Mystery | Chanticleer Book Reviews

An Editorial Review of “Raven’s Run” by John D. Trudel

2016-12-17T12:15:40-08:00By J. Parry|

A covert CIA mission gone sideways, a harrowing post-WWI transatlantic flight, and a research facility with “remote viewing” capabilities: three seemingly separate stories woven across time and locations bring us to the brink of an attack that would annihilate North America in this entertaining and suspenseful novel titled "Raven’s Run."Mechanical techies will enjoy Raven’s Run’s detailing of weaponry and engine mechanics on airplanes and ships, in both military and private use. Trudel challenges some widely held positions on climate change, Islam, the JFK assassination, Vietnam, international incidents occurring between WWII and today.

An Editorial Review of “Cornered” by Alan Brenham

2016-12-17T12:15:40-08:00By D Beaumier|

Detective Matt Brady is up to his eyeballs in work and about to lose his last chance at redemption if his case is handed over to the FBI. This fast and furious read covers multiple character perspectives and leaves the reader constantly wondering what could happen next.The reader spends equal times with villains and heroes, making the story focus more on the people than the criminal acts being committed.

An Editorial Review of “An Ex to Grind in Deadwood” by Ann Charles

2014-09-22T17:49:32-07:00By kbrown|

Fresh writing, lovable quirky characters, a good dose of randiness, peculiar situations (I have no idea how Ann Charles comes up with this stuff, but it makes for an entertaining read), and clever surprises at every twist and turn. An "Ex to Grind" keeps the laughs coming or the suspense building.

An Editorial Review of “Swamp Secret” by Eleanor Tatum

2014-10-02T13:22:59-07:00By K. Hess|

Clever dialogue, humor, and a healthy dose of romance between Alex and Jillian will surely delight romance readers. Providing a deft balance of romance and mystery, Eleanor Tatum plants intriguing clues and steadily builds suspense in a way that had this reviewer eagerly turning the pages to discover who is embezzling town funds and endangering the lives of its citizens.

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 “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 “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.

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 “Fathers House” by C. Edward Baldwin

2016-12-17T12:15:44-08:00By D Beaumier|

The twists and turns of Fathers House will satisfy readers who find non-obvious connections connecting devilishly amusing. Juxtaposition of the bribery, murders, and power plays against Baldwin’s subliminal questioning of free will and what really drives all of our lives is not highlighted in an initial reading, but in the undercurrent subtext. This is yet another example of how Baldwin’s story engages the reader in unexpected ways. Often times the grotesque scenes of the novel are juxtaposed with people simply living life, dealing with paperwork, or stuck on a stagnate case they don’t understand.