Underrated Reads

Trust Issues – Katherine Nichols

Posted on December 27, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) From the moment you pick up Trust Issues and are drawn in by its intriguing cover, you might expect a romance or women’s fiction story. But don’t be fooled—this novel packs a crime thriller punch, brimming with suspense, mystery, and unforgettable characters. The story revolves around Claire Kincaid, a PR professional…

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers | Tagged Atlanta, corruption, Crime, crime fiction, murder, mystery, suspense | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Scale of Time: From the Beginning – Joseph Lanzara

Posted on December 24, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) “The underlying mission of this book is to render, with accuracy, unimaginably long lengths of time and incredibly vast distances in space, conceivable at a glance.” You’ll note that instead of listing just the author’s name, I have included the phrase as he has it on the front of his book.…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged history, physics, science, space | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Coin – Yasmin Zaher

Posted on December 20, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…in my family, America was both the key and the curse.” Our narrator, who is from a wealthy Palestinian family moved to New York after her parents died. She was left with an inheritance of which she could only access a small portion. That is, she is only provided with a…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged immigration, New York, obsession | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited: Wait- Gabriella Burnham

Posted on December 17, 2024 by J D Jung

(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 the lens of protagonist Elise, who is American, we are drawn into a world where the…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged Brazil, class, immigrants, United States | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited: Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics – Elle Reeve

Posted on December 13, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I’ve been amazed how CNN correspondent Elle Reeve has put herself in risky situations to get a story as well as to obtain the perspective of potentially dangerous people. This is even more evident in her latest book, Black Pill. Through these interviews, we see the dangers of the far-right groups…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged alt-right, January 6, neo-fascism | Comments Off

Selamlik – Khaled Alesmael (translated from the Arabic by Leri Price)

Posted on December 5, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I am so glad I was born in Syria and get to be young in Damascus, no matter the fear and danger. I love Damascus even if she is cruel to me.” Our narrator Furat lives in the shadows and has always had to hide his sexuality. There are places where…

Posted in Immigration, Middle Eastern Literature, Scandinavian Literature, World Issues | Tagged homoerotic, LGBTQ, refugees, Religion, Sweden, Syria, Syrian civil war | Comments Off

Curdle Creek – Yvonne Battle-Felton

Posted on December 1, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) It's around 1960 and the residents of Curdle Creek never leave for any reason. Black residents have lived there for generations and believe that anywhere outside this small remote town is dangerous. An exception to this that the children of our narrator, 45-year-old widow Osira Turner, left years ago, as…

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Horror, Sci-Fi/Speculative/Fantasy/Mythology | Tagged horror, magic, mystical, ritual | Comments Off

An Underrated Read Revisited: Down with the Poor! – Shumona Sinha, translated by Teresa Lavender Fagan

Posted on November 25, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…the same stories and the same bodies blended in my head, lost all definition and all form, became a dark and shapeless mass of giant bodies, that growled, shouted, demanded, cried, pleaded. Were they inventing a new country, a new nation, unknown wars, hidden genocides? Our unnamed protagonist who immigrated to…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged immigration, imperialism, Misogyny, refugees | Comments Off

California Rain – Frank McAdams

Posted on November 20, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Set against the backdrop of 1950s America, California Rain delivers a gripping noir thriller that blends the intrigue of political scandal, the fight for justice, along with the glamour of old Hollywood. With an evocative sense of time and place, this novel keeps readers hooked from the very first page. At…

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Historical Fiction | Tagged crime fiction, Hollywood, murder, noir | Comments Off

Pieces: Maddy Reynolds in the Crosshairs – John Netti

Posted on November 10, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Detective Maddy Reynolds was so burned out from her job that she decided to take early retirement and move to the small, quiet town of Berry Lake, New York. Little did she know that her peaceful life would be disrupted, and her past police work would follow to haunt her.…

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers | Tagged Crime, New York, serial killers | Comments Off