RULE ONE

MICHAEL LUCKER

By first-time novelist Michael Lucker, Rule One reads like a story by a veteran mystery and suspense author. The story moves along like an ambulance with lights and sirens. The terrific tale focuses on an atypical F.B.I. agent, Dent McCreary. Dent is a unique F.B.I. agent because he is street smart and makes felony arrests. And, the crimes he solves deal with serial killers. We follow him and his partner, who adds all the opposite characteristics that Dent lacks: charm, subtlety, and the willingness to follow F.B.I. protocol on their search for a serial killer. The killer has no pattern, leaves no forensics, and kills for no reason, at least at first blush. Rule One is a tremendously entertaining novel that readers will not be able to put down.

PALM BEACH SHOOTER

TOM TURNER

If you’re looking for a diverting, entertaining, and engrossing police procedural, pick up Palm Beach Shooter by veteran author Tom Turner. All of Turner’s characters are again on the stage: Charlie Crawford, a detective by way of Manhattan, Mort Ott, his partner, and the rest of the solid cast, including Charlie’s girlfriend and his one-time girlfriend, a well-known and prosperous realtor.

A mass shooting has occurred in Palm Beach, the home of the wealthy and the wannabes. A man walks into a country club and proceeds to gun down three victims and injure more. Crawford and Ott are faced with dozens of questions; number one, who is the guy, and why did he commit such an egregious crime? Unlike traditional crime scenes, there are no leads, no forensic evidence, and very little help supplied by the few eyewitnesses that Crawford and Ott interview. Palm Beach Shooter is about good old-fashioned police work, which means wearing out shoe leather, talking to people on the phone and in person, and trying to put together a reasonable timeframe and chain of events. Palm Beach Shooter is for anybody who enjoys their police procedurals straightforward and right on the nose. Turner is more than adept at writing a great procedural; he does it with mastery and flair. I highly recommend Palm Beach Shooter, which can be read as a standalone. I suggest that the reader familiarize him or herself with Turner‘s long list of well-written, entertaining, and movie-like backlist. Turner is an excellent writer, as Palm Beach Shooter proves once again. Do yourself a favor and go to your nearest bookstore, library, or other platform to pick up all Palm Beach titles. I promise you will not regret it, and you will have added a professional writer who never fails to tell a fantastic story.

THE PSYCHOTIC SON

DEBORAH DOBBS

The Psychotic Son, by author Deborah Dobbs, takes the reader to a place we all want to go but are scared when we arrive. Imagine the kid next door who was proud to show you what he would do with a magnifying glass and ants, then a few years later that same kid would find a stray cat or kitten and stomp it to death without a thought, no remorse, no empathy, in fact with a smile on their face. This is what The Psychotic Son is about, only 10 times worse. The mother of her son knows that something is not right with her son, and from an early age, countless counselors, psychologists, and even law enforcement offer no help as the son's crimes become increasingly heinous. Until rape and murder become the fare of the day. This book reads like a screenplay, a movie that draws you in because the actions of the sick child, soon to be an adult, are so serious, and yet nobody offers help to his victims, which include small children, random people, and even his own so-called friends. I highly recommend this book to anybody who wants to get an insight into how law enforcement and a heroic victims advocate, who does all that is in her power to prevent further crimes. The reader gets an accurate look at what a victim advocate does, how it is done, and why every law enforcement agency should have a victims' advocate department, somebody trained to deal with the aftermath of crime. Not only do we get a great story about crime and its victims, but we also get an education about a heroic young woman/a victim's advocate, and how vital a victim's advocate is in mitigating the damage done by criminals of all stripes. This book should be read by anybody fascinated by procedurals and a new look at how law enforcement agencies can use a victims' advocate department to lessen crime—five stars to Deborah Dobbs and The Psychotic Son.

GONE IN THE NIGHT

JOANNA SCHAFFHAUSEN

Gone In The Night by talented author Joanna Schaffhausen leaves it all on the table. And the reader's job is to pick it up and enjoy every word in the fifth detective Anna Elisa Vega outing. Anna, a Private Investigator, receives a surprise phone call from her brother, who is in prison for murder. He wants Anna to look into an old case, a fellow inmate Anna's brother believes was wrongly convicted. The Anna Alicia Vega series is perfect for anybody who wants their procedurals with life lessons and the usual and exciting investigatory procedures. Readers need not worry about not having read the four previous entries, as Gone In The Night can be read as a standalone. However, I recommend that readers pick up all of the Anna Alicia Vega novels to solidify their enjoyment of Gone In the Night. This is a definite winner, and readers will be pleasantly surprised as they delve into this world of private investigation, police procedural, and family relations.

KISS HER GOODBYE

LISA GARDNER

Kiss Her Goodbye by outstanding mystery writer Lisa Gardner delivers everything and more in the fourth installment of the popular Frankie Elkin series. As the book begins, readers find Frankie, finder of lost people in Tucson, Arizona. Frankie is charged with finding a missing woman who has vanished. When a key piece of video evidence emerges showing Sabra, the missing woman at the scene of a double murder, the intensity heats up. Like the previous three in the series, Kiss Her Goodbye is a fast read that grabs readers and will not let go. The protagonist, Frankie, battles her problems. She is a recovering alcoholic, and readers will see that her career helps her to keep on track. For those unfamiliar with this series, no worries. This can be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend that the reader discover this tremendous series's first three excellent entries.

PETER MILES HAS TO DIE

KATIE COLLOM

First-time writer Katie Collom has written a book that will make readers hope that this is the beginning of a long and excellent career. Peter Miles Has To Die is everything a reader could want and more in a mystery. Three friends get together to administer retribution to the person who killed their friend, and Peter Miles is their target. The question is, can the friends plan and execute the scheme without failing under the pressure? The book is well written, and the pages fly. The conclusion was not what I thought it would be, but readers will be more than satisfied. Peter Miles Has To Die is one of those books you tend to overlook, but if you’re lucky, you find it and then read it like there is no tomorrow.

THE WRONG SISTER

CLAIRE DOUGLAS

The Wrong Sister by prolific and talented writer Claire Douglas is a must-read for anybody who is into mysteries, especially mysteries that revolve around family and its implied problems. Tasha and her husband live an ordinary life, sometimes struggling to pay the monthly bills. Alice is the lucky sister married to wealthy husband Kyle, and they own a vacation home together in the dreamlike city of Venice. Soon after Tasha arrives in Venice, they notice a man following them. And then they receive a phone call and find that their house back home has been broken into, Kyle is dead, and Alice is in the hospital. Tasha returns home to be reunited with their daughters. The Wrong Sister is a book that will grab you and not let you go. It is full of family drama and components of a superior mystery, it zigzags like a footballer at midfield, and eventually the reader finishes saying Wow, what a great book.

THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

STEVE CAVANAGH

The Devil's Advocate, by highly talented and veteran writer Steve Cavanagh, again shows why he is at the top of the legal thriller game. This time out, lawyer Eddie Flynn heads south to defend the stereotypical, but actual, young black person accused of killing a white woman. Although the racist trope is played to its fullest, it cannot be ignored, and Cavanagh does a superb job of making readers think back to the classic book and now play To Kill a Mockingbird. The story is unpredictable, and the reader is pulled along at a fast clip. I recommend grabbing The Devil's Advocate by the throat until finishing the last page while hoping for more from writer Cavanagh.

THE MAID

MIKE FARICY

The Maid by veteran mystery writer Mike Farsi picks up with Yucky Yates, the author's newly created private investigator. Unlike the author's Dev Haskell long-running series, the Yucky Yates series is more straightforward and resembles a procedural. In this day and age, technology plays a big part in everyday life, including the Maid. A plot to take over a successful computer gaming company called Madman Monsters is being hatched by the owners' prospective mother-in-law, her son, and others. Yucky and his team have been hired to determine precisely what is happening. And when they do, it is a morass of plots, counterplots, and good old-fashioned greed. Distrust abounds on all sides as Yucky continues his investigation, trying to comprehend why he has been hired. The plot moves along rapidly as the reader discovers more and more about Yucky and his partners. The reader is guided through enough clues until sufficient pieces are presented to complete the puzzle.

The Maid is an entertaining private investigation novel written by a veteran writer who knows how to entertain. I recommend picking up the Maid and the first in the series, although the Maid can be digested as a standalone. Faricy is an outstanding veteran writer with many entertaining, comedic, and enjoyable titles. Make yourself at home over a long weekend and dig in. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

THE LIST

STEVE BERRY

While I typically am not a Steve Berry fan, The List by author Barry hits a grand slam. The protagonist Brent Walker is coming home to work for a large paper mill company. As it happens, this company is the same outfit that his father worked for. And even then, Brent's dad didn't want Brent to be at the back and call of the company over the years the owners including Christopher Bozin made millions of dollars and became very wealthy making Wise real estate investments, however, as with all businesses, they found that taken care of retirees and employees with chronic medical conditions became exorbitant. The question was what to do, and they devised an innovative solution. The owners decided to eliminate employees who cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars because of those mentioned above. They hired a a hitman to eliminate these overly expensive employees. When Bozin finds out that he is dying, he tries to figure out a way to prevent his death from profiting the company. The only person he knows and trusts is Brent Walker, and Brent has no idea what to do. The List is a grand departure from the usual Steve Berry. I recommend it for those looking for something different and appreciate innovation and creativity in a sometimes stale environment.

OUR SECRETS WERE SAFE

VIRGINIA TRENCH

Our Secrets Were Safe by Virginia Trench is a super dark and unpredictable read. A group of college friends did something together and vowed never to discuss it with anybody. This vow engenders paranoia, guilt, and tension, as most promises do. The characters are unlikable, but unfortunately, they may represent society as it is. The writer deals with the themes of power, loyalty, and immorality, which makes for a fascinating read. And as secrets tend to do, this secret is a doozy, and when it is uncovered, it reveals just how toxic friendships can be. Our Secrets Were Safe by Virginia Trench is a mystery centered on four friends and what they did or did not do to have them be in the situation that they are in. Please do yourself a favor and join them for a great ride full of tension, paranoia, and worry, but most of all fun.

INNER SPACE

JAKUB SZAMALEK & KASIA BERESFORD

Inner space comes down to one word. And that word is excellent. The reader is thrown into a tense, political, and psychological drama from the beginning. I liked that it blended science fiction with the reality of politics, which most sci-fi writers neglect to their detriment. The characters are well developed, although some might say they could have additional depth in relationships and motivation. Inner space is a great mystery set in an environment that, in and of itself, is mysterious. Bravo for this book and for those who choose to take a soaring journey into what the last frontier is.

NO BODY NO CRIME

TESS SHARPE

No Body No Crime by talented and versatile author Tess Sharpe has done it again with her multi point of view sapphic romantic thriller. The protagonists, Chloe and Mel, were together and in love six years ago when they were very young. Now, it is 6 years later, and Chloe has been in the wind, and Mel is a private investigator. When a client hires Mel to find Chloe, she reluctantly accepts the job, afraid to return to when they were together six years ago. No Body No Crime is like a puzzle with 1000 pieces. It takes time for the reader to put it all together, and when it is complete, everybody wins. Multiple timelines and points of view are effectively employed to supply details of their relationship and other events like a long-ago plane crash and even something as banal as Chloe's birthday. The novel keeps the reader involved as it moves to its conclusion. No Body No Crime proves that relationships, like mysteries, are challenging and that sometimes we all need clues to help us navigate both.

THE OBSESSIONS OF HARVEY USHER

DAVID PUTNAM

The Obsessions of Harvey Usher by longtime novelist David Putnam may not be for everybody, but it certainly is for me, and it is for my readers. Harvey Usher is an 80-year-old man who wakes up one night with a woman who appears to be old-time movie star, Rita Hayworth. But Rita insists that her name is Dolores, and Dolores claims they have been married for two years. Naturally, Harvey is confused and calls the authorities; however, Dolores has identification proving that she is Dolores and has been married to Harvey. Finally, Harvey turns to a PI to help him prove what is happening here and see whether Harvey is being conned out of his money or just out of his mind. It gets interesting as people start to die for no apparent reason. When Harvey met his wife, Lois, there was some connection to organized crime, which only added seasoning to an intriguing and unpredictable mystery. David Putnam is a highly creative writer who creates novels with the best of them. It is with complete confidence that readers pick up The Obsessions of Harvey Usher by David Putnam and enjoy a twisty and unpredictable novel written by one of the genre's masters.

CULPABILITY

BRUCE HOLSINGER

Culpability by excellent novelist deals with complex concepts currently at play in society. In this instance, a family is out driving their AI vehicle when one of the family members disengages the AI to prevent an accident. Unfortunately, two people are killed, and an entire debate arises from the questions of artificial intelligence versus traditional driving and whether, indeed, artificial intelligence is beneficial. While Capability is not a typical mystery, it still contains the elements that make it an engaging book that should be read. Responsibility and culpability may be synonyms for each other, that is, for the reader to decide. In this book, we are privileged to listen in as one family member, the father, contemplates and cogitates over fault, responsibility, and the central question of AI and its inherent value to society. Culpability is a book anybody who has pondered the question of artificial intelligence, and its utility and/or its intrinsic values to individuals and society, should read.

Tricks of Fortune

LINA CHERN

Tricks of Fortune by Lena Chen is the second in her Katie True series, and this time, Katie gets into more trouble than we can imagine. All she wants is to be a tarot card reader, but as it happens, she wakes up to find a dead cop. This cop helped her previously when she was in a scary situation. Tricks Of Fortune is a mystery, eventually addressing who did it. It deals with family ties, buried secrets, and small-town grudges alive in any town. We see that Katie is unprepared for what she faces despite being highly charismatic and charming. While trying to solve a homicide, she’s dealing with her ugly past and questioning who in her life she can confide in. The book is entertaining and encourages the reader to examine their life. This is a fine sequel, and readers will look forward to an additional outing by the steadfast Katie True.

THEM BONES

DAVID HOUSEWRIGHT

Them Bones by prolific PI author David Housewright comes highly recommended. This is PI Rushmore McKenzie's 22nd outing, making this series one of the longest-lasting ones in the field. Seven years ago, McKenzie was stranded and eventually rescued by Angela Bjork, a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota. She joined an archaeological dig and found a dinosaur skull, and eventually, that skull was scheduled to be transferred back to the university for additional research. Unfortunately, the next day, after the camp had been attacked, the skull was missing. Angela contacts Rushmore McKenzie, P.I., and we watch him use his skills to find out who has the skull, why it was taken, and where it is. Suspects abound, and that's where the fun begins. The author writes a fantastic novel, and this one is no exception. Readers can follow along easily and enjoy learning about paleontology along the way. If the reader has not read any other books by the writer, no worries. Them Bones can undoubtedly be read as a standalone, and when the reader has more time, they can go back and investigate the writer's long backlist.

SMILE FOR THE CAMERAS

MIRANDA SMITH

Though not a conventional mystery, Smile For The Cameras by veteran and accomplished writer Miranda Smith is a horror book with overtones of the best thriller genre. The plot draws the reader in quickly and reminds the reader of many of the great horror movies in the past and present. The book uses the point of view of the past and the present while detailing the movie Smile for the Cameras, which is what the novel is about: the tension builds, and readers are compelled to flip the pages at full tilt. From beginning to end, Smile For The Cameras is an intriguing book that will keep readers wanting more from this accomplished writer.

A MURDER FOR MISS HORTENSE

MEL PENNANT

A Murder for Miss Hortense, by first-time novelist Mel Pennant, has everything that a first-time author should include in a debut novel. This reviewer usually does not care for “cozies “; however, in this instance, a murder for Miss Hortense overcomes that stereotype and becomes an engaging mystery/comedy that readers will thoroughly enjoy. There are many well-developed characters, and at times, the reader may need to refresh their memory on who is who in this mystery, which features several memorable Caribbean characters. Readers will thoroughly enjoy this book and look forward to the next installment in the series.

YUCKY YATES

MIKE FARICY

Prolific and veteran mystery writer Mike Faricy, author of numerous series, including the long-running Dev Haskell series, comes up with another winner. The new series is entitled Yucky Yates.

Yates is a former DEA agent who has started a private investigation business. Yates is joined by his partners and other support staff, who contribute to making the first book of the series entertaining and amusing. It revolves around an old-school friend of Yates who has gone missing after being married to a strip club owner for several years. As the book proceeds, we observe Yates and his team as they attempt to discover the details behind the disappearance. We gain insight into how Yucky operates and what his motivation is for solving the case. Yucky is more straightforward than Faricy's more well-known protagonist, Dev Haskell, but readers need not worry. Series readers can look forward to many more adventures with Yucky and his staff as they solve the cases that are brought to their attention daily.

Current followers of the author have much to look forward to, as the author will most assuredly develop this series and characters into a long-running adventure that will be anticipated with great eagerness.

Yucky Yates is a winner, and I highly recommend that veteran readers of the Dev Haskell and his other series pick up the Yucky Yates novel and prepare themselves for an entertaining PI novel.