Editorial Reviews

A globe-spanning legal thriller that crackles with attitude and authenticity, The Good Doctora by Todd Merer is a fast-paced, character-driven drama about surviving a criminal enterprise in style. Electra Esq. is a savvy suit who has earned her spot as a top-shelf lawyer for cartel bosses, but proximity to deadly men like Martin Montez means a much higher chance of catching a bullet – or being framed for murder. As her lines of morality and self-protection begin to blur, it will take all of her wiles to defend a questionable client, avoid entrapment, and keep the legal and literal targets off her back. Inspired and informed by the author’s high-stakes career as a defense lawyer, this crime thriller is viscerally immersive and instantly addictive.

An elegant historical drama steeped in magic, mistrust, and unlikely alliances, Before the Coming Dawn by Steve L. Ririe is a mesmerizing second chapter of his As the Starlings Fly saga. After performing what some consider a miracle, the manipulative mayor of New Harmony is more popular than ever, but the sinister force whispering inside his head is eager to use that power for its malicious ends. At the same time, a string of murderous attacks stoke fears that threaten the town’s collective humanity, forcing the grieving Emily, LeFevre, and Marco to reveal the darker truth behind the monstrous horror. A macabre and expertly crafted piece of American historical fantasy, the twisting plot and indomitable protagonist combine for an enchanting adventure, and a fantastically original novel that will appeal to readers well beyond the genre, which can be saturated with overly familiar stories.

An imprisoned mercenary takes on a slate-cleaning mission that lands him at the center of a galactic conspiracy in A Dark Culling by Jonathan Staten, a gripping mash-up of crime thriller and science fiction. Rick Dawson has been slowly shaving years off his murder sentence by handling hits and unsavory tasks for the Warden of the Ceris Max prison, but a high-end hunt for the enigmatic Imogen Rivera offers him a shot at actual freedom. However, a revelatory change of heart shifts Rick’s loyalty to a more worthy cause, setting this antihero squarely against the sinister powers that still hold the chain around his neck. A breakneck sci-fi thriller stacked with fistfights, shootouts, narrow escapes, and the boundless creativity of a sprawling alien world, this gritty read deftly crosses genre lines, offering a stellar combination of character depth, intense action, and innovative world-building.

Striving to capture the fleeting beauty of an instant, An Unlikely Sunset by Joe Giampaolo is a powerful collection of traditional Japanese poetry. The poet’s serene and unhurried poetic voice draws readers into the simple majesty of our vivid world, summoning lyrical metaphors that vividly convey the complexity and depth of our inner lives, loves, and losses. Unveiling these poetic reflections in the stark and simple forms of haiku, tanka, and chöka, Giampaolo’s mastery of these revered styles is undeniable. Lilting, playful, profound, and reverent, these meticulously curated poems, many of which are published here for the first time, stand as a worthy homage to a legendary tradition.

A sweet yet scandalous thriller about lies, lust, and the lengths we go for love, Point of the Triangle by Roseanne Burke is both a tantalizing mystery and a bold portrait of modern romance. Olivia Bloomfield’s career, marriage, and hopes for a family have hit a wall, so after discovering that her arrogant surgeon of a husband is having an affair, she finds a charming coffee shop lover of her own. However, when pregnant Olivia mysteriously disappears from her friend’s lake cabin, Detective John Bison begins to fear the worst, but crimes of the heart are rarely simple. Uniquely structured and patiently unfurled, this twisted and torrid whodunit is a deft combination of emotional romantic thriller and intriguing detective procedural, which will keep readers hooked and guessing until the very end.