Westside

Westside Author: W.M. Akers

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Release Date: May 7, 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Funny how tiny mysteries have a way of asserting themselves into bigger problems!

Manhattan Island, New York in 1921. Things have gone amiss for several years in the Westside of Manhattan. While the Eastside is prosperous, the Westside has a darkness. Ten years ago, people started disappearing along with other objects. In an effort to stop the madness, a thirteen-mile fence was constructed to separate the eastside and westside with guards to man the gates. Several people left for the eastside, but not everyone. One of those people is Gilda Carr, a detective who specializes in “tiny mysteries.” After all, big mysteries just take up too much effort and energy.

While working a case about a missing glove, Gilda becomes witness to murders. But not just any killings, murders using guns. But guns have never worked on the westside, so how is it that these weapons work? Before she knows it, she is wrapped up in the biggest case she could imagine between the two superpowers of the westside. What is Even more interesting is that everything seems to connect to her late father. Will this finally answer what truly happened to her father? Or will it just lead her down another rabbit hole?

I’m not sure what I expected from this book, but I definitely got more than I bargained for. I really enjoyed the sleuthing aspect of this novel, especially since Gilda didn’t really want to do it. I bonded with her immediately, even though I’m not really sure why. Her character was quirky, likeable, and just a bit facetious. As a reader I couldn’t help feeling compassionate for her. The dark fantasy of this was interesting too. There have been a few dark historical fantasy novels involving Manhattan, but this one just seemed different. My favorite parts of the story is where a tiny mystery would be solved. It would just pop out of nowhere and reference back to a previous part of the story. Well done.

There is some strong language throughout the book, so I would not advise this to younger readers.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions express within are my own.

Top Futuristic/Dystopian

Next up are the top picks for stories set in the future or dystopia. These are always fun to read to see what some of our favorite author’s imaginations can conjure up.

The Divide

1. The Divide by Jolina Petersheim

The previous installment left off with the Mennonite community being vacated and overrun by an angry mob with one of the main characters left for dead. This is a terrific conclusion!

Read the full review here.

contaigon

2. Contagion by Marcy G. Dyer

An altered strain of rabies that turns its victims into Zombies has been unleashed turning the world into chaos and leaving three families to fend for themselves and try to stay alive. And it’s set in my home area!!!

Read the full review here.

without warning

3. Without Warning by Joel C. Rosenberg

The final installment of this trilogy gave us quite a shock with the ending!

Read the full review here.

Wilders

4. Wilders by Brenda Cooper

With major cities located in glass bubbles connected by tubes for travel, outside the glass can be a cruel place.

Read the full review here.

Graveyard Shift

Graveyard Shift Author: Michael F. Haspil

Publisher: Tor Books

Release Date: July 18, 2017

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Vampires and mummies as part of today’s society? Interesting….

Alex Menkaure works in a special police unit in Miami that oversees vampire crimes. Since a blood substitute was released, legislation was passed that allowed vampires to integrate into society. However, that doesn’t mean that everything runs smoothly. Alex has been fighting vampires for years, centuries even. You see, he was a Pharaoh and then mummified and since then he has lived through wars, revolutions, and vampires. But when a group begins poisoning the blood substitute, tensions between vampires and humans rise to a new level that threatens to destroy Miami. Can Alex put a stop to it before it is too late?

So this was different! A mummy has a main character that has a good friend that is a ancient vampire? Not at all what I expected when I picked up the book, yet overall it was a very interesting story that I couldn’t put down. However, there are a lot of viewpoints throughout the book that a reader has to keep following that can bog down the read a little bit. The descriptions given throughout the book are also very detailed and could have been left more generic to keep the pace moving faster. One of the things that I love about book from tour is they keep exposing me to new genres.

There is a lot of harsh language throughout the book as well as some sexual references. I recommend this book for mature readers who love a new reading experience.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.