Lesa's Book Critiques: Kevin’s Corner Annex – Some Like It Hot-Buttered by Jeff Cohen

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Kevin’s Corner Annex – Some Like It Hot-Buttered by Jeff Cohen

Lesa's Book Critiques: SCOTT TIPPLE, GUEST REVIEWER

 Lesa's Book Critiques: SCOTT TIPPLE, GUEST REVIEWER

Short Story Wednesday Review-- Guest Reviewer Larry W. Chavis: FIFTY MYSTERIES: The Angela Files by John M. Floyd

Thought today as part of Short Story Wednesday Reviews, it was a good time to remind you all of Larry’s review from 2016….

 

Never Underestimate Your Teacher...

John M. Floyd is a master of short stories, having published more than a thousand in such venues as ALFRED HITCHCOCK MYSTERY MAGAZINE, ELLERY QUEEN MYSTERY MAGAZINE, THE STRAND, THE SATURDAY EVENING POST, and many more. The magazine WOMAN'S WORLD has a weekly mini-mystery feature, and Mr. Floyd's name will be familiar to its readers, as he is a regular contributor. Many of his WW stories feature Sheriff Charles Taylor "Chunky" Jones, and his former fifth grade teacher, Ms. Angela Potts. Reliable (but less than brilliant) Sheriff Jones is the dubious beneficiary of Angela's sharp-eyed observations and assistance as they solve the remarkable number of crimes in their small Mississippi town.

The WOMAN'S WORLD format for these little stories is seven hundred words, with a cliff-hanger that allows the reader to solve the puzzle, before reading the author-supplied solution. Light-hearted, with humorous repartee between former teacher and mediocre student, this collection of little gems is an enjoyable and relaxing way to while away a few minutes or hours.

(Note: My copy of FIFTY MYSTERIES: The Angela Files was purchased at the 2016 Mississippi Book Festival, Jackson, MS.)

 

Larry W. Chavis ©2016, 2022 

Deciding at the advanced age of 44 to earn a physics degree to complement his theological degree, Larry enrolled in the University of Southern Mississippi, where he spent three exciting, if exacting, years, accomplishing his goal with honors. Upon graduation, he entered the public education system, teaching physics, trigonometry, and calculus. Semi-retired now (although still teaching two classes), he has a bit more time to work on writing. Larry has had stories published in "Crime and Suspense Ezine," "Kings River Life Magazine," and the anthology, Ten for Ten, edited by Tony Burton. Larry lives in south-central Mississippi with his wife of 38 years and a severely spoiled Shih-tsu named Sammie.

 

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Neon Prey by John Sandford

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Neon Prey by John Sandford: Guest reviewer Kevin Tipple is back with his review of a mystery novel.  Check out his blog Kevin's Corner for more book reviews an...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Devil's Country by Harry Hunsicker

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Devil's Country by Harry Hunsicker: Today we are pleased to have Kevin Tipple as a guest reviewer.  Kevin is well known in mystery circles for his insightful reviews,...

Guest Reviewer Larry W. Chavis: I AM PILGRIM by Terry Hayes

I AM PILGRIM by Terry Hayes

The body of an unknown and unidentifiable young woman is found face down in a bath tub full of acid in New York. In Turkey, a newly-wed billionaire tumbles to his death from a cliff top, an apparent accident. Far to the east, in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan, three abducted Europeans suffer unspeakable deaths, laboratory rats in a monstrous experiment. Finally, a former top covert agent, seeking to leave his dark world behind, instead finds it catching up to him in Paris, and, under the code name, Pilgrim, becomes the pathfinder who will link these disparate events together, exposing a threat unimaginable in its evil, well-nigh unstoppable in its execution.


Though this is a first novel, Terry Hayes is no stranger to writing, having written and produced such movies as "Payback," "Road Warrior," and "Dead Calm." In I AM PILGRIM, Hayes turns his hand to the novel, in a story peopled by real, flesh-and-blood characters, with all their virtues and vices--no cardboard cutout villains or flawless heroes here. His manner of telling their stories, with well-designed viewpoint shifts and interspersed with sections of backstory that, somehow, do not interrupt the story flow but rather build it, allows the reader to see and feel through the characters' eyes and minds in that way that every book tries to do, and so many fail. I've read thrillers that I enjoyed, but rarely, if ever, have I read one that enthralled me like I AM PILGRIM. 




Larry W. Chavis ©2017

Deciding at the advanced age of 44 to earn a physics degree to complement his theological degree, Larry enrolled in the University of Southern Mississippi, where he spent three exciting, if exacting, years, accomplishing his goal with honors. Upon graduation, he entered the public education system, teaching physics, trigonometry, and calculus. Semi-retired now (although still teaching two classes), he has a bit more time to work on writing. Larry has had stories published in "Crime and Suspense Ezine," "Kings River Life Magazine," and the anthology, Ten for Ten, edited by Tony Burton. Larry lives in south-central Mississippi with his wife of 38 years and a severely spoiled Shih-tsu named Sammie.

Guest Reviewer John Stickney Reviews The Origins of Benjamin Hackett by Gerald M. O'Connor

Having recently reviewed THE LAST COLLAR by Lawrence Kelter and Frank Zafiro, John is back today with another review.

The Origins of Benjamin Hackett by Gerald M. O'Connor  Down and Out Books

In The Origins of Benjamin Hackett by Gerald M. O’Connor we explore the Irish city of Cork, it’s denizens and characters, and its lively language.   Told through the eyes of Benjamin Hackett our narrator is on a journey of discovery a common enough story for many young men turning 18 years of age.  Here’s the difference, on this his 18^th birthday in 1996, a hungover Benjamin learns from his parents that he was, in fact, adopted.  Off he goes with, accompanied by his best mate JJ, to find out the truth of who and why.  In the course of this five-day journey we encounter the Catholic Church of Ireland and all of its institutional secrecy, the sport of Hurling (as foreign to some as Quidditch once was), gangsters, arch rivals, distant women and the most dangerous thing of all, family.

This is author O’Connor’s debut novel, it is remarkable that his voice is so developed, there is a lushness apparent in both language and dialogue, and an equally well-tuned sense of humor.  The ending leaves us with the hope of more, these characters, and especially our narrator deserve an on-going series.  Funny, engaging and well-paced, it is a diversion worth your time.  Highly recommended.

I received an advanced reading copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.  

John Stickney ©2017

John Stickney is a writer formerly from Cleveland, Ohio now residing in North Carolina.  His fiction has appeared in Thuglit, Demolition, Needle, among others.