KN Magazine: Reviews

7/14/15 7/14/15

"Picture Them Dead" by Brynn Bonner / Reviewed by Kimn Hinkson

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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Picture Them Dead is the third “whodunit” mystery from Brynn Bonner, who brings to the shelves a family mystery set in the social media age featuring duo professional genealogists, Sophreena McClure and Esme Sabatier. These two local-ladies are drawn into a bizarre mystery when detectives ask for their help.

But Sophreena and Esme’s prowess as a team is put to the test when an unidentified corpse is discovered in a glass coffin. And, as curious parties descend upon the macabre sight, soon the body of a young woman is found near the memorial and the team is pushed along into a full-scale inquiry of the history behind the house where the coffin was found and its previous owners.

A tidy writing style with courteous dialogue, Brynn Bonner’s characters teem with family flavor; even the criminals emit a sense of cloying concern. Moreover, surrounded by chaos, the protagonists manage to keep up their personal lives in spite of the crazy clutter.

Bonner depicts these women’s lives with a show of balance between maintaining romances and relations by day and exploring suspicious activity by night. For example, in connection to the case, they root out strange past activities of a primal and exotic community of youths who seem to change overnight from bohemians to mystics.

While Bonner’s supernatural undertone manifests ridiculously somehow it adds a naïve charm to the personalities of her novel while rationally keeping within the bounds of explained crime, and hinting at witchery.

This book is worth checking out.

Kimn Hinkson is like most over-caffeinated, introverted bibliophiles: indifferent to most other items on the planet. Finding that works of literature, opposed to human beings, lend their gifts absolutely free to those who brave the page, she has procured a sense of forbearance via reading in order to survive this otherwise impoverished existence. Other readers are already familiar with the pretty words they give to the most adverse, uncongenial characters. Somewhere between an insurrectionist and a mereological nihilist, Kimn is one of them.

(If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the irreplaceable assistance of Clay Janeway, Maria Giordano, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com)

*Killer Nashville is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you purchase a book from the links on this page, Amazon will give Killer Nashville a small percentage of the total sale. Killer Nashville receives zero compensation (other than sometimes the book to review) from publishers who have been selected for the Book of the Day.

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7/9/15 7/9/15

Remember Me This Way by Sabine Durrant / Reviewed by Meaghan Hill

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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How well do you know your significant other? After reading “Remember Me This Way”, Sabine Durrant will have readers second-guessing those with whom they share their lives.

“Remember Me This Way” is the story of Zach and Lizzie Carter and their tumultuous relationship as told through the couple’s alternating points of view. But Zach’s mental illness and controlling ways leads Lizzie to leave Zach and their life together. For fear of telling him in person, Lizzie writes Zach a good-bye letter; the next day Zach is found dead.

Dealing with the grief and guilt from her husband’s death, Lizzie returns to the place of Zach’s accident one year later. Expecting to close this chapter of her life, Lizzie is surprised to see a bouquet of flowers and a note addressed to her late husband from a mysterious woman, Xenia. Who is this woman and how does she know Lizzie’s husband?

More questions surface when even stranger events unfold. She finds a pair of Zach’s boots. An art studio is destroyed, a mysterious MacBook Air is left behind, and several household items are missing. Lizzie becomes convinced that Zach is still alive and has come back into her life to stalk her. And, with two of Zach’s past lovers dead, could Lizzie become Zach’s next victim?

Lizzie sets out to find out Zach’s secrets by reading his diary, and what she finds will leave her and readers in a heart-pounding suspense. Will she find Zach before he finds her?

A thrilling cat and mouse game, “Remember Me This Way” will leave readers looking over their shoulders.

Meaghan Hill is a Tennessee native navigating post-college life. She is a writer, traveler, coffee addict, and adventurer. When she is not busy pursuing her graduate degree at MTSU, she can be found searching for and renovating antiques.

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7/7/15 7/7/15

The Friendship of Criminals by Robert Glinski / Reviewed by Cole Meador

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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Reminiscent of mobster classics such as Mario Puzo’s The Godfather and Nicholas Peliggi’s Casino, newcomer Robert Glinski brings the heat to the streets with his debut novel The Friendship of Criminals. Drawing upon his real-life experiences as a criminal defense attorney, Glinski adds dashes of grittiness and darkness to a wonderfully violent and absolutely thrilling story.

Set in the sin-soaked streets and high-rises of Philadelphia, the book follows several gangster groups, each notorious for their white and blue-collar crimes. Race is a dominant theme in The Friendship of Criminals, with Italians, Poles, and Cubans clawing at one another’s throats while also making backhanded deals under the table. A seedy underworld filled with dangerous individuals, Philly becomes a playground for the mob, with gun battles and heists galore.

Port Richmond, populated by the Polish mob, is particularly a place any decent person would want to avoid at all costs. A neighborhood run by the hardened Bielakowski family and a gruff, no-BS gun supplier, Port Richmond sets the stage for a pulse-racing plot that explodes near the end with a satisfying finish. After the conclusion, I was left wanting more and will be impatiently waiting for Robert Glinski’s next novel, be it mobster-oriented or not. A voracious literary appetite can only be held back for so long!

As for Robert Glinski’s personal writing style, I was thoroughly impressed with the entrancing way he is able to weave together a first person narrative while still showing a broad outside view of the conflicts in his story. I felt like I was reading from a seasoned author, a writer who knows his way around the words like familiar friends. This led me to enjoy Mr. Glinski’s story even more, as I became immersed in its various plotlines and twisted characters. I would easily recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an intense crime thriller with a taste of old-fashioned justice.

Cole Meador is a full-time student pursuing a B.A. in Creative Writing. When he isn’t writing poems or short stories, he spends his time frequenting Nashville coffee shops, planning his next road trip, and attending any and all concerts he can. Cole aspires to work in the music industry, while continuing to pursue his passionate love for the written word.

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7/2/15 7/2/15

Flame Out by M.P. Cooley / Reviewed by Briana Goodchild

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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Ice Shear is the first book of the June Lyons series

The smell of gasoline creeps through the air as ex-FBI, turned small-town police officer, Juniper “June” Lyons drives past the old Sleep-Tite Factory; the Factory is in flames. As the fiery scene erupts in chaos, a mysterious and badly burned woman emerges from the building. Who is this woman, and what is she doing in the abandoned factory?

In the charred aftermath of the fire, the investigation for arson and of “Jane Doe” begins, where officers soon find barrels of Tris, a toxic chemical banned in the 1970’s, behind a false wall. With the help of June’s partner Dave and forensic specialist Annie, the barrels prove to hold more than just toxic chemicals as they discover the mangled body of a woman.

DNA results reveal that the “Jane Doe” burn victim is in fact Louisa Lawler, local woman believed to have been murdered by her husband in 1983; the same infamous murder case that June’s fathered worked as the lead investigator at the time. With Louisa confirmed alive, the reader is left with many questions. If Louisa is alive, then where has she been all these years? Who is the dead woman in the barrel? Could Louisa be a murderer?

As the pieces begin to fall into place, June is faced with unwavering loyalties, hidden political agenda’s, and bloody family ties. Flame Out will leave readers hanging on the edge of their seats. This novel proves unforgiving in its plot, but is just too good to put down.

Briana Goodchild is on the verge of becoming a bibliophile and is currently a student of English Literature and Drama. Like any book reader she enjoys a strong cup of tea and an enticing story to match. Occasionally, when diving into the Mystery Genre, caffeine is required.

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7/1/15 7/1/15

The Long High Noon by Loren D. Estleman / Reviewed by Brianna Goodchild

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Loren D. Estleman Credit: Deborah Morgan

The Long High Noon by Loren D. Estleman
Reviewed by Brianna Goodchild

In Loren D. Estleman’s latest novel, The Long High Noon, Randy Locke and Frank Farmer are dead set on killing one another. Since their early twenties, they have been locked in a notorious, yet entertaining duel throughout the untamed West. Whenever one of them comes into shooting range of the other, one can expect gunfire within seconds.

Besides their wounded egos, Randy has a permanent limp from a horse riding accident and Frank has constant pain in his chest as well as a prosthetic ear. Both gifts bestowed onto one another via bullets after their first encounter in BlueBottle Saloon in El Paso.

Perhaps the duel started over the affections of a mystery woman, or related to finances, or a claim to a desirable piece of land? Whatever the reason, Abraham Cripplehorn (a.k.a. Jack Dodger) wants in on the action. An entrepreneur and professional liar with a handcrafted ivory eye, Cripplehorn is set on making a fortune from Locke and Farmer’s feud after reading about them in the Chicago Tribune.

After yet another duel in the woods outside of Oakland, California, Cripplehorn convinces the men to finish the fight in San Francisco, where he promises glory and fame to the winner.

However, the men are met with a new law posted by the Governor of California, who promises execution to anyone who participates in contests that could result in human death. So, the men go farther south to perform in an “Exhibition of the Century” for the ultimate duel to the death.

Who will be the last man standing?

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6/30/15 6/30/15

"Gun Street Girl" by Adrian McKinty / Reviewed by Maria Giordano

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Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKinty
Reviewed by Maria Giordano

Detective Sean Duffy is man out of water, or under water, depending on how you view this pack-a-day smoker using vodka gimlets and recreational drugs just to get by.

Still, there’s something endearing about this no-nonsense sleuth author Adrian McKinty has created. In this third book of the Detective Duffy series, the Irish-Catholic detective has some bad habits, but he is tough, maybe stupid tough at times. But he proves time after time, he’s the guy you want by your side to solve crime.

Gun Street Girl begins with the murder of an affluent couple supposedly killed by their embattled son, except he ends up dead, too. As the bodies start piling up, Duffy and his motley crew uncover layer upon layer of the the crime that takes them from North Ireland to London and back, face-to-face with an oddly familiar American operative, vengeful union leaders, and the mysterious disappearance of dangerous missiles, all during a tumultuous time in Northern Ireland’s history.

Set during the mid-1980s after the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, Duffy also serves as an unlikely historian educating the reader about the chaos transpiring in his country. His investigation is stymied when he and his team must serve as riot police, often becoming targets of civil unrest. In addition, Duffy is a Catholic working among mostly Protestants making him also a target of prejudice.

While all this might sound like complex stuff, McKinty serves up Gun Street Girl simply with deadpan humor, and a lot of booze. It’s also action-packed with glimpses of the Irish culture and countryside. From blacked-out helicopters and MI6 associates, there’s truly never a dull moment.

McKinty also masterfully sets the tone nicely and subtly with Duffy’s musical taste. From the blues to punk to classical, music is the conveyance that drives both the reader and this melancholy detective onward.

Maria Giordano is wannabe superhero. She loves reading, seeing films, and catching the eclectic sounds found in Nashville, Tennessee.

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6/25/15 6/25/15

"Method 15/33" by Shannon Kirk / Reviewed by Garrett Crowell

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Method 15/33 by Shannon Kirk
Reviewed by Garrett Crowell

The female victim revenge fantasy is as old as male writers and artists splattering their misogyny across art. (Probably older.) Sometimes this is subtext and sometimes not, and the response to it from women artists ranges from simply cathartic to over-the-top violence.

From the classic movie I Spit on Your Grave to this book Method 15/33 as an endpoint (until someone moves the line further out), the tradition dictates that the woman at the heart of the situation be victimized before she can overcome, in order to provide motivation. Part of the suspense for the reader in these situations would presumably be hand-in-hand with wondering if our heroine's plan for revenge will be successful, but Kirk makes the unusual decision to reveal the “whether or not” right away

Her protagonist, whose name we do not learn until late in the game, is a sixteen-year-old pregnant genius, abducted from roadside. From the start, we are urged to look at her as an uncommon breed of girl who will attempt to triumph over what would, for anyone else, be a horrible situation. The book dovetails from her experiences in the hands of her captors to the activities of the FBI team investigating her disappearance, using the chapter divides to switch back and forth between the actions throughout.

Kirk’s protagonist’s mental lists of “assets” keep us abreast of the plan until its fully revealed, and the subsequent events then tumble into an arc of justice for the characters that unfolds until the final page. A lot of action is interspersed with the dynamic thinking of the main character, and the book will hold some charm for fans of James Patterson, MacGyver, and Silence of the Lambs.

Garrett C. Crowell is a Nashville native, Murfreesboro Librarian, husband, and father of two. He reads more than 100 books a year and likes some of them.

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6/23/15 6/23/15

"My Sunshine Away" by M.O. Walsh / Reviewed by M.K. Sealy

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My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh
Reviewed by M.K. Sealy

The New York Times, Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist, alongside authors like Anne Rice, Tom Franklin, and Kathryn Stockett have given M. O. Walsh’s My Sunshine Awayaccolade upon accolade, yet I found describing the novel to be difficult. Hailed as a Southern gothic piece of art, My Sunshine Away (Walsh’s debut novel), is, by far, one of the best pieces of fiction that I have encountered in months and utterly beyond the fumbling words of this reviewer.

The writing style of My Sunshine Away is crisp, clear, unique to Walsh, and so hypnotizing that I did not realize that I was consuming it so quickly until I came to the final page, astonished and with the satisfaction that only an extraordinary novel can provide.

Here’s why: Within the first five pages, we discover in 1989, a girl was raped in a seemingly quiet, friendly neighborhood in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a hot, tepid place; no arrests were made; and our narrator was one of four suspects in the rape case. Immediately, the storyline, the prose, and the narrator grip us, as we are engulfed in the humid air, sounds of children playing, and the tragedy and mystery of what happened to Lindy Simpson and how our narrator was involved.

Written with the narrator contemplating the events in hindsight, My Sunshine Away allows Walsh to incorporate important emotional and psychological elements into the story that, admittedly, were greatly influenced by his own childhood. Less concerned with nostalgia and more interested in the wonder of childhood, My Sunshine Away is an excellent novel and one that I highly recommend.

M. K. Sealy earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in literature from a Nashville university. She is a copyeditor for a Nashville-based publication, but also writes poetry, fiction, and is currently attempting a screenplay, all while working to obtain a Master of Education.

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6/22/15 6/22/15

"Nagasaki" by Éric Faye, Translated by Emily Boyce / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

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Portrait de Eric Faye, dans son appartement de Saint-Mand, pour les ditions Stock

Nagasaki by Éric Faye, Translated by Emily Boyce
Reviewed by Clay Stafford

“Only eight centimeters of juice remained, compared to fifteen when I had left for work. Someone had been helping themselves to it. And yet I live alone.”

Once I read that blurb, it pulled me in.

Nagasaki is a novella based loosely on a true story. I read it in one sitting. It is the story of a man who lives alone, but has the strange feeling that someone else might be in the house when he is away. He buys a security camera and sets it up. What he sees surprises him.

The story is told initially from the point-of-view of Shimura Kobo, a fifty-year-old Japanese bachelor who feels ostracized from the rest of the world, as he tries to discover whether someone is invading his home or not. Towards the end of the book, a different perspective is revealed with a story all its own.

I’m not going to say what happens for fear of spoiling. It is a short book. Why not let it unfold on its own? But I will say that I felt for the characters I met. In different ways, they were alone. And maybe sometimes the greatest mystery is what is hidden inside our own hearts. It is this that is explored.

In 2010, the book – originally written in French, but set in Japan – won the Grand Prix from the Academie Francaise. For us, that’s kind of like the French national book award. Our English version has been translated beautifully by Emily Boyce, an in-house translator at Gallic Books. She did a tremendous job. The text flowed. I felt the nuances. It felt, for lack of a better word, very haiku-ish Japanese. I couldn’t have asked for more.

This is a story that you will think about time and again as it addresses the loneliness that each of us feels at times. This is this character’s journey, but in reading it, you might even see your own. Sometimes a soul mate is out there waiting for us. Sometimes it is too late before we realize it. Sometimes we might even realize it just in time.

Clay Stafford is an author / filmmaker (www.ClayStafford.com), founder of Killer Nashville (www.KillerNashville.com) and publisher of Killer Nashville Magazine (www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com). In addition to selling over 1.5 million copies of his own books, Stafford’s latest projects are the documentary “One of the Miracles” (www.OneOfTheMiracles.com) and writing the music CD “XO” with Kathryn Dance / Lincoln Rhymes author Jeffery Deaver (www.JefferDeaverXOMusic.com). He is currently writing a film script based on Peter Straub’s “Pork Pie Hat” for American Blackguard Entertainment (www.AmericanBlackguard.com).

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6/18/15 6/18/15

"The Immune System" by Nathan Larson / Reviewed by Mel Hiers

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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The Immune System by Nathan Larson
Reviewed by Mel Hiers

I love dystopian fiction. The Handmaid’s Tale, I Am Legend, Divergent, it’s all good stuff. The Immune System by Nathan Larson provides the creepiest image of a fallen society out of everything I’ve read of the genre to date: the main branch of the New York Public Library with its “damp marble stairs”, “dead computer monitors”, its bathroom sinks “overflowing with musty river water.” Larson’s main character, Dewey Decimal, can now sit in his underwear and contemplate piles of microfiche in this once iconic institution of learning and culture without being asked to kindly put on pants. Because there’s no one else there to care.

Dewey Decimal’s New York City doesn't seem to have a use for libraries. Its infrastructure is crumbling, the air is noxious, its boroughs controlled by violent gangs. Ordinary people are more focused on the business of surviving. They don’t have the luxury of seeking out information, culture, or entertainment.

Having started with the third book of the trilogy, I feel like I missed out on a lot of the world building that usually occurs in the first one, as well as two-thirds of the story arc. When we first meet Dewey, he’s in the middle of killing a soldier who did the same to one of Dewey’s friends, Dos Mac, in a previous book. He goes on to have a meeting with his employer, a corrupt and evangelical senator who gives him tasks that puts him at odds with his conscience and eventually leads him to a lot of truths about himself, the government, and his world. It bothered me to not know the full significance of Dos Mac's death, or how Dewey came to be under the power of the senator. I wanted to know more about the Valentine’s Day cataclysm that brought the city down and whether it affected the rest of the country. Despite the confusion, it was all compelling enough to make me want to get my hands on the first two to fill in those gaps.

As lost as I sometimes felt in the world and as many plot threads that I missed, I knew I had the complete and complex Dewey right from the start. He is equal parts librarian, professor, soldier, and gangster. He will outright tell the reader as well as other characters exactly who he is and what he’s feeling at any given time. “It’s a disgusting f---ing world. I’m just the narrator, cheesecake.” He’s quick-witted and profane in a very lyrical way. He’s brutal and empathetic. He sometimes sacrifices safety for style, admits it’s a bad idea and does it anyway. This book was well worth reading just to get to know him.

The tone and style of The Immune System very much matches Dewey and his NYC. Brutal, fast-paced, insistent, sometimes confusing, it took me a few chapters to fully integrate myself into the rhythm of the prose. Dewey narrates with a mixture of street slang, profanity, and educated discourse, almost creating his own custom language that, once you acclimate yourself to it, is perfect for the story.

If you’re sensitive to profanity and violence, you might want to give this one a pass. However, readers who enjoy noir or hardboiled mystery, dystopian fiction, or gritty urban fantasy should absolutely try the series. I do recommend starting with The Dewey Decimal System followed by The Nervous System before moving on to this one.

Mel Hiers spends her days at Smyrna Public Library's circulation desk, pushing books on the good people of Rutherford County. She also writes for Linebaugh Library System's Read This Next blog.

(If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the irreplaceable assistance of Meaghan Hill, Maria Giordano, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com)

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6/17/15 6/17/15

"Cat Out of Hell" by Lynne Truss / Reviewed by Briana Goodchild

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Cat Out of Hell by Lynne Truss
Reviewed by Briana Goodchild

“It was the grandest of grand tours. We saw art. We saw architecture. We read books, and learned languages. All this time, the Captain was teaching me to talk, to read, to reason, to memorize.” – Roger, the tabby cat.

Now, you may think to yourself that these are the words of an intelligent, well traveled, and empathetic individual. And, it’s true, only in this case the individual has four limbs and a tail. Yes, my dear readers, this is the story of a talking cat named Roger. A tabby with the voice of Vincent Price, is one of three voices narrating a tale of mystery, murder, and satanic dealings.

If you enjoyed novels by Lynne Truss before, then be prepared for her newest work, an assemblage of voice recordings, emails, and unreliable narration as well as telepathic emails (referred to as e-miaow’s). The setting for these exchanges occur between the Shingle Cottage, where our first narrator, Alec Charlesworth, prepares the reader for a tale of absurdity, and the town of Harville where our second narrator William “Wiggy” Caton-Pines resides. Both are distinguished librarians in the community, yet are the clowns of the story.

Instead, it is Roger (our third narrator) who remains two steps ahead of the game, utilizing every moment to finish telling his story before either the great Cat Master –a human by the name of Prideaux – or Captain, the immortal tabby cat, commits murder.

Raised by Captain, Roger learns how to become an immortal with nine lives and the ability to speak. However, after Captain’s “psychotic possessiveness” leads to the deaths of four humans, Roger realizes how dangerous the game truly is. After being separated for the extent of two World Wars, these relentless felines are finally reunited and freed from servitude via the murder of the Cat Master, a deed done by Roger’s own paws.

Unfortunately, there is no way to describe certain sections of the book without giving away the surprise ending. Suffice it to say, that this comedic mystery story, told through three characters, with unexplainable circumstances, demons, talking cats, and a talking dog named Winston, awaits readers. I urge you to take the road to hell and back.

Briana Goodchild is on the verge of becoming a bibliophile and is currently a student of English Literature and Drama. Like any book reader she enjoys a strong cup of tea and an enticing story to match.

(If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the irreplaceable assistance of Meaghan Hill, Maria Giordano, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com)

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6/16/15 6/16/15

"Camille" by Pierre Lemaitre / Reviewed by Jonathan Thurston

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Camille by Pierre Lemaitre
Reviewed by Jonathan Thurston

Pierre Lemaitre chilled us with Irene. He terrified us with Alex. Now, he comes back with the final act in his thrilling trilogy.

Camillefocuses on our star detective, the Commandant Camille. The novel opens with a robbery of a jewelry store, a robbery that Anne Forestier accidentally walks in on. She is beaten, battered, and shot thrice. Somehow, she survives the gory ordeal, though the criminals even track her to the hospital, where Commandant Camille is now waiting. In a back-and-forth game of chess over Anne’s life, Camille is desperate to find the criminals, not just for justice, but for total vengeance.

Lemaitre’s style is superbly thrilling. The book is broken down minute-by-minute as a literary version of the TV series 24. On top of that, each gritty detail brings the narrative to life. As readers enter into the minds of the criminals, we see the psychological horror that Lemaitre weaves: horror lurks all around, and who can you trust in such a setting? Camille might have to abuse the badge more than a little…

If you like fast-paced crime fiction, this book is definitely for you. Each twist of the plot hits you like a jarring jolt to the heart, and each hit of the hammer pushes that nail in until the very end, when the nail finally goes out the other side. The ending will leave you craving more, but thankfully, Lemaitre gives us time to catch our breath! This tale of vengeance and romance and some of the sickest criminals around will have your heart pounding.

Jonathan W. Thurston is a literary studies graduate student. Aside from his studies, he owns a small publishing house called Thurston Howl Publications and serves as its editor-in-chief. He has written several books on his own and always enjoys reading a good horror novel. When he's not busy with grad school or his business, he is often found reading a good book with hot tea in one hand and his dog Temerita curled up at his feet (she often thinks she is a cat, you see).

(If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the irreplaceable assistance of Meaghan Hill, Maria Giordano, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com)

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6/9/15 6/9/15

"False Tongues" by Kate Charles / Reviewed by Briana Goodchild

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False Tongues by Kate Charles
Reviewed by Briana Goodchild

Callie Anson is a believer in the “big three” of religion: faith, hope, and charity. She also happens to be a reverend with a past that has recently come back to haunt her in the form of her ignorant ex, Adam Masters. But Callie is not the only one with demons in this novel of love, betrayal, and lies.

This fourth installment of the “Callie Anson Mysteries” will exceed all of the readers’ expectations. If you thought the previous adventures were good, wait until you read “False Tongues”!

We begin meeting Callie and her friends Deacon Val Carver, Priest Nicky Lamb, and Priest Tamsin Howells. From there, readers will experience the story through multiple points of view – nine in fact – that are intricately woven; each piece revealing an important clue as to who murdered Sebastian Frost.

Stabbed, tongue split, and left in the middle of Paddington Green, Frost’s death is a reflection of an exhausting war: living with religious pressures and being gay. Parallel to this struggle is the love triangle of Callie Anson, her ex Adam Masters, and her Italian fiancé Mark “Marco” Lambardi. Marco is the partner of Irish Detective Inspector Neville Stewart, both of whom work on the Frost case. In between are the stories of Miranda Frost (Sebastian’s mother), Lilith Noone (reporter from the Daily Globe), and Margaret Phillips (Principal of Archbishop Temple House).

At first glance, none of the stories appear to be connected in any way, they all seem like separate entities that have been placed together for no apparent reason. But then, as the plot thickens and readers fall deeper into the trappings of the characters’ complex lives, we begin to realize that the novel has been set up from the beginning to slowly reveal the connections that each character has to each other; and although some never meet, they nevertheless are linked via another character.

Such a technique can be seen with Josh Bradley, for even though he and Callie do not meet he is arrested by Stewart and Lambardi, the latter being the lover of Callie, and therefore the two become connected. Josh, a gay teenager and classmate of Sebastian Frost, falls victim to a cyber bully gang on Facebook – a gang which Sebastian was part of. He inevitably becomes tied up in the murder, but was he the one who executed the tragic deed?

Intense, secretive, and chock full of modern day complications, “False Tongues” is a well-thought-out novel. Written by the past Chairman of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Barbara Pym society, this novel in no way falls short of the readers’ expectations. Regardless of being a fourth installment, anyone can pick up this story and follow along – you won’t be able to put it down!

Briana Goodchild is on the verge of becoming a bibliophile. Like any book reader she enjoys a strong cup of tea and an enticing story to match. Occasionally, when diving into the page-turning mystery genre, more caffeine is required.

(If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the irreplaceable assistance of Meaghan Hill, Maria Giordano, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com)

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6/4/15 6/4/15

"Shadow Ritual" by Éric Giacometti and Jacques Ravenne / Reviewed by Alycia Gilbert

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase "Shadow Ritual" or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

Shadow Ritual by Éric Giacometti and Jacques Ravenne
Reviewed by Alycia Gilbert

In Éric Giacometti and Jacques Ravenne’s international bestseller “Shadow Ritual”, the past leaks into the future as two murderers leave the Parisian government and an ancient society reeling.

Levelheaded Inspector Antione Marcas must begrudgingly team up with Special Agent Jade Zewinski—a hard-hitting, quick-tempered woman with a wit to match her physical stamina—to solve a crime that links together thousands of years of history and elitist societies that jockey for domination. But with Marcas’ intimate knowledge of Freemasonry as their best asset and Jade’s intense hatred for this brotherhood, the two must overcome their differences in order to track down the murderer of a young archivist.

As Marcas and Jade trace the crime’s origins back through time, the two face Neo-Nazis, a ruthless assassin, and a legendary quest whose prize has been sought after—and killed for—since medieval times.

Fast-paced and chilling “Shadow Ritual” is an electrifying narrative that combines a historical thriller with modern speed and humor. Giacometti and Ravenne seamlessly weave together different cultures and character perspectives. The result is a fuller reading experience that crosses borders—from Rome to Paris to Jerusalem. Translated by Anne Trager “Shadow Ritual” retains its wonderful and distinct storytelling in its transition into English.

Marcas and Jade are both wonderfully intelligent characters, and the villains of the story are particularly striking in their inventive cruelty and elitist agenda. Almost reminiscent of an “Indiana Jones” film with the invocation of WWII and its striking, chilling ending, “Shadow Ritual” will take readers on an adventurous ride.

With the strong duo created in Marcas and Jade along with the story’s intricate, historical plot, “Shadow Ritual” gives crime fiction an original flair. I would recommend this novel to readers who are interested in World War II fiction, modern thrillers, and elements of the occult. I would warn potential readers, however, that the storyline can become a little dark and mildly graphic in its violence. The entire novel is, however, an excellently fun and vivid read, and I can’t wait to see the rest of the series.

Alycia Gilbert is an aspiring writer. Gilbert enjoys penning short stories and poems, and is currently writing her first novel. She acts as editor-in-chief of a university's two literary journals, and loves to help other student writers through editing and strengthening their talents.

(If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the irreplaceable assistance of Meaghan Hill, Maria Giordano, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com)

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6/3/15 6/3/15

"The Dragon of Handale" by Cassandra Clark / Reviewed by Kimn Hinkson

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase "The Dragon of Handale" or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

The "Hangman Blind" is Book One of The Abbess of Meaux Murder Mysteries Series.

The Dragon of Handale by Cassandra Clark
Reviewed by Kimn Hinkson

Cassandra Clark contributes to the medieval-fantasy genre a fast-paced and mystery-laced fifth installment in her series. “The Dragon of Handale” features the fair and feministic Abbess Hildegard, a relinquished nun who risks her life and limb to cast torchlight on the dark affairs of man and beast. Presenting a world where men are bested against one another by suspicion and brutality, Abbess Hildegard hails from a land in the 14th century, where history and fiction collide in an overlapping dimension.

Clark’s dauntless and out-casted heroine endures the glares and clutches of arch-villainous nuns and assailants in her quest to find her place among the clergy order once again. However, Hildegard faces danger when a young man is discovered slashed from head to groin by a creature more than human. Could a dragon have killed the young man?

In her quest to learn about the murdered man and a hidden secret tower, Hildegard undertakes the mystery of the dragon in a search for truth.

Cassandra Clark’s “The Dragon of Handale” is a test of female endurance. Vying for control over her own wits, the Abbess fights to maintain her authority during her climactic confrontation with death and dominating confinement.

Revolutionary!

Kimn Hinkson is like most over-caffeinated, introverted bibliophiles: indifferent to most other items on the planet.

(If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the irreplaceable assistance of Meaghan Hill, Maria Giordano, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com)

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6/2/15 6/2/15

"Sherlock Holmes, The Missing Years: Japan" by Vasudev Murthy / Reviewed by Ashlyn Duke

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase "Sherlock Holmes, The Missing Years: Japan" or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

"Sherlock Holmes, The Missing Years: Japan" by Vasudev Murthy
Reviewed by Ashlyn Duke

Sherlock Holmes has done it again, with the help of Dr. Watson of course. “Sherlock Holmes, The Missing Years: Japan”, written by Vasudev Murthy, takes place after Sherlock Holmes’ tragic fall from Reichenbach Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the Alps. The great sleuth is presumed gone forever.

Watson continues on taking up a quiet country life with his wife, and keeping Holmes' memory alive until two years later, much to his surprise, he receives a letter from Japan with familiar handwriting requesting Watson's help and a violin. It’s none other than his old partner.

After making sure he is equipped for the journey, Watson boards the North Star sailing to and stopping at many ports along the way. When a passenger by the name of Mr. Hashimoto dies onboard during the night, everyone is viewed a suspect, but they have no other choice but to continue the journey. Who could be next? With a mysterious note written in Japanese calligraphy presumed to be a warning, no one is safe.

Murthy gives everyone reason to love Holmes and his faithful best friend. As a fan of Sherlock Holmes, I could not put the book down.

Murthy keeps you on your toes throughout the whole book as the Missing Years Series begins. Full of dangerous plots, conspiracies, and a history lesson or two that could only belong to a Sherlock Holmes story; the mystery of the chase and few good laughs in this book will leave you wishing you could get your hands on more.

Ashlyn Duke is a traveler, not a tourist. She likes to read, draw, and look beyond what's right in front of her.

(If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the irreplaceable assistance of Meaghan Hill, Maria Giordano, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com)

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5/21/15 5/21/15

"Foxglove Summer" by Ben Aaronovitch / Reviewed by Kate Proffitt

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase "Foxglove Summer" or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

Ben Aaronovitch Credit: Sabrina Aaronovitch

"Foxglove Summer" by Ben Aaronovitch
Reviewed by Kate Proffitt

This fast-paced novel is the fifth in Ben Aaronovitch’s popular Peter Grant series and its thrilling plot is just as intriguing. In “Foxglove Summer”, wizard apprentice Peter Grant races against supernatural forces and the pressure of his boss to find a cold-blooded killer.

Peter, a young wizard who tends to be in the wrong place at the right time, is sent from his bustling London home to rural Herefordshire to investigate the disappearance of two missing girls. Upon his arrival, he tracks down an estranged and ancient wizard to ensure that supernatural forces are not at work.

Though Grant cannot find substantial proof that’s he’s found the murderer, there is definitely something unusual happening, and it’s clear that the person in charge doesn’t want Peter there at all! Peter, in his usual way, is unable to turn away from an unsolved crime, and decides to stick around to see how this mystery unfolds.

From the noise of London to the picturesque town that is Herefordshire, this novel is as suspenseful as it is charming. Brimming with romance, intrigue, and action, this book is hard to put down. As more unusual circumstances crop up, Peter recognizes that figuring out the connection between these events will lead him to the criminal.

Will Peter be able to combine his supernatural powers and his detective instinct to save these girls? Or will he be too late to stop the killer from striking again? Read “Foxglove Summer” to find out!

Kate Proffitt is a creative writing major, who loves to read and write! Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors is her favorite band, Christina Rossetti is her favorite poet, and she drinks a lot more Diet Coke than she should. She also enjoys travelling and has spent some time in Europe! Kate is currently working on her first unpublished novel!

(If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the irreplaceable assistance of Meaghan Hill, Maria Giordano, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com)

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5/19/15 5/19/15

"Business or Blood" by Peter Edwards & Antonio Nicaso / Reviewed by M. K. Sealy

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase "Business or Blood" or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

"Business or Blood" by Peter Edwards & Antonio Nicaso
Reviewed by M. K. Sealy

Open the non-fiction novel “Business or Blood” by the accomplished authors Peter Edwards and Antonio Nicaso to any page and you will be met not only with intelligent, entertaining, and accurate style, but you will also find the intriguing true story of what the authors call “Mafia Boss Vito Rizzuto’s Last War”.

Though this novel focuses on Vito Rizzuto, one of history’s most influential and powerful Canadian Mafia bosses, the story is transcontinental and international, as Rizzuto’s influence in illegitimate and illegal pastimes cross Canadian borders and into the world at large.

In addition to excellent and engaging prose, “Business or Blood” offers readers a chronology that spans 186 years, the timeline providing more than a glance at the life of a single man as it delves into the history of the gang in 1828 and culminates in the death of gang leader Ducarme Joseph in 2014.

Along with the chronology, Edwards and Nicaso include a map of Rizzuto’s turf and an index for the inquisitive researcher. These additions, along with the excellent organization of the novel, create an atmosphere of intrigue making “Business or Blood” impossible to put down.

Successful crime writers, Edwards and Nicaso have teamed up to produce a powerful, bone-chilling account of the North American crime world and Vito Rizzuto’s participation in it. Unlike many nonfiction works that are dry and more of a junkyard for facts, “Business or Blood” reads like a mystery novel with the punch of true crime.

M.K. Sealy earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in literature from a Nashville university. She is a copyeditor for a Nashville-based publication, but also writes poetry, fiction, and is currently attempting a screenplay, all while working to obtain a Master of Education.

(If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the irreplaceable assistance of Meaghan Hill, Maria Giordano, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com)

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5/13/15 5/13/15

"Whisper Hollow" by Chris Cander / Reviewed by Maria Giordano

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase "Whisper Hollow" or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

"Whisper Hollow" by Chris Cander
Reviewed by Maria Giordano

Chris Cander’s “Whisper Hollow” is the kind of story that gets passed through generations and retold by older family members near the end of their lives as they unburden themselves from the past.

A multi-generational yarn that intertwines the lives of three women and their families from the early 1900s to the late 1960s, “Whisper Hollow” is, on the one hand, a cautionary tale about what happens when we keep our true selves hidden, and homage to the pioneer spirit needed to carve out an intentionally-lived life.

Set in the coal-mining town of Verra, West Virginia, Cander’s novel begins with the story of Alta Krol and Myrthen Bergmann, two young girls who grow up fast, in part because of the times, but also because of tragedy that befalls them. Nature serves as the backdrop, flowing constant like a gentle creek.

Alta’s mother has died and being the only female in a male dominated home, Alta slips into the caretaker role as a young girl which forever binds her to her duties despite desires to venture beyond the town. Myrthen loses her twin sister in a tragic accident at a young age, an event from which she never recovers, and becomes the touchstone for religious obsession.

For years, Alta and Myrthen and the men in their lives seek to satisfy their humanity until a mysterious coal-mining accident connects them through the death of their loved ones and the purgatory aftermath of surviving. Life becomes a slow and painful burn for Alta and Mythen in very different ways until the catalyst for change comes in the form of a child born to Lidia Pollock, a young woman raised in Verra with deep wounds of her own.

Lidia’s son, Gabriel, it turns out is no ordinary toddler. He has what the town’s people believe are supernatural abilities. What he knows about the past, present, and future will drive some to the brink of insanity and others towards redemption.

Although fiction, “Whisper Hollow” has a true-story feel as Cander paints the somewhat dreary picture of a town and its inhabitants and their physical and mental sacrifices as they service the coalmine. And, without indictment, she also shows the disparate roles of men and women and their labors to survive.

“Whisper Hollow” will both haunt and inspire with nature serving as its handmaiden.

Maria Giordano is above all a mom. In her spare time, she reads, writes, and tries to stay current. When she gets there, she’ll let you know.

(If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the irreplaceable assistance of Meaghan Hill, Maria Giordano, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com)

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5/7/15 5/7/15

"The Burning Gates" by Parker Bilal / Reviewed by Ashlyn Duke

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase “The Burning Gates” or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

“The Burning Gates” by Parker Bilal
Reviewed by Ashlyn Duke

After being forced to flee Cairo and struggling to make ends meet, former Sudanese police inspector, Makana, continues his story in Parker Bilal’s “The Burning Gates”, the fourth book in the Makana Investigation series.

Set in September 2004, “The Burning Gates” picks up with Makana working in the Middle East. A wealthy client, Aram Kasabian, asks Makana to track down a famous painting that went missing during the US invasion of Baghdad, Iraq. There are rumors that the painting has reappeared and thought to be in possession of an Iraqi colonel; however, the price on the Iraqi war criminal’s head makes the search a little difficult for Makana since the colonel is currently on the run from the Americans.

Nothing is as it seems. People are dying and Makana is too caught up in the storm to leave the case behind. Much like sand slipping from his fingers, Makana is losing his grasp on time and he must act quickly to solve the case before it’s too late.

Parker Bilal sets up a wonderfully written novel that will capture the heart of any thrill-seeker. Bilal, also, gives his reader a peek into the corrupted side of Cairo’s art scene, which holds a huge impact on the plot.

After reading this fast-paced and constantly-changing crime thriller, it will have you wondering, “Who do you believe?”

Ashlyn Duke is a traveler, not a tourist. She likes to read, draw, and look beyond what’s right in front of her.

(If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the irreplaceable assistance of Meaghan Hill, Maria Giordano, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com)

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KN Magazine: Reviews

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

The Long High Noon by Loren D. EstlemanReviewed by Brianna Goodchild

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKintyReviewed by Maria Giordano

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Method 15/33 by Shannon KirkReviewed by Garrett Crowell

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

My Sunshine Away by M.O. WalshReviewed by M.K. Sealy

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Nagasaki by Éric Faye, Translated by Emily BoyceReviewed by Clay Stafford

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

The Immune System by Nathan LarsonReviewed by Mel Hiers

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Cat Out of Hell by Lynne TrussReviewed by Briana Goodchild

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Camille by Pierre LemaitreReviewed by Jonathan Thurston

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

False Tongues by Kate CharlesReviewed by Briana Goodchild

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Shadow Ritual by Éric Giacometti and Jacques RavenneReviewed by Alycia Gilbert

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

The Dragon of Handale by Cassandra ClarkReviewed by Kimn Hinkson

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

"Sherlock Holmes, The Missing Years: Japan" by Vasudev MurthyReviewed by Ashlyn Duke

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

"Foxglove Summer" by Ben AaronovitchReviewed by Kate Proffitt

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

"Business or Blood" by Peter Edwards & Antonio Nicaso Reviewed by M. K. Sealy

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

"Whisper Hollow" by Chris CanderReviewed by Maria Giordano

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

“The Burning Gates” by Parker BilalReviewed by Ashlyn Duke

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The Long High Noon by Loren D. Estleman
Reviewed by Brianna Goodchild

Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKinty
Reviewed by Maria Giordano

Method 15/33 by Shannon Kirk
Reviewed by Garrett Crowell

My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh
Reviewed by M.K. Sealy

Nagasaki by Éric Faye, Translated by Emily Boyce
Reviewed by Clay Stafford

The Immune System by Nathan Larson
Reviewed by Mel Hiers

Cat Out of Hell by Lynne Truss
Reviewed by Briana Goodchild

Camille by Pierre Lemaitre
Reviewed by Jonathan Thurston

False Tongues by Kate Charles
Reviewed by Briana Goodchild

Shadow Ritual by Éric Giacometti and Jacques Ravenne
Reviewed by Alycia Gilbert

The Dragon of Handale by Cassandra Clark
Reviewed by Kimn Hinkson

"Sherlock Holmes, The Missing Years: Japan" by Vasudev Murthy
Reviewed by Ashlyn Duke

"Foxglove Summer" by Ben Aaronovitch
Reviewed by Kate Proffitt

"Business or Blood" by Peter Edwards & Antonio Nicaso
Reviewed by M. K. Sealy

"Whisper Hollow" by Chris Cander
Reviewed by Maria Giordano

“The Burning Gates” by Parker Bilal
Reviewed by Ashlyn Duke