Blog Archives
Rats in a Cage: The Black Box of Misery, Surviving Addiction and Trauma in a Brutal Social Experiment
Christopher Clark’s Rats in a Cage is a raw and unflinching novel about addiction, survival, and the brutal cycle of despair. The story weaves through the lives of Mike, Blake, Pookie, Betty, Bam, Milo, and others who are either lost on the streets of Houston or trapped in a strange underground experiment that tests the limits of choice, hope, and human weakness. This is a thriller about broken people facing impossible odds and sometimes finding a spark of clarity in the middle of chaos. The drops you right into grimy motel rooms, violent corners, and surreal “rehab” cells where the difference between life and death hangs on a decision to open a fridge or not.
Reading this book was like riding a rollercoaster with no safety bar. I admired how the author didn’t hold back on the ugly parts. The writing has a grit that matches the subject matter, and that makes it feel authentic. Some of the dialogue felt so real it was almost uncomfortable to read, like I was eavesdropping on private pain. The multiple perspectives kept the pace quick. I appreciated that it gave me a panoramic view of how addiction creeps into every kind of life. The horror of the “black fridge” experiment stuck with me. It felt both symbolic and terrifying, and it made me wonder what I would choose if I were in their shoes.
Emotionally, this book took me for a spin. I felt angry at times, frustrated at the characters’ choices, then suddenly sad when glimpses of their pasts showed how much they’d already lost. Bam’s turn toward hope gave me chills, and Betty’s struggle was heartbreaking. Milo’s spiral made me want to look away, but I couldn’t. Clark writes with a plainspoken honesty that cuts deep. It’s not polished or poetic, but that’s what makes it work. It feels like he’s lived pieces of this himself, and that made me trust the story more.
I think Rats in a Cage is for readers who aren’t afraid to look straight at the darkest corners of human behavior. If you want a hopeful, easy ride, this isn’t it. But if you want to feel shaken, challenged, and maybe a little changed, then this book delivers. I’d recommend it to people who appreciate gritty urban dramas, those who’ve brushed against addiction in their own lives, or anyone willing to face uncomfortable truths head-on.
Pages: 274 | ASIN: B0FKPKX9FJ
The Copper Scroll: Masa Chronicles
The Copper Scroll by Nicholas Teeguarden follows Joshua “Masa” Bennett, a young archaeology student with a deep faith and a restless curiosity, as he embarks on a journey from Arkansas to Jordan to study the Copper Scroll, the most mysterious of the Dead Sea Scrolls. What begins as an academic interest quickly pulls him into a world of danger, conspiracy, and discovery. Alongside Noa, a sharp and guarded fellow researcher, Joshua navigates ancient clues, personal doubts, and very real threats that blur the line between history and myth. The novel blends scholarship with thriller pacing, offering treasure-hunt suspense set against the rich backdrop of Middle Eastern history and modern tension.
I found the writing to be immersive and full of sensory detail that made me feel the dust of the caves and the press of crowded streets. The style is lively and cinematic. The vividness held me, and I often felt like I was traveling beside Joshua, seeing what he saw, feeling his awe and his unease. The dialogue is sharp, and the interplay between Joshua and Noa kept me engaged. Their banter carried the spark of rivalry mixed with mutual respect, and I looked forward to every scene they shared.
What I liked most was the balance between faith and doubt. The book treats belief not as a simple comfort but as a constant wrestle, something that can drive discovery as much as devotion. Joshua’s hunger for truth, his stubborn streak, and his flashes of insecurity made him a character I could root for. At the same time, the story didn’t shy away from showing how obsession can tip into danger. I liked that complexity. It gave the book more weight than just a straightforward adventure.
I’d recommend The Copper Scroll to readers who enjoy thrillers with a strong sense of place and a dose of history. It will appeal to fans of Dan Brown-style puzzles but also to those who like characters wrestling with faith and identity. It’s heartfelt and ambitious. If you want a story that mixes archaeology, intrigue, and personal struggle, this book is a good fit.
Pages: 254 | ASIN : B0FF2CT6CF
The Eye of Osiris
The story begins with Moriah Maizon, a Mexican American woman working at a San Francisco law firm, and quickly spirals into a tale that blends murder, ancient mysteries, and cultural connections across time and continents. What starts as the death of her corrupt, overbearing boss turns into a ritualistic investigation tied to Egyptian mythology, Mayan history, and the underbelly of city life. The book weaves personal struggles, family legacies, and even cosmic links between Egypt and Mesoamerica. It has a strong sense of place, drawing San Francisco in vivid strokes while hinting at broader, universal mysteries.
I found myself caught up in the drama of Moriah’s world and the strange forces circling her life. The characters are sharp, almost cinematic, and I could clearly see them moving through their offices, their apartments, and the foggy streets of San Francisco. I especially liked how the author made the setting itself feel alive, almost like another character in the story.
What really stayed with me, though, was the blend of myth and reality. The way the narrative ties Egyptian scarabs and pyramids to Mayan codices and Mexican ancestry felt both imaginative and believable. At times I found myself smiling at the boldness of the connections, and other times I felt a shiver at how real they seemed. It made me think about heritage, about how much of our personal story is tied to ancient ones. And the emotional pull of Moriah’s relationship with her family, especially her late parents and her younger brother, grounded the wilder elements in something tender and human.
I’d recommend The Eye of Osiris to readers who enjoy mysteries with a twist of history and myth. It’s not just for fans of thrillers but also for anyone who likes stories that mix culture, identity, and a touch of the supernatural. It’s the kind of book that rewards patience and curiosity, the kind you read with a cup of coffee and a willingness to be swept somewhere unexpected.
Pages: 234 | ASIN : B0D6P73NKT
Ultra-Criminal Types
Once Upon a Safehouse follows a woman who receives a large inheritance from her uncle, thinking that it’s a life-altering fortune and a mysterious mansion, but it turns into a legacy she never expected or wanted. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
During the pandemic, I watched a whole lot of streaming shows, and one of them was all about the Nazi ratlines to South America. Those shows were astonishing because a lot of the “hideouts” that were located had secret rooms, or escape tunnels, built right into their architecture. Talk about bizarre! Who would do that – unless they had something to hide that was major. And that was enough to get me thinking about it and wanting to turn it into a story!
Were you able to relate to your characters while writing them?
I was able to relate to most of them, yes – the decent characters, especially. It’s always a challenge to try to get into the heads of the more nefarious ones, and this book had some ultra-criminal types in it. Still, I tried putting myself into the place of hunted people who had convinced themselves they’d done “nothing wrong” and took it from there.
What intrigues you about this time period enough to write such a thrilling period piece?
Thank you for calling it thrilling! I look at it this way. The whole World War II era was bizarre in so many ways, and the wrong people had taken over dozens of countries in the world. Everything was upside-down. Decency towards marginalized groups was outlawed, murders of persecuted groups were legalized, and bombs were being dropped all over the place. It was insane. Germany was ruling half of Europe in an atrocious manner, and Japan was just as bad, if not worse, in the countries they took over in Asia. So there are a lot of possibilities for material! And I always try to tell a story where there’s plenty of hope in spite of it all, too.
What is the next book you are working on, and when can fans expect it to be released?
I’m working on one mystery involving suffragettes, and another about a school that closes down under very odd circumstances. I’m having fun with them both!
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Former American paratrooper Glenn Halliday and his British-born wife Ivy think they’ve struck gold when they inherit a sprawling mansion in Argentina in 1963. But the house has other plans.
A poorly concealed door hidden off the parlor. A Nazi-era coin found in their daughter’s room. Strangers watching the house with unnerving intent.
As Glenn and Ivy dig deeper, they uncover a chilling legacy—one that links wartime crimes, hidden identities, and a past that refuses to die. What was this house really used for? And why does it seem to be calling them into its shadows?
Some inheritances come with strings. This one comes with living ghosts.
Self-Discovery Path
The 7th Dimension follows a plastic surgeon with mysterious tattoos he believes are connected to larger events unfolding around him, who embarks on a journey that leads him down a path toward the divine. I found Derek Hollinger to be an intriguing and well-developed character. What was your inspiration for this character?
I didn’t realize it until a few years later. Me. I had been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and didn’t know if I would survive. This pulls the rug out from under your world. How you handle it is with the tools you have in your tool box. Some people don’t even have a tool box. That was Dr. Derek Hollinger.
What themes were particularly important for you to explore in this book?
Self-discovery path. Why we end up where we are and what to do about it.
When will the next book be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
The 6th Heaven September 17th, 2025. The Amazon jungle is captivating. Venturing into its depths is like exploring the hidden corners of the mind. The jungle hosts an array of remarkable creatures, including the mighty jaguar, the massive green anaconda, shocking electric eels, and flesh-eating piranhas. Just as travelers must remain vigilant and highly aware of their surroundings, we ourselves must be alert when exploring the concealed areas of our minds, where our deep personal thoughts and emotions reside. Like the jungle, it will reveal its secrets.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Derek Hollinger isn’t sure, but he knows they’re all connected to the mysterious tattoos that suddenly appeared across his body.
Determined to untangle the web spun by the vicious thug known as “Spider,” Derek embarks on a journey of redemption that leads from his lavish Los Angeles penthouse to the seedy world of underground fighting and human trafficking. But as he ventures deeper down the rabbit hole, the self-exiled plastic surgeon realizes that the answer lies within his heart and mind … and soul.
Faith is the key to reclaiming his life, but choosing God may be difficult for Derek, who has spent his entire career valuing material success over spiritual growth.
In this thrilling sequel to 21Tattoos, Derek must face the hard truth about where his tattoos came from and an even harder truth about what it will take to be free of them once and for all.
Furniture Sliders – A Max Calder Mystery
Furniture Sliders is a post-war spy-fi romp that kicks off The Bureau Archives Trilogy with a smoky, rain-slicked bang. Set in 1947, it follows Max Calder, a former intelligence officer with holes in his memory, who is pulled back into the shadows by a mysterious woman named Artemis. A cryptic file, a vanished scientist, and a strange device known only as “the Mirror” set the stage for a chase that spans seedy New York bars, crowded transatlantic ships, and the broken glamour of Vienna. The novel threads together espionage, noir atmosphere, and science-fiction intrigue, with time manipulation simmering under its cloak-and-dagger surface.
I loved how this book felt. The writing drips with mood. Fog curling down city streets, cigarette smoke blurring the edges of a room, the distant hum of jazz over clinking glasses. The pacing dances between languid observation and sudden bursts of violence. Bentley’s style pulls you into Max’s fractured mind. We’re not just following a spy, we’re feeling the tug of his half-buried memories and the unease of not knowing which shadows to trust. Sometimes the dialogue leans into pulp, almost like a wink to the genre’s roots, and it works. It kept me grinning even when the stakes turned deadly.
The ideas themselves are a bold mix. The “Mirror” concept, which is a device that remembers rather than reflects, opens the door for paranoia, philosophical tangents, and deliciously weird possibilities. Bentley resists over-explaining it, letting the mystery breathe. The interplay between Artemis and Max is sharp, edged with mutual suspicion and unspoken history. There’s a lot of world-building baked into their exchanges, which I appreciated, though now and then I wanted the plot to lunge forward faster. Still, I was hooked. Even the side characters, like the poison-bead-wielding Bishop, feel like they’ve stepped out of their own fully formed novellas.
Furniture Sliders is a strong start to what promises to be a stylish, time-twisting spy trilogy. It’s a book for readers who love their thrillers with a noir heartbeat, for fans of John le Carré who won’t mind a dash of science fiction, and for anyone who likes peeling back the layers of a protagonist who isn’t even sure of himself. It’s atmospheric, it’s clever, and it leaves you wanting the next mission right away.
Pages: 314 | ASIN : B0FF6RD921
Pandemic Hacker 2
Pandemic Hacker 2 picks up with Martha recovering in a secretive clinic in Mexico City, her body rebuilt after brutal surgeries that make her unrecognizable. What begins as a personal transformation quickly escalates into a battle with an extortion group exploiting patients who change their identities. At her side is Zoe, the AI she created, who takes on human personas like Aunt Tilly, Angela, and Andy to shield its true nature while navigating the human world. Together, they weave through deception, hacking, and survival. The book blends the gritty details of Martha’s physical recovery with the tension of digital warfare and the looming threat of being hunted, creating a fast-paced thriller that never lets up.
The descriptions of Martha’s surgeries and recovery were raw and vivid. I could feel her pain, her frustration, and her determination bleeding through the page. The way the author wrote her interactions with Zoe was fascinating. The AI was curious, literal, and sometimes naïve, and that contrast made their conversations both touching and eerie. The hacking sequences and background-building explanations were interesting, but occasionally slowed the momentum with heavy detail.
What worked for me the most was Martha herself. She is flawed, stubborn, and relatable, yet her resilience made me root for her even when she pushed people away. I liked the dynamic with Merisel, the nurse who reluctantly became part of Martha’s world. Their relationship brought in much-needed warmth and humor. It often felt like I was catching my breath only to be thrown headfirst into the next storm. That rhythm created suspense, but it also left me wanting a deeper pause to connect with Martha beyond her mission.
Pandemic Hacker 2 is a gripping and tense continuation of the series. It’s not light reading, but it’s engaging and thought-provoking. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy cyber-thrillers, stories of reinvention, or tales that merge high-tech intrigue with raw human grit. If you like protagonists who refuse to give up no matter how much the odds stack against them, this book will hit the mark.
Pages: 284 | ASIN : B0FNRWGBRZ
LITERARY TITAN 