The Curator by M.W. Craven

October 22, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Curator by M.W. Craven
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

It’s Christmas and a serial killer is leaving displayed body parts all over Cumbria. A strange message is left at each scene: #BSC6

Called in to investigate, the National Crime Agency’s Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are faced with a case that makes no sense. Why were some victims anaesthetized, while others died in appalling agony? Why is their only suspect denying what they can irrefutably prove but admitting to things they weren’t even aware of? And why did the victims all take the same two weeks off work three years earlier?

And when a disgraced FBI agent gets in touch things take an even darker turn. Because she doesn’t think Poe is dealing with a serial killer at all; she thinks he’s dealing with someone far, far worse – a man who calls himself the Curator.

And nothing will ever be the same again . . .

It’s Christmas, but when what appears to be a serial killer leaves a pair of severed fingers from three victims all over Cumbria Washington Poe, Tilly and their team are called in to try and work out what’s really going on. And while their boss, Stephanie Flynn is heavily pregnant and refusing to start her maternity leave, there are more than a few things on each of their minds. Can Poe and Tilly figure out who is behind everything before their time runs out?

I have been greatly enjoying this series but found this to be a particularly strong addition. While I don’t feel it necessary to have read both the previous books to thoroughly enjoy this third outing, I must admit I feel I enjoyed the deeper emotional connection I had knowing about Poe, Tilly and Flynn’s previous cases and shared working history. I believe I would have still thoroughly enjoyed this story had I picked it up alone – but I’m glad I’ve read the previous two and can strongly recommend them as well.

I also absolutely loved how about halfway through the book the entire plot was pretty much thrown on its head. I thought the author wrote this part exceptionally well as it fundamentally changed the whole plotline without making Poe or any of the police officers seem like idiots. I can’t recall reading a book previously where such a massive twist occurred without much forewarning and wasn’t due to severe ineptitude on the detective’s part, so I really thought this was an excellent twist and made the second half of the book even more intense to my mind.

While many British police procedurals have a slow and steady pace – as this one does also – I absolutely feel there is a steady ramping up of the intensity and I admit I had to stay up past my bedtime (on a work night too!) to read the last 10% of the story because I simply couldn’t put it down and go to sleep, I needed to know how it all unfolded.

An excellent book and a brilliant series, one I am happily and thoroughly addicted to.

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

Movie Review: 28 Years Later

October 20, 2025 By Leave a Comment


28 Years Later
Writers: Alex Garland
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, and Ralph Fiennes
Publisher: Columbia Pictures
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars (8 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by Astilbe

A group of survivors of the rage virus live on a small island. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors.

Survival takes on many different meanings after a few decades of zombies running around.

One of the cool things about this film was that it didn’t require any knowledge of the first three instalments in order to understand what was going on during it. Obviously, there were a few interesting callbacks for fans who did start at the beginning, but this otherwise felt like an introduction to a new horror series which I found refreshing and surprising.

The plot twists were pretty easy to spot ahead of time for me given how often I watch zombie films, so I would have liked to see a little more development there given how long this was set after the original outbreak. A new generation of people had been born into and grown up on an island filled with zombies by the time this tale began. Even something as simple as discussing the rules they had grown up following about how to stay safe in such a dangerous environment could have given the storyline creative ways to flourish if a few more scenes had been dedicated to the topic. The possibilities were endless.

With that being said, I enjoyed the plot development that had taken place over twenty-eight years, especially when it came to the tense but sometimes also complex relationships between various characters of both human and zombie origin. This film had some poignant things to say about the meaning of life and how to push through a day, often literally, while dealing with painful emotions like grief or uncertainty. The deeper layers of the storyline were what encouraged me to choose a higher rating and have made me incredibly curious to see what happens in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple once it is also released.

28 Years Later was a grisly but thoughtful adventure.

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

19 Doors by Rob Roy O’Keefe

October 15, 2025 By Leave a Comment


19 Doors by Rob Roy O’Keefe
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

From the author of Small Stories: A Perfectly Absurd Novel, shortlisted by the Chanticleer International Book Awards, 19 Doors ranges far and wide, diving into magical realism and science fiction, then adding a dash of steampunk and surrealism for extra flavor. The collection of short stories and flash fiction ricochets from the poignant to the comically absurd, each story a work of imaginative fiction.

• A community remembers the lives they have yet to live.
• An intergalactic tour bus arrives in Hollywood … Montana.
• A shopping network super-fan relives every infomercial scenario he watches.
• The first sentient being in the universe applies for a job as a sous chef.
• A preternatural wind comes to collect a long-owed debt.

Through 19 Doors, we are immersed in the unraveling lives of characters who are just like us and nothing like us. Whether they succeed or succumb, conform or rebel, we are treated to a compilation of stories that are frequently fraught, often fun, and always fantastic.

Balance will be restored eventually.

Dylan loved taking late night walks by herself, but she ended up in a mysterious diner instead of at home in “We were beautiful.” I loved the paranormal elements of this tale and how the main character reacted to things that shouldn’t have been possible. She had such a curious and upbeat personality that I couldn’t help but to like her and wish I could read more about her adventures.

I found myself wishing for more plot development in some of these tales, one of which was “Borrowed time”. It followed a man who figured out how to manipulate time so that he could sell pieces of it to people who had enough money. There were some plot holes involving the storage and use of time that I sure would have liked to see explained more thoroughly. With that being said, I still enjoyed the reading process and would love to hear if other readers had the same experience with this portion and other ones like it.

Buying a new home often includes a few surprises, but “The untethered house” took that to an entirely different level when the characters realized their purchase was doing things that a building should never be capable of doing. I appreciated the playful sense of humor in this piece and the way the characters reacted to what the average person would consider to be deeply unsettling at best. The conclusion, too , was filled with funny moments that only made me like the protagonists even more than I already did.

19 Doors was a whimsical and thought-provoking collection.

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

Parlor Poetry-A Victorian Versification Abecedary by Lori Alden Holuta

October 9, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Parlor Poetry-A Victorian Versification Abecedary by Lori Alden Holuta
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

An illustrated A-to-Z (plus an ampersand) poetry collection celebrating Victorian life.
From Ada Lovelace to the Zoetrope (plus a bonus ampersand), this alphabet of verse captures the innovations and oddities of the Victorian era in poetic form. A witty, whimsical celebration of one of the most imaginative eras of all time. Includes color illustrations by Olivia Wylie.

Sometimes the past is a wondrous place.

There was a nice assortment of topics included here, from people like Lewis Carroll who are still well-known and well-read today to reticules which were an early form of what we’d now call a purse that I wasn’t actually aware of until I read this book. Even when I did already have knowledge on a specific subject, I still sometimes found myself surprised by new or additional details about it. This kept me on my toes as I read and made me glad I gave this title a try.

It would have been nice to have more attention paid to the diets of Victorians given how much medical knowledge and advice evolved during this century. Tea was mentioned, but there was a lot else going on in the 1800s when it came to early scientific research about how food impacts health and the various scandals involving tainted milk, rotten meat, or additives in food that weren’t actually safe for human consumption. Had this been given more space, I would have happily gone with a higher rating!

I enjoyed the fact that none of the entries took up more than a few pages. They were meant to provide a jumping-off point for readers to do further research on the various highlights, or, in a few cases, low points, of this era depending on which specific inventions, people, or social conventions one might find most entertaining. There is definitely something to be said for offering this sort of sampling platter, especially for the sections that covered events that aren’t typically taught in school.

Parlor Poetry: A Victorian Versification Abecedary was a versatile and amusing introduction to this time period.

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

Maria La Divina by Jerome Charyn

October 8, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Maria La Divina by Jerome Charyn
Publisher: Bellevue Literary Press
Genre: Historical
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

An intimate portrait of the world’s most iconic opera singer

Maria Callas, called La Divina, is widely recognized as the greatest diva who ever lived. Jerome Charyn’s Callas springs to life as the headstrong, mercurial, and charismatic artist who captivated generations of fans, thrilling audiences with her brilliant performances and defiant personality.

Callas, an outsider from an impoverished background, was shunned by the Italian opera houses, but through sheer force of will and the power and range of her voice, she broke through the invisible wall to sing at La Scala and headline at the Metropolitan Opera, forging an unforgettable career. Adored by celebrities and statesmen, the notable and notorious alike, her every movement was shadowed by both music critics and gossip columnists—until, having lost her voice, she died alone in an opulent, mausoleum-like Paris apartment.

It’s like being there with the singer and watching her go through her life.

This book is a wealth of knowledge about the singer Maria Callas. I felt like I was right there with the singer, going through her life and seeing how she handled the hurdles in her way. I liked how the author really delved deep into the singer’s life and loves. I was saddened for how her life turned out, but also feel this is something everyone who follows music should read. If you’re a fan of the current singers, a la Taylor Swift, then this book shows where the genesis of the music and celebrity business started.

The one thing I will say is that if the reader isn’t familiar with the many names dropped in this book, it can get a bit confusing to keep them all straight. That’s not to take away from the writing. The writing is fantastic and kept me wanting to know what would happen next. There are simply a lot of people to keep straight.

If you’re looking for a book about celebrity at the turn of the century, celebrity at its start and how that celebrity can affect people, then this is the book for you. The psychological look at Maria Callas and how she handled her life was great. give this book a try.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance 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: , , ,

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: , , , ,

The Llano County Mermaid Club by Kathleen M. Rodgers

September 16, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Llano County Mermaid Club by Kathleen M. Rodgers
Publisher: University of New Mexico Press
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Growing up in the desert town of Sandhill, New Mexico, Marigold Hubbard and her friends wanted only one thing: to see the ocean. The community pool and the nearby Santa Rosa Blue Hole are the closest they can get, and they dream of mermaids while swimming these rare waters. When Marigold learns of the affair between her father and the mother of her best friend, Melody Calloway, the betrayal tears the girls apart. Unmoored from both friends and family, Melody meets a tragic and mysterious end on the shores of the Blue Hole, leaving Marigold no chance to ever reconcile the friendship.

Forty years later, Marigold returns to Sandhill to care for her elderly father, but an envelope of old letters and a cryptic message in an abandoned church leads her on a quest to find answers about what really happened to Melody. Threading between past and present, Marigold must piece together the tragic chain of events that led to Melody’s death, pursuing questions that may have no easy answers.

It’s difficult to keep a secret forever.

The character development was excellent. All of the main characters were well-rounded individuals whose flaws made a genuine difference in how not only their own lives but also the plot turned out. They felt like real people to me, especially later on once their personalities and past mistakes began to have an ever bigger influence on what was happening. I loved them in many scenes but was also exasperated with them in others. This is exactly the sort of fiction that makes it impossible for me to stop reading!

I would have liked to see more time developing the mystery elements of the storyline. There were some aspects of Melody’s death that never quite made sense to me, especially given how her personality had been described in the years leading up to that day. Some of the clues we were given felt out of place, and the explanations for them weren’t quite satisfying enough for me to choose a full five-star rating. With that being said, I still deeply enjoyed reading this book and getting to know all of the characters.

The 1960s and 1970s were not always easy eras for women and girls to live in. It was interesting to explore how the female characters reacted to the sexism and racism in their community and how they found ways around those prejudices in order to achieve as many of their dreams as possible. This was not a sugar-coated version of the past by any means, but it also left plenty of space for the characters to find joy in little things like visiting the library or swimming together. I appreciated the fact that the narrator balanced it all out and made this reader feel as thought I truly had stepped into a time machine to see what life was like sixty years ago.

The Llano County Mermaid Club was a heartwarming saga.

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

The Booker by Kevin R. Doyle

September 15, 2025 By 8 Comments


The Booker by Kevin R. Doyle
Publisher: Camel Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Cholla

Sam Quinton hadn’t thought much about the entertainment business for several years. His days as a minor celebrity were part of his past, which was fine with him. But when a Hollywood producer walks through the doors of his gym and offers to create a TV show around his life, Sam doesn’t say no right away.

Then the producer’s partner ends up dead in her hotel room, and Sam has to put on his private detective hat to straighten things out. It doesn’t take long to realize the TV offer may not have been exactly what it was cracked up to be. Suddenly, a whole lot of seemingly bad folks are gunning for Sam. Forget his budding Hollywood career. He has to do everything possible to keep himself and his client alive.

As a former professional wrestler, the entertainment business isn’t completely new to Sam Quinton. However, is a reality show really his style? Deciding that there was only one way to know for sure, Sam agrees to meet with the producer and his partner. Of all the things that might have come out of this meeting, the murder of the female producer has not been on his list.

Sam Quinton intrigued me from the very beginning. How often do you hear of an ex-semi-pro wrestler becoming a private eye? For me, that answer would be zero. Quinton is a smart businessman who knows his limits, even if he does push past them at times. He has a wonderful relationship with his girlfriend, Talia, and it made me smile whenever they were together. She’s really good at putting him in his place gently. They are a nice pair.

Quinton also has an awkward but solid relationship with the police in his small town of Providence, MO. There’s a nice balance between sharing information and helping each other out while still maintaining professional boundaries. The side event with Lieutenant Santiago caught me a bit off guard, but I liked it. There were hints that Quinton and Santiago don’t get along and to see Sam go to bat for him showed character.

The mystery held my attention until the last page. I kept wavering back and forth on whether John Carson was involved in his partner’s death or not, and had no idea who had actually killed Wendy until it was revealed. While I’m rarely able to figure out who the guilty party is, I was definitely stumped with this one. Definitely makes me want to start at book one and dive into the world of Sam Quinton. I’d recommend this to anyone who loves a twisty mystery that’s also a quick and satisfying read.

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

Hear Me by Lynn Crandall

September 3, 2025 By 11 Comments

Hear Me by Lynn Crandall
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

Atlantis Aeon Ainsley Durham loves running her antique shop, Fancy This, in Old Town Auralia, but takes seriously her mission to work with her fellow Aeons to fight Darkness in her home town. But she’s changing. Her precognition is showing her darker and darker visions of what’s to come. When growing darkness forces her to reevaluate her place in the Aeons and her work, she’s not sure she belongs in either space any longer. Her terrible past urges her to withdraw, not only from her mission but from letting true love in.

Bounty hunter turned bonds company owner Keegan Barnes is also an Aeon. He hears things others don’t, and sometimes he wishes he could shut down his clairaudience ability. After all, he doesn’t see how he can help the cause with such a low-key ability. But when he picks up discussions among members of Dark Sides, will he discover just how much he’s been underestimating himself? He’s hiding secrets that keep him from healing his scars and getting close to anyone, most of all Ainsley.

Keegan and Ainsley know the efforts the Aeons have been putting in to raise the level of light energy in the city have been helping. But will it be enough to influence others to make choices for good or will Dark Sides take the city? Can they team up to save the city and find true love? Find out in this thrilling book two in the Dark Sides trilogy.

I have always loved the idea of the lost continent of Atlantis (I blame the TV show Stingray and the character Marina for this). So, when I found out about Hear Me, I had to take the chance, even though it was the second book of the series. I’m glad I did.

Although I know I would have gotten a richer experience had I read the first book, the author does a great job about filling in the backstory as she goes along. There was no great info-dump, for which I’m grateful, but instead she gently inserts needed material where it is needed.

The concept is very cool. Descendants of survivors from Atlantis (Aeons) have found each other at this point in history because evil (the Dark Aspects) is getting a deeper stronghold. The mission of the Aeons is to use their power of light to combat the workers of darkness. With each of them having specific abilities, together they are stronger than each of them separately.

The worldbuilding here is wonderfully done.  These are not just cardboard characters, but real people with their real lives and backstories. I especially enjoyed the backstory involving Ainsly’s family and would love to learn more about that (it’s possible it was covered in book one).

The characters that Hear Me focuses mostly on are Ainsly and Keegan – both damaged in their own ways, but honestly drawn. I appreciate flawed heroes and heroines and loved the connection these two have.

I really hope there are more books in this world coming – and now off to read book one.

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