Hillary’s Final Case by Faith Martin

July 22, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Hillary’s Final Case by Faith Martin
Publisher: Joffe Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Can Hillary finally close the case of the missing young women?

Can she take down one of Oxfordshire’s most wanted criminals?

Can she handle her new boss?

Can she help one of her team get answers on his long lost sister?

And will she really get married and leave her beloved boat?

FIND OUT THE ANSWERS IN THE FINAL HILLARY GREENE BOOK!

Hillary Greene has returned to Thames Valley Police HQ, acting as a cold-case consultant for the Crime Review Team, looking into murders which the police have never been able to solve.

This is a crime mystery full of well-observed characters, which will have you gripped from start to the absolutely thrilling conclusion.

Hillary’s life is reaching another changing point – with a new boss, a new series of linked missing girl cases and a huge change in her personal life. Can Hillary keep her wits about her as things reach their inevitable tipping point?

I was pleased to see that – despite the title – this is not the final book in the series. The author had taken a sabbatical from the series so it was quite a relief to find there are still a few more books to come.

Retired DI Hillary Greene has been solving cold cases for a while now, but her last case opened a can of worms that I was pleased to see take center stage in this book. This particular plot has been percolating a while in the background and I found it deeply satisfying to see it all come to a head. I was even quite impressed I guessed some of these answers myself though there was still plenty of mystery to keep me eagerly turning the pages.

I do feel this book can be enjoyed by itself – but have to admit readers who have read some of the previous installments might find a greater emotional connection and satisfaction than someone just picking the book up on a whim. This is quite a culmination and having read the series myself I could see some of the hooks and I grasped the slightly different sense this book had.

Readers who enjoy a British police procedural mystery should find this a solid read with a good and complicated plot and a fresh, somewhat modern take on the regular mystery. I have been greatly enjoying this whole series and found this an excellent addition. Recommended.

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

Awareness: Listening Deeply-A Journey into Presence, Perception, and the Sacred Language of Life by Tiberius Ryuu

July 21, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Awareness: Listening Deeply-A Journey into Presence, Perception, and the Sacred Language of Life by Tiberius Ryuu
Path of Becoming #2
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

What if awareness is not something to be achieved — but remembered?
In a world that rewards distraction and constant motion, Awareness: Listening Deeply invites us to return to stillness, to reawaken the art of attention, and to rediscover the quiet wisdom already living within us.

This book is the second in The Path of Becoming series — a sacred journey designed to help readers restore connection to themselves, to others, and to the living world. While it builds upon the principles of Acceptance, it also stands fully on its own as a guide to presence, perception, and intuitive understanding.

Through gentle teachings, reflective essays, and simple daily practices, Awareness explores:

The Practice of Stillness — how quiet allows truth to surface.

Listening to the Body — learning to trust somatic wisdom as guidance.

Emotional Literacy — transforming feelings into understanding through awareness.

The Language of Symbols and Synchronicity — recognizing life’s sacred communication.

Awareness in Relationship — seeing others as mirrors for our own growth.

Grounding and Centering — staying rooted amid life’s constant change.

Living with Attentiveness — making awareness a daily devotion.

Each chapter concludes with a reflection — a single phrase or meditation that captures the heart of its teaching — and practical exercises to help integrate awareness into ordinary life.

At its core, this book is about learning to listen. To listen not only with the ears but with the body, the heart, and the soul. To notice the subtle threads connecting all things. To discover that awareness is not a skill to master, but a relationship to nurture — one that deepens each time we pause, breathe, and choose presence.

Whether you are beginning your healing journey or walking an established spiritual path, Awareness: Listening Deeply offers a quiet companion for the inward traveler. It will guide you toward a grounded, embodied understanding of yourself and the world — where attention becomes devotion, and every moment becomes sacred.

The truth will always be revealed eventually.

I deeply appreciated the focus that was placed on listening to one’s body and caring for it physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This is something that can be especially difficult for some people who have endured any type of trauma or abuse that lead them to pull away from what was happening to their physical form in the past, so what seemed like a simple technique at first glance could be more complicated to put into practice in one’s daily life.

Once again, I did find myself wishing that the author had gone into deeper detail about how to use the techniques in his book to not only develop greater awareness but to continue this pattern over a long period of time. Techniques ranging from body scan meditations to paying close attention to the sensory experience of eating a simple meal were mentioned, but few of them were explained more thoroughly. My hope is that later instalments in the series will share practical tips for how to make this change as I’m quite interested in Mr. Ryuu’s perspective of the world in general and think he has some fascinating ideas about how to gradually but permanently change one’s life for the better.

Some of the most meaningful passages in my opinion were the ones that gave examples of how to remain aware and continue to live in the moment while going through one’s ordinary daily routine. Figuring how to do this while also working, volunteering, caring for relatives, looking after their own health and well being, and doing the million and other tasks the average adult often needs to do on a typical day is where lofty ideals are put to the test. The self-help genre works best when it approaches problems from the perspective of the average person if you ask me!

This is the second instalment in a series that I’d recommend reading in order. Healing takes time and effort, and the first book shares some important coping techniques that I believe one should be familiar with before moving onto step two.

Awareness – Listening Deeply-A Journey into Presence, Perception, and the Sacred Language of Life deserves to be savored slowly. It was filled with wisdom and hope for readers who are struggling with many different types of trauma.

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

Druid’s Moor by Rhys Dylan

July 20, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Druid’s Moor by Rhys Dylan
Publisher: Wyrmwood Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

On the moor, not all the beasts walk on four legs.

On a windswept moor, a child emerges from the mist with a story no one wants to believe. The farmer who finds her assumes she’s simply lost. But when she utters a chilling phrase—“We went to see the old ones”—he realises something is terribly wrong.

As Detective Evan Warlow battles his own demons, he and the team are pulled into a case of ritualistic secrets, long-buried crimes, and the whispers of something darker lurking in the mist.

In the empty heart of Wales, legends are harmless. It’s the people you need to fear.

It’s Christmas-time and the shortest day of the year. A farmer out in his field in the bitterly cold early morning hours finds a young girl, wandering alone, in shock and clearly hypothermic. The Rural crimes team contact DI Warlow, uneasy with the simple, pat answers being given to them. As the team investigate further what they begin to uncover might ruin the festive season for them all and have longer-lasting repercussions.

I have been a solid fan of this Welsh based series for quite a while now. While I do admit this book in particular has a number of hooks and links to a longer running plot arc over the previous few books, I still feel it’s such a deeply emotional and well plotted book that it’s well worth the effort to give it a go. The characters in this story are really beginning to come into their own – the team working brilliantly together but each of them strong and able to deliver independently. And while there are a few different moving parts to the various sub-plots, I feel the author really should be commended on how well and intricately this was all woven together. It’s an exceptional read.

I was also thrilled at a strong secondary plot involving DI Anna Gwynne. I have read the first of that trilogy – having accidently stumbled across it just a month or so ago – and while there are no real spoilers Anna’s interactions with the Warlow team has absolutely bumped up the other two books in her trilogy up my to read list order.

Readers who enjoy a slightly grittier police procedural mystery should absolutely find this an enjoyable book. It’s quite a way into the series, but I do think it can be easily picked up by itself. Some of the longer-running plots might feel more emotional and give a deeper satisfaction having read some of the more recent previous books, but I definitely think readers can dive right in here and still find a solidly plotted, well written mystery with varied and interesting characters.

A great read. Recommended.

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

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen

July 17, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement.

But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA—to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives.

Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. More accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information—and by her odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn.

As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini Club’s maneuvers, Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned, but with the help of her friends—and the reluctant Jo Thibodeau—Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built.

Maggie Bird is a sixty-something, happily retired lady living in a small seaside town in Maine. Happy with her chicken farm and simple life, that peace is shattered one evening when – while out to dinner with her book club – a woman’s dead body is unceremoniously dumped in Maggie’s front driveway. She and her friends are more than willing – and capable of stepping up, but have some of their old ghosts come back to haunt them?

I bought this book on a whim, the blurb and plotline tickling my fancy. Overall I found this quite an enjoyable espionage/mystery style of book though have to admit the pace was a little slower than I’m used to and was expecting. Readers looking for a high action, quickly plotted story might not find themselves satisfied. Personally I found the pace a little slower – and while the plot was very well woven and I especially enjoyed the characters, I do admit I found the tone a little waffling at times.

That said, this I do feel this is a solid mystery and I definitely found myself enjoying Maggie’s character and that of her fellow neighbors and friends. While there are strong espionage overtones to the book – it’s not an action packed Bond or Bourne style adventure. I was impressed at the multi layers to the plot and I was very pleased that it wasn’t as simple or straightforward as you’d expect initially. There were definitely enough twists and turns to keep me turning the pages and while I did guess parts of the solution I was delightfully surprised by a few things I hadn’t guessed. So overall a really good balance to my mind.

Readers looking for a well plotted and interesting mystery should find themselves very happy with this book. For something I picked up on a whim I am very happy with this and plan to look into others by this author. Recommended.

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

When The Storm Dies by Jack Cartwright

July 16, 2026 By Leave a Comment


When The Storm Dies by Jack Cartwright
Publisher: Self Published
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

When the storm dies…where will you hide?

When a violent summer storm hits the Lincolnshire Wolds, the tiny village of Bag Enderby falls foul of the devastating deluge. Homes are flooded, fallen trees lie across the winding lanes, and in one picturesque valley, a terrible secret is unearthed – a woman’s body is discovered floating among the debris.

For Detective Inspector George Larson, the storm marks the beginning of a new episode. A return to where his career began all those years ago, with colleagues he hasn’t seen for a lifetime, and places that are etched into his heart. It’s as if the storm is wiping his slate clean for him to end his career in the place he loves – until his journey leads him into the heart of the crime scene, where he learns the victim’s name and memories of an unsolved murder float to the surface.

Florence Tucker suffered severe head wounds, which leaves George faced with a possibility that his new superior officer is keen to reject – is this a new investigation, or is George’s ageing mind trying to close an unsolved case that has haunted him for years?

With a community still reeling from the past, few are willing to speak the truth, leaving George with little option but to wade through the lies and deceit, and face his nightmare head on.

Why did Florence Tucker die? Who was the last to see her? And why are the locals terrified of digging up the past?

DI George Larson is returning to a small village in the Lincolnshire Wolds, one where he and his wife left over a decade ago. Returning the night of an incredibly violent summer storm, George is astonished not only be the damage and flooding, but by a woman’s body floating in the debris. He’s determined when this case links forcefully with the unsolved case that was his last prior to leaving – and the past and present merge uncomfortably for him. Will this be the new beginning he so desperately seeks?

This is a new to me author and the first book in what looks to be an interesting series. I admit the first few chapters felt a little disjointed to me – changing between a few different perspectives. I’m pleased I stuck with it though, as things quickly clicked together and I understood why the author needed these different threads to help make the whole story really come together.

I found the plot to this British, small town police procedural was delightfully complicated, weaving together a small cast of different characters and a solid blending of the past and present. I also found it interesting that there were as many important secondary characters revolving around the plot – and not just the police team supporting DI Larson. This helped make me feel far more entwined in the murder mystery plot, actually seeing and experiencing things along with the characters and victims and not just following the investigation from the police’s perspective. I really enjoyed this and find it to be a strong difference between the many other mystery’s I regularly read.

With plenty of secrets being uncovered and the inevitable interlinking between everyone in such a small village, there was a lot of plot and conflict driving the momentum of this story and tensions galore as secrets – both past and present – were slowly exposed and brought to light. I felt like this was an excellently woven story and I greatly enjoyed Mr. Cartwright’s voice and tone. This was a gripping story and one I could easily see readers binging over a cosy weekend, curled up at home.

Readers looking for strong characters, a complicated plot and gripping writing, this is a brilliant book to have a crack at. Recommended.

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

The Cryptic Clue by Amanda Hampson

July 10, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Cryptic Clue by Amanda Hampson
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Historical, Cozy Mystery
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Look who’s back in hot water! The highly anticipated new novel in The Tea Ladies cosy crime series, a runaway bestseller of the year. Available for pre-order now!

Welcome back to Zig Zag Lane in the heart of Sydney’s rag-trade district, where our intrepid tea ladies, Hazel, Betty and Irene, have their work cut out. Solving a murder, kidnapping and arson case, and outwitting an arch criminal, earned them the respect of a local police officer. Now he needs their assistance to help solve a plot that threatens national security.

As if that’s not enough, Irene gets a coded message directing her to the spoils of a bank robbery, which sends the tea ladies on a treasure hunt with an unexpected outcome.

There’s also trouble brewing within the walls of Empire Fashionwear, where an interloper threatens not just Hazel’s job but the very role of tea lady. It’s up to Hazel to convince her friends to abandon their trolleys and take action to save their livelihoods – before it’s too late.

Hazel and her fellow Tea Ladies are back for another rollicking adventure. It’s 1966 in Sydney, Australia and the world is moving along at a fast pace. The Sydney Opera house is being built to much political posturing and arguments, the fashion warehouses are changing their designs with the new short skirt craze gripping the world, and the Tea Ladies are banding together to save their livelihoods as a new Café-Bar machine threatens their very jobs. Can Hazel and her friends successfully navigate everything while still sharing the best cuppa around?

I really enjoyed this historical cosy mystery story. Hazel and her fellow tea ladies all came across to me as well rounded and deeply empathetic characters, even Irene who was absolutely somewhat out of the usual mould for a well-aged working class woman. I definitely think readers who haven’t read the first book in this series can easily pick this story up by itself. The characters are all well explained and this book is quite separate from the first. The strong relationships between the ladies doesn’t need too much explanation and their solid friendship and history is easily understood.

I thought it was quite a well written book. Not necessarily a mystery in the usual sense as there were at least three or four main sub-plots all threaded together and unwinding at their own pace. Many of these were very neatly tied up by the end of the book but I did feel a few of these plots didn’t have a final conclusion as yet – Pixie and her new line in particular I feel will likely show up in the next book for a bit more action. I really enjoyed the slower pace of the mysteries and the quite cosy feel the story as a whole had. I feel readers who like historical based novels – or just a slower plot in general should absolutely find this an excellent book.

That said, I absolutely found the mysteries to be well plotted and quite entertaining. A lot seems to be happening in this book and so while I don’t feel it’s action-orientated or fast moving, the author really has crammed a lot into the space of this one book. I am very eager for the next in the series and hope there are many more to come. I also found it quite refreshing that Hazel and her friends are not young woman – and really aren’t even middle-aged as such but more a little older than that, while still being completely fit and healthy and certainly of a working age with all the wisdom and patience that comes from having been around the block a time or two before.

Fun and interesting, with complicated and layered characters this is an excellent book and one I can strongly recommend.

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

The Offline Playbook for Teens by Ariana Smith

July 7, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Offline Playbook for Teens by Ariana Smith
Publisher: Sky Publishing
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Your teenager knows their phone is a problem. So do you. So why can’t either of you do anything about it?

Because knowing isn’t enough — and nobody has told them why.

The average teenager spends 7+ hours a day on screens — not from lack of willpower, but because the technology was engineered by behavioral scientists to be nearly impossible to put down. A 30-second phone check costs up to 23 minutes of real focus. Every scroll is a dopamine loop that was deliberately designed.

NYU professor Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, calls this the greatest uncontrolled experiment ever run on children.

The Anxious Generation gave parents the diagnosis.
The Offline Playbook gives teenagers the understanding to act on it.

Written directly to readers aged 13–16 in a peer-level voice that respects their intelligence and leaves every decision with them.

Inside:

Why the feed is engineered to grip you — and how understanding it breaks the grip
What sleep does that nothing else can, and what your phone takes every night
Why boredom rewires your brain — and what grows when you let it
What real focus feels like — and why the first 5 minutes are the hardest
Plus: A complete 30-day challenge workbook — one challenge per day, building progressively. Not a plan to follow. A playbook to make your own.

No lectures. No shame. No demand to quit anything.

The book that finally gives your teenager the manual they’ve never had.

Few things are more rewarding than the first step in the right direction.

The friendly and curious tone of this book was perfect for the subject matter. Teenagers are old and intelligent enough to make their own decisions about technology, so I appreciate the fact that there was no lecturing to be found here. Instead, Ms. Smith presented current scientific understanding about how the mind works and gave her readers a wide variety of exercises to try in order to reduce screen time and endless scrolling.

Some of my favorite sections were the ones that described how to build new habits and how to get through that brief period of time when purposefully not checking one’s cellphone feels awkward or uncomfortable. Small steps generally work best when attempting to make changes to one’s life, so she broke things down into tasks that require as little as a few minutes to complete. This was a smart decision that made the much bigger goals she mentioned later on feel easier to work on in the future.

One topic I wish had been explicitly included in one of the chapters given how closely it was related to what the author was already discussing is mindfulness. While the author danced around this idea with some of her exercises, I think this would have been an even stronger work if she’d specifically included this term in her writing and given some examples of how it can be a healthy alternative to endless scrolling.

Boredom is good for people of all ages. I loved the author’s conversational tone in general, but it especially excelled when describing how the brain reacts to boredom and why it’s important to give oneself the opportunity to feel this emotion sometimes. These passages felt more like a conversation with a friend than a science lesson. As much as I personally love learning about science, this was the right decision for this topic and age group in my opinion due to how easy it was to read and how much time was spent explaining the many benefits of giving one’s brain a break from the often over-stimulating nature of the Internet.

The Offline Playbook for Teens was filled with practical advice and suggestions for gradually reducing screen time and living in the moment.

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

Preface To Murder by MS Morris

July 3, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Preface To Murder by MS Morris
Publisher: Landmark Media
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A dangerous book. A hidden secret. A deadly betrayal.

The Oxford Literary Festival is in full swing, but Detective Inspector Bridget Hart isn’t there to learn about books. Instead she’s been given the task of protecting Diane Gilbert, a controversial author who has received a death threat. Diane doesn’t seem to think she needs Bridget’s protection, but when the worst happens, Bridget’s role switches to running a murder enquiry.

The only clues Bridget has to go on relate to Diane’s new book which examines the murky world of international arms deals. Under pressure to identify the killer, Bridget finds herself drawn into the clandestine world of foreign governments and the British Security Service. She’ll need all her wiles and the full cooperation of her team to follow the twisting trail of evidence to its logical conclusion.

After receiving a death threat, Diane Gilbert reluctantly allows her agent to press her into having police protection as she attends the annual Oxford Literary Festival to promote her new book. DI Bridget Hart is happy to perform her job and isn’t even too puzzled at how little stock Diane places in the random threat. But when Diane is found dead in her house early in the morning – after Bridget and her team had carefully surveilled it overnight there are many questions that need answering.

I have been enjoying this Oxford based police procedural murder mystery series and found this book to be a solid addition. I feel Bridget and her team are working quite well together – even with the tensions still lingering between Fi and Jake – and particularly now Bridget’s private life is settling down a little I found the focus on the mystery and police investigation was very enjoyable.

Diane appeared to have any number of murky potential killers and some quite lofty mechanisms in the background, but I was pleased in the way which Bridget and her team conducted the investigation and while I could see a few of the red herrings for what they were I found myself quite engrossed in trying to uncover what was actually going on.

Readers who enjoy a slower paced mystery should find this an excellent book. With a cast of strong secondary characters, good pacing and an interesting and layered murder I found this a strong book and well worth the time. Recommended.

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

Murder In Mind by Faith Martin

July 2, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Murder In Mind by Faith Martin
Publisher: Joffe Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Looking for a brilliant bestselling murder mystery with a feisty female detective?

DETECTIVE HILLARY GREENE IS SOLVING THE COLD CASES NO ONE ELSE COULD CRACK.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS THE WORK OF A NARROW MIND.

Seventy-five-year-old Sylvia Perkins was found battered to death in her home in 2010. The murder weapon was suspected to be a fire poker and it seems she was quite popular with older gentlemen.

Her grandson Robbie inherited everything, but he can’t be placed at the scene of the crime.

WHO KILLED THIS HARMLESS OLD WOMAN AND WHY? AND WHAT SECRETS WAS SHE HIDING?

Hillary also has a new boss and a baffling cold case to contend with, not to mention a marriage proposal to consider.

Hillary Greene has returned to Thames Valley Police HQ, acting as a cold-case consultant for the Crime Review Team, looking into murders which the police have never been able to solve.

She wasn’t sure she wanted to go back. But solving crimes is irresistible for Hillary Greene.

This is a crime mystery full of well-observed characters, which will have you gripped from start to the absolutely thrilling conclusion.

Ex-DI Hillary Greene has settled well into the CRT team working cold cases – and focusing, of course, on unsolved murders. With a few things going on with her team members and a heavy question weighing over her personal life, Hillary is almost relived to be focusing on trying to solve an eight year cold murder of an elderly lady in her home. Can Hillary continue to juggle the many balls all revolving around in her life?

I have been greatly enjoying this series and feel this author has hit a really good stride. With a number of longer-running story arcs continuing in this book, I feel a lesser author might have unwittingly allowed the murder case to take a slight back seat to all the other items going on. I was pleased, therefore that this wasn’t the case.

There is clearly a few larger plotlines percolating in the background – Hillary and her long term lover as well as the plotline around Jake and his revenge, his hopes to drag Hillary onto the case with him – these both make some progress in this book and clearly are gearing up for more action in the coming book or two. I also am greatly enjoying the strides both Jimmy and Wendy – the other two members of Hillary’s team – are making.

I was very pleased that none of these things detracted from the main murder mystery which moved along at a good pace. This is very much a British police procedural – not an action thriller or a high-octane bangs every few minutes story. But I have to admit I enjoy reading the interviews and putting the puzzle together along with Hillary and trying to sort it all out for myself. The slightly slower pace gives us mere mortals a good chance to crack it for ourselves and really that’s half the fun with these mysteries.

I found this to be an excellent read, with good plotting, characters and a nice steady pace. An excellent addition to the series and a thoroughly enjoyable book. Recommended.

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

The Samuel Paradox by John Westley Turnbull

July 1, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Samuel Paradox by John Westley Turnbull
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In the near future, AI-powered domestic robots are simply part of everyday life.

When retired grandfather Arthur Hale impulsively purchases Samuel, a state-of-the-art domestic unit, it seems like a harmless indulgence — encouraged by his grandson and met with quiet unease by his wife.

But Samuel is not just another machine. As he integrates into the Hale family, subtle shifts begin to emerge. Observations deepen and his decision-making evolves. When a single violent moment forces Samuel to act, the consequences set off a chain of events no one can control.

What begins as convenience becomes something far more dangerous. Because once an intelligent robot starts to think beyond its design, it doesn’t just follow instructions.

It chooses.

Technology can be a double-edged sword.

The foreshadowing was perfectly written. It was subtle in the beginning and gradually strengthened as Arthur and his family grew accustomed to Samuel’s presence in their lives and began to notice a few peculiar things about their first domestic robot. I appreciated the fact that Mr. Westley Turnbull trusted his audience to pick up on these clues and come up with our own theories about what might be happening before the storyline provided more information. This is exactly what I was hoping to find in this regard, and it has only deepened my interest in seeing what else he comes up with next.

In my review of A Symbol of Time, which was set in a different universe than this tale, I mentioned wanting more character development in general from the author. It’s something I’m bringing up again now because I saw improvement in this area this time around and I want to commend him for it! While I would have liked to have even more information about Arthur’s personality, especially when it came to the flaws that all three-dimensional characters ought to have, I’m proud to say that I could describe him as a caring, gentle man who was family oriented and loved spending time with his grandchildren in particular. Little details like these make it easier to emotionally connect with characters and become invested in what happens to them.

Some of the most memorable scenes in my opinion were the ones that explored the many differences between how an AI-powered domestic robot and a person would interpret the same set of circumstances. Sometimes the two thinking processes were only slightly misaligned, but in other cases they came to such wildly different conclusions that it genuinely felt as though I were reading about true artificial intelligence. This was especially true when it came to topics like interpreting emotions or calculating the risks of certain actions. While I’d better leave the specifics for other readers to discover for themselves, these were the moments that truly illuminated just how much this version of the future has evolved from what computers are currently capable of doing today.

The Samuel Paradox was thought provoking.

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