Smorgasbord Christmas Book Fair 2023 – #Suspense #Thriller Joan Hall, #Mystery #Romance N.A. Granger,, #Thriller #Haiti Mark Bierman, #Multigenre Stephen Geez

Welcome to the Christmas Book Fair where I will be sharing books by my recommended authors that I believe would make great gifts. If you are gifting someone a Kindle this year it would be a great idea to stock it up with some great books to be enjoyed.

Today some suspense, thrills and mysteries and the first book is by Joan Hall… with  a mystery thriller Unseen Motives.

About the book

Things aren’t always as they seem…

Stephanie Harris is no stranger to mystery and suspense. The author of several best-selling thrillers returns to her hometown of Driscoll Lake twenty years after her father’s suicide when her great-aunt Helen dies.

She hopes to settle Helen’s affairs as quickly as possible and leave behind the place where she suffered so much heartache. Soon after her arrival, Stephanie stumbles upon information that leads her to believe that all is not as it seems.

When she digs deeper into secrets long buried, she begins to receive warning notes and mysterious phone calls. The threats soon escalate into deliberate attempts to harm her. Stephanie soon finds herself caught in a web of deceit and danger.

Undaunted, Stephanie searches for clues about the scandal surrounding her father’s death. But discovering the truth places her in the path of a cold-blooded killer.

One of the reviews for the book

Mae Clair 5.0 out of 5 stars A Mystery with a Small Town Setting…  Reviewed in the United States

Unseen motives is a compelling mystery set in the small town of Driscoll Lake. Best-selling novelist, Stephanie Harris returns to settle her great aunt’s estate, twenty years after the apparent suicide of her father, a man accused of embezzlement. Stephanie is anxious to settle matters and leave, but as the anniversary of her father’s crime approaches she begins to realize all is not as it seems.

Digging into the past, she uncovers elements that don’t add up. The more she tries to uncover what really happened on that fateful day twenty years ago, the more it becomes apparent someone doesn’t want her to discover the truth. There are plenty of obstacles along the way and numerous pieces of the past to puzzle together.

Joan Hall populates her novel with characters you care about and clues that keep you flipping pages. Stephanie is a likable and determined heroine and the secondary characters are ones I look forward to meeting again in the next Driscoll Lake story. The author combines elements of suspense, small town living and neighborly charm in a plot peppered with twists and turns along the way. Several elements caught me by surprise. Definitely a treat for mystery fans! 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US –  And: Amazon UK

Also by Joan Hall

Find out more about Joan Hall, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Read other reviews and follow Joan: Goodreads – Website: Joan Hall – Blog: Joan Hall – BookBub: Joan Hall – Facebook: Joan Hall Writes – Twitter: @JoanHallWrites

The next book is from the popular mystery romance series by Noelle A. Granger
Death by Pumpkin: A Rhe Brewster Mystery (Rhe Brewster Mysteries Book 3)

About the book

At the annual Pumpkin Festival in the coastal town of Pequod, Maine, Rhe Brewster, an ER nurse and Police Department consultant, responds to screams at the site of the Pumpkin Drop. Racing to the scene, where a one-ton pumpkin was dropped from a crane to crush an old car, Rhe and her brother-in-law, Sam, Pequod’s Chief of Police, discover the car contains the smashed remains of a man’s body. After the police confirm the death as a homicide, Rhe embarks on a statewide search to identify the victim and find the killer. During the course of the emotional investigation, she survives an attempt on her life at 10,000 feet, endures the trauma of witnessing the murder of an old flame, and escapes an arson attack on her family’s home. There is clearly a sociopath on the loose who is gunning for Rhe and leaving bodies behind. With Sam unable to offer his usual support due to an election recall and a needy new girlfriend, Rhe realizes that the only way to stop the insanity is to risk it all and play the killer’s game.

Maine’s most tenacious sleuth is back, this time to confront a menace that threatens to destroy her life and those closest to her. The latest installment of the Rhe Brewster Mystery Series, Death by Pumpkin, is a murder mystery and thriller that tests the limits of Rhe’s strength and resolve like never before.

One of the reviews for the book

Kate Loveton 5.0 out of 5 stars I love these books  Reviewed in the United States

I have been a fan of Ms. Granger’s series of novels about the intrepid Rhe Brewster since the first was published several years ago. I love these books!

Rhe is an ER nurse who works part time with the Pequod, Maine Police Department. She has a brother in law who is crazy about her and who just happens to be the chief of police, a boisterous young son, and a best friend who must be the world’s best cook. I think I gained 5 pounds just reading about the meals consumed by Rhe and the other characters in the book.

One of the things I like most about this series is Granger’s endearing characters. Picking up this latest book is like saying hello again to old friends you haven’t seen in a while. It is both warm and inviting to spend some time with Rhe and friends. Um, yes, I did just say that about a novel dealing with murder!

In this latest outing, Rhe has her hands full as she investigates a murder at a pumpkin festival, organizes a campaign to help her brother in law maintain his position with the Pequod PD in the face of ugly student protests from the local college, and tries to evade the clutches of a crazy person out to kill her. She does all this while eating meals that induced hunger in this reader, and while juggling a male suitor or two. Whew!

If you’re unfamiliar with N.A. Granger’s Rhe Brewster mysteries, check them out. They are fun to read and will definitely hold your interest.

Just get ready to gain a pound or two… 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Also by Noelle Granger

Head over to read more about Noelle A. Granger, read the reviews and buy her books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Blog: Sayling Away – Goodreads:Noelle A. Granger – Twitter: @NAGrangerAuthor

The next book today is another I have read and can recommend.  Vanished is the debut thriller set in Haiti by Mark Bierman.

About the book

Tragedy . . . heartache . . . how much more can Tyler Montgomery and John Webster take? This missions trip, the “healing” one, has only added fresh layers of pain. Construction of an orphanage in Haiti’s northwest . . . yes. But a doomed rescue operation, human traffickers, human anomalies, extreme personal danger . . . risk of death? They hadn’t signed up for those.

Turning their backs on the crisis, however, is unthinkable, it’s just not who they are.

One of the reviews for the book on Goodreads

James  Five Stars September 25, 2021

Kidnapping is hard enough, but when it occurs in a foreign country, and the risk of violence and disease is über prevalent, what can two men with an already tragic past do to help the victim? But it gets worse… this isn’t just 1 seven-year-old girl in Haiti, but an entire trade of human trafficking they need to conquer. In Mark Bierman’s novel Vanished, the first I’ve read by him, he explores the psychological and physical aspects of what happens to a group of people involved and impacted by this horror. It’s gritty, not very pretty (in a good way, I mean), and shocking.

Not my typical read, I found myself engaged in a tale filled with memorable characters and a frightening plot. Our protagonists are tricked/tested by someone, and it almost causes a far worse problem, but finally, they are on the trail of the people running this gang of human thieves. The poor child(ren) and mothers who’ve lost their babies to this horrific tragedy couldn’t possibly suffer anymore, but the suspense ride Bierman brings us on shows that recovery will not be an easy path in Haiti. Men are tested, and past losses make acceptance of more death even harder.

The world is filled with nasty individuals. Some countries are truly in need of humanitarian help. And when people’s lives are meaningless (or meaningful if they can be sold, to be honest) to the kidnappers, how can anyone stand by and permit this to happen? How much of this is reality? Probably most, based on Bierman’s research and blog posts. He’s captured the essence of the paralyzing fears in the families of the victim, but he’s also shown readers a world they might never experience themselves.

Definitely a good read. Not something I would’ve picked up without seeing so many positive reviews. And I look forward to seeing what else this writer can bring to the table in the future. 

 Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

50% of the proceeds from Vanished go to an organization that helps victims of human trafficking.

Discover more about Mark Bierman, read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Follow Mark: Goodreads – Blog: Mark Bierman WordPress – Twitter: @mbiermanauthor

The final book today I can recommend is the multigenre short story collection Comes this Time to Float: 19 Short Stories by Stephen Geez

About the collection

Prepare to think as you explore these wildly disparate literary short stories by author, composer, and producer Stephen Geez. Avoiding any single genre, this collection showcases Geez’s storytelling from southern gothic to contemporary drama to coming-of-age, humor, sci-fi, and fantasy—all finessed to say something about who we are and what we seek. Some of these have been passed around enough to need a shot of penicillin, others so virgin they have never known the seductive gaze of a reader’s eyes. So when life’s currents get to pulling too hard, don’t fight it, just open the book and discover nineteen new ways of going with the flow, because NOW more than ever Comes this Time to Float.

One of the recent reviews for the collection

Joy Shelton-York 5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful short stores  Reviewed in the United States

I really enjoyed this diverse collection of nineteen short stories by Stephen Geez, who is an exceptional writer and storyteller. Each story is unique, written in a style appropriate to the characters and setting, and has an important message. The genres are varied; science fiction, coming of age, fantasy, humor, and contemporary drama. I was truly impressed by Mr. Geez’s versatility. I loved that each story had a brief introduction with its inspiration and history. Despite the genre, the stories all conveyed a very human message. Geez skillfully uses allegories, personification, humor, wit, whimsy, and drama to enhance his stories and bring them to life.

Although they are all wonderful stories, three of my favorites were Veneer, Comes this Time to Float, and The Age-Eater. Having grown up in the south, I have seen thinly disguised prejudice under the surface of some so-called refined or rich folks. Veneer has a powerful message I have witnessed firsthand. There are people who make judgements or assumptions based on skin color and social class. Comes this Time to Float is an allegorical metaphor. It was so moving and powerful I cried. The Age-Eater speaks to how our attitude can influence how well we feel. I don’t want to give the details away, because they are captivating stores that need to be experienced.

I highly recommend this wonderful collection of stories. 

Read the reviews and buy the collection: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A small selection of other books by Stephen Geez

Find out more about Stephen Geez, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More Reviews: Goodreads – Website: Stephen Geez – Website: Fresh Ink Group – Follow Stephen: Goodreads – Twitter: @StephenGeez – Fresh Ink Twitter: @FreshInkGroup – Voice of Indie Twitter: @VoiceofIndie

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books  thanks Sally.