Category: Mystery/Mayhem - GRANT LEISHMAN

whistleblowers (kate Adams series: book 2) by Holly Bell

21/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In Whistleblowers (Kate Adams Series: Book 2) by Holly Bell, we are drawn into the world of political intrigue and the intelligence organs of the U.S., Britain, and Russia, as Kate Adams, an independent contractor for American Intelligence abandons her comfortable University Professorship at an Alaskan University to throw herself back into the world of espionage and political assassinations. Kate, an expert in IT and coding, is still recovering from her last sojourn into the fray, when she was kidnapped and tortured. Suffering from flashbacks and nightmares, Kate has to put that all aside as she travels to the U.K. and Russia seeking a rogue programmer; The Executive, who is doing a “Julian Assange” and leaking vital intelligence secrets, as well as falsehoods, to the dark web, for all to see. Caught up in a maelstrom of politics and traitors, Kate must navigate this morass to solve the important issues: Who is leaking and how are they doing it?

This is the first Kate Bell book I have read and Whistleblowers (Kate Adams Series: Book 2) is an excellent and taut political thriller that presents us with a complicated and slightly damaged heroine who must battle her demons and memories to successfully complete her mission. Kate, as a character is wonderful and easy to identify and empathise with. She is an intelligent, savvy and attractive woman who, although damaged by her past experiences, is well capable of fulfilling her mission. The author is clearly well informed and well researched about current events, recent history and the intelligence mechanisms of the major players. I was impressed with the flow of the story and was able to read the entire book in one sitting. The author’s style is very readable and the action builds to several crescendos that present the reader with often surprising outcomes. If intrigue and political machinations are your forte, as a reader, Whistleblowers is definitely a book for you. This is a leading book in its genre and as a credit to the author, I am tempted to go back and read Kate Adams Book 1 in the series, just to find out more about this character’s motivations.

Please do pop on over to Amazon and check out Whistleblowers by Holly Bell.

pivot point: true time book #1 by tess manchester

11/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Just imagine, for a second, how useful it would be if we were able to get “mulligans” in real life. What if something went horribly wrong and we were able to pop back in time to have another go at getting it right this time? How useful would that be? This is exactly the premise that forms the basis of Tess Manchester’s debut novel, Pivot Point: True Time Book 1. U.S. Marshall Blake Parsons is noted for two things – her fiery temper and her uncanny ability to capture the bad guy and bring him in. Her temper has got her into more than her share of trouble with her bosses in the past, but with a record like hers, laxity was always going to be the byword. She was driven and successful, but when chasing a fugitive leads her to a small rural community in Tennessee and she meets the lovely Doctor Naomi, her outlook and her priorities change. The attraction is instant, but it must all wait for Blake Parsons to capture the man on the run, who she chases relentlessly.

For a debut novel, I found Pivot Point: True Time Book 1 to be a more than respectable effort. Tess Manchester’s two main characters are strong, independent women, in Blake and Naomi, who the author manages to show they are more than just bluster and anger, on Blake’s part and brains and beauty on Naomi’s part. She does well to show the vulnerability that lurks underneath Blake’s bluster and anger. I did enjoy the idea of going back and getting a “do-over” when things didn’t quite go as planned. The story flowed seamlessly and the action was fast and furious, with little held back in the way of realism. The possibility that this story is just the beginning of a series featuring this premise and/or these characters is intriguing and I look forward to what Manchester has to offer us next. As a thriller, with a time-twist, this debut was successful and I am certain the author will grow into her skin, as a writer, the more she gives us. This is a successful start to her literary career.

Pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Pivot Point by Tess Manchester:

the remains in the pond by ann swann

5/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The night Gabrielle Kelly attended her High-School Prom would change her life forever. Gabi went to prom with her (closet gay) friend, Asa, but it was the encounter with her adorable crush, Matt Brennan that would alter the course of many lives in the small town of Live Oak, Texas. In The Remains in the Pond, Ann Swann brings us a coming-of-age, mystery/thriller that takes us on a journey from Texas, to California, to Berne, Switzerland and back again. The chemistry between Gabi and Matt, on Prom night was undeniable and they appeared to be set for an interesting and torrid two weeks of romance, before Matt was due to head off to college. All that would change, however, when a horrific motor vehicle accident and a mysterious phone call from Matt’s cousin, Rose sends Gabi and her friend Asa into a tailspin.

In The Remains in the Pond, author Ann Swann brings us a story reminiscent of “We Know What You Did Last Summer”. The characters in this story are typical teenagers, trying to find their way in a world they’re not sure they fully understand yet. The character of Asa, a gay boy growing up in a small, rural, West Texas town and the angst he felt about revealing his sexuality, was particularly poignant. I liked that Gabi, no matter how hard she tries, cannot walk away from and forget what happened that Prom night. The author reminds us, through this story that all our actions have consequences and it is the “adult way”, to take responsibility for those actions. As a coming of age novel, with a few twists and turns, I found this story a very satisfactory read.

Definitely pop on over to Amazon and take a look at The Remains in the Pond plus all of Ann Swann's extensive works.

the king slayer's sacrifice by robert k. hatch

1/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The King Slayer’s Sacrifice by Robert K. Hatch is a deep dive into the mind and motivation of a serial killer, but not just any serial killer – no, this is a serial killer who will haunt the FBI and law enforcement, for a long time, as he seeks to rid the world of those he considers responsible for mass suffering and death amongst the general population; politicians, successful and ruthless businessmen and bankers who prey on the vulnerable in society. Ryuu Kimura, it seemed, was a young man who had it all; musically gifted, with loving and nurturing parents, and a girlfriend he loved and adored who loved him back, just as much. Ryuu was set to make a name for himself, in this world, but perhaps not quite in the way everyone expected. Ryuu’s world comes crashing down around him, when first his parents and then his friends are caught by the financial crisis of 2008 and he witnesses first-hand the uncaring and callous treatment of ordinary people by the bankers, the politicians and the landlords. It is, however, when his best friend, Daniel, a computer whizz-kid becomes involved in hacking into sensitive sites and suddenly finds himself, his family and anyone associated with him, disappearing or murdered, that Ryuu gets caught up in the most dangerous game of all – trying to survive. Ryuu’s response to the death and misery that surrounds him is to disappear, reinvent himself, and come back as an avenging angel to wreak havoc on the lives of people he considers to have been the evil ones and to have brought so much misery to the world.

This book is a glimpse into the motivation of a serial killer, from the personal perspective of the man himself. I found the premise and the motivation that set Ryuu off on his path of destruction to be somewhat stretching the bounds of belief, but the book did raise and ask some very pertinent questions about life, death and the morality of violence versus non-violence as a form of protest against social conditions and who has the right to play God. I particularly liked the single-minded determination of Ryuu to carry out his plan regardless of the difficulties and problems placed in his way. He was prepared to sacrifice everything and everyone he loved in order to seek “justice” for all of those he had lost. This whole idea of some sort of “avenging angel” to stand up for the weak and the powerless is somewhat analogous to the idea of “super-heroes” fighting for truth, justice and the American Way. The King Slayer’s Sacrifice shows us that incredibly fine line that exists between good and evil and how easy it can be to flip the unflippable from hard-working, law abiding citizen into an avenger for justice who takes the law into his own hands. Robert K. Hatch, with this hero (anti-hero) poses and to some extent answers the question, what is the greater good? And does the end justify the means? Probably the most substantive part of the story and the message comes from the one meeting between Ryuu and a young, social crusader priest, Father Jacob as they discuss their different methods of seeking social justice. A good thought-provoking read.

Pop on over to Amazon and take a look at the King Slayer's Sacrifice by Robert K. Hatch

the beekeeper's secret (Max Ford Thriller) by sally fernandez

23/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When a U.S. Senator is found dead in his hotel room in Brazil, Max Ford, a former CIA operative, turned private detective takes notice, not the least because Senator Jeffrey Lance was her friend, but his wife, Allison, was also Maxine’s best friend. Before long Max finds herself up to her neck in deaths, conspiracies and even the “deep state”. With her many connections, within the Government, Maxine Ford has access that most private detectives would die for, but she also knows from past experience that when she starts rocking the boat at this level, people get agitated and that is not good for her health. Sally Fernandez, in the Beekeeper’s Secret (Max Ford Thrillers), brings us a chillingly realistic tale of natural medicine and honey bees versus Big Pharma and the trillions of dollars that are at stake in the battle to “discover” a cure for that most pernicious of diseases – cancer.

If you love conspiracy theories, especially ones that involve the very highest echelons of the US Government, you’ll adore Sally Fernandez’s, The Beekeepers Secret (Max Ford Thrillers). This story is only one of the Max Ford thrillers this author has penned and although the story stands alone as a readable thriller, there is a connection to earlier tales and having read those would be a definite advantage. Fernandez writes with clarity and with clearly well-done research, as she fleshes out a story that has scientific undertones. Her ability to clearly elucidate scientific research to her readers is definitely a winning hallmark of this author’s style. The plot twists and turns, with surprising regularity as the story races to its final conclusion, yet still leaving the door open for the next book in the Max Ford story. I enjoyed the read and would definitely put this author high on my list of excellent thriller writers.

You can take a look at The Beekeeper's Secret, plus all of Sally Fernandez's extensive profile, here on her Amazon page:

the good fight: book one of the last enemy series by dan e. hendrickson

11/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Good Fight by Dan E. Hendrickson is the first novel of a planned trilogy titled the Last Enemy Series, centred around the exploits of the Edwards family. Commander Jacob Edwards, although a Coast Guard hero, was forced to retire after he killed a notorious pirate off the Mexican/US Coast. Commander Edwards had planned all along to leave the Coast Guard and help out in the family business, run by his father Jim, one of the largest vehicle wholesale auction firms in America. After Jacob, his wife and his mother are all tragically killed in a plane crash his daughter Danielle seeks solace and comfort from her maternal grandparents in Texas. What none of the family realises is that nothing in their lives is coincidence. Jim Edwards and his family have been targeted from the beginning by an evil, criminal who seeks to become the biggest money launderer in the US. So begins this fast-paced thriller as Danielle seeks to put the past behind her and start again.

As a debut novel, I found The Good Fight to be an action-packed, explosive adventure, which bodes well for the full series. Like all new authors Dan E. Hendrickson still has things to learn regarding sentence structure, tense and dialogue, but that doesn’t detract from an interesting premise, a twisting plot and some excellent action sequences. Although I figured out the final twist fairly early on, the read was still enjoyable and the authors writing style encouraged a fast read. The characters were a little overdrawn perhaps, especially Jacob Edwards who came across somewhere between Captain America and Superman. That having been said, Danielle, as a lead female character was strong, independent and very tough, but still retained her femininity, which is a credit to the author. I suspect the second and third instalments of this tale will be just as interesting and exciting. It will be fascinating to watch the development of Hendrickson as a writer through the next two sequels. A good start to what promises to be an exciting series.

You can take a look at the Good Fight here, on Dan E. Hendrickson's Amazon page:

starvation mountain by robert gilberg

5/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Jim Schmidt is a high-powered computer whiz who decides to take early retirement from the stress of the rat-race and build his dream house at an avocado ranch on Starvation Mountain, near San Diego. Never married, but came close once, Jim is well off and content with his passion and love for owning and riding motorcycles. The mountains around his new house will provide wonderful trails for him to ride. When Jim meets a significantly younger, forty-something, Penny Lane, the connection is instant and enjoyable. Penny is tied up with an old high-school buddy who seems to be on the wrong side of the law. Caught up in a vicious drug gang web, neither had any intention of getting involved with, Jim and Penny find themselves on a bike ride for their lives, following the old trails of Route 66 as expressed in their favourite movie, Easy Rider. Robert Gilberg brings us Starvation Mountain, a thriller that combines 70’s pop culture with a love of motorcycles and especially Harley’s.

Perhaps it’s because I’m of that particular generation, but I certainly found the pop culture references; James Morrison, Easy Rider, Steppenwolf, James Dean etc, comforting and adding to the storyline. As a thriller, Starvation Mountain is pretty standard fare, but the journey is pleasant enough. Robert Gilberg’s two main characters Jim and Penny are believable enough and well developed by the author. The dialogue was a little contrived at times and often seemed too formal for a couple, but equally there were humorous and clever moments also in the dialogue. There are no great twists and turns, but I still enjoyed the read, particularly given the subject matter covered. I am sure there are plenty of readers who can also reminisce over the pop culture aspects and will find this, as I did, a satisfying story.

Starvation Mountain by Robert Gilberg isn't yet available on Amazon, but by all means pop on over to Amazon and check out his full portfolio of listings:

chinawoman's chance: volume 1 (portia of the pacific historical mysteries) by james musgrave

20/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Chinawoman’s Chance (Portia of the Pacific Historical Mysteries) by Jim Musgrave takes us back to the bustling and somewhat lawless society of 1884 San Francisco. The Californian Gold Rush and the Railways have made San Francisco a place of wealth and power, but for certain sections of society, nothing has really changed. For women and for the Chinese immigrants brought to America by the Railway bosses to help build the railways, life is hard. Neither have any real rights in this America of the 1880’s. Championing the cause for women and the oppressed is the larger than life self-trained barrister, Clara Shortridge Foltz Esq. When a young ex-prostitute is murdered, flayed and eviscerated in the Chinatown district of the City, suspicion immediately falls on the Chinese Tongs that make up the ghetto that is Chinatown. Captain Isaiah Lees and his Sergeant must determine who is responsible and cut off any possibility of retaliatory action against the Chinese immigrants. Competing against the rival and corrupt Sheriff’s Department plus the City’s Mayor, Lees has his job cut out for him.

As a big fan of historical novels in general and historical mystery stories in particular, I found Jim Musgrave’s Chinawoman’s Chance (Portia of the Pacific Historical Mysteries) to be absolutely superb. As the first of a series of books based around the wonderful character of Clara Shortridge Foltz Esq. the author has set up a marketable and believable set of characters on which to build his series. Clara was clearly the star of the story, with her forthrightness and her willingness to take the patriarchal society on, at their own game. In the age of the suffragettes, Musgrave’s character was the perfect portrayal of the women who led the campaign for women’s rights all around the world. Her freedom and her owning of her own sexuality was rare among woman of the time. It was fascinating to look at the reaction of the politicians to the perceived growing threat of the “yellow menace”, as they termed it, with their heathen religions and beliefs, comparing that to today’s response with respect to Hispanic and Muslim immigration. The “Exclusion Act” and the “Muslim Ban” – not all that different, perhaps? This book appealed to me on many levels, but most importantly of all, it was a damn good read and an excellent mystery.

You can find Chinawoman's Chance by James Musgrave here on Amazon:

the lesser evil by the black rose

9/2/2018

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Lesser Evil by The Black Rose is a continuation of the Killing Game series, being book five in that series. Ives Andrich, Director of Operations for the FBI is independently wealthy and considered by many to be a genius in criminal investigation. When Ives’ wife, is supposedly murdered Ives refuses to believe she is dead and investigations show she has been kidnapped by a shadowy, Neo-Nazi group intent on creating a nation built along the lines of racial purity and common purpose (sound familiar?) The purpose for kidnapping Ives’ wife becomes clear. This New World Order need Ives’ assistance to help them realise their dream and are holding his wife as a bargaining chip. They draw Ives to a large, private estate in Bavaria, where Ives is certain his wife is being held. Things, though, are not quite what they appeared to be originally and to secure her release Ives finds he must help these powerful men in their twisted schemes.

This is not the first of this series from The Black Rose (what a wonderful nom-de-plume) that I have read and I was excited to see where this tale was leading. I was not disappointed with this fast-paced and thought provoking narrative. What I really liked was that it wasn’t necessary to have read the previous four books in the series, to enjoy The Lesser Evil. While I would recommend reading them in order, the author did a fantastic job of explaining motivations and actions that related to previous books, with small asides in the commentary – excellent. A highlight, for me, in this book was the incredibly detailed and descriptive scene setting by the author. I really felt and recognised the grandeur of the Estate Ives was staying on. Similarly, the characters were well drawn and easily identifiable. This particular book dwelt much more on the two main characters, Ives and Herr Schultz and I enjoyed getting to know them more intimately. This was a wonderful read and I can highly recommend it to anyone who loves spy type, mystery, thrillers. I cannot wait to read the next instalment in these characters’ adventures.

The Lesser Evil by The Black Rose is not yet available on Amazon, but do pop on over to The Black Rose's Amazon page and you can check out the rest of the Ives Andrich series.

survival of the sparrows by pete conrad

3/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Imagine, for a moment, an America that has turned inward, disrespected and disregarded the wishes and feelings of the rest of the world (not too hard to do in these times really). This is the premise of Pete Conrad’s novel Survival of the Sparrows. A coalition of forces from Russia, North Korea and the Middle East has invaded the American homeland and is pushing on with its plan to rule the USA. In rural Johnsonville, Georgia, May and Winston Sparrow a middle-aged African-American couple are worried the invading forces will pass through their small town on their way to take Atlanta. Winston has constructed a false wall in his barn where he and May will hide out until they invading army has passed through. Things don’t go quite to plan for the couple, though and they are caught, trapped in their wall space as the Generals make their small holding, their Southern headquarters.

Survival of the Sparrows was a chillingly frightening reminder of just how fragile our world order and peace truly is. Given the current situation in America and the rest of the world, the scenario painted by Pete Conrad is not too far-fetched at all. This book was a fantastic read, with Winston and May lurching from one crisis to another. Fast-paced, with just the right amount of stereotyping and violence, tempered by the true spirit of human kindness and understanding, this is a very enjoyable book. The two main characters May and Winston and their travails, trapped inside their tiny wall space, were incredibly easy to identify with and I particularly enjoyed the good ole Southern accent and slang in the dialogue. Intentionally, or not, Conrad has hit upon a realistic scenario that was both believable and riveting to read. I truly couldn’t put the book down, even when I knew I should be doing other things. That is probably the best tribute I can give to author Conrad. A real bottler of a read!

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Survival of the Sparrows plus Pete Conrad's other offerings.

eloah: no hell by lex allen

24/1/2018

Eloah: No Hell by Lex Allen is the second installment in his Eloah trilogy that brings us the idea that Jesus was not the Son of God at all, but just another human visitor from a technologically advanced parallel Universe. When Eloah first trod the earth 2,000 years ago, his teachings of "The Way" could be written down on a single parchment document. In fact, it was a magician, Simon Magus who founded the Church in Rome and began the 2,000 years of lies and deceit that followed. Eloah, has now returned to our Universe to try to correct the wrongs perpetrated by two millennia of deceit and to halt the almost inevitable march toward nuclear annihilation that humanity seems set on. With his modern day disciples and his magical, mystical, powers (advanced technology) Eloah will try to convince the Pope, and World Leaders that the whole basis of their religion is a fraud. Not only are earthly powers forming against Eloah, but so are numerous other visitors from alternate Universes, who see Eloah as a threat to their perfect lives on Earth.

The second installment in this trilogy did not disappoint in any way. I love a good, biblical-based story, as much as the next man (having written three of my own) and Eloah: No Hell continued to expand on the twists and turns taken in the first book. The writing is fast-paced and at times almost breathlessly so, but there is still time for Allen to develop his characters. Some of the more minor players look to have the ability to play a big role in the third and final installment and I look forward to seeing the author develop these more in Book 3. Not being a biblical scholar myself, but still well versed in the basic biblical stories and a history buff, I found Allen's grasp of both the region and the Church, in particular, to be excellent. He has done his research well in my opinion.

Eloah: No Hell does what many second books in a trilogy fail to do - it moves the story forward and sets up for a fantastic finale, which I am sure will come in Eloah: No Religion. I can't wait to get my teeth into that. Good job Mr Allen.

Absolutely, shoot on over to Amazon and check out Eloah: No Hell by Lex Allen, as well as the rest of the trilogy and his full portfolio of work.

malthus revisited (4th in lindsey mccall series) by lin wilder

15/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The idea that the world’s population was out of control and needed to be dealt with by intervention was something first postulated by Thomas Robert Malthus in 1798. In Malthus Revisited: The Cup of Wrath by Lin Wilder, a madman has made the determination that Malthus was right and is determined to destroy most of the earth’s population, using an air-borne disease to create a pandemic. Dr Lindsey McCall and her ex-policeman husband Rich are called in by a collection of international law enforcement agencies to help find this madman and neutralise both him and his maniacal plan to destroy most of the earth’s population. Lindsey has just been reunited with the daughter she gave birth to eighteen years ago, but who had been adopted by her best friend at the time. LJ and her College room-mate the autistic and gifted Morgan join her “new” parents in this out and out thriller. Throw in some supernatural happenings and the adventure begins.

Lin Wilder’s thriller Malthus Revisited: The Cup of Wrath is a solid, fast-paced thriller that will certainly keep you on the edge of your seats for the entire breakneck ride. I understand this is the fourth book in the Dr McCall thriller series, so fans of that will undoubtedly find their favourite characters here and enjoy them. There was also a supernatural, quasi-religious tinge to the story, which elevated it above your standard spy/special forces thriller. The action was full-on, although the scenes jumped sometimes disconcertingly at times as did the perspectives. That having been said, it was a very easy read and one I had some difficulty putting down at times. For me, the best and most interesting character was the young Autistic girl Morgan. She had some unique talents and a fascinating character that could have been even deeper delved into. I hope Wilder plans to include this character in future Dr McCall thrillers as I feel there is much more yet to be unearthed and learnt from young Morgan. Joseph Cain, the assassin, turned hero, was also a fascinating study in the two sides of evil and good. The overarching theme being, nobody is irredeemable. All in all, a good, solid, and, at times, spectacular thriller.

Why not pop on over to Amazon and check out Malthus Revisited plus the full gamut of Lin Wilder's extensive bibliography.

ayesha: to take control (part three) by valentine renehan

29/12/2017

Ayesha To Take Control is part three of a trilogy focusing on the world of high fashion and two of its participants in particular, Ayesha and her husband Ger. I've read all three books, so when it came to the final book of the series there were certain things I was looking for. Did the story wrap itself up in a suitable and appropriate ending? Ayesha Three delivered. Was there a constant improvement in the writing between all three books? I have been impressed right from the beginning with the writing of Valentine Renehan and Ayesha Three was yet another step up for thus author. Was it possible to read Ayesha Three without having read the first two books - was it a standalone novel? Again, Ayesha Three delivered. Renehan went to significant trouble to notify the reader of why certain things had happened the way they did and how they related to the past.

In Ayesha: To Take Control, the same evil characters from the first two books are still lurking in the background, especially Brett Sanderson, the man who supposedly died in a prison cell, but in reality is still out to destroy Ayesha and her empire, for ruining his life and his evil plans. Brett is now joined in his quest to destroy Ayesha by a son he doesn't even know he has, who is now the husband of Ayesha and Ger's daughter and along with her now controls the clothing Empire.

The story is fast-paced, full of action and the usual, expected twists and turns from Renehan. I have thoroughly enjoyed all three books in the Ayesha series and would highly recommend this final book, along with the whole series, to anyone who loves a good, romantic, action/adventure story. There is plenty in this series to keep you happy and occupied. Valentine Renehan has matured as a writer over the trilogy and I, for one, cannot wait to see what she has up her writing sleeve next. An excellent series and kudos to Renehan.

You should pop on over to Amazon and take a look at the full Ayesha Trilogy, including Ayesha: To Take Control by Valentine Renehan, here:

restless earth (karma's children #1) by Jim dolan

29/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Restless Earth by John Dolan brings together four men who it seems have little or nothing in common, but somehow they are all inextricably linked. An embittered, old, sick man, Jedediah Reichenbach is just looking for revenge against his nemesis, the amoral and evil businessman, James Fosse whom Reichenbach, a former Police Officer, knows to be a murderer. Reichenbach hires out-of-work, ex Iraqi veteran, Private First-Class Samuel Trask to travel to Thailand and discover what Fosse is up to. Reichenbach is only sure of one thing - whatever Fosse is up to is just a front for the man's evil machinations. Trask was invalided from Iraq with a severe leg injury. Although the physical wounds have healed, he is haunted by what he witnessed in Iraq and the murder of a young Iraqi girl. He seeks redemption. Fosse, is a master manipulator who loves nothing better than to cause mayhem and havoc in people's lives, to no apparent end, apart from his own twisted, personal satisfaction. Throw in the mix an English Private Detective based in Thailand, who is still trying to find his real purpose in life and you have a rollicking tale of murder, mystery and mayhem, with inexplicable linkages everywhere.

Here we find four disparate characters, all seeking different things who are brought together in this wonderful story, Restless Earth, by author John Dolan. I loved the exotic location of Thailand and enjoyed the authors attempt to show us a side of Thai life and culture outside some of the popular Western misconceptions, not to say those were ignored either. All four characters were well drawn by Dolan and of special interest was the pleasure-seeking, narcissist, Jim Fosse. Nothing, it seemed, was too devious or too outlandish, in his mind, to try, to create a mess in other people's lives. There didn't need to be a purpose to his actions other than the twisted, sadistic, pleasure he would gain from inflicting suffering on someone else. A really strong character that drew me in, as a reader. Sam Trask was also a complex and needy individual that had you feeling deep sympathy for the man, at times and equally feeling like screaming at the character to; "not be such an idiot". The quintessential English detective who had left good, old England, after the death of his young wife, to find himself, was perfect in many of its characterisations, in my opinion. The relevance and importance of Karma in our lives was shown brilliantly through the events of this tale. This is a wonderful, adventure book that will keep readers on the edge-of-their-seats and quickly turning pages to see what comes next. Great story Mr. Dolan.

You can check out Restless Earth and John Dolan's full, extensive portfolio, here on Amazon:

saving shadow (the beckett files #1) by laura beers

29/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Spying in the time of the Regency period was all important to the British Crown. It was often the aristocracy who became involved in spying - especially the second son of a Lord or Duke, who by British Law would inherit nothing from his father and must therefore find some other way to serve King, Country and Empire. Spying, though, was a man's game - definitely not for the likes of delicate women, who apart from anything else, lacked the constitution and thought processes required for espionage. Enter Lady Elizabeth Beckett (AKA The Shadow), a remarkable young woman with a photographic memory and fighting skills to match any man. In Saving Shadow by Laura Beers we follow the adventures of Eliza as she spies for the Crown, along with her brother Johnathon and the enigmatic, but very attractive Lord Sinclair. They must not only break up a slavery ring that is kidnapping young girls for sale, they must rescue them and fight treachery and treason at the highest levels.

Laura Beers, with Shaving Shadow, has brought us a spine-tingling tale with all the adventure of a modern spy thriller, but set in the Regency period. Her character Eliza is a strong, capable, woman who defied all the expectations of the period, for females. I particularly enjoyed the interplay between Eliza, her brother and Lord Sinclair. Despite, as a reader, always knowing deep down that Eliza and Lord Benedict Sinclair would consummate their clear lust for each other, the sexual tension was beautifully maintained by Beers. I loved the way Lord Sinclair was forced to change his opinions of women, as he came to realise just how strong, capable and willful Lady Eliza truly was. This was an exciting, page-turning story that I just couldn't put down and effectively read in one sitting. The action scenes were realistically written, and interspersed with some truly wonderful love scenes. I have not read Laura Beers before, but I have no doubt I will be doing so again in the future. I can highly recommend this book to lovers of history, the Regency period and just readers who like to get their teeth into a good, old-fashioned, spy tale, come romance. Great stuff!

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Saving Shadow plus Laura Beers' full portfolio.

no kill station: murder at rehoboth beach by diane meier

19/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Matt had retired from the Baltimore Police, to move to Rehoboth, a small vacation town, with his son Henry, where he was serving on the local Rehoboth Police Force. When the Director of the Rehoboth SPCA is murdered, it is clear there are a lot of animal lovers in Delaware who are not happy with the SPCA's performance in getting stray cats and dogs adopted. It appears Rehoboth's SPCA is more concerned with killing as many animals as possible. The "No-Kill" people are the obvious suspects in the murder of Director Gary. In No Kill Station, by Diane Meier, there is much more to this tale than meets the eye and Matt finds himself thrown into a maelstrom of conflict that includes dog-fighting, mobsters, bribery, corruption and a romance with the woman who will become the prime suspect in the murder of the SPCA director. Throw in some supernatural happenings and you have all the makings of a cozy mystery/romance.

No Kill Station is a mystery that grows on you. I particularly liked author Diane Meier's drawing of the principal characters Matt, Clara and Sharon. Matt was an upstanding citizen trying to rebuild his life after a messy divorce and was always willing to put his principles first, especially when it came to protecting animals. His relationship with Clara and the unusual supernatural themes, just added to the excitement of the murder mystery. This is an incredibly relaxed and easy book to read and for lovers of clean, cozy mystery/romances, it would be perfect. The author uses the novel to impart important information about the way in which we, as a society, deal with stray animals. She uses the tale to push her own beliefs on the importance of the humane treatment of animals, as a reflection of a society's health. I particularly liked that aspect of the story. A very good first-up effort from Meier.

You can check out No-Kill Station by Diane Meier, here on Amazon:

the boat house by jana d. barrett

1/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Boat House by Jana D. Barrett takes us inside the world of the very wealthy, the very powerful, and the sometimes mentally unstable. Genevieve Vandermere – Anderson is eighteen, but for the last six years she has lived with the horrible guilt that it was her drunken, pre-teen, behaviour that killed her mother and another totally unknown family, when she was steering the boat that caused the horrific accident. Adopted by her step-father Anderson, Genevieve’s life has been ruthlessly controlled and directed by the man she now has come to view with distrust, disdain and disgust in equal measures. There is something evil about Anderson and she is determined to unravel the mystery that seems to surround her family. With the help of a hunky Private Investigator, Easton and her two new friends, Livi and Stellan, Genevieve determines to expose her lying, cheating, manipulative and possibly murderous step-father and escape to the freedom she feels she deserves.

This story, The Boat House, is an intriguing murder/mystery that Jana Barrett takes in many directions. Her characters are believable and well-drawn. It does jump from one (first person) perspective to another, between chapters, which some readers will love, but others may find disconcerting. That having been said, it is a very readable story and some of the descriptive passages, especially those covering the location, of the South Carolina coastal areas, are both beautiful and evocative. As a mystery, the plot was intricate, with all the loose ends neatly tied together by the end of the book, which is always preferable, from a reader’s perspective. The fascinating thing from my viewpoint was how Barrett managed to weave all the characters together, as involved in the mystery, in such a way that they all had a stake in the outcome of exposing Anderson for the evil man he clearly was. This was a good, solid, enjoyable read and one I can definitely recommend to others, especially those who like solving mysteries, with a little romance thrown in for good measure.

You can check out The Boat House by Jana D. Barrett here on Amazon:

Diamond Rain: Adventure Science Fiction Techno Thriller (The Spy Stories and Tales of Intrigue Series Book 2) by michael james gallagher

16/11/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The takeover of the world, by the Chinese, has begun, but not with destructive weapons, as such, but by simple weight of numbers. All over the world, Chinese men have been mobilized to march into foreign countries, by their millions, taking over the financial resources of the countries and transferring that wealth to China. Protected from attack, by new nano-technology suits, it appears not even atomic weapons can stop the relentless surge of Chinese domination. In Diamond Rain, Michael Gallagher presents the world with just one hope of resisting this invasion. Deep within the Israeli Mossad is technology vastly superior to the carbon-based nano-suits used by the Chinese – a diamond based nano-suit. When Al-Jazeerah cameraman Thomas is surprisingly handed this technology as he films the Chinese invasion from high atop a ridge, he is set on a path of technology and subterfuge that will see him and the Mossad agents try to defeat the evil Chinese warlord intent on world domination.

Diamond Rain is a fast-paced thriller that will have you turning the pages rapidly to discover where it all leads next. Author Gallagher has projected technology slightly into the future, but given today’s advancements in quantum physics, it is easy to understand and believe the possibility of the action described. Although some of the concepts were a little advanced for my dim-witted brain to understand it didn’t detract at all from the excitement of the story. Michael Gallagher’s characters could be described as a little stereotypical, but nonetheless they were easy enough to identify and empathise with. The romance he wove into the story certainly helped to soften the edges of what is essentially an out and out spy thriller. There were enough twists and turns, although most were fairly predictable throughout the story. I note that this book is book two in a series. I was intrigued enough by the character of Kefira to want to read more of the story. A good, solid, thriller and one to recommend.

Pop on over to Amazon and check out Michael Gallagher's Diamond Rain and the rest of his portfolio:

dead lemons by finn bell

12/11/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Dead Lemons by Finn Bell takes a look at a young paraplegic, stuck in a wheelchair because of his own bad, drunken decisions and trying to come to terms with the mess he has made of his life. His drinking has cost him his marriage and now, in desperation, he sells his house in Wellington, New Zealand and moves down to the deep south, to Riverton, to try to begin a new life away from the mess he was before. What he doesn’t gamble on is becoming caught up in the mystery of an old kidnapping and murder of a young local girl some thirty years earlier. Finn finds friendships in Riverton like he has never discovered before but his own personal journey of recovery will be sorely tested by the trials and dangers of messing with some truly evil people who have managed to keep their evil hidden for so many years.

This is the second Finn Bell book I’ve read in recent times and Dead Lemons is every bit as good as the first one. Bell has a laid-back, almost conversational style of writing that really appeals to me, as a reader. I find his works easy to read and almost impossible to put down. His characters and their cultural traits are, as a fellow New Zealander, easy for me to identify with and laugh at, but Bell has a rare ability to transcend cultural and national boundaries in his writing. Even if you have never heard of New Zealand and Rugby, you will love Dead Lemons. At its heart this is a murder mystery, but it is much more than that, it is also a journey of self-discovery for the main character, Finn and I found also for the reader. I found so much in this book that was easy to identify with. As a murder mystery, it is great and as contemporary literature, it is also excellent. I highly recommend this book.

You can check out Dead Lemons and Finn Bell's full portfolio, here on Amazon:

pancake money (the far south series book 2) by finn bell

11/11/2017

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Bobby Ress is a young detective who works homicide in the small city of Dunedin at the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand. He has a firm conviction of who he is and what his role is in this crazy world of good guys vs bad guys. In Pancake Money, by Finn Bell, with his more experienced partner Pollo beside him to guide him, Bobby firmly believes that what he does, makes a difference. When elderly priests, who appear, on the surface, to be almost saintly start turning up dead, alarm bells start ringing in Dunedin. These priests have not only been murdered, but were also tortured and died in abject misery, their bodies arranged in some sort of ritualistic representation of Catholic history. It seems, somehow, the local gang, The Manga Tahu, must be involved, but why and why kill these priests so horrifically? Bobby and Pollo must solve this horrific crime before more people wind up dead.

When I started reading and discovered this story took place in my old hometown of Dunedin, it definitely did bring it more alive for me. The places and references made total sense to me. Pancake Money is an out and out thriller, cop mystery and does extremely well on that level alone. The tension is tight, the main characters are well-defined and the story rollicks along from one killing, one mystery, to another. It’s a hard book to put down. What I appreciated even more, from Finn Bell, was his attempt to examine some of the more interesting aspects of human behavior through the narrative. The author doesn’t shy away from asking and attempting to answer the big questions of good vs evil and what makes moral man turn to violence and even progress to insanity. I was super impressed with this book and it has opened my eyes up to another new author worth following. I particularly liked the section at the end of the book, where the author makes some attempt to share his own philosophy on some of these issues. It definitely made me smile. A great job by this author.

Take a look at Finn Bell's full portfolio of work, here on Amazon:

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