Review of UNBELIEVABLE

Unbelievable

A Cassie Baxter Mystery

Written by Cindy Blackburn

If only animals could talk, what a world this would be? Ms. Blackburn’s comical whodunit has animals in it that if they could talk, would have solved the case before Cassie’s antics, theories, and innuendos.

Escaping from her father’s breakfast, Cassie leaves in frustration early in the morning. While kayaking in her pajamas, Cassie comes across a woman’s dead body on Lake Elizabeth, Vermont. ‘Being in her pajamas,’ becomes the local small town joke when that body is not found.

Using hilarious and factual deductions, Cassie goes about trying to solve the case, stirring up the locals, who think she is a nut case. This upsets the Sheriff but intrigues the Captain of the State Police, who also thinks Cassie is a little odd.

Things do fall into place at the end of this enjoyable funny novel. Ms. Blackburn has presented a plausible crime that happens a very small town point of view.

Unbelievable is an engaging and pleasant novel that you should enjoy if you like animals and a good mystery story. And who wouldn’t like a well put together a humorous mystery?

Purchase at Amazon: http://amzn.to/11FrHTC

Review of Pope Joan

Pope Joan

Written

by Donna Woolfolk Cross

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Between the years of 853 – 855 AD, there was a Pope after the death of Pope Leo IV who is left out of the Book of Pontiffs. In the history of Roman Catholic Church, the story of a person who reigned as Pope John is missing.

Ms. Cross brings to life the story of a young girl with an inquisitive mind in a period of time when women were considered to be without the capacity think. They were subservient to man according to “God’s Will,” and did as they were told.

Joan’s brothers are preparing to go to religious school, and she dares to ask why she can’t go to. Her elder brother takes pity on her and shows her the way that only men can go – school to learn the scriptures.

Thrilling and educational circumstances lead Joan through a labyrinth of events which graduates her status in a man’s religious clerical system that does not identify her as a woman. It is her knowledge accumulated over the years which elevates her to prominence as Lord of the Roman Church.

Her love of a man, which she vowed never to be complacent in, brings her, as Pope John, to her fatal end. Her demise as Pope is horrific, leaving no doubt of her sex

Well written, researched, and presented, Ms. Cross tells a tale, some would say is impossible to have happened according to limited records – the story is a myth. Donna Woolfolk Cross’ detailed story is a compelling vindication of the Pope Joan myth.

Decide for yourself. It is a read not to miss. Purchase at: http://amzn.to/1m2fwKY

          

   

Review of Reprisal

Reprisal

Written by Alfie Robins

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Law and Order, NYPD Blues, and many other American police TV programs have been my education into how a police department works. Mr. Robins, in Reprisal, give us an in-depth look into the workings of a detective unit in a North East England police headquarters.

Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Philip Marlowe is the “Boss” of the unit that has been confronted with a murder of significant pathology. When a second murder presents itself with the same M.O., the unit goes into overdrive, believing that they might have a serial killer at large.

The day to day procedures of looking for evidence and deciding where to move next is what propels this detailed story forward. Mr. Robin’s Marlowe is the focal point of his unit - an average bloke. The other characters in the unit are given their due per their relationship to the DCI.

Their investigation is slow moving until a van is tied to the murders. ‘Who is the owner? Where is the van?’ are the keys needed to bring their detective work to its conclusion. It was like finding a needle in a haystack. When these factors are accomplished, all hell breaks out.

This story has its twist that keeps you reading. Much is hidden from the reader, but the clues are there. Mr. Robin’s gives readers a surprising ending that they can live with. The novel peaks at the right moment – at The End.

Purchase on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1zvRjOn

Review of Book Clubbed

Book Clubbed

Written by Lorna Barrett

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

This story of murder is a layback whodunit. There is a killing, but a somewhat none violent one in the storeroom of a bookstore owned by the protagonist Tricia.

Tricia and her sister Angelica are business women in a small tourist town that is in the offseason. Angelica owns a restaurant. Hence, there is not much to do with few customers other than to solve the murder of Tricia’s employee.

The victim is not what everyone suspected which increases the interests of the sisters and propels the narrative forward. The case slowly moves forward to the end which goes up in flames.

Ms. Barrett’s story is a predictable one but intriguing pleasantly. There is no harshness in her writing which moves along smoothly explaining why the main character Tricia goes about doing the business of being involved without trying.

There was no heavy thinking to be done in the reading of this novel. So if you’re not looking for a messy murder story, this novel is for you.

Purchase at: http://amzn.to/1zMfZoS

Review of Sleeping through the Beauty

Sleeping through the

           Beauty

Written by Regina Puckett

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Love, at First Sight, has always been a controversial debate among Love Doctors. Regina puts a delightful spin on this – falling in love with a Sleeping Beauty.

Romance is in the air when one brother is invited to the wedding proposal of another. It’s a dinner party where the loving couple takes off leaving the invited brother alone with the mother of the soon to be a bride.

The mother introduces him to the essence of her other daughter, who is unavailable for medical reasons. His enchantment in that daughter leads to an unlikely romance story that will bring tears to your eyes – you won’t put this short story down until the last year.

Romance is Regina Puckett’s forte, and I will continue to read her works, as you should.

For 99 Tears: Purchase at http://amzn.to/1m2kxDu

Review of A Tine To Live, A Tine To Die

A Tine To Live,

    A Tine To Die

Written by Edith Maxwell

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

When I first looked at the cover, I thought, Tine & Vegetables, what do they have in common? “Tine to Live and Tine to Die,” what does this me? I am glad I looked at the book.

Food has its mysteries, but this was a murder mystery, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Having had part of my life living on a vegetable farm with my grandparents, I related to the main character’s daily endeavors albeit she is cultivating an organic farm; my grandparents did not.

Cam, the protagonist, a farm is disrupted by a violent event where a pick fork with three tines was used. The police are called, and the mystery of what had happened commences.

In a well-written story, Ms. Maxwell uses her main character to explain how organic farming is done, how she is coping with bad publicity the farm is getting over a murder on her farm, and how she is trying to unravel the mystery to save a friend.

I know the food is interesting. I eat every day LOL.  Ms. Maxwell has woven an entertaining adventure around it - a pleasant read with an exciting ending.

Purchase at: http://amzn.to/1y3nAf9

Review of Bourbon and Blood

Bourbon and Blood

Written by Garrard Hayes

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Life in the Big Apple, New York City, can be overwhelming. It can be even deadly if you happen to be dragged into being associated with mobsters. This is what happens to Mr. Hayes’ main character Bill. The “Who, what, when, why and how,” is conveyed in plausible events.

From induction, Bill goes on a path of never-ending destruction of property and individuals. He is paired with a criminal mind, who is working for his own preservation and leaves Bill with the bag at times, so to speak.

All the elements of the criminal world cross Bill’s path including drugs, prostitution, murder, and gang boundary battles. Using living color descriptions of the underbelly of big city life, Mr. Hayes keeps us on edge, scene after scene.

In the last scene, which comes after Bill makes an important decision; the author leaves the reader wanting to know what will happen to him next.  Will his journey bring him back to a normal city life free from crime involvement? Will his love affair renew itself?

Well, I will have to read the next book in this series. It will be on my BTR list when it comes out because Mr. Hayes' writing is no-nonsense prose, thrilling, and right to the point.

Purchase at: http://amzn.to/1PFHOrl