Steven Ramirez

Steven Ramirez

Book Review—The Murder Game

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The Murder Game Cover

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.

Book Description

For fans of The Secret History and How to Get Away With Murder comes an exciting new voice in suspense fiction. Ten years working as a prosecutor have left Meredith Delay jaded and unsure of what she wants out of life. She’s good at her job, but it haunts her. Her boyfriend wants her to commit, but she keeps him at arm’s length. Then Meredith is assigned to a high-profile prosecution involving the violent murder of a fallen hockey star. At first, it appears to be just another case to work. But when her old friend Julian is accused of the murder, it takes on a whole new dimension. Meredith, Julian, Jonathan, and Lily were a tight-knit group in law school. But now, Jonathan’s defending Julian, and Lily’s loyalties aren’t clear. And when Julian invokes a rare—and risky—defense, Meredith is forced to confront their past. Has something they played at as students finally been brought to death?

Where to Buy

Amazon
Apple Books
Audible

More Reviews

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Book Review—Or Else

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Or Else Cover

Returning to one’s hometown after being away for years is a staple of American small-town thrillers. Joe Hart’s Or Else puts an interesting spin on the genre by having the protagonist involved with a local married woman whose husband isn’t very nice. When that guy turns up dead, guess who becomes a person of interest?

Making matters worse, the wife, Rachel, disappears with her two children. Naturally, Andy wants to find her, but how can he do that without exposing the truth about the affair?

The novel’s prose is taut and drives the story forward. As Andy learns about others in the town who may or may not be involved in the unfolding mystery, we learn about his struggle to be happy. I especially enjoyed the relationship between the protagonist and his father, a quiet man whose mental faculties are sadly declining.

Or Else is a suspenseful tale filled with strong characters and lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. It’s a fun read with a satisfying but dark resolution.

Book Description

A secret love becomes a fatal affair in a twisting novel of suspense by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Joe Hart.

When novelist Andy Drake returns to his hometown to care for his ailing father, a reconnection with his childhood friend Rachel escalates into a secret love affair. For Rachel, struggling to maintain the facade of a picture-perfect life, it’s an escape from an emotionally abusive marriage. Then Andy receives an anonymous note warning him to end the affair. Or else.

Whoever’s been watching is going to make Andy pay. Weeks later, Rachel’s husband, David, is shot to death. Rachel and her two young sons vanish without a trace. One misstep, one careless reveal, and Andy could look as guilty as sin. Clue by clue, as his investigation into the mystery unfolds, Andy discovers that he and Rachel weren’t the only ones keeping secrets.

Nothing in this quiet neighborhood is as it seems. No one peeking from behind the curtains of their homes can be trusted. And the worst is yet to come. Because David isn’t the only one who will die.

Where to Buy

Amazon
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million

More Reviews

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May 2022 Highlights and Mothers

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2022 Mother’s Day (1080x1080)

Greetings. Wow, it’s May already and time to celebrate. Cinco de Mayo, sure. But I’m talking about Mother’s Day, people. Here’s a photo of my family from a lifetime ago. The little guy is my brother.

Ramirez Family

I’d like to share a quick story about my mom. She worked full time, driving to work from a sleepy suburb to LA. Back then, freeways weren’t all that great, and traffic was always a mess.

There was a jazz concert I really wanted to go to, but it was on a weeknight. My father worked nights, and my mother volunteered to drive quite a long distance just so my brother, his friend, and I could attend the concert. Why? Because that’s what mothers do. Thanks, Mom.

Recommended Reading

The Devil’s Whispers Cover

Recently, I reviewed The Devil’s Whispers by Lucas Hault. Fans of good old-fashioned gothic horror should check out this novel. And if you thought vampires were rough, wait until you get a load of what’s waiting for you at Mathers Castle. You can read the review here.

Book Description

In a silent, sleepy castle, evil has awakened…

Famed British lawyer Gerard Woodward is summoned to an ancient Welsh castle to assist a dying lord in his final affairs. But as his host slips closer to death, Gerard begins to feel less like a guest and more like a prisoner. When he finds himself locked inside his room, he realizes he must escape.

After finding his way out of his room, Gerard begins to wonder if he was safer locked inside. The labyrinthine halls echo secrets. A terrible wail and the rattling of chains sets his nerves on end. Something sinister is happening within the walls of Mathers Castle, and when he descends into the dungeons, he discovers a horrible secret…

In nearby London, children vanish into the night, animals are horribly mutilated, and a savage creature stalks the shadows. When Gerard’s wife, Raelyn, becomes the creature’s next target, his need to escape reaches a fever pitch. He must get out alive so he can dispel the evil that threatens to destroy his beloved Raelyn… and the rest of us.

Fans of epistolary Gothic horror classics like Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Picture of Dorian Gray will devour The Devil’s Whispers.

Where to Buy

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million

Dr. Vigilante Cover

And then, there’s revenge. Dr. Vigilante is a taut medical thriller—sharp as a scalpel—that will leave you breathless. All I can say is, watch out, bad guys. Check out my review here.

Book Description

Doctor by day.

Vigilante by night.

Robert lives a double life in New York City. He spends his days treating patients at the St. Jude’s Hospital ER and his nights going after the psychopaths who wrong them: the child molesters, wife beaters, and rapists. But when the fiery, beautiful new social worker discovers his secret identity and their love affair takes off, Robert is forced to face some hard questions:

Do the ends justify the means?

After years of hunting down psychopaths, is Robert turning into one himself?

An action thriller with strong, distinct characters, filled with suspense and surprise, Dr. Vigilante is also a love story unfolding amid the turmoil and drama of a busy ER.

Where to Buy

Amazon

Books to Enjoy

Deadwood’s Hotel Mystery

A cold town reeks with deaths and mysteries, and there are shadows at every turn. In the wake of the unearthing of age-long secrets, private investigator Marcus Lynette launches against the darkness clouding Deadwood. Check out Deadwood’s Hotel Mystery by Peyton Dinwiddie.

Payne’s Disclosure

One dead body… One mysterious sign… And a case that’s stumped every detective who’s looked at it … Payne’s Disclosure by Audrey Walker is a page-turner you won’t want to put down.

Okay, that’s a wrap. See you next month when I try to slip in a backhanded compliment for National Say Something Nice Day. Peace and love.

Book Review—Dr. Vigilante

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Dr. Vigilante Cover

Imagine you’re an emergency room doctor. You’ve seen it all—the good, the bad, and the ugly that is humanity. But what tears you apart is the violence visited on the innocent, especially women and children. At first, you’re horrified. Then, you become depressed. And finally, an unquenchable rage consumes you. Time to act.

Dr. Vigilante is a smart, taught medical thriller filled with revenge-worthy characters. Criminals, lowlifes, and abusive spouses. As intelligent readers, we know it’s wrong to answer violence with more violence. Still, it’s damn cathartic when a doctor trained in weapons and martial arts metes out justice like a Gatling gun.

Because the author is a doctor, the emergency-room scenes are filled with hair-raising details that put the reader at the heart of the action. I could almost hear the beeping of the machines and the chatter over the PA system.

If you’re looking for a real adrenaline rush, check out Dr. Vigilante by Alberto Hazan. But be warned—this story isn’t for the squeamish.

Book Description

Doctor by day.

Vigilante by night.

Robert lives a double life in New York City. He spends his days treating patients at the St. Jude’s Hospital ER and his nights going after the psychopaths who wrong them: the child molesters, wife beaters, and rapists. But when the fiery, beautiful new social worker discovers his secret identity and their love affair takes off, Robert is forced to face some hard questions:

Do the ends justify the means?

After years of hunting down psychopaths, is Robert turning into one himself?

An action thriller with strong, distinct characters, filled with suspense and surprise, Dr. Vigilante is also a love story unfolding amid the turmoil and drama of a busy ER.

Where to Buy

Amazon

More Reviews

Did you enjoy this review? Check out my other reviews here. And don’t forget to follow me at BookBub.

Book Review—The Devil’s Whispers

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The Devil’s Whispers Cover

Classic gothic horror engenders fear and a feeling of being haunted. The best fiction induces terror in the reader and makes them wish they’d lit more candles. For me, The Devil’s Whispers hits the right notes—a creepy Cardiff mansion, an evil servant, and a dark, forbidding forest from which unholy things can emerge.

Like Dracula, an attorney is summoned to the home of a dying aristocrat. But unlike that famous Bram Stoker novel, there are no vampires. Instead, something ancient and terrifying awaits Gerald Woodward. And it’s a force that threatens not only his life but that of his fiancée and their close friends.

What I enjoyed most about this story was the author’s meticulous description. He creates a world I can almost see as Gerald does. And it’s a place that, frankly, I wouldn’t want to visit, except maybe for London. That great city is teeming with life, whereas Cardiff imbues an overpowering sense of melancholy—and worse.

If you enjoy inventive gothic horror featuring well-drawn, colorful characters, I recommend The Devil’s Whispers. It’s good, old-fashioned, diabolical fun.

Book Description

In a silent, sleepy castle, evil has awakened…

Famed British lawyer Gerard Woodward is summoned to an ancient Welsh castle to assist a dying lord in his final affairs. But as his host slips closer to death, Gerard begins to feel less like a guest and more like a prisoner. When he finds himself locked inside his room, he realizes he must escape.

After finding his way out of his room, Gerard begins to wonder if he was safer locked inside. The labyrinthine halls echo secrets. A terrible wail and the rattling of chains sets his nerves on end. Something sinister is happening within the walls of Mathers Castle, and when he descends into the dungeons, he discovers a horrible secret…

In nearby London, children vanish into the night, animals are horribly mutilated, and a savage creature stalks the shadows. When Gerard’s wife, Raelyn, becomes the creature’s next target, his need to escape reaches a fever pitch. He must get out alive so he can dispel the evil that threatens to destroy his beloved Raelyn… and the rest of us.

Fans of epistolary Gothic horror classics like Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Picture of Dorian Gray will devour The Devil’s Whispers.

Where to Buy

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million

More Information

Author Profile
https://www.tckpublishing.com/our-authors/author-lucas-hault/

Publisher’s Website
https://www.tckpublishing.com/

More Reviews

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April 2022 Highlights and TikTok

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2022 Easter Twins

Spring is here—at least in California. On the homefront, everyone is well. And I wish the same for you and yours. By the way, you can find me on TikTok now. Seriously, though. Don’t expect to see me wearing funny clothes and lip-syncing to popular tunes. I plan to take it slow. You can see my profile here.

ZuZu Before and After

Speaking of pets, ZuZu the miracle cat is a year old and thriving. To pay us back for nurturing her, she raises hell on a daily basis. And we love it.

Book News

I’m still slogging my way through my zombie trilogy, tidying it up for next year’s ten-year anniversary release. This time, I plan to create a hardback version, as well as a physical box set. Which brings me to the topic of audiobooks.

For years, my daughters have been begging (well, strongly encouraging) me to record the audiobook version of the trilogy. And by golly, I think I’m ready to tackle the project. More on that later. In the meantime, I need to order an atomizer and practice vocalizing. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers…

Recommended Reading

Nerve Damage Cover

If you’re looking for a tense medical thriller to liven up your nights, check out Nerve Damage. Doctor-turned-author Tom Combs delivers punch after punch, resulting in a memorable roller coaster of a ride. You can read my review here.

Book Description

ER physician and medical researcher, Drake Cody, has developed an experimental drug that may help the paralyzed walk. Rogue elements operating in the shadows of the pharmaceutical industry have learned of Drake’s breakthrough and they will destroy anyone or anything that prevents them from pirating the priceless research.

Drake, his wife, and their children become pawns in a deadly contest where billions in profits are at stake and their lives mean nothing. Murder, blackmail, and violence touches all those he cares about as the hospital, his home, and his city are swept into the madness. Greed, lust, murder, and betrayal confront courage and selflessness as Drake’s family and his hospital coworkers battle to save what matters most—their patients, their love, their lives.

Physician turned bestselling author Tom Combs’ suspense-packed thriller explodes with true-to-life medical action in a tale of heart-pounding thrills, brilliant twists, and characters readers care about.

John Grisham introduced legal suspense and thrills to the mainstream—Tom Combs has done the same with the world of medicine in book one of this riveting series.

Where to Buy

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million

Books to Enjoy

Chasing Past

A simple package. The head of an infamous serial killer. Detective Robin Matthews is shocked by her finding. This is just the beginning. Check out Chasing Past by Audrey Walker.

Parents Don’t Approve

There is a whole underbelly of betrayal, past violence, and murder that finally blows open. Find out how in Parents Don’t Approve by Peyton Dinwiddie.

Group Giveaways

Click these images for more fantastic titles.

Evil Mastermind Giveaway

Free Free Free

Recommended Viewing

From Poster

Amazon Prime is showing a creepy new television series from the producers of ‘Lost.’ Be sure to check out ‘From’ to learn why these townspeople can’t escape the evil that threatens them.

Logline. Unravel the mystery of a city in Central America that imprisons everyone who enters. As the residents struggle to maintain a sense of normalcy and seek a way out, they must also survive the threats of the surrounding forest.

Okay, that’s a wrap. See you next month when I try not to terrorize my cat during Be Kind to Animals Week. Peace and love.

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