AUTHORS I HAVE JUST DISCOVERED

GREAT WRITERS WHO ARE NEW TO ME

Talented authors are all around us. Here’s a handful of fantastic writers I just found out about. I’m looking forward to discovering more.

BEN H. WINTERS

THE LAST POLICEMAN TRILOGY

Not a typical mystery but oh so good. I read all three in about two weeks.

LOU BERNEY

GUTSHOT STRAIGHT, WHIPLASH RIVER

His first two are great escapism. Number three is in my hands and should be in yours.

JOE NELMS

FORMERLY FINGERMAN

Think Carl Hiaasen, Lawrence Shames, Bob Morris and Dave Barry. This is one funny book. An advertising man in New York City sees a mob hit, or does he? The U.S. Marshall Witness Security Program thinks he did and if you want to know if he did you better read this funny and amusing book.

BRYAN REARDON

FINDING JAKE

This reads very quickly. A fascinating story about a family, a school, and dead students. Grab it now.

JACK GETZE

BIG MOJO

I liked this book very much due to its lack of predictability and frequent detours from the ordinary. This book is a perfect summer beach read but I recommend reading it even if you are under six feet of snow. I read a lot of mystery and suspense books so it is wonderful to discover a entry in the field. Have fun in New Jersey and let me know how it goes. And watch your money.

ALEX GILLY

DEVIL’S HARBOR

I was lucky to obtain an advance copy of this absorbing, entertaining, and engaging novel. I do not want to reveal too much plot but I will say that the premise is about two Marine Interdiction agents, smuggling, and a few sharks both human and ocean going.

From the very first page I was held captive by the movie-like writing and imagery. The story unfolds beautifully allowing the reader to picture precisely what is happening and to whom. The characters are fleshed out nicely providing the reader accurate portrayals of all the players both good and bad.

When I received the copy I promised that I would have ready my review within ten days’ time. Today is Thursday which means that I lied. I completed the book in four days and only wish that I had had more time to dedicate to this fun, amusing, exciting, and involving novel.

MATT MARINOVICH

THE WINTER GIRL

I woke up today having read the first 20 percent of this utterly absorbing but all too brief novel. By late afternoon I had finished it and was sad that I had. I will not give away anything so please read on. The book deals with a husband and wife and the wife's father. There is money, greed, lust, adultery and almost every other emotion involved that you can think of. Think of Scott Smith and A Simple Plan. I am upset that this is Mr. Marinovich's initial effort. What a fun book. Grab this book in January of 2016.

MICHAEL WILEY

BLUE AVENUE

I was engrossed after five pages in this professionally written, entertaining, and captivating P. I. novel. I am a sucker for a new character with definite series potential. The ambiance is not sweetness and light. If you like dark and twisty, buy this as soon as possible. I understand that he has another entry coming in November 2015. Too bad, I would read it today if it were available.

TRACE CONGER

THE SHADOW BROKER

I was fortunate to obtain a promotional copy of this outstanding P.I. novel by Trace Conger. I had not heard of this writer and started reading it with minimal expectations. Wow- was I wrong. Believe me, Mr. Conger knows how to write and write amazingly well. I am in love with the Shadow Broker and Mr. Finn the protagonist in this creative, diverting, and involving novel. The characters are colorful, dynamic, and realistically drawn. The dialog is believable given what this wonderful novel is about.

I was dejected when I finished Shadow Broker. Only when I read that Mr. Conger is working on his second book was I again as happy as I was when reading this well-written and entertaining novel.

NICK STONE

THE VERDICT

All I can say is “what a great great book." I am not a fan of legal thrillers so when I saw that The Verdict and its author was compared to Grisham I thought that I would not even read the book, I am so glad that I did. After the first few pages I was completely captivated. I knew that the book was long, five hundred pages and you know what, I wish that it were one thousand pages, the story was that absorbing and the characters that compelling. The plot was involving and twisty and kept me on the edge of my seat, distracting to the point of risking argument with my wife.

It does not matter that The Verdict takes place in London and that some of the words are unique to this local. I say, “Who cares.” A fantastic novel can take place on another planet as long as it has the right stuff. And believe me, The Verdict and Nick Stone are sure to take you as far away from your ordinary life as any novel that I have read in the recent past. And don’t forget to pick up his first and second books, Mr. Clarinet: A Novel (Max Mingus Thriller) and King of Swords (A Max Mingus Thriller).

MICHAEL CRAVEN

THE DETECTIVE AND THE PIPE GIRL

I had not heard of this writer, but the description made me wade right in. And I am awfully glad that I followed my heart. The protagonist is most amusing, witty, and downright fun to have as a friend. And it is a bonus that he is a P.I. involved what P.I.s are involved with. My only criticism is that the book is too fast a read. But know that another is on the way, this one called The Detective & The Chinese High-Fin. If I were a betting guy, I would lay a lot of money on the proposition that the new one will be as great as this one.

NICHOLAS GUILD

BLOOD TIES

Wow, I loved loved this short procedural. Here is my acid test - If after finishing a book I want to read another by the same writer, which is what happened when I completed this novel. I was thoroughly engulfed and captured by all the characters, the smoking hard bitten homicide detective, the newcomer woman detective, and the perp. My advice: Buy and read immediately.​

WILLIAM WELLS

DETECTIVE FICTION

Detective Fiction is one funny, entertaining, and infectious novel. It took a few minutes to understand the brilliance of the author’s hook. An ex-Chicago detective serving as a consultant to a writer of police procedurals. I loved it.

The plot is involving, and the characters are like the guys that you want to pal around with every day. Our hero lives in Florida, always a wonderful place to set a crime novel. Think Hiaasen, James W. Hall, Lawrence Shames, and Dave Berry among others. He is bored and agrees to investigate a trio of mysterious deaths of prominent citizens. Soon he is embroiled with a Russian of dubious origin, the police chief, and the mayor, all who are part of this most entertaining and enjoyable novel. I will not give away the plot or the denouement. I say – buy this and cross your fingers that we soon see more of Jack Starkey and his alter ego Detective Lieutenant Jack Stoney.

ANDREW CASE

THE BIG FEAR

I was incredibly lucky to receive an advance copy of this wonderfully involving police procedural. I absolutely loved the setting. New York and its environs. This is not the New York City that I just returned from, no, it was the down and dirty New York from the 1970s when it was an adventure to even be in Midtown.Our protagonist is the head of the civilian complaint board, the equivalent of Internal Affairs. He is investigating a shooting that occurred on the Hudson on a boat. Somebody is shot and killed and our hero, a veteran N.Y.P.D. detective is going to take the fall. Or not?

I absolutely loved this book. My sole complaint is that it was not long enough. After finishing The Big Fear, I placed a call to the publisher asking when the next installment was coming out. I understand that it should be available toward the end of 2016.
Do yourself a solid, buy this book as soon as you finish this review. I promise that you will have a helluva fun time.

CHRISTOPHER CHARLES

THE EXILED

This is a book you want to finish in one sitting. I started it on Saturday and finished on Sunday afternoon. Mr. Charles writes about Organized Crime and the NYPD as if he were on the job. Graphic descriptions of New York City and the outer Burroughs as well as imagery of New Mexico all ring true and made me want to return though I was just in Manhattan and Santa Fe in the last few months.

This entertaining and riveting procedural is populated with realistic characters who are both good and bad. Going undercover is always difficult and dangerous, ask anybody who has done it. Detective Raney is called to the scene of multiple homicides. Who has been killed and why is part of a fast moving, absorbing, and involving story? People are not always who they say they are. Think about that as you get deeply engrossed in this wonderful novel about redemption, evil, crime, love and loss.

MASON CROSS

THE SAMARITAN

I was unfamiliar with the author Mason Cross when I read this book. The Samaritan is simply a great piece of writing. Think of Lee Child and Jack Reacher. Once you have done that then you will know what to expect from this wonderful book. This is a book that begs you to keep on reading until the very end. Every character is well drawn and after a few pages you are immersed in a world replete with violence, mystery, crime, punishment, and revenge. This is a place that you will love to inhabit and be loath to leave.

No comment on the plot or denouement. Buy this today. I promise that you will get your money’s worth. And when you have finished this, buy the first Mason Cross book, The Killing Season.

JAN FEDARCYK

FIDELITY

This i​s a great, informative, entertaining, and compelling read. The writer was the first Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Manhattan F.B.I. office. Ms. Fedarcyk definitely knows her stuff. Fidelity is what the bureau stands for and our hero, Kay Malloy struggles to live up to her oath, country, family and to the F.B.I.

Agent Malloy works in the cloudy world of counterintelligence. Her job is to recruit Russian spies and turn them into reliable double agents. But she must be aware that the old K.G.B. is doing the same. Somebody is deep inside the C.I.A., identifying C.I.A. double agents working within the Russian security community. And Russia knows what to do. Uncovering that agent falls to agent Malloy and her associates in the counter-intelligence division in New York City.

She has her own demons to wrestle, two dead parents, an unabashed screw-up of a brother and no interests except the job.
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Fidelity is an absorbingly vivid and fascinating story of the F.B.I., politics, tradecraft, police procedure, and familial loyalty. Best of all it is a great and impressive book that should be read as soon as it becomes availabl