
Member Reviews

With its wilderness setting, this book gave serious Heller – The River vibes.
I find nature pretty terrifying anyhow, so add in a murder and a mystery and I’m already scared half to death.
Besides the setting, I loved the interactions between the two main characters, I loved the sustained tension throughout, and I loved that this is the very first in what (I hope will) become a series, (no cliffhanger, though!)
Did I mention there’s a dog? THE DOG.
I was a bit concerned on the outset with what could have been a Magical Native Trope, but it ended up playing out okay, so far as I could tell. I’ll leave that discourse for people smarter than I.
This author, while new to me, has several works in their back pocket, so I’m looking forward to tracking them down this summer.

He may not always work well with others, but Wind River Indian Reservation Deputy Sage Mendiluze and his dog, Peak, know their stuff. So, after two guides are found murdered near the reservation, Sage and Peak are called in investigate. What he finds isn't encouraging and almost gets him and Peak killed. Someone is murdering people within national parks. Because of his experience, Sage becomes part of the task force. With the 4th of July coming up, the busy height of summer visitation at the parks, time is of the essence in finding the murderers before they strike again.
This is a fast paced, edge of the seat thriller. As the body count rises, so do tensions and time is running out. The suspense is only enhanced by the brief glimpses of interactions of the killers as they continue on their spree. Despite the glance into their psyche, their ultimate end game remains a mystery.
This book has a strong set of characters. Sage is a bit of a loner, sure of himself, letting his experience and his skills speak for him. National Parks ISB agent Maggie Comstock is smart and savvy. She's ready to take charge and knows just to how to handle the men on her team . Some of her interactions provide a bit of humor, especially her side comments to Sage who respects her quick mind and her ability to put the clues together.
I'm a fan of a good thriller and this one definitely filled that need. There are some questions left unanswered that promise more books to come I look forward to reading more of Sage and Maggie’s investigations in the future.

Editor's note: This roundup is scheduled to publish in Georgia June 11 online and June 14 print in several newspapers. Will also publish in Mississippi and Alabama during the month in newspapers and magazines, timing up to local editors. Link below will be active June 11.
From new series starters (Michael Connelly’s “Nightshade”) to the tried-and-true (Kendra Elliot’s “Her First Mistake”) our beach bag is already overflowing, and what we offer here are just a few — OK, actually 25 — of the best beach reads published through the end of June. Later this season we’ll round out the list, but for now, find an old favorite, a debut thriller or just about anything in between — including a North Alabama favorite who you just might see dining at a Cullman restaurant.
“Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man” (Berkley) by Jesse Q. Sutanto: A lovable Chinese tea shop owner stumbles upon a distressed, young woman — and a murder, the investigation of which she decides to serve up herself. With lots of tea and nosy charm, Vera tackles the project unasked as a “favor” to her (hoped for) future daughter-in-law. Sutanto mixes cozy mystery with smart humor and heartfelt moments.
“When She Was Gone” (Blackstone Publishing) by Sara Foster: When a young nanny working for one of Perth’s wealthiest families disappears, a tense investigation unravels the secrets of a seemingly perfect family, forcing everyone to confront the lies they’ve told themselves and each other. Foster delivers a taut, emotionally resonant thriller that lingers. And as expected from Blackstone Publishing, the story itself is packaged beautifully with subtle and tactile cover art: Buy the hardcover of this one.
“Follow Me” (Thomas & Mercer) by Elizabeth Rose Quinn: An eerie digital breadcrumb trail leads a tech-savvy woman into a web of deception and danger. Quinn crafts a smart, suspenseful mystery that taps into our modern fears of surveillance and online identity. “Heathers” meets “The Stepford Wives” in this tale of twin sisters.
“The Book That Held Her Heart” (Ace) by Mark Lawrence: In this final chapter of The Library Trilogy, a mysterious book bridges love, loss and literary magic in a haunting story that defies time and tests the bond between Livira and Evar — one that has never been more taut. Lawrence blends fantasy and emotion in this lyrical, genre-bending tale.
“The Great Pyramids: Collected Stories” (Arcade Publishing) by Frederick Barthelme: This sharp, wry collection captures small-town oddities, human longing and ironic twists with Barthelme’s signature minimalist flair. A masterclass in short fiction that’s both grounded and subtly surreal.
“The Boomerang” (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Bailey: Big Pharma is on trial as Eli James, chief of staff to the president, attempts to rescue his daughter from a cancer diagnosis while simultaneously stumbling upon a cover up that could affect millions of lives — and more importantly to the bad guys, billions of dollars. Bailey keeps the thrills high and the emotional stakes higher. He also lives with his family in Huntsville — and has been know to visit Cullman County now and then. Let him know what you think of his latest if you see him around town.
“A Thousand Natural Shocks” (Blackstone Publishing) by Omar Hussain: A reporter fleeing his past while investigating a serial killer becomes entangled in a cult that promises a pill to erase his memory. The story turns to a test of time as dark secrets about the cult and the serial killer surface in an attempt to reconcile everything he’s learned with his past — before his memories evaporate.
“My Friends” (Atria Books) by Fredrik Backman: Backman returns with a moving meditation on friendship, aging, the quiet heroism of everyday people and a famous painting picturing an isolated moment of time of three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier. Tender, funny and unmistakably human, this is Backman’s most eloquent and lyrical story to date about how lives intersect in unknowable and unpredictable ways. An engaging read from the author of “A Man Called Ove.”
“The Language of the Birds” (Ballantine) by K.A. Merson: Arizona is no average teenager and when she finds a cryptic ransom note, she sets out to solve the riddles — and save her mother. Unwittingly, she becomes entangled in a worldwide treasure hunt that involves a centuries-old secret her father took to his grave. A quirky, surprising story soars in an introspective mystery.
“The Eternal Warrior” (Blackstone Publishing) by Ari Marmell: An immortal fighter who defies even death — an Eternal Warrior — is caught in a conflict that spans centuries, grappling with his past sins and the future of humanity in an attempt to reclaim everything that has slipped from his personal history. Marmell delivers epic fantasy with grit, heart and unrelenting pace.
“Nightshade” (Little, Brown and Company) by Michael Connelly: Done with Bosch and Ballard, at least for now, Connelly’s new series starter centers on another one-name detective, Stilwell. Due to department politics, the Los Angeles County sheriff detective has been exiled to a low-level post on Catalina Island, where he promptly begins to ruffle local feathers as he unearths secrets the natives would rather keep to themselves. Hopefully Connelly’s flair for backstory and depth will surface in future offerings, but for now, our first meeting with Stilwell offers a familiar, fun summer read.
“Kaua’i Storm” (Thomas & Mercer) by Tori Eldridge: In the lush Hawaiian landscape, a repatriated national park ranger uncovers a mystery surrounding the disappearance of her two cousins. Unfortunately for her, it’s a mystery and investigation that neither the family, the locals nor the police truly want exposed. Eldridge blends action and cultural depth in a uniquely tropical thriller.
“Rockets’ Red Glare” (Blackstone Publishing) by William Webster and Dick Lochte: A high-octane political thriller unfolds against the backdrop of a potentially explosive Fourth of July. Lochte’s sharp storytelling and fast pacing make for a perfect July 4 holiday page-turner. The book is the first in a series with Tribal Police Deputy Sage Mendiluze. Reacher and Pickett fans will find common ground here.
“Written on the Dark” (Ace) by Guy Gavriel Kay: Kay returns with an evocative, elegant historical fantasy set in a world where poetry, memory and fate collide. Centering on a tavern poet who must cater to both rogues and courtiers, Thierry Villar must also navigate churning political waters in a game of assassins and armies. Richly imagined and beautifully told storytelling.
“A Dead Draw” (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Dugoni: In book 11 of the Tracy Crosswhite series, a pair of cold cases stir ties to the murder of Tracy’s sister in the form of suspect Erik Schmidt. When Schmidt is freed due to an investigative error, the lives of her friends and family are under direct threat. Schmidt is a master of taunt and tease as he draws Tracy deeper into his dark world. Wonderful character building in this story and the sensitive drawing of Lydia, a young woman on the spectrum whose mannerisms echo those of Tracy’s murdered sister, is exceptionally done. One of Dugoni’s best works, the author brings in just enough backstory to both start the series here, and reward long-time readers with vintage Crosswhite.
“The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club” (Ballantine Books) by Martha Hall Kelly: In a story told through dual timelines, Kelly’s narrative is a personal ode to her mother’s heritage. Involving a contemporary mystery, set at Martha’s Vineyard, whose only answers will come from the past, the story taps a wartime romance set in 1942 — and a beach read written for today. Kelly is touring extensively for this book through the end of July. Meet up with her at marthahallkelly.com/events/.
“The Turn” (Blackstone Publishing) by Christopher Ransom: An heirloom, of sorts, following his father’s death sends Casey Sweet into his dad’s past — and a current country club where Casey might just have met the long-lost son he never knew he had. Written in the tradition of “Caddyshack,” Ransom’s new novel is an engaging summer break.
“The Afterlife Project” (Podium Publishing) by Tim Weed: Humanity is facing extinction. A group of scientists with the capability to send a test subject 10,000 years into the future. One of the last women on Earth capable of getting pregnant. All of this portends that the survival of humankind is at stake in a futuristic setting evoking the ills of today.
“It Takes a Psychic” (Berkley) by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle: A psychic investigator — actually, a para-archeologist — with a flair for romance and the paranormal dives into a case filled with danger and sizzling chemistry. Castle delivers her signature mix of mystery charm in a story centering on a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments. “It Takes a Psychic” is No. 18 in Castle’s A Harmony Novel series.
“The Ghostwriter” (Sourcebooks Landmark) by Julie Clark: An author’s past returns to haunt her in the form of a ghostwriting project undertaken for her estranged father. When the project turns out to be just another one of dad’s lies, writer Olivia Dumont is forced to confront her relationship with her father … and a web of family secrets.
“Stop All the Clocks” (Arcade) by Noah Kumin: Kumin’s debut is a meditative, poetic novel about time, grief and the modern-life moments that define us … in ones and zeroes. The death of a colleague and the collapse of her AI company send Mona Veigh’s life in directions not determined by any algorithm.
“Plays Well with Others” (Blackstone Publishing) by Lauren Myracle: A bout of social media betrayal forces Jake Nolan from her job, house and husband and into a receptive bungalow on Sweetwater Lane. There, she befriends those just like herself — people itching to act on entrenched thoughts of retaliation.
“Her First Mistake” (Montlake) by Kendra Elliot: Elliot has written nearly two dozen thrillers set in her home state of Oregon and this latest offering features a minor character from the Columbia River novels: Here, Deschutes County sheriff’s detective Noelle Marshall gets her own origin story. A cold case murder mystery, this is the tale that explains what happened to Marshall to make her the detective she is today, or at least what she becomes in later storylines. A fulfilling storyline delivers much more than backstory in a captivating summer read.
“Jill Is Not Happy” (Scarlet) by Kaira Rouda: In this darkly comic tale, Jill and Jack live an enviable life in South California and, as recent empty-nesters, an unbearable marriage. A road trip “to reconnect” is really a cat-and-mouse game unknown to each other as they unwittingly match their cunning to pull one in … and push the other over, the more-than-metaphorical ledge.
“The Farm House” (Poisoned Pen Press) by Chelsea Conradt: Looking for a fresh start after her mother dies, Emily Hauk and her husband depart for a farm in rural Nebraska. Learning nothing from centuries of thrillers (“The Amityville Horror,” anyone?), they should have asked why the asking price was so low. Unknown to them, everyone who has ever lived on this farm has died. The lure of the soil is compelling, though, as Emily digs into the mystery enveloping her new home.
Reach book reviewer Tom Mayer at tmayer@rn-t.com or tmayer132435@gmail.com.
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After two wilderness guides are gunned down at a remote campsite in a nearby national forest, Tribal Police Deputy Sage Mendiluze is called in to hike the rugged backcountry and investigate. Sussing out the sniper’s perch, he and his Australian shepherd, Peak, just escape becoming two more casualties when an IED is tripped.
Soon, more visitors to national parks across America have been murdered. After his display of stellar investigative and tracking skills, Sage is recruited by Special Agent Maggie Comstock to join the task force tracking the perpetrators.
I fell for Sage right off the bat! I loved his intelligence and his wit. And don’t forget about his dog! She is the best part of the whole story! Add in Maggie and you have an unstoppable duo!
Well, it has been quite a while since I have read a good terrorist novel! I enjoyed how this one played out! It definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat with the pressure of time. Will Sage stop the terrorists in time?? You will have to read this to find out…just be prepared for some heart thumping drama!
Need a fast paced thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel for a honest review.

Intense, fast-paced, and wild, this is my kind of read.
Snipers, hidden explosives, a relentless manhunt through national parks… and then there’s Peak, a dog who totally stole my heart. What can I say? If there’s a dog, I’m a goner.
There’s action from start to finish that’ll keep you hooked.
If you like thrillers with danger, dogs, and nonstop action, this one’s for you.

A great start to a new series! The writing, characterizations and plot were all finely crafted making this one easy to fly through in just a couple of sittings. Sage and his loyal dog, Peak are easy to root for and I look forward to following their journeys going forward. I enjoyed how the tension gradually got more and more pronounced as the plot thickened and the chase for the perpetrators intensified. Although not a cliffhanger, there is a story line that is hinted at at the end that I look forward to exploring more as the series progresses. All-in-all, this is a very entertaining thriller and one that I think is a perfect 'beach read'.

This debut packs a punch! With well written characters , this novel is action packed as a search takes place to discover who has committed murders in the national parks and to stop their next target. I am excited to read the next book in the series. Oh, and the protagonist has a dog!

‼️ Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and William Webster and Dick Lochte for allowing me this opportunity to read Rockets' Red Glare ‼️
I would not say that I hated or disliked this book. I liked the plot of it: national parks being attacked by unknown terrorists and the national agencies search for them. I love Sage's commitment to the reservation; to his dog, Peak; and the overall mission.
Here are my issues though:
🔹 Sage Mendiluze seemed like a "Mary Sue" character (or a character that had no flaws and is overpowered) for most, if not all, of the book. Example: He is an ex-Marine that earned the nickname "Lone Wolf" because he refused to have a spotter with him when he was inserted into missions because he didn't want someone else's blood on his hands (well, besides his target's blood, anyway). Another example: He knows, magically, where the terrorists will be and what their main attack method will be because of his synesthesia (I'm pretty sure that is not how synesthesia works).
🔹 There were racist hints everywhere. Referring to Sage has "half-blood" and other Native Americans on the reservation as "full-blooded." I didn't like that at all, especially when he isn't supposed to be the racist character.
🔹 Information was overloading. Example: When the reader is learning about Sage's military background or when Sage and Maggie go outside "to get fresh air." It just felt like too much information was given all at once.
🔹 Maggie turned into another dumb girl. When she finally is able to confront the terrorists, she ends up tripping over a tree root and the terrorists overpower her because she fell. Couldn't keep her standing or make her gun jam or something but no... she trips, backwards, and falls.
I feel like readers of Jack Ryan and Jack Reacher will be let down because of the lack of action scenes and the unrealistic dialogue between characters.
Overall, I think it was good first try at an action series. I would be interested in reading about Sage's sister, Yellow Bird, and that investigation. I would also want to read more about Peak, because I'm a sucker for a good dog.

Rocket’s Red Glare is apparently the first book in a new series. Sage Mendiluze of the tribal
police (and his dog, Peak) are a couple of very cool new characters on the thriller scene.
They are tasked with helping a task force to track down a couple of people with deadly mischief on their minds.
What followed was a taut thriller that had good action and even better characterization.
Every so often, it was very hard to put down.
I’m very much interested in the second book

This was a strong start to the Sage Madiluze series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. It was everything that I was wanting and enjoyed the idea of this book. The characters were written well and enjoyed the journey. Dick Lochte and William Webster wrote this well and I'm excited to read the next chapter.