SLAY BELLS RING

SLAY BELLS RING

The Wedding Bell Mystery Novel

NANCY RUBARDS THOMPSON

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Jenna is a wedding planner, and her mother, Maddie, is a mystery writer. They turn into amateur sleuths. Peculiarly, Jenna is planning the wedding of her ex-lover and an out-of-towner.

Circumstances put Jenna in the position of being the last person to see he ex-lover before he is hit on the head to his death. From that moment on, the reader knows Jenna could not have done the deed; however, the chief insinuates she did it.

Maddie, who has a thing for the chief, is upset that he thinks Jenna could kill, and goes on an investigation that skirts the law. The reader of this so-so cozy mystery, after a few interviews, should have solved this crime.

Ms. Thompson's characters are plausible and usable for the next book in this series. Not one of the best Cozy Mysteries I've enjoyed, but passable for a quick read.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4o5IAAy

First Deadly Sin

The First Deadly Sin

Lawrence Sanders

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Captain Edward X. Delaney (Police) vs Daniel Blank (Nut Cake). Both men are consumed by what they are attempting to accomplish.

Blank’s deviation from his norm kills and loves his victims at the same time because of his love affair with a disturbed woman. Delaney is caught up in administrative bull that leads him to search for Blank outside the regular police channels.

The author uses too much detail in describing each man’s journey – Blank, a psychopath, enjoying his kills, and the Delaney, using everyone to reach his end of bringing Blank to justice.

This turmoil is well-written, but overly psychologically developed. I would have liked a shorter version without all the ‘mumbo jumbo’.

If you like reading a lot of boring police details or a man’s reasons for killing, this book is for you. If not, read a cozy mystery.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4gPAXvA

The Girl Behind the Gate

THE GIRL BEHIND THE GATE

BRENDA DAVIES

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

The times (1930 – 1950s) that Nora is put in a mental institution for a “Defect,” which is explained in this novel, is one of the UK’s historical defects. Her journey in that HOSPITAL is long, exasperating, and cruel.

Nora goes into a cocoon, without psychological aid, for many years, because of the crude, authoritarian management system of the institution. Modern psychiatry arrived forty years later, in the form of Dr. Humphrey, a compassionate woman who also struggled with her own personal issues.

Nora and Humprey’s interviews and communications change each woman’s understanding of who they are positively, making for an inspirational read. The novel is a lengthy and complex read, making it time-consuming.

Tears and laughter will guide you through to the end.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4mGrN63

FIELD RULES

FIELD RULES

Romance in the Ruins, Book 1

CARLA LUNA

Review by Author Roy Murry

Olivia wants to earn her PhD in archaeology and is invited to a survey school dig to instruct undergrads. She had a sex experience on a prior dig where she fell for Rick.

Several years after that experience, unknown to her, Rick is at the school in Greece, and memories return to both – not good ones. However, the spark is still there; now they are teachers, not students.

Conflicts arise from personal, school procedures, and ethical issues, which put both in a position of losing credibility in their chosen fields. Olivia and Rick’s resolve leads to a Hallmark ending.

This archaeological background romance is the first in a series and is well-written with characters who pull the reader in. Next stop is Turkey.

If you like Mediterranean adventures, you will enjoy this novel series.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/46eAjUV

Murder Mystery Book Club

MURDER MYSTERY

BOOK CLUB

DANIELLE COLLINS

Review by Author Roy Murry

Eva owns a Bed & Breakfast in Key West, Florida, where everyone knows your name. Her guests are from off-island.

A storm breaks out on the key, and a strange event happens to Eva between the main house and her cottage. The next morning, a Detective is knocking on her door.  

There has been a murder on her property, he says. The games begin, ending with a setup to catch the murderer.

The events that follow the killing are fun to watch when Eva’s book club gets involved with the investigation. Old members and a new one move Eva’s investigation into conflict with the Detectives.

The writing is crisp, the characters are fun, and the dialogue directs Eva’s actions. This novel is a well-crafted cozy mystery, serving as a lead-in to a series.

Excellent read: https://amzn.to/3Vc7d21

STAGE 3

STAGE 3

KEN STARK

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

There is an axiom in writing novels that is ‘Show, don’t tell.’ By using sensory details, character behavior, and subtext to convey meaning naturally, Mr. Stark draws the reader into a world immersed in zombies.

Immersed is saying it lightly. From beginning to end, the main character, Mason, kills more zombies than exist while protecting an intelligent, blind ten-year-old Mackenzie on a journey to find her aunt Sara.

With limited conversations, Mr. Stark pulls off a compelling novel that keeps the reader engaged with horrific events. I am not a zombie novel enthusiast, but I enjoyed most of this long, drawn-out story.

I recommend the STAGE 3 series for people who like zombies. For those who don’t, read a romance novel.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/481zzna

 

 

 

I Love You First

I LOVED YOU FIRST

CATE BEAUMAN

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

I have enjoyed reading many Romance Novels in my life. This is not one of them.

There is an underlying conflict between Cam and his lover, Fiona.  However, the reader, from the prose and the sex scenes, is oblivious because the author has you believing life is great in Vermont.

I read only 173 pages of this somewhat boring 245-page novel, not a Hallmark one. The killer is too many sex scenes that could have been left out of the story of two people and a five-year-old boy, going on fifteen – Fiona’s new love.

Lastly, this novel has some excellent qualities: the writing flows well, the characters are well-developed, and the story is sweet – perhaps too sweet. It’s too unreal.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3UOs77l

Books, Bubble Tea, and Bodies

BOOKS, BUBBLE TEA, and BODIES

LISA PEVEY

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Yes, this is a cozy mystery, a long one. This story is about three friends: Callie, Maya, and Josh. The murder is accidental to the reader.

An elderly friend of Callie dies. The police call it accidental, and while Callie is snooping around, another accident is fatal.

Callies is on the right track, and she pulls her friends along for the investigative ride. Between episodes, they drink bubble tea while feeding Smokie, the dog, treats.

The characters are cute, the story is plausible, but there is too much fluff - description of events. Take it out, and you have a great cozy mystery.

 Purchase: https://amzn.to/4lCHNFv

 

VIA con DIOS

ROY MURRY'S #Suspense #Thriller 'VIA con Dios' is now an Amazon eBook. The paperback will be available soon. https://amzn.to/3Jgccff 

 

FBI Agent Amelia Maloney finds herself in a conundrum. She has a case to solve, but her Boss wants to sweep it under the rug, so to speak. "Washington says let Florida solve the case of four ministers murdered."

Agent Maloney is determined to get justice for the victim's families, which leads to a suspenseful investigation of the VIA con DIOS murders. She does what needs to get done, which crosses religious and border lines.

What will she do?

Coming to America

COMING TO AMERICA

A History of Immigration and

Ethnicity in American Life

ROGER DANIELS

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

If you are a Social Studies major in college, this book is for you. The book is full of statistics that one would need to complete a term paper.

However, if a reader is looking for entertainment, I recommend staying away from this chronicle of our North American ancestors' origins. The history is often dull, and the book is a long read, as it's full of information that you will likely never use.

Some parts of Daniel's chapters do tell stories of why people move about the world. Reading this detailed history will reveal how various individuals and groups came to America, which may come as a surprise to the reader.

I recommend that if you care about why your group, the Irish or the Italians, for example, immigrated, the reader can find out. If not, this is not for you.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4mhaPvG

FRONT PAGE FATALITY

FRONT PAGE FATALITY

Maisy Marple Publication

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

I love cozy mysteries. This mystery about a small-town newbie reporter, Lucy Hartwell, hits most of the bells to be a great first in a series read.

However, the book is a good, entertaining read. The supporting characters required a bit more background, as did the town.

The story had its moments, and Lucy shone as a person with an inquisitive mind, which is essential as a reporter. She gets the job done, and it will be interesting in this series to see the situations she’ll be put in.

As for FRONT PAGE, the author keeps the reader interested to the surprising end. Lucy, through elimination, determines the culprit, and the murderer knows everyone in the town.

Good, quick, and fun read: https://amzn.to/46HCjFT

Primal Health Design

PRIMAL HEALTH DESIGN

DR. KAVIN MISTRY

Book Review by Author Roy Murry

 

We are all aging; can't stop it. Dr. Mistry provides the reader with seven ways to help reverse the biological systems that control human existence.

Comparing an African's lifestyle many years ago with that of modern-day man's tribulations, he outlines ways to increase one's life. By contrasting the good and bad traits of each, his paradigms are instructive and can be put into action.

The book is one that the reader should keep in the library and read each long chapter and put it down. Then think and read the next. This multiple instructional narrative is not to be read continuously.

Good Read. https://amzn.to/3TVsoF1

ZAMBEZI

ZAMBEZI

TONY PARKS

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

This novel is my second book by Mr. Parks that I have read. DELTA was the first, which I found more thrilling and less distracting.

ZAMBEZI had its moments, but sexual encounters slowed down the suspenseful events. However, the reader is drawn into the main story of Jed, a Green Beret, on his quest to find the body of his daughter, Miranda.

Mr. Parks shares his African background and recounts how man-eating lions could have devoured Jed's daughter. The twists and turns of this story keep the readers on the edge of their seats.

Just for those well-written events and the description of the African experience, it is worth the purchase.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4f3D5z8

Claws of Justice

CLAWS OF JUSTICE

EMMIE LYN

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

The title 'Claws of Justice' is a misnomer. 'The Bonsai Killer' might be more appropriate.

Harry is killed over a Bonsai Tree worth $180,000 - 300,000. He did not like cats or dogs, nor did his killer. However, the backstory is more about cats and Jasper the dog, rather than sleuthing.

Sunny Shaw is the main character, with Hitch, her ex-lover, as her co-detective. But the person who shines is Tilly, a whack-a-doodle, making this story worthwhile.

The plot moves quickly and is a well-written story; you will know the killer before the sleuths do. If you are a cat lover and like a whack-a-doodle, it's a read for you.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3U39Lil

THE PLACE

THE PLACE

E.B. SULLIVAN

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

This drama's backdrop is the 1800s California Gold Rush, where men either struck it rich or were driven into poverty. One man who had a farm and no abilities whatsoever other than drinking sold his daughter, age thirteen, to a Madam.

Lula, her nickname, became a prostitute, learned her trade, and many more lessons in life. She did not follow the crowd; instead, she educated herself and formed close relationships with the men with whom she was intimate.

One young man she fell in love with. However, she did not let him know because she was ashamed of her low social status and upbringing. He came from a wealthy background and left to pursue a career as a doctor in Boston, Massachusetts.

Their written communications brought life to their relationship. However, their status brought destruction to their desires.

And that breakup destroys it, until...

Purchase this extremely well-written drama: https://amzn.to/3Tpm748.

 

RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE

RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE

DENNIS CARSTENS

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

The Retributive novel is my sixth Justice book that I have read since 2022. Carstens uses some of the same complicated and compelling main characters: Maddy, the beautiful detective married to Marc; Marc and Connie, the lawyers; and Tony, the detective.

In this book, Tony kills an attacker, and Marc defends him. Meanwhile, Connie and Marc are working on another case, while Maddy works to save the day.

The main story is about Aiyana, whose family and friends abused her when she was younger, and a group of kids manipulated by an adult. The adult Shama Tate convinces Aiyana and the middle schoolers how to use retribution to liberate their souls.

This suspenseful, multi-story collection culminates in an ending that the reader will enjoy. During the reading, the twists and turns will keep those readers turning the pages.

I will read another of his novels for the thrill of it. See other reviews below: search Dennis Carstens.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3TIuaZR

Safe in His Arms

SAFE IN HIS ARMS

Love Unexpected Book 1

MELANIE D. SNITKER

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Anna is on the run from a man in Utah, living in her van with Epic, her Great Pyrenees dog. She walks into a restaurant in Quintin, Texas.

Thinking that she was safe from a man who tormented her, Liam, she needed stability; she walked into a mall restaurant in search of work. The owner, Josh, hires her.

Jose finds out she is living in a van. Little by little, Anna opens up about her dilemma, and a Christian romance begins to develop between the two, marked by a new camaraderie with Jose's family and friends.

When Liam, the hunter, arrives in Texas, the fellowship comes together to save the day. The suspenseful ending of Anna's story is worth the read.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/45Pp19V

Mixing up Murder

MIXING UP MURDER:

A Cozy Dog Mystery

EMMIE LYN

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Pip, the dog of the murdered Ray, is one of the main characters, which I found a little redundant. Dani, the sleuth, and Lilly, Ray's wife, find him dead in their restaurant's kitchen.

However, the complete story and secondary characters are well-developed for the first book in a series. Rose is a linchpin, keeping the other characters in line, and Dani has two possible romances going - a farmer and a detective.

Many people are in the potential killer's pool, but Dani's intuitive knowledge saves the day, leading to an ending that will surprise the detective and the reader.

Good Cozy Read: https://amzn.to/45g9cbS

Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything

A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING

BILL BRYSON

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology...CARL SAGAN.

Mr. Bryson, in this dissertation, educates us on the evolution of science and technology on Earth. In five hundred-plus pages, he will bore you and excite you with his historical and detailed explanations of how the Earth developed.

The read is well put together, but I found it too long to read continuously. As an avid reader, I read NEARLY EVERYTHING, one or two chapters at a time, to get the full impact of the Earth's and Everything's journey.

Readers with an inquisitive mind will enjoy Bill Bryson's commentaries and the results of how humans arrived in the 21st Century.

Excellent Read: https://amzn.to/4kWcQwi

DEFYING THE EARL

DEFYING THE EARL

ERICA RIDLEY

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Merry Old England wasn't merry for Titus the Earl until he met his ward, Matilda. They kiss before his Godmother introduces her as his ward.

Mattie's charm upsets the grumpy Titus's well-organized royal world. His reactions to her delightful words are rewarded with his grunts and groans that lead to smiles.

Unbeknownst to her, Titus is infatuated with her. She is interested in him. Why? Only God knows, because his conversational skills are limited, and she is a talkaholic.

This cute but nonsensical love story is not what a Romance reader looks for. However, the novel is well-written and has its moments of brilliance.

The story is worth the price: FREE on Kindle.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3H0i0IX

The Trouble with Dead Bodies

THE TROUBLE WITH DEAD BODIES

A Hale Mary Mystery

KATRINA KYLE

Review by Author Roy Murry

Anyone can be a snoop by being put in a situation where someone is killed in their circle of acquaintances. If you have a vested interest in the dead person, you want to know what happened.

What happens to Hale is the above. Instead of letting the police do their job, she goes over the top in her sleuthing because her pro-quarterback brother and possible client are implicated.

The murderer is closer than she thought, and in the end, there could be more deaths. This story had too many possible killers; however, halfway through the narrative, the reader may figure out the case.

As the first book in a series, I give it four stars. It features good characters and a snappy reading pace, but the storyline becomes bogged down in unnecessary details.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4dfHygY

SOULED OUT

SOULED OUT

ELL CYNE SERIES

 

BLANKLEY CHORPENNING

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

'Young Adult' novels interest me because they allow me to see what the new generation reads. Are vampires a thing? I guess so.

Ell is a reader of human souls for Vampires, which is the first step before the vamp sucks blood. Her capability is questioned, and the higher-ups want verification, starting with her relationship with her twin sister's soul.

The story offers a new twist in the genre and is well-crafted, featuring a Vampire protector for Ell. She is being pursued by nefarious elements who want her soul discredited.

The events leading to the gripping ending are unusual but somewhat tricky to follow. However, the readers' attention is kept glued to the page.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4katYh5

 

EVE'S WAR

EVE'S WAR

OPERATION ZIZAG

HANNAH HOWE

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

During WWII, Zigzag is a British double agent, and Eve is asked to leave her lavish lifestyle to help. She has the contacts to get the agent from France to Spain through the mountains.

Her task is difficult because of the weather, the people who interfere, the events, and the agent. Each twist and turn leaves the reader on the edge.

When the end comes, the reader will think, "What was that all about?" The goal is not reached in a thrilling, deadly ending.

EVE'S WAR is a quick novel that leaves the reader wanting more. There are twelve novels in The Heroines of SOE Series.

Have fun. Purchase: https://amzn.to/4m215Ws

Flair for Chardonnay

A FLAIR for CHARDONNAY

A Sadie Kramer Flair Mystery

DEBORAH GARNER

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Sadie is not the person one would think of as a sleuth. She is a flamboyant woman, a chocolate addict, and the owner of a dress shop.

Her shop, FLAIR, is next door to a chocolate boutique, whose owner is also part of a family winery. Sadie visits the winery for a weekend getaway when a murder occurs.

Sadie's relationship with the owner of the chocolate boutique gets her involved. After making several trips to the winery and meeting all the family members and police involved with the murder, she solves the case using logic that none of the people saw or investigated—an outsider is the criminal.

That outsider is in plain sight but not considered.

Easy reading to follow.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/44E6EE1

CHASING JUSTICE

CHASING JUSTICE

Piper Anderson Series Book One

DANIELLE STEWART

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

This novel is a suspenseful thriller with a background in multiple relationships. Piper sees a crime in progress, which causes her PTSD to move her into action against a criminal.

In her quest, she meets endearing people and a cop who falls in love with her. These people produce new emotions in Piper, which leads to the unraveling of a web of murder, pedophilia, and other crimes.

JUSTICE is entertaining, but the characters' backgrounds are too deep, and the ending leaves the reader hanging. The novel is too long for my taste.

Ms. Stewart leaves the reader with too many questions to contemplate at the dramatic conclusion. Therefore, she brings you into Book Two of the series.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4jiUTrc

Fish Out of Water

FISH OUT OF WATER

An Ozark Lake Mystery #1

MARC JEDEL

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Serendipity is a good word to use for this light mystery. Elizabeth returns to her birthplace with her husband Jonas, the fish out of water, in tow.

A man that Elizabeth fights with when returning to town is murdered. The newbie Sheriff arrests her for the crime.

She and Jonas go a-snooping. Jonas, who has never been in an Arkansas small town, goes about his business, and clues laughing fall on his plate.

This novel is not much of a mystery, but the off-the-wall characters and town community events contribute to a good read. You'll have to read book two to see who dies next.

 

Purchase: https://amzn.to/42rCtgP

A Very Terrible Text

A VERY TERRIBLE TEXT

ELANA JOHNSON

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Is texting now a part of contemporary romance comedy? Hillary and Liam text each other, Ms. Johnson's linchpin for romance.

Hillary sends the wrong text to him, and a romance begins. She lives in a Big House with four other women, and Liam is their hunky next-door neighbor.

Hillary is caught up in her career. After the text, she feels obligated to date Liam; from that moment on, love blooms—until Hillary's career takes off.

You'll have to read this well-written Hallmark Ish novel to see which wins: Hillary's career or her love of Liam. The reader will be surprised at the end of this cute novel.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3G5d4Sj

Subtle Art of Not Giving a FUCK

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

MARK MANSON

Review by Author Roy Murry

Does profanity provoke you? If it doesn't, Manson is a provocative writer. In SUBTLE, Manson gives the reader many definitions for using FUCK.

His verbosity may rattle the reader's cage. However, he provides a clear explanation of why one should or should not care based on psychology, which comes through loud and clear.

The reader may discover something about themselves that is negative.

Mr. Manson does not leave you hanging. He provides solutions using biological narratives to engage the reader in one way or another.

This is not a self-help book.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3XAsZy9

Expresso Shots & Murder Plots 1

Expresso Shots & Murder Plots

AUDREY ALDEN

Review by Author Roy Murry

As with most cozy mysteries, EXPRESSO is a main character-driven novel. Lila, a coffee shop and bookstore co-owner, is a journalist-type sleuth.

After a wealthy man gives a festival speech, he dies in the crowd. Only Lila believes that the event is murder.

Lila naively questions and upends her friends and the police chief to the point of getting herself arrested. In the end, Lila is correct, but she becomes a target.

Amy, Lila's friend and co-owner of the shop, and Lila's dog, Finn, are coconspirators in her shenanigans. From the ending events of this novel, Lila's friends will help her solve a crime in the next book of this series - they are all well-defined characters.

This cozy mystery is a quick read for the mystery buff.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/41ZsoHr

DON'T TRUST ME

DON'T TRUST ME

Hamlet Book One

JESSICA LYNCH

Review by Author Roy Murry

The theme of love and betrayal is at the heart of DON'T TRUST ME, a story that will leave you emotionally invested and questioning the lengths one would go for love.

Tessa Sullivan and her husband Jack's marriage is in turmoil, so they decide to go on a second honeymoon. They find themselves in the small town of Hamlet's Inn instead of their resort's destination.

After a heated argument, Tessa leaves the room for a drink, only to return the next morning to a shocking discovery- Jack is dead. She was in jail for DUI.

The story starts here when the sheriff gets involved. However, the crime a little woman like Tessa could not have committed sends the town of two hundred into a spin.

If not her, who killed Jack? The sheriff believes Tess did it. But how? The sheriff is talking with Tess and Maria about a renegade deputy who is in love with Tessa when a shot is fired. 

The twists and turns of this novel keep the reader engaged. When the end comes, one will be amazed.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3DEohZs

THINK AGAIN

THINK AGAIN:

The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know

ADAM GRANT

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

The author, Adam Grant, is a professor of Organizational Psychology at Wharton. I graduated from the JFK Psychological Warfare Center, Fort Bragg, NC 1968.

Now that you have our credentials, I understand why Mr. Grant has a bestseller here. Although his writing and discourse on the human psyche are understandable to someone like me, unschooled psychology readers may find this read boring.

However, if you are inquisitive, learning to manage people, or want to know what you don't, this book will point you in the right direction. Mr. Grant motivates the reader to excel in their endeavors.

'How do you know what you know?' is another question.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3QMeC5V