Reviews | Chanticleer Book Reviews

An Editorial Review of “Measure of Danger” by Jay Klages

2016-12-17T12:15:41-08:00By P Beason|

Kade Sims feels he has been unfairly dumped from his former position in Army Intelligence because of out-of-control behavior due to a condition called hypomania. He’s bored, out of shape, and stuck working part-time at Home Depot instead of at the Pentagon. So when the FBI knocks on his door of his Virginia apartment and asks him to go undercover in Oregon to infiltrate a mysterious quasi-militia group called The Chapter, he’s eager to go to work for his country again. "Measure of Danger," Jay Klages’ debut novel is a page-turning techno-thriller written by a former military intelligence officer and a West Point graduate.

An Editorial Review of “Dark Seed” by Lawrence Verigin

2020-02-20T14:06:49-08:00By P Beason|

This thriller’s premise of international corporations controlling the food supply and sacrificing human health for the sake of profits is so plausible that it is horrifying. Readers will find themselves rapidly turning the pages to see what happens next in this disturbing “OMG this could really happen” novel. A strong debut novel by Lawrence Verigin that adeptly tackles the pertinent and socially relevant topic of GMO’s with tight writing and fast-paced action.

An Editorial Review of “Dark Seed” by Lawrence Verigin

2016-06-28T15:06:34-07:00By Argus Brown|

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An Editorial Review of “Double or Nothing” by Meg Mims

2016-12-17T12:15:42-08:00By T. Mitchell|

The mystery is set during the rough and tumble California mining days of 1869. Meg Mims vividly brings these times to life with her accurate historical research and her clear and striking imagery of bustling towns, dangerous quicksilver mines, and rugged landscapes. An entertaining Western mystery read with just the right amount of romance.

An Editorial Review of “Home Fires” by Judith Kirscht

2014-10-01T15:21:38-07:00By A. Libey|

"Home Fires" is an intelligently written, fast-paced family drama that unfolds into a suspenseful page-turner. Although this novel masterfully renders the emotional hardships and tragedies that are sometimes part of dysfunctional relationships, it is not a depressing read.

An Editorial Review of “Ephemeral Palaces” by Nancy Foshee

2014-10-01T15:01:54-07:00By kbrown|

Shakespearean charades and surprises ensue when one of the Chicago’s most prominent and most eligible young heiresses, Alexandra Schaffer, beguiles an up-and-coming young architect, Logan McConnell. Foshee adds elements of mystery and suspense, with a dash of ominous threats to this cozy romantic story that takes place in the shadows of Chicago World's Fair during the Gilded Age. An engaging historical novel that was well-researched and a pleasure for this reviewer to have read.

An Editorial Review of “All is Silence” by Robert L. Slater

2014-10-01T14:50:14-07:00By Virginia Herrick|

Slater juxtaposes the tragic with the darkly comic. He grabs our heartstrings even as he keeps us snorting with laughter at the probability that, yes, this is just what a group of random teens would do if suddenly thrust into this Apocalyptic world. He draws us into a familiar-yet-drastically-changed world and makes us care about his cranky, vulnerable, sometime-exasperating, always-engaging characters.

An Editorial Review of “Spirit Legacy” by E.E. Holmes

2016-12-17T12:15:42-08:00By L. Costantino|

E.E. Holmes’ YA paranormal thriller starts out strong and just keeps getting stronger, revealing a storyline that’s believable in large part to its well-drawn characters, its accurate depiction of college life, and the familial compassion that surfaces along with the long-held secrets.

Editorial Review of “Legend of the Wyakin” by David G. Rasmussen

2016-12-17T12:15:42-08:00By S. J. Stanton|

As chapter one begins, Rasmussen takes us back to June 1865 when the Gold Rush was in full swing, as Captain Phillip La Mar, in the wheelhouse of his stern-wheel riverboat, Jupiter, enters the day's events in the logbook. His major concern is that three crewmen have cholera—the deadly scourge of the riverboats that ply the Missouri River, carrying freight and passengers destined for Fort Benton (Montana) and the goldfields beyond.

An Editorial Review of “The Falling Sky” by Pippa Goldschmidt

2016-12-17T12:15:42-08:00By Kirk Smith|

What would it be like to discover two connected galaxies that The Big Bang theory says are impossible? Not many people have even imagined facing this question, but in "The Falling Sky" Pippa Goldschmidt takes readers into the mind of an astronomer whose research presents these findings. This conundrum creates a human drama as fraught with turmoil and heartache as any found in the best novels of any genre.