Book Review Books General Fiction HISTORICAL FICTION MYSTERY / CRIME FICTION

“The Harlot of St. Cecelia’s” by Darcy Graves

The year is 1923, and American Eden Brior finds herself working as a librarian in London. Everything started normally for Eden at St. Cecelia’s Library until the night of an accidental book vault lock-in with a charming, careless stranger named Simon Cross. After a night spent there, she finds herself in the middle of the murder case of French stage actress Isabelle Jalbert. Who murdered her? How can she prove that she and Simon were not involved, even with the fact that Detective Garrett has evidence otherwise?

Read More...
Book Review Books General Fiction HISTORICAL FICTION Military MYSTERY / CRIME FICTION

“Traitor or Hero” by Matthew Eberz

In July 1942, Otis was a young man from Pennsylvania who left his small town to serve his country in its time of need. He enlisted in the Navy and was both nervous and excited when his ship engaged the enemy off the Gulf of Mexico. While there was an adrenaline rush when he experienced his first firefight, this was tempered by the sight of enemy casualties floating in the Gulf waters. Otis survived the war but came home a changed man, the war having left a lasting impression on his heart and mind. Sixty years later, Otis is aging, widowed, and preparing to leave this world. As he is combing through his belongings, he finds a message written in German. He remembers taking this as a keepsake from one of the dead sailors in 1942.

Read More...
Book Review Books General Fiction HISTORICAL FICTION

“The North Doesn’t Speak” by Clifton Wilcox

The North Doesn’t Speak by Clifton Wilcox is a meaningful and chilling historical fiction novel about the escape to freedom and what words like “North” and “freedom” meant for slaves in the Antebellum South of the United States.

Elijah and Lila are among the various slaves who reside on a wealthy plantation. They have heard about many escaping and heading North despite the Fugitive Slave Act, which requires slaves to be caught and returned to their previous owners. It sounds hard to believe, but Elijah is willing to take that risk and inspires Lila.

They make plans to escape despite capture, abuse, threats, and betrayal. It isn’t just a matter of outrunning their captors, but also outfighting, outwitting, outlasting, and outsmarting them as well.

Read More...