an accessible guide for business owners and a niche piece of American history. From probing analyses of creativity and advice on quiet leadership to proper investment techniques for both people and ideas, this engaging tour through Disney’s career holds value […]

2024-09-19T19:22:12+02:00September 19th, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Weekly Economist III by Ray Keating

The Weekly Economist III by Ray Keating

Deciphering the disorder of contemporary economics and simplifying financial puzzles for business owners and individuals alike, The Weekly Economist III: Another 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist by Ray Keating provides a succinct analysis of a notoriously confusing field of study. Far from a dense read on the technical details of financial markets, these conservative-leaning essays cover a gamut of economic concepts, alchemizing intimidating ideas into a straightforward and accessible format. From a comprehensive 10-point primer on capitalism to deep dives into regulatory obstacles for small business owners, this is a wide-ranging and authoritative review of […]

2024-09-19T18:21:12+02:00September 19th, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Tower by J.J. Richards

The Tower by JJ Richards

A twisted vigilante who believes in killing for kindness makes The Tower by J.J. Richards an unsettling but highly entertaining thriller, and another stellar installment of the DCI Walker Crime Thrillers series. When a cryptic message is found beside an apparently suicidal clown at the base of Blackpool’s legendary landmark, DCIs Walker and Briggs are brought in to assist on the beguiling case. As the investigators pull back the curtain on a circus of suspects, the self-righteous villain is already plotting his next burst of deadly theatrics that will shake this British seaside town to its core. Drawing readers into […]

2024-09-17T16:39:11+02:00September 17th, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Heavy Weight of Darkness by JM Erickson

Heavy Weight of Darkness by JM EricksonA violent clash of duty, truth, morality, and vengeance, Heavy Weight of Darkness by JM Erickson is a soul-searching second piece to an exceptional sci-fi series.

The interplanetary “terrorist” Cassandra Kurtz has become a liberatory force to be reckoned with, terrorizing the wealth-wielding Patrician class by freeing slaves and disrupting their colonization efforts on Mars. Acting Captain Thomas Bennett, after two years of reputational destruction and imprisonment for failing to kill that same rebel leader when he had the chance, is given a redemptive shot at revenge. However, Bennett’s experiences on the opposite side of the truncheon have changed him, […]

2024-09-17T16:00:17+02:00September 17th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Beyond the Cemetery Gate by Valerie Biel

Beyond the Cemetery Gate by Valerie Biel

One determined young woman must crack the case of her father’s murder in Valerie Biel’s haunting YA mystery, Beyond the Cemetery Gate: The Secret Keeper’s Daughter. Freshly orphaned and fiercely independent, Chloe is living through her worst nightmare as the local police dismiss her father’s death as an overdose. Working the system and buying herself time to unearth the bones of this small-town conspiracy, Chloe grieves in her own way, scraping by to find the truth with a little help from new friends. Touching on everything from police ineptitude and community solidarity to the endless frustration of being patronized as […]

2024-09-17T15:00:44+02:00September 17th, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|
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