Tag: Book Reviews

Book review: ‘Law and Addiction’ by Mike Papantonio

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‘Law and Addiction’ is the new legal thriller by Mike Papantonio. Photo: google

Mike Papantonio is a writer, prominent trial attorney and co-host of Ring of Fire, a nationally syndicated weekly radio talk show, along with Robert F Kennedy, Jr and Sam Seder where he is known as ‘America’s lawyer.’ He has written several books including “In Search of Atticus Finch, A Motivational Book for Lawyers,” “Resurrecting Aesop: Fables Lawyers Should Remember” and the Nicholas “Deke” Deketomis’ legal thrillers “Law and Disorder” and “Law and Vengeance.” In his newest novel, “Law and Addiction,” Mike Papantonio pulls back the curtain on America’s deadly opioid epidemic with a legal thriller about greed, corruption and the power of personal conviction.

“Law and Addiction” begins with a Prologue that has Blake Rutledge, in the middle of a drug-induced paranoia attack, becoming another victim of the opioid crisis: “Blake’s lungs slowed to a stop, but his mind didn’t know it.” This was one week before his twin brother Jake’s law school graduation. Upon hearing of Blake’s death, Jake returns to his hometown of Oakley, West Virginia, who many now refer to as “Zombieland” because most of the city has been ravaged by the opioid epidemic. Seeking justice for Blake, he plans to take on Big Pharma but realizing that he is way out of his league, he seeks out famed lawyer Nicholas “Deke” Deketomis for help. Together they join forces but soon death threats, bribes and unlawful property seizures threaten to derail their legal efforts. To discredit Jake, he is kidnapped and unwillingly turned into an addict. He escapes, but not unscathed because now he is faced with his own battle to become clean.

With his latest novel, Mike Papantonio successfully translates the opioid epidemic into a suspenseful legal thriller. The research Deke’s team does to prepare the case develops into a narrative into how the pharmaceutical companies fueled the epidemic and eventually profited from it and it is nothing short of eye opening. As with his other novels, the story has a strong beginning with the Prologue where readers have a front row seat to witness Jake’s suffering and death. The author re-introduces Deke’s legal team, so readers who may be unfamiliar with them are not lost. Regarding the legal jargon and courtroom drama, they are both easy to understand and the fast-paced action flows easily from page to page. The characters are well-developed and relatable and the poetic prose brings a fresh perspective to the storytelling: “skeletal branches from trees reached for him, snagging his clothing.” “Law and Addiction” is a must-read and recommended for fans of smart legal thrillers, but it also has elements of suspense and mystery with some politics mixed in to appeal to most readers. Since Mr. Papantonio uses his real life cases as springboards for his novels, readers can surely look forward to more in this exciting series.

“As I write these words, somewhere in America an individual is dying of a drug overdose. During the next twenty-four hours, there will be at least 115 deaths from the same cause.” – Mike Papantonio (Author’s Note)

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Book review: ‘Off the Grid’ by Robert McCaw

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Robert McCaw’s second book in the Koa Kane Hawaiian mystery series, ‘Off the Grid’ will be available starting July 2. Courtesy photo, used with permission. 

Robert McCaw is an American author who graduated from Georgetown University and served as a lieutenant in the US Army before earning his law degree from the University of Virginia. He was a partner in a major international law firm with offices in Washington, DC and New York City and maintained a home on the Big Island of Hawai’i. This allows him to bring a unique authenticity to his Koa Kāne Hawaiian mystery novels in both his law enforcement expertise and his ability to portray the richness of Hawai’i’s history, culture and people. “Death of a Messenger” is the first book in the series and the second, “Off the Grid” is due out on Tuesday July 2. In “Off the Grid” Hilo police Detective Koa Kāne investigates two deaths that at first seem unrelated but when he discovers how they are linked, the crimes could rewrite history or cost him his career.

Chapter One of “Off the Grid” begins on a poetic note “The plume of smoky steam rising like a sulfur cloud from a volcanic vent told Hilo Chief Detective Koa Kāne he’d been called to a nasty scene” but ends with a staged accident that left a woman dead. That leads him to the second murder of the day: the tortured remains of an unfortunate soul left to burn in the path of an advancing lava flow. He soon discovers that the two murders are related when they turn out to be a reclusive couple living off the grid. They are mysterious fugitives, so naturally the CIA, the Chinese government and the Defense Intelligence agency try to impede all attempts to get to the truth of who wanted this couple dead. Despite growing political pressure, Koa digs further only to find himself drawn into a web of international intrigue. His investigation uncovers a government conspiracy that culminates in the arrest of Nāinoa Nihoa, the Hawai’i state representative running for governor, for murder in the deaths of the couple.

Robert McCaw brings the beauty of Hawai’i to the average reader and softens an otherwise grisly tale of murder and conspiracy. Espionage, treason and murder makes for a fascinating read and the action flows effortlessly through the pages. The language is easy to read and understand including the law enforcement and military lingo. An interesting detail is that the protagonist, Hilo Detective Chief Koa Kāne has a secret: as a young man, he killed a sugar mill manager to exact revenge on behalf of his father. He still feels guilt and remorse, yet he has not told anyone, including his girlfriend, and it affects his crime solving decisions. How long will it take for the secret to catch up to him? Stay tuned. “Off the Grid” is an intriguing crime mystery novel with enough plot twists to keep the reader turning pages until its jaw dropping ending. It is recommended for fans of mystery/crime novels with a flawed leading man who would not mind learning a thing or two about Hawai’i’s culture and its people. A definite must-read.

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Book review: ‘The Ultimate Droodles Compendium’

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Courtesy photo: used with permission.

Roger Price was an American humorist, author and publisher who created Droodles in the 1950s and later collaborated with Leonard B. Stern on the Mad Libs series. Before he delighted fans with Mad Libs, comedian Roger Price invented Droodles – absurdly funny drawings that joined hula hoops and UFOs as one of the biggest fads of the 1950s. His Droodles books sold more than 1 million copies between their debut in 1953 and his death in 1990. On what would have been Roger Price’s 101st birthday, Tallfellow Press released “The Ultimate Droodles Compendium: The Absurdly Complete Collection of All the Classic Zany Creations of Roger Price.” Featuring over 350 hilarious Droodles, it is the first and only full retrospective of Price and his creations.

“The Ultimate Droodles Compendium” is arranged and annotated by Emmy-winning writer Fritz Holznagel and features a foreword by America’s best-known film historian, critic and author, Leonard Maltin. In the foreword titled ‘Roger Price and Me,’ Maltin recalls how he met Price and how he helped him grow up and guided him in his quest to becoming professional writer. In ‘What Are Droodles’ he defines them as “small silly drawings in a square box.” Price, in his 1952 collection “The Rich Sardine,” describes them as “the new IMPROVED way to waste time. You….can show them to other people and waste their time too.” The rest of the book is divided into the different types of Droodles: Droodles, Madison Avenue Droodles and Kinda Croodles. There is even ‘A Brief History of Roger Price and Droodles’ that features his biography and career highlights: Radio Years, Bob Hope years, Nightclubs and Broadway, Television and Books, Droodles and Mad Libs.

Always funny and often provocative, Price was one of America’s most original comic voices. At the peak of their popularity, Droodles had their own TV show, daily newspaper column, bestselling books and even cocktail napkins. This book has something for everyone: more than enough Droodles to tickle the funny bone and a biography and behind the scenes information. It is a one-of-a-kind collection that longtime fans will enjoy while newbies might discover the joys of silly drawings and humor. “The Ultimate Droodles Compendium” is recommended for fans of humor and history of humor and is a definite conversation starter.

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Book review: ‘Deep Water Blues’ by Fred Waitzkin

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‘Deep Water Blues’ is the new novel by Fred Waitzkin. Courtesy photo: used with permission. 

Fred Waitzkin is an American novelist and writer for The New York Times, Sunday Magazine, New York and Esquire. His works include the books “Mortal Games,” “The Last Marlin” and “The Dream Merchant” but he is best known for his memoir “Searching for Bobby Fischer” about his son Josh Waitzkin, a chess prodigy. It was made into the 1993 Academy Award nominated movie of the same name. His new book “Deep Water Blues” is based on a true story about a Bahamian island that becomes a battleground for a savage private war. Illustrations courtesy of American artist John Mitchell.

“Deep Water Blues” takes place on the Bahamian island of Rum Cay, where Bobby Little, a charismatic character who is loved by many, uses his gifts to create businesses where rich tourists can live it up. He has many friends, but like anything else, his success elicits jealousy from others. The tranquility of this fisherman’s haven is spoiled when tragedy strikes. A boat transporting Haitian refugees crashes into the reef and capsizes, spilling everyone into the sea. Bobby and his friends try to help but end up burying most of them. The former paradise is now engulfed in gloom and horror and soon after, Bobby leaves for his annual European trip. He returns to find shoal covering the marina entrance, the beaches deserted and the small cemetery desecrated with bones sticking up through the sand. To top it off, someone has begun to develop the marina and undoing everything that Bobby had done. Dennis, his old friend, is responsible for all the changes and at first Bobby takes it lightheartedly but soon, he and Dennis lock horns and all hell breaks loose.

Fred Waitzkin successfully translates his love of the ocean, boats and fishing onto the written page in this delightful new book. By combining poetic prose “Stella’s dark blues were thickly textured like roiling ocean with intimations of agony rising from below like the cries of drowning sailors” and deep character development, readers get a front row seat to the majesty that is the beach life. His real boat, the Ebb Tide, makes an appearance, as do his friends, especially John Mitchell, whose drawings punctuate the storyline. The only downer is when some of Bobby’s dogs are poisoned but he eventually bounces back from that. The language is easy to understand and the story flows easily without any extraneous narration. With colorful characters and beautiful beach scenery, “Deep Water Blues” is the perfect summer beach read. It is a small book, only 140 pages, but its enchanting yet haunting story is recommended for fans who appreciate plot twists where good triumphs over evil.

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Book review: ‘The Shaman’s Guide to Power Animals’ by Lori Morrison

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‘The Shaman’s Guide to Power Animals’ by Lori Morrison is an informative and inspirational book on power animals. 

Lori Morrison is a best-selling author, inspirationalist and mystic who, combining her skills as a coach, spiritual counselor, healer and medical intuitive, has built a successful alternative wellness practice in Sedona, Arizona. She works with clients from around the world in supporting those who are looking for a renewed approach in dealing with physical and mental health issues. Her first book and memoir “Lori: The Disintegration of my Ordinary Reality” is a winner of four prestigious book awards, including the 2017 Gold Medal winner in the Living Now Book Awards. “The Shaman’s Guide to Power Animals” is her current book and a cross-cultural journey into the mystical symbolism and stories of almost 200 birds, fish, insects and mammals drawn from ancient and indigenous cultures worldwide.

“The Shaman’s Guide to Power Animals” begins with a Preface by the author in which she recounts her early childhood’s exposure to nature and animals courtesy of her father. These experiences influenced her adulthood as she and her husband shared a love of wildlife that took them to places like Yellowstone National Park and Alaska. The book is divided into two parts: Part One: The World of Shamans and their Power Animals that has sections with extensive information about The Three Worlds, the Types of Power Animals, Determining Your Power Animal and Calling in Your Power Animal; and Part Two: A to Z Guide to Power Animals where the reader can either read through each animal to learn about its characteristics and powers, or just use it to read up on his or her particular power animal. Towards the end, there is a List of Endangered Species, a Table of Powers and Minerals, a summary of the A to Z Guide and References, a list of reference material for anyone interested in learning more about the subjects presented.

Lori Morrison’s impressive new book is an extensive encyclopedia of knowledge regarding shamanism, the spiritual world and power animals. For readers who are interested in these subjects but are not too familiar with the basics, it explains in detail what the non-ordinary reality is (“a supernatural place…where we can connect to spirits and experience the past, present and future simultaneously”); The Three Worlds (Upper, Middle and Lower) that are accessed through chanting, drumming, dancing or consuming of medicinal plants; and how to determine what an individual’s  spirit animal is. It is insightful and thought provoking because even if readers have no interest in actually getting involved in spiritual ceremonies, they will walk away with a deeper understanding of how important it is for humans to be connected to nature and animals, which should be viewed as sisters and brothers instead of creatures to be mastered and manipulated for selfish gains. “The Shaman’s Guide to Power Animals” is recommended for fans of the mystical arts or anyone with an open mind who is willing to enrich their lives by learning more about nature, Mother Earth and the variety of animals and their characteristics and strengths.

“We need to interact with or observe animals in natural settings in order to truly see the planet as a whole. Perhaps the root cause of our planetary dysfunction and imbalance in this era of history is the disintegration of humanity’s connection to the spirit world in everyday life.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Book review: ‘Dark Blossom’ by Neel Mullick

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‘Dark Blossom’ is the exciting debut novel by Neel Mullick. Courtesy photo, used with permission. 

Neel Mullick is the Head of Product and Information Security at a Belgian family-office technology company and has degrees in Software Engineering from Carnegie Mellon, USA and Business Administration from INSEAD, France. He mentors women entrepreneurs through the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, is involved in raising a generation of digital and socially-aware leaders with the Steering for Greatness Foundation (Nigeria), supports improvement in the quality of life of domestic workers at Emprendedoras del Hogar (Peru) and is helping IIMPACT (India) break the cycle of illiteracy plaguing young girls from socially and economically impoverished communities. In his new book “Dark Blossom,” the lives of Cynthia, a therapist, and Sam, her new client, intertwine in a story that shows a glimpse of what lies under the surface of apparently normal people.

“Dark Blossom” begins as Sam, who is struggling to deal with his son’s death a day before his thirteenth birthday, shows up at Cynthia’s office, seemingly ready to start counseling. His depressed demeanor and volatile mood say another story. Tragically, his son and wife were killed in an automobile accident which cruelly shattered his world. Cynthia has recently restarted her counseling practice after taking half a year to deal with a bitter divorce, so she sees in Sam a sort of kindred spirit who so desperately needs her help. At first she tries to brush off the similarities between them as coincidence, but when he meets her daughter Lilly, the pieces of the puzzle start coming together. Sam knows too much about their personal lives and as it turns out, he as well as Lilly have secrets. She has more to do with the death of Sam’s family than anyone knows and his presence in Cynthia and Lilly’s life is no accident.

Neel Mullick’s debut novel is part thriller/part drama and offers readers an inside view of a therapist’s mind as she deals with patients and how to properly treat them. Told in the first-person point of view of Cynthia, it starts off as a routine trip to a therapist’s office and soon unravels as situations are more complicated than they seem. Sam clearly is resisting Cynthia’s help, but it becomes evident that he has plans of his own. Even though it is a short book, the character development is excellent as it gives the necessary background needed to propel the plot forward. It is well written, with easy to understand language and the author tells the story without any extraneous information. Since this emotional rollercoaster of a novel is fast paced and a page turner, it can easily be read in a few days, but the plot twist and surprise ending will dwell in readers minds for days. To interact with them, the author has created a competition where readers can chime in with their opinions. Details and rules are available online. “Dark Blossom” is a suspenseful novel that packs an emotional punch and is recommended for readers who enjoy getting lost in the inner workings of the mind.

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Book review: ‘Let Go of Emotional Overeating’ by Arlene B. Englander

emotionalovereatingArlene B. Englander, LCSW, MBA is a Columbia University trained licensed psychotherapist who has created health promotion programs on stress management, emotional overeating and other subjects for hospitals, corporations and law firms. Currently in private practice in North Palm Beach, she specializes in helping emotional overeaters move past their emotional issues to lead happier and healthier lives. “Let Go of Emotional Overeating and Love Your Food: A Five-Point Plan for Success” is her psychologically centered program to help people learn to eat whatever they like and stop just at the point of satisfaction without overeating.

Emotional overeating is “eating neither for enjoyment nor for the satisfaction of hunger, but in a desperate attempt to distract oneself from painful thoughts and feelings.” As a former emotional overeater, the author offers psychologically sound techniques for recognizing the symptoms of overeating and methods for addressing it in effective and enjoyable ways.

“Let Go of Emotional Overeating” begins with an Introduction, where she lists the sobering statistics from a 1999 article in American Demographics that stated that 54% of Americans clean their plates even when they are full and that 19% continue to eat even when they are stuffed. Her main purpose in writing this book is to help readers cope with life’s stressors without using food as a crutch and instead get more enjoyment out of food and life. The book is divided into ten chapters: the first two deal with the difference between truly tasting and savoring food versus using it as a stress reliever and how destructive diets really are; the rest explain how to deal more effectively with stress, how to learn to love exercise and how to eat at parties, vacations and with friends and family.

The subject of overeating can be hard to navigate but it is helpful to have someone who has been there and understands the struggles involved. This gives Arlene Englander the credibility to write such an insightful book that gives readers hope that they too can successfully manage the issue. Mindfulness has become mainstream lately and that, along with self-awareness, is the breakthrough method of dealing with overeating. She effectively uses her own experiences, case illustrations and humor to relate to her readers. The language is plain and simple to understand without too much medical and psychological terminology. Highlights include Chapter 3, where she explains how readers can spot the symptoms of excessive stress and Chapter 5 which gives readers the RAFT technique she uses to enjoy a meal so that they too can determine when they are full so they can stop eating. Also helpful is Chapter 6, as it gives helpful tips on learning to eat healthier foods. “Let Go of Emotional Overeating” is an incredibly useful resource guide and is recommended for readers who wants to learn how to stop letting food control their lives.

“The beauty of learning to soothe ourselves-on our own, or with the help of others-is that it enables us to seize the power that food once held for us.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Book review: Tug Wyler Mystery series by Andy Siegel

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Andy Siegel is a personal injury lawyer and author of the Tug Wyler Mystery series. 

Andy Siegel is a graduate of Tulane University and Brooklyn Law School and a personal injury and medical malpractice attorney in New York City. His many trial successes have regularly placed those outcomes among the “Top 100 Verdicts” reported in the state annually. After sharing a trial story with a mom at his kids’ baseball game, he was encouraged to write them down, which led to the Tug Wyler Mystery series. The series consists of ‘Suzy’s Case,’ ‘Cookie’s Case,’ which was selected as a Conversations Book Club Top 10 Beach Read, ‘Nelly’s Case,’ ‘Elton’s Case’ and ‘Jenna’s Case.’ At the heart of each is Tug Wyler, a colorful, cocky and self-deprecating personal injury lawyer.

‘Jenna’s Case’ is about Jenna Radcliff, a teenager who is the victim of a cosmetic surgeon willing to put greed above his oath to do no harm. It begins as she is going in to surgery and has flashbacks of how she got there. She is a competitive double-Dutch rope-jumper who is self-conscious about being big-breasted and agrees to a reduction surgery set up by her con-man step-father. Instead, she gets a total breast reduction that leaves Jenna not only physically scarred but a shell of the bright and energetic teenager she used to be. Her scheming step-father will do anything to get the money Jenna has inherited, including putting her life at stake.

The client in ‘Nelly’s Case’ is Nelly Rivera, a young woman who, because of dental anxiety, goes to Dr. Grad, know as the Painless Dentist, who uses general anesthesia. Shortly after being hooked up to the IV, she stops breathing and is rushed to the hospital where she falls into a coma. Eventually she comes out of it, but Dr. Grad insists that it was an unfortunate anaphylactic reaction. Rather than drag litigation out and risk his career and family, he settles out of court but ends up being sued by the city for negligence. The money trail targeted Nelly who was recently set to inherit a large sum of money from her father’s life insurance after he died in a house fire.

‘Elton’s Case’ is the case involving Elton Jerome Cribbs, who was wrongly convicted of a crime. His situation goes from bad to worse when he is injured during a prison transport and left paraplegic. Now in a wheelchair, he is seeking justice for his wrongful imprisonment while rejecting any kind of pity. The City of New York offers him millions to settle but maintains their stance that he is faking his injuries. It turns out they were right and Tug is stuck in the middle, struggling to distinguish the bad guys from the guys and truth from fiction.

Personal injury lawyers tend to get a bad reputation and their efforts to get justice often goes unnoticed, until Tug Wyler came along. This is a fascinating series centered around a flawed, but charming lawyer who frequently admits his mistakes and schemes and simply says “at least I admit it.” His lies frequently catch up to him and he is haunted by his past but in his mind he does what he has to do. He has been kidnapped, assaulted, held in contempt of court and blackmailed into taking cases he does not want. The novels start with ‘The Unfortunate Event’ and are written in the first-person point of view of Tug in plain English and are easy to understand and follow. There is courtroom drama with details of the cases including medical backgrounds and insight into Tug’s mind and analysis of his actions. The characters are well developed and sometimes other cases are mixed in to emphasize how lawyers usually handle more than one case at a time. These page-turners and are recommended for fans of courtroom dramas similar to John Grisham as well as mysteries and medical dramas.

“It’s common to diss personal injury lawyers-ambulance chasers they call us. But just remember: anyone, in an instant, can become a victim. Even you.” – Andy Siegel

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Book review: ‘Say What You Mean’ by Oren Jay Sofer

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‘Say What You Mean’ is the intriguing new book by Oren Jay Sofer on improving communication skills. Courtesy photo, used with permission. 

Oren Jay Sofer is the founder and Guiding Teacher of Next Step Dharma, an innovative online course focused on bringing the tools of meditation to daily life, and co-founder of Mindful Healthcare. He holds a degree in comparative religion from Columbia University and is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, a Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication and leads mindful communication retreats and workshops throughout the United States. His new book “Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication” is a practical guidebook for having more effective and satisfying conversations.

Communication is an important part of everyday life with speech being one of the most effective and widely used forms of communication. Words have the power to heal or destroy and it is up to the individual to determine what kind of vibe he or she wants to give out to the world. In the Introduction, Oren Jay Sofer writes that during his life’s journey, he has worked to integrate his understanding of Buddhist meditation and Nonviolent communication. The book as a whole is a collection of three distinct streams of practices: mindfulness, Nonviolent Communication and Somatic Experiencing (emphasizes the role of the nervous system regulation in resolving trauma). They are tools for deepening self-understanding and transforming habits of communication. The three steps of communication include: lead with presence, come from curiosity and care and focus on what matters. These steps form the basis of “Say What You Mean” and divide the book into four parts: The first step: lead with presence, The second step: ‘come from curiosity and understanding,’ The third step: ‘focus on what matters’ and ‘bringing it all together.’ Useful indices at the end include Notes by Chapter, Glossary, Resources and Index of Practices by Topic.

There is always room for improvement when it comes to communication. In “Say What You Mean,” Oren Jay Sofer offers the reader a practical and useful guide to improving this often overlooked but vital skill. In today’s volatile environment, it has become more important than ever to be able to communicate clearly and in a non-violent manner to ensure everyone is heard. The author has done an impressive job of laying out the elements of communication in simple and easy to understand terms. Highlights include ‘emotional agility’ in Part Three where it states that defining emotions is a critical part of communication and ‘the flow of dialogue’ in Part Four where the author summarizes the different components of dialogue: speak, listen and rest in presence. The chapters are peppered with practice exercises, Q and A from real people, principles and key points to summarize the material along the way. Especially helpful are the quick reference guides at the end: Summary of Principles and Useful Communication Phrases. “Say What You Mean” is recommended for readers who wish to improve their communications skills as well as their interpersonal skills while getting to know themselves.

“If you take nothing else from this whole book, I hope you will take with you the importance the intention to understand, to come from curiosity and care, has in your interactions.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Book review: ‘The Atwelle Confession’ by Joel Gordonson

atwelleconfessionJoel Gordonson is a fiction author and international lawyer with degrees from the United States and Cambridge University. His first novel ‘That Boy from Nazareth: The Coming of Age of Jesus of Nazareth,’ a historical fiction adventure story set in biblical times, received critical acclaim. His most recent novel is ‘The Atwelle Confession,’ a historical fiction story of two identical macabre murders five hundred years apart.

‘The Atwelle Confession’ begins with a Prologue set in Atwelle, Norfolk in the year 1532 during the twenty-third reign of Henry VIII, King of England. Two men have just witnessed something heinous and are told by the local priest that they must confess and do penance. This confession is written and sealed and after he mails it off, the priest is killed. In present times in the same town, while restoring an ancient church, architect Don Whitby and young research historian Margeaux Wood discover rare gargoyles mysteriously positioned inside an ancient church. When people in town start dying in a series of bizarre murders, they determine that the gargoyles are predicting these murders. In the past, two families are involved in contesting control of the region and in the middle of these conflicts, the same bizarre murders are being committed. These family disputes resurface five hundred years later and come to a surprising and violent conclusion during All Hallow’s Eve.

In the Preface, the author writes that “while the storyline and characters in this novel are fictional, the discovery of rare half demonic-half human wooden figures carved in the ceiling of the parish of St. Clement is a true event” and this is enough to lure fans of historical fiction. The action moves effortlessly back and forth between the past and the present without losing steam and gives the illusion of a story being told in a split screen. His use of descriptive language brings the scenes brilliantly to life, “…he was surprised how dark it was despite the daylight coming through the windows and illuminating the floor far below. Margeaux grimaced at the dust, spider webs, and acrid odor of creosote as Don fiddled with a flashlight…” It is an intriguing and suspenseful novel and the last few chapters are definite page turners. There is not much character development or back story but, in this case, it works because the focus is on the story. In a refreshing twist, the hero and the bad guy are not who he or she seem to be from the beginning. The only off-putting part is the bloody cockfighting and bear baiting in Chapter Five which serves to spotlight the character’s blood lust, but otherwise it is a must-read for fans of the genre.

*A copy of this book was received for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are solely the author’s.