Reviews

From the Booking Desk: Losing my mother this past March really threw my reading schedule for a loop, so I am trying to catch up on some reviews that are overdue. While these reviews are not as long as some I post here on BOLO Books, these novels are no less worthy of...

Genre fiction is too often criticized for producing generic, cookie-cutter works that fail to stretch the boundaries of what can be accomplished via the written word. But if one has any doubt about the vitality of modern crime fiction, a simple look at recent and...

It has been over five years since Chris Holm’s last novel, but clearly with the release of Child Zero readers will see that he hasn’t just been resting on his laurels. Child Zero represents an evolution in Chris Holm’s journey as an author and readers will almost...

A Killing Rain is the second novel in Faye Snowden’s series featuring Raven Burns. The first book, A Killing Fire, left quite a few dangling plot threads, so readers who prefer to follow a series from the beginning will want to start there, but for those that can...

Novels from University Presses have an uphill battle in the general marketplace, largely due to the lack of marketing money thrown in their direction, however quality does tend to rise to the surface as fans recently saw when Erin Flanagan’s Deer Season – a...

Readers can take an international journey with crime novelist Dervla McTiernan. The author is based in Australia and after three novels in her critically-acclaimed Cormac Reilly series – which takes place in Ireland – she now turns her pen to a standalone suspense...

Rob Osler’s debut mystery novel, Devil’s Chew Toy, is a rollicking romp through the tropes of the cozy sub-genre fronted by a gay main character – Hayden McCall – and his clique of diverse sidekicks. Readers will be having so much fun following this gang’s escapades...

After three excellent books in his Hester Thursby series, Edwin Hill is now releasing a tangentially connected standalone novel called The Secrets We Share, which further elevates his storytelling prowess – entrancing readers and leaving them anxious for more. Natalie...

Peter Swanson is one of those writers who can grab a reader’s attention simply with the briefest of plot descriptions. For example: a killer is recreating murders from classic crime novels (Eight Perfect Murders). Or a woman swaps homes with a distant cousin who might...

Alex Segura’s career path in crime fiction – while enviable – is the result of hard-work and determination bolstered by a truly exuberant personality and genuine respect for those he has met along the journey. When his new novel, Secret Identity, hits the shelves next...

Some people are just born storytellers, able to craft narratives that feature fascinating characters in compelling plots with an ease that seems magical. Add Kellye Garrett to that list. After two nearly perfect light-hearted cozy mysteries, Garrett turns her pen to...

The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill by C. S. Robertson is the type of book that once read is not easily forgotten. The impact lingers for a multitude of reasons, but they all boil down to the fact that Robertson is a gifted talent who uses all the tricks in the...

James Patterson is a legend of the crime fiction genre. Whether readers enjoy his books or not, there is no denying that his philanthropic contributions to independent bookstores across the country has helped many of them weather difficult times. His output of work is...

As readers, occasionally we want one of those narratives that can be consumed in just one or two sittings, providing a fully-rounded experience with minimal time investment. But those books should never be confused with being simple or light. Take for example, Cold by...

Finlay Donovan is Killing It, the delightful series debut by Elle Cosimano was recently nominated for the Best Humorous Mystery Novel of 2021 as part of Left Coast Crime’s Lefty Awards. Next week, the sequel – Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead – will be released and fans...

Lisa Lutz is one of crime fiction’s most unpredictable practitioners. Opening a new Lisa Lutz novel is like taking a step into the dark unknown, aware that potential danger lurks around every turn as the storyline coils its labyrinthine path to unexpected places. This...

The winter months are the perfect time to read The Overnight Guest, Heather Gudenkauf’s newest thriller teeming with suspense, shocks, and plenty of snow. Throughout her career, Gudenkauf has proven herself adapt at crafting complex storylines that rarely proceed in...

Thousands of books are published every year and yet the reading public only becomes aware of a small cross-section of those titles. Marketing teams at the big publishers and the limited space at mainstream media outlets often dictate how widespread knowledge of a...

Real Tigers is the third full-length novel in Mick Herron’s Slough House series. While the first two books in the series laid the important groundwork, it is in Real Tigers where all the various elements come together to create a near-perfect spy novel. Real Tigers...

Looking at the description of Allison Brennan’s The Sorority Murder, readers will notice a number of crime fiction tropes are in play – the death of a young (female) college student, a podcast hoping to solve this cold case, a missing diary, a plot that unspools...