Reviews
The Grapevine – The BOLO Books Review
Alexandra Sokoloff (Huntress Moon) and Craig Robertson (Random) have been entertaining readers for many years with their various crime fiction releases, but with the appearance of The Grapevine, this married couple join forces for the first time. Billed as The Lost...
Waves of Burden – The BOLO Books Review
Curtis Ippolito’s Burying the Newspaper Man remains one of the under-appreciated gems of the neo-noir movement in crime fiction. With the release of his second full-length work—Waves of Burden—Ippolito proves that his success was no accident. This is a writer who...
Dissection of a Murder – The BOLO Books Review
Jo Murray’s debut novel, Dissection of a Murder, is a serious contender for best crime fiction release of the year. Jo Murray is a former criminal barrister from North Yorkshire and her training and career bring incredible verisimilitude to her creative writing. Fans...
A Double Life – A BOLO Books “Sidebar” Review
“Sidebar” Reviews are extremely early reviews designed to encourage readers to pre-order novels that will be released later in the year. Mikita Brottman is probably most well known for her 2018 true crime release, An Unexplained Death, about the mysterious death at...
Incarnate – A BOLO Books “Sidebar” Review
"Sidebar" Reviews are extremely early reviews designed to encourage readers to pre-order novels that will be released later in the year. Some of the best horror fiction manages to depict real-world societal problems in such an extreme way that the risks are undeniable...
The Last Mandarin – The BOLO Books Review
To the uninitiated, Louise Penny writing a political thriller may seem incongruous, but it doesn’t take much digging to understand just how natural a progression the release of The Last Mandarin actually is. As far back as The Nature of the Beast, readers began to see...
My Husband’s Wife – The BOLO Books Review
My Husband’s Wife is Alice Feeney’s addictive eighth novel, in which she continues to showcase her unparalleled skills at crafting the unexpected twist within crime plots that straddle the delicate line between realism and ridiculousness. Alice Feeney’s stock-in-trade...
Cover Reveal – On the Road with Del & Louise
From the Booking Desk: Back in 2015, Art Taylor published his novel-in-stories--On the Road with Del & Louise--to great acclaim. That book would go on to win the Agatha Award for Best First novel. Unfortunately, the book has been out of print for a while now, so...
Murder Will Out – The BOLO Books Review
Readers love debut novels. There is just something intoxicating about discovering a new talent on the cusp of their career. Be sure to keep your eye on debut awards for the inside scoop on the next hottest thing. For example, Jennifer K. Breedlove’s Murder Will Out...
A Song for Katy Shayne – The BOLO Books Review
Jim Fusilli has been a solid name in the crime fiction community for years. Racking up accolades and honors for his own work, Jim Fusilli is one of those authors who is constantly giving back to his community by spotlighting colleagues on his popular podcast, Writers...
How to Get Away with Murder – The BOLO Books Review
One of the key tenets of most crime fiction is justice—seeking justice, evading justice, or some combination of the two. There are books where justice is ultimately denied, but even in those cases, readers find a sense of comfort in the efforts made toward...
No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done – The BOLO Books Review
Sophie Hannah has built a career by writing seemingly preposterous plots that somehow make completely logical sense when filtered through her wickedly creative mind. Now with the release of No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done, she may have taken this hallmark...
The Housewife Next Door – The BOLO Books Review
After years of success in other subgenres, LynDee Walker released her first domestic suspense novel, The Pastor’s Wife, to great acclaim last year—even snagging a spot on the coveted Top Reads of 2025 According to BOLO Books list. She is keeping that positive momentum...
The Hindenburg Spy – The BOLO Books Review
Fans of thrilling historical escapades will end the year on a high note with The Hindenburg Spy. By opening the pages of L.A. Chandlar’s The Hindenburg Spy, readers allow the author to transport them to a meticulously recreated historical setting, populated with all...
Top Reads of 2025 According to BOLO Books
As usual, I have taken this task of selecting my Top Reads List very seriously and really struggled to make sure the list commemorates my favorite books of the year. Simply put, sometimes this means splitting hairs and having to leave off books that I truly loved but...
Quantum of Menace – The BOLO Books Review
There are few things as audacious as attempting to continue writing books in a beloved series after the original author has passed on, but more and more we are seeing the estates of legendary writers reaching out to contemporary authors to do just that. The beauty in...
Quick Reads – Three BOLO Books Reviews
From the Booking Desk: Making time to read during the holiday season can be challenging, but do not worry. Here are three excellent books that can be read in just a few sittings that will also make great last minute holiday gifts for the readers in your life. The...
Crimson Thaw – The BOLO Books Review
As a former police detective, Bruce Robert Coffin knows the ins and outs of law enforcement and the toll it can take on the individual. As a writer, Bruce Robert Coffin knows exactly how to use his knowledge for best effect without over burdening the narrative with...
Watch Us Fall – The BOLO Books Review
Christina Kovac, a former journalist, used her background knowledge of the political news industry to propel her debut novel, The Cutaway, onto reader and critic radars several years ago. She now returns with Watch Us Fall—a incisive look at friendship and love that...
The Wasp Trap – The BOLO Books Review
With The Wasp Trap, Mark Edwards takes two very common crime fiction tropes, merges them, and then turns them on their heads—creating one gripping read in the process. The first trope is the closed circle of suspects: a group of people in an isolated locale who are...