Category Archives: Books Books Books

Colombiano by Rusty Young

February 24, 2020Books Books Booksbantam, child soldiers, colombia, colombiano, creative non-fiction, netgalley, rusty younglaelbr5_wp

Pedro’s life on his family farm turns into a nightmare when guerrillas execute his father and banish his mother from their home. Vowing revenge, he joins the Autodefensas, a paramilitary group fighting the guerrillas, discreetly alongside the state military, and inculcates himself into hierarchical politics toward his hidden agenda of vengeance. Young represents a no-win situation for a teenage boy in a village that’s essentially a war-zone based on greed disguised as ideology. The author writes from a well-researched position of direct observation and interviews with real-life child soldiers, though the perspective must remain that of a white westerner. Young co-founded a foundation to rehabilitate and resocialize former child soldiers, using his residence in Bogota as headquarters and tithing royalties from this novel to the foundation. Read about his history and connections here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24214.Rusty_Young. As a novel, this is a compelling story of terror, self-redemption, romance, and familial obligations, evoking awareness of these child soldiers. I received a digital copy of this well-written story from the publisher Bantam through NetGalley.

The Kill Club by Wendy Heard

February 17, 2020Books Books Books#family, mira books, murder, netgalley, the kill club, wendy heardlaelbr5_wp

A product of her decisions within a harsh justice system, Jazz does her best to protect her little brother Joaquin from his adopted (her foster) mother’s irresponsible religious response to his diabetes. Approached by a vigilante via phone, she resists at first, but gives in to the exchange of murders, though her first two attempts are thwarted, and she is then targeted. That the killings are obvious murders belie the idea that there’s an elaborate secret killing machination in place, especially since it does not seem to include an effective contingency plan. I received a digital copy from the publisher Mira Books through NetGalley, my request based on my appreciation for her previous book Hunting Annabelle, which I found brilliant.

What She Never Said by Catharine Riggs

January 31, 2020Books Books Bookscatharine riggs, murder mystery, netgalley, suspense thriller, thomas & mercer, what she never saidlaelbr5_wp

There are secrets galore amongst the employees of Serenity Acres. Ruth’s anticipated promotion disappears when the owner sells the company due to, unbeknownst to Ruth, incredible debt. When she discovers a secret society planning deaths of seniors in her care, she hires her former detective neighbor Zach to investigate undercover as security. Even Ruth must give up her secrets eventually. Riggs brilliantly builds tension within several aspects of the multi-thread storyline, intriguing Dear Reader, serving up the satisfying secrets in a timely manner. I received this excellent story from the publisher Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley.

American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI by Kate Winkler Dawson

January 31, 2020Books Books Booksamerican csi, american sherlock, edward oscar heinrich, forensics, kate winkler dawson, trace evidencelaelbr5_wp

In the early 20^th century, criminologist Edward Oscar Heinrich used forensic science to expose criminals from trace evidence using techniques established by himself and progressive law enforcement colleagues. He also documented everything in his professional life no matter how small, a collection his son donated to the library of Heinrich’s employer, the University of California at Berkeley. Dawson’s determination persuaded archivist Lara Michels, who took on the monumental task of cataloging it all. I was fortunate to receive this well-researched and well-written biography of a brilliant founder of forensic strategies and forensic science itself from the publisher G P Putnam’s Sons through NetGalley.

The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup

January 31, 2020Books Books Booksmurder mystery, netgalley, parker, serial killer, soren sveistrup, the chestnut manlaelbr5_wp

A serial killer leaves a little chestnut man at the site of each murder. Also left are fingerprints of a government minister’s child, kidnapped a year previous. Sveistrup portrays well a family on the edge of grief clinging to a tiny ray of hope. The police investigation gets a bit detailed, leaving Dear Reader hanging desperately to any investment in the story. The climax and denouement are sufficiently twisty and well-written. It’s worth the effort to slog through the slow parts to get to the revelation. I received a digital copy from the publisher Harper through NetGalley.

Off the Well-Lit Path by M S Holm

January 27, 2020Books Books Booksfather daughter relationship, human trafficking, m s holm, off the well lit path, sex trafficking, suspense, thrillerlaelbr5_wp

Bob Riggs invokes the Wild West on the sex traffickers who kidnapped his daughter in Sinaloa, Mexico. He seemingly returns from the dead seeking revenge disguised as justice. Dear Reader follows his frustrated efforts through multiple warnings that only spur him on to greater depths of determination. Nothing will dissuade him from rescuing his daughter and making the kidnappers pay. Holm paints a graphic picture of human trafficking in Sinaloa and a gritty portrait of a father’s love. I received a digital copy of this well-written, tension-filled story from the publisher Great West Pub through NetGalley.

In the Valleys of the Noble Beyond: In Search of the Sasquatch by John Zada

January 27, 2020Books Books Booksatlantic monthly press, bigfoot, first nations, great bear rainforest, in search of the sasquatch, in the valleys of the noble beyond, john zada, netgalleylaelbr5_wp

John Zada travels to the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia to investigate the extensive sightings of Sasquatch. As he meets with the people of the First Nations, Dear Reader learns much about their culture, history, and spiritual connection with such legendary creatures. This book is more than a collection of personal experiences; it’s a compendium of human nature and the desire to believe in something larger than oneself and how the inexplicable mysteries of life feed that desire. I was fortunate to received this well-researched and well-written book from the publisher Atlantic Monthly Press through NetGalley.

Secrets of the Chocolate House (Found Things #2) by Paula Brackston

January 27, 2020Books Books Booksfound things series, historical fiction, paula brackston, sci fi, science fiction, secrets of the chocolate house, time travellaelbr5_wp

In this second book of the series, Xanthe reluctantly succumbs again to time travel, this time to save her friend Samuel. A copper chocolate pot takes her to a 17^th century chocolate house, run by a mysterious woman who seems to know all about her and desires to protect her. In this book, Xanthe learns more about her place in the time traveling world, receiving tools to learn how better to control her journeys. I received this wonderful story from the publisher St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. This publisher informed NetGalley readers upfront that the first book was the beginning of a series, which I don’t normally read, but the premise sounded too fun to pass up, and this second book is also labeled part of a series. Kudos to St. Martin’s Press for their forthrightness. A big thank you to Paula Brackston for introducing Dear Readers to chocolate houses, where you got a steaming cup of creamy, homemade on the spot hot chocolate, so much better than beer.

The Red Labyrinth by Meredith Tate

January 27, 2020Books Books Booksfantasy, flux, meredith tate, netgalley, sci fi, the red labyrinth, YAlaelbr5_wp

Zadie crushes on her best friend, the hero of the village, who has saved more than one person from the labyrinth that borders her village, a labyrinth full of booby traps and deadly creatures, including a boogeyman named Dex. When her friend disappears into the labyrinth and becomes history to the village, Zadie is the only one willing to risk the labyrinth to rescue him. Tate spins Dear Reader’s head with unlikely allies, exploding expectations, and astonishing revelations. YA fantasy fans will add this author to their list of favorites. I received this wonderful story from Flux through NetGalley.

The Best of Crimes by K.C. Maher

January 24, 2020Books Books Booksk c maher, netgalley, reddoor publishing, suspense, the best of crimeslaelbr5_wp

In a small town of apparently apathetic citizenry, 30-something Walter Mitchell, whose wife divorced him and moved to another state with their daughter, somehow ends up taking in the teenage daughter of his neighbor, a horridly neglectful mother. Maher carefully lays out Walter’s slippery slope of determining what he feels is best for this child on the cusp of womanhood. As young Amanda expresses her burgeoning awakening of sexuality, Walter supresses the natural physical response in himself, carefully talking himself and Amanda through the gauntlet to which he has inadvertently led them. In the end, he insists on the punishment he believes he deserves. Though not an ideal execution, the torment of the main character, his self-enforced isolation from support, and the self-control he exhibits, brilliantly portrays the dichotomy of nature versus civilization, the social mores that separate us from animals and their natural instinct. The only comparison to Lolita would have to consider this a retelling, but that would still belie the fact that the main characters are on opposite ends of the morality spectrum. I received this intriguing, controversial story from the publisher RedDoor publishing through NetGalley.

Lael Braday

Short Story Author