-
-
About
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.
Category Archives: Reviewers’ Top Picks
The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants – Orlando Ortega-Medina
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “We were a family of emigrants, on the move from generation to generation. Forced to flee our homes because of intolerable situations imposed on us by those in power. The United States was meant to be … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Modern Literary Fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged addiction, family, immigration, Judaism, LGBTQ, Religion, San Francisco, thrillers
Comments Off on The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants – Orlando Ortega-Medina
The Vulture Fund (Curtis Westcott Crime Thrillers Book 3) – Jeff Buick
(Reviewed by Don Jung) #CommissionsEarned Two unlikely murders that don’t appear to be related become the focus of Boston detective Curtis Westcoast and his team as they try to unravel one mystery after another. This is a murder mystery series … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged hedge fund, India, murder
Comments Off on The Vulture Fund (Curtis Westcott Crime Thrillers Book 3) – Jeff Buick
Uncle Charlie Killed Dutch Schultz: The Jewish Mob: A Family Affair – Alan Geik
(Reviewed by Don Jung) #CommissionsEarned There are a lot of family histories out there to read about, but this one is different. While Alan Geik’s parents were not directly in the mafia, many of their relatives and friends he met … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, History, Non-fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged Crime, gangsters, Mafia, Prohibition, WWII
Comments Off on Uncle Charlie Killed Dutch Schultz: The Jewish Mob: A Family Affair – Alan Geik
American Refuge: True Stories of the Refugee Experience – Diya Abdo
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “When refugees leave, it is rarely, if ever, happy. And it is never something they choose to do. Their bodies, finding no other way to survive, split themselves from their souls, wave goodbye to them, on … Continue reading
Posted in Immigration, Reviewers' Top Picks, World Issues
Tagged immigration, Interviews, refugees, resettlement
Comments Off on American Refuge: True Stories of the Refugee Experience – Diya Abdo
Hold the Line: The Insurrection and One Cop’s Battle for America’s Soul – Michael Fanone and John Shiffman
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “What sort of American tries to overthrow democracy? What kind of man becomes so consumed by a false belief that he drives across the country, storms the Capitol, and assaults police officers?” Those are pressing questions … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged insurrection, January 6, law enforcement, police brutality, PTSD
Comments Off on Hold the Line: The Insurrection and One Cop’s Battle for America’s Soul – Michael Fanone and John Shiffman
Virginia Bader: A Collage of Memories of The First Lady of Aviation Art – Jill Amadio
(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch) #CommissionsEarned We often take things for granted in this world. Younger folks assume that smart phones and the internet were always in existence. I too, thought that the specialized world of aviation art had always … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged aviation, Non-fiction, WWII
Comments Off on Virginia Bader: A Collage of Memories of The First Lady of Aviation Art – Jill Amadio
I Feel Your Stare: An Autobiography – Cheryl Gillespie
(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch) #CommissionsEarned It is often said that a wise person walks a mile in another’s shoes. I Feel Your Stare by Cheryl Gillespie takes us on just such a journey. Born with JRA, (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis), … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged blindness, JRA, memoirs
Comments Off on I Feel Your Stare: An Autobiography – Cheryl Gillespie
The Safe Game – Wes Verde
(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch) #CommissionsEarned The Safe Game by Wes Verde is undoubtedly one of the best books I have ever read. Set in the late 1920’s America, it follows the story of three con artists trying to pull … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Historical Fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged crime fiction, grift, Historical fiction
Comments Off on The Safe Game – Wes Verde
Dark State – Christopher J. Lynch
(Reviewed by Don Jung) #CommissionsEarned “The terrorists know…The government knows…Now – YOU will know” A terrorist attack is something we all fear but would it ever be so horrific that you would want to leave your home and not come … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged California, power grid, terrorist attack
Comments Off on Dark State – Christopher J. Lynch
The Deceptions – Jill Bialosky
(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned “Beautiful Aphrodite, she did what she pleased. Surely, she did not worry about pleasing her husband, or hate herself for her acts of infidelity. Those gods and goddesses, they have no shame.” Our unnamed narrator … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged betrayal, Greek mythology, poetry, seduction
Comments Off on The Deceptions – Jill Bialosky