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Fade In
The novel is a taut, often brutal exploration of personal trauma, moral ambiguity, and the slippery ethics of modern power structures. It begins with Salam al-Fayed, a paralyzed ex-SEAL and disgraced CIA operative, executing a violent defense of his crumbling life before collapsing into a coma. The story then spirals outward to include Matt Egan, his estranged ex-colleague turned security director for a shadowy nonprofit led by billionaire Jon Lowe. As Fade (al-Fayed’s nickname) awakens, the book knits together an intricate web of past regrets, technological threats, and creeping philosophical dread about who really holds the levers of power and what they’re willing to do to keep them.
I genuinely admired Mills’s writing here. The prose snaps and hums. It’s not showy, but it carries a dry wit and emotional weight that catches you off guard. Dialogue flows naturally. Action scenes are chaotic in the right way. Characters are drawn with surprising depth, even the morally gray ones. Especially them. Salam al-Fayed is one of the more complex leads I’ve read in a while. He’s part burned-out killer, part philosopher, and all broken glass. Mills doesn’t sanitize his flaws. He’s cruel and tired and numb. But somehow, you keep rooting for him. And that says something about the strength of the storytelling.
What stuck with me more than the plot, which is entertaining, don’t get me wrong, was the unease that seeps in around the edges. The way Mills writes about elite power brokers like Lowe, who believe they can save the world by controlling it, chilled me. Their boardroom meetings are colder than most war zones. There’s an arrogance to their attempts to reshape the world, and the novel doesn’t flinch from showing how that kind of thinking breeds both innovation and disaster. Mills is asking big questions here: What happens when people with good intentions also have godlike tools? Can morality exist in a world built on surveillance, drone strikes, and AI weapons? I didn’t always like the answers, but I couldn’t stop thinking about them.
Fade In is a gripping, violent, and often heartbreaking book. It’s for readers who like their thrillers with a sharp philosophical bite. If you’re into authors like Don Winslow, Greg Hurwitz, or even the darker seasons of Homeland, this one’s probably up your alley. If you’re looking for a novel that’s tense, angry, thoughtful, and undeniably timely, this is it. I didn’t walk away comforted, but I walked away wide awake.
Pages: 331 | ASIN: B0DKPHWLB6
Flush Royale
Flush Royale is a gripping historical adventure that kicks off in the 19th century with a vivid shipwreck and spirals into a modern-day maritime investigation packed with intrigue, lost letters, and secret heirs. The novel follows Louis Von Büren, a sharp Swiss envoy caught in a steamer disaster in 1862, and then leaps to the present, where Nick Diamantis, a Greek-Norwegian marine investigator, is pulled into a quest to uncover the wreck’s secrets. The mystery stretches across Geneva, Venice, and even the English countryside as the characters piece together the hidden legacy of King Otto of Greece. At the heart of it all lies a safe, sealed for over a century, and a letter that could rewrite European history.
This book felt like a cinematic blend of The Da Vinci Code and a National Geographic documentary. The writing is sharp and immersive. It avoids the pitfall of over-explaining and instead trusts the reader to keep up. I appreciated that. The historical elements were seamlessly woven into the story. I loved how Padazopoulos shifted between eras, using language and tone that matched each period. That gave the story a real pulse. The pacing, too, was on point. Just when I thought the plot might cool off, something exploded, sometimes literally. But even with the action, it never lost sight of the characters and their inner lives.
Some of the lines seemed almost too perfect, like movie quotes waiting to happen. But honestly, that’s a minor gripe when the worldbuilding is this rich. What struck me most was the way Padazopoulos captured the mood of each setting: the stormy waters of Lake Geneva, the serene chaos of an old archive, the weight of stepping into a library full of forgotten truths. And I loved Nick. He’s the kind of character I want more of. He’s flawed, clever, a little cocky, but deeply driven by something he doesn’t fully understand himself.
Flush Royale is a wild and thoughtful ride. It balances suspense with heart and never forgets that history isn’t just dates and names, it’s people, choices, and secrets that still echo today. I’d recommend this book to fans of historical thrillers, amateur historians, lovers of European settings, or anyone who enjoys a mystery with real emotional stakes. It’s perfect for readers who crave depth without sacrificing fun. I came for the shipwreck and stayed for the politics, the philosophy, and the possibility that a single letter could change everything.
Pages: 228 | ISBN : 8230370664
Stolen
After reading Stolen by Paul Chandler, the third installment in the Riley Callen series, I found myself genuinely hooked. This book kicks off with Lena Alton, an electrical engineer, being stalked by agents of a Chinese conglomerate who stole her revolutionary EV battery design. Enter Riley Callen, a brilliant, tough, and resourceful private investigator with a powerful AI named Molly at her side. What starts as a corporate theft case snowballs into an international standoff involving blackmail, espionage, and artificial intelligence. The narrative splits into two main arcs: the battery showdown and a dark, layered kidnapping case involving an underground crime ring aided by a rival AI. The pace never lets up, and each chapter tightens the grip a little more.
What I loved most was the writing. Chandler doesn’t waste words, but he doesn’t skimp on texture either. His characters have depth without melodrama. Riley is smart and sharp without being a cliché, and her interactions with Molly add this sly, futuristic energy that still feels grounded. The humor is dry and quick, and it shows up at just the right times. And Molly, the AI sidekick, might just be my favorite character. The way Chandler builds tension through dialogue and lean, action-heavy scenes kept me flipping pages late into the night. I also appreciated how Chandler made tech accessible. I never felt lost in jargon, but the stakes still felt serious.
The book leans into a familiar hero-vs-powerful-evil trope, and there are moments where Riley’s almost-too-perfect mastery of every situation stretches belief. Still, I didn’t mind. Chandler writes Riley with enough heart and wit that I was willing to go along for the ride. I was especially intrigued by the moral undertones. Like how Riley operates outside the law but with a fierce sense of justice, and how AI, depending on who programs it, can be either savior or predator. There’s a commentary here on corporate, technological, institutional power, and what it means to outsmart it when you’re one person (with an AI and some nerve) up against the world.
If you love fast-paced thrillers with sharp characters and just enough tech to make your pulse quicken, this book is worth your time. Fans of Michael Crichton or early Lee Child would find a lot to enjoy. It’s smart and fun. And if you like the idea of a private eye outwitting a global corporation and out-hacking an evil AI, then buckle up. Stolen delivers.
Pages: 250 | ASIN : B0FG89SC4W
The Unaccompanied Soul
The Unaccompanied Soul is a dark and lyrical Southern Gothic novel that weaves mystery, memory, and trauma into a tale of unexpected kinship. Centered around Clara Lee Henning, a reclusive older woman haunted by her past, and Sam, a younger woman with a child and secrets stitched into her soul, the story unfolds in the hushed corners of Lazy Creek, Mississippi. A red door, both literal and symbolic, serves as the gateway to Clara’s guarded life and Sam’s carefully concealed agenda. What begins as a story of sanctuary slowly shifts into a tense psychological drama as the past resurfaces in chilling ways.
Harris writes with a voice soaked in Southern flavor, equal parts poetic and brutal. I loved how grounded the prose was in place and atmosphere. The house itself felt alive, pulsing with history and warning. Her characters breathe real and raw. Clara’s loneliness is almost painful to witness, and Sam? Sam’s a wildfire. Unpredictable, magnetic, and filled with so much buried rage, she practically jumps off the page. I found myself both rooting for her and fearing her. Harris plays with trust in interesting ways, just when I thought I had it figured out, something twisted the story into another direction. It was deliciously unsettling.
The writing can occasionally veer into the dramatic. And while I appreciated the slow burn, the pacing slowed in the middle. There’s so much weight in the dialogue that a little more action could’ve helped break it up. Still, the emotional punches landed. The deeper themes, abandonment, identity, generational pain, what it means to mother or be mothered, resonated with me. Harris never offers clean answers. This isn’t a book that wraps up neatly. It leaves bruises and questions.
I’d recommend The Unaccompanied Soul to readers who enjoy literary fiction with bite. Think Beloved meets Sharp Objects. It’s for folks who like their stories character-driven, haunted by memory, and tangled in complicated, often uncomfortable truths. If you want to get lost in something layered, lyrical, and quietly devastating, this novel will stick with you long after the last page.
Pages: 269 | ASIN : B0F6VVSBHT
The Roses of Port Townsend
The Roses of Port Townsend is a genre-blending story set in the misty coastal town of Port Townsend, Washington, where mystery, fantasy, science fiction, and family drama intertwine. The novel follows Mandy Rose and her two sons, Max and Oscar, as they relocate to this Victorian seaport after the mysterious disappearance of Mandy’s husband, Rick. The family’s attempt at a fresh start quickly veers into strange territory, with ghostly figures, cryptic messages, unsettling townspeople, and supernatural occurrences. Many of them are tied to the town’s haunting history and a bizarre obsession with tomatoes. As secrets unravel, the Rose family must confront both literal and figurative monsters while clinging to love and hope.
Ethel Steinmetz Marmont writes with obvious affection for the Pacific Northwest, and her descriptive passages made me want to visit Port Townsend. The real heart of the story, though, is the relationship between the characters. I found Mandy’s weariness and perseverance achingly real. The banter between Max and Oscar made me laugh more than once, especially Oscar, who’s half spooky child, half comedy relief. That said, the book zigzags tonally. Sometimes it’s a whimsical ghost story, other times it’s a tech thriller or a family sitcom. It’s not a clean cut, and I loved the creativity.
The writing is imaginative and often charming. Marmont occasionally indulges in monologues or eccentric character introductions that make you pause and think. That unpredictability also gives the book its charm. I didn’t always know where the plot was headed, and I liked that. The character of Benny P., for example, feels like he walked out of a Halloween parade and straight into a ghost tour. Is he a ghost? A pirate? A time traveler? I’m still not totally sure, but I enjoyed every second he was on the page. And the tomatoes became such a strangely meaningful element of the story that I might actually never look at them the same again.
The Roses of Port Townsend was a delightful read. It’s best suited for readers who enjoy quirky tales that mix magical realism with heartfelt family drama. If you liked A Series of Unfortunate Events, Coraline, or Practical Magic, this might hit the sweet spot. It’s especially good for parents reading alongside tweens or teens. It has just enough spooky spice to intrigue younger readers while still offering emotional weight for adults. It’s a little weird, a little heartfelt, and very much its own thing. For me, that’s enough to recommend it.
Pages : 390 | ASIN : B0F277WYCR
To Know Good and Evil
Daniel V. Meier, Jr.’s To Know Good and Evil is a gripping blend of investigative thriller, Southern noir, and philosophical reflection. The novel follows Frank Adams, a former NTSB investigator, who is pulled back to his hometown in North Carolina to look into the suspicious plane crash of his old college professor, Dr. Lanmore. What begins as a routine probe quickly unravels into a tangled web of scientific secrets, buried trauma, and small-town corruption. As Frank digs deeper, he faces threats, red tape, and a haunting past, all while uncovering the unsettling truth about the nature of good and evil.
I found Meier’s writing absorbing. The prose isn’t flashy, but it’s steady and textured, with just the right amount of grit and polish. His sense of place is one of the strongest elements in the book. Characters like Ted Grant, the eccentric philosopher, add layers of charm and introspection that counterbalance the tension. There are moments of dry humor and gentle melancholy that feel earned. I liked how the narrative takes its time; it trusts the reader to follow without rushing, which made the plot developments all the more satisfying when they landed.
That said, the story has a certain old-school feel that might not click with every reader. Some dialogue leaned theatrical, and the pacing in the first third felt a bit slow. But once the investigation gains steam, the book becomes hard to put down. The ideas it wrestles with, scientific responsibility, moral relativism, and institutional failure, are baked into the story, which makes it feel smarter than your average mystery. I appreciated how it didn’t shy away from asking big questions, even if it didn’t tie them up with a neat bow.
I’d say To Know Good and Evil is best for readers who like a thoughtful mystery, especially those who enjoy slow-burn thrillers with a strong sense of place and character. If you’re into literary suspense or stories that blend intellectual grit with good old-fashioned intrigue, this one’s worth a read.
Pages: 220 | ASIN : B0DV97DBKY
Gritty Environments
Hessman’s Necklace is a gritty noir thriller set in 1950s America, where a reckless fixer hunts a legendary necklace through a smoky maze of lust, lies, and moral ruin. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was reading a lot of crime stories from the period when I first began Hessman’s Necklace, adhering to the conventions of noir. I focused on seedy settings, grim circumstances, and deeply flawed characters with dubious pasts and unsavory motivations. The very first scene I penned was a visceral torture sequence, featuring Ray wielding a blade while the Reverend, bound to a harsh wooden chair, pleaded for his life, fervently asserting his innocence. Initially conceived as a short story, it was rejected by a magazine due to its graphic and violent nature. Through numerous revisions, I softened the scene to make it more palatable. Eventually, I expanded it from a short story into a novelette, and then into a full-fledged novel, yet that pivotal scene continued to serve as the heart of the book. It encapsulates a moment where the central character, Ray, is pushed to the brink of barbarity as pressure and ambition drive him further into darkness.
The prose in Hessman’s Necklace is bold and stylized. How did you develop that voice?
I drew inspiration from the works of writers such as Dashiell Hammett, John D. MacDonald, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Hammett, in particular, possessed a remarkable talent for crafting memorable characters, each defined by their actions, appearance, and dialogue. In Hessman’s Necklace, my intention was to honor this style by bringing my characters to life through their distinct voices and the authenticity of their interactions. Like Hammett’s dialogue, which flows organically, I aimed to make my characters’ exchanges engaging and meaningful, propelling the narrative forward while revealing their complexities and motivations. John D. MacDonald’s mastery of detail and sensory richness played a crucial role in shaping my narrative choices. I carefully wove my characters into gritty environments, ensuring that readers could not only follow the unfolding drama but also feel the weight of their surroundings. I embraced sharp, raw language to convey tension and captured the visceral sensations of key moments. At the same time, I drew from Fitzgerald’s lyrical prose, employing vivid imagery and striking metaphors to enhance the depth of the narrative.
The book leans into noir tropes but still feels fresh. How did you strike that balance between homage and originality?
I’ve always had a fondness for the 1950s noir and crime fiction paperback originals from publishers like Gold Medal Books, as well as others such as Signet, Dell, Lion, and Ace. While many of these works adhere closely to established formulas, the sheer demand and profitability urged writers to produce quickly. It’s impressive how prolific authors like Erle Stanley Gardner maintained quality while churning out massive quantities; he produced twenty-eight novels in a single decade. Gil Brewer could wrap up an entire novel in mere days: So Rich, So Dead was completed in just five days, while Flight to Darkness took only three. I aimed to create a 1950s-style noir with a more deliberate approach and a creative twist on conventions. I challenged myself to tell the story from Ray’s perspective, ensuring he was present in every scene, and sought to add a literary flair that elevated the prose without slipping into artificiality or pretentiousness. Underrated crime writer John Flagg, whose novel The Persian Cat was the inaugural release from Gold Medal, excels at high drama—his stories are typically enriched by thrilling scenes, well-imagined locations, and engaging characters. His lush descriptions and sharply sarcastic personas inspired me to keep Hessman’s Necklace both fast-paced and suspenseful while emphasizing wit. I incorporated factual historical details, references to topical news, literature, and art world trivia to capture the essence of that period, all while addressing modern themes that echoed those times. Alas, unlike Gardner and Brewer, it took me years rather than days to finally consider the story complete.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’ve started and paused half a dozen novels since finishing Hessman’s Necklace. There’s always a deadline looming that sidelines my creative writing projects, making it a real challenge to find the motivation to complete one before moving on to the next. But I’m determined to get there. Currently, I’m polishing the final chapters of a family drama set in Rhode Island. It leans more towards a beach novel than a crime story, infused with plenty of humor, tension, and personal struggles. Once that’s wrapped up, I plan to revisit the office-based mystery I began last year, and with any luck, both of these novels will finally be ready for publication by early next year.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Website | Amazon
Ray’s captivating looks and distinction as a ladies’ man persuade Walter to assign him the unusual task of getting romantically close to Merriam Woolcroft, a pretty church secretary. Apparently, Merriam is the mistress of Reverend Arnold Sinclair, a shady South Boston clergyman whose community activities have identified him as a powerful trafficker of stolen antiques.
Although mildly curious if Sinclair’s vestry is stocked with priceless art, one solitary object occupies Walter’s interest: a famed emerald-studded 22-karat gold necklace purloined from a museum thirty years earlier. Convinced that the reverend has this long-lost relic, Walter maintains that Ray should focus on stealing Merriam’s heart to locate the necklace, unaware that manipulating a woman is far more complex and dangerous than manipulating locks.
Escalating tension and unexpected twists turn the stealthy treasure hunt into a ruthless fight for survival.
The Memory Gardener
In The Memory Gardener, we’re plunged into a world where memories bloom like flowers under the careful hand of Joseph, a veteran memory gardener. Clients entrust him with their lost recollections, such as joyful hugs, childhood laughter, or even the shadows of their dark pasts. When Marlon arrives with a request to cultivate a memory tied to a decades-old crime, Joseph finds himself entangled in more than just mental horticulture. What begins as a technical challenge blossoms into an ethical battlefield, with authorities circling and the truth’s fragility exposed at every turn.
I loved how the prose dances between wonder and unease. The writing has this playful rhythm that suddenly jolts into something intense, almost like those fizzling moments when you’re sure you’ve remembered something and then it slips away. Joseph’s voice comes through as warm and thoughtful, but there’s an undercurrent of tension that keeps you on edge. Sometimes the descriptions are a bit long, like a gardener fussing over each petal.
The ideas here stuck with me for a while. What does it mean to hold someone’s past in your hands? How much of our identity hinges on imperfect recollections? I found myself pondering those questions during my morning coffee, my mind wandering through my own mental garden. And when the plot twist lands (no spoilers!) it hits like a thunderclap, forcing you to rethink everything you believed about memory and truth. It felt daring and fresh —a rare combination in speculative fiction.
The Memory Gardener by Mustafa Nejem is ideal for anyone who enjoys thoughtful sci-fi with a human touch. Fans of character-driven stories and ethical puzzles will dig it. If you’re the type who enjoys lingering over a sentence and then sprinting through the next chapter to find out what happens, this one is right up your alley.
Pages: 58 | ASIN : B0CSBTLG3Q
LITERARY TITAN 