- December 22, 2025
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The Black Stiletto
Raymond Benson
Oceanview Publishing
Longboat Key, Florida
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608090631, $15.00 www.amazon.com
“The Black Stiletto” begins a series of tales about a woman who becomes a vigilante crime fighter much the same way as Batman did. Like Spiderman she is perceived by police and others in law enforcement to be the same as any criminal, even though she is taking on mobsters and other thugs, while the general public loves her. Told in diary form the story takes place in 50 years ago and the present. The writings by the Black Stiletto take place in the 1950’s. Her son, who is in the present day, is given her diaries and learns of his mothers secret life, while a gangster from the past tells his story in the present. He reveals that he is looking to settle a score with her because she killed his brother. “The Black Stiletto” is page turning suspense with well defined characters and good vigilante escapism
Missing You
Harlan Coben
Dutton
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
978052534942, $27.95, www.amazon.com
Kat Donovan a NYPD police officer learns the real story of her dad’s death and also about the man she once wanted to marry. Also she gets involved in a case to find a missing person. “Missing You” is a tightly drawn tale of suspense that unfolds slowly and then picks up speed to the final revealing conclusion. Along for the ride are many interesting characters with generous doses of tension that make this a great page turner thriller. Harlan Coben is a master of this type of novel and “Missing You” shows why.
Confessions: The Private School Murders
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Little Brown and Company
c/o Hachette Book Group USA
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.HatchetteBookGroupUSA.com
9780316207652, $18.00 www.amazon.com
Many of the characters from “Confessions of a Murder Suspect” are back in “Confessions The Private School Murders” Tandy Angel whose parents were murdered is back and now she has set herself up as a detective. She is about to tackle a case the police are not really trying to solve, of several women who have been murdered, while she is also trying to prove her own brother’s innocence. Patterson and Paetro who also write the “Women’s Murder Club” stories have another winner with this YA series. Though marketed as a YA title the Confessions novels have all the elements that make Patterson novels so much fun to read. “Confessions The Private School Murders” should not be missed by Patterson fans.
Stay Close
Harlan Coben
Signet
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780451233967, $9.99, www.amazon.com
A photographer, a woman with a shady past and a cop are all a part of “Stay Close,” a fast paced thriller from Harlan Coben. This time the story deals with a situation that took place 17 years ago and how three of the people are affected by the long ago events. Coben once again has written a tale that races along with great writing, believable characters and tense situations that all come together by the end of the book. Coben is a great story teller and “Stay Close” is another reason to add him to your list of writers to always look for.
Mr. Monk Gets On Board
Hy Conrad
Obsidian
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780451240958, $23.95, www.amazon.com
Watch out world! Adrian Monk goes on a cruise and the ship will never be the same in this newest installment of the Monk series “Mr. Monk Gets on Board.” Natalie Teeger leaves to go on an important cruise and finds that Adrian Monk invites himself to join her. It’s a good thing though because there is a murder and Monk makes it his business to solve the case. There is an interesting history of this particular story that Hy Conrad tells at the beginning of the book. The series is funnier than ever as Monk, the obsessive compulsive detective, tackles all kind of problems. “Mr. Monk Gets on Board” is another rousing laugh out adventure of the Adrian Monk that fans of the show should not miss.
First Love
James Patterson and Emily Raymond
Little Brown and Company
c/o Hachette Book Group USA
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.HatchetteBookGroupUSA.com
9780316207041, $26.00 www.amazon.com
Based loosely on a relationship Patterson had many years ago the story is one where two people who have much in common take a trip around the country and experience many different things that celebrate life. Even though they steal cars, a motorcycle, a truck and do some criminal things, the reader is taken along on their journey feeling empathy for both characters and wanting the story to not end the way it does for one of them. “First Love” is a fast read. Though some of the subject matter could be depressing it is a very enjoyable Patterson novel.
Try and Try Again: A Pioneer’s Tale of the Great State of Florida as Told by James Hiram Lee
By Douglas S. Doudney
c/o Habitation of Chimham Publishing
La Vergue, TN
www.chimhampublish.com
9780989969604, $16.99, www.amazon.com
Try and Try Again” is an appropriate title because the author should try again to publish this book but with a more professional look and a major edit of the manuscript. It is a great idea to tell the history of the state of Florida and one family and the many generations that have lived in the state, but there are lots of problems with this book as it is. Often at conventions, a topic of discussion is the importance of the cover. For this work it is the first thing a reader sees and it is too crowded with artwork and pictures that is not very eye catching as it should be. The print style is very uncomfortable to read and the work is very disjointed and very slow reading, with too much description and not enough bringing these people to life on the page. The author in his preface states that the events are true as are the people but he also calls them characters. “Try and Try Again” is something for family members and friends of the author to enjoy, but in its present form is not geared to a mainstream audience.
Margaret Powell’s Cookery Book
Margaret Powell
St Martin’s Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.stmartins.com
9781250038562, $16.99, www.amazon.com
Margaret Powell now takes readers on another tour of her world of service in some of the greatest houses in England in “Margaret Powell’s Cookery Book.” She tells more stories of her life of but most of the focus is on the many different meals she prepared as Cook in the homes she worked in. She also compares foods she made for work and for her own house. There are many wonderful sounding recipes that readers can make themselves. Her three books “Below Stairs,” “Servant’s Hall” and “Margaret Powell’s Cookery Book” are the basis for the TV shows of “Upstairs Downstairs” and “Downton Abbey” that no fan of both can afford to miss.
Dragonspeak: Drew the Boy Who Talked to Dragons
Andrew Robinson
Cricket Cottage Publishing
409 Hoffner Aveune # 127, Orlando, Florida 32812
www.thecricketpublishing.com
97814776556634, $9.99, www.amazon.com
10 year old Drew escapes some bullies and is tired of the constant arguments his parents are always having believing they do not care about him. He stumbles upon a cave and finds that his life is never the same afterwards. Now he enters a world filled with all kinds of new exciting things for him to do including talk to dragons. “Dragonspeak Drew the Boy Who Talked to Dragons” is a YA magical fantasy adventure that is filled with interesting characters, great dialogue a wonderful ending that is a set up for other adventures of Drew in the future. Fans of fantasy should love “Dragonspeak Drew the Boy Who Talked to Dragons”
Stop Means Stop
Gay Wasik-Zegel Illustrated by Lorrie J. Smith
Cricket Cottage Publishing
409 Hoffner Aveune # 127, Orlando, Florida 32812
www.thecricketpublishing.com
9781489589415, $9.95, www.amazon.com
Charlie is a healthy little boy but he has a major problem. He just goes about whatever he wants to do and never listens to anyone on anything. “Stop Means Stop” is a fun kid’s book that shows why it is wrong to be like Charlie. The lessons the author presents for kids are for them to learn to be more responsible people. “Stop Means Stop” can be enjoyed by kids and parents alike in this charming children’s story.
Reviews by Gary Roen
