Blog Archives
Cold Case Investigators: The Prostitute Killer
The Prostitute Killer follows a dogged investigation into a string of gruesome murders, beginning with an innocent traveler’s death in a sleazy Bakersfield motel and unraveling into a chilling serial killer case. Set across multiple cities in California and Nevada, the novel centers on Patrick Johnson, a retired Air Force investigator turned private detective with Cold Case Investigators. He and his team retrace the steps of a methodical murderer who preys on prostitutes. Each victim found smothered and with their throat slashed on the same date year after year. The story becomes an intricate web of cold leads, dark motel rooms, and unsettling truths.
The book reads like a throwback to classic procedural dramas. I enjoyed how the story didn’t just throw readers into a whirlwind of twists, but instead took its time. It builds tension slowly and methodically, just like its killer. I enjoyed how Johnson felt real. He’s flawed but determined. He’s no superhero. He’s just smart and stubborn and still trying to make sense of the world post-military. The domestic scenes with his wife and kids gave the story heart. They broke up the violence and grit with warmth. I didn’t expect to laugh at the scenes with his son outshooting a grown man or feel a lump in my throat during the baptism. Those little moments made the stakes feel personal.
The dialogue leaned into a report-like style that gave the book an authentic, procedural feel, like sitting in on a real investigation. The detailed exposition added to that immersive, boots-on-the-ground atmosphere, making it feel like I was right there with the team piecing things together. The killer’s motives were slowly revealed in a way that kept me guessing, though I was left curious for even more twists or deeper psychological layers by the end, which speaks to how invested I was in the case. The pacing in the second half picked up, and I found myself eager to see how Johnson would put the final pieces together.
I’d recommend The Prostitute Killer to fans of true crime-style fiction and slow-burn detective novels. If you like methodical investigations, ex-military protagonists, and reading about cold cases coming to life again, this book’s got you covered. It’s not flashy, and it doesn’t rely on shock value. It’s steady, gritty, and oddly comforting.
Pages: 163 | ASIN : B0DNRNB3PV
Cold Case Investigators: The Happy Paperhanger
Merrill Vaughan’s The Happy Paperhanger is a twisty cold-case mystery centered on an elusive con artist who’s been baffling law enforcement across Southern California for years. The story kicks off with the introduction of the CCI team, Cold Case Investigators, led by seasoned veterans Paul Gibbons and John Sommers, who are called in by the Riverside PD to track down a smiling, soft-spoken fraudster who passes bad checks while remaining entirely anonymous. As the investigation unfolds, a complex cat-and-mouse game emerges between the team and the mysterious perpetrator, eventually revealed to be Scott Thayer, a millionaire with a dangerous hobby. Woven throughout the narrative are glimpses into Scott’s opulent life and twisted motivations, giving readers both sides of the chase. Along the way, we get entangled in personal stakes, including a prior kidnapping case and emotional family developments that add warmth and urgency to the investigation.
I have to say, this book hooked me early and kept me flipping pages. I liked how it didn’t rely on explosions or gunfights but rather old-school gumshoe work like tailing suspects, cross-checking bank records, and chasing down threads that seemed to lead nowhere. That felt real. The way Vaughan slowly peeled back the layers on Scott Thayer was clever. He wasn’t your average villain. He had a high life, a loving wife, and even a conscience, sort of. That made him feel oddly relatable and, honestly, more dangerous. The scenes where he mingles with cops and detectives at galas and fundraisers, all while hiding in plain sight, gave me chills. On the other side, the CCI team’s chemistry felt natural, with good back-and-forth banter, personal depth, and even humor. The subplot around Patrick’s family added an emotional undertone that didn’t feel forced. I cared about these people, which made the stakes feel higher.
That said, the writing isn’t flashy, and at times, it can be plainspoken. But that’s the charm. There’s no unnecessary gloss. Vaughan gets to the point, and the plot marches forward with the kind of pacing I appreciate in crime fiction. I also enjoyed the change of scenery. It wasn’t just another big-city thriller. The story roamed through small towns, dusty police stations, diners, and backyard BBQs, which grounded everything in a believable world. One thing that struck me was how the con artist was always just a step ahead. That tension, that not-knowing-what-will-happen-next feeling, stayed strong right up until the last few chapters. And while the mystery wraps up more cleanly than I expected, the road there was full of little surprises.
If you’re into crime stories where the thrill doesn’t come from action scenes but from clever twists, tight investigative work, and rich character dynamics, this book will be right up your alley. Fans of low-boil suspense, police procedurals, or classic mystery novels will feel right at home with this one. I’d recommend The Happy Paperhanger to anyone who loves the chase more than the capture and prefers brain over brawn in their fiction.
Pages: 212 | ASIN : B0FGB9YQX8
Cold Case Investigators: The Kidnapping
After reading The Kidnapping by Merrill Vaughan, I can say this gripping crime thriller delivers a compelling and emotionally charged story. Set against a backdrop of military life and a chilling cold case, the novel follows the abduction of a child and the traumatic events that ripple through the lives of those involved. At the heart of the story is Master Sergeant Patrick Johnson and his wife, Sherrie, whose son is kidnapped by a disturbed figure from Sherrie’s past. The narrative jumps between timelines, slowly unraveling the dark motives and relentless pursuit of justice by a tight-knit group of investigators. With its mix of suspense, heartbreak, and action, the book reads like a true crime story with the pulse of a fast-paced drama.
What I liked most was Vaughan’s attention to procedural detail and the emotional realism in the characters. The dialogue between military personnel feels authentic, probably helped by the author’s own background or deep research. The tension builds steadily, and although the plot can be dense with acronyms and chain-of-command nuances, the stakes remain deeply human. Vaughan’s writing shines when focusing on the psychological toll of the crime. Like the way it tears at relationships and rattles the characters’ sense of security. I especially appreciated how the protagonist, Patrick, balances his personal grief with his professional instincts, which adds layers of complexity to the story.
Some sections leaned a bit heavily on exposition or extended dialogue, which slowed the pace in places. The villain’s storyline was intense and emotionally charged, and it had moments that felt a little heightened compared to the grounded tone of the rest of the book. A few of the antagonist’s choices made me pause, as they seemed more about pushing the story forward than staying true to his character. That said, these were small things in an otherwise gripping and emotionally rich read.
The Kidnapping is a powerful story of loss, determination, and justice. It’s a book for readers who love detailed crime fiction, especially those with a taste for military or investigative thrillers. If you enjoy novels that dig into the emotional wreckage of trauma while keeping the plot moving, this one’s worth your time. I walked away from it, moved, unsettled, and honestly impressed by how much heart the story held.
Pages: 434 | ASIN : B0DQ63BBVM
Land Without Shame
Land Without Shame is a fast-paced Christian action thriller set in a gritty future where Cody Musket Jr. carries the legacy of a heroic family name. Twenty years from now, the world is plagued by political chaos, human trafficking, and high-tech warfare. When Cody finds himself in Caracas, rescuing a baby from a dumpster, he’s thrown into a whirlwind of danger involving plane crashes, guerrilla warlords, underground resistance groups, and a starlet who discovers her strength in the middle of tragedy. The story follows Cody’s mission to rescue victims of trafficking while wrestling with his own call to bravery, sacrifice, and faith.
Let me say this right off the bat, I was hooked from the very first chapter. The writing is raw and cinematic. It doesn’t waste time with fluff. It hits you with emotion, action, and conviction. I appreciated the way Miller balances suspense with moments of heart. The book feels personal, like the author poured his soul into these characters. There’s grit in Cody’s journey, but also tenderness. I felt the danger in the jungle, the pressure inside the crashing plane, the lump in my throat when Cody rescues a newborn from the garbage. Miller knows how to build tension, and he does it with simple words that hit hard. The inclusion of grounded Christian values didn’t feel preachy, it felt like backbone.
What surprised me the most was how much the characters grew on me, especially Diamond Casper. At first, she seemed like just another spoiled celebrity, but watching her come apart and rebuild herself through pain and survival, that hit differently. It’s not just a rescue story. It’s about redemption. About choosing courage even when your knees are shaking. The villains are ugly in all the right ways, but the heroes? They’re messy, complicated, sometimes broken, but they rise. And I admire that. Even the sci-fi tech isn’t overdone. It just feels like part of the world without stealing the spotlight from what matters.
Land Without Shame is a bold, unapologetic adventure. It’s thrilling, emotional, and deeply rooted in themes of family, sacrifice, and faith. I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy clean but intense stories with spiritual weight, especially fans of action thrillers, survival tales, or stories with strong moral centers. If you like your heroes bruised but brave, and your endings hard-earned, this book delivers.
Pages: 247 | ASIN : B0F4MDDH9C
Still Waters Run Deep
PEOPLE PERSONnel follows a burnt-out HR manager trudging through her final year at a shrinking charity while juggling caregiving for her declining mother and quietly plotting a radical act of mercy. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I have worked in HR in the not-for-profit sector for over 30 years and I live in Whitstable (UK). I have written before (historical) but thinking of the old adage, ‘write what you know’ I decided to do just that. I wrote something where character and location were key. You’ll notice it is not set in a particular time because I didn’t want it to date. I hope it will be picked up and televised one day so that my antihero can reach a wider audience and I can retire, like Janice.
I found Janice to be a very well-written and in-depth character. What was your inspiration for her and her emotional turmoil throughout the story?
Thank you. No spoilers but I wanted her to be a very ordinary person who ends up in the position of doing extraordinary things. She flies under the radar. She is invisible and for what happens in the story the fact that she is so overlooked gives her a very significant advantage.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Still waters run deep. It’s the quiet ones you want to watch out for. Again, no spoilers, but most fictional killers are larger than life as are the characters who catch them. To me it’s far more disturbing if the killer turns out to be someone just like you. I put, ‘But she always seemed so nice…’ on the back cover because that’s what people always say when their crimes come to light. Janice is a person who keeps herself to herself.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I wrote this book 8 years ago and only very recently revisited it and got it published. I do have ideas for another book about Janice, perhaps a prequel, and hopefully that will be out in the next 6-12 months rather than in another 8 years.
Author BlueSky
She commutes every day from her home in Whitstable, Kent to London and is soon to retire from her standalone role for a not-for-profit sector organisation, that is facing very difficult financial decisions. She is innocuous, dull, easily overlooked and cut an inconsequential, loveless path through, what appears to have been, a largely non-eventful life.
Everyone knows she wouldn’t lift a finger. Everyone knows she wouldn’t swat a fly. Everyone knows she’ll just sit there and be quiet. No one would think twice about her, but Janice Mead’s savage way of exiting those who are now surplus to her requirements may change all that. See what kind of a person Janice Mead really is.
Someone Had to Lie
Jack Luellen’s Someone Had to Lie is a sharply-paced legal-political thriller that follows James Butler, an attorney drawn back into the deadly world of drug cartels and covert operations after the mysterious murder of his close friend, retired DEA agent Joe Aguilar. When Aguilar leaves behind a cryptic file hinting at something “bigger” than they had ever imagined, possibly tied to the fentanyl crisis, the CIA, and unspeakable corruption, James and his wife, Erica, set off on a relentless, twisty journey for truth. What they uncover challenges their assumptions, endangers their lives, and demands justice in a world where institutions may not be what they seem.
I got hooked fast. The writing moves like a freight train: short chapters, lots of movement, and cliffhangers that kept me saying, “Just one more.” Luellen knows his legal lingo and law enforcement dynamics, but he doesn’t get bogged down in it. What I liked was how natural the dialogue felt. It had snap and humor, especially between James and Erica, which gave some breathing room between the darker turns of the plot. That balance made it feel real. The emotional weight of losing a friend, the slow burn of uncovering buried secrets, and the creeping dread of being watched all rang true. Sometimes the exposition leaned a little heavy, especially when laying out CIA history or drug policy, but even that fed the tension and gave backbone to the conspiracy.
But what really kept me invested were the questions Luellen pushed forward. What happens when people who are supposed to protect us start playing by their own rules? What if the truth never fits in a soundbite or a press release? The book doesn’t serve easy answers, and I liked that. It leaves room for moral messiness. Erica, especially, stood out. She’s not a sidekick. She’s sharp, she’s bold, and she holds her own without being written as a cliché. And James, for all his competence, feels human. Tired, grieving, angry. The fact that this story had roots in real history (Iran-Contra, CIA allegations, the fentanyl epidemic) made it hit even harder. It’s a fiction book that feels almost too believable for comfort.
Someone Had to Lie is gripping, gutsy, and unapologetically current. It’s a solid choice for readers who love political thrillers, legal intrigue, or true crime vibes with just enough fiction to keep the pages flying. If you liked The Pelican Brief or Narcos, this’ll be right up your alley. It’s a thriller that makes you think about who’s pulling strings in the shadows.
Pages: 312 | ASIN : B0DK7NWSZL
To Gaze Upon a Darkened Cloud
To Gaze Upon a Darkened Cloud is a genre-blending speculative novel that unfolds in a world gripped by mysterious and deadly cloud storms. The story follows multiple characters: Michelle, a climatologist estranged from her rural roots; Juliana, a devout Ghanaian woman caught between duty and faith; Jonah, her husband, in desperate search of her; and a secretive religious Order that believes the storms herald a spiritual transition. As lives unravel across continents, each narrative thread explores personal identity, faith, science, and the unsettling unknown. The plot moves between intimate domestic scenes and globe-spanning catastrophes, building tension while deepening emotional connections to its characters.
The writing pulled me in right away. The pacing is quick but never rushed, the dialogue natural and sharp. I felt Michelle’s anxiety and her frustration with her family’s resistance to science. I also found myself rooting for Jonah in a way that surprised me. His grief felt real, his determination grounded. The world-building was eerie and imaginative, especially the strange rain and the blue-light phenomenon. The author avoids info-dumps, instead letting the details creep in slowly, which gives the whole book a simmering kind of suspense. The switches in point of view added richness rather than confusion. I never felt lost, only curious and sometimes a little scared.
Still, parts of the story made me uncomfortable in a good way. The religious Order, with its creepy obsession over “the Guide Couple,” got under my skin. The teen marriages, the patriarchal structures, and the way belief was used to justify control, it all hit me hard, especially because it didn’t feel exaggerated. It felt disturbingly real. And yet, the book didn’t beat me over the head with judgment. It left space for complexity. Even Elder Ferguson, one of the most devout, was filled with doubt. That tension between faith and reason runs through every part of the book. What would I do if I saw what Michelle’s father saw? Would I look up?
I’d recommend To Gaze Upon a Darkened Cloud to readers who enjoy dystopian fiction with a touch of the supernatural, but who also want depth and heart. It’s perfect for fans of Margaret Atwood or Octavia Butler, people who like their fiction smart, unsettling, and emotionally resonant. This book isn’t just about surviving weird weather. It’s about what happens when the ground beneath your beliefs starts to crack. If you’re looking for something haunting but human, this one’s for you.
Pages: 304 | ASIN : B0FG35KMY3
Wednesday Night Whites
Wednesday Night Whites is a taut and provocative thriller set in the chilly backdrop of Chester, Nova Scotia. The story follows Azalea “Zale” Augustine, a determined lawyer drawn into a deep and dangerous conspiracy involving the town’s decades-long epidemic of missing women. What starts as a cryptic WhatsApp message leads her into a hidden war room beneath a beloved library, where truths unravel about white supremacy, political corruption, and the horrifying commodification of women. Zale’s world spirals as she learns one of her own law partners, an arrogant, magnetic, and secretly monstrous man, may be at the heart of it all. What unfolds is a story of fear, betrayal, strength, and the long shadows of history reaching into the present.
The writing is crisp and fast, the kind that doesn’t ask for your attention but grabs it by the collar and won’t let go. The dialogue, especially between Zale and her friend Jett, felt raw and real, like actual women whispering in a kitchen late at night. I found myself rooting for Zale hard. She’s sharp but not perfect, confident but wounded, and so very relatable. Her trauma is treated with care, not glossed over. The tension builds fast and deep, with revelations that made my stomach twist. Melvin does an incredible job layering dread with hope, fear with grit. The pacing is relentless in a good way. No fluff. No drag. Just a relentless storm of plot, character, and emotion.
But what stuck with me most was the guts of this story. The way it dared to look at how women disappear, figuratively and literally, and how society just keeps going like it’s normal. The white supremacy thread was chilling, not just because of its historical roots, but because it’s all too believable. There were moments I had to stop and take a breath. Melvin doesn’t hold back. And while some of the plot elements stretch reality, it never breaks. It just leans into its own dark momentum and dares you to follow. The villains are grotesque in a way that feels scarily possible, which makes the stakes feel even higher. Also, her writing on female friendship and resilience hit a nerve. It’s angry in the right places. It’s tender where it needs to be.
If you’re looking for a story that blends psychological suspense, crime drama, and social commentary with a raw emotional edge, this book is it. I’d recommend Wednesday Night Whites to readers who crave dark, intelligent thrillers with a strong feminist backbone. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt afraid walking alone or felt the chill of being dismissed, doubted, or watched.
LITERARY TITAN 