Steven Ramirez

Years ago, I saw Wag the Dog, a wickedly funny movie starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro. Hilary Henkin and David Mamet wrote the screenplay, based on a novel by Larry Beinhart. I’d never read this author’s work until now. And boy, am I glad I

Years ago, I saw Wag the Dog, a wickedly funny movie starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro. Hilary Henkin and David Mamet wrote the screenplay, based on a novel by Larry Beinhart. I’d never read this author’s work until now. And boy, am I glad I did.

It’s not every day you read a crime thriller with a seventy-year-old protagonist. Often, people that age are portrayed as quirky, talkative, and harmless. But not Tony Casella. This guy is still dangerous. And he doesn’t say all that much. Though he’d like nothing better than to save his house and enjoy the Catskills vibe, the universe isn’t having it. There’s work to do, and Tony is the man.

I enjoyed the writing style immensely. It’s terse, mordant, and sometimes downright hilarious. We’re talking about contract killing here, but this story was fun. Oh, and just when you’ve had enough of the east coast, we’re off to Austria for a ski trip. I don’t ski, but reading the author’s descriptions, I could almost feel the powder on my skin.

If you’re looking for a different kind of novel with plenty of bad guys, I recommend picking up The Deal Goes Down. Then, rent Wag the Dog.

The opioid crisis in America used to dominate the news. Everywhere, it seemed, families were destroyed when someone, usually through no fault of their own, became addicted to painkillers. And I have to believe that the children suffered the most.

In N

The opioid crisis in America used to dominate the news. Everywhere, it seemed, families were destroyed when someone, usually through no fault of their own, became addicted to painkillers. And I have to believe that the children suffered the most.

In Never Less, author Geoffrey Wells uses this crisis as a backdrop for a thrilling story of two friends, Mindy and Pablo, who stumble on an illegal drug operation and decide to do something about it. Both have fathers who are in trouble. Mindy’s dad is a doctor addicted to painkillers. And Pablo’s father is an illegal alien. Then there are the criminals—a nasty bunch.

What I liked best about this story is how much these kids value their friendship. Though they are from different backgrounds, they are, in every sense of the word, simpatico. In an ideal world, young people shouldn’t have to deal with adult problems. But we know better. Sometimes, they have no choice. And in Never Less, they do not shy away from their responsibility.

Sci-Fi thrillers that center on mind control or memory loss have a long and wonderful history—especially in the movies. I’m thinking of films like ‘Brainstorm’ and ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.’ Usually, they have something sinister in comm

Sci-Fi thrillers that center on mind control or memory loss have a long and wonderful history—especially in the movies. I’m thinking of films like ‘Brainstorm’ and ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.’ Usually, they have something sinister in common—science gone wrong. And not necessarily because of evil intent. It’s just that sometimes, well…

In Blackout, author Erin Flanagan introduces an interesting idea that seems to fit right in with how women constantly get gaslighted. In this case, Maris is an alcoholic and not unused to periodic gaps in her memory. In fact, her drinking gets so bad that she begins gaslighting herself, saying the memory loss is to be expected and is nothing to worry about. But if that were all there is to it, we wouldn’t have a story.

Something else is going on. Maris hasn’t had a drink for eight months, and still, she suffers occasional episodes where time passes, and she has no idea where her mind went. But, because she has a sharp intellect and a burning curiosity, she investigates. And she learns that she may not be the only person this is happening to.

I enjoyed this novel immensely. The characters are vivid, and the writing is scintillating. Moreover, in my opinion, this book is a movie-worthy thriller. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone hasn’t already optioned it. If you enjoy heart-pounding thrillers, this is the book for you. Reading it is like riding in a car with no brakes on a mountain road. At night.

I like thrillers. A lot. And when a novel is written by someone who was a doctor, lawyer, or medical examiner in their former life, I’m all in. Because I always learn something new. Before picking up Poison Pen by Sheila Lowe, I was unfamiliar with t

I like thrillers. A lot. And when a novel is written by someone who was a doctor, lawyer, or medical examiner in their former life, I’m all in. Because I always learn something new. Before picking up Poison Pen by Sheila Lowe, I was unfamiliar with the life and work of a graphologist. Unlike some side characters, though, I wasn’t dismissive of forensic handwriting—I just didn’t know anything.

Following Claudia Rose, as she attempts to investigate the death of an unlikeable, high-profile woman of means, we learn about the secrets that handwriting can hold. Some are benign, and others… Well.

Poison Pen is an enjoyable, fast-paced read written with intelligence and humor. The evolving romantic relationship between Claudia and the cop, Joel, is fun and entertaining. If you enjoy thrills, danger, and intrigue with a side of Graphology 101, you can’t go wrong with this novel.

It’s true. Raymond Chandler and Kurt Vonnegut made a baby. And its name is Sleepwalk. From the first few pages, I was enthralled by author Dan Chaon’s ability to create an antihero of such depth—such longing—that I nearly forgot Will Bear is a sociop

It’s true. Raymond Chandler and Kurt Vonnegut made a baby. And its name is Sleepwalk. From the first few pages, I was enthralled by author Dan Chaon’s ability to create an antihero of such depth—such longing—that I nearly forgot Will Bear is a sociopath. Yeah. Among his many side jobs, he kills people.

As you wend your way through the backroads of a slightly futuristic America, you realize that the person Billy is was mainly due to his random, haphazard childhood. That and a sometime mom who herself had sociopathic tendencies. Like his mother, when the protagonist takes someone out, it’s not personal. Instead, it’s necessary.

When Will learns that he might have a biological daughter, things get even more interesting as the revelation turns his world upside down. There were times when I pictured the character as Philip Marlowe chasing down clues. Other times, I recalled some of the funniest moments in novels, such as Player Piano and Cat’s Cradle. But hey, that’s me.

Sleepwalk is a hard book to categorize. If I had to sum it up, I’d say it’s crime fiction with some laughs, mainly at Will’s expense. And like him, the other characters are as real as they get. Truthfully, though, The novel is not for everyone. Just saying.

Victorian England was all about expectations—you know, the ones society placed on everyone. Men were expected to be strong, faithful, and devoted to their families. Women were expected to be proper and virtuous. So when they married, they raised the

Victorian England was all about expectations—you know, the ones society placed on everyone. Men were expected to be strong, faithful, and devoted to their families. Women were expected to be proper and virtuous. So when they married, they raised the children and ran the household so men could do whatever it was men did.

Now, take a London detective with emotional baggage and zero people skills. Then, pair him up with a seventeen-year-old orphan who has barely seen the city she inhabits. Finally, throw in a madhouse, demonic forces, and strange powers the girl is unaware she possesses. Take all these, and you have Shadowseer: London.

This novel is supernatural thriller at its finest. I immediately fell in love with Kaia, the heartbreaking waif. Though inexperienced in matters of life, she manages to teach a crusty, science-is-everything policeman with a liking for metronomes that dangerous, unseen things exist all around us.

Shadowseer: London is an entertaining page-turner filled with action, drama, and pathos. Don’t miss it.

Prosecuting someone you went to law school with is probably not the best idea. Conflict of interest? Where to begin… When a case lands on Meredith’s desk, she rightly tries to recuse herself. But then—and I’m not sure this would fly in the US—she’s f

Prosecuting someone you went to law school with is probably not the best idea. Conflict of interest? Where to begin… When a case lands on Meredith’s desk, she rightly tries to recuse herself. But then—and I’m not sure this would fly in the US—she’s forced to take the case anyway.

Julian wasn’t her ex-boyfriend, so there’s that. But his defense attorney was—sort of. Jonathan is a puzzle. He cares for Meredith yet doesn’t express his feelings in words. In fact, he’s pretty blasé about the whole thing. Meredith is involved with Chris now—sort of. As personal relationships go in this novel, there’s a lot of “sort of” going on.

At the heart of the story is an age-old law student thought experiment: Can someone pull off the perfect murder? Meredith quickly learns that if the defense has anything to say about it, it’s precisely what Julian will do. I have zero law background, but I enjoyed all the legal maneuvering. The Murder Game is an entertaining tale for fans of legal thrillers.