Monty's Book Reviews

  Second to Sin Blackjack Book 2 Murray Bailey 5 Stars Pages: 352 Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Historical Published: 06 March 2023 Publisher:  Three Daggers an imprint of Heritage Books Publisher's Blurb "It only takes a second to sin," Father Thomas said. He believes in saving souls, but Charles Balcombe is beyond saving. His control over his killer instinct appears to be weakening. BlackJack has killed again and more questions are being asked of Detective Inspector Munro. He is under increasing pressure to solve the murders, especially when he picks up more cases from Kowloon rather than solving his own. As Balcombe battles with his demon, he investigates the death of a young woman. Was it an accident or did she kill herself? At first Balcombe thinks it's straightforward but as he digs, other cases reveal an evil in Hong Kong. One that could consume them all. Set in 1954, this is book 2 of the series. It can be read as a stand-alone but the author recommends boo

Cut Adrift Jane Jesmond 4 Stars Pages: 344 Genre: Crime Thriler / Suspense Published: 3rd February 2023 Publisher: VERVE Books    Publisher's Blurb Risk everything, trust no one. Jen Shaw is climbing in the mountains near Alajar, Spain. And it's nothing to do with the fact that an old acquaintance suggested that she meet him there... But when things don't go as planned and her brother calls to voice concerns over the whereabouts of their mother, Morwenna, Jen finds herself travelling to a refugee camp on the south coast of Malta. Free-spirited and unpredictable as ever, Morwenna is working with a small NGO, helping her Libyan friend, Nahla, seek asylum for her family. Jen is instantly out of her depth, surrounded by stories of unimaginable suffering and increasing tensions within the camp. Within hours of Jen's arrival, Nahla is killed in suspicious circumstances, and Jen and Morwenna find themselves responsible for the safety of her daughters. But what if the safest op

  Scorched Threads Aeterna Chronicles Book 5 Kris Ruhler 5 Stars Pages: 356 Genre: Teen, Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Fantasy Published: 09 Nov 2022 Publisher:GPV Publishing Publisher's Blurb: Run from her pursuers. Survive the brutal desert. Find her missing friend Essie lives comfortably as a companion to Simin, a wealthy merchant’s daughter selected as the prince’s new bride. But when her friend disappears on her wedding day, Essie’s world is turned upside down. Fearing the worst, she sets off across the desert, but finding Simin isn’t exactly a walk in the park. In a land of scorching heat, bandits, and deadly creatures, nothing is as it seems. Who is friend, and who is foe? But Essie believes she has a good chance at survival. That is if she can outrun the assassin and bounty hunters at her back. To make matters worse, a voice in her head makes her question her origins. The secrets she unearths shatter everything she knows. When things go sideways, and enemies close in, she forges ahe

  Wings Unfurled BOOK 2 of the WINGS RISING duology Rebecca Gomez Farrell 5 Stars RELEASE DATE: December 6, 2022 GENRE: Epic Fantasy PUBLISHER: Meerkat Press Blurb The vicious claren that used to plague the reunited countries of Medua and Lansera are long gone. So what are the new dark patches appearing in Lady Serra's second sight? She rushes to King Albrecht to report the danger, only to discover that he's ailing and Vesperi, Prince Janto's wife, has fled far to the north to grieve her disappeared daughter. Vesperi still wields the silver flame, possesses all the authority she's ever wanted, but nothing can heal the wound of a missing child. When the silver moon Esye begins to fade, a gnawing fear preys on her for the first time since she escaped her father's cold rule. Ominous creatures once thought mythical are now rampaging through the countryside. Janto sends Serra to investigate. But without her friendship and Vesperi's love, he fears he cannot slay this

Day Unto Night TammyJo Eckhart Fantasy 4 Stars Blurb : A Sumerian child named Ningai survives the murder of her entire family and cries out to her people's gods, who answer her prayer in an unexpected way. Now, as the first of the Akhkharu, the living dead, Ningai embarks on a journey across the millennia to rebuild what she lost. The best of her offspring must maintain some shred of goodness to prove worthy to their Child-Mother while fighting the deadly impulses of their kind. Join their journeys across time in a series of interconnected stories from the earliest cities to a brutal future where humans are mere pawns in the hands of near gods. Like all of us, Ningai and the best of her children will stop at nothing to protect her family. Can they succeed before they lose what's left of their humanity, or will all of humanity become enslaved to the Akhkharu forever? Review :  Cleverly devised vampire story that weaves a good plot with interesting background detail Revenge, Deni

The King & Kishar Timothy S Currey Fantasy 3 Stars Blurb :  Every word King Adzi Akkatha writes on sacred stones is binding, and lasts for all eternity. But how can he rule when he has been cursed to forget everything? His city is in chaos. Hinatsi rebels clash with his soldiers, and their mysterious leaders try to capture the King. With the help of High Priestess Idza and General Qanatha, he must relearn their laws and customs, and who he was as a King. His former self seemed cruel and cold, and he is plagued with doubts. He is an imposter in King’s clothing—do they even have the right man? They must flee to the great Temple of Mesopos where the King’s memory might be restored. The rebels are never far behind, and day by day the curse progresses. There is little hope they will reach the temple in time. Even if they do, will the King want to continue ruling as a cold tyrant? Review :  I found this to be quite slow and repetitious. The premise is sound but it just took too long to