Category Archives: Book Reviews

Reviewing The Brighter the Light

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The Brighter the Light by Mary Ellen Taylor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Better all the time!

Mary Ellen Taylor never disappoints, and she really continues to interest readers with detailed quality writing. I’m familiar with her North Carolina settings and can easily fit myself into her stories, including the surfacing shipwreck remains and the clearing out of a family home.

The dual timelines are not usually my choice, but it’s transitioned clearly from 2022 back through family history to 1950, and it’s also helpful to have each chapter labeled with its main character.

You’ll be glad to get into this book and won’t want to put it down until finished.



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Reviewing Don’t Look Now

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Mary Burton gets better with each new book. “Don’t Look Now” is due for release in September 2021, and you want to grab it quick. It’s a suspenseful story of a deranged killer and the detective work to stop him. The details are a bit rough and frightening, so only read it if you can bear the sex, drugs and squeamish parts.

The talented homicide detective does not want to turn lose of a case that she’s determined to solve. The Texas ranger does not want to take the case away from her either. How can a detective work after she’s blinded by an injury? How can she stop working when this killer needs to be found. All of their talents are needed to save the lives of the detective and her sister while putting down the deranged sadistic criminal.

We knew who the killer was, maybe, but did we really guess it?

Reviewing A Dark and Secret Place

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Chilling and frightening, this was a compelling read.

Set in the lonely countryside outside London, a sad daughter must uncover secrets and more troubles as she deals with her mother’s unexplained suicide.

It’s a well-crafted and complex story not for the easily spooked reader.

Reviewing Burn You Twice

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Burn You Twice by Mary Burton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Best Ever!

This is my favorite of Mary Burton’s great books! The suspense is exciting, and I couldn’t put it down.

It’s a true thriller with some troubled characters, some really frightening fires and resulting tragedies, and the bit of romance keeps the reader hoping for some soft touches. The Montana setting also adds to the interest with detailed descriptions of such powerful visuals.

We might hope to see these characters again in another episode, as a few questions remain.



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Reviewing Never Look Back

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Never Look Back by Mary Burton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Better than ever!

Mary Burton has really done it this time with a book I could not wait to finish. A real page-turner!

Set in the wonderful Tennessee town of Nashville, the story features The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Agent Melina Shepard. She is a great character with a disturbing past. The FBI agent Jerrod Ramsey who shows up is also likeable, and while they might question working together we know exactly how they can succeed. Not one, but two seial killers must be found and stopped. Melina is in the forefront of both killers’ views as paths crisscross.

It’s a complex and well-developed plot, not as likely in the Romance genre as it is a thriller/crime story.

Read the first two in this Criminal Profiler series, or just jump right in to this one and enjoy. Don’t miss any of Mary Burton’s books. They are always good reads.



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Reviewing The Hangman

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The Hangman (The Forgotten Files #3)The Hangman by Mary Burton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mary Burton never disappoints. She’s getting better all the time. The Hangman is a compelling page-turner with dark and complex danger plus a touch of romance. Although I thought I could solve the mystery of identifying the hangman, it still kept me guessing until the surprise ending. Don’t miss this one!

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