DEAD JACK and the Soul CatcherBy James AquiloneHomunculus House217 pages Occasionally publishers will solicit a review of a book by sending out pre-press galleys. Then if the reviewer does deliver a positive report, they will lift a phrase from that and slap on the cover of the actual book. Which
VIC CHALLENGER – A SAVAGE PLACEBy Jerry GillAnn Darrow Co.216 pgs Writer Jerry Gill’s savage reincarnated adventuress, Victoria Custer (nickname Vic Challenger) is back in this, her ninth adventure. It’s a non-stop, high-octane story that never lets up for a second. In this outing, Vic hears about a so-called man-eating
STRAIGHT OUT OF DODGE CITYEdited by David BoopBaen Books250 pages Here we have the third in Baen Books’ weird western Straight Outta series edited by David Boop. It’s a nifty collection of fourteen stories by both veteran writers and a few newbies. As always, we judge an anthology via a
THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO PULP FICTIONVol 2By Jonathan W. SweetBrick Pickle Pulp181 pgs A few months ago, we had the fun of reading and reviewing the first volume in this new pulp reference series by Jonathan Sweet. That book shined a light on the classic heroes and villains of the
MASQUERADE FOR MURDERA Mike Hammer MysteryBy Mickey Spillane & Max Allan CollinsTitan Books220 pgs Honestly, having writer Max Allan Collins turn in another Mike Hammer novel in this Legacy series is like our enjoying the gift that never stops giving. With this entry, we find Hammer starting to feel his
GHOST OF EMPIREBy George MannTitan Books272 pages George Mann is a New Pulp writer currently producing three terrific series; the Newbury & Hobbs books, new Sherlock Holmes fantasies and his steampunk vigilante adventures of the Ghost of which this is the fourth. It is also the best. Within its pages
MURDER STAGE LEFTA Nero Wolfe MysteryBy Robert GoldsboroughMysteriousPress.Com232 pgs Most mystery series, after a few books have been published, often fall into a formulaic pattern. Now that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it actually creates a familiarity the readers quickly learn to accept and become comfortable with. It’s very
GIRL CAN’T HELP ITA Krista Larson MysteryBy Max Allan CollinsThomas & Mercer275 pgs There really should be a subgenre name for murder mysteries involving rock and roll bands. Seriously, quite a few such books have been done over the years. Enough to warrant such a label. None of which should
CRYPTOZOICABy Mark EllisCover & Interior Illustrations by Jeff SlemonsMillennial Concepts404 pgs Mark Ellis is an accomplished writer with a long, impressive history of writing fantastic fiction. When we first heard of this book, a decade ago, we were intrigued. Having grown up reading lots of Lost World adventures from Conan
THE ELDRITCH NEW ADVENTURES OF BECKY SHARPNew Expanded EditionBy Micah S. HarrisMinor Proft Press181 pgs What follows is our review of the first edition released in 2008. All we’d add to it is the expanded edition has more wonderful artwork and a cleaner overall design. Still a great book. One
THE DECENT INN OF DEATHA John Madden MysteryBy Rennie AirthPenguin Books353 pgs In a small village town, church organist Greta Hartman is found dead face down in a creek after having supposedly fallen off a slippery bridge. The problem is her best friend, Very Cruickshank doesn’t believe the fall was
VERSES FOR THE DEADA Pendergast NovelBy Preston & ChildGrand Central Publishing365 pgs The Pendergast thrillers have remained our favorite ongoing pulp series ever since one of dear friends sent us a copy of “The Cabinet of Curiosities” ages ago. Upon reading it, we were instantly mesmerized by the character of
