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UnderratedReads is devoted to discovering underrated books and under-represented authors. We highlight hidden gems from around the world–honest reviews only, never pay-to-play.
Author Archives: J D Jung
An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Vacation House – Jane Shemilt
(Reviewed by JD Jung) 2003 -Thirteen-year-old Sofie and her family toiled at a vacation house on the island of Paxos, Greece. This house was owned by a wealthy British family and frequented every summer by them and their friends. When … Continue reading
Posted in Revisited
Tagged class, crime fiction, Greece, London, Sexual abuse
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The House of Hidden Meanings – Ru Paul
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Much as we seek power in every corner of our lives, it’s always already in us; it’s impossible to be powerless if you recognize that you yourself are power. Life is power. Finding that power … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs
Tagged Drag, LGBTQ, memoir, success
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An UnderratedRead Revisited: Ilium – Lea Carpenter
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “The game of espionage, at its essence, is observation, seduction, patience. And a fluid relationship with your sense of self. To commit espionage at the highest levels you have to be willing to forget who you … Continue reading
The Last Shadow – Michael Allen Zell
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Retired New York cop Julius Mosley found a new life in New Orleans. As a martial arts instructor, he is able to find an inner peace that was not available to him in New York. … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged crime fiction, martial arts, New Orleans
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The Safekeep – Yael van der Wouden
(Reviewed by JD Jung) It’s 1961, almost twenty years after the war, and it would appear as if the Netherlands has recovered. However, scars linger beneath the surface in unimaginable ways. Isabel, who is almost thirty years old, doesn’t have … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks, World Literature
Tagged Dutch literature, Netherlands
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Wait: A Novel – Gabriella Burnham
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “They threw me out of the country like I was a nothing.” Wait delves into the intricate layers of family, identity, and the harsh realities faced by undocumented immigrants in the United States. Through … Continue reading
Posted in Immigration, Modern Literary Fiction, World Issues
Tagged Brazil, class, immigration
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The Purple Don: Mystery Thriller Suspense Novel (Illuminati) – SLMN
(Reviewed by Don Jung) The Purple Don is a gripping and eerie murder mystery that takes readers deep into the world of crime, power, and deception. At the heart of the story is Joey Diamonds, the son of a … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged crime fiction, LGBTQ, Mafia
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The Debt Collector – Steven Max Russo
(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch) The Debt Collector by Steven Max Russo is a very good book for readers who enjoy this genre. The basic premise is an unassuming female debt collector, Abigal, comes into a new town to … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged crime fiction
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They All Swore an Oath: Stories from Everyday Heroes in our Midst – Christopher J. Lynch
(Reviewed by Don Jung) They All Swore an Oath is a collection of interviews between author Christopher Lynch and our unsung American war heroes from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the recent Persian Gulf conflict. … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction
Tagged military, Vietnam War, WWII
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How To Burn A Rainbow: My Gay Marriage Didn’t Make Me Whole, My Divorce Did – Karl Dunn
(Reviewed by John Heilman) How To Burn a Rainbow is an honest and well-written tale of the author’s journey through the world of divorce. Author Karl Dunn describes the moment he told his husband he wanted a divorce and … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs
Tagged divorce, LGBTQ, memoir
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