What The River Knows Review

                                                               

The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

Review:

WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS is a mysterious, atmospheric tale with pages filled with adventure and magic in which a girl and heiress sets sail to Egypt under false pretenses on a mission to investigate the deaths of her parents. Each year Inez's parents left her alone to travel to assist her uncle with his archaeology expeditions looking for magic artifacts. Wealthy in worldly goods, Inez wished for the one thing she couldn't have - her parents. And now they've disappeared. Guided by a magical ring sent to her by her father, Inez refuses to let her uncle and handsome assistant Whit discourage her or send her home. Eventually, Whit joins her on a mission in search of Cleopatra's tomb and with her newly discovered powers that push ahead. The author takes some time to build the tension and chemistry between Inez and Whit but the pace increases as the story unfolds through alternating points of view. With danger, secrets and lies hidden around every turn, it's a race against time. 

Author Isabel Ibanez does an outstanding job of weaving historical facts from the nineteenth century into a magical, mysterious historical fantasy with larger than life characters. The cliffhanger ending leaves readers begging for the next book. Highly recommended to fans of historical fiction and fantasy with a touch of romance.

Synopsis:

Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and an ancient golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation Review

Author: Michael Cannell

Publisher: Minotaur 

Release Day: Jan. 14, 2025

Many thanks to Minotaur Publishing for a gifted arc of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

For the first time in forty years, former New York Times editor Michael Cannell unearths the full story behind two ruthless New York cops who acted as double agents for the Mafia.

Review:

BLOOD AND THE BADGE by former New York Times editor Michael Cannell is a compelling true crime expose` highlighting the shocking story of two decorated NYC Police Detectives who led double lives as Mafia informers and henchmen in the underworld of 1980s Brooklyn. Their case of police corruption is the worst betrayal of the public's trust ever known in American history, and only through the diligence and determination of Police Officer Tommy Dades, who pursued the case into his retirement, were they finally brought to justice. Detectives Louis Eppolito and Frank Caracappa perpetrated an outrageous travesty against the very people they took an oath to serve and protect. Leading double lives as mafia henchmen, the pair of decorated detectives not only served as mob informants, alerting mob bosses to impending raids, arriving drug shipments, etc., but also operated as mob henchmen often conducting mob hits. This went on for over ten years despite a few efforts to get indictments against them. It was only through the work of retired officer Tommy Dades that enough evidence was eventually gathered to get a conviction and send the disgraced officers to prison.

The American public can now read the entire sordid, shocking, true story through the hard work and dedication of New York Times editor Michael Cannell with the release of his book, BLOOD AND THE BADGE. Cannell spent endless hours combing through interviews from numerous sources, police records, and court testimonies, starting from the beginning of the corruption and following through until Eppolito and Caracappa's trial and conviction. The result is a true crime novel that's impossible to put down - a story that unfolds with suspense building chapter by chapter, through twists and turns with shockers that'll leave you reeling like only a favorite author's best work of fiction can . . . only this book isn't a work of imagination. It's undeniably one of the worst cases of crime against the innocent I've ever read. Through interviews with mob bosses, Cannell lays open the inner working of the mob as well as cracking the tight-knit inner circle of the NYPD who either ignored the corruption or at least failed to step up to stop it. His research is meticulous in delivering the facts - the dark, sordid tale of two arrogant police officers who placed themselves above the law, using their position and power not to serve but to profit. Two decorated officers whose twisted tale is so horrifying that it's hard to believe that this is not a work of fiction, but indeed a true crime narrative that throws open the doors of the ugly underworld of Brooklyn in the 1980's.

BLOOD AND THE BADGE is a shocking expose` on corruption in law enforcement, but also a testament to justice - to the perseverance of one good officer who refused to back down. Cannell's ability to transport readers into the story through engaging prose allows them to witness Eppolito and Caracappa's transgressions firsthand including what drove them to lie, cheat and kill on command. Readers also engage with police officer, Tommy Dades, as he tirelessly pursues the dirty detectives right into his retirement years, refusing to stop until justice is finally served. I highly recommend BLOOD AND THE BADGE to fans of well-written, true crime narratives that are not only eye-opening, but also highly entertaining.

Synopsis:

No episode in NYPD history surpasses the depravities of Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, two decorated detectives who covertly acted as mafia informants and paid assassins in the Scorsese world of 1980s Brooklyn. For more than ten years, Eppolito and Caracappa moonlighted as the mob’s early warning alert system, leaking names of mobsters secretly cooperating with the government and crippling investigations by sharing details of surveillance, phone taps and impending arrests. The Lucchese boss called the two detectives his crystal ball. Whatever detectives knew, the mafia soon learned. Most grievously, Eppolito and Caracappa earned bonuses by staging eight mob hits, pulling the trigger themselves at least once. Incredibly, when evidence of their wrongdoing arose in 1994, FBI officials failed to muster an indictment. The allegations lay dormant for a decade and were only revisited due to relentless follow up by Tommy Dades, a cop determined to break the cold case before his retirement. Eppolito and Caracappa were finally tried and then sentenced to life in prison in 2009, nearly thirty years after their crimes took place. Cannell’s Blood and the Badge is based on entirely new research and never-before-released interviews with mobsters themselves, including Sammy “the Bull” Gravano. Eppolito and Caracappa’s story is more relevant than ever as police conduct comes under ever-increasing scrutiny.

Cold As Hell Review

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Series: Haven's Rock #3

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Day: Feb. 18, 2025

Special thanks to the publisher for a complimentary arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong returns to Haven’s Rock in Cold as Hell as Casey Butler hunts down a dangerous killer during a deadly blizzard.

Review:

Hidden away deep in the Yukon Wilderness of Canada is a secluded town called Haven's Rock - a sanctuary for those seeking a place to disappear off the grid while leaving their pasts behind. After applying for residency, each person coming in is carefully researched before being approved, leading to a small community of people safe within the borders. The secluded setting and mother nature combine to create a highly atmospheric, locked room style thriller that's guaranteed to keep readers up late at night to finish those last few pages.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, arrived in Haven's Rock from Rockton and have finally settled into their new home and started a family. Casey is devoted to her job and the people of the town and finds it hard to slow down even as she's entering her final months of pregnancy, much to the chagrin of her husband. When one of the women from town suffers confusion from a drugged drink served at the local bar and wanders into the forest surrounding the town alone, she falls victim to an attack, barely escaping with her life. With Eric by her side, Casey investigates, stumbling across another victim frozen in the snow. There are no outsiders in Haven's Rock, leaving Casey to assume someone living among them is a murderer. Who among the town's carefully vetted residents is killing the town's women?

COLD AS HELL is a complex, atmospheric thriller with well-developed characters readers can connect with. I enjoy the contrast between the personalities of Casey and Eric as they play off each other's strengths and weaknesses. It's great to catch up with some of the series support characters from previous books and yet new to the series readers will be comfortable jumping in as each book stands alone. Author Kelley Armstrong has taken time to build a world that serves as a character within itself with extreme weather and isolation creating a locked room style setting in COLD AS HELL. Mystery, murder, intrigue, and isolation all combine to make this an intensive whodunnit perfect for fans of mysteries and suspense thrillers.

 

Synopsis:

Haven’s Rock is a sanctuary town hidden deep in the Yukon for those who need to disappear from the regular world. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are starting a family now that they’ve settled into their life here. As Casey nears the end of her pregnancy, she lets nothing, including her worried husband, stop her from investigating what happens in the forbidden forest outside the town of Haven’s Rock.

When one of the town's residents is drugged and wanders too close to the edge of town, she’s dragged into the woods kicking and screaming. She’s saved in the nick of time, but the women of the town are alarmed. Casey and Eric investigate the assault just as a snowstorm hits Haven’s Rock, covering the forest. It’s there they find a frozen body, naked in the snow. With mixed accounts of the woman's last movements, the two begin to question who they can trust—and who they can't—in their seemingly safe haven.

Cross My Heart Review

Author: Megan Collins

Publisher: Atria Books

Release Day: Jan. 14, 2025

Many thanks to Atria Publ. for a complimentary arc of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his. The author of The Family Plot brings her signature prose to a twisty novel about a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband.

Review:

CROSS MY HEART by Author Megan Collins is a riveting suspense thriller with a unique plotline that's rendered through a mixed media format via dual points of view from two highly unreliable narrators. The escalating tension and insane pace put readers on notice early on to prepare for a wild ride with serious creepy vibes spreading throughout the pages. Find some alone time before starting this one because you won't see daylight again until you read the final shocking page.

Rosie Lachlan knows all about the pain of rejection, having been dumped by her fiancé as she stood in her wedding gown preparing to walk down the aisle. Former boyfriends have called Rosie possessive, obsessive, too extreme . . . and maybe she has gone a bit overboard in past relationships; however, this is the new, improved Rosie - the one with a brand new heart and a second chance at life and love. Rosie spends her days working in her parents' bridal shop, dreaming of the day she'll find The One and her nights learning everything she can about the woman whose heart now beats in her chest. After some digging, Rosie is certain she has the heart of writer Morgan Thorne's deceased wife, Daphne, who died in a tragic accident at home. She admires Morgan's work and can't resist reaching out to him anonymously through Donor Connect. Much to her delight, he responds enthusiastically with questions of his own. As communication between the pair increases in the coming weeks, Rosie becomes convinced that fate brought them together. He’s the reason she received his wife's heart . . . so she could also win his. Despite ugly rumors blaming him for his wife's death and warnings from her best friend to beware, Rosie's certain she's found her true love, so she throws caution to the wind and quickly becomes obsessed with learning everything she can about the man and his dead wife. What if some things she learns raise red flags? Surely there's a reasonable explanation, right? Or are her "Rosie-colored glasses" blinding her to the truth?

Author Megan Collins expertly maneuvers characters and readers through a darkly twisted plot line that gave this reader goosebumps from the start. It's nigh on impossible to decern who to believe in this crazy narrative, and I found myself second guessing everything I thought I knew. Chapter by chapter, the pace escalates with the perception of imminent danger setting a dire tone. Whiplash set in from changing my mind so many times about who the real nut case is as the shocking twists kept setting pages on fire. The characters are well-developed and sell their role with authenticity. The question is: Who's the psychotic nut job? Rosie? Afterall, there's nothing wrong with fixating on a potential new boyfriend or viewing the world through rose-colored glasses, is there? Or Morgan? A great guy who suffered a terrible loss . . . or a master of disguise at hiding his true self? You be the judge!

CROSS MY HEART is a stunning, well-crafted psychological thriller with a creative, highly engaging plot line and characters that deliver. It's a disturbing thriller that'll leave you second guessing everything you read numerous times while trying to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together to uncover the truth. An unreliable, unpredictable protagonist, insanely tangled plot line, and maddening pace make this whodunnit the one you don't want to miss! How far would you go for love? Highly recommended to fans of intense psychological thrillers you cannot put down!

Synopsis:

Rosie Lachlan wants nothing more than to find The One.

A year after she was dumped in her wedding dress, she’s working at her parents’ bridal salon, anxious for a happy ending that can’t come soon enough. After receiving a life-saving heart transplant, Rosie knows her health is precious and precarious. She suspects her heart donor is Daphne Thorne, the wife of local celebrity author Morgan Thorne, who she begins messaging via an anonymous service called DonorConnect, ostensibly to learn more about Daphne. But Rosie has a secret: She’s convinced that now that she has his wife’s heart, she and Morgan are meant to be together.

As she and Morgan correspond, the pretense of avoiding personal details soon disappears, even if Rosie’s keeping some cards close to her chest. But as she digs deeper into Morgan’s previous marriage, she discovers disturbing rumors about the man she’s falling for. Could Morgan have had something to do with his late wife’s death? And can Rosie’s heart sustain another break—or is she next?

Battle Mountain Review

Author: C.J. Box

Series: Joe Pickett #25

Publisher: G.P. Putnam Sons

Release Day: Feb. 25, 2025

Special thanks to the publisher for a complimentary arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

Outlaw falconer Nate Romanowski is off the grid and out for revenge in this riveting new novel from #1 New York Times bestseller C. J. Box.

Review:

BATTLE MOUNTAIN is the 25th book in Author C.J. Box's epic Joe Pickett series featuring Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett. Each book in the series is a gripping, suspenseful masterpiece in characterizations, intertwined plot lines, and explosive action standing alone for the reading pleasure of new readers. However, I highly recommend readers begin with book one and settle in to enjoy a complex, captivating, highly atmospheric ride through the outstanding series with characters you'll either love or hate.

Game Warden Joe Pickett and friend Nate Romanowski, a falconer, are still reeling from a previous vicious attack on their families by a madman that left Nate utterly devastated yet determined to hunt down and wield some old timey western justice to Axel Soledad. Leaving his young daughter with Joe's wife, he disappears off the grid, a ghost in the wind, a villain's worse nightmare in the dark, to team up with Geronimo, another man suffering losses brought about by the same evil man. Joe hasn't heard from Nate in months when, once again, he's tagged to carry out a special mission by reelected Governor Rubon - this time to conduct a discreet search for his missing son-in-law and his hunting guide who've gone dark and are apparently lost somewhere in the Sierra Madre mountain range. Torn between his professional and personal duties, Joe packs his gear into his truck and heads out to touch base with the newcomer game warden in the district including Battle Mountain before heading up the treacherous mountain to begin his search. Always diligent, Joe realizes the journey is perilous; however, he has no idea of the deadly storm brewing overhead and on the ground. Nor does he know that Nate and Geronimo's search for Soledad has led them to infiltrate the same area. Joe's search quickly morphs from tracking down a lost hunter to something more sinister to all concerned. One thing's clear, there's more at stake than two lost men and when the forces of nature and good vs. evil clash, things quickly turn deadly. Will anyone survive Battle Mountain?

BATTLE MOUNTAIN is an explosive, highly atmospheric masterpiece of tautly woven plot lines, insane pacing, and relentless suspense. As always, Box captures the essence of the region with its breathtaking, serene beauty and camouflaged dangers. His descriptive prose transports readers into the towering mountains with panoramic views, deep valleys, and crystal-clear rivers to experience the power of mother nature and bear witness to the fact that she can turn on a dime according to the season and weather. Joe's constant battle to maintain his integrity and follow his high moral compass are at the heart of the story, driving agonizing decisions he's forced to make each time he's faced with stepping over that gray line for a friend. Character development is huge in each book, but greater still in the series overall. The cast is rounded out with an outstanding group of supporting characters who often find themselves trapped in deadly plots of their own. Fans of the series will devour BATTLE MOUNTAIN as I did. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy action-packed, intense suspense thrillers.

Synopsis:

The campaign of destruction that Axel Soledad and Dallas Cates wreaked on Nate Romanowski and Joe Pickett left both men in tatters, especially Nate, who lost almost everything. Wondering if the civilized life left him vulnerable to attack, Nate dropped off the grid with his falcons in tow to prepare for vengeance.

When Joe gets a call from the governor asking for help finding his son-in-law, who has gone missing in the Sierra Madre mountain range, he enlists the help of a local, a rookie game warden named Susan Kany.

As Nate and fellow falconer Geronimo Jones circle closer to their prey, Joe and Susan follow the nearly cold trail to Warm Springs. Little do Nate and Joe know that their separate journeys are about to converge . . . at Battle Mountain.

She Doesn't Have A Clue Review

Author: Jenny Elder Moke

Publisher: St. Martins Press

Release Day: Jan. 21 2025

Special thanks to St. Martins Press for a complimentary arc of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.

With a colorful cast of characters and a cellar full of wine, anything can happen―from murder to a second chance at love―in Jenny Elder Moke's half mystery, half romance adult debut set at a lavish destination wedding.

Review:

A destination wedding on a private island is the setting for Author Jenny Elder Moke's SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE. I'm all in for a good mystery or romance, and a combo of the two is just up my alley. Add the fact that the heroine is a mystery author, and how could I resist?

When Mystery Author Kate Valentine receives an invitation to her ex-boyfriend's wedding to Rebecca Hempstead, she has no intention of attending. However, when the bride-to-be herself extends a special invitation, Kate is too curious to refuse. She'll attend the exclusive event, meet some important people, drink, eat and make merry. How hard can it be? How was she to know her secret crush Jake Hawkins would show up mistakenly placed as her plus-one? She can handle him up close and personal, right? Things are going just peachy until the bride is poisoned - a scene way too similar to a murder that occurs in one of Kate's books. Great! Now she's a murder suspect! Kate doesn't have a clue who did it, so it looks like she'll have to channel her book character's skills to solve the murder mystery and clear her name. Having Jake along for the ride won't hurt none!

SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE is a sweet blend of a trapped room mystery and second-chance romance. Moke does a great job setting the scene with a number of characters offering several red herrings. It doesn't take long for the dirty secrets and smoldering resentments to start surfacing opening the pool of possible killers up to include almost everyone. While the pace may feel a bit slow for some readers, I applaud the author for taking time to build the suspense and romance. SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE is a highly atmospheric, entertaining murder mystery that fans of mysteries and romcoms will enjoy.

Synopsis:

A high-end wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle sounds like something out of a magazine. But for bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine, it’s more like a nightmare.

Why Kate agreed to attend her ex-fiancé’s wedding is its own enigma, but she’ll plaster on a fake smile for two nights, with the aid of free champagne, naturally. And because the groom happens to be her editor, she’ll try to finish a draft of her latest Loretta Starling mystery as a wedding gift. But when the bride is poisoned and Kate stumbles across a dead body, she finds herself in a real-life mystery that eerily echoes the plot of her latest novel. And the only person who seems willing to help Kate catch the killer is Jake Hawkins, aka: the Hostralian; aka: Kate’s biggest romantic regret.

As the wine flows and the weather threatens to hold every guest hostage, bitter resentments and long-held grudges surface amongst the colorful crowd. Anyone could be capable of murder, it seems. What would Loretta do? Unfortunately, Kate doesn’t have a clue.

Bonded In Death Review

Author: J.D. Robb

Series: In Death #60

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Day: Feb. 4, 2025

5 Exploding Stars!

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press for a complimentary arc of this title. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

The #1 New York Times bestselling author spins an epic tale of loyalty, treachery, murder, and the long shadow of war…

Review:

BONDED IN DEATH is the sixtieth book in Author J.D. Robb's futuristic police procedural series set in New York City during the 21st century. Homicide Lieutenant Eve Dallas, billionaire husband and entrepreneur Roarke and an eclectic assortment of friends and colleagues unite to fight crime and bring justice to victims and their families. As always, Robb excels at rendering a tautly plotted murder mystery featuring strong, vibrant characterizations and settings with a sprinkling of humor to lighten darker storylines.

A man in Rome receives an urgent phone call causing him to drop everything and travel to New York City with no explanation to his family. He gets in a waiting limo at the airport and soon thereafter, he's found dead in the backseat with no immediate cause of death indicated. Called to the scene, Lt. Dallas quickly becomes irritated at the lack of clues, especially when facial recognition fails to identify the limo driver and presumed killer. As Eve and her team dig deeper, facts emerge indicating the victim had a connection to the historic Urban Wars that occurred during a period of unrest in Europe over four decades earlier. Dallas turns to the only person she knows who lived through those Wars - Roarke's major domo, Summerset, who resides in the mansion and takes immense pleasure in irritating Eve with daily exchanges of banter. The shock and pain on Summerset's face upon hearing of Rossi's death tells Eve that he holds the key to solving the murder if she can convince him to share his secretive past. When it becomes clear someone is targeting old comrades, Summerset reluctantly tells a dark tale about an organization he swore allegiance to known as "The Twelve” - a group of confidants who secretly fought behind the scenes during the Urban Wars. With Summerset at the top of a "kill list", Eve and Roarke offer safe harbor in the mansion to the remaining members of The Twelve while Eve, Peabody and the rest of the police team search for an elusive killer. Can they unmask a mastermind of disguise before he kills again?

BONDED IN DEATH is THE In Death book I've been waiting for as I suspect is true of other fans of the series. The Urban Wars are mentioned in previous books with little to no information being revealed. It's been alluded to that Summerset's dark past is buried somewhere in the ashes of the Urban Wars, and readers are finally receiving the full story. Bringing the tale home to New York with safe shelter taking place in Roarke's mansion is brilliant on the part of the author as it brings people who knew, loved and worked with Summerset in his youth together in one place, allowing readers inside Eve’s at-home interview room as each remaining member relays their story. Flashbacks carry readers straight into the war zone enabling them to watch the horror of the ultimate betrayal play out firsthand. Robb expertly maneuvers characters and readers through connecting plot lines as intensity and urgency grow with frustrations at being unable to put a face to a suspected killer.

Author J.D. Robb is a brilliant storyteller who knows how to weave a fascinating, multi-faceted tale with characters readers love like family. I never tire of watching the cases play out through Eve's eyes as her mind is a fascinating place to be whether she's working a case or navigating the murky waters of wife and/or friendship rules. Character relationship development is always huge in these books, remaining the number one reason I recommend experiencing this series from the beginning - although each book stands alone with an intriguing murder case being investigated. I always look forward to the quirky banter between characters, especially Eve and Peabody, as well as the hilarious prose describing the vibrant dress and larger-than-life personalities of some characters. Pacing moves forward steadily with each revelation keeping characters and readers engaged.

Author J.D. Robb has rendered another excellent, immersive police procedural with strong, engaging characters and complex plot lines bearing the perfect blend of mystery, intrigue, romance and humor. I predict BONDED IN DEATH will be a favorite among long-time fans of the series. I also highly recommend it to those readers who enjoy a beautifully written and delivered murder mystery.

Synopsis:

His passport read Giovanni Rossi. But decades ago, during the Urban Wars, he was part of a small, secret organization called The Twelve. Responding to an urgent summons from an old compatriot, he landed in New York and eased into the waiting car. And died within minutes…

Lieutenant Eve Dallas finds the Rossi case frustrating. She’s got an elderly victim who’d just arrived from Rome; a widow who knows nothing about why he’d left; an as-yet unidentifiable weapon; and zero results on facial recognition. But when she finds a connection to the Urban Wars of the 2020s, she thinks Summerset―fiercely loyal, if somewhat grouchy, major-domo and the man who’d rescued her husband from the Dublin streets―may know something from his stint as a medic in Europe back then.

When Summerset learns of the crime, his shock and grief are clear―because, as he eventually reveals, he himself was one of The Twelve. It’s not a part of his past he likes to revisit. But now he must―not only to assist Eve’s investigation, but because a cryptic message from the killer has boasted that others of The Twelve have also died. Summerset is one of those who remain―and the murderous mission is yet to be fully accomplished…