Category Archives: Fiction

Looking Glass Killer: Volume II: The Matthew-Matt Trilogy – Floyd Merrell

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I never was, am always to be; no one ever saw me, nor ever will; who am I?”        A serial killer is on the loose. The police are stumped and the public is frantic … Continue reading

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Intimates and Fools Paperback – Laura Madeline Wiseman (Author), Sally Deskins (Illustrator)

(Reviewed by Cathy Carey) New styles of bras always swear they’ll save me. They like to lie. I’ve the stretch marks to prove it. Or they’ll come home with me to pinch my shoulders. Or they’ll dig red rings around … Continue reading

Posted in Humor & Satire, Poetry, Short stories | Comments Off on Intimates and Fools Paperback – Laura Madeline Wiseman (Author), Sally Deskins (Illustrator)

More of This World or Maybe Another – Barb Johnson

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I’m usually critical of short stories. They tend to leave me unsatisfied, wanting more. I’m left unsure of what makes the characters tick, and what ultimately happens to them. So needless to say when I was visiting … Continue reading

Posted in Modern Literary Fiction, Short stories | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Errata – Michael Allen Zell

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “New Orleans seems to exist as a blank slate for outsiders to grasp and cast their own aspirations, pretenses, and prejudices upon. A few of the outsiders always end up lingering, holding fast, and adding to … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Modern Literary Fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Power Play – F. Ethan Repp

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Democracy doesn’t just happen, it takes dedicated citizens continuously fighting to preserve it. Elected officials will get away with as much as they can and if no one picks on them for a long time, they … Continue reading

Posted in Historical Fiction, Political fiction | Comments Off on Power Play – F. Ethan Repp

Shadow Truth (a Novella) – Bill Larkin

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…the elimination of costly criminal trials, freeing the truly innocent, simplifying background checks, and making society as a whole more honest. Other than curing terminal diseases, can you think of anything more important?” What personal liberties … Continue reading

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Busted Valentines and Other Dark Delights – Frank De Blase

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “‘Twas the night before the night before Christmas and Jack Frost was pissed.” That’s the intro to my favorite story, “The Night Before the Night Before Christmas” in Busted Valentines and Other Dark Delights. But what … Continue reading

Posted in Modern Literary Fiction, Short stories | Tagged | 2 Comments

Sufferstone: Book I of the Dolvia Saga – Stella Atrium

(Reviewed by Melanie Hamilton) What does it mean to call a place home? What are the consequences of commitment? These are some of the questions raised in the conflict between being alien and feeling the land as home. A soldier … Continue reading

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Crossroads: A Camino Tale – F. R. Merrill

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “As they stood before a large stone crucifix of the body of Christ carved in a three-dimensional form she pulled out her syringe. When she moved toward Amanda to complete the deed, her sister Margie stepped … Continue reading

Posted in Modern Literary Fiction, Travel | Comments Off on Crossroads: A Camino Tale – F. R. Merrill

Hollywood Clown – Jason Lassen

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “What’s worse than an out-of-work actor? An out-of-work actor who dresses up like Santa for a month for Hollywood power players and is reminded he’s a lonely depressed, out-of-work actor dressing up in costumes all year … Continue reading

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Humor & Satire | 1 Comment