Book Review: For Services Rendered by Will Thomas

 This may honestly be the most 'mainstream' book I've read and reviewed all year.  

Will Thomas' Barker and Llewelyn series set in Victorian England is a long running series with Barker- an eccentric Enquiry Agent sort of rescuing Llewelyn in his misguided youth and eventually making him a partner in the Enquiry business.  (private detectives).

I started this series several years ago and while I always had a few misgivings about the possible accuracy of Barker's ties to China, and the Chinese in London during this time, I also have to admit, I didn't really have an knowledge to ascertain if it was accurate or not. It turns out, based on some conversations and the mildest of google research that Thomas appears to have done his research. 

SO- I'm not going to spoil the story but I might reveal a bit more than normal. 

     In this novel we meet historical figure Sun Yat Sen.  (Yes the SUn Yat Sen we recall from history classes).  He's on a trip to London when he finds himself rather indisposed and missing.  In fact, he has been kidnapped. Who better to look into this than Barker and Llewelyn Enquiry Agents? Barker speaks Cantonese and has deep ties within the London Chinese population. Llewelyn is, as always, along for the ride. 

    And what a wild ride it is!!! An arch-rival nemesis arrives after being declared dead, adding even more stakes to the mystery.  Llewelyn's by now raising a young family that must be protected, and Barker's mysterious lady friend becomes more prominent in this novel. 

  There is a fair amount of swashbuckling, gun slinging, and adventures on the river with the historic River Police. Interspersed, long time readers of the series will be delighted with the back story that Llewelyn is FINALLY able to squeeze out of the reticent Barker! This was the bit that I adored the most.  In addition, Llewelyn has a bit of an addition to his family that was most unexpected, and also delightful in it's own way. 

  Antony Ferguson does the narration for this novel and I appreciated that he was able do all of the accents without exaggerating them, making it a fun an interesting listen that flowed easily through my ears. Many Thanks to Macmillan audio for this copy. 

    If this piques your interest but you have not read the entire series, rest assured, Thomas does a nice job of summing up the situation, so that the reader can read this as a stand-alone. 

STATS

First Published  August 18, 2026

Pages: 320

Available as an Audio Book : Yes ~ 9 hours 

Trigger Warnings:  death, violence, poisioning, gun violence, kidnapping, unlawful arrest,   

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review: The Iron Garden Sutra By A.D Sui

 Many Thanks to Recorded Books (RB media) for the Advanced Listener Copy of The Iron Garden Sutra. 

This book is definitely one that hits with perfect timing, addressing many issues that are top of mind these days.  And even though it has a lot of similarities with other already published novels, Sui was able to use these commonalities between other novels in unique and interesting ways, giving readers an entirely different story.   For me I was a bit stunned at the surface similarities between it and Sisters of the Vast Black by Lina Rather.    As I started to read, I did start to wonder why we seem fascinated and interested to imagine and create religious orders in space.  I have no good answer to that one.  If there is one thing I'd like to leave behind- it would be societies that dictate 99% of a person's day and night - but here we are.  

This novel despite the surface similarities, is entirely different and unique when compared to other sentient ship/religious orders in space books that I have read.  I think it is one worth reading! 

The Iron Garden Sutra is a very different novel, and one that will appeal to many different kinds of readers. It is definitely Science Fiction, but it also contains a bit of a closed room mystery for readers who like to untangle and uncover who/what dun it, and a little bit of a budding romance of sorts  as well as a literary fiction vibe that takes the entire book up a notch if you will. 

   Without any spoilers, we follow Iris, a monk  who's order mostly performs death rites for the dead in space. Much of the novel is told from his perspective - as a report from his private journals. As we meet Iris he is suffering from ennui  and he's very excited to attend to a Generation Ship - which is essentially an ancient space craft.  He's hoping to get a lot of time on the ship to search for artifacts, and also- if he's being honest- spend time away from the "monastery" When he arrives he finds the ship is occupied by scientists who also want to search the ship. It's also full of bones, and the bones tell a definite story. As the crew tentatively get to know each other, strange things start to happen and the AI used by Iris, starts to note indications that they aren't exactly alone on the ship. The narrative for this unlikely band of researchers and monk changes from curiosity to terror and from dreams of academic accolades to survival nightmares.   One by one, members of their party start to die at the hands/vines of the Generation Ship. Iris teams up with Jan, a gruff engineer, to make a desperate attempt to leave the ship.  

    For me the book is filled with ethical dilemmas, thought provoking ideas regarding AI, and how it's developed, a heart wrenching romance, and an actual space adventure.  It starts of a bit slow, with a lot of detailed background building, and some light world building.  As one continues to read, the intensity of the situation continues to build until it bursts in a crescendo of action and coming down to a surprisingly gentle conclusion.  

    One thing I've noted in a few reviews that were poor was that they were all from people who did not, in fact finish the novel, so I can say that the latter chapters definitely made the novel for me. 

   I had an advanced copy of the audio book from Recorded Books. The narrator was T Ryder Smith- who is a new narrator for me.  I felt like he did a pretty good job drawing me in, using some different vocal tones to indicate the AI voice as well as the voice of Iris.  I never felt that the narration took me out of the story, so for me this is an excellent narration. 

First Published :  February 24, 2026

Pages: 400

Available as an Audio Book :  YES

Trigger Warnings: Abuse, trauma, mental health, violence, eating disorders, death, body horror (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

         

Book Review: The Manor of Dreams by Christina Li

 Wow.  WOW.   Wow. 

I really enjoyed this book by Christina Li.  I am not entirely sure that the way it is being marketed is helping it succeed.  This really isn't a mash up of Mexican Gothic and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It is also NOT "brimming with romance" So... I feel like a lot of readers who were looking for those two items were mightily disappointed.  I'm still wondering exactly where the romance was in the room with us. 

    This really is a literary fiction novel with elements of horror, mystery and magical realism. It is very well constructed, engaging and the plot unfolds well.  I really enjoyed the audiobook as well. 

No Spoiler synopsis:  Two estranged families must come together for the reading of a will of a famous, but mysterious and reclusive relative. In a surprise, one family inherits the lion's share; the other feels they must contest the will, leading to both families occupying the family mansion for some times.  During this time, readers move between two timelines, which reveal the past and the present as the week in the mansion evolves. 

  Within 352 pages, there is a lot to unpack. 

***** Alert- Spoilers ahead**********

There is discussion of immigration to the United States, family expectations, the "American Dream" , power dynamics in relationships of all sorts, Motherhood,  generational trauma, and history, and quite a lot more. This would be a good book for a book club because it is very accessible for many readers. Although the story seems somewhat unique- The themes all have threads that almost any reader can pick up and find relatable. 

So I enjoyed this novel, felt it was very well written and constructed overall and I gave it 4 stars. 

The only thing I do find kind of strange is that... AGAIN SPOILER ALERT....  

We have a sentient garden. It has killer plants. 

Also in the past 5 years we have had Mira Grant's Overgrowth,  and  Eat the Ones you Love by Sarah Maria Griffin, which also contain sentient plants that quite invade people's personal space. I find that coincidence kind of strange  but I did enjoy all three of these books, so I suppose with a few more it can become it's own  Plant horror genre. 

So do I recommend?  YES.  If you want some modern day drama tied up with the past, combined with some creepy magical plant elements, this is a great one to read.  Just check your triggers! 

STATS

First Published  May 2025

Pages: 352

Available as an Audio Book : Yes

Trigger Warnings:  violence, murder, theme of abuse and loss, Supernatural killers, child death, Domestic violence, racism, classism.

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review: Swimming With Manatees by Bill Bennett

 This is clearly a passion project of Bill Bennett, an independent author. 

 I would like to thank NetGalley for the advanced digital copy to read and review. 

I was initially attracted by the title and attractive cover, as well as the Florida setting. I do love a Florida setting.  In addition, I did hope to finish this in 2025 as part of my water theme, but I got... Water logged with books, so here we are in January. 

We're given the Story of Ava Martinez, a tough and savvy detective  who is somewhat new to the force she's working on in the Everglades area of Florida. This case is personal, because in a small town, almost everyone knows everyone. 

Readers experience multiple points of view as they read and unravel the mystery of who killed multiple people, and why. The author brings in current uses and interest in marine life as a source of new medical treatments, and was able to hold my attention with some action scenes interspersed with cerebral sleuthing. 

The book is written with a heavy heavy noir style which many descriptions ending in a comparison.  This is an area which Bennett excels. It was repetitive, but I did enjoy reading the prose which took me right into the nostalgic feel of Noir novels and films from days gone by. 

That said, I did not fall in love with any of the characters- I could see how the author attempted to cobble in a backstory - especially for Ava Martinez, but unique as her backstory was, it didn't seem to really influence her current character or do anything to make her seem more real. I found her partner to be much more interesting, and that partner perishes early on!

The mystery of the murders revolves around a fascinating plot of the possibility of new biologics for disease treatment.  For most readers, this is going to be great.  For me, given my career, there were some errors that made it seem less real, but again, that has to do with my familiarity with the subject at hand. 

   I did think that it was a bold move for this male author to chose to create a female main character with a very specifically Hispanic/Latina name. To his credit  ( or discredit?) the only thing female or Hispanic/Latina about this character is the name.  I feel like the book could have had a male main character with the name of John Smith and it would have felt the same.  

So is this a book for everyone?  I suspect there are readers out there who will find this to be a good read. Unraveling the mystery was quite fun, and I enjoyed the description of the Everglades. Other readers may find it a bit difficult to follow, and to be somewhat tedious with heavy prose. 

STATS

First Published : 10/30/2025

Pages: 479

Available as an Audio Book :  No

Trigger Warnings: violence, blood, medical situations, murder, guns,  (not a complete list- be responsible!)

Book Review: The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant by Liza Tully

   This is definitely a book far out of my own regular reading arenas.  Cozy Mystery. 

I do not know exactly why I picked this up.  I was casting about for a particular kind of book- one that had some romance but wasn't exactly a romance, and one that would be thought provoking, but not an entire treatise on something... 

    And the Library had this one posted on their page. 

And it really was essentially  JUST OKAY. 

This is a cozy whodunit. Olivia is a modern day young adult, who is fascinated by Ms Merrit a world famous detective. Olivia finds herself in the job of assistant to Ms Merritt and the two embark on a New England adventure to discover who did away with an aging society darling. 

I did read the whole thing, I enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery and the brain gymnastics that I went through as I considered who I thought the killer might be.  I also enjoyed the very subtle subplot of Olivia's life- where she's planning a wedding to a nice guy, but she's not very interested in the wedding details, especially because his mother is quite involved in the wedding planning.  

Do I feel passionate about this one?  No, no I do not. It was.... fine.  It was enjoyable. It was also what I'd call an airport book- you pick it up, read it on a plane trip and might leave it in an airport because you definitely don't need to carry that extra weight in your journey.  Would I read more from this author?  Possibly. Would I gift this to a reader friend, or a book club white elephant- definitely!  It is interesting and does not contain deep exploration of any dark themes. 

STATS

First Published: 7/8/2025

Pages: 400 pages

Available as an Audio Book : YES  

Trigger Warnings:  violence, Murder, LGBTQ content, mild bullying

(this is not a full list, read responsibly) 

October reading Wrap up

 October was a Month of lots of reading.  It helped that I read at least 2 novellas  so that clearly pumped up the volume.  I finished 20 books in October!

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Pump on Greenwich Street, below Canal" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1894. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/8ac46100-c560-012f-845b-58d385a7bc34

Now, I love some statistics, so let's see how my reading stacked up! 

Books in Translation:  2/20 So, errr 10% Not great at all. That said, I know I'm definitely reading more translated work this year overall, so when I do my end of year comparison, I imagine I will have improved my percentage from 2024. 

Books by Diverse Authors: 6/20  30% Which is a small percentage, but still..present. 

Favorite Read for this Month?

 Hands down  HEX  by Thomas Olde Heuvelt 

As far as spooky season reads went, this one.. slayed!   It was terrifying, and had great pacing and characters. Loved it. A Masterpiece. 

 

I had the MOST fun reading Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver as a Buddy read with a friend. 

This was a very well done rom-com of sorts, involving, of course, serial killers. I fully fully enjoyed it and enjoyed reading with a friend who was as enthusiastic as I was. 

Did I have a least favorite? I read Choosing Theo by V. Aveline. It was...a book that seems to be well loved by the book tok community. I apparently am not that community exactly. It was not terrible, but it also wasn't quite the fun I had hoped for. 

What was your favorite or least favorite in October? Did you go all in for Spooky season or just continue on with your regularly scheduled TBR? 

Let me know in the comments! 

Book Review: The Shadow Key By Susan Stokes-Chapman

  I am not sure who recommended this novel, but I wish them all happiness.  This was amazing at every turn!

Because I am still having eye issues, I did do the audiobook, and the narrator- Richard Harrington was fantastic.  I was surprised in the end to realize it was only one narrator. 

  I'm going to try to do this without spoilers, because they are just the worst, but this one may be a bit hard to not spoil a wee bit. 

Readers are taken to a wild rural area of Wales where the majority of men are working in dangerous mines, and Lords and Ladies rule the day.  We join Henry - a disgraced physician who found the only employment available was as a county doctor in what was surely considered a backwater area.  henry is sharp and observant, and as he attempts to settle in, he finds his suspicions aroused, as strange events are going on. He's befriended by Linette, a lady of the estate, who endeavors to teach him the mythology , history and language of the area.  Henry and Linette find themselves becoming fast friends and team up to solve a deep and somewhat sinister mystery that will threaten them all. Along the way, there are so many twists and turns, that my mind was constantly one step behind trying to figure this out! 

  This novel falls into the genre of Gothic novels that have been popular lately. It does not fall, however, into the super trendy "dark academia" or even into "dark romance"  though there is a touch of romance that enters- and exits quite differently from the dark romances. 

As I was reading, all I saw in my mind was THIS: While they lived mor ein a manor house, there were lots of ruins noted....

Views in England, Scotland and Wales: Caerphilly Castle, Glamorganshire. Period: 19th century. Accession number: B1981.25.2145. Amos Green (1735–1807); Harriet Green (1751–1807)

I really loved learning more about this part of Welsh history, the myths, language, the mines and even the "HellFire" clubs!  The plot hung together very well, and the ending was satisfying to me indeed. 

 5 Stars!  Recommend. 

First Published : 5/2024

Pages: 464

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: kidnapping, murder, poison,  more murder, medical situations, death, dreary weather. 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Review: Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver

 I LOVE Brynne Weaver.  I really enjoyed her Ruinous Love Trilogy  which made me a bit hesitant about Tourist Season!  I didn't think it could get any better, and as Tourist Season is also about serial un-alivers, I was a little concerned. Some writers hit on a formula and stick with it, and their novels become a wee bit predictable. My concerns were unfounded! 

 And well, I do think perhaps Ms. Weaver may just really like serial un-alivers a bit more than your average person, but that of course is just speculation, and this is fiction- where anything can happen! 

I'm going to say that I think, possibly, that Tourist Season is even better than the Ruinous Love trilogy. 

No Spoiler Summary- as spoilers are awful ridiculous things.  Our protagonist, Harper, has a bit of a shady past, but she's started anew in Cape Carnage. She takes care of Arthur, an elderly man suffering from dementia.  Arthur's got a secret, however, as he's been guardian of the peace in Cape Carnage for decades. His idea of guarding, does seem to involve some disappearances of troublesome folks from time to time, but who's to say that an elderly gentleman has anything to do with that? Especially one with a questionable hold on his faculties. 

Nolan's just a tourist on Cape Carnage come to enjoy the festivities. At least, that's what he wants people to believe. He's got his own agenda which definitely does include a woman who wronged him in the worst way so many years ago. (or did she?) He can't help but find himself attracted to this kind, beautiful woman who is an enigma- wrapped in a juxtaposition, folded into an origami bird. (Probably a Crow- just saying). The last thing he wants is to develop feelings for this woman, because he's pretty sure she's pure evil. 

     As the two orbit each other, some unspeakable acts do occur- which are oddly hilarious when written by Weaver.  (this is not a realistic novel at all and I'm here for the escape!) With a bit of forced proximity, and a shared midnight task, Nolan and Harper come together in an odd macabre dance of discovery. Neither is quite ready to give up the past and commit to the future.  Will they be able to before it's too late? 

Beyond the romance (which really is in the forefront), we also have the story of Arthur who is clearly struggling with dementia - while there are some entertaining moments involving Arthur, it's never at his expense and Weaver treats the challenges of dementia and caregiving with a deep respect that was appreciated. 

The conclusion-  it's a romance so it's going to have a certain ending, but as to how they get to the ending --- you'll have to read to find out! I enjoyed this via Audiobook from my local library.  Narrators Samantha Brentmoor and Robert Hatchet really did a perfect job imparting Weaver's Dark, but hysterical story an extra spark! 

Highly Recommend! 

First Published : 9/2025

Pages: 368

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: kidnapping, murder, unorthodox use of wood chipper, more murder, medical situations, death, accidental drug use, sex, and more.   

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Review: The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi

 If you are just building your Spooky Season TBR,  this is a book that needs to be put on pre-order for spooky season reading! 

Many Thanks to Macmillan Audio  for the advanced Listener copy. 

Holy Heck what a Ride! 

This thriller surprised and delighted me all the way to the very final end where one amazing final girl is left standing. (there are so many candidates for this final girl, and you know I won't be spoiling this one. 

 This is a perfect novel for those who are a bit tired of all the 20 something protagonists! Set in a wrap around retirement facility in upstate NY, almost all the characters are well beyond 70, and most are sharp, witty and living the best life that they can within the confines of aging.  That is, until someone starts offing them one by one.  I mean, I don't think, given the title, that this is a spoiler.  For me, I will say I expected this book to have a bit of a gentler edge, but it quickly became one I could not really listen to at home alone. Every time I'd glance at a window in the middle of the night, I had a moment of dread. Seriously spooky. This thriller had me on the edge of my seat. I suspected almost every character at one point in time, and the need to know propelled my reading. Towards the end I did "guess" the killer- but I think it was at that point that the author was directing the reader to the solution  as I only had a brief satisfaction of realizing Ohhhhh, that's the one! 

  In short I loved the setting, loved the premise and the tension/mystery/suspense created by the author. Definitely a good one to curl up with as the leaves begin to fall, and everything turns pumpkin flavored. 

January Lavoie was the narrator and was - of course- extraordinary. As my eyes are still not doing as well as I'd like, I really appreciated the audiobook. Of course, with a cover like this- I might need a book trophy.  Maybe it comes out at the end of September! 

First Published : 09/2025

Pages: 416

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: medical situations, drugs, alcohol, murder, elder murder, fire, references to domestic abuse

                   Not a full TW list, please read responsibly.   

Book Review Esperance by Adam Oyebanji

  Many thanks to Astra Publishing House/Daw books for the gift copy of Esperance to read and review.

  As seems to always be the case for this reader, a great cover sucked me right in! 

Small attempt at a synopsis: Detective Ethan Krol is called to an apartment in Chicago where a father and son are deceased with their lungs oddly full of sea water. Ethan knows this is strange, but he begins his investigation rather normally. Soon, he is swept wholly into the investigation leading him to Providence RI, and Edinburgh Scotland. 

A second story line introduces us to Abidemi Eniola who arrives in England from parts unknown. She hooks up with a modern gal, Hollie Rogers to help her along her way. Abidemi is super smart and has a lot of cool technology that Hollie's never seen, but sometimes seems like she doesn't quite understand how basic things like, airplanes, or pawn shops work. Abidemi states she has inheritances for several people she has to find and Hollie - who's at a loose end- decides to go along for the ride. 

What Hollie doesn't know is that the inheritances are for Descendants of a Rhode Island Merchant and Ship owner from back during slave trading days. 

Chaos ensues. 

Honestly, I did not know it was possible to write a cohesive novel that brought together classic noir detective fiction, supernatural sci-fi elements, Nigerian spirits/spirituality - the concept of debt to be paid (gbese) and historical events, I would have said that this might be a step to far, but somehow Oyebanji has put it all together into a bit of a Cyperpunk, Sci-fi, Detective Noir and Historic fiction novel that reads nicely and makes sense. 

Is this a book for everyone? No, it really is not.  I think it falls into the weird genre for me and will appeal to Sci fi readers, those who like weird stuff and those interested in cybertech.     I expect readers who enjoy Blake Crouch, or Rob Hart would find this appealing! Could it have a wider readership? It could because it's well written and easy to follow! 

STATS

First Published : May 2025

Pages: 432

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: Violence, police action, murder, references to slave trade, medical situations, blood, and injury. distant parent, parent death, child death.  As always this is likely not a complete list, so please read responsibly. 

Book Review: Harmattan Season by Tochi Onyebuchi

 Harmattan Season by Tochi Onyebuchi came out in April, and I was lucky to get an advanced listener copy to review. 

This is such a unique novel, I'm not even sure what to think of it! I enjoyed it, 5/5 stars!  Onyebuchi is a master, so I knew I'd be getting a well constructed story-line. I did not anticipate the story AT ALL! 

For me Noir has been a genre that I kind of like, but also kind of don't.  I'm a huge fan of the gritty, no frills characters, but I am not always a fan of the utter desperation that pervades the genre. Onyebuchi  strays from the usual noir narrative by adding in a pinch of magical realism, which adds just enough of the supernatural to sort of lighten the general noir darkness. Add in a unique setting  (post colonial West Africa), and I was sat in my seat listening to this one! 

No Spoiler summary (because spoilers are the baddest thing ever!) Boubacar is a former soldier, former police man, turned private eye for hire in a post-colonial West African country (possibly Mali, possibly not).  Work is not going well, and he's ready to hang it up- deal with his expenses and wait as the Harmattan comes in. The world, however, has other plans for Boubacar. A seriously injured woman stumbles into his home/office and disappears, only to be seen again in a most peculiar circumstance and Boubacar is drawn in to a intense investigation.  He, and the reader, are taken on a grand adventure across the city where he encounters terrifying enemies and unexpected allies. It's quite the mash - up of genres, and for it worked very well. 

   I was attracted to the novel because of the author, but also the title...as my first trip to West Africa was during a Harmattan, which was memorable. It's hard to describe, but that year the dust was so thick, our plane had to land in a different country- which was exciting- except for the lack of Visa for that country. It is easy to imagine the events of the story unfolding in that heavy dust which does sometimes just swirl around a person. 

Dion Graham narrated and his rich clear voice brought the character of Boubacar to life for me! 

STATS

First Published : May 2025

Pages: 336

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings: violence, blood, death, grief, racism, (not a complete list- be responsible!)

Book Review: Symphony of Secrets By Brendan Slocumb 4.5/5 stars!

 Imagine you're a professor of music and your specialty is a specific composer and their body of work.  Not only do you love this composer's music, you also owe your career to a foundation established by the composer's family in his memory. Indeed, most of your waking moments are connected to this long passed on composer.

Now, imagine that you discover that this composer may not be exactly who he seems to be. What does that do to your own assumptions, your identity and your space/place in the world? Who will the truth benefit? Who will the truth hurt? What might people do to preserve a myth? That is exactly what happens to Bern in Symphony of Secrets! There are a lot of layers in this action packed novel. 

With no Spoilers- (which is so hard for this novel)- Bern is a professor of music focused on a fictional Frederick Delany. Bern loves Delany's music, always discovering something different each time he replays different parts of his work. Bern is given a unique and amazing opportunity to look at and transcribe some newly unearthed compositions by Delany and he jumps at it. As he works, however, he finds that all may not be as it seems.  Slocumb takes the reader on a musical journey between the past and present as Bern unravels as much of the truth as he can discover, while dodging people who would like to keep the past buried at all costs. In the past timeline, the reader is treated to the actual true story of what happened, and for me,  it was delightful to be "in on the secret" so I could form my own thoughts and ideas about a not uncommon situation in the music world! 

  I really enjoyed this novel, but I will say it took me a very long time to read. I had to continually re-borrow it from library.  I'm not sure if it was just because it was in my dreadful month of reading (May)  or if it was because the novel is a bit hefty, but I did finally finish it.  

For me this is the PERFECT Book Club read!  It has action, suspense, a bit of a dip into the world of classical music which may be new, an opening to discuss the roles of women and people of color throughout time, and a narrative that will keep most readers reading (I think my issue wasn't with the book, just with my own May crisis) The author even has a great bunch of discussion questions on his web page. 

Let me know if you've picked this one up- the author has a NEW book out- Dark Maestro- So he's also On tour, so you could catch an event with this author if you're lucky and living in the right area! 

STATS

First Published  January 2024

Pages: 448

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings:  racism, confinement, institutionalized racism, Mild domestic violence, emotional abuse, alcohol, gun violence, toxic relationship, murder, mental illness, stalking, classism, gaslighting