Review of A Gambler's Jury

A GAMBLER'S JURY

VICTOR METHOS

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

Dani Rollins has a client whom she believes is innocent because of his mental impairment. He cannot be a purveyor of drugs and pull off a deal.

The police arrest him in the act. How could this be? It had to be one of the other boys with him. Moreover, why does the District Attorney want and is trying her client as an adult when he is seventeen?

All the right questions to get answers to in this character-driven novel. Dani is a smart defense lawyer who pushes the envelope when it comes to judges and the prosecution.

They cannot see what she can. This kid does not have where all to have committed this crime. In court, she will prove it. However, can she?

All leads point to her client except the one no other person is seeing including Dani's private detective, who cares for her. Dani's family life is in the background of this quick read.

A Gambler's Jury is laid out in a way the reader may pick up the clues Dani and her detective missed up until the jury is in, which leads to an exciting ending. A good lead-in novel to a series.

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Review of Finding Claire Fletcher

Finding Claire Fletcher

LISA REGAN

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

A child abducted in plain sight, but the witness doesn't have a complete picture of the crime. The child is kept alive for ten years in a state of psychological indecision by a serial pedophile.

Claire tells a stranger who she is in the third person, sleeps with him, not having sex, and leaves her home address with the man. Intrigued and somewhat affected by the encounter, he, Detective Parks, goes to the address to find that she has been missing for ten years.

Finding Claire Fletcher is not only Park's investigation into where she is or went for ten years but also Claire's evaluating of her existence and finding herself. That assessment defines her decision mechanism. In the end, she rises to the occasion and so does her new involvement with the detective.

The story has many twists and turns that keep the reader asking why Claire is not running away. At each, there is an answer as to why with a surprise result. Just one event changes everything for Claire leading to traumatic endings separated by another game of the pedophile. 

FINDING is a fast-paced, quick read that devils into the mind of a pedophile and his victims. The read is worth the dime.

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Review of The House of Fez

The House in Fez

DIANNE NOBLE

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

“The clashes of two worlds” is the theme of this engaging story of two sisters who visit their mother in Morocco after not hearing from her for some years.  What they encounter, what they perceive to be, and how they cope with the people in the House in Fez gives the reader an education in differing cultural attitudes.

Leaving England, the twins, who also have not been close over the years, go to Fez to partially get away from their lives' circumstances - both have marital problems.

Arriving, their mother has changed and so is her living arrangement. She is now docile, married to a younger man who has another wife half his age.

This snowballs into the fact that the husband's whole family, his mother included, will move into the House in Fez. The twins have never had a family, according to their narrative, which rubs the women differently.

Muslims and Christians have deep-rooted ways of evaluating life and how one should live it. Ms. Noble does an excellent job of interpreting those conflicts in the story told within the pages of The House in Fez.

It is worth the read for pleasure's sake.  However, the content, the twin's narratives, and the way their mother copes for love will keep the reader evaluating each side's struggle to understand the other's. The ending is unpredictable but logical.

Purchase:  https://amzn.to/2qfYmxp

Review of Hidden Currents

HIDDEN CURRENTS

Lantern Beach Mysteries,
Book 1

CHRISTY BARRITT

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

A light-hearted mystery headed by a female veteran detective hiding from criminals on a tourist island is the theme. Everyone is easy going on the island except for Barritt's protagonist, Cassidy, her aka.

Being the person, she is, and an officer of the law in another State of the USA, she gets involved with a murder on the beach. Intermingling with the locals and the tourists, she finds herself involved in a way she never had before: meeting friendly people, one of which she helps immensely.

Keeping her wits about, she engages people she would otherwise not in her other life and feels better about herself. Investigating the crime is the center of her ambition, but maybe feelings for another could endear her to the island life, he, helping Cassidy to try and solve the murder.

Some twists and turns that keep the reader engaged. The characters are developed enough to move into a second book in the series.

When I came to the end of this novel, I thought, "Is that all there is?" Well, of course not, because there is Book 2 in the series.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/2I2zLTW

Review of the BEAUTY SHOP

The BEAUTY SHOP

SUZY HENDERSON

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

As a Vietnam Veteran who has seen cohorts die from injuries, this novel rang true with the atrocities of war. This story is about the cruelty of burn patients in World War II and how one man helps changed their lives for the better.

B17s or flying fortress was the backbone of the Allied bombing effort against Germany. The men that flew in them and other planes had accidents that caused life-threatening burns.

The BEAUTY SHOP is the story of a burn victim, a lieutenant and his lady. How they met; how he ended up scared with burns; and how they each met the doctor of the beauty shop.

It is a love story intertwined with the horrors of war. This story is full of surprises and human reactions to the realities of war particularly that of how we treat our wounded veterans physically and psychologically.

At the time, they did not understand PTSD, as they do know. It plays a part when the lieutenant, after a burning episode returns to duty. The strength of his love becomes a significant factor in the ending of this well put together Chronicle of a man who cared for and operated on burned warriors.

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Review of Intrinsic

INTRINSIC

JERRY COLLINS

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

The Creator has a problem that he created in the name of Derideon (The Devil.) After numerous efforts, Derideon's army is about to rise again in the 20th Century with the help of one Kragon, a powerful sorcerer.

Unbeknown to Kragon, he is being used by Derideon. Kragon does not know that he comes from a long line of Good Sorcerers. The Lineage is presented to the reader, but Kragon is concealed from those facts.

With Kragon’s help, Derideon may rise again. Only time will tell because this seems to be the first in a series.

I found the book a bit wordy but fun to read. Mr. Collins lofty prose seemed to indicate the higher level a spirit like the two mentioned here in this review. It is at above us mortals - they talk an elevated level above ordinary people.   

The Bible's Old Testament type of godly killing of innocents is prominent for the promotion of world power by both sides of these fictional prognostic characters, interestingly put together.

If you like pure action, this is for you.

Purchase: http://amzn.to/2plQMAJ

Review of I WILL BREATHE

I Will Breathe

Forbidden Series, Book 1

Regina Puckett

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

This Young Adult read is for the young at heart like them and me. It is fun, bizarre, and delightful. Some of the reasons I keep coming back to Regina's short novels

In this adventure, Liberty, a young lady pilot of an airship, goes about her business of bartering items needed in her post end of times world.

On one of her stops to deliver goods, she takes on the task of caring for a robot who has feelings. On a stop to get water fuel for her ship, she encounters other humans.

The adventure begins, and Liberty breaks all of her dead father's rules by engaging the robot and the humans. She finds love, a trait she has been avoiding all her life.

How this all comes about and how Liberty changes are the lessons learned in this novel; some that YA's should learn.

An enjoyable quick read. The way I like it.

Purchase: http://amzn.to/2tB1p8g

Review of Magnolia Gods

MAGNOLIA GODS

A River Sunday Romance Mystery, Book 2

Thomas Hollyday

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

The undercurrent of this fast-paced novel is the romance of two aircraft pilots, Mike and Robin. The mystery of what happened to an experimental steam engine airboat and its inventor after World War II is what binds them together for this thrilling adventure.

Was the plane stolen? Was the inventor, a veteran Naval Captain a traitor? Where is the airplane? Many questions need to be answered.

There are many curves thrown at the reader that keeps one asking what next. 'Who is on first,' comes to mind. In other words, who is the real traitor in this story?

The tale comes to a crash ending after a battle to the end of some real criminals. Exciting and poignant are two words to describe it.

Well worth the opening of the cover to see who the Magnolia Gods are and how they help save the name of a patriot.

The novel is a quick 256 pages and stands alone as part of a series.

Purchase: http://amzn.to/2Il5T6f

Review of Neon Lawyer

THE NEON LAWYER

VICTOR METHOS

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

Short but gripping legal story of a lawyer named Brigham who is out to fight the system. Because of his ingenuity on how he pleaded his first case, a traffic ticket which he loses, Brigham's boss gives him a murder case.

Very unusual, but he is a freelance lawyer working for a Law Firm/Bail Bondsman. Much of this story is non-common, but the lady who committed the murder agrees, and they go to trial. 

Having read many legal thrillers, I believe the legal tactics and procedures used is plausible. The courtroom drama is suspenseful but quick because of the case and the prosecutor's deceit and the compassion he has for the defendant's state of mind.

Characters are developed for a series to continue but this novel is short, so I give it a quick review. It is worth the .99 cents sale price or Kindle Unlimited.

Purchase: http://amzn.to/2Gfl7Jw

Review of Going Home

GOING HOME

WIN & MEREDITH BLEVINS

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

Going Home is a story of love lost to a tragedy, Lewis Evans wife Sally dies. Lewis is a prominent author who stops writing after the event and goes into a mental meltdown.

He receives aid from an unlikely spirit, another famous author, who turns Lewis' world upside down and around. Lewis' conversations with the spirit of his wife and this author relate to evaluating love, life, and death.

The in-depth analysis, colloquies of Lewis, the stories of the phantom author, and Sally's edging-on familiar words are the backbone of this engaging discourse of why we are here on earth. Will Lewis' pain of living without Sally on earth or the pain of death take over his being?

The story as I have mentioned above seems deep in content. It is, and the prose is at times mind wrenching and at others somewhat comical. Life and death are celebrated in many ways in this Blevins' novel.

If you are looking for a lovely story about a love lost and the informal interchange of thoughts, you will enjoy this presentation of life.

Purchase at  http://amzn.to/2oJy9Y7

Review of ONE WAY

ONE WAY

A Sam Archer Thriller #5

TOM BARBER

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

Mr. Barber's series keeps me coming back for more because his novels of Sam Archer's adventures are always fast-paced. This thriller is no exception and stands alone as a complete story.  I read this one in two sittings.

Sam jumps into a situation where there is only one way out, and a group of professional operatives wants the few people with him dead. The large building they are hiding in is invaded from below and above by well-equipped persons chasing them.

There is no way out, and the army of police in the street below is being been kept at bay. Sam and a team of US Marshals protect their witness whom they believe the criminals want dead. 

The team gets cut down to Sam and a lady Marshal who fight through critical events the average trained person could not endure. They work together perfectly avoiding some disasters. 

Well prepared, the criminals center on their prey to an explosive ending that only a few will survive. The way out is the roof. Who makes it out is a gripping event to read, but start at the beginning and you'll be thrilled to the end.

Purchase: http://amzn.to/2F0RVYC

Review of A TOUCH OF MORNING CALM

A TOUCH OF MORNING CALM

WAYNE ZURL

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

Sam Jenkins, police chief in Prospect Tennessee, is a character that I cannot get enough of because he is what my uncle Lou would call spiffy. He has all the charm that the ladies love and that dirty criminal mind that is used to get the real criminal behind bars.

The novel starts with the killing of a young Korean masseuse after a new massage parlor is opened in town by an ex-hooker acquaintance who Sam cleared in an investigation of a previous murder and a lovely Korean woman. Trouble always comes in multiple for Sam.

There is a shakedown of the parlor and Sam investigates using all of his small-town police force, family, and friends. His and his wife's knowledge of Korea, his friend's abilities, and Sam's uncanny New York detective work sheds light at the end of the tunnel.

The way Sam Jenkins' mind detects baffles all his cohorts, including those in big city Knoxville, but he gets the job done. He is a softy at heart, but don't even think his wife knows how his mind works.

Mr. Zurl’s whodunit novels will always be on my bookshelf. This mystery kept me thinking to the end.

If you like a good book, try one of Wayne's: http://amzn.to/2EiT22f

Review of The Brodsky Affair

THE BRODSKY AFFAIR

KEN FRY

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

Jack Manton finds two pieces of Russian art while investigating the internet and goes to Australia to retrieve them. Unfortunately, he and his lover Tamsin end up in an international crime scheme to acquire all of that artist's paintings from that point on.

While looking for other paintings, Jack and Tamsin travel from London to other European countries, putting a puzzle of history and intrigue together. But, unbeknown to them, an elusive criminal follows their every step, which turns into a thrilling give and take that interests Interpol.

People end up dead; paintings are missing, and a hunt for wealth is pursued. The game will end in events that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Not all ends rosy in this Thriller, but I liked that. The couple and the criminals learn lessons they will never forget. However, life goes on.

Mr. Fry's characters are engaging, exciting, and colorful. In addition, the background work of each country traveled by the characters is well-developed and easy to follow.

Ken Fry's novel is worth a few Russian rubles.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3qU6BA9

 

Review of 12 Rules of Life

12 Rules of Life

AN ANTIDOTE TO CHAOS

JORDAN B. PETERSON

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

"To Tell the TRUTH, or, at least, don't lie." one of Mr. Peterson "Rules," I'll pursue in this review, as I always do. I have watched some of his videos and listened to some debates he participated. The reason I bought this expensive book.

I was a little disappointed at first, but kept on reading, because I felt Jordan's sincerity in his words. However, I can say to you J. Peterson is not a Mark Twain whose writing brings smiles to my face when reading. Sad concern for the world came to mind reading Jordan's words.

Each chapter is a rule; all based somewhat on a Bible verse. Similar to a modern preacher, Peterson sounds better up and front, and in action, which I enjoyed immensely in the videos I watched. However, his writing was so articulate that I felt apathetic at times but kept on reading.

Some of his "Rules" did become clearer after my re-reading of the notes I took during my first read. Peterson is wordy and repetitive when getting his points across.

Peterson's philosophies and psychological interpretations of humanity were worth the read. As usual, I agreed with some and not others. Therefore, interested parties in those endeavors should purchase this man's understanding of humankind.

Purchase at http://amzn.to/2EACGTj

Review of Kings And Queens

Kings And Queens

Terry Tyler

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

This Contemporary Drama of Harry and the Lanchester Dynasty rivals with the American television drama series Dallas (1978 to 1991) and Shakespeare's Henry VIII. Knowing Terry Tyler's writing, I have read a few of her books, I decided to read a genre I usually do not - expanding my horizon. LOL

Will his best friend lead the commentary, while each of Harry's sexual partner's sign in, giving their interpretations of how they met, loved, lived, and enjoyed Harry's company, whether they stayed in it or not? Harry speaks through them.

As each well-written chapter developed, the reader gets to know the 'Haves' from the 'Have not's.' Harry is one of the 'Haves,' born into money and pushed into the throne of a wholly owned family company at an early age.

How he deals with the company, his wives, and his lovers tells us a story of a man who is expedient and lavishes the ones he cares for in his orbit. Harry's narcissism, lack of self-control, amiability, and gut feelings lead him to not care much for his future.

However, Harry's luck in business and the stability of a hard rock company founded by his grandfather goes on, while Harry and his children move into different dimensions. The Dynasty goes on to the next era led by his children with the youngest child, a male, at the helm.   

Will the Dynasty survive? Only Terry Tyler knows if she writes the second book in this possible series. I would enjoy that read as I have this drama.

Purchase: http://amzn.to/2BzAmJ3

Review of Three Odd Balls

THREE ODD BALLS

A Cue Ball Mystery

Cindy Blackburn

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

I keep on coming back to Blackburn's novels because they are fun to read with an underlying theme of mystery that may or may not be easy to unravel. The characters are well defined and compliment Jessie, author, and amateur sleuth.

In this book, the bartender of enticing pink drinks is found dead in Jessie's mother's Hawaiian vacation bedroom. How Jessie's close inner group gets to Hawaii and the antics that follow are hilarious.

Everyone in Jessie's group gets involved with an original investigation which does not go along with the Official Police conclusions which are that one of her tourists committed the crime.

The events leading to solving the crime are funny, and near the end, deadly. As in all of the Blackburn's stories, Jessie is the center of an unusual conclusion that is exciting. 

I think this is my fifth of the Cue Ball Mysteries. I'll be back for more fun. 

Purchase: http://amzn.to/2roKHbb