Review of The Smuggler's Gambit

The Smuggler's Gambit

Sara Whitford

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

This first book of the Adam Fletcher Adventures I picked from a list because I like the word Gambit. Those who play chess know the importance of planning one's moves (Gambit) before playing and changing it to your advantages to produce the result desired, that being to win the game.

In Smuggler's Gambit, Adam is a young man full piss and vinegar, seventeen, who gets in trouble with the lawyer defending his mother's honor. Forced into an apprenticeship, he becomes a pawn in a game he is too young to understand, smuggling.

A criminally minded man, who makes the first move, using his popularity posture, leads Adam into a deadly game of life. His ward is a respectable smuggler, considering the historical period before the American Revolution when the King's subjects disliked his taxes in which the story evolves.

Adam's resolves his confusion between the two men and makes an unorthodox move that gives the upper hand to the criminals. Through ingenuity, Adam's near-death experience after a happenstance with those undesirables is his last adventurous move that gives him and his new family a checkmate.  

The game was played well by Adam with little experience in such matters. The Smuggler's Gambit is a must read to start the series.

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Review of Unexpected

UNEXPECTED
A Cassie-Baxter Mystery

Cindy Blackburn

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Cassie-Baxter, a history professor, has become one of my favorite characters; and the people surrounding her are interesting as well. She, going through her normal work week and interactions, seems to come up with the answers to a mystery that no one else can see, including law enforcement.

In this case, someone is dead from a car accident near the lovely lakeside town in which she and her Si-Fi writer father live. Cassie receives an unusual task which presents problems. With much confusion, a child who has secrets as to what happened comes into her family’s care.

Blackburn’s writes into the core story secondary fun adventures produced by Cassie’s father and next door boyfriend neighbor that enhances the central mystery. They are enjoyable and move the characters and reader to determine who-done-it.

The writing is well thought out and easy-going, flowing along with few bumps in the road. You’ll laugh and like the tone that leads you to an explosive ending. Then all is calm for the Baxters plus two in Lake Elizabeth until a new mystery comes to a calling.

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Review of Dead over Heels

DEAD over HEELS

THERESA BRAUN

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Ms. Braum has written a compelling situational paranormal thriller that will chill your bones if you believe such phenomena. Using a couple who just met, she weaves a story with a twist I didn't see coming.

A man and a woman meet for their first date at a restaurant where, after chitchat, they encounter a strange occurrence which snowballs into the woman's psyche. What she believes infects her mind into plausibility leading to an adverse action. 

The man, who has fallen in love as she, goes back to the restaurant at her bidding. He becomes overwhelmed with the situation and wants to move in another direction.

After a short separation, she convinces him to meet with her. This meeting culminates love stories one will remember if they read DEAD over HEELS.

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Review of What Haunts Me

WHAT HAUNTS ME

Margaret Millmore

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Do you believe in Ghosts? Then this entertaining story of Ghost Killers will keep you enthralled and engaged from page one of this book one of a series.

The story is brimming with different variations of the scary, spooky, and helpful kinds of spirits. The characters and the ghosts are well developed into a plausible conflict that comes to a peak.

The two main characters were brought together by their ancestors to fight against a villain and are in a "Love and hate situation." Whether their union will continue depends on the conflict with this powerful and wealthy adversary.

Ms. Millmore seems to have done much research to put this ghostly background into a believable and likable adventure. Book two is on my list because I had fun reading her pleasant diversion.

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Review of THE PROFESSOR

THE PROFESSOR

A Legal Thriller

ROBERT BAILEY

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

An Attorney at Law has many options during his career if his credentials are excellent. Tom McMurtrie was one of Alabama’s best, and after a short career as a trial lawyer circumstance led him to decide to become a professor at his alma mater; the man called.

Fast forward; a major accident occurs, Tom is in trouble at the University, and one of his recent students, Drake, who he had an altercation with is called upon by him to proceed with the case for the plaintiff.  

Luckily, the story is not that simple. As the plot evolves, Tom's, his student's, and the people involved with the accidental crime infested case moves at a fast pace. The reader must pay attention to keep the characters and the events in their proper sequence.

This thriller is a page-turner: the characters are developing, and actions understandable; the backdrop of the case is constantly changing, and the alternatives of the plaintiff's lawyer’s case fluctuate as much as a yo-yo.

This legal novel is as good as it gets.

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Review of Adios America

ADIOS AMERICA

THE LEFT'S PLAN TO TURN THE COUNTRY INTO A THIRD WORLD HELLHOLE

ANN COULTER

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Let me start by saying I am an Independent voter. I read this political book with limited political knowledge or interest in same.

Ms. Coulter's discourse is about where the United States of America is heading because of its immigration's policy (Legal or illegal). She details where we are, what is happening, and where we are going if we stay on the path we are following albeit before the election of Donald J. Trump as President of the USA.

I was overwhelmed by the information she outlined and chronicled using notes of accurate reports. If half of what she says is true, this country has been on the wrong path as far as immigration is a concern. And, if that path continues, America as we have known it will cease to exist.

The prose was somewhat above my political knowledge but was easy to comprehend with a little investigation on my part. The flow moved along smoothly and was enjoyable to read.

I feel this book is important to read if you care to understand Mr. Trump's lauding it and putting some of its principles into his policies while running for President, which was well received.

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Review of Hostile Witness

Hostile Witness

A Josie Bates Thriller

Rebecca Forster

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Firstly, I will note that Ms. Forster's prose kept me on the edge of my seat. The flow of this thriller was a fast pace. She laid out the framework of a drama that one couldn't wait for the next turn of events.

The character Josie Bates, a lawyer, is developed and complicated. Her cognitive decision-making drives the narrative in a direction the reader will follow with interest, enjoying the results.

In support, with love and concern, is her lover and ex-cop Archie, who fulfills Josie's needs as a friend, lover, and crime solving helper. Along with Max, Josie's dog, the legal conundrums are delved into.

This book is the first in a series of detective work, courtroom drama, and understanding of why people break the law. Conflicts are resolved but not always to the reader’s delight.

Ms. Forster has put together a good team that the reader will want to turn to in the future, as I will, to passed a few hours in Josie's legal world. I am looking forward to reading another courtroom thriller of hers.

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