The Sacrifice of Lester Yates by Robin Yocum

 

The Sacrifice of Lester Yates by Robin Yates

Rating: Stared Review 

Summary: Yocum revives a character, Hutchison Van Buren now adult, from his fantastic book, Favorite Sons,  as the attorney general for the state of Ohio. Hutch is asked by a prison guard to look into a death row inmates case who he believes is innocent. 

Comments: Yocum doesn’t really hide the plot is a deep dive mystery and you might easily see the direction it’s going, but don’t discount the brilliance of Yocum’s work. He’s a terrific storyteller that clips his plots right along. If you like political thrillers much like Grisham then you’ll absolutely make this a page turner for yourself. Yocum might be the best author you never heard of. He does not disappoint. Highly recommended. 

https://www.amazon.com/Sacrifice-Lester-Yates-Novel-ebook/dp/B08P29FNZD

The Survivors by Jane Harper

 

The Survivors by Jane Harper

Rating: 2 stars

Summary: When Kiaran returns home to his sick father to help move them to a safer facility he becomes involved in a murder of a local women found on the beech. The murder opens old wounds from a disaster the town had a decade before. 

Comments: A very plain Jane crime novel. Many aspects of a crime novel are missing.

https://www.amazon.com/Survivors-Novel-Jane-Harper-ebook/dp/B087ZY8NXX

What’s Done in Darkness by Laura McHugh

 

What’s Done in Darkness by Laura McHugh

Rating: 5stars

Summary: A teenage girl living under strict religious family beliefs after her fathers indiscretion, and moved them to a rural farm is abducted at the family’s food stand. She is freed and set free from her family and as she begins her new life she is asked by a state police officer for help looking for similarities is two missing girls. This helps her unravel her own abduction and begin a life.

Comments: McHugh writes a taught rural noir with great efficiency.  The story moves a clipped pace and she does a nice job avoiding getting bogged down anywhere in the novel. I was very excited to be able to receive and early copy and review it. Highly recommended. McHugh might be the best rural noir writing currently. The Weight of Blood is phenomenal. 

https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Done-Darkness-Laura-McHugh-ebook/dp/B08HLB8P1K

Robert B Parker’s Someone to Watch Over Me by Ace Atkins

 Robert B Parker’s Someone to Watch Over Me by Ace Atkins

Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary: Spenser and Hawk along with a possible new PI Mattie are on the trail of a high finance Uber rich man accused of abusing young girls. Set mostly in Boston with a few out of town settings Spenser is on the case. Think Epstein. 

Comments: Ace Atkins does this series in a fine way. Fast reading, great whit, and modern storylines. Good fun reading.

https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Parkers-Someone-Watch-Spenser-ebook/dp/B0852PG66H

Another Kind of Eden by James Lee Burke

 

Another Kind of Eden by James Lee Burke

Rating: Stared Review

Summary: Arron Holland Broussard is a troubled drifter and farm hand. He suffers from untreated war trauma after leaving his friend behind in a horrific battle. Arron finds farm work and a talented painter girl friend and wants to live a simple life. When a town bully interferes in his business things begin to tumble side ways for him. He is asked to help the town detective to assist him finding the person committing a series of murders. Aaron does everything he can to survive but save his ideals.

Comments: Absolutely the best Burke novel I have read. It’s stunningly blunt and propulsive page turner. Vivek characters leap for attention and the tale of wanting to do good with forces of evil surrounding you. A stunning achievement for a master story teller.

https://www.amazon.com/Another-Kind-Eden-James-Burke-ebook/dp/B08LDWTGVY

The Breaker by Nick Petrie

 

The Breaker by Nick Petrie

Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary: Peter Ash is hiding in plain site in Milwaukee after being placed on the FBI most wanted list. While shopping in an open market he spots a man carrying a rifle under his coat. As Peter is known for he starts a series of events when he wants to know more and stops what appears to a mass shooting event being played out. 

Comments: All the Peter Ash novels are great fun and ring true in many ways. The Breaker was by far my favorite Ash novel. Freighting with all the characteristics of ringing true. Much like Vince Flynn before him Petrie is ahead of his time. If a touch of science fiction in your thriller delights you, this is the novel for you. Well done. Great series.

https://www.amazon.com/Breaker-Peter-Ash-Novel-Book-ebook/dp/B0871LJT36

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

 

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

Rating: Starred review

Summary: A multi layered story of a small town family that struggles to make it through each day. When the mother of a loner daughter is murdered a sick police chief has to come to terms with his past and present to find who killed her all the while the surviving daughter, a self described outlaw looks to revenge her mother’s killing. 

Comments: Whitaker’s debut novel is a stunning read. Not many books this year will compete for best book of the year but this could be it. A must read character novel so deep you won’t forget a few characters that root into your core. Outlaw Duchess is the best character I’ve read in sometime. Walk is not far behind. Highly recommended. Riveting achievement. 

https://smile.amazon.com/We-Begin-End-Chris-Whitaker-ebook/dp/B0893TV1CT

Pickard County Atlas by Chris Harding Thornton

 

Pickard County Atlas by Chris Harding Thornton

Rating: Stared Review. 

Summary: Rural Nebraska sets a dark story of two brothers with checkered pasts struggle with drugs, bad parenting, and bad marriages. A struggling marriage sets the tone for the destruction of a family that inter winds several family members stuck in a dark past and poverty. 

Comments: The debut novel from Thornton is a dark tale of family dysfunction. It’s a slow burn with a stunning conclusion but still leaves the reader wonder if...... Readers will be assured that we will get many more from Thornton with this promising start to her career. Comparison might include to JP Gritton debut Wyoming and some Daniel Woodrell and Laura McHugh. Highly recommended.

https://smile.amazon.com/Pickard-County-Atlas-Harding-Thornton-ebook/dp/B088DS2PS1

Little Cruelties by Liz Nugent

 

Little Cruelties by Liz Nugent

Rating: 5 starred review.

Summary: Three brothers that grew up with a famous Irish mother become famous too. As they grow mental illness, family secrets, and drugs become prevalent and ruin there lives. All three brothers become famous and have to deal with the ghost of there mother’s cruelty. 

Comment: Nugent is exceptionally talented in her craft of plotting and building a powerful narrative that compels the reader to turn pages from the coming train wreck. Her ability to take multiple narratives and multiple time periods is a sign of incredible talented writing. Go to author. Highly recommended.

https://smile.amazon.com/Lying-Wait-Novel-Liz-Nugent-ebook/dp/B078MGGQVH

The System by Ryan Gattis

 

The System by Ryan Gattis

Rating: 5 stars

Summary: Two young men are accused of a attempted murder on a rival gang member in South LA shortly after the Rodney King riots. We are lead quite systematically through the process of what is known as our judicial system expertly fro  crime to punishment from many different perspectives. 

Comments: Gattis expertly weaves a crime story as if you are sitting in the room with the characters. The System is a raw narrative and a walk through a very punitive judicial process that feels all to real. Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/System-Novel-Ryan-Gattis-ebook/dp/B07Y738P8H