Follow the money! I enjoyed GAME THEORY, second in the Katerina Carter fraud investigator series, even more than EXIT STRATEGY (which is darn good!). Cross has a winning combo here – an out-of-the-ordinary protagonist, an appealing supporting cast, and an intriguing plot line. I look forward to Kat’s further adventures as she peels back the layers of high-finance skulduggery to expose the truth.

I found this tale of the old West to be charming and unexpected. The setting of "Texas back in the day" is so well-drawn and realistic, I felt I was there. The protagonists, Marley and Jase, are attractive, sympathetic characters whose lives didn't begin on page one. I was so glad ... well, never mind, no spoilers here! The plot is seamlessly woven throughout the story, and the ending is thrilling and satisfying. I do hope there will be a sequel.

This is an entertaining crime story set in the near future. The technical gadgets in this book make total sense and,a few years from now, we'll have them for sure, as well as the forensic advancements that help solve the murders. The protagonists, Kate and Jake, are real people. They both try to do the right thing, starting off on different pages, but eventually working together to unravel the mystery. Kate's and Jake's relationship isn't tied up with a pretty bow at the end, and that leaves plenty of possibilities for the future. I always enjoy that dance!

Oh, my. Imagine a world without women. Then, imagine one woman trapped in that world. With hot men everywhere she goes, Rowena makes the best of it. This story made me laugh out loud in places, and I did enjoy the fashions and weapons that Rowena and the boys displayed. Rowena Through the Wall is a story for those who enjoy time travel, adventure, and close encounters of the across-the-universe kind!

The Goddaughter made me laugh out loud, and generally left me with a good feeling. The protagonist is likable and smart, and the other characters so well-drawn, I'm sure I would recognize them if I met them on the street! Kudos to the author who seems to have a knack for telling a story by making the reader see the action in living, hilarious colour.
Gloria Ferris

DEAD LIGHT DISTRICT, a Sasha Jackson Mystery by Jill Edmondson
Many years ago, I lived for a short time in Toronto. The streets we knew to avoid back then don't seem to have changed much. Edmondson writes about this area of the city with intimate knowledge and understanding of the denizens who work, live and die there.
Prostitution is more ignored than hidden. Edmondson has obviously done a lot of research into the business and I especially liked the scenes in the brothel, where the "madam" has her own personal issues but runs her house for profit and the pleasure of the many businessmen with their unusual proclivities. The flight of a hooker sends Sasha on a routine missing person's job that soon turns deadly.
Well, no spoiler intended, but I laughed out loud at the independent, tough Sasha driving her dad's car in downtown rush hour traffic. She doesn't have a license, by the way. And I'm glad Mick has been replaced by...well, never mind. Let's just hope Sasha has chosen more wisely this time.
Sasha finds herself in so many dangerous, and sometimes hilarious, situations, this book should keep you laughing at the edge of your seat. I look forward to the third Sasha Jackson adventure, THE LIES HAVE IT, which is sitting at the top of my to-read pile.
- Gloria Ferris, author of CHEAT THE HANGMAN Cheat the Hangman

First of all, Claws IS a short story and a darned good one. I bought it as an eBook for .99. Listing it at over $11 could be a mistake and anyone who paid novel price for it should contact Amazon and query the pricing. Anyway, the story of Ben Cooper's search for the villian who is stealing endangered birds' eggs and fledgelings and, subsequently, becomes a murder victim, is a riveting story. Descriptions of the moors are compelling as usual and Booth manages, in about 50 pages, to flesh out the characters and again show Ben's human side. I am now looking forward to Booth's The Dead Place.
Gloria Ferris
Author, Cheat the Hangman

Reluctant Dead is the third book in the Quin and Morgan mystery series, and another darn good read from John Moss. He sent Quin to Easter Island and David Morgan to Baffin Island and I wondered how the storylines could possibly intersect, meld and be resolved. But they do, and beautifully. Here is a satisfactorily complex plot peppered with adventure and intrigue in exotic locales that culminates in a scene that brings the two protagonists closer together, so to speak. Both Miranda and David almost become victims themselves of an extremely imaginative killer and the climax is both suspenseful and humorous. These two make a good team and I expect we'll be reading more about them. At least, I hope so.

In Law and Disorder, someone is killing lawyers and the invincible Camilla MacPhee is up to her neck in trouble again in this sixth installment of the series. The plot twists keep coming right until the very last page. But, with Alvin and Mrs. Parnell by her side, Camilla manages to escape death once again and save her boyfriend's daughters from watery graves. As a bonus, the lawyer jokes heading each chapter will keep you in stitches. Mary Jane Maffini has a winner in Camilla and I hope to read many more adventures of the fearless Ottawa lawyer who just never gives up.

In Champagne for Buzzards, Phyllis Smallman manages to strike the perfect balance between addressing the serious issue of human trafficking and continuing to build the relationships between her characters. All story lines were tied up nicely while a few new teasers were added that make me look forward to the next in the series. Sherri is a woman whose past makes her reluctant to trust others, especially men, but with each installment of the series, we can see her change and grow stronger. I enjoy her humour and quick wit. The sexy Detective Styles was missing this time, but I hope he will be back soon, and, Sherri, it's time to let go of Jimmy's truck, considering what it's just been used for!