Michelle Rao

Alpha Beta Gamma, a Murder Mystery with a Highly Charismatic Sleuth

The Bottom Line: Witty and intellectual, Alpha Beta Gamma introduces a highly charismatic amateur sleuth who risks everything to unravel a sinister international political conspiracy.  Alpha Beta Gamma opens in Tehran, where former spy Nasser and his wife, Fatemeh Ali, are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their daughter, Sara. The stakes are high, as they know that Sara is engaged in protests against the morality police, who recently killed a young woman. Soon, […]

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The Bulgarian Bartender, a Can’t Miss Rescue Thriller by Daryl Kulak

The Bottom Line: Part rescue thriller, part buddy comedy, The Bulgarian Bartender is a can’t-miss women’s adventure through Eastern Europe. Kaylee McDouglas is desperate for a way out of her small town life. When boyfriend Stan presents her with an engagement ring, she immediately agrees to fly from Ohio to Europe to meet his parents. Meanwhile, longtime besties Tiff and Angie find it hard to be supportive. They

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The Quantum Grail, an Electrifying Page-Turner by J.D. Redvale

The Bottom Line: An electrifying page-turner with shocking twists and a jaw-dropping conclusion. When forty-five-year-old U.S. Navy Captain John Mitcham gets stood up by his wife at a local restaurant, he assumes she just needs more space. John and Claire, gutted by their daughter’s suicide, have been taking time apart. But when John goes to do a welfare check on Claire, a neighbor informs him

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The Thousand Year Spy, a Masterful Wartime Espionage Thriller by Jeff Wallace

The Bottom Line: A masterpiece of wartime espionage that is as sophisticated as it is mesmerizing. Fans of Alan Furst may find a new favorite in Jeff Wallace.  Jeff Wallace, author of the brilliant The Man Who Walked Out of the Jungle, is back with a sophisticated World War II-era spy novel that blends themes of displacement, betrayal, and resilience within the harsh realities of wartime espionage. The novel

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Their Little Lies, a Terrifying Psychological Thriller by Quinn Avery

The Bottom Line: Buried family secrets, steamy romance and a terrifying serial killer add up to a masterfully told psychological thriller. Coming off a botched murder investigation, Detective Josephine Kelly is contemplating early retirement. Feeling the need to regroup, she uses her father’s declining health as an excuse to take time off and return home to Ames, Iowa. But thanks to a troubled childhood, the truth

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Cargo Hold 4, a Suspenseful Sci-Fi Thriller by Lonnie Busch

The Bottom Line: Cargo Hold 4 elevates space horror, deftly replacing jump scares with nerve-racking dread, unforgettable supernatural phenomena and big-payoff action scenes.  For the eight scientists aboard the starship Gretel, space travel is anything but cold and silent. The racket from Cargo Hold 4 — banging, crying, moaning and a guttural vibration – is deeply unnerving, and the spooked crew has various theories on what

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The Witchfinder’s Sacrifice, a Bewitching Young Adult Fantasy Thriller by Rande Goodwin

The Bottom Line: A bewitching young adult fantasy thriller with a fully realized world of unique characters and magic. A must-read for fans of Annabel Chase and Stephanie Meyer.  Rande Goodwin’s award-winning novel The Witchfinder’s Serpent introduced us to teenager Nate Watson, who stumbled across the world of witchcraft in his Aunt Celia’s mansion when a powerful demonic bracelet permanently wrapped itself around his arm. In Goodwin’s second series entry, The Witchfinder’s Sacrifice, the relationship

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Right Across the Bay, a Must-Read Whodunnit by Quinn Avery

The Bottom Line: A small town murder mystery that is anything but small. Right Across the Bay is a must-read whodunnit infused with romance, betrayal and an unforgettable finale.  Set in a seemingly tranquil lakeside community in southwestern Minnesota, Right Across the Bay opens as sheriffs recover the watery remains of fitness guru Britta Baxter. Three decades earlier, Britta and her cousin/BFF Maxine spent summers together at Lake Shetek. Both subsequently went to college,

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The Beauty Doctor, a Powerful Historical Thriller by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard

The Bottom Line: A powerful, richly drawn historical thriller that is as terrifying as it is absorbing. Highly recommended.  Aspiring doctor Abigail Platford has nearly given up on her dream to follow in her father’s footsteps to help New York City’s poor. After her father’s death and her mother’s remarriage, she fends off an attempted rape by her alcoholic stepfather – a situation that finds

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