Must read murder mystery couched in a darkly fantastical world

I’m not a fan of explicit gore portrayed in much of today’s horror genre but I do enjoy elevated horror and dark fantasy thrillers that leave something to the imagination. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Umbrate by A.D Jones, but the back cover intrigued me. A detective story in a world with Humans, Dwarves, Elves, and “the shadowy Umbral populace.” I read the opening pages and decided to give it a read and so pleased I did.

The story unfolds through the perspective of the complex human protagonist, Detective Vanic Bradley. A good guy, but troubled and flawed, and full of regrets. But he is good at his job. The “shadowy” Umbrals are introduced through Vanic’s nightmares as he relives a haunting encounter. Its physical features sounded zombieish. I thought, Oh no! The Umbrals are zombies. (Zombies are my least favorite ghouls because they tend to be mindless, indestructible, decrepit creatures that kill and turn people into zombies often within a shallow predictable plot. That is not the case in Umbrate. The Umbraals are calculating humanoids that can be the good guys or the bad guys and live integrated into society elevating the question of who to believe and trust.

One of the things I enjoyed most in this story is Vanic’s growth as a character. As the plot unfolded I cared about him more and more as his viewpoint transformed. He faces difficult choices in an extremely high-risk situation that gradually brings about personal growth and an evolution of his Umbral perception and with it, mine.

I recommend Umbrate to readers who enjoy unpredictable, suspenseful, high-stakes murder mysteries couched in a darkly fantastical world. This whodunnit crime mystery is rife with action, danger, and adventure, with a dash of romance and plenty of drama. The writing hooked me at the start and pulled me along to a satisfying end. I highly recommend this book to people who like elevated horror, dark fantasy, and detective stories. I'm happy to give it 5 out of 5 stars.

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I received a copy of this book through Black Phoenix Book Tours and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

 

Crime thriller that won't disappoint!

Fireson Bay by G. G. Stokes is a psychological thriller rife with action, suspense, drama, romance, and clever unpredictable plot twists. Agent Bay takes on a dead cop case and with the help of small-town Coroner Dr. Lucretia Cook is soon on the trail of a serial killer. I was into it from the start and the breathtaking pacing kept the pages turning with the discovery that all the victims are all serial killers. I was thinking, this would make a great movie!

 

Cook and Fireson fall in love and their relationship adds depth to the plot with all kinds of things raising questions about her. She’s a secretive person with a dysfunctional family past. When an attempt is made on her life it raises more questions. Does she know something that could help catch the serial killer? OR Is she a serial killer? OR is she a woman who has suffered great loss in the past and it affects her present?

Check out the TikTok Review here 

Bookhookup Review: Fireson Bay

I don’t want to say too much because I wouldn’t want to spoil this read for anyone. I think it will make my top ten list for 2024. What I will say is that I loved untangling this murder mystery and trying to figure out who dunnit. But I didn’t know until the reveal at the end. If you enjoy crime thriller mysteries that take a twist that turns everything on its head Fireson Bay will not disappoint! Highly recommend it to those who enjoy books like DCI Harry Grimm CrimeThrillers by David J. Gatward. Fireson Bay delivers it all with a side of romance. I am happy to award Fireson Bay 5 out of 5 stars and I look forward to reading Fireson Bay: Resurrection (book 2).

 

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As BookHookup, I am a longtime book reviewer. I received a free review copy of this book from the author and have not received compensation for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites

Historical Family Life Fiction

At the Far End of Nowhere by Christine Davis Merriman centers around a young girl by the name of Lissa Power as she narrates her life from pre-kindergarten to young adulthood. I grew up in the 50s, and this historical fiction carried me along memory lane to a different time when life was simpler but also more challenging. The flow of the storytelling is never stagnant but drifts like a river compelling the reader onto the next page. Sometimes gently with pleasant reminiscing and other times with turbulence. But it is never stagnant. It holds the attention and engages heartfelt emotions as the reader experiences life through the eyes of childhood innocence as Lissa navigates her financially needy home life which is also emotionally deficient but demanding. 

Her mother is a hard-working plain woman who long ago settled for her lot in life. Her older brother Spence is close to his mother and is often unengaged because of the critical need for perfection from his obsessive-compulsive father. Lissa’s relationship with her “Daddy” is at the heart of the story. He is in his 70s when she is born; an inventor and watchmaker. Lissa thinks the world of him. He in turn wants his daughter to be “perfect like his other inventions.” This highlights the crux of the issue between father and daughter as time goes on. He does love her but it is a stifling love. And she does love him unselfishly, but always questions if she is making the right decision.

At age twelve Lissa loses her mother to breast cancer. Household responsibilities like cleaning the house, doing laundry, and making meals fell on her shoulders along with going to school. By this time her Daddy is 84 years old and they live in a rundown farmhouse that belonged to Lissa’s grandparents before they died. Daddy is lonely and still has two young children to provide for and he becomes even more restrictive limiting where Lissa can go and what she can do in his effort to protect her.

 

Book review: At the Far End of Nowhere

The setting for this fictional autobiography traverses three decades with a narrative arc that provides the framework for a cohesive engaging path to follow. It’s a good-old-days story that reveals the good old days weren’t always “happy days.” At the Far End of Nowhere navigates topics including hidden pasts, sexual trauma, losing a parent, living in poverty, loneliness, caring for an aging parent, and death. I enjoyed Merriman’s storytelling and am happy to give At the Far End of Nowhere 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to baby boomers, people who read coming-of-age historical fiction, or who enjoy familylife fiction.

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As BookHookup, I am a longtime book reviewer. I received a free review copy of this book from BookTasters and have not received compensation for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites