The Dying Hours by Mark Billingham

October 8, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Dying Hours by Mark Billingham
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Recently demoted for stepping out of line once too often, prickly inspector Tom Thorne is convinced that a spate of suicides among the elderly in south London is something more sinister. When his concerns are dismissed by former colleagues at the CID, and even by his patient girlfriend, Thorne can only trust himself and his best friend—gay pub-crawling pathologist Phil Hendricks—with his suspicions of murder.

Thorne draws a chilling connection between the deaths and a controversial case three decades old. But by going solo with his investigation, he not only risks the lives of those closest to him, but also further endangers those being targeted by a deranged killer—a man with the power and cold-blooded motives to coerce his vulnerable victims toward a breathtaking end.

Recently demoted Tom Thorne pushed his luck too far in his previous case and – to the glee of some of the upper brass – has been newly demoted back into Uniform. Booted from his beloved Murder Investigations, cut off from his usual team and colleagues, Tom is hating his day to day grind and trying desperately to keep his head above water. When Tom is convinced a cluster of elderly suicides is related no one will listen to him, and even when he swallows his pride and asks for someone to look into it further he is brutally brushed off and put in his place. Willing to risk everything – including the trust and livelihoods of the very few friends he has remaining – can Tom gamble everything on what he becomes more and more convinced is a killer who equally has absolutely nothing to lose and a mission to complete.

I have found this to be an interesting, gritty and at times even harsh British police procedural series. While the main character – Tom Thorne – has often pushed the boundaries and irked his superiors his previous case ended on a desperate note and Thorne reacted accordingly. Unlike his many previous times, this case resulted in his demotion and removal from his beloved Murder team. I found this massive shift in Thorne’s duties to be gripping reading and an interesting change of pace. I was pleased that much of his character remains unchanged and his sense of self and purpose while battered appears intact.

Readers picking this book up with no prior experience may find there are a few gaps they need to fill but I definitely think this book can still be enjoyed on it’s own merits. The writing is quite British and the tone of the book (and series, really) is quite different to many other murder mysteries. This might not be a comfortable tone for many readers, but I have been really enjoying it for the most part.

I equally liked how there were snippets through the book from the killer’s perspective. As the reader I was heartened to know that Thorne wasn’t going off the deep end (as some other characters thought) but watching Thorne struggle and put everything together was the usual gripping read. While still not a comfortable read I definitely feel this book should be suitable for most mystery readers, especially those who like a more British style of gritty plotline.

A strongly plotted and well paced mystery – I’m eager for the next book.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Sabrina Tells Maddie the Truth About Her Past by George Bachman

October 7, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Sabrina Tells Maddie the Truth About Her Past by George Bachman
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, LGBTQ, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Drawn back to the ruins of the house she nearly burned down a year ago to escape her imprisonment and torture at the hands of a madwoman, Sabrina watches the apocalypse approach. Beings of immense power are trying to force their way into our world to devour it, and her mysterious destiny tasks her with stopping them here. Her companion, Maddie, interrogates her incessantly as she performs ancient magic to keep them back.

Sabrina recounts how escape led her to St. Andrew’s Academy for immortals, and she discovered her true nature as a being with special powers that make her the target of eldritch forces beyond comprehension and others who would possess her at all costs.

When Maddie’s questions gradually reveal she may have secrets as terrifying as Sabrina’s, Sabrina faces a choice whether to remain in the dark world of immortals as our protector or pursue the normal life she cherishes and risk leaving humanity to its fate.

Being irresistible isn’t always a positive thing.

I loved the fact that this was written mostly from the perspective of a couple texting each other about the very odd things that were currently going on in their lives. It was a creative way for the characters to tell their story after the fact and for the investigators looking into their disappearances to have access to all sorts of information that would not normally be available when all of the witnesses are gone. Kudos to Mr. Bachman for experimenting with the horror and fantasy genres in this manner as it was definitely out of the ordinary in a good way.

The plot was sometimes difficult to follow due to how seldomly Sabrina and Maddie explained what was going on. Obviously, they were pressed for time and couldn’t tell readers everything, but I would have happily chosen a higher rating if at least some of the unfamiliar words and phrases they used to describe various supernatural beings were given more context clues so that fans could make educated guesses about what they were referring to.

Knowing when and how often to share gory details can be a tricky thing, but the author made it seem easy. Yes, this was firmly and bloodily rooted in the horror genre, but the scariest scenes were paced out nicely and always had intelligent reasons for their inclusion. That’s exactly what I prefer to find in this genre, and it kept me reading no matter what else was happening in the story or in my real life. There’s definitely something to be said for being so absorbed by a plot!

Sabrina Tells Maddie the Truth About Her Past made me shudder.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Fox Creek Plantation Trilogy by M. E. Torrey

October 6, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Fox Creek Plantation Trilogy by M. E. Torrey
Fox Creek: Book 1
Publisher: Sly Fox Publishing, LLC
Genre: Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Ginger

The year is 1843 when six-year-old Monette, the pampered and beloved daughter of a French Creole sugar planter, is taken to New Orleans and sold into slavery. Sold along with her is Cyrus, a boy big for his age, torn from his mother without a chance to say goodbye.

Together they go to Fox Creek Plantation in “English” Louisiana, home to the Jensey family. While Cyrus is sent to the fields, Monette becomes the childhood playmate of Kate, the planter’s daughter, and catches the eye of Breck, the planter’s son. It’s easier and safer for Monette to pretend life is normal. That she belongs. To forget her past, even to forget Cyrus, whom she’d loved. But as the years pass, it becomes clear that children of color do not belong in the world of the white elite—at least, not as equals. The brutality and powerlessness of slavery begin to take their toll upon Monette.

Who is she now? Who will protect her? And who is that big boy from the fields who keeps pestering her?

Fox Creek is a powerful novel set in 1843 Louisiana, during one of the most turbulent times in American history. The story follows six-year-old Monette, a French Creole sugar planter’s daughter, and Cyrus, who is a little older, after they are sold into slavery and sent to Fox Creek Plantation. While Cyrus is sent to the fields, Monette becomes a playmate for the planter’s seven-year-old daughter, Kate, and forms a bond with the planter’s son, Breck.

While the novel’s subject matter is compelling, I found its narrative flow to be challenging at times. The story jumps between multiple perspectives and over several years, making it difficult to identify the central plot and a clear main character. For a book of its length, I felt the plot lacked focus, and I was often left waiting for a significant event to occur. This untraditional narrative style made it hard to connect with the characters on a deeper level, as many were introduced and then given little attention. For example, Cyrus, a significant character at the beginning, is barely mentioned again.

I understand that plantation life wasn’t always exciting, but for the sake of fiction, I was hoping for more. The book was unnecessarily long, with a lot of slow-paced and less interesting details—such as the in-home schooling from Mr. Gilbert, singing and dance lessons, social gatherings that introduced additional characters, and every detail of Sarah’s pregnancies was very slow-paced and not that interesting. What I assumed would be the heart of the story—the bond between Monette and Cyrus—never developed. Instead, the focus shifted to Monette and Breck, and my excitement for a climactic taboo romance was short-lived.

Despite these issues, the book’s greatest strength lies in its ability to show the complexities of life on a plantation from various perspectives. The author provides a glimpse into the bonds between Kate and Monette and the relationship between Breck and Monette. The character of William Jensey, the father, is particularly complex. He is shown to be a “kind master,” yet his actions reveal a more ruthless, less compassionate side. I wanted Monette to have a happy ending, but the author’s uncomfortable portrayal of reality ultimately felt more true to the time period.

Overall, M. E. Torrey’s writing captures the pain and complexity of the era, providing insight into the characters and events. Although the narrative structure could be improved, the book succeeds in exploring the painful legacy of slavery and the difficult truths of that time.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Do No Evil by MS Morris

October 3, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Do No Evil by MS Morris
Publisher: Landmark Media
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Old friendships. Dark secrets. Deadly lies.

When Detective Inspector Bridget Hart returns to her old Oxford college for a reunion dinner, she’s hoping for a fun weekend catching up with old friends. But the reunion takes a macabre turn when body parts are served up at the college feast, and one of her friends is found murdered.

With Bridget’s arch rival Inspector Baxter leading the murder enquiry, and herself a potential suspect, Bridget is forbidden from taking part in the investigation. But that doesn’t stop her from carrying out her own private enquiries.

Bridget soon realises that the murderer is someone known to her. And as the weekend continues and more bodies are found, it becomes clear that they will stop at nothing to get what they want. Can Bridget uncover the dark secrets of the past in time to halt the killing, or will she be next on the murderer’s list?

Set amongst the dreaming spires of Oxford University, the Bridget Hart series is perfect for fans of Elly Griffiths, JR Ellis, Faith Martin and classic British murder mysteries.

DI Bridget Hart has returned to her old college for a reunion dinner. Having lost touch with even her closest friends from those much younger and happier days, Bridget is equal parts excited and dreading the reconnection to her past. Before the night can really get under way though – body parts are served in the soup bowl laid before the head of the table at the college feast. Even though she can’t officially investigate, Bridget finds she has more at stake with this case than any previous one she has come across.

This is the third book in this series, and I am quite enjoying it. While it’s a very solidly plotted British police procedural murder mystery set it Oxford, I was pleased that this book really stands quite well on its own. As this book is still quite early in the series there isn’t a huge amount of baggage – or history – between the team members, and I actually quite enjoyed having a very different character leading the investigation and knocking heads with Bridget.

There is a sort-of blossoming romance between two of Bridget’s team which I also found added a bit of interest to the story and these things along with the solid mystery plot really helped the book feel well rounded to me and multi-dimensional.

Readers who are used to faster paced novels – or more action orientated books might not find the pace of this story suits their tastes. And British mysteries often have a bit of a different tone or voice to them – so I can understand if this book isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. With a number of different characters circling around, a well written and layered plot and even a bit of “closed room” mystery aspect to it this book really ticked a lot of good boxes for me and I look forward to the next one in the series.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Torus Run by Harry Buck

October 3, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Torus Run by Harry Buck
Publisher: Calliopezen Publishing LLC
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by YellowEye

Four months after the Blackout, San Francisco is back to its old habits—building the future by day and worrying about it by night. Stash Novak has done his share of both, but now he’s out of time. Zero, his AI Twin, is weeks away from upgrading. The new version will make him smarter than Stash, smarter than anyone, and some of them are not amused. With the NSA, tech rivals, and an elusive hacker network closing in, Stash is ready to gamble on unlikely allies. Zero tried to talk him out of it, but Stash wouldn’t listen. Convinced there’s a way to protect his Twin and save humanity’s future, he’s ready to do whatever it takes: join forces with his enemies, make new ones, or even dive into the Torus—the AIs’ churning new world.

The Torus Run pulls readers into a labyrinth of shifting alliances, where the line between human and machine blurs and the future of both hangs in the balance. It’s a true story. It just hasn’t happened yet.

The Torus Run, by Harry Buck, is a fast-paced, near-future sci-fi thriller that revolves around Stash Novak, a visionary technologist who is racing to protect his AI twin, “Zero”, from powerful adversaries. The story takes place a few months after a catastrophic blackout in San Francisco. Stash is on the brink of upgrading Zero into a full AGI (artificial general intelligence), but he faces hostile entities that include the government, his corporate rivals, and the open source hacker community. To survive, he must form uneasy alliances and journey into the enigmatic digital realm known as the Torus.

The novel is fast paced, with themes that speak to our world today. They include AI ethics and the societal fallout from rapid technological advancement. Harry Buck explores the increasingly blurred boundaries between humans and machines, and offers us a glimpse of a possible near-future that is both tactile and compelling.

The novel’s pace is relentless and almost cinematic in its feel. While some readers will enjoy the non-stop ride through a digital landscape, with new plot twists appearing at every turn, I found it a bit too complicated and intense at times, even though I am at home with computer programming and the technical aspects of digital culture. There was a lot of left-brain, logical, rapid-fire explanations of the technologies involved, however I felt somewhat cheated with the human side of things. In many instances, the “twins” (AI bots paired with humans) had more personality than their human partners. There was ample opportunity for Buck to make deeper dives into the human psyche, and while he did reveal some of the characters’ pasts and motivations, they often felt somewhat convenient and contrived.

But in spite of any shortcomings, “The Torus Run” is a solid piece of hard science fiction, spun so that it keeps the reader on his toes, and delivered in an articulate and literate voice. The near-future scenario, with its political factions–both for and against AI–was well thought-out and researched, and provides the reader with much food for thought, especially in a time when we are just beginning to deal with the effects of AI on our world.

If you are a fan of hard science fiction and are looking for an escape into a very plausible near future, The Torus Run might be just what you’re looking for.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , ,

Shhh! A Flash Fiction Library by Matthew Roy Davey

October 2, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Shhh! A Flash Fiction Library by Matthew Roy Davey
Publisher: Chapeltown Books
Genre: Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Welcome to the flash fiction library where the shelves are groaning with bitesize fiction.

Libraries are quiet places, ordered places, places of intellect, culture and civilization. But hiding inside are words that can explode like bombs, words to anger and appall, to titillate and tease, words to amuse and entertain. Which will you choose to read first?

Matthew Roy Davey offers us a wealth of bijou tales in his perfectly formed Shhh!

If one can’t decide what to read, why not read a little of everything?

One of my favorite tales in this collection was “A Tent on a Hill.” It showed what happened to a student named Henry who kept staring at a tent on a nearby hill instead of listening to his teacher. He had good reasons for his attention difficulties that were revealed later on, but what I really enjoyed about his days at school was how curious he was about the world around him. What a sweet and imaginative kid he seemed to be!

Some of these pieces were so short and sparse that I struggled to connect with them. This is something I’m saying as a reader who enjoys flash fiction in general, but I do need something vivid or unusual for my mind to latch onto for stories that are only a few paragraphs long. “All That I’ve Done” was one example of this. It was written from the perspective of a serial killer who had an unusual regret in life. If only he or she had more time to explain to the reader why this was so important to them!

“Ball Bag Stew,” which followed a group of scientists who had just received a message from extraterrestrials living on a faraway planet in another solar system, was another good read. I was intrigued by how these characters reacted to the news that other intelligent beings exist in our universe as well as by what they decided to do with this information. This could have easily been a much longer piece, but I was satisfied by what was shared.

Shhh! A Flash Fiction Library was an interesting mixture of genres.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Last Throw by Rhys Dylan

October 1, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Last Throw by Rhys Dylan
Publisher: Wyrmwood Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

This time, it’s more than personal.

Within the tranquil confines of a west Wales village, peace gives way to pandemonium as a trivial theft transforms into a devastating tragedy.

DCI Evan Warlow confronts what initially appears to be a straightforward case, only to find himself ensnared in a web of deceit. And when a routine press assignment also exposes a team member to a malevolent scheme, chaos begins to spiral.

From idyllic coastlines to rugged peaks, Warlow races across diverse landscapes in pursuit of answers and to foil a deadly adversary. In an electrifying narrative of suspense and sacrifice, he must forge unconventional alliances to tilt the scales in his favour before it’s too late.

DCI Warlow and his team are called in when a robbery at a remote convenience store appears to end in the car park in a murder. Before the team can really grapple with the conflicting evidence one of their own falls into mortal peril and the team need to divide their time between their fresh murder case – and a situation that is anything but routine.

I have been greatly enjoying this series and the more personal case in this story has been brewing for the last few books. In that sense it was a relief to finally have both some momentum on this case but many of the threads for this have now been tied up. This author has a tendency to frequently leave some items of various plotlines weave through multiple books so I was really happy to see a few of these finally resolved, though do admit there are clearly a few items still remaining for the next few books.

I also really loved how Rhys finally got to really spear-head his own case here. As one of the junior members of the team I was impressed and quite happy to see how far he’s grown and come in this series and while there was of course still some oversight from the senior members I had a lot of pride and emotional investment in Rhys and his flourishing in his career so that was wonderful to read.

While I do think this book can be read independently there is still a fair bit of cross over now between previous books. I feel the plots and team members can be enjoyed just with this story – but for a richer and more emotional connection I do feel at least some of the previous books should be read for a deeper understanding. This is a series worth the investment.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Lani’s Adoption Day by Susan Coryell

September 30, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Lani’s Adoption Day by Susan Coryell
Publisher: Golden Bridges Publishing/Little Sister Books
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Five-year-old Lani, adopted in infancy from Japan, lives with her Hawaii mixed-race family. Though festive, her adoption day celebration brings Lani’s focus to an ongoing concern: Has my mother in Japan forgotten me? Lani seeks reassurance that her birth mom remembers-both her and her special day. Realizing the depth of Lani’s perturbation, knowing it can affect their relationship both now and in the future, her family finds ways to put to rest her worries, while emphasizing Lani’s importance to their family. Using a book she has received as an adoption-day gift, Mommy, Daddy and sister Vivi help Lani learn about her Japanese heritage, pointing out that her adoptive Hawaiian family is mixed-race, a positive example of modern-day diversity. With her worries soothed, Lani dreams that night of the meeting/melding of Japanese and Hawaiian-American cultures.

Adoption has many faces.

Lani’s curiosity about her past as she grew old enough to ask some deeper questions about her birth mother was completely understandable. I loved the compassionate and open-hearted way her adoptive parents responded to her and tried to keep her connected to her culture through food, books, language lessons, and more. It made me wonder what other tools they’d use as she grew older to encourage her to spend even more time learning about Japan.

One of the things I appreciated the most about this picture book was how open-ended it was. Not every family knows all of the details about why their child or children were placed for adoption or how the birth family is currently doing for a wide variety of reasons. Living in that grey area whether temporarily or permanently isn’t always easy, but it is a reality that many kids grow up in. There was plenty of space here to imagine a variety of possibilities for her life which makes this a good read for anyone who is in a similar situation.

The sibling relationship between the main character and Vivi was also delightful. They had a warm and close relationship that showed up in all sorts of subtle and wonderful ways as they enjoyed Lani’s beach party to celebrate the anniversary of her adoption. It made me wish I could read a sequel that followed them as they grew a little older and were able to have more complex conversations about their relationship. I always enjoy seeing siblings get along well in picture books.

Lani’s Adoption Day was heartwarming.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Chaos That Is Me – My Journey Through A Lifetime of Trauma, Abuse, and Depression by Shawna K. Whaley

September 29, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Chaos That Is Me – My Journey Through A Lifetime of Trauma, Abuse, and Depression by Shawna K. Whaley
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The Chaos That Is Me: My Journey Through A Lifetime of Trauma, Abuse, and Depression is a memoir by Shawna K. Whaley, born in 1979, in Southeast Ohio. Her life story is a powerful testament to survival and resilience amidst relentless adversity. Shawna’s childhood was marred by abuse, neglect, and homelessness, compounded by addiction and violence. Despite severe back issues and depression, she remained determined to create a better life for herself and her daughters; although she knows she hasn’t succeeded, she hasn’t given up yet.

The memoir details Shawna’s life in an abusive childhood to an abusive marriage, to finally living on her own, and her strength in rebuilding her life. With raw honesty, she shares the defining moments of her journey, offering a narrative that resonates deeply with anyone who has faced life’s darkest challenges.

Freedom can be found in telling the truth.

One of the things I liked about this book was how deeply it dove into the multitude of ways that abuse still affects people years or even decades later. If someone is taught that certain behaviors are normal, it can be difficult to unlearn those ideas later on in life or to notice some of the early red flags of an abusive person in future relationships. This is not to say that victims should ever be blamed for their abuse, of course, only that they can be at higher risk of being harmed again and should be given special consideration so they can learn what healthier relationships look, sound, and feel like.

I had trouble keeping track of all of the people in Ms. Whaley’s life. There were quite a few friends, relatives, coworkers, and acquaintances to remember, and not everyone was described in enough detail for me to immediately recall how she knew them. It would have been helpful to either have a reference list of who everyone was or for more time to be spent on talking about what they were like and how they were connected to the author.

The ending was realistic and made me wish for a sequel. Unlike how things often unfold in fiction, healing in real life doesn’t have a clearcut beginning or ending. The author’s recovery from her abusive childhood and marriage is ongoing, but I saw some promising changes in her life as a single adult. I wanted to give her a hug or a kind word as I read about the challenges she is still going through. It felt like I’d gotten to know her well as I read her memoir, and I’d love to read a sequel someday that shows how she managed in life and maybe even found a way to thrive from 2025 onwards.

The Chaos That Is Me – My Journey Through A Lifetime of Trauma, Abuse, and Depression was memorable.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

September 29, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Contemporary, Literature
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning a letter arrives, addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl, from a woman he hasn’t heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye. But before Harold mails off a quick reply, a chance encounter convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person. In his yachting shoes and light coat, Harold Fry embarks on an urgent quest. Determined to walk six hundred miles to the hospice, Harold believes that as long as he walks, Queenie will live. A novel of charm, humor, and profound insight into the thoughts and feelings we all bury deep within our hearts, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry introduces Rachel Joyce as a wise—and utterly irresistible—storyteller.

Sometimes when our lives become a little too predictable, we need a purpose to sort of shake things up. It may seem like a small thing, a long-term thing, or even a little nutty thing. Nonetheless, it becomes important to us. That’s what happened to Harold Fry. Maybe he got a little carried away, but his focus became one of the most important goals in his life.

Moving toward our purpose sometimes makes us look backward; we get a picture of what could have been or what was. That puts a whole new perspective on the initial task we set out for ourselves. That too is what this book is about…self-reflection. The feelings or emotions might not sound so unusual to some of us. We might not have taken on such a strenuous task as Harold did, but many of us might recognize ourselves somewhat in this story.

The author’s writing contains some serious inner thinking and some humor too. I enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t read it again. Nor would I recommend it to someone unless they were at a point in their life where they needed a read about good people and happy endings. I am not going to say it was my favorite book. It is a sweet, well-written book but was rather bland to me. Maybe it was my mood rather than the author’s plotline.

Nevertheless, it is a good read. As you can see from any review platform, many people enjoyed it. This is a moving and sweet book. Either term is a good description in my mind.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
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