Review – The Sleepy Hollow Incident #1 by P D Alleva @PdallevaAuthor #thesleepyhollowincident

Posted on October 7, 2025 by fundinmental

MY REVIEW

We are in Sleepy Hollow, NY in February, so it is appropriate we start out with a winter storm. The snow doesn’t cover up the mutilated, dead bodies that began to appear right out of the gate. I love a story that grabs my attention and never lets it go, and P D Alleva has the ability to do that with his latest horror novel series, The Sleepy Hollow Incident.

FBI Agent Henry Clavell is on the case. He hadn’t planned on coming to Sleepy Hollow, but a request from a friend brought him to town. He’ll be working closely with Captain Flannery and Detective Stephen Carver.

Marc Saduj was in love with Lori Francon, so when she was at death’s door, he made a deal with a demon, or shall we say, A Man In Black. He traded his soul to save her life.

Initium Novum

Humanity’s end as a new beginning.

What the fuck does that mean.

I felt the same way. I believe the demons are bringing hell to earth and they are just getting started. The bodies are piling up as the darkness descends over the town. P D Alleva has an incredible ability to fill the pages with a sense of menace, a feeling of doom and gloom that I can’t shake lose. As Marc descends into madness I feel empathy for his loss, and wonder…can good win out? Is he totally lost to the demon?

I want to let you know that there are four books in The Sleepy Hollow Incident series and they will need to be read in order. They will all be available in October, so no worry about waiting for publication. If you are a fan of horror, a fan of Stephen King, then I can’t help but think you could be a fan of P D Alleva too.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In a small town shrouded in shadows, a sinister alliance between love and darkness is forged. Winter, 1997. Marc Saduj, a romance writer, watches his beloved Lori Francon slip away after a car crash. Desperate to save her, he makes a deal with the mysterious Man in Black – his soul in exchange for her life. But as Lori miraculously recovers and returns to Long Island, Marc retreats to a foreboding mansion in Sleepy Hollow’s western woods.

As mutilated bodies start appearing in town, Detective Stephen Carver follows a trail of medieval torture and satanic worship, all leading to Marc. But the truth is far more terrifying than anyone could imagine. When Lori discovers Marc’s notebook detailing the murders, she rushes back to save him, only to find herself at the center of an ancient evil’s resurgence. The Man in Black is no ordinary demon, and Marc’s bargain has set in motion a chain of events that could unleash hell on earth.

As a celestial portal threatens to open and Marc’s possession deepens, Lori must face the ultimate question – when someone sells their soul to save your life, what are you willing to sacrifice to save theirs?

Some bargains are sealed with a kiss. Others with a scream.

Genre: Angels and Demons, Dark Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Paranormal, Supernatural
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 7, 2025 by Chamber Door Publishing, LLC
Series: The Sleepy Hollow Incident #1

ABOUT P D ALLEVA

I write books, that’s what I do. Horror, scifi, thrillers, fantasy, and sometimes a literary gem. Good ones, crazy ones, fun books, entertaining books, terrifying books that are absolutely insane, books with depth and thrills, and stories that rip out the heart of humanity and tosses it on a slab to be feasted on. Yeah, that’s what I do, I write books. Any questions?

My current projects include: the Pulp Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy series, The Dark Veil: The Rose Vol. III; the horror thriller novella series, Girl on a Mission; the supernatural thriller series, The Hypnotist; and a follow up to Jigglyspot and the Zero Intellect, tentatively titled The Sleepy Hollow Incident.

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WEBSITE LINKS

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Review – Divided States by Bob Thomas #bobthomas #dividedstates

Posted on October 6, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

How bad would things have to be for you to want to secede from the union?

The Divided States novel by Bob Thomas supplies food for thought.

David Evans didn’t have a political bone in his body. He was only at the New Year’s Eve event because he could run the audio visual equipment. But, he was the face that was seen when chaos ensued, when states decided they didn’t want to be a part of the United States any more. They wanted their independence, able to choose their own government, their own laws.

A reporter, Jen O’Neil comes knocking at his door, wanting to know more about him. Of course, it’s easy to figure out that a romance may blossom between them.

It makes me wonder, how big is too big? Do individuals get lost in the shuffle and politicians have their own agendas, forgetting who they work for?

I found Divided States by Bob Thomas to be fascinating. It sure is a different way of looking at our government and the current leaders. I remember when the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was dissolved and states broke away, becoming their own countries, in 1991. Why could it not happen to us? Just food for thought.

My thanks to Bob Thomas for the opportunity to read and review Divided States.

GOODREADS BLURB

EMPIRES RISE AND FALL…

What if you lived in a country with an overly restrictive government that used technology to suppress individual freedoms?

When David Evans agreed to help with the technical details of staging a New Year’s Eve event in the small city of Penndelom, PA, he could never have imagined what their fireworks would set off.

Suddenly, David’s world erupts into chaos as the United States breaks into new geographic regions. Is this new found order better than the old?

Together with new-found ally, confident, and more – Jen O’Neil, they work with a charismatic governor, to survive several events that mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one.

DISCOVER HOW ONE SMALL CITY CAN RESHAPE A COUNTRY

Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Ficiton
274 pages, Paperback
Published June 3, 2025 by Willow River Press

ABOUT BOB THOMAS

A lifelong love of the written word first led Bob to a professional career in communications. During a tenure that began with a small, de novo operation, Bob oversaw all aspects from advertising, web development, and public relations to more technical editorial tasks, but the written word was always the common denominator. Recently, he co-authored a blog, which has been on hiatus the past two years while Bob pursued his early love of fiction and completed his novel Divided States.

Bob and his wife Molly have two adult children, Caitlin and Dylan, which became three with the addition of Dylan’s wife Kelly. Bob and Molly split time between Dallas and Harvey’s Lake in Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Bucknell University.

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Dark And Disturbing – Review – You Did Nothing Wrong by C G Drews @PaperFury #netgalley #youdidnothingwrong

Posted on October 6, 2025 by fundinmental

You Did Nothing Wrong by C G Drews is up for preorder with a 3.17.26 publication date.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

OMG, I’ve found another must read author in C G Drews. His novel, You Did Nothing Wrong is psychologically horrific and I loved every minute of it. It was a definite mind fuck and I couldn’t put it down. I was drawn deeper and deeper in Elodie’s life. Nothing was as it seemed to me. Sure, Jude was her autistic son, but…there is so much more going on.

None of the characters are who I thought they were. Their actions are jolting, sure to up the creep factor, building and growing more and more intense, more savage, more ferocious.

Being inside Elodie’s head is not for the faint of heart. Sure, I may have had similar thoughts, but never took them to the extreme she does. Her life has been tough, and it brings to mind the whole nature nurture topic. Though it doesn’t excuse her actions.

I feel confident in saying that you won’t see the end coming. I love, love, love it, and I will be adding more of C G Drew’s books to my reading list. I you love horror with deep psychological twists and a house that may or may not be haunted, you’ll love You Did Nothing Wrong. By the way, that is a great and deceiving title, as is the cover.

I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review You Did Nothing Wrong.

GOODREADS BLURB

A relentless, horror-inducing psychological suspense for fans of The Push and Baby Teeth by New York Times bestselling author CG Drews.

Single mother Elodie’s life has become a fairy tale. She’s met Bren, equal parts golden-retriever devoted and sinfully handsome. He’s whisked her and her autistic son, Jude, to the crumbling family house he’s renovating. She has a new husband, a new house, and a new baby on the way. Everything is perfect.

Then Jude claims he can hear voices in the walls. He says their renovations are “hurting” the house. Even Elodie can’t ignore it–something strange is going on. The question is, is it with the house, or with her son?

Then the one secret Elodie has been hiding is revealed, and no one is safe anymore.

A pulse-pounding, clever take on the haunted house novel, You Did Nothing Wrong examines the complexities of motherhood and the twisted bonds of family as it races to its shocking ending.

Genre: Fiction, Gothic, Horror, Psychological, Romance, Suspense, Thriller
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 17, 2026 by St Martin’s Press

ABOUT C G DREWS

CG Drews is the award-winning author of The Boy Who Steals Houses and NYT Bestseller Don’t Let The Forest In, which is also a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, Indie Next Pick, and Barnes & Noble YA Book Club Pick. Their next YA horror, Hazelthorn, is out October 28th, 2025, with debut adult horror, You Did Nothing Wrong, coming in 2026. Their work has been translated into six languages, received a nomination for the 2020 CILIP Carnegie Medal, and won the 2020 CBCA Honour Award. CG lives in Australia, never sleeps, and is forever buried under a pile of unread books. Find on Instagram as @paperfury, TikTok as @cgdrews, and at cgdrews.com.

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Review – After Gia by R M Demeester R M Demeester @rmdemeester #aftergia

Posted on October 4, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

After Gia, Book III in the After Dusk series, by R M Demeester is a quick read with lots of action. Gia is a high end escort. She falls for the bodyguard of her sugar daddy and all hell breaks loose. They are on the run. I liked Gia, even though I would have no desire to live her lifestyle, I love her spunk. Her desire to play by her own rules. But, Alex, he comes across as weak. I didn’t care for him at all. With their lives in danger, can they have a happy ever after?

GOODREADS BLURB

Life as an escort for high-end clients and endless nights of partying was everything Gia Harris ever wanted. No rules, no money worries, and all the men she could ever want. She never wanted to settle down until she met Alex, a bodyguard for one of her clients. Who is this rough around the edge bad boy? Gia can’t wait to find out who he really is.It’s Alexander Robert’s worst his daughter’s illness is terminal, and he’ll do anything to pay for her treatments. That is, until tragedy strikes. Now he is ready to leave his criminal past behind, and bodyguarding was the only thing he was ever really good at.Gia and Alex are ready to start over – but with Gia’s promiscuous past and Alexander’s unfinished business with an unexpected villain, will their newfound love be in jeopardy? Can Gia escape danger so she and Alexander can live their happily ever after?

Genre: Fiction, Organized Crime, Suspense, Thriller
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 22, 2022
Series: After Dusk #3

ABOUT R M DEMEESTER

R.M. Demeester, from Saskatchewan, loves being a mom, reading books, and writing. She’s been writing since she was very young. Today, she’s known for her stories in women’s fiction, romantic suspense, and thrillers. She also has a rescue dog named Gainer, a chocolate lab who passed away recently, but is still very much loved and missed. Her newest book, “The Girl Once Known”, comes out in February 2024.

MY R M DEMEESTER REVIEWS

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Giveaway & Preorder of She’s Going To Pay by Alexandra Ivy @AlexandraIvy #shesgoingtopay

Posted on October 3, 2025 by fundinmental

She’s Going To Pay by Alexandra Ivy is up for preorder, with a publishing date of 10.28.25.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I won a copy of She’s Going To Pay by Alexandra Ivy from a Goodreads Giveaway and I wasted no time cracking open the book and diving right in. I’m glad I did. I was immediately drawn into this twisty, unpredictable mystery. We have lots of danger and a sprinkle of romance.

The characters, well, some were easy to get to know and others were a total shock to me. We have lies, secrets, betrayals. And…just when you think you know someone….SURPRISE! Think again.

I love an author who can surprise me, and Alexandra Ivy did that with a book that keeps on giving until the very end. At times, I thought….this is the end. But, wait. There’s more. At times, I thought I knew what was coming next, but Alexandra Ivy doesn’t make it that easy. I do love a book that keeps on giving and I was left with a smile on my face when all was said and done.

I can’t believe that She’s Going To Pay by Alexandra Ivy is my first book of hers. but it won’t be my last. She is a prolific author and while I was checking her out further, I see that has many scrumptious books that are my target reading.

GOODREADS BLURB

In a tense, twisting novel of domestic suspense from New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Ivy, a woman returns to her sleepy Missouri hometown and discovers her family’s grisly secrets . . .

Leaving Canton, Missouri, behind was no hardship for Jesse Hudson. When she was a teenager, her stepmother and stepsister abruptly disappeared under suspicious circumstances. Their bodies were never found, but Jesse’s father, Mac, became a murder suspect. When he too vanished, Jesse waited months for him to return. Finally, she left, bouncing from one bartending job to another for years.

Now Jesse is back, hoping to quickly sell her father’s old bar before moving on for good. But coming home to Canton’s quiet, cobblestone streets doesn’t go quite as expected. There are memories resurfacing, and ties that haven’t broken. Then her father’s lawyer makes a startling admission: before he disappeared, Mac had discovered that Jesse’s stepmother, Victoria, was living under an assumed name. “Victoria Hudson” never even existed. Who was she really?

Delving deeper, Jesse grows convinced that her father’s assumed death is tied to Victoria’s real identity. And looking to the past is yielding more than secrets. Someone has been waiting for this homecoming, for a chance to unleash revenge for sins real and imagined. And they’ll make sure that Jesse never leaves town again . . .

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
304 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 28, 2025 by Kensington

ABOUT ALEXANDRA IVY

I’m not exactly sure when I fell in love with books. Probably on my mother’s knee listening to her read Dr. Seuss to me. I do remember that I was barely old enough to cross the street by myself when I discovered the delights of the local library. Could anything be more wonderful than spending summer days surrounded by stacks of Nancy Drew mysteries? Over the years I fell in love with Victoria Holt, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and J.R.R. Tolkien just to name a few. I read poetry, essays, biographies, and plays. In fact, I read anything I could get my hands on.

Years later (no, I’m not admitting how many) I’m still an avid reader, and my tastes are still as varied as they were in my youth, which I suppose helps to explain why I enjoy writing regency historicals under the name of Deborah Raleigh, as well as my contemporary paranormals as Alexandra Ivy. For now that is enough to keep me busy, but who knows what the future might hold!

I do have a few other loves in my life besides reading and writing, the most important being my unbelievably patient husband, David, and my two sons, Chance and Alexander. Without their constant support and belief in me, I never could have been able to follow my dreams. They are truly my heroes.

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Review – Cry Of Blood And Joy by M Guida #mguida #cryofbloodandjoy

Posted on October 2, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

M Guida had put out a call through her newsletter for ARC readers, for Cry Of Blood And Joy. When I read the blurb and saw the eye catching cover, I knew it was for me. That prompted me to buy the first book in the series, Oath Of Blood And Joy. I didn’t hesitate at the $.99 price. A steal, because Joy’s story just keeps getting better and better. The big thing is to not spoil anything for you. I am sure you will want to discover all the goodness between the pages for yourself.

Cry Of Blood And Joy by M Guida picks up where Oath Of Blood And Joy left off. Joy has no control over her powers, and when she hurts her best friend because of it, the vampire mafia king goes on a rampage . Serenity may be her best friend, but she is the vampire king’s wife. Joy, Enzo, and Joy’s brother, Steve, are running for their lives.

We have alternating points of view with Joy and Enzo.

There is nonstop action. The story unfolded at a rapid pace. The danger and suspense is off the charts, filled with nail biting moments, and times where I felt like yelling at the characters, don’t go there, don’t do that. Unputdownable. Amazing story with a fast tempo. Once it grabbed me, it never let me go.

I had saved the man I loved by potentially dooming the entire world.

We end with another cliffhanger, of sorts. If we have to have a stopping point, this is a good spot. BUT, when do we get a glimpse of Pride Of Blood And Joy? I do see it coming soon and I can hardly wait to get my hands on it.

GOODREADS BLURB

He fell first. She fell harder. Now they’re both falling into hell.
When Joy’s powers exploded and wounded the vampire mafia king’s mate, she signed their death warrant. Now she and her ruthless enforcer protector are the most hunted fugitives in New Orleans—and he’d burn the world down before letting anyone touch her.

Desperate, he makes a deal with the Dark Fae Mafia king. But when the fae’s prized stone disappears, every bloody death gets pinned on the enforcer. Someone’s playing puppet master, and they’re the perfect fall guys.

Then they take Joy’s brother.

Come alone or he dies.

She runs. He follows. They both get captured.

Big mistake.

Because now they’ve uncovered a conspiracy that makes vampire mafia politics look like child’s play—and the enemy has been pulling their strings from the very beginning.
Touch her and die was never just a threat. It was a promise.

Cry of Blood and Joy is the explosive second book in the French Quarter Vampire Enforcer series. A forbidden romance where star-crossed lovers collide with vampire mafia vendettas in a deadly game that will leave you breathless and craving more.

Genre: Angels And Demons, Fantasy, Louisiana, Nephilim, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Vampires, Werewolves
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2025
Series: French Quarter Vampire Enforcer #2

ABOUT M GUIDA

M Guida has always loved fantasy and romance, especially dragons. Growing up, she devoured fantasy books and all kinds of young adult books. And then she found romance and a whole new world opened up to her.

Now as an adult, she fell in love with academy romance and has blended all of her past loves into one compelling series. Dragons, vampires, elves, demons, and shifters all attend Legacy Academy.

When she’s not writing, she lives in the colorful Rocky Mountains with her fur baby, Raven, and enjoys taking her for walks.

Would you like to become a Legacy? Sign up for her mailing list and enter a world of the supernatural. https://geni.us/akJn

You can also join her private Facebook page-Legacy Academy https://geni.us/aksDhUZ You’ll become a legacy and find out about your special power and maybe even find some romance!

MY M GUIDA REVIEWS

Oath Of Blood And Joy

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Review – Oath Of Blood And Joy by M Guida #mguida #oathofbloodandjoy

Posted on September 30, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I am so happy I am following M Guida, because she put out a call for ARC readers for Cry Of Blood And Joy. I jumped all over it…because, I love vampires! Seeing it’s Book II in the series, I had to see about Book I, Oath Of Blood And Joy. It was on sale for $.99. Yeah.

I love books that take place in familiar places and I have spent a lot of time in New Orleans. Sorry to say, I haven’t run across any supernatural creatures…yet. I do have my fingers crossed.

Girls are going missing in New Orleans and when Joy’s best friend, Stephanie was kidnapped, she made it her personal mission to find her. Unfortunately, during the process, she, herself, was kidnapped. Enzo is the vampire mafia’s most feared enforcer and he knows he has to save her. She doesn’t realize why, but he will burn everything down if he must.

For Joy I would burn the world to ashes.

The vivid, detailed descriptions had shivers crawling up and down my spine. The battles were ferocious and bloody and I loved it, but we do have moments of light and laughter. We have all kinds of creatures: vampires, dark demons, golden demons, werewolves, nephilim, angels, unseelie, dark fae….

I love everything about Oath Of Blood And Joy. I was so engrossed, I zipped through the pages. Before I knew it, I reached the end. There is a bit of a cliffhanger, but it was a good stoppping place. I’m not sweating it, because I have Book II, Cry Of Blood And Joy at hand.

GOODREADS BLURB

Missing girls in New Orleans have one they’re never found alive. I’m about to join their ranks. Unless the vampire enforcer tracking me can shatter every rule—and every precedent.My name is Joy, and I’ve always lived up to it—smiling through problems, finding silver linings, believing tomorrow will be better. But over a month ago, my optimism met its match when I was kidnapped while searching for my missing best friend.

Now I’m a prisoner of New Orleans’ most dangerous crime lord, thrust into a world I never knew existed. Vampires are real. Vampire mafia? Also real. And something is stirring inside me—a power I can’t explain that’s the only reason I’m still alive.

They say he’s coming for me. Enzo. The vampire mafia’s most feared enforcer. Cold. Ruthless. Merciless. The man leaves a trail of bodies wherever he goes. The whispers about him terrify even my captors.

But when his dark eyes find mine in the chaos of my prison, I see something impossible. Recognition. Possession. As if I belong to him. As if I’ve always belonged to him.

I don’t know this vampire. Don’t trust him. And I absolutely refuse to accept his ridiculous claim that I’m his “fated mate”—whatever that means. I didn’t even believe vampires existed, and now this terrifying man with perpetually furrowed brows thinks he owns me? I’ve spent weeks fighting my captors at every turn—I’m not about to stop now.

But when his cold eyes find mine, something deep inside me responds. No matter how loudly I tell myself this brooding, dangerous creature is my enemy, my stubborn heart won’t listen. And as my mysterious powers grow stronger, I’m running out of options for allies in a world I never knew was real.

The human mafia won’t let me go without bloodshed. And as ancient power awakens within me, I find myself caught between two worlds with ties to both.

My captor thinks I’m leverage. My would-be savior thinks I’m his. But neither of them knows what I’m becoming—or how my relentless optimism and newfound power might be the most dangerous weapon of all.

Oath of Blood and Joy is a steamy enemies-to-lovers vampire mafia romance featuring a joyful but fierce heroine and a gorgeous, grumpy vampire enforcer. Get ready for intense action, mind blowing plot twists, sizzling forbidden romance, and dark supernatural fireworks that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Vampires
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 11, 2025
Series: French Quarter Vampire Enforcer #1

ABOUT M GUIDA

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GC & Review – Above The Clouds by Tim Vee @_Tim_Vee_ @goddessfish #abovetheclouds

Posted on September 29, 2025 by fundinmental

ABOVE THE CLOUDS by Tim Vee

GENRE: post-apocalypse, dystopian, sci-fi, horror

MY REVIEW

Tim Vee writes some interesting stories, and Above The Clouds had me intrigued. This unique apocalyptic/dystopian novel takes place deep underground, in long unused subway tunnels and sewers. No one knows what came before .

Everyone has their duties to perform, whether it’s raising the young, hunt or work to provide necessities. When their usefulness comes to and end, whether through injury or old age, they are sent to the surface to fend for themselves.

Dara and her sister, Squirt, are the main characters in Above The Clouds. Squirt is still young enough that she helps where she can and not much is expected of her. Dara is a hunter. She is expected to bring back from the hunt a dozen rats or three cats or a dog.

The world Tim Vee has created is bleak and dangerous. It is a world I haven’t visited before and I have read many apocalyptic and dystopian fiction novels. We go from the depths of the earth to the clouds in the sky, where Squirt will find a life she could never have envisioned. I like the twist from dark to light, from despair to hope. I was suitably creeped out and that is always a good thing. LOL

BLURB

n a ruined, distant future of our world, filled with rain, gloom, and danger, Squirt and her sister Dara fight to survive as part of the underground clan, hunting meat to survive and clinging to the edges of existence.

When Squirt encounters a mysterious figure above ground, her life is upended. Taken to a gleaming paradise above the clouds, she finds herself trapped in an idyllic prison, where everything seems perfect—but is danger hiding in plain sight? Does Charlotte, her enigmatic and gentle companion, hide secrets behind her perfect smile? Does Mrs Wallis, the tower’s cold matriarch, watch Squirt with a predator’s patience?

Below, Dara hunts alone, trying to find meaning in her life and haunted by her sister’s disappearance while whispers of betrayal within the clan force her to choose between being a victim or fighting for her survival.

As the sisters’ paths converge, truths are exposed: immortality comes at a terrible price, and the ones they’ve trusted most may be their greatest enemies. Above the Clouds is a haunting tale of the fight for survival and identity, asking the question: What does it truly mean to be human?

EXCERPT

She made it to the side of the ruins, ducked under a concrete slab, and crouched silently, listening and watching the darkness. She allowed her ears and eyes to acclimate to the noises and darkness of the ruins, the dripping water, the scurrying of a rat, the rattle of a falling piece of rock, and the sounds men made.

She sniffed and smelled something. Something cooking.

Rat! she thought.

Moving slowly and cautiously, she crept out from her hiding place, not making a sound. She climbed onto a slab of concrete laying diagonally and crawled upward until she was looking down at where Chagga sat on a rock, roasting a pair of skinned rats above a fire. Adam was standing, shaking and banging the water off his furs. Chagga was speaking.

“…Tomorra, when the hunters head out, make sure our men are on guard at the big tube that comes in by the butcher…”

Hidden in the shadows above, Dara silently slipped her quiver from her shoulder.

“…That is where we attack…Once we have taken control, all those who have no faith will be butchered, and we will call Major Tom, and he will pick up, and he will send the riders, and we leave for Marbro Country!”

She rolled onto her back and slid two arrows from the quiver.

“Can you trust this bandit, Barg, father?” said Adam.

Gently, she laid one of the arrows on the concrete, and the other she notched.

“No,” said Chagga firmly. “But I need them to do in the guards while you kill the chief.”

She rolled, holding the bow with her left hand, pulling the bowstring back.

Kill Adam, and the others won’t know the plan? she thought. Or kill Chagga, and there is no plan?

She closed her left eye, pulling the string tighter.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Tim works in digital marketing in Toronto and is well-traveled, having visited over 80 countries. When he is not working or writing, he likes to spend time with his family and German Shepherd and go cycling.

Website: https://timvee.com/

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/above-the-clouds/id6741713791

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=ddhFEQAAQBAJ

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Above-Clouds-post-apocalyptic-Tim-Vee-ebook/dp/B0DTJL73QM/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1704940

X: https://x.com/_Tim_Vee_

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21960899.Tim_Vee

MY TIM VEE REVIEWS

Golden Blood

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Review – Catch The Lie by Parker Vale #parkervale #catchthelie

Posted on September 26, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Catch The Lie by Parker Vale is a fast paced, quick read, that packs a punch. Don’t we all know that secrets and lies refuse to stay buried? All too often, they come to light, as time passes. But if someone lied once, how can you trust them, especially when they were quick to silence the person who may have had all the answers? You may be left with more questions than answers when the last word is read.

GOODREADS BLURB

Some lies are buried. Others bury you.

Detective Ethan Calloway never talks about the night his best friend vanished.

But when the past appears with a chilling message—You left something behind—he’s forced to investigate the case that’s haunted him for a decade.

Meanwhile, true crime podcaster Isabel Cruz arrives in town chasing the same mystery… Only she’s not who she says she is.

As Ethan and Isabel dig into Michael Lane’s disappearance, the town begins to close in.

With every clue they uncover, the past tightens its grip, revealing a network of corruption, buried bodies, and a truth more dangerous than either expected.

But someone is watching. Someone who knows exactly what they did.

And when a final photo proves Isabel was there that night—the question isn’t who killed Michael.

It’s why she lied about it.

She came back for justice. Or revenge. Or something worse.

Genre: Ficiton, Mystery, Novella, Psychological, Suspense, Thriller
51 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 3, 2025

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$25 GC – Silent Killer by Tracy Burnett & Ross Welland @partnersincr1me #SilentKiller

Posted on September 23, 2025 by fundinmental

SILENT KILLER

by Tracy Burnett & Ross Weiland

August 18 – September 26, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

MY REVIEW

I got a feeling right off the bat that something was wrong…and I was proven right. A tragic mistake sets off a chain of events that could cost many their lives.

Gordon Stone has been given a token job, close the charity scam out of Africa. Gordon has high functioning autisim and his spidey senses are telling him there is more than meets the eye at first scan. He is meticulous and known for his uncanny ability to get to the sniff out the details.

I felt a sense of urgency, a sense of anticipation, as the story unfolded. The suspense kept me flipping the pages, having to know what comes next. The short chapters and succinct writing made the story flow smoothly. Silent Killer, while a work in fiction, is as real as it can be. I can totally see how something like this can happen, and wouldn’t be surprised if it already has. Isn’t real life where are ideas for fiction are born? A little twist here and a little twist there, and voila, a story is born.

I want to thank Partners In Crime Virtual Book for the opportunity to read and review Silent Killer. Well done, Tracy and Ross.

Synopsis:

Gordon Stone is an investigator assigned to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. He’s given an insignificant case—a charity scam out of Africa—and ordered to close it. For Gordon, it’s not that simple. Gordon has high-functioning autism. He’s socially awkward, but blessed with a superpower—extraordinary focus and attention to detail. That superpower allows Gordon to piece together a disparate puzzle: a Hunter-Killer drone; an illicit drug shipment; a Special Forces operation gone wrong; and illegal immigration linked to 9/11. When these pieces align, national security is at risk and hundreds of lives hang in the balance.

Praise for Silent Killer:

“A brilliant, awkward, relentless, and unconventional hero who will not take ‘no’ for an answer, saves the day. Get me Special Agent Gordon Stone for every difficult case and watch this man work.”
~ Chuck Rosenberg, Former U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia

“This is a fascinating story about real people, complex issues, and a world of many complicated challenges. It’s an interesting read that keeps you focused and anticipating the next page. I liked it and recommend it.”
~ Chuck Hagel, Former Secretary of Defense and U.S. Senator

“A truly innovative thriller with a refreshingly unique protagonist who will quickly have you rooting for him. A fast-paced tale told with imagination, fused with a realism that only insiders from the investigative world can bring. It will keep you guessing from page to page. Highly recommended.”
~ Kimberly Prost, Former Ombudsperson for the U.N. Security Council Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee

Book Details:

Genre: Crime Fiction
Published by: Down and Out Books
Publication Date: August 11, 2025
Number of Pages: 355
ISBN: 978-1-64396-413-3 PBK
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Down & Out Books

Read an excerpt:

CHAPTER 1

What would be a landmark day for any other federal agent was an exercise in misery for Special Agent Gordon Stone. He sat, restless and uncomfortable, in the crowded auditorium inside the Albert V. Bryan US Courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia. Wesley Jay, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), was on stage addressing the capacity crowd. Jay extolled the virtues of his office and its extraordinary success in managing the Eastern District’s “rocket docket.” The court’s namesake had coined the term in the seventies, District Court Judge Bryan himself. What it meant for Jay and his stable of Assistant US Attorneys (AUSAs) was that they were forced to be one of the most efficient offices in the country when it came to prosecuting cases. They gathered annually to recognize the most successful investigations and prosecutions of the preceding year. Lawyers, law enforcement, and family members filled the auditorium. For an office that had prosecuted some of the most notorious spy and terrorist cases in the country—not to mention the occasional political scandal—the yearly awards ceremony always attracted a full house.

“Copied by many, mirrored by none,” said Jay. “We bring justice to the American people more quickly and effectively than anywhere else in the country. I take great pride in that fact and hope you do as well.”

Gordon tried to listen, but his discomfort just being there compelled him to tune out Jay’s speech. It wasn’t that he did not want to be there. On the contrary, his greatest desire was to be able to sit in the audience, listen to Jay, and enjoy a career highlight. Gordon was being recognized for his work as lead agent on an application fraud case with the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI).

But Gordon did not fit in. He liked people, but he had trouble relating to them and was painfully aware of his social awkwardness. Way back in elementary school, he had been diagnosed with high-functioning autism, at the time referred to as Asperger Syndrome, or colloquially as Asperger’s.

Gordon appeared just like everyone else, but when it came to basic human interaction, it took a great deal of effort for him to engage with most people. It was always hard and frequently exhausting. Small talk, humor, and sarcasm often flew past him. Therapy had brought him a long way, but still, those who did not know him thought he was aloof. Some actually found his behavior offensive.

“Damn Asperger’s,” he said to himself.

The true irony, he knew, was however damning Asperger’s was to his social status, it was also his superpower, allowing him to focus on a particular topic—or investigation—to the point where he could see things no one else could see. He could anticipate what others viewed as unexpected. That focus bred unparalleled intuition, which was what made him a great investigator.

That was why he was here in this crowded hall, surrounded by people he did not know. He was a great investigator. But he was most definitely not a great socializer, and he was uncomfortable. As much as he wished he could enjoy the ceremony and embrace the praise of his peers, his Asperger’s would not allow it. In fact, a big group setting surrounded by strangers? That was pretty much the nightmare scenario.

Gordon’s brain was wired differently. At least that’s how Katherine, his longtime therapist, described it. He thought differently, acted differently, saw the world differently than most. She emphasized repeatedly to him he was not broken, just different, and Gordon knew it was okay to be different. Most of the time, that was enough. But even now, as a successful thirty-two-year-old federal agent, he could still feel broken. He hoped today would not be one of those days.

“The work we do—check that—the work you do for this country is, simply put, extraordinary,” Jay continued. “We put more cases before a judge than anyone else, and that means when it comes time to recognize our best work in a given year, the competition is tight. I salute those of you sitting in this room. Your work, your intellect, your dogged pursuit of justice places you at the top of what we do here. You are the best of the best. Thank you for all you do for our organization, our district, and our country.” Jay smiled to his audience. “Now then, let’s hand out some hardware.”

***

Author Bios:

Tracy Burnett:

Tracy Burnett began his law enforcement career as a Deputy Sheriff at the Palm Beach County, Florida Sheriff’s Department. His next stop was with the Drug Enforcement Administration where he became a special agent and went through training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia as well as DEA US Army Ranger Training. That began a 25-year federal law enforcement career leading investigations on behalf of the US Departments of Justice, State, and Defense, among others, working both domestically and around the globe. Tracy now works as an Adjunct Professor for the School of Public Affairs in the Key Executive Leadership Program at American University in Washington, DC.

Ross Weiland:

Ross Weiland was a journalist in New York City before attending law school and joining the US Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps in 1998. He served as a prosecutor, criminal appeals attorney, and civil litigator in the Navy before transitioning to federal civil service where he spent 21 years in the Office of Inspector General community as counsel, investigator, and senior executive at the National Archives, Department of Defense, and NASA. Ross now works as an administrative executive supporting oversight and law enforcement in the private sector in Washington, DC.

Follow Gordon Stone:

gordonstonerules.com
Instagram – @gordonstonerules
Facebook – @Silent Killer

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!

Click here to view the SILENT KILLER Tour Schedule