Bear Country by Mary Hallberg

May 6, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Bear Country by Mary Hallberg
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Woman versus nature

Casey doesn’t want to go on the camping trip. She’s not a big outdoors person, and would rather stay inside with her paintings — and her air conditioning. But it’s her high school graduation trip, and her mom is making her go.

When one of Casey’s classmates disappears during the night, the teachers and park rangers assume she’s at the library and aren’t concerned. But Casey’s crush, Trevor, isn’t so sure and wants to go looking for her. A handful of others agree to join him — including Casey, despite her disdain for the woods.

But the trek turns deadly when the group encounters the reason their classmate went missing — an enormous, predatory grizzly bear, hellbent on destroying everything in its path. Now Casey and her classmates must find their way back to civilization without becoming bear food.

Never turn your back on nature.

There were some entertaining plot twists along the way as Casey and her classmates attempted to outrun and outwit their pursuer. Readers who are already familiar with this genre may be able to predict some of them ahead of time, but this wasn’t something that relied on the element of surprise in order to shock and frighten its audience. Instead, it was the journey from beginning to end that mattered with the plot twists providing the characters extra opportunities to learn from their most recent attempts at escape and try something different the next time they were attacked. I thought that was a good way to prolong what could have otherwise been a much shorter work.

The explanation for why the bear was so strong and aggressive was what held me back from giving this book a higher rating. While there were a few hints shared about its possible origins, they were not developed enough for its behavior to make sense to me. Knowing this information was critical in order to understand why a bear would suddenly begin attacking so many humans in a busy national park, especially given that none of the attacks were provoked or included usual reasons for an animal to behave this way such as a mother protecting her cubs.

With that being said, I loved the man (and woman) versus nature themes. Most of the characters knew little to nothing about camping, hiking, or coexisting with apex predators in the wild, and they did make a few mistakes early on that more seasoned campers would have avoided. The plot explored both the fear of the unknown and the anxiety some people feel when surrounded by nothing but trees and wildlife. These are themes that aren’t included in the horror genre as much as I’d prefer to see, so I was thrilled to find them here.

I should note that this was a pretty gory read, just as it should have been given the subject matter. Fans of that type of horror, take note!

Bear Country kept me perched on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

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

The Demon’s Delight by L. Alexander

March 30, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Demon’s Delight by L. Alexander
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Paranormal, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Summoning a demon may be my only option for survival.

Captured.
Exploited.
Bonded to a Demon Prince.

After being taken from the forest near my home, I’m tormented in the name of research, and forced to use my healing gift for my captor’s profit.

Desperate to escape, I risk it all. I steal a spell book, and summon a demon for aid.

I’m prepared to beg a creature that’s vicious and cruel for help, but a Prince of Hell arrives instead. One that’s devastatingly charming. Kind. It’s easy to forget he’s a demon at all.

Though the contract demands he travel with me on my journey back home, I start to wonder if our bond is more than just obligation. I can’t resist his charm or his thoughtfulness, and his protective flirting seems genuine.

What awaits me back home will test not only our connection, but everything I know about myself and my magic.

Have the fates forsaken me altogether, or have they given me the greatest gifts of all?

Hailon is a healer, but having been captured and sold, trafficked and experimented on these last few months for her powers and gift, she’s on the edge, utterly desperate. When she manages to steal a small notebook she discovers in it enough knowledge to piece together how to summon a demon. Seir is the demon prince from Hell who answers her call. Both of them embark on an adventure, one that neither of them had ever expected.

After picking this up on a whim I discovered it’s the third in the series – but having never read anything previously by this author I found this book stood very well on it’s own. I found Seir to be an enjoyable and amusing main lead character – totally different to the “demon prince” I was half expecting – and I thoroughly enjoyed how he simply relished experiencing everything on Earth. Hailon was in many ways a far more normal and relatable character to me and one I could empathise with for much of the story.

Readers should be aware that while this book does have romance and “fated mates” and a bit of spice – for much of the first ha;f of the full length novel it’s primarily Seir and Hailon getting to know each other and travelling. Readers looking for a “dark romance” novel or something heavily erotic might not enjoy the pace of this story. I greatly enjoyed the almost epic traveler/fantasy sort of style and thought it was quite well written. The fact Seir and Hailon were interesting characters and learned to trust each other was well worth the time and read to my mind.

Once the action kicked off I felt the pace of the book really did speed up a bit. Admittedly a number of secondary characters also appeared (like Seir’s brothers and their wives, whom I presume are from previous books). There is some spicy romance scenes in this but I strongly feel the book is predominantly a paranormal/adventure style of book. While the romance is present it felt very much “in addition to” the plot and actual progress of the book – not front and center or taking up an enormous portion of the storyline.

An interesting blend of paranormal, alternate reality and romance, this was a fun and enjoyable full length novel and a book I really enjoyed. There appears to be two connected series with this book and I’ll be looking into both of them. Recommended.

Filed Under: Other, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Movie Review: The Electric State

February 23, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Electric State
Directed by: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Simon Stålenhag
Starring: Chris Pratt, Millie Bobby Brown, Woody Harrelson
Distributed by: Netflix
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 Stars (8 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by Dicentra

An orphaned teen hits the road with a mysterious robot to find her long-lost brother, teaming up with a smuggler and his wisecracking sidekick.

I’ve always been a fan of Millie Bobby Brown’s work since she initially rose to fame as Eleven from Stranger Things, so getting to see her in another Netflix production where she teamed up with Chris Pratt and Woody Harrelson (among others) was a no brainer. Based on Simon Stalenag’s The Electric State book, Michelle (Brown) is an orphaned teen who refuses to buy into the mass technology usage that has swept across the world following a war between the robots and the humans. With robots being exiled into an ‘Exclusion Zone’ after losing the war, Michelle’s life is thrown into a chaos after a robot from her brother’s favorite cartoon shows up on her doorstep (claiming to know where her brother is). A cross country trek ensues, where they must fight off those from the mega corporation pursuing them as well as those tasked with the eradication of robots in human territory.

The cast of this movie is certainly stacked. Along with Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, and Woody Harrelson, there are some other major players like Giancarlo Esposito, Stanley Tucci, Ke Huy Quan and Anthony Mackie. It took me a second to recognize some of them as they are playing robots, and their voices were a little digitized at times but their mannerisms are definitely there (even in a metallic body). Admittedly, there were some moments where Chris Pratt’s character felt less like the rugged smuggler he was supposed to be and more like Starlord from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (see the music included in the movie), but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the film.

While the plot of the movie isn’t that original (it reads like a much more dystopian version of Ready Player One), the emotion is. Chris Pratt’s comedic timing showed through in the movie, and helped lighten some of the more tense moments. And the way that Michelle and the Cosmo robot were able to connect with very few words was particularly impactful. I started crying during the last scene between Michelle and her brother Christopher (Woody Norman), with Ke Huy Quan’s character PC looking on.

Overall, this was a great movie and I was very entertained. I’m not sure why critics viewed it so negatively. It’s available through Netflix, and I recommend it to sci-fi movie fans who also enjoyed movies like Ready Player One.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Movie Review, Television Show Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Reaper And Ruin by Elle Thorpe

February 12, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Reaper And Ruin by Elle Thorpe
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ, Action/Adventure, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

An explosion shatters the night. The three men I love are thrown from the bluff into the raging sea below.

And one of them can’t swim.

But the fall isn’t the only thing trying to kill us.

Every step we take, danger stalks closer.
Every breath we steal, the killer waits in the shadows.

When he rips someone I love away from me, the fragile family I’ve fought to build begins to unravel.

The killer has to be unmasked.
The ruin has to end.

Because this time, losing means more than death.

It means giving up the only people I can’t live without.

Violet and her three lovers are determined to find out who the killer tormenting them is. With all their lives in danger – as well as those around them who they each love – these killers are determined to go back to what they know. To being the predator and not the prey.

Readers should be aware that this book continues on immediately from the explosive ending of book 2. I would strongly recommend these three books are read in order (X’s and O’s – book 1 and then Whips and Chains – book 2). This is a complete trilogy and I don’t feel they can be easily read out of order. This book picks up exactly where the previous one ended on a cliff hanger and for that I was grateful.

I believe that this trilogy stands by itself quite well. There are absolutely hooks/links and characters that I’ve since learned are from Elle Thorpe’s other trilogy’s. This is the first (and currently only) set of her books that I’ve read and I’ve enjoyed them. I do feel that you don’t need to have read any other of the books set in this world because while a number of the characters cross over I don’t feel the other trilogy’s/group stories are necessary to thoroughly enjoy this set.

Readers should be aware of that one of the strong secondary characters in this book has absolutely been set up as a lure/hook into what I feel is likely the next trilogy. The final chapter of this book absolutely is a lure into the next series I feel. Readers who dislike final chapters/epilogues that lead into the next series might want to be cautious before reading the final chapter here.

I was very pleased with the way this series wrapped up. I feel it’s completed enough that most romance readers should be satisfied. The main mystery plot that arcs through all three of these books was very well wrapped up and I was quite happy with the mystery/killer aspect to the plotline. I thought there was also a very good balance between the spicy plotline of the foursome’s relationship and the mystery plotline. I thought the author did a good job with both these sides of the series and this book in particular.

I do also have a strong suspicion that (like with the throwbacks to other groups in this book) Violet, Levi, Whip and X might very well likely have some input in the next and other series so readers can get a glimpse of how things are progressing. For the most part I feel like their story, however, is quite well rounded out and left in a good place. I don’t feel there’s much to complain about here in that respect.

Readers should be aware there is a fair bit of spice in this book. I didn’t feel this book was very dark at all – certainly it didn’t feel as dark to me as the first book did and to a lesser extend the second book. This book felt a bit more like a very spicy mystery/romance and not so much a dark romance. This absolutely isn’t for the faint of heart nor the non-spicy reader, but I did feel some of the darker themes in the first book wasn’t as heavy or pronounced in this book. I absolutely think this is a good trilogy for readers who are new to dark romances and darker themes to dip a toe in and see if this genre is really for them or not.

With some seriously spicy sex and a good dose of darker mystery plot this was a trilogy I enjoyed. As my first foray into “Dark Romance” I found it was a good read for me and the new-to-me genre is a bit of a hit.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Seal by Juliette N. Banks

June 27, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Seal by Juliette N. Banks
Black Hawk Security series, Book One
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

He’s sworn to protect, and never love again, but will she be the one to breach his walls?

My name is Josh Hawke, decorated SEAL and founder of Black Hawke Security. Some might call me arrogant. Women call me cold. Those who truly know me call me dangerous.

I’m all those things.

My priority is my elite team of former special ops who fulfill our contracts with governments and some of the most powerful people in the world.

When a famous rockstar hires us to protect his daughter, it’s just another job. Until I meet Cassy Cartwright and her intense green eyes send a bolt of chemistry through me.

She’s as infuriated as I am by it.

The last thing I want is private security intruding on my quiet, hard-fought-for life. Even if he is six foot four and the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen.

Not interested.

Josh is going to distract all the clients in my hair salon and… protect me from the stalker who is out of prison and looking for me again thanks to my rock star father’s comeback hit.

But that’s all I want from him.

I can’t say I wasn’t warned—the book overview clearly stated this was a steamy romance with spice. But wow. My eyes were reading Tien Tsin chile pepper-level steamy!

The hero, Josh Hawke, is a decorated SEAL who openly admits to being arrogant, cold, and dangerous. He’s well aware of his eight-pack abs, which he maintains through regular workouts in the private gym at his Black Hawk Security (BHS) headquarters. Josh, along with his elite team of paramilitary experts, runs BHS, a company that provides high-stakes security services.

The chemistry between Josh and the heroine, Cassy, is immediate and intense. It’s easy to see why Cassy was taken in by his Alpha presence, good looks, and wealth—complete with his Maserati SUV and expensive clothes. Josh, in turn, was hooked from the moment he laid eyes on Cassy. Her photo captivated him, but in person, she was even more stunning. When their eyes locked, he was hypnotized by her green eyes.

Cassy is independent, successful, and strong-willed. But even she can’t resist Josh’s charm—especially when he becomes the one person who can truly protect her.

And she needs protection. Years ago, Cassy was stalked and kidnapped by a dangerous man named Isaac, who’s now escaped prison. Her father wisely hires BHS to keep her safe. The suspense element in this story kept me on edge—every twist had me rooting for everyone’s safety. I felt a sense of relief when Josh was near, just like Cassy did.

The supporting cast is well developed and adds richness to the story. I especially enjoyed getting to know Josh’s crew at BHS—they’re the kind of characters I hope to see again in future books. Cassy’s world also feels real and grounded, especially through her connections at her salon. Her co-workers and clients added humor and warmth that balanced out the intensity of the action scenes.

One thing to note: there’s a fair amount of profanity, which I’m no stranger to myself. Sometimes a well-placed F-bomb gets the point across. However, I personally found the use of strong language in the sex scenes off-putting—it just didn’t feel romantic to me. That said, the scenes were easy to skim past and didn’t detract from the gripping suspense and solid plot.

Overall, The Seal was a fast-paced, action-packed, and thoroughly entertaining read. If you enjoy romantic suspense with high heat and high stakes, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Low April Sun by Constance E Squires

May 16, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Low April Sun by Constance E Squires
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
Genre: Historical, Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

On the morning of April 19, 1995, Delaney Travis steps into the Social Security office in Oklahoma City to obtain an ID for her new job. Moments later, an explosion shatters the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building into rubble. Her boyfriend Keith and half-sister Edie are left to assume the worst—that Delaney perished in the bombing, despite lack of definitive proof. Twenty years later, now married and bonded by the tragedy, Edie and Keith’s lives are upended when they begin to receive mysterious Facebook messages from someone claiming to be Delaney.

Desperate for closure, the couple embarks on separate journeys, each aiming for an artists’ community in New Mexico that may hold answers. Alongside their quest is August, a recovering alcoholic with a haunting connection to the bombing. Raised in the separatist compound of Elohim City, August harbors secrets about Timothy McVeigh, the perpetrator of the attack, and his own possible involvement in the tragedy. When his path crosses with Edie, he must choose whether to tell anyone about his past.

As the 20-year anniversary of the bombing approaches, fracking-induced earthquakes shake the ground of Oklahoma City, mirroring the unsettled lives of its residents. In their quest for answers, Edie, Keith, and August seek to understand how the shadows of the past continue to darken the present, as the ground beneath them threatens to give way once again.

Understanding the past, so one can move into the future.

Life is always more complicated than we mere mortals want to admit. Humans are a mess of contradictions, stories, lies and half-truths. I liked how the author wove all these into this story.

Being that I was alive during the time of the Oklahoma City Bombing, this book grabbed my attention. I wanted to see how the characters handled the situation and the aftermath. I liked that the author kept the stories of the various characters complicated and the mystery threaded through the story was good, too. It showed that life, as I said above, is complicated. There were times, though, where the story was a bit slow and it took some effort to get through it. Maybe I wasn’t in the right mood for this book and wasn’t ready for something this heavy. Other readers may absolutely love it, so don’t be deterred. There is intrigue to the story that will ensnare many readers.

If you want a different take on the events of the Oklahoma City Bombing, the aftermath and the people who lived through it, then this might be the book for you. Give it a try.

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

Mantee by CC Woods

April 1, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Mantee by CC Woods
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rated: Best Book
Reviewed by Snapdragon

Mantee is a deeply moving story of friendship between a teenager and a manatee. Packed with action and unforgettable characters, Mantee takes readers on a journey down the East Coast, from NYC to Florida.

Stylish and Fun to Read: The unique voice and wordplay in Mantee is immersive and you’ll be drawn into an enchanting universe that’s inspired by the beauty of nature.

Perfect for fans of adventure books and tales that are inspirational. Reading Mantee will leave you feeling motivated and happy.

This story is a hoot!

It is hard to know where to begin. The Manatee, who chuffed her friendliness at our narrator right off the bat, is probably the place. I fell in love with her pudgy grey face right at that first ‘chuff,’ too. But perhaps I am getting ahead of myself.

First off, the discerning reader notices some misspellings, like ‘mantee’ and Flurda. There are some odd abbreviations, too. Yet, these aren’t mistakes…they are our first tip about the narrator. He’s a bit short on education but is completely full and overwhelmingly enthusiastic. He’s enthusiastic about life, about friends, about great places to live, but most of all, about Mantee.

We readers encounter their friendship as our narrator realizes there are some local dangers to Mantee. He’s got to get her to a safer place, maybe even to far away Florida. No one could predict their journey south, and the hardships, but also friendships they encounter. Every moment is exciting or hopeful or dangerous. Author CC Woods somehow manages to tell us something about our own dreams through the wild efforts of the narrator here.

I can’t say enough about Mantee. It’s funny and quirky and it’s very difficult to say it’s great for a specific type of reader or age group. I think if you would just like to be swept off into an engaging adventure regardless of your age, give it a try.

I give Mantee 5 stars (and a best book rating) and would give more if the scale went higher.

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

Simply Lies by David Baldacci

March 26, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Simply Lies by David Baldacci
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Mickey Gibson, single mother and former detective, leads a hectic life similar to that of many moms: juggling the demands of her two small children with the tasks of her job working remotely for ProEye, a global investigation company that hunts down wealthy tax and credit cheats.

When Mickey gets a call from a colleague named Arlene Robinson, she thinks nothing of Arlene’s unusual request for her to go inventory the vacant home of an arms dealer who cheated ProEye’s clients and fled. That is, until she arrives at the mansion and discovers a dead body in a secret room—and nothing is as it seems.

Not only does the arms dealer not exist, but the murder victim turns out to be Harry Langhorne, a man with mob ties who used to be in Witness Protection. What’s more, no one named Arlene Robinson works at ProEye.

In the blink of an eye, Gibson has become a prime suspect in a murder investigation—and now her job is on the line until she proves that she was set up. Before long, Gibson is locked in a battle of wits with a brilliant woman with no name, a hidden past, and unknown motives—whose end game is as mysterious as it is deadly.

Former detective Mickey Gibson now works from home for a global investigations company. While she misses the field and action of her former police days, her two young children usually make up for the lack of action in her days now. When a colleague calls with a simple task for Mickey she doesn’t think twice about heading out to check over a house. Discovering a dead body inside, Mickey’s life is immediately turned upside down and she finds herself unwillingly drawn into a dangerous and fast paced world.

I’ve always enjoyed David Baldacci’s books, and this standalone novel didn’t disappoint. I found Mickey to be a modern, relatable and thoroughly enjoyable character. Much of her character and situation should strike a chord with many people and I thought she was an excellent hook into the story. I also thought Baldacci did an excellent job keeping the pace of the story fast but not so quick that I couldn’t keep up. There is a lot going on in this book and quite a few plots and sub-plots interweaving together and this could have easily turned into a mess where there was just too much going on. I feel Baldacci really is exceptional (in this and others of his works) with keeping that balance.

I thought the villain was also an excellent character, though I do admit the different layers and complications of the plot got quite a bit at times. I found I did need to suspend a little bit of my disbelief – there were just so many layers and twists I found myself at a few points pausing to wonder if this really was believable. Baldacci’s skill, however, had me so caught up in the plot and action that overall I did find it logical and while upon reflection I’m not certain that parts are realistic, there is ample evidence with enough planning and foresight everything is potentially possible and I did find myself caught up in the book and pacing it was quite easy to suspend a little disbelief and keep going with the action. I’m not sure all readers will feel this way – but if you enjoy Baldacci’s style and other works then this is absolutely along a similar vein and is admittedly very well thought out.

With a complicated plot, plenty of moving parts and a very solid pace readers should find this action orientated murder mystery a good read. I’m happy with this book and at the moment it stands alone so there’s no history or prior books in the series that need reading. I’d also pick up a second book about this character and read another one of her adventures.

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

A Team Of Three by Brad Lee

March 25, 2025 By Leave a Comment


A Team Of Three by Brad Lee
Publisher: Simply Sensible Entertainment
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Freedom isn’t free.

America’s newest enemy launches an audacious plan to incapacitate the country. A never-before-seen danger is about to be unleashed on an unsuspecting public. And the world faces a crisis unlike any before.
Can intelligence analyst Haley put the puzzle together in time from the safety of her office – or is she meant to risk it all as a field asset?

Is Axe, a former Navy SEAL, capable of overcoming a foe with nothing to lose?
The clues are cleverly hidden. The threats are terrifying.

And the stakes have never been higher. For the USA, the world, Axe, and Haley.
They are on their own, in deep, and desperate.

All they have is each other, their dedication, and their skills… but will that be enough to prevent death and destruction?
Join them for their most dangerous mission yet.

It was meant to be a fairly simple – albeit covert – missions. Axe would break into a Mexican cartel’s mansion, rescue the American nurse being held kidnapped there and with Kelton driving the getaway boat the three of them would return to America, safe and undiscovered. As Axe and Hayley know all too well – the only easy day was yesterday.

I have absolutely loved the first two books in this series – A Team Of One and A Team Of Two – and so I had very high expectations for this third book. I was not disappointed. This is quickly growing to be both my new favourite author and series.

While I do feel this book can be read by itself, I admit to having a stronger and quicker emotional connection to the team members and small cast of characters because of the previous installments. I don’t feel they would be necessary to read to thoroughly enjoy this book, though I can see sooner or later the weight of these life altering situations and the shared history will mean readers will need some of the background knowledge and not simply be able to pick up anywhere in the series. We’re not there yet – but I can see that might occur sometime soon.

Similarly to the previous two books I loved that this is a fast paced, action oriented adventure and mystery story. There is a giant plot going on overhead, with a number of working parts and links. I was pleased this time – unlike in the second book – we learn more about the big picture as Haley and Axe do and I think this helped give the plot and momentum of the story a more linear feel to it. I admit I prefer this style of storytelling and while the back and forth of the second novel is still good, my preference is the style shown in this and the first book.

The characters are believable and relatable. While Hayley is almost preternaturally smart and Axe unbelievably brave and focused, I could relax and just go with the flow on these points when really I don’t necessarily need a real-life type of person in my adventure and espionage style stories. We want our heroes to be larger than life. Axe was certainly in dangerous situations and Hayley had to work hard to analyse her data and put the puzzle together, but we do want them to get there in the end before the bad guy wins.

I feel readers who are happy with action paced, fast moving and addictive stories where it’s clear from the beginning that the good guy will win – they’ll just need to work for it – then this should be a book right up your alley. With plenty of action and adventure, a solid plot that grows and expands and some very memorable characters this was a brilliant read and one I will happily be adding to my keeper shelf. I can’t wait for more of this series and author. Recommended.

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

Dirty Money by Richard Stark

December 2, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Dirty Money by Richard Stark
Publisher: The University Of Chicago Press
Genre: Contemporary, Action/Adventure, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Parker’s got a new fence and a new plan to get the loot back from a botched job. But a bounty hunter, the FBI, and the local cops are on his tail. Only his brains, his cool, and the help of his lone longtime dame, Claire, can keep him one step ahead of the cars and the guns in this final Parker thriller.

Parker has a new plan to get back the money he lost in his most recent adventure. Returning to the small town and avoiding the many swarming police and government agencies is the least of his problems when more old faces begin to turn up unexpectedly.

This is the final Parker book and I was both thrilled and devastated to have reached it. Not only is this the last book of the series, but it’s the culmination of the triology rounding out the series as a whole. While it might be read alone I would strongly suggest readers at least read the two previous books as there is not a huge introduction to some of the previous characters that were involved in this particular heist. I do think readers should be able to follow along but I’m confident the enjoyment will be much better knowing the whole of this tale.

Readers who enjoy their mysteries to be a little on the leaner, grittier side should find this whole series a delight. Parker isn’t exactly a villain or bad guy – but equally he is far from a hero. He’s usually so focused on the job, and of ensuring his own odds are the best they can be, he doesn’t have a lot of time or space for social niceties or playing games. It’s a pure delight to read as the writing itself is equally spare, lean and focused on the point. I’m very much going to miss having another book to look forward to like this.

While most of the books in this series revolve around a heist – and the planning going into it or the repercussions coming out of it – this book is more involved in recovering the money stolen in a previous heist. This only occurred two weeks previously in the book so the heat is still very intense and I loved that this plot was pretty much a different perspective on a well known theme. I loved this book so much and can strongly recommend it to all mystery/action readers.

An exceptional ending to a fabulous series, this is a great heist/adventure style of mystery. I can easily recommend all the books in this delightful series and am certainly going to reread this a number of times in the future.

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