New Releases | Self-Publishing Review

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 […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-11-23T12:03:46+02:00November 23rd, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Dystopian Fiction Book 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 […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-11-22T16:32:45+02:00November 19th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

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 […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-11-22T16:01:19+02:00November 19th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

On the Waterfront by Mike McCoy

On the Waterfront by Mike McCoy A classic coming-of-age story, On the Waterfront by Mike McCoy recounts a pivotal summer in the life of a boy struggling to discover who he is in the world.

It’s 1972 and 13-year-old Danny Novak is hired by the Oregon Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America to spend the summer working at Camp Baker. The youngest staff member, Danny, quickly realizes that the troubled home life he’s escaping may have been easier than trying to fit in and be accepted by his older teenage workmates, as he must contend with the brooding, intimidating Mark, a 16-year-old senior staff […]

SPR2022-11-17T14:55:53+02:00November 16th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|

The Black Swan Killer by Daniel McKay

The Black Swan Killer by Daniel McKay A refreshingly unique and cerebral take on the eccentric detective archetype, The Black Swan Killer by Daniel McKay is a fast-paced crime novel with an unforgettable protagonist.

When it comes to solving heady and head-scratching cases, John Consequent is the philosophical key for any bizarre lock, and the police have once again come knocking at his door. Putting his circuitous wit and wisdom to the test, this brainy sleuth must outmaneuver a wickedly sharp intellect whose existentialism has turned to murderous nihilism.

Celebrating the beauty of that which cannot be tested empirically, this is a clever thriller, and surprisingly light, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-11-10T17:14:25+02:00November 10th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Detective Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

A Darling Obsession by S.R. Murray

A Darling Obsession by S. R. Murray Pulling back the shadowy corners of history and exposing unsettled spirits, A Darling Obsession by S.R. Murray is a psychological, character-driven thriller with a sharp, dark edge.

When a young boy disappears from the small town of Sandy Beach, everyone fears the worst, but there may be older and more dangerous forces at work than a mere kidnapping. Months later, Detective Bobby Justice is still on the case, and follows a lead to the Sand Beach Hotel, a haunting testament to a horrific beachside crime. The mysterious Marina Kerrigan, looming like a ghost over her hotel, is just one of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-11-09T16:28:58+02:00November 8th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Horror Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Infinite Sea of Stars by Shannon Crossman

Infinite Sea of Stars by Shannon Crossman Guiding readers through negative emotions towards a higher resonance with the universe, Infinite Sea of Stars by Shannon Crossman is an inspiring, spiritually charged collection of poetry.

Divided into three thematic sections – “You,” “Me,” and “Us” – these lyrical verses are journeys into the arms of the divine, along with all the comfort and deliverance one might find along the way. The language is carefully chosen and laden with wisdom, asking readers to challenge themselves and their own ideas of satisfaction, becoming something of a work of self-help. Exploring the relationships we have with ourselves, our loved ones, and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-11-07T13:40:36+02:00November 6th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Sit Down and Have a Beer Again by Greg Wyss

Sit Down and Have a Beer Again by Greg Wyss Author and poet Greg Wyss has gathered a career’s worth of musings, stories, and verse in his eclectic collection, Sit Down and Have A Beer Again.

Reminiscent of the pacing and subject matter of Charles Bukowski, at times, the poetry is gritty and raw, yet still polished. Reflecting on everything from laziness and responsibility to loyalty in relationships and the grind of work, these are everyman poems, shining an honest light on the exasperating business of being alive. “The Poem I Never Wrote” is a standout, capturing that unique tone of visceral human experience. Tired and begrudging as the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-10-31T14:54:06+02:00October 21st, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews, Short Stories Book Reviews|