MAVERY'S PICK

Bone Light by A. Wendeberg

“She took an oath to do no harm. But when factory girls die with their bones glowing in the dark, Dr Liz Arlington must decide which oath matters more — the one to her profession or the one to a dying girl.”

Bone Light by Annelie Wendeberg is not the typical action thriller I review, but I couldn’t put down this short novella until I reached the last page. The Victorian dark thriller set in Boston will have you asking yourself what you would do if you found yourself in the same position as Dr. Arlington. The story is a great introduction to Wendeberg’s heroine of her Arlington & McCurley Mysteries and the award-winning Kronberg & Holmes Mysteries. Bone Light is a haunting must-read 

MAVERY'S PICK

Walt's Fault by Andrew Allan

Most of you know I’m an Andrew Allan fan and love his Walt Asher series. In this week’s promo, Allan is offering Walt’s Fault. TV infomercial writer and born pitchman Walt Asher is at it again. “He can sell anything. But when he’s asked to sell illegal Honduran guns to Florida’s most violent gangs, he wants no part of it. Problem is this new “client” is a ruthless outlaw biker who once saved Walt’s life. How can he say no? Gangsters are twitching with suspicion. Bodies are dropping. And Walt’s getting the feeling this isn’t a sales job; it’s a setup. Forget making the sale. Walt needs to make it out alive.” This is one of Allan’s short thrillers, but it’s definitely not short on action, twists, and mayhem. This is one book you don’t want to miss!!! 

MAVERY'S PICK

Avenger of Blood by S.M. Reeve

While I’m not a fan of the title, I’m definitely a fan of this book! S. M. Reeve’s novel, Avenger of Blood, is a great read. Anna Croix’s life is a checklist of perfects. Until she returns home for a visit and is greeted with her family’s bloody corpses instead of the scent of freshly baked apple pie. She’s lost and left with a gaping hole that turns into a burning drive for revenge, Anna style. She sets out to find out who killed her family and why. And when she does… Will she really be able to commit murder? Most definitely. Not a problem. Her problem is knowing when to stop. Warning: Lots of violence. 

MAVERY'S  PICK

The Bay by John W Mefford

I enjoyed reading At Bay by John W Mefford. This is Book 1 in the Alex Troutt Thriller series and is approximately 300 pages, so don’t expect a short read. (As you know, I prefer long reads.) There are a couple of small blips that took me out of the story, but they didn’t stop me from reading the book. The first chapter is intended to give the reader insight into the killer. I would have preferred the killer’s profile to have been seeded into the main story. The second chapter brings us into FBI Alex Troutt’s world. She wakes up in the hospital, suffering amnesia. The beginning mirrors the start of the first chapter which I found a bit confusing at first. But keep reading… the rest of the story moves smoothly as she tracks a serial killer while trying to piece together her past. There was a small blip toward the end of the book. The second last chapter introduces the serial killer in the following book. It’s unrelated to At Bay’s plot and I was taken out of the story. I’d have preferred an epilogue introducing this killer, or simply the blurb for the next book. This is one of Mefford’s earlier works (2016) and I’m certain you won’t find the few blips I mentioned in his later books. 

MAVERY'S PICK

Forged and Baxter K9-Hero by Jodi Burnett

Both books introduce you to the series’ main characters. I enjoyed Deputy US Marshal Dirk Sterling in Forged, Burnett’s US Marshal Series. He’s a great character. I’m sure you’ll love Chapter 3 as much as I did. Special Agent Kendra Dean, the heroine in Baxter K9-Hero (the prequel to her FBI K9 Thriller series) felt a little flat when compared to Dirk Sterling, but I enjoyed the story. Plus, I like K9 stories. Dog lover. Keep in mind that both these stories are short novellas. Don’t expect a complicated plot. The page length isn’t enough to develop twists and turns. While both novellas are predictable in spots, they are enjoyable reads, and I encourage you to check them out. 

MAVERY'S PICK

Shadow of Temptation by Nora Kane

This is the prequel backstory novel to Nora Kane’s Margot Harris series, and we’re introduced to Margot Harris, the protagonist of the 25-book series. Margot is a patrol officer aiming for detective with the local police force. It’s a short mystery (40 pages) worth reading. Don’t expect a lot of character development and a twisty plot—40 pages isn’t long enough to fit all of that in. But the novella will introduce you to Kane’s writing style and will give you an idea of what to expect in the series. It’s rated 4-stars on Amazon.com.