Meet BTB Reviewer Todd Wilkins

 
 

Background: Kansas boy now back in KC. I've lived in more than a few places (St. Petersburg, Florida most recently). Massive soccer fan (#HalaMadrid), BBQ aficionado, and book nerd. If you see me out and about then I've probably got my camera in hand or riding around on my OneWheel.

Go-To Author: Daniel Silva is always my first recommendation to someone looking for a good read. His ability to blend art, action, and espionage makes his Gabriel Allon series the perfect books for people who read across genres.

Author People Should Discover: Stephen England is thriller writer I think deserves more attention. He has a dedicated fan base and if you pick up any of his books, you'll find out why. On the crime writing side of the house, Mark Westmoreland and Bobby Mathews should be on your short list.

Book You Would Recommend From 2022: Adam Hamdy's The Other Side of Night is a book everyone should read. Check out my review (no spoilers) and the go pick up a copy. It will absolutely blow your mind. Heat 2, No Second Chances, Kismet, and The Devil Takes You Home are also amazing!

Most-Anticipated Book Of 2023: All the Sinners Bleed from S.A. Cosby is my most anticipated book of 2023. The man tell stories that just punch you in the soul. Daniel Silva's The Collector is one of the books I’m most looking forward to. This series and it’s protagonist are aging like fine wine.

Charities Todd Supports: Keep St Pete Lit and Literacy KC.

Favorite Local/Indie Bookstore: The Raven in Lawrence, KS - voted -#1 indie bookstore in 2022 - and Tombolo Books in St Petersburg, FL.

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View Todd’s Latest Reviews (book pub. dates)

City in Ruins By Don Winslow (4/2/24)
Negative Tilt: Stories by Bobby Mathews (3/27/24)
The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes (2/6/24)
The Hunt by Kelly J. Ford (7/25/23)
Dead Fall by Brad Thor (7/25/23)
The Collector by Daniel Silva (7/18/23)
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby (6/6/23)
City of Dreams by Don Winslow (4/18/23)
The Guilty One by Bill Schweigart (3/21/23)
Red London by Alma Katsu (3/14/23)
Deep Fake by Ward Larsen (3/14/23)
Wolf Trap by Connor Sullivan (3/14/23)
Red Queen by Juan Gomez-Jurado (3/14/23)
The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell (3/7/23)
The Frenchman by Jack Beaumont (2/28/23)
Magic City Blues by Bobby Mathews (2/24/23)
White Smoke by John Gilstrap (2/21/23)
Storm Watch by C.J. Box (2/21/23)
The Last Kingdom by Steve Berry (2/21/23)
Dempsey by Andrews & Wilson (2/21/23)
Burner by Mark Greaney (2/21/23)
The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz (2/14/23)
Reckoning from the Shadows by Puja Guha (1/31/23)
The Bullet Garden by Stephen Hunter (1/24/23)
The Devil's Ransom by Brad Taylor (1/24/23)
Everybody Knows by Jordan Harper (1/10/23)
A History of Fear by Luke Dumas (12/6/22)
Red Winter by Marc Cameron (12/6/22)
Whisper of a Gypsy by J.T. Patten (11/15/22)
Rebellious Son by Joe Goldberg (11/15/22)
Dark Fall by Andrews & Wilson (11/8/22)
The Blackbriar Genesis by Simon Gervais (10/18/22)
Their Final Cry by Dea Poirier (10/17/22)
The Other Side of Night by Adam Hamdy (10/11/22)
The Maze by Nelson DeMille (10/11/22)
A Mourning Song by Mark Westmoreland (9/23/22)
Toxic Effects by Joel Shulkin 9/20/22
Oath of Loyalty by Kyle Mills (9/13/22)
They Come at Knight by Yasmin Angoe (9/13/22)
Real Bad Things by Kelly J. Ford (9/1/22)
Out of the Blue by M.M. Harrold (8/30/22)
Hell of a Mess by Nick Kolakowski (8/26/22)
Fox Creek by William Kent Krueger (8/23/22)
The Titan Protocol by David Scott (8/16/22)
Firestorm by Taylor Moore (8/16/22)
Heat 2 by Meg Gardiner & Michael Mann (8/9/22)
The Neighborhood by Matthew Betley (8/9/22)
The Last Sentinel By Simon Gervais (8/9/22)
The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias (8/2/22)
Kismet by Amina Akhtar (8/1/22)
Disturbing the Peace by Terrance McCauley (7/26/22)
Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Daniel Silva (7/19/22)
The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci (7/12/22)
Rising Tiger by Brad Thor (7/5/22)
Movieland by Lee Goldberg (6/21/22)
Shadow Tier by Steve Stratton (6/14/22)
The Gatekeeper by James Byrne (6/7/22)
It Dies with You by Scott Blackburn (6/7/22)
Red Warning by Matthew Quirk (6/7/22)
Zero Hour by Don Bentley (6/7/22)
The Omega Factor by Steve Berry (6/7/22)
Sons of Valor II: Violence of Action by Andrews and Wilson (6/7/22)
The Handler by M.P. Woodward (5/31/22)
In The Blood by Jack Carr (5/17/22)
Countdown to Midnight by Dale Brown (5/17/22)
Storm Rising by Chris Hauty (5/3/22)
Hostile Intent by Don Bentley (5/3/22)
Cold Snap by Marc Cameron (4/26/22)
Kingdom of Bones by James Rollins (4/19/22)
Money the Hard Way by David Tromblay (4/15/22)
Assassin's Edge by Ward Larsen 4/12/22
Dark Angel by Andrews & Wilson (4/5/22)
Once a Thief by Christopher Reich (4/5/22)
Boy Fallen by Chris Gill (3/22/22)
Don’t Know Tough by Eli Cranor (3/22/22)
Wild Card by Stephen England (3/15/22)
Secret Identity by Alex Segura (3/15/22)
The Lightning Rod by Brad Meltzer (3/8/22)
A Therapeutic Death by J.B. Stevens (3/7/22)
The Girls in the Fire by Dea Poirier (3/4/22)
Girl in Ice by Erica Ferencik (3/1/22)
Splinter Cell: Firewall by James Swallow (3/1/22)
Grim Measures by David Darling (2/27/22)
Blue Fire by John Gilstrap (2/22/22)
Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett (2/22/22)
No Second Chances by Rio Youers (2/22/22)
Sierra Six by Mark Greaney (2/15/22)
Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz (2/8/22)
Targeted by Stephen Hunter (1/18/22)
The Runaway by Nick Petrie (1/18/22)
End of Days by Brad Taylor (1/11/22)
Insurrection Day by Chris Hauty (1/4/22)
Rogue Asset by Andrews & Wilson (12/7/21)
Ashes to Ashes by Alan L. Lee (11/30/21)
Chain of Command by Marc Cameron (11/16/21)
The Body Man by Eric P. Bishop (11/11/21)
Her Name Is Knight by Yasmin Angoe (11/1/21)
The Last Protector by Simon Gervais (11/1/21)
Gated Prey by Lee Goldberg (10/26/21)
Surviving the Lion’s Den by Matt Scott (10/18/21)
The Art of Obsession by Lori Lacefield (10/18/21)
The Lion's Paw by Stephen England (10/15/21)
The Kill Box by Rip Rawlings (10/5/21)
Damascus Station by David McCloskey (10/5/21)
A Violent Gospel by Mark Westmoreland (9/24/21)
City on Fire by Don Winslow (9/21/21)
Enemy at the Gates by Kyle Mills (9/14/21)
Pantheon 2: Ares & Athena by K. R. Paul (9/9/21)
Dark Intercept by Andrews & Wilson (9/7/21)
The Island by Ben Coes (8/17/21)
Down Range by Taylor Moore (8/3/21)
Assassin's Dawn by Ward Larsen (8/2/21)
Black Ice by Brad Thor (7/20/21)
The Cellist by Daniel Silva (7/13/21)
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby (7/6/21)
Falling by T.J. Newman (7/6/21)
Sleeping Bear by Connor Sullivan (7/6/21)
Divided States by Rick Treon (6/10/21)
Target Acquired by Don Bentley (6/8/21)
Sons of Valor by Andrews & Wilson (6/8/21)
Arctic Storm Rising by Dale Brown (5/25/21)
Bone Rattle by Marc Cameron (4/27/21)
Sangre Road by David Tromblay (4/23/21)
The Devil’s Hand by Jack Carr (4/13/21)
Amira by Matthew Betley (4/6/21)
The Tipping Point by David Darling (3/19/21)
The Beirut Protocol by Joel Rosenberg (3/9/21)
2034 by Ackerman & Stavridis (3/9/21)
The Outside Man by Don Bentley (3/2/21)
Dark Sky by C.J. Box (3/2/21)
The Kaiser's Web by Steve Berry (2/23/21)
Relentless by Mark Greaney (2/16/21)
The Breaker by Nick Petrie (1/12/21)
American Traitor by Brad Taylor (1/5/21)
Savage Road by Chris Hauty (1/5/21)
Drone Strike by David Austin (11/25/20)
Shadow of the Dragon by Marc Cameron (11/10/20)
Time to Hunt by Simon Gervais (11/10/20)
Assault by Fire by Rip Rawlings (9/29/20)
Adverse Effects by Joel Shulkin (9/15/20)
Total Power by Kyle Mills (9/15/2020)
Assassin's Strike by Ward Larsen (8/18/20)
Near Dark by Brad Thor (7/21/20)
Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby (7/14/20)
The Order by Daniel Silva (7/9/20)
Savage Son by Jack Carr (4/14/20)
Lions of the Sky by Paco Chierici (3/8/19)
Hunt Them Down by Simon Gervais (1/1/19)
Lion of God (Complete Trilogy) by Stephen England (11/10/18)
Raven One by Kevin Miller (8/15/15)
Veil of Civility by Ian Graham (4/17/13)
Veterans Day by Jack Stewart (querying author)

City In Ruins By Don Winslow

City in Ruins is a dramatic end to not just the Danny Ryan trilogy, but of Don Winslow’s legendary writing career. With a storyline full of monstrous men, mayhem, and moral quandaries, readers will witness the downfall and devastation without being able to look away.

Like all great tales of mythology, eventually a reckoning must be met. Danny Ryan, former Irish mob enforcer, managed to build a (mostly) legitimate gaming empire in Sin City. Ryan’s creative approaches and imaginative themes have catapulted him to the peak of power in a business arena that is as cutthroat as any gladiator pit of the ancient world. When Danny decides to use his nefarious past connections to try and swipe a particular piece of Las Vegas real estate, one that could tilt the balance of power in the city, his world begins to crumble. For fear for his family, friends, and fortune, Danny must decide which man he is at his core; the mogul or the murderer.

I know I’d normally (and probably supposed to) write more about City in Ruins specifically, but if you’ve read any of Winslow’s books before… you know the drill. The man is one of the best storytellers to ever do it. The characters are so full of depth that you are drawn in and fully empathetic of the plights and peril they find themselves in. Instead, I want to just write a little bit for Mr. Winslow specifically. 

I could write a lengthy article about the qualities, the evolution, and the well deserved accolades of Winslow’s writing career… but I won’t. I will just say THANK YOU.

THANK YOU for stories that enveloped readers so thoroughly that we lost all track of time and found ourselves finishing books in the early hours of the morning because we just had to know what happened next.

THANK YOU for characters that stay with us long after we put down the book. Characters that make readers assess not just their place in the world, but how they see the world itself.

From all of your fans, from all of the writers you’ve inspired, for all that you do… THANK YOU!

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Negative Tilt: Stories By Bobby Mathews

Negative Tilt: Stories by Bobby Mathews is a collection of tales so full of emotion, tension, and drama that at times you’ll feel like the author has picked you up above his head and is about ready to suplex you on the hard concrete below. With a wide variety of characters and scenarios; the violence is sneaking, the heartbreak shattering, and the storytelling tight and impactful. 

The stories feature everyday men and women that are incredibly relatable regardless of your geographic location or economic station. You can feel the loneliness, you can smell the ink, and you can hear the squeal of the rubber tearing down the asphalt. As all great writers do, Bobby finds the magic in the mundane and produces one engaging story after the next. 

While I mostly read full length novels and a novella here and there, Bobby reminds me once again why short story collections should be on everyone’s reading list. The difficulty in creating connection between readers and characters in such a short format is something I’ll always appreciate. Bobby somehow sucked me into each and every one of the stories in this collection in a mere matter of paragraphs.  

The authenticity of both the settings and characters is undeniable, which makes sense when the author himself has always been so full of life, joy, and kindness that he himself might as well be a fictional caricature in one of these stories, most often found regaling dive bar regulars with stories of the absurd and unbelievable.

For those of us lucky enough to have gotten to know Bobby over the years, the underlying foundation of these stories are known and we can do nothing but hope the process has been therapeutic for a man who has always supported and encouraged others in their down times. If anyone deserves a bit of peace through the writing process, it is him.

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Chapter 2 Books
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Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

The Year Of The Locust By Terry Hayes

If you told me that after 780 pages into a story I would be yearning for more pages, I’d have told you that you were nuts. However, Terry Hayes has done just that. The Year of the Locust is a modern epic that will have you consuming pages like a swarm of its namesake going through a field of winter wheat.

As a Denied Access Area spy, Kane has made a career of operating where other CIA agents could not or would not. The borderlands of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan is one such area. When tasked with meeting with a source willing to reveal details about an audacious attack on the West by a new terrorist organization, Kane is faced with a decision that would reveal the true nature of anyone’s soul. What he does not know is that his decision has a direct impact on not only his fate, but that of the world. 

While I would still categorize this as an espionage thriller, that is a very loose definition. Multi-genre, genre blending, genre blurring… call it whatever you like, but for over 500 pages this is one of the best spy books I’ve read in recent years… then something happens and we’re propelled into something else. I would advise going into this one with only a limited understanding of the plot and enjoy the mystery and revelations as they unfold.

Do not let the page count put you off. The writing, action, and intrigue had me finish it in two sittings during a 48 hour period. There is a depth and magnetic pull to even the seemingly peripheral characters. Each individual in this book serves a purpose and Hayes does a masterful job of creating each one to draw you in and propel the story. When danger looms on the horizon, I often found myself having a physical reaction as I flew through the pages to see what would happen next.

If you’re looking for a similar comparison, I would say fans of the Sigma Series from James Rollins would absolutely love this book.

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Purchase The Year Of The Locust
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

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Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

The Hunt By Kelly J. Ford

Better than almost anyone writing today, Kelly J. Ford is able to spot the magic in the mundane and craft a compelling story around what others simply look right past. The Hunt is just the latest example of her ability to draw readers into the chaos and craziness of everyday life while exploring themes of shared trauma, family dynamics, and the societal constraints of small town America. Add a serial killer into the mix and you have yourself one hell of a book.

For the past 17 years, participants in the annual ‘Golden Egg Hunt’ in Presley, Arkansas were as likely to find a dead body as they were the prized egg. A serial killer has used the influx of visitors and the remoteness of search areas to hone their skills. While those benefiting from the tourist dollars and others obsessed with the idea of winning the spoils chalk all the deaths up to unfortunate accidents, Nell Holcomb knows better. Every day she is reminded of ‘The Hunter’s’ first victim when she looks into the face of the nephew she is raising and sees her brother staring back at her. The days leading up to Easter are not only a reminder of her brother’s death, but the role she played in it.

While there is a serial killer on the loose, you won’t see a high body count in this one. It is the search and subsequent fallout that drive this story. The interpersonal relationships are authentic and filled with high levels of drama and emotional angst. For me, I was as wrapped up in how the characters would react to the next devastating blow as I was who the killer might be. As a thriller junkie, the misdirection and increasing levels of danger kept me entertained.

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Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
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Dead Fall By Brad Thor

Dead Fall drips with danger, depravity, and daring deeds. With all the traditional Brad Thor traits, this is a turbulent tale of tenacity and terror. Scot Harvath is back where he belongs; behind enemy lines and burying bad guys. 

Coming off a surprisingly clean mission, Harvath is looking forward to kicking up his heels and spending some downtime with his fiancée. However, fate and the current state of world affairs have other plans. A time sensitive and perilous mission has arisen and there is only one operator suited for the job. An American aid worker has been taken by a unit of mercenaries who reports have shown to be inflicting horrors upon innocent civilians not seen since World War II. With limited resources, no diplomatic cover, and operating in an active warzone… Harvath will be forced to use all of his considerable brains and brawn to complete this mission.

This has all the feel of a “classic” Thor book in all the right ways. Good versus Evil. Visceral action sequences juxtaposed with geopolitical maneuvering. Honor and duty. If you told a long-time reader of the series to close their eyes and imagine what major themes or situations would be present in a “classic” Harvath plot, I have a feeling they’d come up with more than a few of the scenes depicted in this book.  

Given the setting is the largest war on European soil since the last Great War, it should be no surprise that Thor creates a reading experience that features equal parts of an action thriller, historical fiction, and political commentary. With shades of a modern take on Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan, the horror and trauma of war are on full display and, while Thor is writing a book to entertain his fans, he is not shy about laying out the real world events and players responsible for all of the death and destruction. 

I was surprised at how much this book surprised me. While setting a thriller in Ukraine right now is almost a given, Thor made this story unique and fresh. There is a timelessness to this story and the themes explored on the page that Harvath could have been dropped into any of the major conflicts over the past century and the same raw emotions he experiences would be authentic. Dead Fall has instantly become one of my favorite Thor books.

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Purchase Dead Fall
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

The Collector By Daniel Silva

The Collector is a compelling chronicle chock-full of crime, close calls, and corruption. In the latest Gabriel Allong installment, Daniel Silva has cast aside any doubts or questions about what Gabriel’s universe will look like in “retirement”. With enough art, espionage, and geopolitical intrigue to satisfy long time readers, the new Allon is the same as the old… just with a few more scars and a lot more to lose.

With his family settling into life in Venice, Gabriel Allon is enjoying the slower pace of things in his golden years. That is until his old friend General Ferrari enlists his assistance in a case along the Alfami coast. It’s not the dead body or the recovered stolen painting sitting in a hidden room, rather an empty frame of unique dimensions laying on the floor that requires the talents of the legendary spymaster. With each passing hour the trail for the missing masterpiece goes cold. As Allon follows the clues, it is the missing painting's connection to a larger conspiracy that forces Gabriel to dip his toes back into his old life. With the help from the contacts he’s acquired over a long career in the shadows, Allon must face his greatest foe to keep an already barbaric war from turning into the last war.

Like no other author on the planet, Silva seamlessly intertwines varying thriller subgenres into something uniquely associated with Gabriel Allon. In this book alone there are heists, intelligence operations, and the ever looming threat of the world spinning out of control based on the decisions of a mad tyrant. Regardless if you’re an avid crime reader, a military thriller junkie, or spy novel aficionado, The Collector will satisfy your reading preferences.

With an almost melodic writing style, Silva slowly builds each scene, allowing readers to nestle comfortably into the story as we reacquaint ourselves with our fictional friends. Then almost without noticing, the tempo has increased with the introduction of new and complex characters we can’t wait to find out more about. Then to bring it all home, witty dialogue propels us to a crescendoing end. Like a maestro conducting his symphony, Silva utilizes all the instruments within his novel to craft an emotional experience for his readers that leaves spellbound and anxiously waiting for the next book to come.

 To open the cover of a Silva novel elicits a similar set of emotions as when I walk into a rare book store. It is the feeling of logical expectations and limitless possibilities. Once inside, will you find the classics, accompanied by the nostalgia you get just from seeing them? Are there new tantalizing items that you didn’t know you needed in your life? Are you going to take something away from the experience that will stay with you long after? The answer is a resounding ‘Yes’ to all three. 

Bravo, Mr. Silva. Bravo!

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Purchase The Collector
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

All The Sinners Bleed By S.A. Cosby

Early on while he was writing All the Sinners Bleed, Mr. Cosby proclaimed his current work in progress was a mashup of True Detective: Season 1 and Justified. With that kind of comparison and following on the heels of his award winning, best selling, genre redefining books… my expectations couldn’t have been higher. Cosby smashed through them like he was auditioning for the role of the Kool-Aid Man in an 80s tv commercial. “Oh yeah!”

We meet Titus Crown, the first black sheriff of Charon County, Virginia, on what would be the worst day in any law enforcement officer's career, responding to a shooting at the local high school. Personal connections to shooting is all but inevitable in a County of Charon’s size, but when the motivations of the shooter are investigated, Titus and his team find evidence of the types of crimes that will haunt them until their last breaths. The word evil fails to adequately describe the killer terrorizing the peninsula they call home and the only question is what will be left in the end, assuming they survive.

The darkness and regret in All the Sinners Bleed entangles itself throughout this story like kudzu enveloping a giant oak tree. Whether it is Cosby’s examination of gun violence, historical racial relations, or familial bonds, there is an underlying trauma that seeps through it all. Don’t get me wrong, there are moments of joy and love, but those instances are enhanced by the (often self inflicted) pain and suffering the characters have to overcome.

Given those topics and the current state of modern culture, you might assume that someone in Cosby’s position would decide to dust off a soap box, perch himself atop it, and begin condemning folks like an end of days preacher…but… you’d be wrong. For me, it felt more like being passed a bit of sipping whiskey accompanied by a whispered invitation to spend some time reflecting upon my viewpoints of the world. I have found S.A. does this better than anyone I’ve read in recent memory and it is just one additional facet of his writing that sets him apart from all other writers. 

All I can do is tip my hat, raise a glass, and toast the greatness that Cosby continues to display.

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Chapter 2 Books
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Once Upon A Crime
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City Of Dreams By Don Winslow

City of Dreams is a superb story of resolve, renewal, and remorse. Don Winslow utilizes all of his storytelling genius, leading his readers across the country from the dying embers and smoldering ashes of a mob war to the bright lights and glitter of Hollywood where the allure and intoxication of fame, fortune, and fornication are impossible to ignore.

They say ‘a bad day in LA is better than a good day anywhere else’. Danny Ryan and what’s left of his crew might have some thoughts about such sentiment. After the catastrophic ending to City on Fire, we find Ryan doing his best to escape Rhode Island with his remaining family and friends. With no destination in mind for his pack of refugees, he heads west, doing his best to keep them off the radar of both the federal authorities and the Italian mob.

Despite keeping his head down and nose clean in an effort to provide a safe life for his son, you can’t outrun your past forever. When the feds finally track him down, they make him an offer he can’t refuse. Do something for them, they’ll make sure his troubles with the FBI go away… if he survives. With no real choice in the matter, Danny does what he does best.

While Dannny and his crew are participating in real life violence, a fictionalized account of the war they just survived is making its way to the big screen. When word gets out that there are folks trying to make money based on their lives, the crew finds itself in the movie business and with a whole new set of enemies and enigmas to deal with. The consequences of Danny’s decision are colossal and catastrophic. 

City of Dreams is a wonderful bridge between the sensational start and the explosive ending of what will be an iconic trilogy. There is more emphasis on the emotional turmoil than the physical in this one, but there is still plenty of action for those craving it. The explanation and exploration of the psychological components is necessary to set up what is sure to be a thrilling finale that will go full tilt from the opening page. I cannot wait to see what Winslow has in store for us next.

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Purchase City Of Dreams
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

The Guilty One By Bill Schweigart

The Guilty One is a sadistically satisfying psychological thriller, with gruesome murders, deranged killers, and a plot propelled as much by the cast of characters as the chaos they endure. Bill Schweigart’s writing smacks you upside the head and shows us his wordsmithing is, dare I say, even better than his social media game.

They say ‘no guts, no glory’, but Schweigart puts his own unique spin on the age-old saying. Detective Cal Farrell, still coming to terms with his new found fame (or infamy) is on the hunt for a serial killer, following a trail of mutilated bodies throughout Alexandria, Virginia. Months after stopping an active shooter, the newly promoted Farrell finds himself battling professional animosity, personal doubt, and forbidden love. In other words, his day to day life is a hot mess. When he finds himself connected in multiple ways to a murder victim, the lines between right and wrong, legal and criminal, sane and crazy all begin to blur.  

With a healthy dose of characteristics you’d find in a police procedural scrambled up with all the action and angst you’d want in a thriller, this is a book for any fan of the thriller and crime genres. While a departure from his “usual” stuff, I really hope this is not the last we see of Det. Farrell.

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Purchase The Guilty One
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

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Chapter 2 Books
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Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Red London By Alma Katsu

Red London is a high octane, hyper realistic spy thriller that doesn’t require a high body count to ratchet up the action and intensity. Alma Katsu masterfully utilizes every word uttered, every “accidental” encounter, and every calculated move to propel readers through to the surprising finale.

CIA Agent Lynsey Duncan, fresh off of exposing a mole at the Agency, is sent to London to develop a new highly placed Russian asset. That is until a blast from the past, MI6 agent Davis Ranford, specifically requests her assistance in a time sensitive operation in London.

The home of Mikhail Rotenberg, Russian oligarch and the main man in “Londongrad”, is assaulted in a brazen attempted invasion and abduction. While his personal security force thwarted the attack, the event occurring in one of the richest neighborhoods in the UK forces MI6’s hand. Information regarding Rotenberg’s ties to the new Russian president and his looted fortune is coveted by the intelligence community and Lyndsey is asked to befriend Emily Rotenberg, the aristocratic British wife, to see if she can recruit her. When a former CIA appears on the scene, working on behalf of a private intelligence organization, Lyndsey finds herself caught between a variety of competing forces. Any wrong step could get her killed.

Katsu’s wealth of knowledge and ability to absolutely pack this story full of authenticity elevates it to another level. If you thought Red Widow was good, get ready for this one, because you haven’t seen anything yet.

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Deep Fake By Ward Larsen

Deep Fake is a story driven by plausible and petrifying plotlines, but it is Ward Larsen’s writing wizardry that had me finish this story in a single day. This book is a modern mashup of The Manchurian Candidate and Red Sparrow and with the current state of world affairs, the long game espionage tactics is not something I feel is out of the realm of possibility.

When Congressman Bryce Ridgeway is thrust into the national limelight after thwarting a brazen attack, the Army veteran turned politician sees his star rise and a kingmaker plucks him from obscurity to run from the highest office in the land. As he is out on the campaign trail, his wife Sarah begins to have worries about the inconsistency in her husband's behavior, when that paranoia leads to some even more disturbing information, nothing will be the same again.

With a new take on old school Cold War espionage novels, Ward weaves a tantalizing tale full of twists and turns that had me guessing until the very end. With just enough revealed as you go along to have an inkling of what may come, it’s the dramatic finish that brings it all together. This is one of my favorite books so far this year. 

This was my first book of Ward’s outside of his David Slaton series and while I love that series, I wouldn’t be unhappy to see Ward branch out into more standalones. His writing and storytelling ability has just gotten better and better with each book and he is one of the authors I most look forward to reading each year.

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Wolf Trap By Connor Sullivan

If Connor Sullivan had set out to specifically write a political thriller, Wolf Trap would have been great. 
If he had set out to specifically write a spy novel, Wolf Trap would have been great.
If he had set out to specifically write a mystery involving complex conspiracies, Wolf Trap would have been great.
By combining all of these individual components, Wolf Trap became something greater.

Leading a solitary life, full of guilt and regret, Brian Rhome is a man who simply wants to forget his past and be left alone. Unfortunately, for him… as a former Ground Branch paramilitary officer, the ghosts of his past don’t always stay dead. When he signs on to a mission helping to take out the man responsible for an ambush on his former team, Rhome finds himself entangled in a global conspiracy that reaches the very pinnacle of American political power and leaves the world on the brink of war. The only question is if he can stop what is coming.

Wolf Trap not only blurs the lines between subgenres, it devours them. As I quickly moved from chapter to chapter, the different characteristics from the various types of stories fought for dominance like a literary Cerberus, leaving me joyfully unable to confine this novel into a single category. This book continually morphs, shape shifting with the right type of story pushing its way to the front at the exact right time to ensure the maximum effect is felt by the reader.

While his book titles may include animals, Connor Sullivan is proving that he’s going to be a beast in this industry for years to come. Wolf Trap is a wonderfully complex and anxiety inducing story that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

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Red Queen By Juan Gomez-Jurado

Red Queen is a masterfully macabre murder mystery, bursting with brutality and brilliance. Featuring Antonia Scott, a protagonist that should draw comparisons with some of the greatest fictional detectives, Juan Gómez-Jurado crafts a compelling plotline with the perfect balance of psychological torment and physical danger. There is a reason this book has sold millions of copies in his native Spain. 

After being suspended for framing an abusive pimp, Bilbao police officer Jon Gutierrez finds himself blackmailed into the hardest job he’s ever taken on… convincing Antonia Scott to return to the field for a highly secretive and sensitive investigative unit. After a personal tragedy befalls her, Scott has chosen to live an almost hermetic life, barely leaving her apartment other than to make her nightly pilgrimage of penance.  

When the body of a wealthy teenage boy is found ritualistically drained of all its blood and displayed in one of his family’s homes, Scott’s handler has no choice but to force her out of her self imposed retirement. What started as a single murder investigation soon turns darker when a billionaire’s daughter, and heir apparent, is kidnapped. The sinister rationale for the kidnappings will force Scott and Jon to use all of their mental and physical skills to locate the woman before time runs out.  

The first in a trilogy, Red Queen should be read by fans of the Sherlock Holmes and Lisabeth Salander series. With some similarities to enhanced capabilities seen in The Dark Fields/Limitless by Alan Glynn, Gómez-Jurado puts his own unique stamp on the concept in this series. 
How good is this book? Well it made me want to learn Spanish so I can read the remaining two books in this trilogy. They cannot be translated and released fast enough for my liking.

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The Golden Spoon By Jessa Maxwell

If you told me before I started reading The Golden Spoon that I’d be hooked into a murder mystery surrounding a baking show, I would have told you you were nuts. However, Jessa Maxwell’s intriguing storytelling style, use of multiple viewpoints, and complex characters had me finish this over a couple of nights.  

In a quaint, secluded area of Vermont, celebrity chef Betsy Martin hosts “Bake Week” at her family estate of Grafton. For the past ten summers, six amateur contestants battle it out to see who has what it takes to win it all. “America’s Grandmother”, as Martin is known, is the author of bestselling cookbooks and projects an image of wholesomeness in the public eye. That persona is starting to show cracks and when small acts of sabotage begin to appear in this year’s competition, the stakes keep rising. When a body is discovered, everyone is a suspect, and everyone has a motive. 

Baking shows are not usually my cup of tea and I’ll be honest with you, this was not a book I normally would pick up… but I’m so glad I did. I love a good whodunnit and with interesting and intriguing backstories for each character, there was more than enough action (both mental and physical) to keep me fully engaged. 

If you like a good ‘locked-room mystery’ then this is the book for you. Extra points if you’re into baking… or at least eating baked goods like I am.

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The Frenchman By Jack Beaumont

The Frenchman is a slow burn of a read in all the right ways. Like any good spy thriller, Jack Beaumont methodically builds up the action culminating in the dramatic conclusion. The most anxiety-inducing part of this book is the plausibility of the final scenes, made even worse by the authenticity Beaumont brings from his previous years at the DGSE to the page. This is the most pure espionage book I’ve read this year.

Alec de Payns, one of the top undercover operatives at the DGSE, sees a routine mission to infiltrate a terrorist group goes sideways, nearly costing him his life. All signs point to a mole within the tight-knit group and Alec is being treated as a potential suspect. As he tries to balance his work life with that of his roles as loving husband and father, the pressure to clear his name and identify the intelligence breach mounts.

Even with the long shadow of doubt and betrayal cast over the group, the terrorists aren’t sitting idly by and Alec is sent to determine if a secretive weapons facility in Pakistan is producing a new biological weapon in the form of a weaponized strain of bacteria. With everyone at the DGSE looking over their own shoulders, there hasn’t been a better time to strike.

Not since Kyle Mills explored the vulnerability of the US electrical grid in Total Power has a fictional attack seems not only plausible, but probable. I would not be shocked to find out that this type of assault actually occurred in some form or fashion. It does take a bit for the pace of the story to really get going, but the time Beaumont uses to set the table is well worth it when the plot absolutely takes off. The final action sequences and reveal of the full scale of the attack were wonderfully done, which is all the more impressive in a debut.  

With a level of detail only former intelligence officers and operatives can bring to a story, I can only hope this is the first in a long line of books featuring Alec de Payns.

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Magic City Blues By Bobby Mathews

Magic City Blues is a novel dripping with action, apprehension, and authenticity. With a violent plotline complex enough to keep a seasoned crime reader engaged, it is the personalities and relationships that kept me captivated. Like other gifted writers before him, Bobby Mathews turns his beloved city into a character all its own, driving the story forward to its dramatic finale.

Kincaid, a veteran and low-level enforcer, had thought the toughest part of his new protection gig was going to be keeping his eyes (and hands, if he was lucky) off Abby Doyle. Hired by Abby’s father, Birmingham’s criminal kingpin, Kincaid soon realizes he is facing dangers from all angles, including a few he never wanted to even imagine.

When BPD detective Laura D’Agostino is assigned to find the killer of Abby’s fiancé, Kincaid is confronted with the last thing he thought possible; his own long dormant emotions. As the unlikely pair chase down leads through the urban center of Birmingham and its surrounding suburbs, they uncover horrific secrets, double dealing, and death at every turn. The only real question is if they can stay alive long enough to finish the job.

At first glance, I was tempted to label Mathews’s writing style as streamlined, but it’s so much more than that. While the prose is shorn of any superfluous verbiage, you can tell that he has poured over each word to find the single most impactful descriptor in each sentence. It is this attention to detail in both his setting depictions and witty dialogue that had me staying up into the early hours of the morning to see what happened next.

You can go ahead and add Bobby’s name to the list of authors leading the revival of what I’ve seen called ‘new southern noir’. Call it whatever you will, but if you have even a passing interest in crime fiction, start picking up these books and this one in particular. We are privileged to be reading at a time when there is an abundance of deeply talented writers producing amazing work centered in the south, many with a focus on breaking down historical stereotypes and illuminating the mercurial transitional period many southern cities find themselves in at the present. Don’t make the mistake of missing out. 

Fans of historical giants like Robert B. Parker or our contemporary greats like Ace Atkins and S.A. Cosby, this is a book for you.

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White Smoke By John Gilstrap

When the bombs drop and reality as you know it disappears in the blink of an eye, what do you do next? In White Smoke, John Gilstrap offers a raw and realistic look of just what might happen. With an emphasis on illustrating the benefits of survival skills, Gilstrap is quick to demonstrate that what might seem odd and even extreme in today’s society could in fact be what saves us if the worst should come to pass. 

White Smoke is the third installment in this post apocalyptic series, featuring former Congresswoman Victoria Emerson as she continues to try and forge a functioning community in rural West Virginia. While Victoria tries to keep things progressing in ‘Eden’, as it’s come to be called by outsiders, a request comes down from on high… literally. The small band of violent men and women who have taken over a posh mountain top resort that had served as the cover for the U.S. government’s doomsday bunker. With what remains of the executive branch and congress now imprisoned by a mad man and the masses crying out for blood and retribution, a show trial has been established to quell the bloodlust. The current President of the United States, perhaps in name only, has requested Victoria preside over the trial in an attempt to bring some sense of fairness and normalcy to the process.

While this request is a political minefield in the fledgling society, it is the actual threat of physical violence on the roads that Vicky and her team must overcome to even stand a chance of giving the President what he wants. With marauders, slavers, and desperate souls lurking behind every bend in the road, nothing about this request or journey will be easy.

Gilstrap does an exceptional job of condensing complex societal and interpersonal issues into easy to digest and compelling storylines. The philosophical debates about the nature of man, the cost/benefits of extreme justice, etc. in this story (and series) should make readers ponder “what if”. There is plenty of action and emotional turmoil if you just want to read a fun action thriller without too much thought though. I’m not sure what is in store for this series after three installments, but I hope for more to come in this intriguing universe. 

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Storm Watch By C.J. Box

Storm Watch is everything we’ve come to expect in a C.J. Box novel. With healthy doses of mystery, murder, and misdirection, Joe Pickett finds himself battling blizzards and sidestepping sniper shots. Few fictional characters go out of their way to avoid trouble more than everyone’s favorite Wyoming game warden, but like a moth to a flame, Pickett and his close knit circle of friends and family must once again take it upon themselves to set things right.

While tracking down an injured animal, Joe stumbles upon an abandoned vehicle in a place it never should have been. Still warm to the touch, he follows the trail and finds a dead body in an even stranger place. When the man turns out to be a professor at the University of Wyoming, Joe begins to ask some basic questions and finds himself running into a brick wall of resistance coming down from on high. The governor himself has ordered Joe to stand down and a pair of FBI agents do their best to convince him to stay in line. Not one to sit idle while injustice is playing out, Joe finds himself in a mountain of trouble without much effort. 

Meanwhile, Nate Romanoski, and his new friend Geronimo Jones are looking to set up a crypto farming operation to fund their falconry businesses, but a group of local militia comes calling looking to recruit Nate to their cause. Distrustful of the government, for good reason, Nate is the perfect man to help take their group to the next level. The question is will he or not?

Box continues to explore the evolving demographics and problems of the Mountain West region, while also touching on larger domestic cultural and political issues. With this now the twenty-third book in the series, it’s impressive that Box is able to craft entertaining plotlines that feel simultaneously both contemporary and timeless.

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The Last Kingdom By Steve Berry

The Last Kingdom has a solid share of surprises, a myriad of mysterious moments, and a heaping of historical happenstance. Better than anyone writing today, Steve Berry manages to create an amalgamation of the authentic and absurd. His ability to connect and create seemingly random events of the past into a pulse pounding treasure hunt continues to entertain this long time fan.

Cotton Malone has managed to find himself roped into another adventure, this time at the behest of Luke Daniels, his protégé. Luke has gone undercover in a group seeking Bavarian independence from Germany. While on its face it seems a far-fetched idea, the strange events surrounding the deposition of King Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1886 manages to bring in a wide variety of present day global powers into the mix. The Mad King’s descendants may finally complete what he set in motion all those years ago and create… The Last Kingdom.

After a year without Cotton Malone, it is great to have the iconic character back in action. Like so many of the books in this series, sorting fact from fiction is half the fun and the other half is enjoying the highly entertaining writing and plot. Unlike some of his previous books, Berry really focuses hard on a singular geographic location and takes a deep dive into the fairytale castles of Bavaria. If you’ve been to the area, then you know how amazing the structures and estates are. If you haven’t, definitely put this on your “bucket” list to check out when you can.

This is not the most action packed stories Berry has written, but the intrigue and mystery more than make up for any lack of bullets flying. As always, highly recommend this for anyone who loves a good treasure hunt.

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