Ragged in the Rain by Brian Anderson

 A missing woman leads a stubborn PI into Seattle’s underbelly, where every ally is uncertain, and every clue drags him deeper into danger.

 About Ragged in the Rain: When his best friend’s sister vanishes with a man known for his drug habit, Minneapolis private investigator Lyle Dahms heads to Seattle to bring her home. But the city he finds is nothing like the postcards—its rain-soaked streets hide a growing homelessness crisis, predatory dealers, and police who don’t want an outsider stirring up trouble.

     While searching for the missing woman, Dahms leans on unlikely allies: an elderly Filipino food bank volunteer with sharp instincts and a handful of strangers whose loyalties shift like the weather. Each lead pulls him deeper into a world ruled by desperation, where trust is scarce, and danger waits around every corner.

     Far from home and increasingly out of his depth, Dahms must decide how much he’s willing to risk to keep a promise. Because the truth behind the young woman’s disappearance is darker than he imagined—and finding her may cost him far more than he came to give.

 Our Review: Having thoroughly enjoyed each of Brian Anderson’s Lyle Dahms novels, his latest noir mystery does not disappoint. This time, the usual flavor of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser PI, takes on the gritty darkness of Mickey Spillane—and it sings in three-part harmony.

     Seattle comes to life, becoming a character on its own, with its urban underbelly featuring the ugliness of the drug trade as well as the rising dangers faced by the homeless and those who advocate for them.

     This a story of loyalty and betrayal, broke our hearts.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Ragged in the Rain merits a 9.

Kat Henry Doran, a Wild Women Review

 

Indigo by Karen Hulene Bartell

               About Indigo: Reeling after a broken engagement, a woman inherits a rustic cabin on a Wisconsin lake and intends to flip it as quickly as possible. But eerie incidents, along with rumors of a mythical windigo, cause her more than a little alarm. Surrounded by shady real-estate agents, ruthless threats, and a treacherous ex, she is overwhelmed—until a rescued puppy and a shocking spark with a local man sets her world on fire…literally…

Our Review: With a complex series of sub-plots, author Bartell excels at presenting characters so vivid and true to life, they jump off the page. From a couple fly-by-night real estate agents to an ex-fiancé worthy of any TV documentary about serial con artists to some really creepy neighbors—who may or may not be blood relations to the heroine—this is a story that deserves time in order to absorb and relish the meaning. To read it too fast risks missing important points that should not be ignored.

 

Based on a scale of 1-5, Indigo merits a 5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Renewal Required by Mia Augustine

 Great stories matter. So does the freedom to tell them.

“Renewal Required”, a  contemporary romance, written by Mia Augustine, is part of the Summer Heatwave anthology, written by  eight talented, award-winning authors to benefit FIRE:The Foundation for Individual Rights and Free Expression.

About the story:“. . . we should start a movement—require renewal of marriage licenses. . .” So speaks Seattle based interior designer and home staging expert Magdalena Hartwell. Long time married to Maxamillian, they are empty nesters, after their son goes off to college and—surprise—is happy, healthy, and speaks to them on a regular basis. Point for their side. But there’s something off in paradise. And just maybe a monkey, in the form of local shock jock radio contest. And the fun—as well as a serious learning experience about themselves and the person they married—and the fun begins.

Our Review: Another terrific story by the ever-talented Mia Augustine. We have two long-time married professionals who seem to have lost that special something. Through a set of four challenges, flavored by fast-talking local DJs, Augustine shows her readers how two deserving people come together and suddenly recognize the why and how their life has turned upside down. All in front of watchful Seattle who is not afraid to share their opinions.

A hoot of a story on several levels.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Renewal Required merits a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33 Photos From the Ghetto

 Those who forget—or deny—the past are doomed to repeat it.

 33 Photos From the Ghetto: A documentary, currently available at HBO Max, tells the story of the only known photos from inside the Warsaw Ghetto during the uprising of April 1943.

 Our Review: The sometimes grainy black and whites show the suffering and degradation of the Warsaw Jews at the hands of Hitler’s henchmen. If anything, these vivid photographs invoke equally jarring images of recent events that occurred, not only in Minneapolis, but many and other American cities as well. While some might ask, ‘when will the madness end?’ devoted fans of the late Leon Uris who recall his blockbuster novels which included Exodus, Mila 18, and QB-VII will nod and say, ‘finally, here is the proof.’

 Based on a scale of 1-5, 33 Photos From The Ghetto merits a 10.

  Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

The Water Diamond by CB Wilson

 . . . Sometimes the only person who can think like a jewel thief is a jewel thief’s daughter. . .

About The Water Diamond: When a legendary Art Deco bracelet vanishes under suspicious circumstances, diamond recovery specialist Taylor “Hunter” is called in to recover it. What begins as a high-profile theft quickly escalates into something far more dangerous: a murder, a decades-old disappearance, and a hidden second bracelet tied to a mystery dating back to May 29, 1929.

As Hunter follows the clues, the investigation leads from the elegance of the Wrigley Mansion to its historic coastal counterpart, the Wrigley Mansion on Catalina Island—uncovering a web of secrets that spans desert and sea. But she’s not the only one searching, and someone is willing to kill to keep the truth buried.

Our Review: It isn’t often we can say a book kept us up late into the night—or woke us up in the early morning hours to finish—because learning the identity of the real “bad guys” became an obsession. With her talent for crisp, non-stop action and creating individualized characters who support “Hunter” in clever, often unexpected ways, author CB Wilson has herself a winner here. From the cocky and manipulative ex-husband—Chad the Cad—to the FBI guy whose too hunky for words but also has just the right knee-knocking moves, to the former diplomat we all hope to emulate in our golden years, to Glimmer the gem-detecting Dachshund who is most definitely one for the books.

Action, characters, and plot, combined with glamorous settings, make this a must read for cozy mystery fans.

Based on a scale of 1-5, The Water Diamond merits a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Sworn to Collide by Maria Imbalzano

 She thought she had it all—until she realized she’d lost herself. 

 About Sworn to Collide: After devoting eleven years of marriage to Ben, her high school sweetheart, and stepping off the corporate ladder to raise their three children, Denise is ready to seize the reins of the career she always dreamed of. But as soon as she commits to step back into the professional world, Ben drops a bombshell that disrupts everything. Suddenly, this once rock-solid couple finds themselves in a battle over ambition, identity, and whose turn it is to shine. As personal choices draw them further and further apart, they must confront their widening rift—a threat to the love they thought was unshakeable.

     Can they rediscover the passion they once shared, or will their divergent paths pull them apart for good?

Our Review: Starting with a sensational piece of cover art which effortlessly describes the themes of this powerful novel, the author takes her readers on a roller coaster of emotions—from elation to brutal sadness, then fear, and finally—loss of faith in herself. This is not an easy book to read. Each reader—in one way, shape or form—will recognize a time in their life when they wished for a do-over, a second chance, or simply to make the pain go away. Gird your loins and pick this book up. It is a powerful primer on the essential need for strong, effective communication between partners.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Sworn to Collide merits a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Abby's Gift by Kim Janine Ligon

 

The best presents are not wrapped.

 About Abby’s Gift: At age twenty-five, Janet Marshall returns to the small town where she lived as a foster child. There, she reconnects with childhood friends and has a job she enjoys. But something is missing. 

After Abby, Janet’s college roommate, calls to arrange a weekend visit, Janet soon discovers her old friend is frightened and running from something—or someone.

          Without warning, Abby is gone as suddenly as she appeared but leaves something for her trusted friend. Can Janet find it in her heart to reconstruct her life and embrace this gift?

Our Review: Once again, the author demonstrates her ability to weave suspense into the everyday life of a small town. The supporting characters can be found in any village and are as remarkable for their quirks as well as their ‘humanness’. For an extra treat is the slow, trial-and-error progression of the mother-daughter relationship. Equally as fun to watch is the profound devotion the entire town harbors for Janet when the chips are down and she and her beloved child are thrust into danger from unknown sources.

Do not miss this page-turner of a story; it’s a winner.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Abby’s Gift merits a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews