Natural Causes by Nikki Stern Blog Tour Book Review

 

NATURAL CAUSES

by Nikki Stern

July 20 - 31, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

A SAM TATE MYSTERY

 

An intelligent suspense thriller and gritty crime procedural featuring a complex female detective.

Three years after quitting her job as a homicide cop, Sam moves to Denver as a named partner with a boutique private investigation firm. She's finished with the violence and trauma that have marked both her personal and professional lives. But when a zealous eco-terrorist begins a killing spree with plans to escalate, she finds herself once again hunting a serial killer whose past too closely resembles Sam's own.

Praise for Natural Causes:

"A memorable mystery that sizzles with action, twists of plot, and a host of possibilities and characters"
~ D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Literary Review

NATURAL CAUSES Trailer:

My Review:

Sam Tate is in a new setting, working in private investigations. This takes a good deal of adjustment on her part. But her investigative insights are still with her. The first death might be an accident but there is that pin prick at the back of the neck. Then there are more deaths. When the police are stymied, family members of the murdered people hire Sam's agency to figure out what is happening. Her reputation is that good.

A side issue that figures in to the murder plot is the possibility of creating earthquakes. A rogue scientist has the ability to create localizes ones, an interesting concept within this novel dealing with the murder of people violating ecological protection rules. Tate is on the case of what is turning out to be a serial murderer. This is an entertaining novel right up to the suspenseful end.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my reviews of the earlier books in the series: The Wedding Crasher, Bird in Hand, and Freeze Before Burning. 

Book Details:

Genre: Police Procedure, Suspense Thriller, Crime Mystery
Published by: Ruthenia Press
Publication Date: June 23, 2026
Number of Pages: 280
ISBN: 979-8996092208
Series:The Sam Tate Mystery Series, Book 5
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Read an excerpt:

“Gorgeous, absolutely drop-dead gorgeous.”

Todd Fischer stood near the edge of a snowy precipice and slapped his chest like a primate surveying his kingdom. He pulled in a lungful of air, his new Filson hiking vest tight against his broad chest. He was winded, more than he cared to admit, and cold. Even at the end of April, the temperatures on this trail lingered in the low thirties. A late-season snowfall added to the discomfort, not to mention the threatening gusts of frigid air.

“You know,” he continued, turning to his companion, “people would pay plenty to live here.”

“I don’t think you can just put up housing in a national park,” she replied.

“Anything can be bought and tamed, Elena. Even the Rockies.”

“I believe you, Todd. Now, please come down off that ledge? Remember the warnings we received about the missing railings and the danger of microbursts? I do not want my husband to be blown away like a character in The Wizard of Oz.”

Fischer laughed. “I’m not about to be knocked over by a blast of air. I think you should worry more about the kids. Go see what’s happened to them.”

As soon as she’d moved out of sight, he bent over, suddenly dizzy. Crap, getting old was not for sissies. He needed more exercise, more hydration, more time, more of everything.

Elena turned back to the trail, shaking her head. The “kids” were young adults and, as far as she was concerned, pampered twenty-somethings. She was the “wicked” stepmother, just ten years older than the eldest, perpetually a graduate student. Whereas younger brother Paulie treated school as one long excuse to party.

Now she heard them, bickering, as usual.

“Could you stop complaining?” Rowan was saying.

“Not a chance,” Paulie griped. “We are tramping in the mountains, just past dawn, in the cold and the wind. In late April. I left a warm bed and a warm body so I could freeze my backside off with distant dad and wife number three.”

“Maybe the warm body should have helped you dress for a hike in the Rockies.”

“You’re just jealous.”

Rowan appeared first, dressed perfectly for a mountain trek. Paulie, on the other hand, looked like he’d come from a night of clubbing, right down to his overpriced sneakers and his curated day-old beard.

“There you are,” Elena said, forcing a smile. “We were on the ledge for a better view.”

“The one with the ‘danger’ sign?” Paulie asked. “Oh, right. Dad likes to go where he’s not supposed to. I guess you could call it his specialty.”

Elena reminded herself that she could handle two brats for one morning. Before long, she would get herself pregnant and make them both irrelevant.

“Take a look,” she suggested. “It’s quite lovely.”

But they were back to fighting, ripping into each other like territorial animals. Until an unexpected gust of wind interrupted their discourse, strong enough to send a few rocks scuttling down into the valley.

“What was that?” Paulie asked.

“Nature, dummy,” Rowan retorted.

“Wait, where is your father?” Elena demanded.

Paulie cupped his hands and yelled, “Attention, Todd Fischer. We’re officially concerned. Show yourself.”

Rowan climbed to the ledge and swallowed hard. “Maybe he found another way to head down,” she said.

“No,” Elena declared. “Something happened.”

***

Excerpt from Natural Causes by Nikki Stern. Copyright 2026 by Nikki Stern. Reproduced with permission from Nikki Stern. All rights reserved.

 

Author Bio:

Nikki Stern is the author of eight books, including five in the award-winning Sam Tate Mystery Series. She was a co-author of several musical murder mystery plays in the popular Café Noir collection. She’s also written a number of short stories and essays, some of which can be found here. A former families’ advocate following the death of her husband on 9/11, Nikki now serves on the leadership council for Search for Common Ground, a global conflict transformation organization. She lives in Princeton, New Jersey.

Catch Up With Nikki Stern:

NikkiStern.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @NikkiStern
Instagram - @realnikkistern
Threads - @realnikkistern
Facebook - Nikki Stern, Author
YouTube - @NikkiStern

 

Tour Participants:

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No Mystery Here… Enter to Win

This giveaway is hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Nikki Stern. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

NATURAL CAUSES by Nikki Stern || Gift Card

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I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

How Western Christianity Got it Wrong by Randy Woodley

About the Book:

Jesus never intended to start a religion that would justify stealing land, enslaving people, or destroying creation. So how did we get here?

In How Western Christianity Got It Wrong, acclaimed author Randy Woodley, of mixed white and Native American heritage, traces how a brown man from Nazareth who never lost his connection to the whole community of creation became the poster child for empire-building and environmental destruction. The faith that bears his name crafted theologies that rationalize greed, violence, and colonization--everything Jesus actually opposed.

Woodley exposes the ideas that poisoned Christianity's well, how the Western church won a monopoly on sin and salvation, and how violent atonement theories replaced the healing message Jesus lived. Drawing on Indigenous wisdom that was flourishing on Turtle Island long before missionaries arrived, Woodley reveals what Jesus's liberating message looks like when freed from imperial frameworks.

Picture communities where creation is family, not commodity. Where healing happens through relationship, not transaction. Where Creator speaks through many voices and welcomes all who walk in love. This is the Jesus Way as it was meant to be--not a system of control but a path of wholeness.

My Review:

This is a thought provoking book. While Woodley is a prolific author, this is the first book I have read by him. He starts out right on point, “The values adopted by Western Christianity are, foundationally, the opposite of the teachings of Jesus.” (loc 89/2632) That is a strong claim but I feel he proves his point. He goes through history and shows the role of Plato's dualism, then follows through the history of western Christianity. His background is indigenous and he shares spiritual insight from the indigenous understanding of reality.

He calls us to focus on what Jesus actually taught. “The real good news of Jesus … is not found in theological debates … Rather, it lives in his radical example of love...” (loc 1881/2632) Some of what Woodley says is uncomfortable for me. But perhaps that is the aim. His work is certainly worth reading and thinking about.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley is known as a public intellectual, author, scriptwriter, activist, farmer, speaker, and wisdom keeper. He is a recognized leader in the fields of Indigenous and Intercultural Studies, Ecology, Spirituality, Race, Theology, and Mission. Through his teaching, writings, and leadership, he invites Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to decolonize and Indigenize their worldview and practices so they can learn to walk on this earth in a good way. Randy is of Cherokee descent and is recognized by the Keetoowah Band. He is an award-winning author who has penned numerous books, chapters, and articles in his long writing career, including a book co-authored with his spouse, Edith. Randy also writes award-winning feature film scripts. His writings are known for their connection to The Harmony Way as original Indigenous teachings and how they might apply common values today to build a better world. You can find out more at https://www.randywoodley.com/.

Broadleaf Books, 252 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

The Midas Touch by Gary Grossman, Oren Aviv & Charles Segars

 

THE MIDAS TOUCH

by Gary Grossman, Oren Aviv, & Charles Segars

June 29 - July 24, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

National Treasure meets Jack Ryan in THE MIDAS TOUCH

July 19, 1799. Napoleon’s armies advance into Egypt. In the steaming desert sands, his explorers unearth an astounding discovery: The Rosetta Stone. The tablet, cracked and incomplete, will eventually answer mysteries about ancient Egyptian history, culture, and science. But in the years since its partial excavation, world leaders, historians, scientists, and adventurers have speculated that the missing fragments could answer another age-old mystery.

THE MIDAS TOUCH is a globe-trotting adventure that follows CIA cryptologist/puzzle solver/savant Brady Donovan as he investigates the murder of his beloved mentor Dr. Hastings Kaufman, only to find that it leads to a search for the missing pieces of the famed Rosetta Stone and the secret it holds: The Alchemist Gold Theory – how to turn ordinary metals into gold.

Protagonist Brady Donovan partners with British archeologist Teppy Flynn and conspiracy theorist Avery Prophet. Only a heartbeat away is a diabolical Silicon Valley tech giant, D’Arcy Lauren Granier, and her henchmen.

The quest takes them through Napoleonic history and into a contemporary race through the streets of London, America’s backroads, the Caribbean, New Orleans’ French Quarter, Napoleon’s last island prison in the Atlantic, the Louisiana Bayou, and a massive, abandoned salt mine where pirate Jean Lafitte hid his treasures.

History, told in vivid flashbacks, jumps back to 1799 Egypt, and forward through the hundreds of years since, with pirates and presidents on the search for better or worse. Now Brady Donovan fights against the fast- ticking clock, relentless bad guys, and a Category 5 hurricane to where past meets present and greed and betrayal become deadly partners.

THE MIDAS TOUCH is written by international award-winning thriller writer Gary Grossman with Charles Segars and Oren Aviv, the creators of the billion-dollar National Treasure movie franchise.

Praise for THE MIDAS TOUCH:

"A perfect piece of entertainment with characters and a story that never disappoints. Poignant in places, nail-biting in others, the plot is accentuated by a take-no-prisoners attitude, similar to speeding down a slalom course with all its twists and turns. It's quite a ride!"
~ Steve Berry New York Times best-selling author

"The Midas Touch is a thrilling ride through history and modern-day, tantalizing the reader with intrigue, action, and adventure across a labyrinth of archaeological secrets and danger."
~ Raymond Benson, New York Times best-selling James Bond novelist

"Fans of The DaVinci Code will love The Midas Touch. Grossman, Segars, and Aviv have created an iconic character in Brady Donovan, a CIA cryptologist who trades in his pen for tradecraft to protect the world from a devastating economic weapon. Gripping prose, unforgettable settings, and non-stop excitement. A real page turner!"
~ K.J. Howe, international bestselling author of Skyjack writes

THE MIDAS TOUCH Trailer:

My Review:

 This book has more adventures than one would think possible in a novel. The hero has a mind boggling ability to see connections and figure out puzzles. A quest for hidden knowledge leads him into a great deal of danger.

In addition to repeated dangerous situations, the authors have sprinkled this book with interesting information. Readers will learn the history surrounding the Rosetta Stone and Napoleon's interest in it. There is scientific and mathematical information, like about the golden ratio. There is psychological information, such as how the human brain works. There is even some information on the origin of familiar sayings.

This is a novel for readers who have a broad range of interest in learning. It is also a good novel for readers who like speculating about knowledge from the past, such as the possibility of alchemy. There is action that is practically nonstop, engaging characters and tons of interesting information. Get ready for quite the adventure when you read this book.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Book Details:

Genre: Suspense, Mystery, History Fiction, Globe-Hopping Intrigue
Published by: Fayetteville Mafia Press
Publication Date: June 2, 2026
Number of Pages: 334
ISBN: 9781949024999 (ISBN10: 1949024997)
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | BookBub

Gary Grossman:

THE MIDAS TOUCH is written by international award-winning thriller writer Gary Grossman (OLD EARTH, the EXECUTIVE ACTIONS and RED HOTEL series) with Charles Segars and Oren Aviv, the creators and executive producers of the exciting and popular Nicholas Cage NATIONAL TREASURE movie franchise.

Catch Up With Gary Grossman:

garygrossmanbooks.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub
Instagram - @garygrossman1
X - @garygrossman1
Facebook - @AuthorGaryGrossman

 

Charles Segars:

CHARLES SEGARS has served as a senior executive at Viacom, CBS, The Walt Disney Company, DreamWorks Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation. Segars is also known as Creator and Executive Producer of the Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures hit movie franchise, National Treasure and National Treasure: Book of Secrets.
Currently, Segars enjoys a dual role as CEO of Ovation TV, the only multi-platform program service dedicated to the Arts and as President of Segars Media.
Segars is a respected global safety and security analyst. He advises a number of national security-related technology startups and is actively involved in governmental affairs.He has served as a White House Associate as an Advance Team leader for the Office of the President and Vice President of the United States of America, leading a number of secretive domestic and international trips.

 

Oren Aviv:

OREN AVIV ran Disney Studios from 2006-2010, after heading Disney Marketing for eight years. He became Disney’s first Chief Content Officer, and after leaving Disney he became CMO for 20th Century Fox Studios. In addition to executive producing a dozen films, he also co-created and was Executive Producer of Disney’s National Treasure film franchise.
Aviv was named “Marketer of the Year” three separate times by Advertising Age Magazine. He created breakthrough campaigns for the studio’s NARNIA, STEP UP, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the National Treasure franchises, and launched memorable campaigns for many of Pixar’s animated hits, including Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., The Incredibles and Cars. He also launched blockbusters such as The Sixth Sense; Pearl Harbor; Ransom; The Rock; Signs; The Waterboy; Armageddon; Unbreakable; 101 Dalmatians; Con Air; Crimson Tide; Freaky Friday; and Father of the Bride, as well as hundreds of other films under the Disney, Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures banners. As CMO at 20th Century Fox, Aviv created the campaigns for Rise of the Planet of the Apes; X-Men: First Class; Ridley Scott’s Prometheus; The Wolverine starring Hugh Jackman; and Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning Life of Pi.
As head of production at Disney, Aviv was responsible for greenlighting such hits as THE PROPOSAL starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds; Tim Burton’s billion-dollar-grossing Alice in Wonderland; Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End; National Treasure: Book of Secrets; and the Amy Adams musical-comedy Enchanted.

 

Tour Participants:

Click through the other tour stops for can’t-miss reviews, insider interviews, exclusive guest posts, and more chances to win!

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History, Suspense, & Gift Cards – Enter To Win

This giveaway is hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Gary Grossman, Oren Aviv, & Charles Segars. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

THE MIDAS TOUCH by Gary Grossman, Oren Aviv, & Charles Segars

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Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

Have You Seen Him by Kimberly Lee Blog Tour Book Review

 

HAVE YOU SEEN HIM

by Kimberly Lee

July 6 - 31, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

What if everything you believed about yourself was totally wrong?

For David Byrdsong, life is a series of daily obligations. An attorney, he lacks both ambition and the ability to commit to a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Gayle. Abandoned by his family at an airport when he was eleven, he learned to blunt his feelings, despite his subsequent adoption by a loving couple.

Until one day, when David discovers his own face in a missing child ad. Suddenly driven to uncover the truth about his past, he is forced to tap into his inner strength as he encounters corporate conspiracies, murdered bystanders, and distressing suspicions about the only family he’s ever really trusted. David enlists Gayle's help—and the help of an unlikely stranger with secrets of his own—as he attempts to find his true family, whoever they are.

Have You Seen Him is a story of lost identity, dangerous secrets, and a deeply personal pursuit of the truth.

Praise for Have You Seen Him:

Next Gen Indie Gold Award winner and IBPA Silver Award winner, Have You Seen Him has earned praise from readers and reviewers alike.

"Lee debuts with a dazzling maze of courtrooms, kidnappers, and unsolved mysteries in this substantive thriller, boasting a rich ensemble cast.…Have You Seen Him is consistently sincere, never losing sight of its spirit, and always ensuring readers are both challenged and charmed right up to the final page."
~ BookLife

"…a slow-burning, emotional thriller that explores identity, trust, and the ripple effects of secrets long buried….This is a debut worth reading!"
~ Natasha Reed

"I loved the numerous reveals, and some made me gasp out loud! I won’t give any spoilers, so I won’t ruin it for you. If you love to be kept guessing until the end…give this book a try."
~ Julie Kodama

"…delivers enough action to trigger a fight-or-flight response. The sparse touch heightens suspicion, palpable dread, and tension, fueling the overall pace….[E]veryone will stay engaged."
~ C. Elyse, A Sip, A Shout Out, and a Sentence

"Cleverly written and thoughtfully crafted, Lee’s debut is action-packed and entertaining with enough emotion and depth to hook you. Gayle was my favorite character—she kicks ass."
~ Mystery Manon, The Cluesletter

"…an impressively engaging, cleverly scripted, and simply riveting read from start to finish. Especially recommended for fans of unique suspense thrillers…."
~ Midwest Review

"The plot contains action, mystery, murder, secrets, and lies. There’s potential here for a sequel, and I’ll be one of the first in line to read it."
~ Stephen Christopher, Readers’ Favorite

"The action and the mystery kept me reading. I had to know why he was missing."
~ Briana Fitzpatrick

"This book was one that definitely pulled me in as twists and turns unravelled. Overall it was a twisty search for truth, tangled in corporate secrets, buried trauma, and family drama."
~ A.D.

"I really enjoyed the author’s style of writing, the chapters were short and to the point and even though the storyline was intricate and multi-dimensional, it all came together."
~ Jameelah Deleon​​​​​​​

​

HAVE YOU SEEN HIM Trailer:

My Review:

This entertaining novel has a unique plot. You think you know who you are until you see your own image on a missing child poster. Unraveling the mystery behind it all becomes a very dangerous adventure for David. Someone wants to keep secrets hidden and is willing to kill to do so.

The novel started off a little disjointed. The narrative introduces many characters without our knowing how they are related. The focus changes frequently from character to character without establishing background material so it took me a while to understand how each character was involved. Lee's writing style includes lots of prose, character thinking and description. I had trouble liking the hero, David. He jumped to conclusions before he even heard all someone was telling him. It was good he had support people as they often had to rescue him from situations he got himself into. And the end just happened and did not tie up all the issues.

I think this is a good debut novel. Lee has a good imagination. The issues with the number of characters and the disjointed narrative did detract from my enjoyment of this novel but I liked it overall and will be watching for her next one.

My rating: 4/5 stars. 

Book Details:

Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery
Published by: Butterfly Effect Press
Publication Date: July 1, 2025
Number of Pages: 270
ISBN: 9798991867214
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Powells

Read an excerpt from HAVE YOU SEEN HIM:

 

Author Bio:

Kimberly Lee, JD, is a versatile writer, workshop facilitator, and editor with a passion for nurturing the imaginative spirit and helping others reveal their creative gifts. Kimberly holds degrees from Stanford University and UC Davis School of Law, along with certifications from Amherst Writers & Artists, SoulCollage®, Guided Autobiography, and the Center for Journal Therapy. Recent collaborations include Esalen Institute, Omega Institute, Hollyhock Retreat Center, and The Huntington. Kimberly’s stories and essays have appeared in numerous publications and anthologies, and she has served on the staffs of Literary Mama, F(r)iction, and Carve magazines. She lives in Southern California with her husband and three children.

Catch Up Kimberly Lee:

KimberlyLee.me
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @kimberlyylee
Instagram - @klcreatrix

 

Tour Participants:

Click through the other tour stops for can’t-miss reviews, insider interviews, exclusive guest posts, and more chances to win!

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Have You Seen Him… And This Giveaway?

This giveaway is hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Kimberly Lee. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

HAVE YOU SEEN HIM by Kimberly Lee | Gift Cards

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Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent review..

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

Mabel and the Privy of Doom by Susan Kimmel Wright Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: Mabel and the Privy of Doom

Author: Susan Kimmel Wright

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Release Date: March 5, 2026

Mabel plans to bring the joys of volunteering to the masses…if she doesn’t fall victim to an ancient curse first.

Mabel has previously encountered dead bodies while volunteering—but she never imagined she’d run afoul of a legendary curse. Until now…

A university archeology team has come to excavate an old privy on the grounds of the Thompson estate, home of Medicine Spring’s first white settler. They hope to retrieve items of historic interest, but rumors of lost treasure and dark curses swirl around the project.

Mabel has joined the dig as a volunteer, despite her reluctance to touch anything collected from the ancient outhouse pit. It doesn’t take long however, before she realizes a few dirt-encrusted artifacts are the least of her worries.

She doesn’t believe in curses, but accidents and misfortune plague team members—including Mabel herself. She begins to wonder if there might be some truth in the old stories. When a body turns up on the site, it appears the curse has transformed from local legend to deadly reality. Will Mabel be its next victim?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Who knew exploring old outhouses was an archaeological thing? While it sounds kind of gross, usually the outhouses are so old the contents are no longer toxic and may contain items dropped in and never recovered. We readers do learn a bit about archaeology and how it is organized, such as with volunteer workers.

This is a novel for older readers as many of the experiences relate to senior citizens. Mabel is a good amateur sleuth and the support characters are fun, some quite quirky. Mabel has a feisty cat and a rambunctious dog adding to the adventure. There is a welcome surprise at the end too. I recommend this fun cozy mystery.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my reviews of some of the earlier books in the series: Mabel Goes to the Dogs, Mabel and the Little Green Men, and Mabel and the Unholy Night. 

About the Author

Susan Kimmel Wright began her life of mystery in childhood, with reading. That led her to writing kids’ mysteries and eventually to Medicine Spring with Mabel. A longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, Susan’s also a prolific writer of personal experience stories, many for Chicken Soup for the Soul. She shares an 1875 farmhouse in southwestern PA with her husband, several dogs and cats, and an allegedly excessive stockpile of coffee and tea mugs.

  

More from Susan

I suspect it takes a somewhat warped sense of humor to write a book called Mabel and the Privy of Doom. In fact, I’m afraid this entire series may someday be Exhibit A when my kids decide I need a guardian—but meanwhile I’m having fun!

Mabel and the Privy of Doom was a joy to write, combining my love of mysteries, screwball humor, American history, lost treasure, and ancient curses. It all started when I first learned about historic outhouses or privies.

I discovered the Homewood privy (c. 1801) in Baltimore on a walkabout near Johns Hopkins University. Part of the Declaration of Independence signer John Carroll of Carrollton estate, this handsome brick building has been well maintained over the centuries and has its own historic plaque! (No, not “John Carroll Sat Here!”) Yet another high-profile privy excavation has been performed in patriot Paul Revere’s back yard in Massachusetts in recent years.

Archeologists often learn a great deal from excavating old outhouses, just from examining objects thrown away or accidentally dropped in the privy pit. Even privy pits on humble farmsteads or in modest back yards reveal a lot about family circumstances and daily life. Artifacts such as old bottles, coins, and broken pottery commonly surface.

Growing up, I was fortunate(?) enough have an outhouse on our rural, western Pennsylvania family property. My father, a carpenter and cabinetmaker, built our house himself after returning from World War II. Because the work took a long time, he also built an outhouse for use during the construction period, before plumbing was connected.

My father (perhaps I got my wacky sense of humor from him) added a “Sanitary Inspected Restroom” sign on the door. It now graces the wall of our powder room.

The outhouse survived for most of my childhood. Because our water supply came from a spring that occasionally went dry during a summer drought, we were occasionally forced to resort to the old privy. Luckily, these occasions were rare and typically brief, but I’ll admit I prayed fervently for rain.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L, July 10

Texas Book-aholic, July 11

Simple Harvest Reads, July 12 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 13

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 14

The Avid Reader, July 15

Artistic Nobody, July 16 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 17

Guild Master, July 18 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, July 18

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, July 19

Holly’s Book Corner, July 20

Fiction Book Lover, July 21 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Ledger, July 22 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, July 22

Lily’s Corner, July 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a signed copy of the book of the winner’s choice from my series, Mysteries of Medicine Spring!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/vkE9E/mabel-and-the-privy-of-doom-celebration-tour-giveaway

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

Attempted Mountain Murder by Jaime Jo Wright Book Review

About the Book:

When a sniper shoots at Lainey Jo Beckett through her apartment window, she knows her cover in WITSEC has been blown. Injured and desperate to escape, she jumps into the first car she sees, which just happens to have former navy SEAL Bowen Mays behind the wheel. He may no longer be on active duty, but when they discover her WITSEC handler dead, Bowen takes Lainey Jo’s protection into his own hands. As they escape deep into the Bighorn Mountains, with not one but two shooters on their tail, can Bowen overcome his past failure and keep Lainey Jo alive?

My Review:

It always interests me when an author writes in a genre different from their usual style. I have read all of Wright's spooky novels but this is the first of her inspirational romantic suspense I have read. It's good. It is typical of the genre, relatively short, with lots of plot movement and not deep character development. Much of the narrative included character thought. For Lainey Jo (yes, named after a member of Wright's extended family), much of her thinking was whether she was making the best decisions. She was a heroine hard for me to like as she made many unwise decisions. I expected more maturity from her. For Bowen, suffering PTSD, he struggled with guilt for a past mission failure. There is a hint of romance but nothing of much impact until the very end. An important issue explored in this novel is family loyalty. The inspirational aspect is light.

The writing is fine but not as polished as I've come to expect in her spooky dual time novels. It is a fun read, quick and entertaining.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Jaime Jo Wright, multi award-winning author--including the Christy and Daphne du Maurier awards--is a coffee-fueled and cat-fancier extraordinaire. She has entwined her life with the legendary Captain Hook, residing serenely in Wisconsin's rural woodlands. Her literary vocation involves penning chilling Gothic tales, a baffling change from that of Austenites, with a strong preference to the master of dark, Edgar Allan Poe. Two mischievous urchins adorn their family, who keep their mother on her toes - providing an exhilarating amount chaos.

Visit her at: http://www.jaimewrightbooks.com and listen to her podcast MadLit Musings on your favorite podcast player or at http://www.madlitmusings.com

Love Inspired Suspense, 208 pages.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

The Broken Weathervane by Laura DeNooyer Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: The Broken Weathervane

Author: Laura DeNooyer

Genre: Women’s fiction, dual timeline fiction, literary fiction, book club fiction

Release Date: September 2, 2025

Two co-workers seek the same information. One wants to publish it; the other has good reasons to keep it hidden.

As Leslie Wickersham, Raymond University grants officer, seeks information to unravel a family mystery, English professor Gregory Stafford seeks an elusive interview with one more Buckwalter relative for his upcoming author biography. While Greg and Leslie guard coveted details from each other, her goals are further complicated by letters of blackmail threatening to reveal all she has worked hard to hide.

In this dual timeline novel alternating between 2015 and the 1950s, loyalty is tested and secrets abound when family honor collides with truth. Leslie grapples with the trade-off: how far will a person go to help a loved one thrive?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This is an emotional novel with sensitive content. The exploration of mental illness is done well but is heart breaking, especially the early treatments of schizophrenia and manic depression in the 1950s and the possibility of the treatment not working well at all. Those issues may be triggering for potential readers.

DeNooyer writes well, with good descriptions and good character development. I like how she explores the nature of academic writers and the early use of social media. It could be used to help promote authors but it could also be weaponized. Some good dialogue and banter between word smiths is included and is enjoyable. I like how the broken weathervane is related to a broken human with the feeling that one can no longer do what he was meant to do. A great deal of forgiveness and reconciliation is required to set things right before the end. That aspect of the novel seemed a bit too easy for me.

This is an entertaining novel exploring a difficult subject. I liked how it was presented in the context of authors and family relationships with a dual time narrative. This is the first novel I have read by DeNooyer. I enjoyed it so will look for more from her.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Author

Laura DeNooyer thrives on creativity and encouraging it in others. A Calvin College graduate, she is a teacher, wife, parent of four adult children, and an award-winning author of heart-warming historical and contemporary fiction. Her novels are perfect for fans of Patti Callahan Henry, Erin Bartels, or Amanda Cox. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking, drinking tea with friends, or taking a road trip.

 

More from Laura

The Shame of Silence

In the 1950s, nobody talked openly about mental illness. We think it’s stigmatized today; it was worse then.

When a family member is physically ill or in an accident, folks will line up outside your door to bring comfort or casseroles. It’s an easily shared prayer request. But when a family member has an episode related to mental illness, it’s shrouded in secrecy and shame. Thus, the people most needing prayers and support don’t get them.

That’s the experience of Fritz, Eddie, and Klara Buckwalter in the 1950s timeline of The Broken Weathervane.

Leave It to Beaver

Television in the 1950s became a household word with its daily entertainment. Sitcoms included Danny Thomas’s Make Room for Daddy, I Love Lucy, Our Miss Brooks, and Father Knows Best. Variety shows like The Ed Sullivan Show along with comedy shows featuring George Burns, Jack Benny, and Red Skelton had viewers laughing in living rooms across America.

But those shows illuminated the lighter side of life. Today, we fondly embrace the innocence and nostalgia of Leave It to Beaver. But that’s far-fetched from everyday realities. Especially for those plagued by mental illness.

Old Dog, New Tricks

In the 2015 timeline, two co-workers are at cross purposes—both seeking the same information for different reasons.

When my protagonist Leslie Wickersham is hired as the grants officer at Raymond University, she doesn’t count on having to teach an old dog new tricks. By dog, I mean the brassy, pretentious English professor, Dr. Gregory Stafford—who isn’t all that old, but is behind the times.

The dean expects Leslie to drag Greg into the 21st century via social media, something Greg has relegated to the annals of Hogwash and Absurdity.

Their proximity becomes her chance to pick his brain for nuggets from his upcoming biography of local author Linus Fritz Buckwalter.

But she can’t let him know that Fritz is her great-uncle. Or that the one last interview Greg is holding out for—Klara Buckwalter—is Leslie’s grandmother.

Due to Klara’s silence, Leslie hopes Greg holds the key to knowledge about the family rift.

Answers start appearing when Klara gives Leslie her 1950s diary. The answers are shocking—but also contradict Greg’s research.

If you appreciate stories with:

• small town family secrets
• family drama
• dual timelines (2015 and 1950s)
• moral dilemmas
• family loyalty vs. honesty
• an honest, tender treatment of mental illness

. . . then this story will touch your heart.

My hope is that book club discussions will help increase understanding, transparency, and empathy for those who suffer. Open dialogue about mental illness is that important first step toward reducing the stigma associated with it. The Broken Weathervane is the perfect catalyst for that.

Blogs Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, July 7 (Author Interview)

She Lives To Read, July 8

Artistic Nobody, July 9 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, July 10 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 10

Fiction Book Lover, July 11 (Author Interview)

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 12

The Bookish Ledger, July 13 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 14 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 14

Books Less Travelled, July 15 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, July 16

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, July 17 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, July 18

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, July 19 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, July 20 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

 

To celebrate her tour, Janis is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/0jxOq/the-broken-weathervane-celebration-tour-giveaway

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

Rockets Red Glare by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann

About the Book:

Nat Phillips leads an elite roster of special operators. They are ex-Special Forces, communications specialists, and intelligence officers. Phillips is a brilliant strategist and battle-tested leader who inspires total loyalty in his team. Now these decorated veterans of international warfare are at home and on stand-by—until a presidential campaign is interrupted by murder. 

Suddenly, the plan is no longer the stuff of Mission: Impossible. Emergency operations happening not overseas but in the centers of American power, from Nantucket to Washington, DC. This national crisis is real.

My Review:

This is one action packed novel. The pace is steady and continually moves along. The authors have provided readers with a great hero although he was not fully developed. There are many other characters included and hard to keep straight. The plot is over the top and unbelievable at times. And I really did not like the foul language. The story is not finished and the end certainly anticipates a sequel.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

Little, Brown and Company, 377 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)