Tag: FBI

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#BookReview: Stolen Grace by B.R. Spangler

Dark, Disturbing Spinoff Starter With Meat. In a first in my experience with Spangler, this is a book where there is a lot of interesting theological discussion *just* below the surface of this tale – hidden enough so that you can enjoy the actual story as told without diving too deep, but also obvious enough that it is fairly easy to follow Spangler’s thinking for anyone who chooses to do so. That is the “meat” here – there really is a lot to ponder, and at least through certain sections of the tale, Spangler really makes you wrestle with a big theological word you rarely see outside of church… if you choose to do so.

If you don’t want to wrestle with your theological outlook, this is still, on a more surface level, a dark and disturbing thriller from a guy that is known for his dark and disturbing thrillers in his Detective Casey White series (where this spins off from, but which is only tangentially referenced – a few times -in this text). Yet as dark as some of the books in the other series got – and they got *dark* at times – this one somehow manages to go *even more dark*, to damn near approaching vantablack levels. Perhaps saved from being *that* dark more by the ages of the child victims here at least primarily being teenagers rather than even younger.

There is a *lot* here that won’t be for the squeamish at all. Saw level gory murders, shown after the fact. An act that was at least somewhat more common – at least in news reports – about 60 yrs ago or so in a specific context (but this is about as close as I can get without going more full spoiler). Fade to black #MeToo level stuff. Oh, and the entire premise of this story being based on at least one version of Christianity – the “prayer card” from the description – though I’ll refrain from elaborating on which one. Suffice it to say that it too has been in the news over the years, but that actually doesn’t reveal much, if anything. 😉 Point being, if you’re one that for whatever reason cannot/ willnot read any books with any mention of any aspect of Christianity at all… this book may not be for you. On the flip side, that prayer card was a clue to a murder in the description, so that too points in a direction where if you’re one that can’t read any book where that direction may be in play… also may not be the book for you.

But for fans of truly *dark* thrillers… yeah, again, you really don’t get much darker than some of the shit that happens in this book. So for that crowd in particular, y’all are going to LOVE this.

Also, Spangler’s fans who have been reading the Casey White books for years… as I mentioned earlier, this is very much in that same general mindset, and in fact is really close to being effectively a way to start over in that series without actually starting over or resetting anything. Truly a nice and interesting pivot of focus that allows for a lot more stories within the same overall world.

Ultimately, again, this book will NOT be for everyone. But for those who can at minimum tolerate this kind of tale, it is a really strong one. Either way, it does an excellent job of introducing us to this particular character and her world, and yes, it sets up Book 2 (apparently scheduled for roughly six months after the publication of this book) rather explosively.

Very much recommended.

This review of Stolen Grace by B.R. Spangler was originally written on April 21, 2026.

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#BookReview: Dirty Deeds 4 by Armand Rosamilia

Yet Another Evolution Of Series Leads To Potential Soft Reboot. Rosamilia has proven with this series that not only can he pack a lot of fun action into a few pages (again barely topping the 200 page mark here), but that he can continually twist his characters in interesting directions that make you want to see where he will take them next. This particular tale is a great example of exactly this.

And yet again, because it *is* a very fast reading barely 200 page book, it works quite well for those looking for easy, fast reads for any reason at all. Whether it be those who maybe haven’t read a book since high school and you’re looking to get into reading again with some “easy wins” to get you going… or it is December 31 and you need a handful of books to get you to whatever reading goal you have for the year. Not that I would know anything about that last one. 😉

Very much recommended.

This review of Dirty Deeds 4 by Armand Rosamilia was originally written on December 31, 2025.

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#BookReview: Dirty Deeds 3 by Armand Rosamilia

Another Solid Evolution Of Series. Every book in this series is a fun, quick read, with this one being the longest to date – and still clocks in at barely 220 pages. Here, again, Rosamilia takes the final scenes of the previous book and expands them into a full fledged story full of action and intrigue.

As with the other books in this series, because they are so fun and fast, they work quite well for those looking for short reads for any reason – be it first getting back into reading and wanting some quick, easy “wins”… or those looking to hit a certain number of books for the year on December 31. 😉

Very much recommended.

This review of Dirty Deeds 3 by Armand Rosamilia was originally written on December 31, 2025.

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#BookReview: Dirty Deeds 2 by Armand Rosamilia

Fun Quick Quirky Read Pays Off First Book. Some of the criticisms of book 1 were that it ended in what could be argued was a massive cliffhanger, and this book picks up in the immediate aftermath and pays that ending off in glorious fashion. Here, in this short (barely 200 page) novel, we get a Florida/ Gulf Coast kind of version of a Sherlock v Moriarty fight, and for what this book actually is, it is truly a glorious version of such a fight.

Yet again, these books are perfect for those looking for short and fast reads, no matter the occassion – and maybe if you’re trying to get back into reading after not having read much, if anything, for several years these could be one really fun way to come back and build some confidence without too much commitment. They’re also great when you need to read four books on December 31 to hit whatever goal you may have for the year as well. 😉

Very much recommended.

This review of Dirty Deeds 2 by Armand Rosamilia was originally written on December 31, 2025.

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#BookReview: Dirty Deeds by Armand Rosamilia

Wild Opening Line Sets Up One Hell Of A Tale. This book has a lot going for it – at barely 200 pages, it is by default a fairly short read. With its pacing, it feels even shorter – even though so much is happening. With its ending… eh, I thought it worked well as a series starter, but I could also see that those claiming it a cliffhanger may have a point. *Maybe.*

But come on. That opening line. That general premise. The fact that our main character’s “day job” is so far out of normal experience as to be *less* familiar than being an actual working astronaut. The Atlanta base, and being a long time Braves fan from even the 80s where they absolutely *sucked*, but Dale Murphy proved conclusively why he *should* be in the Hall of Fame. (Come *on*, Baseball Writers of America! Why do you continue the travesty of not allowing Murphy his rightful place in Cooperstown?!?!?)

But yeah, this is one of those absolutely wild “what the fuck” kind of tales that you pretty much just have to grab a tight hold of the rope and hold on as best you can. That this is an entire series of 200 ish page books is *great* for those that find they like this one and are looking for a series of similar short books… for whatever reason. Maybe you’re new to reading and just want something fun, something that you can continue for a while. Maybe you’re trying to hit a certain number of books read by midnight on December 31 and you’re writing this review at 8a with another 3 books in this series to read to get you to 180 books on the year. (Not that I would know anything about this. 😉 ) Regardless, this is absolutely a fun book that opens up a wild world that seems like it will be one hell of a ride.

Very much recommended.

This review of Dirty Deeds by Armand Rosamilia was originally written on December 31, 2025.

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#BookReview: Make It Out Alive by Allison Brennan

Less Gory Saw. I’m glad the description mentioned the “escape room” and the need to make it out or die, as it made that headline *so* much more concise, since it technically isn’t a spoiler. 😀

And yet that headline is exactly what you get here – the latest entrant in the Quinn and Costa police procedural thrillers is a version of Saw set in North Florida (the “First Coast” region of Jacksonville (where I happen to live) and St Augustine) and surrounding areas.

I’m not a fan of horror generally and specifically not a fan of gory horror, so I can’t tell a fan of the Saw franchise just how closely this aligns with that franchise – I don’t know. I do know the base ideas are similar enough that fans of that franchise will enjoy this book on at least some level, but this book is also rather deep in an ongoing series and thus will reveal at least certain things from prior books. However, most of those elements are about the team itself rather than the prior mysteries they were solving, so this may well be a decent enough place for fans of the Saw franchise who may not have read these books before to start and see what they think.

More long time fans of this series specifically or police procedurals generally will also find quite a bit here, as the narrative spends nearly equal time on “oh shit, we woke up in a dangerous situation” and “oh shit, our teammates are missing and the case we thought we had in the bag… isn’t”. Thus, there’s a solid mix of tension and investigation on two different fronts, as we see both sides play through to their inevitable meetup. But what condition will the missing teammates be found in? Who the hell could be sick enough to attempt a Saw type setup in the “real” world? Brennan does a great job really on all aspects here, including our criminals of the tale, and really allows pretty well every character – including several more minor ones – at least a few scenes to shine. Of course, she’s working with 400 pages here… so she’s got the space. 😉

And yes, even this region of the country has its moments in this book, be it in St. Augustine itself, the FBI office in Jacksonville, or the other nearby areas that also come to bear. All are done pretty damn well – well enough that it is clear that Brennan did at least some research on the areas, if not actually came out here and experienced them herself. Which is always pleasant to see as a consumer of a story that claims to be set in a place you are very familiar with. 🙂

Overall truly a well-paced thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout… and will probably keep you up well into the night reading.

Very much recommended.

This review of Make It Out Alive by Allison Brennan was originally written on December 22, 2025.

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#BookReview: Viper’s Den by J.M. LeDuc

Contains Most Brutal, Most Sadistic Scene I Have *EVER* Read. Truly Even Better Than Reacher. With this particular entry in the series, LeDuc takes Sinclair O’Malley places that Reacher has gone – and beats him! – *and* gives O’Malley a depth of character that Reacher will never obtain.

And yes, it is via the said most brutal, most sadistic scene I have ever read. I’ve read some dark, twisted shit over the years, including books with on screen child sexual abuse, rape, and other brutalities. *NEVER* have I encountered one book that had all of that… *in a single scene*. Truly the darkest, sickest, most twisted scene I have ever encountered across reading literally thousands of books across nearly every imaginable genre and niche out there… and yet LeDuc *absolutely* makes it work to further his character and finally more fully explain some of her own more brutal – excuse me, “direct” – methods.

Then there is the one scene in particular where O’Malley takes on one of my absolute *favorite* Reacher scenes in that entire franchise (and yes, I read them all until a book or two into the Andrew Child books)… and LeDuc outdoes Lee in even that type of scene. The scene here is different than the Reacher scene, but to be clear, the scene I’m talking about in Reacher is the sniping competition Reacher has with the militia leader in Die Trying, where Reacher pulls off a particularly impressive feat.

There’s a LOT going on in this book, and a LOT – even beyond the scene above – that will be disturbing for some people, including some blatant on screen racism deep in the book (from the bad guys, to be clear), but revealing some of this stuff gets deeper into spoiler territory than I feel is warranted in this review. (I have no problems mentioning the types of stuff in the scene above, mostly because I understand how deeply traumatizing that stuff can be even in one scene, and because it is *only* in the one scene and doesn’t really give away much else about the book. I also spoke in generalities that don’t even fully give away that particular scene. The other things I’m alluding to here are far more central to the book, and thus even mentioning them would be too much spoiler.)

This may well be the best book in the series to date – and likely absolutely is. But there is also a lot of backstory here that you need to read *at minimum* Book 4, Eastern Drift, to be prepared for, and really you should start at the beginning of this series and work your way to this book, if you haven’t yet. Trust me, the reward will absolutely be worth it, *and* this book sets up the future of the series very nicely.

Very much recommended.

This review of Viper’s Den by J.M. LeDuc was originally written on March 4, 2025.

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#BookReview: See How They Hide by Allison Brennan

Intriguing Crime Drives Solid Series Continuation. This is one of those FBI tales where the crime at hand really drives this particular story, even as Brennan expertly weaves the relationships between her team forward even throughout the investigation. Showing each teammate at their best – but also showing that they are not superhuman by any stretch of the imagination – this particular story is at its best when its villains are at their creepiest.

And yes, the crime at hand is particularly creepy on its face… which Brennan then spins into its own breathtaking and heart rending sub plot.

I wouldn’t *start* reading the series here, mostly due to the relationships between the teammates, but the crime itself isn’t tied to any prior tales, so it also isn’t a “you absolutely cannot start reading the series with this book”. So whether you’re new to this series intrigued by its premise and *want* to start here or whether you’re a long time fan of it, you’re going to have a good time with this book. Just be warned that there *are* situations that will make some uncomfortable here. Read the book anyway, and hopefully make such situations a touch easier from having dealt with them in the safety of fiction.

Very much recommended.

This review of See How They Hide by Allison Brennan was originally written on December 11, 2024.

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#BookReview: Eastern Drift by J.M. LeDuc

Sinclair O’Malley Meets Her Match. I’ve said in reviews of earlier books in this series that Sinclair O’Malley is an even more bad ass Jack None Reacher, and this book is yet another example of this. And yet, an interesting wrinkle here is that when Sinclair has to keep her enemies close… it turns out one of them in particular is actually just as badass as she is, and is damn near O’Malley’s equal in pretty well every way – a very yin/ yang situation going on here, which was pretty awesome for LeDuc to include. You’ll never see Child doing that with Reacher, and indeed very few characters of this level of badassery ever get that camaraderie with a genuine yet darker equal. Thus, it introduced an interesting dynamic to the usual “beat the bad guys into submission” action trope. Also, with starting out featuring a different character altogether and having this particular character go through an entire development arc through this book, again LeDuc manages to craft more interesting wrinkles and make this series so much more than just “good guy is better than everyone”.

Mostly centered in the Miami area, the trip to beautiful lush Thailand is well done – and an interesting pairing with reading Sara Och’s The Resort, about suspicious deaths at a remote Thai resort, when read close together.

Overall yet another excellent entry in this series, though it does follow on almost immediately from its prior book and has several references to at least one other book earlier in the series (Painted Beauty, book 2 in the series), so for those who can never have any spoilers at all… go back and read those books if you haven’t yet. You’ll get awesome stories and be glad you have this one when you get done with them. 🙂

I, for one, am hoping we get Book 5 in this series with a much shorter gap between the books. 😀 Very much recommended.

This review of Eastern Drift by J.M. LeDuc was originally written on February 22, 2024.

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#BlogTour: The Missing Witness by Allison Brennan

For this blog tour, we’re looking at an all too real story of homelessness and corruption set in a *just* fictional LA. For this blog tour, we’re looking at The Missing Witness by Allison Brennan.

Here’s what I had to say on the review sites (TheStoryGraph, BookHype, Goodreads):

All Too Real. Despite what some may claim about the problems of the Homeless Industrial Complex not existing in the real world, When We Walk By by Kevin Adler and Donald Burnes – released just 10 weeks or so before the publication of this book and so far as I can see, never read by Brennan as she was doing her research for this book – shows all too well just how much these kinds of things actually do exist.

Now, as with all *fictional* tales, Brennan has clearly taken a *few* liberties – no one is making any claims about the “real” world LA here, ultimately this is truly a fictional tale set in an alternate world very similar yet not completely identical to our own. Though the corruption in this particular version of LA and the multiple murders being investigated through the course of this book tied to that corruption… eh, I’m sure the citizens of that LA were wishing they had a particular dude styling himself after a small flying rodent whipping around their town.

Instead, they get Kara Quinn. And let’s face it, with her “irregular” investigative methods and keen detective abilities… Kara Quinn may at minimum prove she could be a reliable partner for that other dude. Here, her skills are both throttled at times and allowed to bloom into their full wonder at other times, all while the other members of the team she works with – Matt Costa’s FBI unit – each prove to be equally capable supporting members in their own ways.

Ultimately this is truly a fictional crime thriller, and Brennan as usual shows just how great she is at weaving tales that are clearly fictional, yet all too real. Does she get a touch preachy at times? Perhaps for some, though it was never truly heavy handed enough for me to deduct a star over or truly even mention here other than this very “your mileage may vary” kind of statement. The rest of the action is well paced, the mystery is complex with quite a few moving parts, and just when you think you may have everything figured out… well, it turns out you probably don’t know quite *everything*.

It will be interesting to see where Brennan takes this series next, assuming she does, given how this particular tale ends – and I very much look forward to finding out what may be next. Very much recommended.

After the jump, an excerpt from the book followed by the “publisher details” – book description, author bio, and social media and buy links.
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