As I write this in mid-November, there is a chill in the air, and the anticipation for the arrival of the holiday season again. Where did 2022 go? I am currently fighting my first cold in a long time, which means I have more time to read the great books that are arriving non-stop
Hopefully, as you plan your gift-buying for this festive time of year, books will be at the top of your list for those who enjoy reading. They are more entertaining than gift cards for many, and something you can proudly display for others In this issue, there are more than fifty books, for book lovers of all genres. You can still find many more book reviews of Shelf Life Books Review’s Facebook and YouTube pages. Plus there are more than 535 book reviews on the Goodreads site, under my page: Paul Sutter. Please subscribe to my pages for reviews of the best in books.
Thanks, as always, for picking up this issue. We wish you all the best for the holiday season, and for great things to come in 2023!
Paul Sutter
Editor/Publisher
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*** FICTION SECTION ***
The Law of Innocence
by Michael Connelly
(Little Brown – $37.00 – 424 pages)
“Make THE LAW OF INNOCENCE your next guilty reading pleasure.”
A Scandal In Scarlet
by Vicki Delany
(Crooked Lane – $35.99 – 294 pages)
“It is a fun mystery with lots of interesting moments and characters.”
The Divinities
by Parker Bilal
(Canongate- $20.00 – 366 pages)
“The Divinities is divinely intriguing, the start of an exceptional series.”
The Last Exiles
by Ann Shin
(Park Row Books – $23.99 – 333 pages)
“THE LAST EXILES will keep your attention from first to last pages.”
Cul-De-Sac
by Joy Fielding
(Doubleday Canada – $32.00 – 369 pages)
“Each character has a unique presence, and the way Fielding brings it all together, makes the book one of her best.”
The Girls Are All So Nice Here
by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn
(Simon & Schuster – $24.99 – 310 pages)
“Those who enjoy an intense mystery will be glad they added this book to their reading list.”
Last Day
by Luanne Rice
(Thomas & Mercer – $23.95 – 400 pages)
“It is a classic murder mystery with many interesting characters..”
The Savage Kind
by John Copenhaver
(Pegasus Crime – $34.95 – 376 pages)
“Those who love a great mystery will find THE SAVAGE KIND their kind of book.”
Afterland
by Lauren Beukes
(Mulholland/Little Brown – $35.00 – 416 pages)
“This is a very chilling tale, quite different from most books on the shelves. It is a page turner to the extreme.”
Dark Sky
by C.J. Box
(Putnam – $37.00 – 355 pages)
“The Joe Picket series continues to be must-read mystery. Book twenty-one of the series is just as highly recommended as the first twenty.”
The Last House on the Street
by Diane Chamberlain
(St. Martin’s Press – $37.99 – 352 pages
“…a powerfully emotional book, blending past and present, and secrets haunting a small town nearly five decades later.”
Nine Lives
by Peter Swanson
(William Morrow – $34.99 – 336 pages)
“…rather than turn into a rehash of past books, (it) becomes a smart thriller where nothing is certain.”
A Kid Called Chatter
by Chris Kelly
(University of Calgary Press – $24.99 – 320 pages)
“… truly a change of pace book.”
The Silver Shooter: A Rose Gallagher Mystery
by Erin Lindsey
(Minotaur – $24.50 – 340 pages) – Reviewed by John M. Milner
“There is action and intrigue on every page.”
Vile Spirits
by John MacLachlan Gray
(Douglas & McIntyre – $29.95 – 318 pages)
“It makes for an enjoyable read, with bit of everything inside. There is nothing vile about the book, just great fiction from start to finish.”
Did I Say You Could Go
by Melanie Gideon
(Simon & Schuster – $22.99 – 356 pages)
“This creates the perfect uncertainty and tension, propelling the book to a most gripping conclusion. It shows most actions do cause reactions, often most negative.”
Serpentine
by Jonathan Kellerman
(Ballantine – $38.99 – 353 pages)
“Jonathan Kellerman keeps the character of Alex Delaware fresh and important. It keeps us wanting to continue reading about this master psychologist.”
Notes on an Execution
by Danya Kukafka
(William Morrow – $34.99 – 320 pages)
“Danya Kukafka has made the book quite compelling, where we empathize with Ansel but cannot forgive him for the choices he willingly made.”
The Sisters Sputnik
by Terri Favro
(ECW Press – $22.95 – 412 pages)
“The sheer enormity of the story and the way Favro presents it, keeps us turning pages rather than scratching our heads.”
Thief River Falls
by Brian Freeman
(Thomas & Mercer – $23.95 – 310 pages)
“For those seeking a true psychological thriller, one cannot go wrong with THIEF RIVER FALLS.”
Absinthe: A Thriller
by Guido Eekhaut
(Skyhorse – $34.99 – 328 pages) – Reviewed by Tori Levang
“This book is the first installment of an Amsterdam trilogy, and should make for a most entertaining series with the books to come.”
Just Watch Me
by Jeff Lindsay
(Dutton – $35.00 – 362 pages)
“This series has lots of potential because one has great sympathy for Wolfe.”
Missing Persons
by Sarah Lotz
(Mulholland/Little Brown – $34.00 – 472 pages)
“MISSING PERSONS is a sort of radical departure from previous books by Sarah Lotz. It works well because the intriguing story intensifies by the page.”
Revenge
by James Patterson & Andrew Holmes
(Grand Central – $22.99 – 342 pages)
“The action is fast-paced, and hopefully there will be more of David Shelley in the future.”
Video Palace: In Search of the Eyeless Man
by Dr. Maynard Willis
(Tiller Press – $35.99 – 372 pages)
“The stories are the type some might share around campfires, myths and urban legends blending together.”
The Tenant
by Katrine Engberg
(Scout Press – $22.00 – 356 pages)
“A former dancer and choreographer, trying her hand at the literary world has been successful, creating a classic mystery.”
Ghosts
by Dolly Alderton
(Doubleday Canada – $23.95 – 310 pages)
“Alderton in her debut novel, brilliantly shows one woman’s struggles to do it all again.”
Invisible Girl
by Lisa Jewell
(Atria – $24.99 – 360 pages)
“Lisa Jewell offers a multi-layered mystery that keeps the twists coming, along with the total enjoyment of the book.”
Don’t Look for Me
by Wendy Walker
(St. Martin’s Press – $24.99 – 342 pages)
“You will find yourself reading well into the night, once you open the book.”
Comeuppance Served Cold
by Marion Deeds
(Tor – $16.99 – 194 pages) Reviewed by John M. Milner
“For such a short story, COMEUPPANCE SERVED COLD certain must be commended for just how much it manages to pack in.”
Problem Child
by Victoria Helen Stone
(Lake Union – $21.99 – 255 pages)
“Jane Doe is a most compelling character. Victoria Helen Stone has done a perfect job of making her someone we can empathize with, every step of the way.”
Child’s Play
by Danielle Steel
(Delacorte Press – $38.99 – 277 pages)
“…is the sort of book you would expect from her. Is it her best book? No, but it ranks right up there with her most memorable ones.”
*** Non-Fiction Section ***
Enough Already (Learning to Love The Way I Am Today)
by Valerie Bertinelli
(Mariner – $33.50 – 5246 pages)
“In her memoir, ENOUGH ALREADY, we see an intimate side of the actress, away from the cameras.”
Maniac
by Harold Schechter
(Little A – $21.95 – 242 pages)
“Schechter covers every aspect of the man and his crimes, bringing to light a most horrifying day in American history.”
Vancouver Vice
by Aaron Chapman
(Arsenal Pulp Press – $23.95 – 167 pages)
“It makes for an interesting reading of life, crime wise in Vancouver in the yearly year, a pale comparison to the world today.”
The Lost Prime Ministers
by Michael Hill
(Dundurn – $24.99 – 267 pages) – Reviewed by John M. Milner
“For each of Macdonald’s successor, their accomplishments and shortcomings are discussed.”
The Film Book: A Complete Guide to the World of Cinema – New Edition
by Ronald Bergen
(DK Books – $32.00 – 360 pages)
“Author Ronald Bergen takes us on one amazing journey from film’s beginnings.”
Things I Should Have Said
by Jamie Lynn Spears
(Worthy – $33.00 – 230 pages)
“This is an interesting book, one the reader will have to decide if the book was illuminating or irritating.”
Murder on the Inside (The True Story of the Deadly Riot at Kingston Penitentiary)
by Catherine Fogarty
(Biblioasis – $24.95 – 312 pages)
“Catherine Fogarty pains the grim picture, taking us into the heart of the storm. It is a most eye-opening book.”
Dancing is the Best Medicine (The Science of How Moving to A Beat is Good for the Body, Brain, and Soul)
by Julia F. Christensen and Dong-Seon Chang
(Greystone – $24.95 – 305 pages)
“The authors have created a book that begs us to get off our seat and onto our feet.”
If I Cry I’ll Fill The Ocean: The Catherine Linehan Story
by Ida Linehan Young
(Flanker – $22.00 – 276 pages)
“The book will move and motivate the reader to face life’s hurdles and valleys, with the same spirit that Catherine Linehan did.”
First, Catch (Study of a Spring Meal)
by Thom Eagle
Grove Press – $37.50 – 240 pages
“This is a decidedly different sort of volume that will appeal to food connoisseurs who look more for ways to enhance what they are cooking, rather than seeking actual recipes.”
American Serial Killers: The Epidemic Years 1950-2000
by Peter Vronsky
(Berkley – $36.00 – 410 pages)
“Those who enjoy true crime books will be in their glory here….the book is more than worthy of everyone’s attention..”
Crossing the River: Seven Stories That Saved My Life
by Carol Smith
(Abrams Press – $33.00 – 266 pages)
“The book will allow readers a reason to reflect on their loves, either in the past or possibly what is still to come.”
Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, War Spy
by Damien Lewis
(Public Affairs – $40.00 – 480 pages)
“Singer, war hero, advocate for civil rights and more, Josephine Baker’s story is a must-read on so many fronts. The book gives her the due and respect she truly deserves.”
The Upside of Being Down (How Mental Health Struggles Led to My Greatest Successes in Work and Life)
by Jen Gotch
(Gallery – $36.00 – 272 pages)
“Her book offers a very frank, serious, though sometimes with humour, look at how she struggled through certain stages of her life.”
Marvel Greatest Comics: 100 Comics That Built A Universe
by Melanie Scott & Stephen Wiacek
(DK Books – $45.00 – 260 pages)
“For true comic book fans, this is a must-have addition to your library, one you will refer to many times again in your life.”
The Beatle Bandit
by Nate Hendley
(Dundurn – $21.99 – 210 pages)
“The author has done an excellent job in his storytelling of a unusual Canadian crime story.”
The Great Peace: A Memoir
by Mena Suvari
(Hachette – $35.00 – 270 pages)
“The book should serve as a inspiration for others in similar situations, letting them know, no one is truly every alone.”
Vegan Everyday 500 Delicious Recipes
by Douglas McNish
(Robert Rose – $27.95 – 576 pages)
“Variety is truly the spice of life, and that is evident in the massive volume.”
This Is My Real Name: A Stripper’s Memoir
by Cid V. Brunet
(Arsenal Pulp Press – $22.95 – 290 pages)
“It offers a fascinating view of the clubs, along with the workers and customers who are part of this world.”
Crossfire Hurricane (Inside Donald Trump’s War on the FBI)
by Josh Campbell
(Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill – $39.95 – 276 pages)
“The author digs into the sordid mess of the past…”
The Mythic Goddess Tarot
by Jayne Wallace (Cico Books – $31.99)
The Moon & Stars Tarot
by Jayne Wallace (Cico Books – $27.99)
Illustrations by Hannah Davies
“If you are seeking out what could be considered starter sets of Tarot cards, these two are highly recommended.”
*** Books for Children ***
Adrift
by Heidi E.Y. Stemple – Illustrated by Anastasia Suvorova
(Crocodile Books – $23.75 – 32 pages)
“Children can relate to moments of loneliness, but as the mouse found there is always hope out there…”
Thursday
by Ann Bonwill – Illustrated by Kayla Harren
(Two Lions – $24.95 – 32 pages)
“…a great little book that views how a child’s favourite day of the week can turn into their worst.”
Fox and Bear
by Miriam Korner
(Red Deer Press – $21.95 – 32 pages)
“…a fun tale of two animals in the forest, who have different activities to keep them happy.”
Before The World Wakes
by Estelle Laure – Illustrated by Paola Zakimi
(Two Lions – $24.95 – 32 pages)
“Wonderfully illustrated, the book will make children appreciate morning all the more.”
Shelf Life Magazine 
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