Review of Rancour

RANCOUR

PETE BRASSETT

Review by Author Roy Murry

The statement 'A gripping murder mystery' is a true one. This story set on the west coast of Scotland was more than intriguing. It keeps the reader wanting more.

The characters Detective Inspector (Retired) James Munro and his prodigy DI Charlie West, a female in charge of solving two murders, combine in their way to get to the facts. He uses methods outside the box, and she follows the system using her guts.

The way the Scottish do things and the banter of the police group, according to Brassett's writing, shows a strong bonding among officers. The predominantly written dialogue is fun to read, like calling a woman, dearly, a "hen.'

The murder investigations seem to be going in the right direction. Then Munro pops in, and West sees them in a new light with a few little nudges from her ex-boss.

A book eight in this series, the plot, the characters, and the style read as a complete individual novel without using background information to update the reader. Therefore, I enjoyed the conversations, people, and a mystery with no clutter.

Brassett nicked it or in the USA language - he nailed it.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/392wkKk

Review of CHILD OF WATER

CHILD OF WATER

Book One of Heirs of Anarchy

G. Lawrence

Review by Author Roy Murry

'It is the continuation of the story that matters, not poor shades left behind,' is thought of Matilda, Lady of the English. The daughter of Henry I, the woman who wages war against men for a throne.

G. Lawrence writes this memoir of the English aged regent in the first person, telling her life's journey in a man's world. The words and thoughts of Matilda do not ring well against male domination in eleven hundred ten.

At age eight, she is married to the Holy Roman Emperor, where her education into regal life begins. Taught in their ways, she excels and learns how to use the power of the throne.

On the way to adulthood, Matilda spouts words of wisdom in colorful and intelligent ways. G. Lawrence writes those words that sing truths that apply today but did not then.

The turmoil’s the Empress lives with she overcomes in the Empire, but there comes a time when she must return to England. Life as a woman begins again until she is heir to the English throne. Or does it?

Matilda's words are musical and will stay with the reader throughout this enjoyable journey of the Lady's life. G. Lawrence has done an excellent job in combining History, Philosophy, and Renaissance of 12th-century norms into a pleasant novel. 

Purchase: https://amzn.to/2U3IRrm

Review of The Dead Game

THE DEAD GAME

SUSANNE LEIST

Review by Author Roy Murry

A whirlwind starts this paranormal cum vampire novel.  A house consumes a family of four, and the reader is left hanging in the thrilling prologue.

Linda moves into the town five years later and sets up shop meeting with what she believes are like-kind individuals, her friends. Among them is a man Todd who is a leader and not what he seems to be.

The group goes to a party at the consuming house, which has a secret history, and all hell breaks out - THE DEAD GAME begins. Who's who - vampire or not becomes the theme when the game starts.

The twist and turns of the novel are fast and thrilling. The list of players is many and range from local non-combatants to international villains - The Dead.

The writing is crisp. The characters are many—however, there is the main underlying attraction between Linda and Todd will lead the reader to the sequel.

I recommend getting both in The Dead Game story and read to the end.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/2v2p8zR

Review of The Carter Street Hangman

The Carter Street Hangman

A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel

ANNE PERRY

Review by Author Roy Murry

A serial killer is garotting young women on Carter street in 1881. When a maid in Charlotte's house dies the same way, Inspector Thomas Pitt comes into her life.

The vicar (pastor) of the local church, whom Charlotte dislikes, comes to the house to preach about sin. The ones sinning, he intimates the women and, of course, the killer.

Man's sin is different from women in those days. Proper women should not be out after dark -very improper in those days.

These and other sins were discussions of the families, vicar, and wife, but mostly between Charlotte and Pitt. Thomas Pitt interviews everyone on Carter Street, looking for the man garotting the women.

The person is difficult to find by the police, five killings in all until Charlotte and Pitt have a conversation that leads to a shocking ending. The sin hits home at the place one would not believe.

It was a good read. However, the hangman writer left me hanging.

Purchase:  https://amzn.to/2T760db

Review of Two Worlds

TWO WORLDS

TINA H. WHITE

Review by Roy Murry, Author

SIN, a religious context, is an act of transgression against divine law. What is embedded in your subconscious mind as sin is most important?

In Angie's mind, she has sinned and has not absolved herself. She has not appropriately confessed and is living with her guilt - her story brings you into her dark place.

It is a well-defined story that many of us humans have been. Ms. White has the reader lost in that world until the truth comes out in a surprising ending.

An enjoyable quick read that keeps the reader reading on without a break as I.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/395ZQzC

Review of Hypnotic Redemption

HYPNOTIC REDEMPTION

J B DARROCH

Review by Author Roy Murry

The subject of multiple murders is pounding her head with her hands, screaming, "Get Out, Get Out." The police book her for the deaths of four people, and Laura, her name, is arraigned in court.

The problem is the police have no evidence - her fingerprints are not on the weapon in the murders. And, she says in hysterical ways, "I did not kill them."

Is she crazy, or does she know who killed them and will not say? The secret lies within her mind and body, which can only be revealed by a hypnotic examination. 

What happens after that is a paranormal adventure which will keep your eyes pegged to the page - an entity is in control. This page-turner is a read I will not forget. It is haunting.

The story will keep you awake for a few hours but worth the time: an enjoyable suspenseful, fast read for those who believe or do not in the supernatural.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/2Pl7ldS

Review of LIFESPAN

LIFESPAN, Why We Age - and

Why We Don't Have To

David A. Sinclair, Ph.D.,

with Matthew D. LaPlante

Review by Author Roy Murry

This book is for the inquisitive minded person who cares about their mortality.  I take one day at a time.

However, after reading the intro, I decided to read on. I found myself in the middle of a Sinclair dissertation.

Muddling, through the molecular details he explains, I started to understand his longevity research. It took time reading the first one hundred pages, but it was worth slow read.

After that, the narrative moved along smoothly, learning how to live longer and healthier, understanding the aging process. DNA, gene, genetic material, cell division, chromosome, the tumor are not things that ordinary people, like me, think about in our daily endeavors.

Needed for this reading is some knowledge of biology. Mr. Sinclair's writing confines himself to his subject; it very difficult to put the book down when he explains his theorems, assumptions, opinions, many of which I can’t entirely agree.

However, the reading was enjoyable and eye wakening that I recommend.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/2T2J7Gt

Review of SPEAK NO EVIL

SPEAK NO EVIL

TANYA ANNE CROSBY

Review by Author Roy Murry

Flo, a wealthy socialite newspaper heiress, dies supposedly falling a flight of stairs. She leaves a will in which her three daughters must complete specific tasks while living together in the family mansion for one year to receive their inheritance.

The eldest daughter must manage the newspaper; the middle daughter is to renovate the house, and the youngest is to write a novel. Neither wants the jobs needed to full fill the mother's will.

However, if one fails, no one gets the money. Let the games begin. The women must work harmoniously or fail.

Interwoven into the above scenario is a love story, a serial killer, and the Charleston wetlands that have a secret to unravel.  All collide into a thrilling story, ending in a flame.

Ms. Crosby does hook the reader in because many questions are left open after an ending event that would have nullified the beginning circumstance. Well worth the read - easy flowing, good characters, and twist and turns that keep the reader engaged.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/2uvozOF

Review of THE SOUL OF THE WORLD

The Soul of the World

Roger Scruton

Nothingness is on the other side - death. Therefore, should we believe in a monolithic god or just faith in one?

This and other questions of personal relationships, moral intuitions, and aesthetic judgments to light in this exceptional understanding of the world in which we live.

Sir Roger has gone into his "Nothingness," on January 12, 2020, with his passing over into another realm. He died — this book published in 2016.

In this lecture driven book, he outlines the journey us humans take in this time on earth - how we commune, how we think, and our thoughts of death and a higher power's participation in it – sacred vs. atheism. You have to be a bit of a philosophy scholar to understand his dissertation fully.

At times, his writing had me at a disadvantage, but his examination of human beings and their relationship with each god made sense.  Kant and Sartre’s philosophies drove home his points of observation at the end of this long read.

Sir Roger's explanations of the human mind, using his cognitive dualism, helped complete part of my life's journey. We will meet him in Nothingness soon enough.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/2O6pWKb

Review of The Irish Cottage

THE IRISH COTTAGE

Finding Elizabeth

JULIET GAUVIN

Review by Author Roy Murry

Elizabeth, a persuasive, successful litigator's surrogate mother, dies, and Beth, as she is known, goes to Ireland to contemplate her future. She takes seven letters from that mother to read on her journey.

She meets Connor, and with the reading of those letters and fate, their involvement goes up each level after an instructive template of life. Each person has their psychological baggage to overcome the love affair.

Connor's friends are amazed at his change; Connor is overcome at Beth's transformation from the first day they met.  Both adults mend together physically and emotionally to the edge of saying, 

'I love you.'  

The ending of this journey is uplifting and will leave the reader wanting more when Beth leaves for London to full fill a quest, and Connor goes on an extended business trip.  I believe they will meet again in The London Flat, book two. I could be wrong, but...

Book one is an excellent hook into book two. You'll love it.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/30xjS2B

Review of A MATTER OF TRUST

A Matter of Trust

LONDON CALLING, Book 1

KAT FAITOUR

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

This romance novel was like foreplay from cover to end. Bennett of his namesake company Sterling International has hired Devon, a beautiful, intelligent woman to work for his company after Human Relations gave her a top approval rating.

One look, and he put his stamp of approval. The company is based in London – she is USA American; he is English.

Sparks in his brain or his loin attracts him to her and vice-a-versa. He, however, does not have relations with employees since one betrayed his trust in a past relationship.

He wants her; she wants him plays out for most of the novel.  She is confused, and he is not. He plays games with his intentions.

Emotions conflict between the two. Those go on until a family cohort of hers interjects himself into the business sexual relationship with a game that could prove Bennet's untrusting ways with women he cares.

The relationship arrives at a conclusion that may be resolved in Book 2 of the series. I may read that endeavor.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/2tUAZz6

Review of IF SHE KNEW

IF SHE KNEW

BLAKE PIECE

Review by Author Roy Murry

I love a mystery, and this is a good one. Kate Wise solves the ones no one at the FBI can, but she is retired at fifty-five.

But she has antsy pants and wants to get back into the action when a friend is murdered. The family asks her to investigate, but her hands are tied because she has no official standing.

Then another event happens with her FBI supervisor giving her credentials to act as a temp-agent. With a new young partner, the action begins, but all roads lead to a dead-end.

Agent Wise does what she does well - think through all the events and never gives up even when she is taken off the case, and the police have their killer. Her efforts lead to an exciting ending that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/2F6XdA8

Check Kindle price $.00 and buy book 2 for $3.99

Review of BITTERSWEET MEMORIES

BITTERSWEET MEMORIES

ERIKA M SZABO

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Short, romantic, and emotional. A child, Elana Smith, given the name in a hospital, grows up in the social service system of foster families after being abandoned.

That unfortunate situation leads to others until she joins a boy in foster home care. More psychological pressure enters her mind at the age of thirteen.

However, loving people on her life's journey help her adjust into a beautiful, intelligent woman. Then, at a traditional memory place, another trauma takes place.

When this happens, the reader will have a hard time stopping the tears.

The story is a small ninety-minute rollercoaster ride that will keep you pinned to your Kindle.

Purchase:  https://amzn.to/37moKcK