Book Review: Hidden Truth, by C.D. Steele

6 March 2026 by Melissa

About the book: Hidden Truth

Private Investigator Joe Wilde is investigating the murder of Philippa Redmond a former Labour MP. She had been found dead in her sauna over the Christmas holidays six weeks ago. The majority of her family had been staying with her at the time, but the police didn’t regard any of them as suspects. Evidence suggested an intruder had got into her home.

Joe also takes on a cold case of a missing woman named Julie Turnbull. She had disappeared six years ago without a trace. Meanwhile Joe’s good friend DI Whatmore is investigating the horrific murder of a woman who was burnt to death in her own home. His investigation crosses over with Joe’s missing person investigation. As they conduct their own investigations there are more killings.
DI Whatmore and Joe must join forces to track down a serial killer and solve a puzzling mystery, but doing so puts them and others in grave danger.

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Amazon UK: Paperback | eBook | Amazon USA: Paperback | eBook | Goodreads

About the author, C.D. Steele

C.D Steele works as an Executive Officer in the Civil Service. He has a degree in Recreation Management and lives in County Down, Northern Ireland. This is his third novel and is the next book in the Joe Wilde Series after False Truth and Dark Truth.

Connect with C.D.:

Amazon Author Page

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My Thoughts

I had a difficult time getting into Hidden Truth, and I suspect part of that is because I was jumping into an established series without having read the two preceding books.

A number of characters appear fairly quickly, and for a while I felt as though I was being introduced to people whose histories I was expected to already know. It took some time to settle into who everyone was and how they related to one another.

The novel also carries several different narrative threads at once. I normally enjoy a layered mystery, but at times it felt like there were a lot of moving pieces competing for attention. In addition, the editing could have used a more careful pass. There were a few moments where characters were misnamed, which briefly pulled me out of the story, and I noticed several grammatical errors that stood out.

That being said, my overall reading experience was still a favorable one. Steele clearly knows how to weave together complex story lines, and the dialogue throughout the book felt rich and convincing. He also demonstrates a willingness to tackle difficult subject matter without shying away from it, which I respect.

Joe Wilde himself is a likeable lead character, and I particularly appreciated his strong sense of justice. He anchors the story well and gives the reader someone solid to follow through the darker corners of the narrative.

Despite my initial difficulty settling in, Hidden Truth ultimately proved to be a solid investigative thriller. If you enjoy crime fiction with multiple threads and morally driven protagonists, this series is definitely one worth exploring, whether you begin here or go back to the first book.

Goes well with: strong coffee and a Reuben sandwich.

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Book Review: The Regression Strain by Kevin Hwang

23 February 2026 by Melissa

About the book: The Regression Strain

Genre: Medical Thriller
Publisher: Normal Range Press
Publication Date: May 26, 2025
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Dr. Peter Palma joins the medical team of the Paradise to treat passengers for minor ailments as the cruise ship sails across the Atlantic. But he soon discovers that something foul is festering under the veneer of leisure. Deep in the bowels of the ship, a vile affliction pits loved ones against each other and shatters the bonds of civil society. The brig fills with felons, the morgue with bodies, and the vacation becomes a nightmare.

One by one, the chaos claims Peter’s allies. His mentor spirals into madness and the security chief fights a losing battle against anarchy. No help comes from the captain, who has an ego bigger than the ocean.

With the ship racing toward an unprepared New York, the fate of humanity hinges on Peter’s deteriorating judgment. But he’s hallucinating and delirious…and sometimes primal urges are impossible to resist.

The Regression Strain is a fast-paced medical thriller laced with psychological suspense, perfect for fans of Michael Crichton and Blake Crouch.

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Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

Watch the Trailer for The Regression Strain

About the author: Kevin Hwang

Kevin O. Hwang, MD, is a professor of internal medicine in Houston where he sees patients and teaches residents. His academic work has appeared in leading medical journals. Nothing excites him more than chicken enchiladas, index cards, and appropriately sized packaging. The Regression Strain is his debut novel.

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My Thoughts

I’m a sucker for a good science-based thriller, and I also love medical drama, so as someone who came of age reading Michael Crichton, when I had the opportunity to review this book, I jumped at it, and Kevin Hwang’s writing caught me and held me fast from beginning to end.

What unfolds on the Paradise is more than a contained outbreak story. It is a pressure cooker at sea, blending investigative tension with deeply personal stakes. The illness may be the catalyst, but the heart of the novel lies in the people trapped with it: physicians, security officers, crew members, and passengers from wildly different backgrounds. The cast feels varied and fully human, and the story makes it brutally clear that no one is insulated by rank, expertise, or good intentions. I was especially drawn to Dr. Peter Palma, whose history shadows every choice he makes. His compassion is genuine, but so is his fragility, and that combination gives the narrative real emotional weight.

The ethical questions here are not abstract. They land hard and fast as alliances fracture and fear overrides reason. The atmosphere grows tighter with every chapter, and the cruise ship setting amplifies that claustrophobia in a way that feels almost uncomfortably plausible. The pacing never lets up, yet the author still finds room to explore what happens when advanced medicine collides with the most primitive parts of human nature. More than once, I felt echoes of 2020 in the way misinformation spreads, authority falters, and ordinary people are forced to confront who they really are under pressure.

Ultimately, The Regression Strain delivers exactly what I want from a medical thriller: credible science, escalating stakes, and characters whose choices matter. It is unsettling without being gratuitous, thoughtful without slowing the momentum, and it lingers after the final page in the way the best speculative fiction does. If you like your suspense grounded in biology and human frailty rather than gimmicks, this one absolutely belongs on your list.

Goes well with: strong black coffee in a thick mug, eaten-at-midnight leftovers from the fridge, and the uneasy feeling of being far from shore with nowhere to run.

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Book Spotlight: FRANTIC by Brent Bradley

20 February 2026 by Melissa

About the book, Frantic

Techno Thriller/ Conspiracy Thriller
Publisher: BCS Publishing
Publication Date: March 7, 2025
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A delusional prison patient warns Dr. Brian Heiser, Marriage and Family Therapist, of enormous impending disaster. Dr. Heiser and his best friend, a lauded Forensic Psychologist, find themselves entangled in a 72-hour deadly race to stop an AI bill being fast-tracked through the Texas state legislature.

Patricia Reigns, an elite developer of artificial intelligence, teams with them, thus cementing the trio as a viable threat.

Unbeknownst to Fred, however, Brian and Patricia had a secret past. That past soon rekindled feelings in Patricia towards Brian, and vice versa. And this woman was not one to play coy.

The more they uncover, the more the deadly power of Artificial Intelligence is unleashed on them at every turn, from unseen top tech billionaires all vying for the same AI state contract.

What follows is a three-day frantic sprint toward truth that none of them could have possibly fathomed: a secret plot funded by the world’s wealthiest tech giants, an AI bill touted as a massive “progressive” leap forward for Texas, assassins funded to the gills in blood money, politicians bought and paid for, and a media that couldn’t care less.

Last, buckle up for an intense final stretch that’s simply impossible to foresee.

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Click to Purchase | Discuss on Goodreads

Watch the trailer for Frantic

About the author, Brent Bradley

Dr. Brent Bradley is a well-known couples therapist. He’s treated over a thousand couples in therapy and supervision of therapists. His books and articles are read internationally. He holds a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy, an MA in Christian Theology, and a BA in English Literature.

Brent brings an expert focus and depth to emotion and relationship dynamics in his fictional writing. His style radiates with intelligent plots, suspense, romance, and mystery – all delivered within a relentless pace.

Brent is married with one twin daughter (and one that passed away in the womb). They live in League City, TX. He is an avid fan of the Astros and Texas A&M baseball.

He is a follower of Christ.

Connect with Brent:

WEBSITE | AMAZON | GOODREADS |TWITTER

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Book Review: Under Vixens Mere by Kit Fielding

5 February 2026 by Melissa

About the Book, Under Vixens Mere:

After Harry Jones takes his life in the chilling waters of Vixens Mere, not one body is found by the police rescue team, but two. Tucked away in the English countryside, the run-down marina at Vixens Mere hosts a ragtag community of houseboats whose lives are as tangled as their mooring ropes. Harry Jones’s death dredges up more than grief: a second body in the water, hidden love affairs, and old grudges. As the marina begins to reveal the truths of the past, its dwellers unify against investigators, vindictive exes, and anyone else who tries to break them. The boats of Vixens Mere brim with secrets…. A marriage broken by war, a guilty lover returning, a ramshackle haven for aging hippies, a newcomer chasing a better life, a home haunted by addiction, and a loyal outcast whose devotion turns deadly. Step aboard and lose yourself in the secrets, betrayals, and unbreakable ties of a small community.

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Purchase Link | Goodreads

Enter the Giveaway to Win 3 x Stacks of 5 Inkspot Publishing books (UK Only):

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About the Author, Kit Fielding:

Kit Fielding plans and writes his novels in a motorhome at various locations around the country.

The feeling of impermanence is natural to him due to his mother’s traveller roots and a childhood succession of tied-cottages accommodation in different parts of England.

Kit Fielding says that there was always a curiosity about what was waiting, or was lurking, just around the corner. This legacy has stayed with him to the present day and it feeds into his work.

Connect to Inkspot Publishing:

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My Thoughts:

Under Vixen’s Mere is one of those novels that quietly gets under your skin and then refuses to leave.

From the opening pages, the prose immediately stood out to me. It’s spare without ever feeling sparse—clean, confident, and quietly assured. Dialogue and description are held in careful balance, each doing its work without calling attention to itself. Nothing strains for effect, and that sense of restraint builds trust early on, inviting the reader to settle in and follow where the story leads.

I was drawn to this book for deeply personal reasons. I’ve long fantasized about living on a boat, and I happily lose hours watching The Mindful Narrowboat on YouTube (mercifully free of mysterious bodies). What I didn’t expect was how fully this novel would deliver not just a setting, but a lived-in way of life—one that feels authentic rather than romanticized.

This is, in many ways, vicarious travel: across years, across seasons, and into a rare, largely off-grid canal-boat community tucked into the English countryside. The residents of Vixens Mere come and go with the rhythms of the water, maintaining an almost paradoxical balance—deep closeness paired with fierce privacy. Secrets are kept, histories linger, and yet there is mutual sympathy and loyalty that feels earned rather than idealized.

The cast is refreshingly outside the usual literary comfort zone: nightclub bouncers, pig farmers, laborers, drug dealers. These are not middle-class protagonists smoothed for palatability, yet each one climbs off the page with warmth, dignity, and unmistakable humanity. They love, fight, fear, and hope as fiercely as anyone else. I could picture every one of them.

Kit Fielding manages a large ensemble with impressive control, giving each character space to breathe—and yes, killing some of them. Tragedy and darkness are present throughout, threaded carefully among humor and joy. The mere itself—the body of water at the novel’s heart—becomes a quiet gravitational force, anchoring two stable, loving couples while secrets of adoption, unrequited love, affairs, suicide, and manslaughter drift in and out like the boats themselves.

What struck me most was the confidence of the writing. The scene-setting is assured, the revelations slow and satisfying, and the sense of jeopardy in the latter half is handled with admirable restraint. This is a writer who asks for your patience—and repays it fully.

Most of all, this book felt refreshing. Refreshing in its refusal to lean on stereotype. Refreshing in its complex, contradictory characters. Refreshing in a storytelling style that is unusual, engaging, and delivered with raw honesty and flair.

Choosing a favorite among the residents of Vixens Mere is nearly impossible, but if pressed, I’d gladly spend an evening with Big Ed and Millie aboard Crystal Lady—the emotional linchpins of this ragtag family. Their relationship feels utterly authentic, and I’d happily sink a beer (or three) with them in The Shed.

This is one of those rare books I was reluctant to finish—not because the ending faltered, but because I didn’t want to leave these people behind. I know they’ll be living in my head for a long time yet.

Goes well with: a pint in a weathered pub, damp boots by the door, and the quiet creak of ropes against wood as night settles over the water.

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Book Review: The Locked Room by Holly Hepburn

21 January 2026 by Melissa

About the Book: The Locked Room

Join Harriet White in 1930’s London for another glorious Sherlock Holmes-inspired mystery, for fans of Nita Prose and Janice Hallett.

After a very close call on the Norfolk Fens, Harriet White is about ready to hang up her deerstalker and settle back into her normal life, working in a bank on Baker Street. Until she discovers a letter in The Times newspaper challenging Sherlock Holmes to prove his status as the world’s greatest detective, by solving an impossible mystery. The letter, signed Professor James Moriarty, advises Holmes that the crime will be committed within the following seven days. There will be no further clues – Holmes himself must deduce which crime is the correct one to investigate.

Dismissing the letter as a prank, Harry goes about her business until news breaks of the theft of valuable jewel collection from a safe in an apparently locked room in a Mayfair townhouse.

Intrigued in spite of her misgivings, Harry dons a disguise and investigates. But as she begins to unpick the puzzle, a body is found. And now, a stranger, and far more deadly mystery begins to unfold around her…

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Purchase Link | Goodreads

About the Author: Holly Hepburn

Holly Hepburn writes escapist, swoonsome fiction that sweeps her readers into idyllic locations, from her native Cornwall to the windswept beauty of Orkney. She has turned her hand to cosy crime inspired by Sherlock Holmes himself. Holly lives in leafy Hertfordshire with her adorable partner in crime, Luna the Labrador.

Connect with Holly:

Newsletter Signup | Instagram

My Thoughts

Locked-room mysteries are my Kryptonite, so I was already inclined to be generous with The Locked Room. Add in a female sleuth, a Sherlock-adjacent premise, and 1930s London, and I was fully on board before the first page. What I did not expect was how thoroughly this book would delight me—or how quickly I’d be buying the first two installments in the series for pure, unapologetic pleasure.

The Locked Room drops us back into Harriet White’s world after a near-fatal case on the Norfolk Fens. Harriet is ready to retreat to the relative safety of her bank job on Baker Street, until a provocative letter appears in The Times, publicly challenging Sherlock Holmes to solve an “impossible” crime in seven days. When a jewel theft from a supposedly locked Mayfair room hits the headlines, Harriet’s curiosity—and sense of justice—prove impossible to ignore.

I jumped into this series with book three and never felt lost, which is no small feat. Author Holly Hepburn provides just enough grounding to orient new readers while rewarding longtime fans with deeper character beats. I was also intrigued to learn that the premise draws inspiration from a real historical incident, which adds an extra frisson to the cleverness of the setup.

Hepburn’s writing is witty, assured, and inviting, with a light touch that keeps the pages turning. The historical setting feels lived-in rather than performative. I could see the grand townhouses, the quieter streets, and the sharp contrast between wealth and hardship in interwar London. Period details are woven in naturally, never paraded for effect, which makes the world feel solid and breathable.

This particular mystery unfolds around a snowbound manor and delivers one of the most satisfying locked-room puzzles I’ve read in years. False identities, impossible footprints, and a wonderfully human subplot involving Harriet’s mischievous younger brother keep both the tension and the charm dialed high. Hepburn’s prose is richly evocative; the chill of the house, the glow of firelight, and the small rituals of comfort feel almost tangible, even as the tension tightens and the stakes rise.

The twists genuinely surprised me. The romantic thread simmers gently without ever hijacking the mystery. When the final reveal landed, I actually gasped—then immediately flipped back to earlier chapters to admire how skillfully I’d been misdirected.

The Locked Room is clever, cozy without being complacent, and deeply satisfying for puzzle-lovers. If you adore classic detective fiction but crave a fresh perspective, Harriet White deserves a place on your shelf—and very likely, in your reading rotation for a long while to come.

Goes well with: a blazing fire, a generous glass of brandy, and the delicious certainty that you’re about to be very cleverly fooled.

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Two Into the Cold: Clare & Russ Begin

14 January 2026 by Melissa

I went looking for a new-to-me mystery series that could hit a very specific sweet spot: cozy without being precious, thoughtful without tipping into pretension. I found it first in audiobook form, almost by accident, and I was hooked from the opening chapters. This series slid neatly into my ears and refused to let go.

In the Bleak Midwinter opens the Reverend Clare Fergusson / Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne series, and from page one it feels like stepping into a snow-globed village where everything looks quaint until you notice the blood on the ice. Millers Kill is small, wintry, tight-lipped, and brimming with secrets. Clare arrives as the new Episcopal priest—smart, guarded, quietly carrying her own scars—and Russ is the town’s steady, married police chief who knows every back road and every family history. The murder at the center of the book is strong, but the real hook is the slow, careful way these two circle each other: wary, respectful, emotionally literate, and painfully human. This is not a gimmick pairing. It is grounded, moral, and full of restraint, which somehow makes it even more compelling.

A Fountain Filled with Blood deepens everything I loved about the first book. The mystery—rooted in school rivalries, old resentments, and the quiet hierarchies of a small town—unfolds with confidence, but the emotional stakes rise just as sharply. Clare is more settled but no less complicated. Russ remains bound by duty and marriage, and the ache between them becomes more visible, more fraught, and more honest. This series understands that longing is rarely glamorous. It is awkward, ethical, exhausting, and deeply human, and that realism is one of its quiet superpowers.

There is also something deeply comforting about the cultural shorthand Spencer-Fleming uses. References to PBS, public radio–adjacent sensibilities, and a certain late-20th-century, educated-Northeast worldview made me feel instantly at home. It is clear the author lives in or very near my cultural zeitgeist, and those small, knowing touches add a layer of authenticity that is easy to underestimate and hard to fake.

A special note for audiobook listeners: Suzanne Toren’s narration is wonderful. The voices feel lived-in rather than performed, the pacing gives emotional beats room to breathe, and the atmosphere of Millers Kill—snow, silence, tension—comes through beautifully. It is the kind of narration that makes long drives shorter and everyday chores suspiciously enjoyable.

Together, these first two novels promise a series that cares as much about souls as it does about bodies, as much about silence as about clues. Come for the murder. Stay for the moral complexity, the slow-burn tension, and the feeling that you are being trusted with real people, not just characters.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop | Goodreads

Review: No Oil Painting by Genevieve Marenghi

10 December 2025 by Melissa

No Oil Painting

About the book, No Oil Painting

A respectable septuagenarian steals a valuable painting and later tries to return it, with a little help from her friends.

Bored National Trust volunteer, Maureen, steals an obscure still life as a giant up-yours to all those who’ve discounted her. The novice fine art thief is rumbled by some fellow room guides, but snitches get stitches, camaraderie wins out and instead of grassing her up, they decide to help.

Often written off as an insipid old fart, Maureen has a darker side, challenging ingrained ideas of how senior citizens should behave. Her new set of friends make her feel alive again. No longer quite so invisible, can this unlikely pensioner gang return the now infamous painting without being caught by the Feds?

I wrote this after hearing a radio interview in which an art detective revealed how a stolen Titian was dumped at a bus stop outside Richmond station. In a red, white and blue plastic bag! I just couldn’t shake such a compelling image. I volunteered at Ham House for many years, and my passion for this Jacobean gem, together with the volunteers’ indomitable spirit, gave birth to my unlikely anti-hero.

With over five million members, the National Trust is a huge British institution. Yet, next to nothing has been written about it in terms of contemporary fiction. Until now.

While No Oil Painting explores themes of insignificance and loneliness in older age, particularly for women, it is mainly intended to entertain and offer a small haven in dark, uncertain times.

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Amazon USA (Paperback) | Amazon USA (Kindle) | Amazon UK (Paperback) | Amazon UK (Kindle)| Goodreads

About the Author, Genevieve Marenghi

With a BA in English and Philosophy, Genevieve worked for eleven years at the Weekend FT, where she helped create and launch How To Spend It magazine.

She volunteered for years as a National Trust guide at Ham House. This became the setting for her debut art heist novel, No Oil Painting, which was listed for the inaugural Women’s Prize Trust and Curtis Brown Discoveries, and was published by Burton Mayers Books on 10th October 2025.

Her writing uses dark humour to probe the difference between our perception of people and their true selves. The gulf between what is said and what is meant. She considers people watching an essential skill for any writer; overheard snippets of conversation or a bonkers exchange at a bus stop are like gold nuggets. She’s been known to follow people to catch the end of a juicy conversation or argument. Women aged over fifty are essentially invisible anyhow and she views this as a kind of superpower.

Unlike her protagonist Maureen, she hasn’t used this to commit art theft. Yet.

Connect with Genevieve

Instagram | Threads

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Giveaway to Win National Trust chocolate, and a Ham House towel and fridge magnet (Open to UK Only)

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My Thoughts

There is something irresistibly delicious about a crime novel that hands the spotlight to someone the world tends to overlook. Genevieve Marenghi’s No Oil Painting introduces Maureen, a septuagenarian National Trust volunteer who has spent a lifetime playing by the rules… right up until she decides not to. A cheeky lunch-table game — the sort of hypothetical mischief people joke about but never act on — becomes the spark that sets her audacious adventure in motion. Before long she is scheming, sweating, and slip-sliding her way through an ill-advised art heist that is equal parts chaos and charm.

What makes the novel shine is not the theft itself, although the caper is delightful. It is Maureen’s emotional landscape that lingers. Her great-niece is leaving for New York, her favorite painting is slated for relocation, and the soft, creeping loneliness of late life presses in on her. Rather than succumb, she lunges headfirst into trouble. The heist becomes her rallying cry, a way to shake off invisibility and rediscover purpose. The friends who join her — instead of reporting her — supply the heart of the story, proving that chosen community is sometimes the most life-saving kind.

Maureen is funny without being caricatured, vulnerable without being fragile. Her escapade becomes a gentle reminder that senior citizens contain multitudes, that adventure does not expire, and that sometimes the wildest thing you can do is insist on mattering. I found her journey both hilarious and unexpectedly moving, especially as a reader eyeing that demographic from not-too-far away. The whole book reads quickly, but it leaves a warm afterglow long after the final page.

It helps that Marenghi’s timing feels almost prescient. With its October 2025 publication date aligning with the very real October 2025 Crown Jewels caper at the Louvre, the novel gains an unintended relevancy. Art theft is having a moment, apparently, and Maureen’s pint-sized rebellion slots right into the cultural conversation.

No Oil Painting entertains, uplifts, and subtly encourages the reader to imagine their own cheeky museum caper. Hypothetically, of course. Mostly.

Goes well with: a steaming cup of builder’s tea, a shortbread biscuit, and the quiet thrill of plotting an imaginary art heist with your favorite partner in crime.

Review: Death of a Billionaire, by Tucker May

28 November 2025 by Melissa

About the book, Death of a Billionaire (a murder mystery novel)

Ever dream of killing your boss? Alan Benning knows how you feel.

The problem: his billionaire boss actually winds up murdered. And the whole world thinks he did it.

When globetrotting tech billionaire Barron Fisk is found dead on the floor of his swanky Silicon Valley office, all evidence points to Alan.

Alan must venture into the glitzy, treacherous world of tech billionaires to clear his name by sorting through a long list of suspects with motive aplenty. If he can’t find the real culprit, Alan’s going down. The clock is ticking.

Who killed Barron Fisk? The truth will shock— and change— the entire world.

Fans of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club series, Carl Hiaasen’s tales of high-stakes hijinx, or Ruth Ware’s page-turning mysteries will love Death of a Billionaire.

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK) | Goodreads

About the author, Tucker May

Tucker May was raised in southern Missouri. He attended Northwestern University where he was trained in acting and playwriting. He now lives in Pasadena, California with his wife Barbara and their cat Principal Spittle. He is an avid reader and longtime fan of the Los Angeles Rams and Geelong Cats. Death of a Billionaire is his debut novel.

Connect with Tucker:

Instagram | BlueSky | Facebook

My Thoughts

Tucker May’s debut leaps off the page with confidence and mischievous energy, landing squarely in that delicious space where near-future satire meets classic mystery. Set against a glitzy, tech-obsessed California that feels both familiar and uncannily heightened, Death of a Billionaire reads like a high-speed road trip with mismatched companions – equal parts detour, discovery, and delightful chaos.

The central narrator is a study in contradictions: bold one moment, rattled the next, and completely endearing throughout. He’s joined by a cast that could only exist in a world where ambition and absurdity routinely collide – a widow who could out-dramatic a telenovela star, a cop whose immaturity is both alarming and hilarious, and a parade of oddballs who keep the plot humming.

May has an instinctive feel for timing. The humor lands without undercutting the tension, and the twists snap into place just when you’ve settled into certainty. Every revelation feels earned, surprising, and – occasionally – gleefully unhinged. More than once I looked up from the book only to realize I’d sailed well past bedtime.

For a first novel, Death of a Billionaire is remarkably polished, deeply entertaining, and packed with personality. I turned the final page already hoping this is only the beginning of a long writing career for Tucker May.

Goes well with: Loaded nachos, a chilled craft soda, and a bowl of caramel-drizzled popcorn – the ideal snacks for a story that keeps you up way later than you planned.

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Review: The Bulls of Bashan, by Jodi Lea Stewart

8 September 2025 by Melissa

About the book: The Bulls of Bashan

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery Action and Adventure, Quest Fiction
Publisher: Progressive Phoenix Rising
Publication Date: June 17, 2025
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In a diner on the edge of a dusty Texas border town, a young waitress’s life takes an unexpected turn when she is swept into a high-stakes adventure. Recruited by a charismatic former World War II Army major, a glamorous New York socialite, and a charming daredevil who effortlessly flies planes and rides bulls, she embarks on a shadowy mission that promises both wealth and danger.

This unlikely team will plunge into the heart of the perilous Amazon rainforest, navigate the depths of the world’s most treacherous canyon, brave the open seas, and traverse the ruins of postwar Europe. Their quest? To retrieve a set of mysterious keys while evading a relentless pursuer who seems to be one step ahead at every turn. Who is this enigmatic figure stalking them, and what sinister agenda does he have planned in Budapest?

As they race against time, each member of the team must confront his or her own demons and hidden truths. With the fate of their mission hanging in the balance, they inch closer to the elusive head of operations—the only one who can unlock the secrets of The Bulls of Bashan.

Prepare for a suspenseful journey filled with danger, intrigue, and self-discovery, a globetrotting historical thriller with evocative international settings, strong female arcs, and cross-generational themes.

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Progressive Phoenix Rising | Goodreads

About the author: Jodi Lea Stewart

Jodi Lea Stewart is a multi-award-winning fiction author who believes in and writes about the triumph of the human spirit despite adversity through grit, humor, and stubborn tenacity. Her lifetime friendships with all nationalities, different social stratas, cowpunchers, the Southern gentry, the California crazies (she was once one, too … well, sort of, LOL!), not to mention outliers, allow Jodi to write comfortably about, oh … practically anything.

Connect with Jodi:

WEBSITE | BLOG | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | MEDIUM

LINKEDIN | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON

My Thoughts

First-person narration can be tricky to pull off, but Jodi Lea Stewart absolutely nails it in The Bulls of Bashan. From the very first pages, Savannah’s voice is strong, vivid, and engaging—equal parts vulnerable and determined. The novel blends coming-of-age with classic adventure, striking a balance that kept me turning pages late into the night.

The story, set in the 1950s, follows Savannah and a small group of companions as they set out on a quest to recover keys scattered around the world. At the start, Savannah reflects that her dreams and desires shifted seemingly out of nowhere—a moment I found instantly relatable. Sometimes, life really does veer off its expected path without warning.

Savannah herself is a compelling character. She comes from a rough background, but instead of letting that define her, she seizes the chance to change her destiny. Her impetuous choices could have led anywhere, and while danger lurks, the world of the novel has a kind of mid-century innocence that makes her boldness feel both risky and exhilarating. I especially enjoyed the way her hidden talents—like her skill with a gun—come into play when least expected.

In contrast, I struggled more with Shifrah. At first she comes across as the quintessential socialite: spoiled, self-absorbed, and quick to assume the world owes her. But Stewart doesn’t let her stay flat. Over the course of the novel, Shifrah matures, revealing layers of insecurity and secrets that make her more sympathetic, even if she still wasn’t my favorite.

The group’s dynamic is rounded out by Monroe, the well-connected leader, and Reno, his capable second with military experience. Together, they form a found-family of sorts, each with their own strengths and blind spots.

One of the novel’s delights is how well-researched it feels. Details like buttons once being made from mussel shells (something I confirmed with my sewist mother, who shared that these were sturdier than traditional abalone) stood out, and the vivid descriptions of settings made me feel immersed in every stop along the journey. I especially appreciated the maps at the start of each chapter, tracing the path from Texas outward, and the way the key-collecting framework gave the narrative shape.

In the end, The Bulls of Bashan turned out to be a much richer and more interesting read than I expected. It’s adventurous, thoughtful, and deeply human. If you enjoy stories that blend history, heart, and a touch of danger, I highly recommend giving this one a chance.

Goes well with: a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate malt at your favorite hometown diner.

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Review: A Madness Unmade by E.K. Larson-Burnett

3 March 2025 by Melissa

About the Book, A Madness Unmade

Publisher ‏ : ‎ E.K. Larson-Burnett (March 3, 2025)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 334 pages

Laurel Rumbroom is the sole living resident of the Underhallow, where dead moths have been showing up at the gates in neatly wrapped packages.

Since the institution of the Revenant Accords, which prohibits ghosts from freely haunting the country, the Rumbrooms have acted as Guardians to the ghosts seeking refuge at their sanctuary. But when Laurel’s father suddenly passes, leaving her orphaned, the Underhallow falls in danger of losing its sanctions.

Bewildered by the mysterious deliveries of dead moths, starting to question her grip on reality, and gradually realizing the precarious position of her home and the questionable circumstances surrounding her father’s death, Laurel begs the help of the Underhallow ghosts animated by her powers, struggling to come into her own and unmake her madness.

With humor, whimsy, and elements of gothic mystery, A Madness Unmade is the first book in the Victorian-inspired Deathly Inheritance Duology, perfect for fans of Charlie N. Holmberg and S.L. Prater.

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

The first book in E.K. Larson-Burnett’s Deathly Inheritance duology, A Madness Unmade, is a refreshing take on magic, ghosts, and the world outside our own perceptions where the latter find refuge.

I read the Kindle version of this book, and was thrilled when I encountered illustrations at the chapter breaks, because they were the icing on a beautifully flavored cake. Each layer of this novel was richer and more interesting than the next: first there’s the barefoot heroine Lauren, and her cat Goose. Then there are the house-ghosts – spirits who take care of her daily needs, including her education – Master Godwin take a bow. And there’s also the dead moths that keep appearing at Lauren’s door.

The final layer of this cake is the world-building. When I read about the first moving portrait, I was worried that this series would be a Harry Potter ripoff, especially since the blurbs all refer to that series. I was pleased to find that the Underhallow and its surrounding village are original, and refreshingly so.

If anything, this novel is most like an Edward Gorey drawing come to life. In fact, the images in my head as I read this were eerily similar to the 1980’s animated opening to the PBS Mystery series – except instead of a swooning woman, there’s Madame Rathert trailing seawater.

I’m not sure I’d want to live (or be un-alive) in the world Larson-Burnett has created, but I definitely enjoyed the visit.

Goes well with: hot tea, lemon tarts, and gingerbread.