The Fall and Rise of Peter Stoller (Peter Stoller) By M. Pepper Langlinais

The Fall and Rise of Peter Stoller is a superbly crafted espionage thriller that is set in London in the 1970s where intelligence tricks such as, pseudonyms, dead letter-boxes, and secret passwords were used along with a great number of code breaking technologies.  The story follows main protagonist, Peter Stroller, who is a British Intelligence Officer and next in line to run the Agency – until he falls in love with a cab driver, Charles, and his life goes off the rails.

In summary, “The Fall and Rise of Peter Stoller” is an exceptionally well-written espionage thriller with a number of un-predictable twist and turns that will leave the reader turning those pages well in to the night to discover what happens to these wonderfully strong, well-developed and likable characters’

My Ranking 4.5 Stars

Mother Moon: By Bob Goddard

“Goddard’s elegantly constructed novel evokes some of the finest traditions in science fiction, with a near future setting where the fate of humankind rests in the hands of a small colony of lunar-based scientists.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

Mother Moon is primarily set in the year 2087 and also on Earth in 1504.  These two unique stories run parallel along each other and although it is difficult to imagine at first how these two different stories link together through time and space, they do however reach a fascinating outcome, one that I didn’t see coming and I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy thought-provoking fiction.

I found the writing to be beautifully crafted with many remarkable, imaginative and breathtaking scenes. Goddard combines a gripping story with strong characterizations while maintaining an adventurous plot that deals with science and technology that is and will be used in the near future.

My Ranking: 5 Stars

Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King: By Manning Wolfe

In Manning Wolfe’s debut novel a tough female business attorney, Merit Bridges goes after a corrupt organisation (Nixon Outdoor Advertising) and a notorious leasing agent (Boots King) who are threatening one of her clients in a property dispute.

The story starts with a bang as one of Merits client’s burns down a billboard in a neighbouring property dispute and unintentionally kills a homeless guy as the fire spreads, resulting in manslaughter.  Merit Bridges and her team fight against the clock to collect enough evidence against Nixon Outdoor Advertising, who sell billboards, but are hiding the legal clauses that will affect ownership.

Boots King, a hired gun is sent into stop Merit and her team in their tracks and won’t stop until his mission is completed, all of which results in a major legal battle that puts Merits life in severe danger.

If you are a fan of legal thrillers that feature a strong-willed and smart female heroine who fights for justice and the underdog, then I highly recommend you read this book.

My Ranking: 4.5 Stars

 

A Promising Thriller with an Engaging Premise

What Goes Around

By Helen Donovan

“What Goes Around is a promising thriller with an engaging premise, a likable heroine and a clever combination of characters that you can care about despite their fundamental flaws.”  https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

The story follows main protagonist Phoebe, a recent college graduate who scores a position as a researcher at the Chicago Chronicle.  Phoebe promises herself two things with her first pay check, first to treat her mom to a special dinner and the second to follow her heart and hire a detective to uncover her roots on her journey of self-discovery.  Phoebe is initially elated when the detective discovers two living relatives and envisions a wonderful reunion and jubilant future…

However, events take more of a sinister turn when Phoebe discovers she has a sister who is a suspected murder and is also the granddaughter of a convicted murder and is dragged into a world of murder, deceit and greed.

Author Helen Donovan successfully manages to combine a mixture of mystery and suspense all in one go.  This is a taunt, gripping, thriller; make no mistake and it leaves little to the imagination as the pages are turned.

I’d be interested in reading a sequel to this book and would definitely recommend it to my readers and friends.

My Ranking: 5 Stars

Daygo’s Fury: The Daygo Stream By John F. O’ Sullivan

“Daygo’s Fury is dark fantasy at its best and is a great beginning to a special series. I can’t wait to read the follow-up.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/
In the opening chapters the reader is transported into the world of Liam, an orphan and slum dweller, who believes he is destined for greater things. Liam’s story deals with powerful issues and takes the reader on a journey into a violent and dark world where every day is a struggle to survive in a poverty-stricken world that’s gone mad.

In the following chapters the reader is introduced to Niisa, a forest dweller, who lives in a tribe that thrive to have an intense relationship with Daygo, a celestial being. Niisa story also deals with powerful issues and takes the reader on a deep spiritual path of human failures and triumphs where the magic in the story is both beautiful and disturbing.

Both young man’s stories alternate throughout the book and although I can’t yet draw the comparison to Liam and Niisa because they live in different worlds, both dealing with completely different issues. I have no doubt in further instalments that these two very remarkable young man’s paths will cross at some point and it will be interesting to see what is in store for both of them.

With regards to O’ Sullivan’s writing, the narrative is gripping, the plotting is tight, yet what struck me as more amazing were the voices of these two main protagonists, as they drive the story along with both their emotional weight and power.

My Ranking: 5 Stars

The Ghosts of Ravencrest (The Ravencrest Saga Book 1) By Tamara Thorne & Alistair Cross

“The Ghosts of Ravencrest is a classic style gothic horror story, with a modern twist that I found utterly compelling and very difficult to put down.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

The story follows main protagonist, Belinda Moorland, who is a college graduate, working as a waitress in a greasy spoon café. Belinda’s fed up with her mundane lifestyle and annoying roommate and takes the job as a governess at the Ravencrest Mansion in the exclusive area of Devilswood. Belinda is unaware that the mansion has a sinister and flagitious history that includes suicide, murder, devil worship and witchcraft. It’s not long before Belinda is caught up in the middle of the Mansions family legacy and is sent on a mission that threatens to change her own destiny and the family’s history for the better or for the worse.

Overall, I found the story to be dark with sinister sexual undertones. The story is very well written and superbly crafted and is a great asset to the authors. This book merits a full five stars and I look forward to reading more of the saga and would recommend this book to adult readers who enjoy horror elements mixed with erotica.

My Ranking: 5 Stars

A stunning début novel. Grab your copy while the discounted offer lasts!

“The Theseus Paradox is a stunning début novel, intelligent and fluently written with an exciting plot. I simply couldn’t put it down in fear I would miss something crucial.”

 

Calhoun: Sacrifice By Joe Mansour

“Calhoun: Sacrifice is a taut, fast-paced action thriller that marks the beginning of a promising mystery series, and is proof that a flawed protagonist can still earn sympathy.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

The story follows main protagonist, James Calhoun, who was once a solider until an IED attack tears his life apart. He is now divorced and down on his luck, as he has to rely on disability benefits to get by and attend anger management classes to calm his ferocious temper and bitterness. His only real solace is the weekly visit to his daughter who he treasures with all his heart.

The story opens with a brutal murder and a disturbing phone call from James ex-wife who informs him that her husband has been killed and their daughter’s life is now in the hands of a religious cult who want to use her as a sacrifice to resurrect a Dark God, unless James can find the cult a replacement girl in just three days time. Faced with a number of deep and disturbing moral questions, James in forced from one deadly situation to the next, almost simultaneously and finds himself caught up in an unrelenting game of life and death.

One or two words I would use to describe this book are, mysterious and unsettling. Mansour manages to build influential narratives with a number of well-developed characters ‘along with a relentlessly chilling plot.

My Ranking: 4 Stars

Leech: By Robb Neumann

“Leech is a macabre, thought-provoking and beautifully frightening tale that pulls you in and takes you far away from what you know and subliminally sweeps you along challenging your sub-conscious with its towering span of incredible storytelling.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

The story is narrated by a male protagonist who is plagued by insomnia and is looking for someone to share his lonely existence with. He meets Lillian in a drug store and they soon become friends, while sharing a strange intimacy together that seems to suit them both for a short time until Lillian changes the relationship dynamics with an offer, then a threat. He soon becomes what Lillian is, as she gives him mortality. He sacrifices his humanity to be with her, even when he doesn’t really understand what his life will be like with her. The transition to love, to distrust, from admiration to hate takes him on a journey across the Atlantic to South Eastern Europe where he fights a battle between absolution and vengeance as he wants to stop Lillian from hurting anyone else when she shows him a truth that creates even more questions and concerns to the value he places on human life.

There are so many words I could use to describe this book as I met a mixture of emotions while reading it. Mysterious and unsettling are just a few words that come to mind. Original, atmospheric and brilliant are understatements. Yet, these are the only words I can use to describe this well-written novel of darkness and beauty.

My Ranking: 5 Stars

Book Review: S.Y.P.H.E.N. By Cortez Law III

“S.Y.P.H.E.N. is a tense military thriller that follows Lincoln Boddies and his Delta Force Operatives on a deadly mission to try and stop terrorists using a weapon of mass destruction. When Lincoln and his team are ready to close in, they encounter a bigger enemy that has the potential to destroy them all.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/

The story opens when Lincoln and his crew are enjoying some leisure time in Sin City. Lincoln spots a woman in a casino and has a hunch that she maybe one of the most dangerous terror suspects in the world (A Jihad Jane). With the help from the Unit, Lincoln and their surveillance tactics lead them both to old and new Islamic enemies that are planning on using weapons of mass destruction to destroy America. Just as Lincoln and his team are about to close in on the enemies they encounter a bigger threat, the S.Y.P.H.E.N. that’s hell bent on destroying them all. Lincoln and his men are forced to work alongside the terrorists to try and eliminate the imminent threat that could potentially destroy civilization.

Law III successfully manages to build influential narratives with well-developed characters from the beginning to the end, along with an unpredictable number of twists and turns that sets the stage for more instalments in which I impatiently await.

My Ranking: 4.5 Stars