Blog Archives
Romero Pools
Romero Pools, by Alyssa Hall, is an intense love story wrapped in the sharp, sunlit folds of the Arizona desert. The book follows Marin, a young woman still grappling with grief and guilt years after a traumatic accident claimed her fiancé, Tyler. While hiking alone, she stumbles upon Adam, an injured man who has just fallen down a ridge. Their shared journey down the mountain becomes more than a physical one, it’s emotional, raw, and revelatory. As their connection deepens, so too does the mystery surrounding Tyler’s death, ultimately pulling the reader into a web of memory, secrets, and healing.
I really enjoyed Hall’s ability to make the desert come alive with so much character. The way she writes about light, heat, and silence makes you feel the weight of every step on the trail and every breath between two people learning to trust. The dialogue flows naturally, sometimes playful, sometimes heavy, but always honest. Marin and Adam feel like real people, broken but trying, hurt but still relatable. I found myself rooting for both of them in a way that made the end surprisingly heartbreaking. It didn’t feel like a gimmick. It felt like life.
I did feel the writing leaned on telling more than showing at times. The exposition, especially when the backstory was shared through dialogue, could get a bit weighty. I wished for more scenes to unfold slowly instead of being relayed in a block of conversation. Still, there’s something comforting about the voice Hall uses. It’s gentle, it’s warm, and even when the story dips into darkness, it doesn’t feel hopeless. The twisty thread of maybe-Tyler-still-being-alive added a quiet tension that never quite resolved, and honestly, I didn’t mind. The book was never about plot fireworks; it was about emotional honesty.
Romero Pools left me thoughtful and a little wistful. It’s a book for anyone who’s lost something they didn’t think they could live without, and for those trying to start again, however messy that looks. I’d recommend this to readers who love slow-burn romance, quiet personal dramas, and stories that find beauty in the ordinary.
Pages: 232 | ASIN : B09NB63P58
Locked-Room Mysteries
Pioneering Secrets follows a high school teacher, a reporter, and a detective from a small town who are trying to find the person responsible for killing a teen girl. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
When I was a kid, I loved locked-room mysteries. The murder method in this story is based on a reverse version of my favourite locked room story. I can’t give any more details than that, as it would give it away.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
All the characters in the book are based on real people in my life. I’ve tried to give them character and personality traits similar to each of those people.
How did the mystery develop for this story? Did you plan it before writing, or did it develop organically?
It began with a vision of the opening murder scene, then grew from there. I planned out each murder scene ahead of time, as well as the characters and suspects. Other than the opening chapter, I didn’t write any parts of the book until I had the pivotal scenes fleshed out ahead of time.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
This is the first book in the Rolling Brook Falls series. I have a few new stories already planned, with the next two fleshed out. I hope to have the 2nd book published by the end of December 2025. The next story will delve deeper into Andie’s past, as well as continue to develop the budding romance between her and Detective Sayers. Readers can expect the same sass from Andie and C.J. that was showcased in the first book.
Author Links: GoodReads | BlueSky | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Rolling Brook Falls is a sleepy little town where summer tourism is high, everyone knows their neighbour, and no one locks their doors. That all changes when a teen is murdered leaving everyone baffled as to why.
When Andie, a local high school teacher, decides to investigate the death of her favourite student, she clashes with the town’s new no-nonsense police detective. Determined to find out how her peaceful community could become stained with murder, she sets out on her own to search for answers. But after the killer strikes again, the mystery deepens, and Andie wonders if she’s in over her head.
Ignoring the detective’s warnings to stay out of the investigation, Andie and her reporter friend C.J. soon discover more is going on in their quiet little town than they ever could have imagined. As the bodies pile up, the two women race to solve the mystery before another of their friends is murdered, and before the killer sets their sights on them.
Calypso Blue: A Len Buonfiglio/Caribbean Mystery
Calypso Blue is a murder mystery set on the lush and vividly imagined Caribbean island of St. Pierre. The story follows Len Buonfiglio, a former New York bartender turned island bar owner, who is reluctantly drawn into a local web of secrets, violence, and intrigue after the suspicious death of Lord Ram, a beloved calypso legend. As the island buzzes with rumors and buried histories start to surface, Len navigates local culture, his own past, and a cast of unforgettable characters to piece together the truth. All the while, the book pulses with the rhythm of soca, rum punch, and the heady, sometimes seedy charm of island life.
The writing is slick, confident, and casually poetic in spots, with Silverman painting scenes that feel both intimate and expansive. What stood out to me most was the deep emotional undercurrent. Len isn’t your average amateur sleuth. He’s haunted, tired, and trying hard not to admit how much he cares. I found myself rooting for him even when he seemed too worn out to root for himself. And the dialogue is sharp, funny, and soaked in local flavor. It felt real, not forced. The island, with all its beauty and bite, practically becomes a character in itself.
I didn’t always feel the plot moved as swiftly as I wanted, especially when the book leans into Len’s reflections or side conversations. But even then, there’s a richness to the detours, whether it’s a discussion about calypso lyrics or a strange bottle of vermouth left on a doorstep, the atmosphere always pulls you back in. It’s a story that trusts its characters and its setting to carry the weight, and mostly, they do.
Calypso Blue is an intriguing whodunit. It’s a meditation on regret, redemption, and the thin line between paradise and ruin. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries with heart, vivid settings, and characters that stay with you after the last page. Perfect for fans of Caribbean noir, or anyone who wants to feel the heat of an island mystery without leaving their chair. It’s not a beach read, it’s a beach experience.
Pages: 277 | ASIN : B0F2S5TPW8
Pioneering Secrets
Liane Mahugh’s Pioneering Secrets tells the story of a quiet town turned upside down by the sudden death of a bright young girl, Sarah Mills. The book opens with a jarring scene, Sarah is shot while refilling a birdfeeder outside her home. What follows is an emotional and twisting investigation led by Detective Corey Sayers, a transplant from Toronto, who teams up (and sometimes butts heads) with spirited history teacher Andie Dawn and local reporter C.J. Corbin. As the mystery deepens, so do the connections between townsfolk, past secrets, and the quiet menace hiding in their seemingly peaceful community.
What struck me right away was how easy it was to settle into the world of Rolling Brook Falls. Mahugh writes with a natural rhythm that blends small-town charm with creeping dread. The characters feel like people you’d know. They’re messy, stubborn, kind, and sometimes secretive. I loved the chemistry between Corey and Andie. Their banter had bite, but there was warmth too. Andie is refreshingly sharp, never the damsel, and Corey’s dry humor adds a solid counterbalance. But it’s the pacing of the mystery that really kept me flipping pages. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist came along to knock me sideways.
The writing style is simple and sometimes veers into telling more than showing, especially in emotional moments. But honestly, I didn’t care much because I was hooked. Mahugh’s strength lies in her sense of place and character. She layers the mystery well, balancing clues and red herrings in a way that keeps you second-guessing. The emotional undercurrent, especially in how Sarah’s death ripples through her friends, family, and the community, is done with real heart.
Pioneering Secrets is more than a whodunit. It’s a look at grief, trust, and the secrets people carry. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries with an edge, especially readers who like character-driven stories with a splash of romance and a whole lot of heart. If you’re in the mood for a mystery that feels both personal and suspenseful, this one’s worth your time.
Pages: 147 | ASIN : B0DVGQGSZ3
There Are No Superheroes
A Small Mountain Murder delivers a high-stakes investigative thriller where three reporters unravel a web of murder, corruption, and intrigue against the unique backdrop of skiing culture. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was a journalist on television and the radio for over 40 years. I covered a lot of crime and murder. I also spent decades competing as an amateur ski racer. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing great people, greater racers than I ever was and some influential people in the ski industry.
My novel, A Small Mountain Murder, is about a small ski area. Small ski areas are just like most other small businesses, they run on a shoestring budget and a lot of passion. Passion can get you to do strange things. And if you think a line has been crossed, you might even kill for your passion. Don’t believe me? Just read the headlines. Police call it a “Crime of passion.”
Presently, there are small ski areas across the United States being purchased by much larger ski resorts who are in the process of creating a nationwide network. Some of the employees and customers of those little ski areas are resentful. They didn’t ask for change. The result has been a great deal of resentment. Is that a good reason to kill someone? How often do you really hear of a good reason to kill someone?
Did you base the characters of JC, Milt, and Robin on real-life journalists, or are they entirely fictional?
Any number of people have suggested that I write a story about my life. I’m grateful to have led a pretty interesting existence, so far. But a book about me didn’t sound very interesting. However, a book based on my experiences with some embellishment? That sounded like some interesting fiction.
JC Snow is a television reporter. I was a television and radio reporter for over 40 years. The crimes that I describe in my books are often based on crimes that I really covered as a journalist. And the outdoor adventures I describe are based on some of my own outdoor adventures. That includes decades of ski racing and some jarring crashes while in a race course.
And there are pieces of Milt and Robin that also come from real stories and people that I really knew. Milt is a compilation of talented news photographers that I’ve worked with. Some were a little eccentric. The beautiful and talented Robin reflects the adoration and exchanges that I have with my own wife, Carolyn. But Robin also serves another vital purpose. She is often the sound of reason and reflection.
How did you balance the multiple storylines to create such a seamless resolution?
I want my stories to be plausible. I want the reader to feel that this story they are participating in could really happen. It resembles real life. There are no superheroes. And real life isn’t neat. It doesn’t follow a straight line. Events in life overlap. So, that’s how events unfold in my books. There is already stuff going on when something else crops up. When I was a journalist, I just had to juggle all the balls that I found circling in front of me. I was covering one good story when another good story came up and I just had to figure out how to cover them both.
And it wasn’t unusual to find that a career criminal was responsible for more crimes than the one he or she was being investigated for. Criminals are, in most ways, like the rest of us. When they find a way to get something done, they become comfortable with that technique. That’s their modus operandi. So, when investigating a criminal’s behavior, sometimes you’d stumble over other devious deeds they are responsible for. You also stumble across things someone else is responsible for. Life is complicated. But I do try to resolve most of the issues on the table by the time the book ends.
Can we expect a sequel or future stories involving these characters and the intriguing world you’ve built
Thank you, I do find this world I have contrived to be intriguing. So do a growing number of readers. Now, I have published six Murder on Skis Mysteries. A Small Mountain Murder is my 6th. And more are on the way. They tend to arrive at stores each November. To keep up with our plans and publications, go to our website at murderonskis.com.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
The Cadieux Murders
The Cadieux Murders, by R.J. Koreto, offers a riveting historical mystery wrapped in family secrets and architectural intrigue. At its heart is Wren Fontaine, a meticulous architect hired to renovate the enigmatic Cadieux House. This alluring mansion, steeped in history, was built in the 19th century by Marius Cadieux as a grand gift for Rebecca Blaine. But its charm hides a shadowy past. The unsolved murder of Rebecca’s husband, Dennis, in 1955 still lingers in the air, with whispers of an affair between Cadieux and Rebecca casting further doubt. Wren’s renovation work becomes a journey into this unresolved mystery, complicated by fresh deaths that seem inextricably linked to the house’s troubled history.
The novel masterfully weaves its historical threads with the present, delivering a story as layered as the mansion itself. Wren Fontaine, a socially awkward yet fiercely dedicated architect, shines as the protagonist. Her relationship with her father, Ezra, adds tension; he disapproves of any changes she might impose on his mentor’s creation. Yet, Wren’s journey isn’t solely about uncovering the truth of the house—it’s about discovering her own capacity for connection. Her relationship with Hadley offers her the emotional grounding necessary to navigate the tangled web of human stories tied to the Cadieux House.
Koreto’s meticulous attention to detail brings the Cadieux House to life. Its grandeur and mystery pulse through every page. The deeper Wren digs, the more elusive the truth becomes, as few who once lived in the house remain alive to tell their stories. New deaths add urgency, forcing her to confront a chilling possibility: the house itself may hold the answers to a mystery buried for decades. Koreto’s storytelling balances suspense with heart, immersing the reader in a world where architecture and human emotion intersect.
For lovers of historical mysteries, R.J. Koreto’s The Cadieux Murders delivers in spades. It is a tale of suspense, intricate plot twists, and the secrets that haunt both homes and the people tied to them. With its compelling narrative and haunting atmosphere, this book is a must-read for anyone intrigued by the interplay of history, murder, and the enduring pull of forgotten stories.
Pages: 285 | ASIN : B0DGRTWSBG
A Perfect Trifecta
In Killing Buddhas, a local pastor finds himself in the middle of a mystery when the man who inspired his ministry is found dead. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
One part of the inspiration was my own experience with idolizing someone and then learning about their faults. Another was noticing how often in the media we idolize or demonize people without any idea of who they are as a human being.
A good plot device is to have the worst possible misfortune fall on a character, especially the protagonist. Alan Wright is gaining some success and notoriety with his ministry, his second career, and the most important thing in his life. A high point for him is to host his hero, Branden Frank, at his spiritual center and befriend the man he has idolized from afar for many years. Then the worst thing happens to him, his hero dies while a guest in his home. It’s a blow to his confidence and emotions and makes him deeply invested in finding out how the man died, thus kicking off the investigation that is the backbone of any murder mystery story.
This set up perfectly a way to examine a theme that is as old as human beings — the danger in idolizing people and being disappointed when they turn out to be mere mortals. Branden Frank had several unsavory secrets, and learning of them leaves Alan saddened and struggling with his adoration for the man. It’s a common trope in murder mystery stories to make the victim someone who many people disliked, to increase the number of potential suspects. As the skeletons come marching out of Branden Frank’s closet, lots of people condemn him, and three face suspicion. The stakes get extremely high as Alan seeks the truth while struggling to protect the man’s name and his own reputation.
It seemed a perfect trifecta that gave my protagonist powerful motivation while examining the harm we cause by either idolizing or demonizing people. We strip them of their humanity, and in doing so become either useful fools or dangerous zealots.
How did the mystery develop for this story? Did you plan it before writing or did it develop organically?
Like the first Eden Ridge Story, Where You Will Die, most of the story developed organically. I began with a very high-level idea of the plot, a light sketch of the characters and their actions. Then I set out writing and let the story unfold as I progressed. For example, I knew that Branden Frank was to be the victim, and I knew that Alan Wright had admired him as a writer and lecturer for many years. But I didn’t know how it would end, and I didn’t know how the relationship between the two men would develop. I also didn’t have all the details about Mr. Frank’s past, or how it would become known over the course of the story. I didn’t even have all the characters identified when I started writing — a few people introduced themselves along the way and joined the party. In this way, I was able to play the role of an investigator, a sort of uber-detective, finding out the details as I went along.
This made the writing itself exciting and enjoyable. The story was revealed to me over time, and new people and situations and facts kept cropping up, some that were very surprising. This process of discovery continued throughout all the drafts over the five years that passed from the first spark to the published book. There are elements in the book that I only discovered in the final draft. It made the work more difficult in some ways, and it certainly took longer than if I had outlined everything from the beginning. But I came out of it with a better story, and I certainly had a lot more fun along the way.
What was the hardest part about writing a mystery story, where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
My main challenge writing a mystery is keeping the tension up while balancing the storytelling I want to deliver. I try to raise the stakes with every chapter in such a way that leads to that big reveal, without burning out early or dragging on and losing the reader’s attention. It’s a delicate balance. I call the Eden Ridge Stories “philosophical mysteries” because I always develop a central thread of a theme, weaving it through the action. That can easily become boring and make the reader impatient, which is a death sentence for a mystery. At the same time, if every chapter is a breathtaking cliffhanger, the reader can get overwhelmed, and the ending can be a disappointing anticlimax.
I write the books in very short chapters, usually two thousand words or less, and this helps me to strike that balance. Each chapter follows the actions of one or a few people for a brief period, sometimes just a few minutes. The next chapter then veers off somewhere else with other people, so that we build our understanding of the overall plot in small pieces, like a jigsaw puzzle. It’s not an easy approach, but it results in an interesting, intriguing journey with a satisfying ending.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m just getting started on the third book, working title, Reason Not the Need. I’m shooting for a fall 2026 release. I set up a situation in Killing Buddhas that will come to a head in this book. The town of Eden Ridge and a local Indian tribe will be engaged in a land deal that is opposed by as many people and groups as those who support it. Caught in the middle are some homeless people who will be displaced if the deal goes through. Alan Wright has ministered to these people for some time and steps into the fray to defend them. He demands that the town and the tribe ensure that the homeless are provided for, not just shoved out of the way. This makes him very unpopular with both camps and exposes him to false accusations as to his motives and methods.
When some of the homeless end up dead, people are quick to point fingers at Alan. This raises the stakes as he advocates for the displaced people while searching to find the truth and to redeem his reputation.
The title comes from my favorite of Shakespeare’s tragedies, King Lear.
O, reason not the need! Our basest beggars
Are in the poorest thing superfluous.
Allow not nature more than nature needs,
Man’s life is cheap as beasts.
The theme will examine the nature of charity, in the older sense of that word — the love of our fellow humans beyond immediate kith and kin.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Instagram | Amazon
When the guru who inspired Alan Wright’s ministry comes to Eden Ridge then turns up dead, the legend of a great man begins to unravel. Branden Frank helped millions find happiness, but his private life holds secrets that shake Alan’s admiration and confuse the search for truth.
Did his aging and troubled heart give out, or was he killed? One man threatens to kill him in front of a hundred witnesses. Another confesses to his murder, but police can’t make sense of his claim. A local woman is suspected, but her story throws the investigation into a tailspin.
Alan and The Little Red Hens race to untangle the many knotted threads and find the truth. Meanwhile, Alan is in the crosshairs of a conspiracy cult called NotAGod, who accuse Alan of killing his mentor in a Satanic ritual. With Eden Ridge already in turmoil, a teenage boy and girl go missing in a dangerous storm, and the race to find them turns into a life-or-death confrontation that solves the mystery but leaves as many questions as it answers.
The Bookshop Mysteries: A Bitter Pill: A Small Town Cozy Mystery
S.A. Reeves’ The Bookshop Mysteries: A Bitter Pill delivers an engaging tale of intrigue, friendship, and unexpected twists in the charming town of Belper. At the heart of the story is Gemma, a passionate bookshop owner with a love for mystery novels, whose life takes an unexpected turn when a real-life mystery falls into her lap. Her companion in crime-solving is Mavis, a sharp-witted older woman grieving the recent loss of her husband yet equally drawn to the allure of a good mystery. Together, they make a delightful sleuthing team, eager to crack the case that, unexpectedly, might be more dangerous than they anticipated.
Gemma and Mavis make a refreshing detective duo—Gemma, the dog-loving, quick-thinking bookshop owner, and Mavis, an elderly woman full of wisdom and surprising cleverness. Their unique talents complement each other perfectly, and readers will find themselves cheering for these two as they dive headfirst into Belper’s secrets. The town itself adds an irresistible layer to the plot, with its sleepy ambiance concealing an undercurrent of suspense that keeps readers on edge. Each page introduces new suspects, from the unassuming Ellie to the financially struggling Donna, all of whom keep you guessing. Memorable moments abound: the charming friendship between Gemma and Mavis, the shocking death of an author in Gemma’s shop, and the fast-paced unraveling of a mystery full of twists. Reeves masterfully balances lighthearted camaraderie with gripping suspense, resulting in a page-turner you won’t want to put down. The storyline is clever, the characters vibrant, and the world is one you’ll easily get lost in, eagerly guessing until the very last page.
For mystery lovers, A Bitter Pill is a must-read. It’s an addictive tale of crime, community, and the kind of unexpected twists that make a mystery unforgettable. I highly recommend this book, not just for the thrill of the mystery but for the compelling story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Looking forward to more from S.A. Reeves!
Pages: 246 | ASIN : B0D9W3VBGG
