Book Review – The Nidderdale Murders

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – J. R. Ellis https://www.jrellisyorkshirewriter.com is the author of nearly 10 novels. The Nidderdale Murders was published in 2020 and is the fifth book in his Yorkshire Murder series. It is the 29th book I completed reading in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R. The primary character is DCI Jim Oldroyd.

There has been a grouse hunt on the moors. Later, Sandy Fraser, a retired judge, is shot and killed outside the local inn. Fortunately, there is a witness to the murder. At least, that is what it first looks like. There does not appear to be any reason why the identified shooter should want Fraser dead.

As Oldroyd investigates, he finds more to Fraser than first thought. He had enemies, and the estate he had purchased was in financial distress. When a second man is shot a week later, Oldroyd knows there is more to the story.

I enjoyed the 8+ hours I spent reading this 303-page mystery The novel is part of a series, but it can be read stand-alone. I have already read and enjoyed a later novel in the series, Murder at St. Anne’s. This was a good British mystery. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.4 (rounded to 4) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – The Girl in the Cabin

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Stacy Green https://stacygreenauthor.com is the author of more than 20 novels. The Girl in the Cabin was published in 2023 and is the third novel in her Lucy Kendall crime series. It is the 26th book I completed reading in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R. The primary character is Private Investigator Lucy Kendall.

The body of a 16-year-old girl has been found in a remote Maryland cabin. The evidence left implies that serial killer Mary Weston is behind the murder. Kendall has been after Weston for months. The bodies of three more girls are found as Weston taunts the authorities. Suddenly Chris disappears. He has been Kendall’s close friend and is Weston’s son. Now he is in the killer’s hands and his life is in danger.

Kendall is no stranger to danger and death. She has stalked and dispatched child molesters that have evaded the justice system. Law enforcement suspects her, but so far no officers have attempted to prove her connection with murder victims. With Chris’s kidnapping, she must subject herself not only to the scrutiny of local police but to the FBI as well.

While the search for Chris continues, much of his and Weston’s background comes to light. Kendall is contacted by Weston. She is to meet alone with Weston. There seems no other hope for recovering Chris. Will Kendall be able to free Chris? Will she survive the confrontation with Weston?

I enjoyed the 7.5+ hours I spent reading this 296-page mystery. This is the third novel by Stacy Green that I have read. The others were The Girl in the Pink Shoes and Little Lost Souls. Those are the first two novels in the Lucy Kendall series. All three have been good mysteries. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.4 (rounded to 4) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – Lost Girl

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Holly Kammier http://hkammier.com is the author of three novels. Lost Girl was published in 2019. It is the 25th book I completed reading in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.

Shelby Day is a 22-year-old small-town Oregon TV reporter. Two local young girls, Melissa Rossi and Daphne DeLuca, are the victims of fatal stabbings. Day is drawn to the case because the two women were about her own age. The lure of an unsolved double murder and the chance to help her career motivates Day to investigate.

Most of the time, Day is accompanied by her Native American cameraman Jack. They are close friends and slowly begin to grow into something more. He wants to protect her, but Day is headstrong and determined to proceed. As much as she likes Jack, she doesn’t want romance to get in the way of her career.

Day talks with the friends and family of the victims. Even though she is warned to drop the story, she continues to pursue it. Before long, she begins to fear that she might become the killer’s next victim.

I enjoyed the 6.5 hours I spent reading this 292-page young adult romantic mystery. The Day character is a brave, headstrong, and career-focused young woman who often puts the story above her own safety. The chosen cover art is simple, but I like it for this novel. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – Stealing the Crown

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – TP Fielden (pen name for Christopher Wilson http://www.christopherwilson.info/) is the author of 7 novels and 8 biographies. Stealing the Crown was published in 2020, and it is the first in his Guy Harford Mystery series. It is the 24th book I completed reading in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to some violence, I categorize this novel as PG.

During the Blitz of 1941, Major Edgar Brampton is found shot dead in his office at Buckingham Palace. While the authorities say the death was suicide, Brampton’s co-worker Guy Hartford has doubts. He had only been working there for a few weeks before the tragedy. In the resulting environment of rumors and conspiracy theories circulating within the Palace staff Hartford begins his investigation.

He soon finds himself in unusual company for his inquiries. He meets the attractive East End burglar Rodie Carr. He also is supported by postman Rupert Hardacre. A man with a questionable past. Their investigation is hampered as there is no apparent motive for Brampton’s death.

I enjoyed the 9+ hours I spent reading this 316-page WWII period mystery. I enjoy mysteries set in this period. This one is full of political intrigue and suspense. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.4 (rounded to 4) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest.

• The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 610 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
• The “World War II Timeline” page expands frequently and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
• The “About WWII” page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII. Included are links to many fiction and non-fiction books on WWII that I have read and reviewed. There are also links to WWII oriented podcasts.

Book Review – Sirocco

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Dana Haynes https://www.danahaynesmystery.com is the author of seven novels. Sirocco was published earlier this month and is the second book in his St. Nicholas Salvage & Wrecking series. It is the 20th book I completed reading in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R. The primary characters are former New York City cop Michael Finnigan and former Spanish assassin Katalin Fiero. Together they are St. Nicholas Salvage & Wrecking.

The St. Nicholas team is based in Cyprus and specializes in quietly finding people. They have been engaged to find a terrorist bomber. He has already killed, and more attacks are feared. As they pursue their target, they encounter obstacles from unexpected sources.

The successful Sooner Slye and Rydell LLC, which has extensive diplomatic protection contracts, comes to the attention of the St. Nicholas team. Their interest does not go overlooked. Finnegan and Fiero soon find themselves a target of Sooner Slye and Rydell mercenaries.

Will the two be able to find the terrorist before more people die?

I enjoyed the 9.5+ hours I spent reading this 433-page thriller. This is an excellent novel. The plot is clever and will captivate the reader with unexpected twists. This novel is filled with action, suspense, and intrigue. While it is the second book of a series, it reads well on its own. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – The forgers Daughter

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Bradford Morrow https://www.bradfordmorrow.com is the author of nearly 10 novels. The Forgers Daughter was published in 2020. It is the 19th book I completed reading in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.

The main characters are reformed literary forger Will and his wife, Meghan. Their relaxing evening at their Hudson Valley cottage is broken by a scream. It comes from their youngest daughter Maisie as she returns home from a friend’s house. She had encountered a man on the dark road. He gave her a message to pass on to Will.

This begins a plot to draw Will out of his self-imposed retirement. He is coerced to use his skills to counterfeit Edgar Allan Poe’s Tamerlane. One of the rarest books in American literature. He can’t succeed alone. He reluctantly recruits his oldest daughter Nicole to help.

Henry Slater is a figure from Will’s past. He is the dangerous and ruthless man behind the forgery. When Meghan sees a body being dumped on the side of a road, tensions ratchet up. The car used looks like the one Slater has been seen driving.

Can Will and his family escape harm? Will he and Nicole avoid arrest if they complete the forgery?

I enjoyed the 7.5+ hours I spent reading this 175-page mystery. The plot was interesting because it delves into the rare book market. It is slow, but it has interesting twists. This novel reads well on its own, even though it is a sequel. The cover art is very plain, but does fit into the theme of an old manuscript. I rate this novel at 3.5 (rounded to 4) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – Space Station Down

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Between them, Ben Bova and Doug Beason are the authors of more than 130 books and novels. Space Station Down was published in 2020. It is the 18th book I completed reading in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R. The primary character is astronaut Kimberly Hasid-Robinson.

When the Soyuz capsule docks with the ISS, two replacement crew members and an ultra-rich space tourist are expected. From the moment the hatch to the ISS opens, it is under attack. Within minutes all of the ISS crew have been killed except for Kimberly. She has locked herself in a portion of the ISS.

Farid Hazood is a returning astronaut with a strong performance record. Now, he has returned as part of a team that takes control of the ISS. Hazood and the ‘tourist’ announce they will crash the ISS into New York City. Not only causing damage from the remains of the spacecraft but also spreading radiation across a wide area. The radiation would be from radioisotope thermoelectric generators stored aboard the ISS.

While the true threat from deorbiting the ISS is slight, public perception and panic are causing serious disruption. Public sentiment is calling for the destruction of the ISS before it can be crashed into the US. For Kimberly, a clock is ticking. The terrorists have an announced deorbit plan. Unless she can take back control of the ISS, she will die.

She establishes clandestine communications with NASA. She must find a way to disable or kill the two terrorists. That is the only way she will survive. Will she be successful before her time runs out?

I enjoyed the 7 hours I spent reading this 341-page science fiction novel. This was an excellent novel. The Kimberly Hasid-Robinson character is faced with one problem after another that she has to resolve with limited resources. The chosen cover art is eye-catching. I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – Little Lost Souls

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Stacy Green https://stacygreenauthor.com/ is the author of more than two dozen novels. Little Lost Souls was published in 2023 and is the second book in her Lucy Kendall Crime Thriller series. This is the 11th book I completed reading in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature situations, I categorize this novel as R. The primary character is Private Investigator Lucy Kendall.

Kendall started her career in Child Protective Services. The system made her burn out quickly. That was when she became a Private Investigator. The rules didn’t constrain her as much.

Over the past 18-months, Kendall had found five different pedophiles. They are all dead now. The system would have let them slip through its fingers. Kendall carried out the justice she knew they deserved. Now she is focusing on a child trafficking ring.

Kendall has gone undercover at a salon she believes is connected to the ring. When Sarah, the salon owner, is found murdered, evidence left at the scene implicates Kendall. This forces her into the precarious position of having to avoid the police while pursuing her investigation.

She does have other leads. There is the fifteen-year-old prostitute Riley. Kendall has approached her, but Riley is scared and not telling all she knows. Senator Mark Coleman is running a trafficking task force. But are his motives as humanitarian as they seem on the surface.

The leaders of the trafficking ring know Kendall is pursuing them. Can she save the children before the police catch up to her, or worse, the trafficking ring does.

I enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 335-page mystery. I have had the opportunity to read The Girl in the Pink Shoes, the first novel in this series. It is every bit as good as this one. To enjoy this book, you should read it after Pink Shoes. The plot has many twists and turns, leading to an unexpected outcome. I do think that this novel ended abruptly. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.5 (rounded to 5) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – The Ultra Betrayal

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Glenn Dyer https://www.glenndyer.net is the author of three novels. The Ultra Betrayal was published in 2020 and is the second book in his Conor Thorn series. This is the 9th book I completed reading in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as ROSS agent Connor Thorn and MI6 Agent Emily Bright Are on a mission.

It is the fall of 1942. Swedish cryptographer Gunnar Lind has disappeared from Bletchley Park. What Lind knows about British code-breaking would harm the Allied war efforts if the Germans discovered what he knew. Thorn and Bright have been assigned the task of finding Lind. Double agent Kim Philly hears about the disappearance and secretly initiates a search for Lind by Russian agents.

Lind has managed to flee to Sweden. He works through his father-in-law to contact German intelligence. He wants to sell them what he knows. Bright has pursued Lind in Sweden, but is taken by the Germans. By this time, Thorn has also arrived in Sweden. He is trying to find both Lind and partner Bright. It becomes a three-way race between Thorn, the Russians, and the Germans as to who will get to Lind.

I enjoyed the 9 hours I spent reading this 380-page WWII-era thriller. The author includes several famous people of the time as minor characters. The novel has a good plot that is full of action. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.5 (rounded to 5) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest.

• The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 600 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
• The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
• The “About WWII” page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII. Included are links to many fiction and non-fiction books on WWII that I have read and reviewed. There are also links to WWII oriented podcasts.

Book Review – The Girl in the Pink Shoes

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Stacy Green https://stacygreenauthor.com/ is the author of more than two dozen novels. The Girl in the Pink Shoes was published in 2023 and is the first of her Lucy Kendall Crime Thriller series. This is the 7th book I completed reading in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, mature situations, and mature language, I categorize this novel as R. The primary character is Private Investigator Lucy Kendall.

Kendall started her career in Child Protective Services. The system made her burn out quickly. That was when she became a Private Investigator. The rules didn’t constrain her as much.

Eight-year-old Kailey Richardson has gone missing. Kendall feels strongly that she has become the latest victim of a child molester. Kendall promises Kailey’s mother that she will find the girl. Over an 18-month period, Kendall had found five different pedophiles. They are all dead now. The system would have let them slip through its fingers. Kendall carried out the justice she knew they deserved.

Her life became more complicated when Chris Hale entered it. He had figured out her mission. Until then, the only other person that knew was her friend and hacker, Kelly. Now she has to worry about Chris. But his willingness to help can’t be ignored.

Kendall focuses on Justin Beckett. He had been one of her CPS clients. He had spent years in prison for killing a young girl, but now he was out. He also lived across the street from the Richardson home. She feels certain he is responsible.

Then she meets Detective Beckett. He is Justin’s older brother and investigating the disappearance. At first, she fears a coverup, but as she learns more, the long-hidden truth comes out.

I enjoyed the 7+ hours I spent reading this 306-page mystery. The plot is dark but very good. Suspects are in abundance, with many twists in the plot. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).