Book Review: “Bats in the Belfry” & “Heart of Clay”
Posted: December 29, 2023 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Dark Humor, Fiction, Review, Speculative Fiction | Tags: Bats in the Belfry, Book Review, Dan Shamble Zombie P.I., Heart of Clay, Kevin J. Anderson, Writing to be Read 2 CommentsAbout Bats in the Belfry

Ace Ventura meets the Addams Family!
A shambling horde of new cases hits Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. in the Unnatural Quarter. Dan and his gang—including his ghost girlfriend, feisty lawyer partner, cop best friend, and little vampire half-daughter Alvina—are out to seek justice, solve mysteries, and keep their heads on straight … or at least attached.Alvina’s singing lessons for the Banshee Tabernacle Choir end on a sour note when the troll choir director plunges to her death from a high belfry, and the only witness is a deaf-as-a-post gargoyle who sits too close to the loud bells.A frustrated imp, woefully unsuccessful in betting on the nightmare races, is dead certain that his bookie BatGN (GN for “gender neutral” to avoid copyright issues) is cheating him.Francine, the salty bartender at the Goblin Tavern, is worried when One Fang the vampire—her on-again, off-again suitor—disappears without a trace.A shady vendor discovers a market for living shrunken heads that are conversational as well as decorative, but the demand by far exceeds the supply.A heartless therapist has ulterior motives when she counsels zombies, distracting them from their woes to concentrate not just on brains, but on self-improvement as well.There is much at stake in the Unnatural Quarter, and it’s up to Dan Shamble to keep the streets dark and safe for monsters and humans alike. After all, the cases don’t solve themselves!This zombie detective puts the P.I. back in R.I.P.
My Review of Bats in the Belfry
I received a digital copy of Bats in the Belfry through author Kevin J. Anderson’s Bats in the Belfry Kickstarter campaign back in March. I love Anderson’s Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series, so I jumped right in and backed this Kickstarter campaign. I knew right off that I wanted to read this book. In fact, I kept checking back to see if it was finished and my early digital copy ready, even though I had received other rewards already and had plenty to read.
I was not disappointed. Bats in the Belfry was one of Dan Shamble’s most intriguing cases yet. Dan Shamble is on the scene when the troll choir director plummets to her unnatural death from the church bell tower, and the only witness is a deaf gargoyle in the belfry, who claims to not have seen a thing. He’s also looking into a crooked betting claim at the Nightmare Races.
For tickle in your tummy and a giggle in your heart, Dan Shamble is always sure to please. He may have Bats in the Belfry, but he gets five quills from me.
About Heart of Clay
Heart of Clay was a short story in the Dan Shamble P.I. series which was offered soley as a Kickstarter reward, so it isn’t available through distributors. I’m including my review here to demonstrate the value I got from backing the Bats in the Belfry Kickstarter campaign at the $5 tier level.
My Review of Heart of Clay
Heart of Clay is a short story by Kevin J. Anderson, from his Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series, which I received as a stretch goal reward in digital format. In the past, I have reviewed many books and stories from this series, because I truly enjoy the characters in the absurd world Anderson has created, post Big Uneasy. Perhaps because this is a short story, rather than a novel, I didn’t feel that it had the same depth as the other stories in the series. But there was plenty of the undead and unnatural humor which the Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. books are known for.
Someone is killing golems, the legendary Excaliber is missing, and Dan Shamble vows to find it. Dragons, ogres, werewolves, ghouls, vampires, mummies, trolls, and more. A walk through the unnatural quarter offers more than a few chuckles as Dan Shamble looks for clues to solve the case.
Short, but funny. Heart of Clay fun quick read with some of my favorite unnatural characters. I give it four quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.
Book Review: The Light is Dimmer
Posted: December 24, 2023 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Dark Fantasy, Dark fiction, Fiction, Mythology and Legend, Review | Tags: Book Review, Dark Fantasty, Mythology, Samara Katharine, The Light is Dimmer, Writing to be Read Leave a commentAbout the Book

Embark on an unforgettable journey in The Light is Dimmer, a captivating blend of literary fiction and fantasy that will leave you breathless. In a world where corruption runs deep, Lucky Barlowe, an orphaned teenager, finds himself caught in a web of deceit and treachery that even the gods are entangled in.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Light-Dimmer-Samara-Katharine/dp/B0C4WMV12M/
My Review
The Light is Dimmer, by Samara Katherine was a very different kind of book for me. I don’t remember how I came by this ebook, but I know it was the cover that drew me to it. A burning crown. Somehow that image raised my curiosity and I wanted to read this story.
It turns out to be à journey into mythological fantasy, with god’s and goddesses who are all too human in many ways. When gods and humans mix, there’s no telling what will happen. But, these gods are not infallible and they make their share of mistakes in god-sized proportions. And when they go mad, they do that in god-sized proportions, as well.
Lucky is an orphan, living in the streets when the Siren chose to bless him, turning his poor but simple life upside down. A god and a mortal, both seeking love and family, both injured by losses. Can they each learn to trust again and let themselves be loved?
The writing style of this author was off-putting to me. This might just be a personal thing, but I found it hard to discern who was speaking a lot, and found myself having to reread to keep things straight in my mind. I also found it a bit puzzling when the character whom I thought was the protagonist was killed off not even halfway through the book. I later could see why the author had structured the tale in this manner, but I still thought it an odd choice.
A story with unusual structure and style, which unravels nicely in the end. I enjoyed reading The Light Is Dimmer. Quite different from anything that I’ve read before. I give it three quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.
Book Review: Truth
Posted: December 23, 2023 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Erotica, Fiction, Horror, Psychological Thriller, Review, Thriller | Tags: BDSM Erotica, Book Review, Erotic Thriller, James Crow, Thriller, Truth, Writing to be Read Leave a commentAbout the Book

TRUTH … nothing but the truth
Locked away in the dirty bin – that’s what they called it – a big metal box for the criminally insane. The no-hopers, left to fight for scraps. And fight for their lives.
I thought I would die in that place. Until the priest arrived.
Father John said he believed in me. And that he believed he could save me.
All I had to do was be truthful – the whole truth and nothing but.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/TRUTH-James-Crow-ebook/dp/B086764D1K/
My Review
I reviewed this book’s counterpart, Dare, back in 2018. (You can read my review of Dare here.) I only gave it four stars, because I quite frankly, wasn’t sure what to think of it. At the end of book 1, our heroine, Danielle, is headed off to prison for at least three murders. I picked up a copy of the sequel, Truth, by the same author, James Crow, because I couldn’t imagine where this tale could possibly go from where we left off. Crow had my curioustity raised just by the fact that the sequel exists. Both books venture past erotica into bizarre, and they are definitely not for the faint of heart, with sex, violence and really kinky BDSM stuff floating over the pages like a tantalizing main course, followed by a scrumptious dessert, with more than a few bites in there that are really tough to chew.
There are no lengths Danielle won’t go to in order to gain her freedom, and enemies may become allies faster than you can blink. A prison break that exchanges one kind of cage for another, dragging Danielle into a bizarre world where nothing is sacred, murder seems to be an everyday occurance, and everything revolves around sex. Trapped, it seems there’s no where to escape to, except to the deepest chasms of her mind, and that, my friends, can be a very scary place. Once again, as readers, we’re faced with decifering the unimaginable truths, from horrifying fantasies to determine what’s real and what isn’t.
The lesson in Truth is that it’s okay to sin as long as you do pennance, and Danielle quickly finds the truth in that. Although I found the events in this story extremely shocking, (and I don’t shock easily), for some reason I couldn’t seem to put it down. I give it four quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.
Book Review: Roll
Posted: December 22, 2023 Filed under: Adventure, Book Review, Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Review | Tags: Book Review, Fantasy, Kevin J. Anderson, Roll, Writing to be Read 2 CommentsAbout the Book

It was supposed to be just another Sunday night fantasy role-playing session between friends…
But after years of playing, the game had become so real to David, Tyrone, Scott, and Melanie that all their creations now had existences of their own.
And when the four outside players decide to end their game, the characters inside the game world—warriors, scholars, and the few remaining wielders of magic—band together to keep their land from vanishing.
Now they must embark on a desperate quest for their own magic. Magic that can twist the Rules enough to save them all from the evil that the players created to destroy their entire realm.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Hexworld-Roll-Portal-Fantasy-Adventure-ebook/dp/B091G3MJCB
My Review
Roll, Book 1 in Kevin J. Anderson’s Hexworld series is an intriguing fantasy about a roll playing game from the other side of the board. I acquired this book as a Kickstarter stretch goal reward from the Dragon Business campaign.
A world was created for the game, and Hexworld takes on a life of it’s own, with the players sending characters on perilous quests for their amusement. But when the players grow bored with game and one decided to end it, destroying the world, three characters vow to fight back and protect Hexworld from total destruction. Delreal, a strong warrior, Vailret, a near-sighted historian, and Bryl, a half-sorcerer set out on a quest to save Hexworld, and their stronghold after a band of marauding ogres take it over. To do so, they must travel long distances, meet interesting peoples of each hex they travel through, battle a cyclops, and outwit a dragon, all while staying within the rules of the game and their own personal limitations, making new and interesting friends along the way who join them in their quest.
I received a digital copy of Roll as a stretch goal reward from one of Kevin J. Anderson’s Kickstarter campaigns. I found this story and its unusual characters to be enchanting, drawing me back again and again. I give it five quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
Book Review: Ivory Trees
Posted: December 17, 2023 Filed under: Action/Adventure, Book Review, Books, Fiction, Review, Science Fiction | Tags: Book Review, Ivory Trees, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Science Fiction, Writing to be Read 5 CommentsAbout the Book

Ancient tech draws dangerous unwanted attention in New York Times bestselling author Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s Ivory Trees, the thrilling new standalone novel in her award-winning Diving series.
When the discovery of a bunker reveals a treasure trove of ancient artifacts, interested parties throughout the Empire—from collectors to academics to researchers—want a piece of the action. But the finds draw attention from outside the Empire as well. Attention from someone willing to do whatever it takes to outmaneuver the Empire and secure the collection.
Set in Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s expansive Diving Universe, Ivory Trees introduces exciting new characters and events to this powerfully written series, while also offering some tantalizing Easter eggs from previous Diving novels.
As suspense builds to a fevered intensity, this tantalizing new novel mixes the best of heist fiction and space opera and proves Rusch’s place as a master of science fiction.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Ivory-Trees-Diving-Universe-Novel-ebook/dp/B0CKBF9X6N/r
My Review
I received a digital copy of Ivory Trees, by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, as a reward from the Ivory Trees Kickstarter campaign at the bottom tier. Ivory Trees: A Diving Universe Novel was not what I expected. Somehow, the series title lead me to believe that the story would take place under water. However, as the cover portrays, this story is a science fiction tale taking place in the vast reaches of space.
Rush has created an intriguing universe, where it’s difficult to tell who the good guys are, with complex characters which are likable and relatable. Multiple points of view allow this story of action and intrigue unfold. Everybody has an angle and lives are at stake. Honestly, I wasn’t sure who to root for in this story, as the alien race whom I believed to were supposed to be the good guys seem to be the aggressors, while the Enteran military on the planet of Wry, whom I think are supposed to be the bad guys, seem to just be defending the items that they find in their possession.
When ancient artifacts are discovered, including the legendary and valuable ivory trees, there’s profit to be made. But the people who have possession of these precious artifacts have no idea what they really are; dangerous weapons from an alien technology which are highly unstable, and the race that created them is determined to get them back at any cost.
As a part of a series, this complex, multiple character, multiple storyline tale is one that science fiction and space opera fans are sure to love. I found many of the storylines seemed to just drift away, hopefully to be picked up in future volumes. Because many things were left unresolved for the series, as a stand alone, I found the ending less than satisfying. I give Ivory Trees four quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.
Book Review: No Where Left
Posted: December 15, 2023 Filed under: Audio Books, Audiobook Review, Books, Crime, Review, Thriller | Tags: Audio Books, Book Review, Crime Fiction, Kate Bold, No Where Left, Thriller, Writing to be Read 4 CommentsAbout the Book

When bodies appear in the desert, the work of a new serial killer, and connected to an isolated commune, FBI special agent Harley Cole finds herself in the race of her life to enter his mind, decode his unusual signature, and stop him before it’s too late. But Harley is tortured by her own demons, and as secrets from her hometown and her missing sister’s past bubble-up, Harley must keep it together long enough to catch a killer—while also chasing a killer from her past.
Purchase Links:
Amazon/Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Nowhere-Left-Harley-Suspense-Thriller/dp/B0BH9BWQN6/
My Review
I listened to the audiobook, Nowhere Left, Book 2 in the Harley Cole Mystery series, by Kate Bold, and narrated by Reagan. In my review of Book 1: Nowhere Safe, I commented that I felt the female protagonist lead story might be better with a female narrator, and I stand by that. However, after listening to book two, I realize that Reagan’s deep male voice fits better to the crime fiction genre than a female voice would, and I do see why the author would make this choice. As with Book 1, Reagan does an excellent job in his narration and I now feel that it adds to the overall tone of the story quite well.
As for the story itself, Book 2 is a good solid crime thriller like Book 1, a very well written story which kept me engaged. I do think Harley needs to resolve her feelings from the past, which were left unresolved in book 1, because I’d like to see more character growth in this series. Her unresolved feelings around her father surfaced in the first book, as she returns home, and resurface here after his death, but in the end, I don’t feel that they have been fully resolved. I feel like in subsequent books, a different inner struggle might avoid these books all feeling like the same-ol-same-ol, because the crime investigations are all very similar. And I hope that by the end of the series, she will have discovered her sister’s fate so she can move on. That may necessitate a career change, so Bold better wait until the last book for that one.
Young women are being found dead in the desert, victims of a serial killer and everything points to a communal group who stay to themselves and avoid any contact with government or law. Harley Cole has unresolved feelings about returning to her home town, but no time to think about them, when she’s asked to jump in with both feet before she can even unpack. Focusing on the investigation, a single clue is bothering her, although she can’t put her finger on why. But the clock is ticking and Harley needs to put the clues together and reveal the killer before another young woman dies.
A classic crime thriller, I give No Where Left four quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.
Book Review: “The Town Santa Forgot”
Posted: December 12, 2023 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Holidays, Humor, Mystery, Review, Short Fiction | Tags: Book Review, Christmas fiction, DL Mullan, Fantasy, mystery, The Town That Santa Forgot, Writing to be Read 8 CommentsAbout the Book

In the small town of Saguaro Hill, Arizona, there is an ongoing history-mystery as to why Santa has never visited. Children have never received a single gift for the Yuletide holidays since the town’s establishment in 1888.
The public librarian, Rachel George, is tasked by Mayor Higgins to research the urban legend and discover the real reason why Santa has never flown over, let alone stepped foot, in their village.
Rumors abound, but are there any facts to this case?
Or, will Santa remain a no-show for the ages?
Rachel is determined to find out the truth as to why she lives in The Town Santa Forgot.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQDK1RPD
My Review
The Town Santa Forgot, by DL Mullan a short story which reads like a classic Christmas mystery. This is the kind of heart warming tale you want to read with your family, sitting around the tree, with a fire warming the hearth.
Rachel George is the head librarian in Seguaro Hills, Arizona, dubbed the town that Santa forgot. It was named so because Santa Clause hasn’t visited this town for over a century. No one knows why Santa has neglected them, but despite being left off Santa’s GPS, the town maintains their Christmas spirit in hopes that someday he will return. It falls on Rachel to find out why Santa has forgotton Seguaro and save Christmas, but she must dig deep into the town’s history to solve the mystery.
A tale that will tickle the whole family’s fancies. The perfect holiday gift, but would be fun to read year round. As with most Christmas stories, this one is filled with love and hope. I give The Town Santa Forgot five quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.
Book Review: The Ones They Buried
Posted: December 10, 2023 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Crime, Review, Thriller | Tags: Book Review, Crime Thriller, Jennifer Ruff, The Ones They Buried, Writing to be Read 4 CommentsAbout the Book

Phoebe Watson was a rising star in the fitness world. Then she disappeared.
The mystery captivates the nation, and the investigation takes a dark turn when her body is discovered a year later, buried deep in a remote, wooded area.
Only one person seems to know something about those remains—multi-millionaire Catherine Bower, one of Phoebe’s former clients. Soon after Phoebe disappeared, Catherine suffered a life-altering accident.
FBI Special Agent Victoria Heslin believes there’s a connection between Phoebe’s murder and Catherine’s accident. As Victoria digs deeper, she uncovers a thick web of secrets and lies, and every thread she untangles points toward a shocking truth.
Bestselling author Jenifer Ruff’s latest chilling crime fiction novel will have you on the edge of your seat as you unravel the clues. The Ones They Buried is book 8 in the award-winning Agent Victoria Heslin crime fiction mystery series. Each of the books features a unique investigation and can ABSOLUTELY be read as a STANDALONE.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Ones-Buried-Agent-Victoria-Heslin-ebook/dp/B0CD8VGFVK/
My Review
I was already a fan of Jennifer Ruff’s Agent Victoria Hesling Thrillers, having reviewed several. It seems I’ve missed a couple, since The Ones They Buried in number eight, but that is okay, because the books in this series are all good as stand alones.
You can see my other reviews of Jenifer Ruff’s books here:
- The Numbers Killer: https://writingtoberead.com/2019/07/12/the-numbers-killer-a-crime-thriller-that-keeps-readers-guessing/
- Pretty Little Girls & When They Find Us: https://writingtoberead.com/2023/10/13/book-reviews-pretty-little-girls-when-they-find-us/
In The Ones They Buried, Jennifer Ruff has outdone herself. This book has enough twists and turns, and red herrings to make the killer reveal a true surprise. Skillfully crafted to keep readers guessing.
A dead body is found in the woods, and identified as a woman who disappeared a year ago, starting an investigation into the prestigeous family of the woman who employed her at the time of her death. But who is the killer? George the gardener, who was the last person to see her? His shady brother-in-law with a criminal record? Katherine’s adulterous husband? Or someone else? Katherine knows, but she can’t communicate the truth if she wanted to due to an unfortunate swimming accident which deprived her of oxygen for too long. But was it an accident, or was someone tring to silence her because she knew too much? It’s up to Agent Victoria Hessling to find out, but someone is trying to stop her. No spoilers. You’ll have to read the book to find out who and why.
Ruff is the master of crime thriller fiction. I give The Ones They Buried five quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.

































