John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A journey of blood and buried secrets pulls readers through time in On Moreton Waters by Casey Walsh, an impressive blend of historical fiction, contemporary fiction, and mystery. Focused partially on the social puzzle and stunning backdrop of Australia in the early 20th century, and again in the much-changed landscape a century later, these female-led stories of the McPhee family are framed by betrayal, desire, desperation, greed, and violence, showing the past’s indelible impact on the present. Capturing the colloquial rhythm of the region in both dialogue and narration, and weaving in a strong thread of mystery that reveals itself […]

An edgy YA tale for a new generation, Potion: A Witchy Fairy Tale by Dorlana Vann is a supernatural romp through the perils of self-discovery. Melrose is trying to find her place in the world, and where she actually came from, while her brother desperately tries to keep her safe from sinister powers – and the prettiest girl in school. Exploring classic themes of tragic heroes, petty bullies, and dark secrets from the past, this read covers some familiar ground, but Vann’s story-crafting and angsty prose make this title stand out.

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A healing balm for troubling times, Cemetery Reflections by Jane Hopkins is a thoughtful gathering of wisdom and compassion, offered through a sensitive portrait of final resting places. Spanning graveyards from California and South Carolina to Massachusetts, Canada, and Chicago, this book is a gentle visual meditation on grief, death, and perseverance. Peppered with poetry and quotes from legendary writers and thinkers, as well as poignant personal reflections from Hopkins herself, this collection is thematically heavy, but it is also imbued with the enduring hope that we can all overcome the pain of loss.

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An eye-opening look into secrets that lay hidden for decades, Running from the Witness Protection Program by Mark Spector is a fascinating dive into a life that feels stranger than fiction. Rarely are there first-person accounts from someone who was truly “in the know” with legendary mobsters, and Spector knows how to hook a reader, revealing some of the inner secrets of mob life, along with personal anecdotes from his own youthful endeavors in organized crime. While this short work could absolutely be expanded into a longer memoir, Spector has a succinct and compelling voice that makes this a captivating […]