Friday, February 20, 2026

Book Campaign: Frantic by Brent Bradley

 


FRANTIC
by

Brent Bradley


Techno Thriller/ Conspiracy Thriller
Publisher: BCS Publishing
Publication Date: March 7, 2025


SYNOPSIS



A delusional prison patient warns Dr. Brian Heiser, Marriage and Family Therapist, of enormous impending disaster. Dr. Heiser and his best friend, a lauded Forensic Psychologist, find themselves entangled in a 72-hour deadly race to stop an AI bill being fast-tracked through the Texas state legislature.

Patricia Reigns, an elite developer of artificial intelligence, teams with them, thus cementing the trio as a viable threat.

Unbeknownst to Fred, however, Brian and Patricia had a secret past. That past soon rekindled feelings in Patricia towards Brian, and vice versa. And this woman was not one to play coy.

The more they uncover, the more the deadly power of Artificial Intelligence is unleashed on them at every turn from unseen top tech billionaires all vying for the same AI state contract.

What follows is a three-day frantic sprint toward truth that none of them could have possibly fathomed: a secret plot funded by the world’s wealthiest tech giants, an AI bill touted as a massive “progressive” leap forward for Texas, assassins funded to the gills in blood money, politicians bought and paid for, and a media that couldn’t care less.

Last, buckle up for an intense final stretch that’s simply impossible to foresee.


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Book Trailer



ABOUT THE AUTHOR



Dr. Brent Bradley is a well-known couples therapist. He’s treated over a thousand couples in therapy and supervision of therapists. His books and articles are read internationally. He holds a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy, an MA in Christian Theology, and a BA in English Literature.


Brent brings an expert focus and depth to emotion and relationship dynamics in his fictional writing. His style radiates with intelligent plots, suspense, romance, and mystery - all delivered within a relentless pace.


Brent is married with one twin daughter (and one that passed away in the womb). They live in League City, TX. He is an avid fan of the Astros and Texas A&M baseball.


He is a follower of Christ.


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Book Blitz - The Chrichton Leprechaun: A Saint Patrick's Day Legend by Salvatore Mautone


The Chrichton Leprechaun
A Saint Patrick's Day Legend
by
Salvatore Mautone


Children's Book / St. Patrick's Day
Publication Date: January 26, 2026
Page count: 37 pages


SYNOPSIS:


A Funny St. Patrick's Day Picture Book Based on the Viral Internet Legend!

Can you see the leprechaun? Join the search in this whimsical reimagining of the internet’s favorite St. Paddy's Day mystery!

Deep in the heart of the Crichton neighborhood in Mobile, Alabama, a legend was born. Inspired by the viral news sensation that captured the world's imagination in 2006, The Crichton Leprechaun transforms the famous local rumor into a delightful, laugh-out-loud adventure for the whole family.

It all starts on a sunny March morning when whispers spread through the community: There is a leprechaun in the tree! Is it a magical sighting? A trick of the light? Or just a bit of mischievous holiday fun?

Follow the neighborhood excitement as crowds gather, amateur sketches are drawn, and everyone—from curious kids to skeptical grown-ups—joins the hunt for the elusive pot of gold.

 

Why Readers Love This Book:

A Nostalgic Tribute: The perfect gag gift or collector's item for millennial parents and adults who remember the original viral video and news clip.

Holiday Fun: A fresh, humorous alternative to traditional Saint Patrick's Day books for kids.

Community & Joy: At its heart, this is a warm story about how a neighborhood came together to share a laugh and a legend.

Vibrant Illustrations: Brings the "Amateur Sketch" and the magic of Mobile to colorful life.

 

Whether you are looking for a funny children's book, a unique St. Patrick's Day gift, or a piece of internet history reimagined, this story proves that sometimes the real gold is the fun we have together.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

By day, Salvatore Mautone is an attorney and compliance professional; by night, he is a children’s book author. A New Jersey native, Salvatore’s writing career started close to home with No Karate in The Potty, a story crafted specifically to make his niece and nephew laugh. He continues to find joy in creating stories that entertain young readers.

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RABT Book Tours & PR

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Teaser Tour: Stargazers by Anne Kane


Stargazers
by
Anne Kane

SciFi Romance / Romantic Intrigue
Publisher: Changeling Press
Publication Date: February 20, 2026
Page count: 280 pages

SYNOPSIS:

 Five stargazers defy the odds and find love and adventure as they travel across the galaxy.

 
Descended from the witches of old Earth, Stargazers are highly sought after, both by legitimate sources and by pirates who enslave them and use their talents to bend energy to power space ships and detect people's presences from great distances.

Wanton: When Tarik's brother is captured by the Intergalactic Council, the handsome cyborg realizes he'll need the help of a Stargazer if a rescue mission is to succeed. But when he kidnaps Krystal, he's torn between rescuing his brother and his growing attraction to the talented witch.

Willful: Born both a Stargazer and Daughter-Heir to the throne of New Zanadles, Jazlyn is used to a life of pampered luxury. But when the planet runs into financial trouble, her leisurely life is replaced by a whirlwind of Intergalactic Council intrigues and the lusty attentions of her new employers.

Wild: When Stargazer Anaya stows away on a ship belonging to a cynical bounty hunter, Ryland assumes she's a runaway sex slave and offers her a choice: be returned to her master or stay and serve his every desire.

Wayward: When Abbie is kidnapped, Kat, her twin, boldly offers her services to a very sexy pirate captain in return for his help. Tore is fascinated by the sexy young Stargazer, but how far is she willing to go to save her sister?

Sinful: Breanne is on a mission is to rescue a fellow Stargazer who fell prey to pirates, and she can't do that from the brig of Roark's spaceship. When she convinces Roark they should join forces, they find out just how powerful they can be together. The pirates don't stand a chance against their combined wrath.
 
Publisher's Note: Stargazers contains the previously published novellas Wanton, Willful, Wild, Wayward and Sinful.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!
 Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15 
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Excerpt from Wanton

Tarik watched the young woman pacing the cargo bay of his ship. Tall and willowy, she stalked the width of the cell with angry strides of long, slim legs. A short, fitted tunic did little to hide her shapely figure, and he felt a spark of heat ignite in his gut despite his mistrust of her kind. Wisps of wavy, chestnut hair escaped from the single braid that hung to her waist, and her green eyes sparkled with rage.

He felt the corner of his mouth tilt upward as she aimed a kick at the wall. He'd bet if he could hear what she was muttering, it wouldn't be very ladylike. Of course, she wasn't really a lady. Krystal de Mylar was a Stargazer, one of the few who hadn't yet sold her talents to the Intergalactic Council. 

Probably holding out for a better deal, he thought cynically.

The lack of military security surrounding her had made her an ideal target when he realized he needed to acquire one of the accursed witches in order to rescue his brother. Tarik's renegade status made it impossible to post a job proposal with the Stargazers' Guild, so he'd simply used his resources to plan and execute the perfect kidnapping. Unfortunately, none of his cybernetic enhancements would help him explain to the infuriated redhead why he'd spirited her away from her home without her consent.

The woman stopped pacing and pivoted to face the hovering droid, her eyes narrowed so that the green irises sparkled like gems. She'd obviously realized someone was monitoring her. A flicker of heat ran up his spine as she stood still, legs spread and hands on hips. Her mouth moved, and his attention dropped to her full, luscious lips as they moved slowly in exaggerated speech.

You are going to regret this.

It wasn't hard to read her lips. Or the threat in her eyes. He sure hoped she didn't know how to wrap the interplanetary energy lines around his neck.

"Not exactly what I'd expected." He turned to address his second-in-command. "I pictured someone older, and tougher."

Ryan grinned. "And a little less mouthwateringly attractive? Might have made it easier to deal with her. Do you want me to go in first and soften her up a bit? Your reputation with the ladies doesn't bode well for gaining her co-operation."

Tarik sighed. They'd managed to spirit Krystal out from under the noses of her parents and her bodyguards without a problem, but they needed her to co-operate if they hoped to accomplish their mission.

Stargazers could sense the energy lines that connected the stars and planets. They had the ability to grasp those lines and harness the energy for their own use. If she agreed to help them rescue his brother Cynn, all they'd need to do was narrow down his location and the witch could use the energy lines to get them in and out of Intergalactic space undetected by the patrolling warships. He didn't understand how the Stargazers accomplished it, but the results were irrefutable, which explained why the unscrupulous bastards running the Intergalactic Council made a point of hiring as many of the witches as possible.

Before his parents were murdered by the Council, they'd likened the Stargazers' abilities to the witches of Old Earth, who used the planet's ley lines to feed their magic. They'd been baffled though, by the Stargazers' tendency to accept employment with the restrictive Intergalactic Council. He sighed, running his fingers through his short hair. The longer he put this off, the angrier the witch would get.

"Get her into a set of restraints and bring her up to the interrogation chamber." He turned to leave, pausing when Ryan grabbed his arm. He looked pointedly at the offending hand, raising one eyebrow questioningly.

Ryan let go of his arm. "Restraints? Are you serious? She's already pissed. You need to convince her to help us, and treating her like a criminal isn't going to win you any brownie points."

That might be true, but he wanted her under control until she agreed to help. "Just the wrist restraints, then." He ignored Ryan's glare of disapproval. "If I understand the theory, she can't hook into the power of the energy lines without lifting her arms, so we should be safe enough."

Ryan's disbelieving snort told him what his second-in-command thought about that.

"Get her up there. Now." He issued the command in what he hoped was a stern tone, pivoting to stalk out of the room. The damn witch hadn't been on his ship for a full solar cycle and already she was causing trouble.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anne Kane lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley with a bouncy little rescue dog whose breed defies description, a cantankerous Himalayan cat, and too many fish to count. She spent many years trying to fit in and act normal but finally gave up the effort. She started writing romance in 2008, and her fate was sealed when she won a publishing contract with Red Sage Publishing and just a month later Changeling Press accepted her first submission. Since then, she has published more than thirty stories in a variety of sub-genres, all with a happily ever after.

She has two handsome sons and six adorable grandchildren and enjoys spending time with them whenever she can. Her hobbies, when she’s not playing with the characters in her head, include kayaking, hiking, swimming, playing guitar, singing and of course, reading.



Changeling Press

 
RABT Book Tours & PR

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Have You Seen Him by Kimberly Lee

 

Have You Seen Him by Kimberly Lee

About Have You Seen Him

have you seen him cover 3

Have You Seen Him

Suspense Thriller
Setting - California
Publisher: Butterfly Effect Press
Publication date: July 1, 2025
Print length: 268 pages
Paperback ISBN-13: 979-8991867214 / Digital ISBN-13: 979-8991867207
ASIN: B0F9TJYN8V

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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.
Thrilling, exploratory, and propulsive, Have You Seen Him is a story of lost identity, dangerous secrets, and a deeply personal pursuit of the truth.
Click to Purchase!


About Kimberly Lee

Kimberly Lee, JD, is the author of the riveting thriller Have You Seen Him. A versatile writer, editor, and creativity coach, she has a passion for nurturing the imaginative spirit and helping others reveal their own inner wisdom. Kimberly holds degrees from Stanford University and UC Davis School of Law, along with certifications from the Center for Journal Therapy, Amherst Writers & Artists, SoulCollage®, Guided Autobiography, the Center for Intentional Creativity, and The Path Meditation. Recent collaborations include Esalen Institute, Hollyhock Retreat Center, Omega Institute, The Huntington, the Expressive Therapies Summit, Arts and Healing Initiative, and West LA Veterans Administration. 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.

| Website | Goodreads | Instagram |


Tour Participants


February 18 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT
February 19 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
February 20 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
February 20 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW*
February 21 – Sarandipity's – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
February 21 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHT
February 22 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
February 23 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW
February 24 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 25 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books – SPOTLIGHT
February 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
February 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 28 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
March 1 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
March 2 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
March 3 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Stone of Destiny (Stones of Iona, #7) by Margaret Izard


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by
Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

SYNOPSIS:
Bound by destiny, torn by fate—their love stood unbroken, victorious over all.

Kat MacArthur still feels the loss of her brother to another time. Seeking solace, she stumbles upon Ceallach, a Fae warrior, she’s had feelings for ever since she met him. The emotion grows stronger whenever they are together. Yet he warns her to stay away from the upcoming gathering for the Iona Stones. Kat refuses—she needs to be there to help her family and Ceallach.

Ceallach is torn between duty, magic, and the ache for mortal love. His Fae soul is sworn to protect the Iona Stones during the Gathering, but his heart is lost to Kat. With the prophecy looming, he cannot promise her forever—no matter how much he longs to. The maiden of the Iona Stones now faces sacrifice, and he fears if his beloved gets too close, he cannot save her.

When dark forces rise to take the Iona Stones along with their powers, Ceallach is forced into an impossible decision—to defy destiny or surrender to love?
CLICK TO PURCHASE!



ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

Still wearing a grin, he strode forward with confidence, and a sensuality Kat had not forgotten. The man still took her breath away with one look. Ceallach arrived before her, a smile playing on his lips. As his eyes swept across her face, the expression faltered. His brows knitted together in a frown, shadowing the sudden tension in his gaze. Reaching with his finger, he lifted a tear from her cheek, gripped his fist hard, and when opened, a small, clear teardrop-shaped gemstone sat in his palm.

“Dry yer tears, sweet Kat. Yer face is much prettier without them.” He took her hand and, with his other placed the gemstone in her palm. “When ye hold the gem, yer tears will fade, and happy thoughts shall fill yer heart.” When the stone touched her skin, her mind cleared, and a sense of ease washed over her.

Ceallach released her hand and strode past her to the doors.

Kat turned, calling after him. “Wait, why are ye here?”

The attractive Fae stopped and turned. “Dagda sent me. I’ve come to meet with the guardian of the stones. All the stones have returned. The gathering and battle of good vs evil is upon us. The gods have called, and we must answer.”

He opened the heavy oak doors without effort and strode through. The doors weight closed them, leaving Kat in the shadows again. She blinked, almost not believing her eyes and the truth before her. Her secret love had just casually strolled back into her life. Gripping the gem, he’d shaped from her tears, warmth washed over her. Ceallach was here. A smile crossed her face.

Ceallach was here.


AUTHOR GUEST POST:

Please welcome Margaret Izard, the author of today's featured book to the blog.

The End in Sight—and the Beginning Beyond

by Margaret Izard

Ending a long-running series means more than tying off plot threads—it means honoring the emotional truth readers trusted you with from the very first book to the nineth. By the time I reached Stone of Destiny, these characters had lived with me for years. I knew their histories, their wounds, their quiet hopes, and the promises I had made to them on the page. Saying goodbye required restraint as much as imagination. I couldn’t give everyone the ending that felt kind or comforting simply because I loved them. I had to give them the ending that fit who they had become.

Stone of Destiny forced me to decide which promises mattered most. Some promises demanded fulfillment. Others required breaking in order to remain honest. Love, sacrifice, and destiny don’t always align neatly, and pretending they do would have betrayed the emotional spine of the series. I leaned hard into the idea that absence can hurt as much as loss, and that choosing duty can wound just as deeply as choosing love. Those choices shaped the final book more than any single plot twist.

Letting go of these characters wasn’t clean or easy, and I didn’t want it to be. Endings should leave an echo. My goal with Stone of Destiny was to close the saga in a way that felt earned—one that respected the journey, honored the cost of every choice along the way, and trusted readers to sit with the complexity rather than be spared from it.

From the very first book, Stone of Love, I knew how this series would end. The final destination was always there, (I even hinted at it in the first book) guiding every story choice, every moment of loss and gain, every sacrifice and victory along the way. And if you’ve read all the books, breadcrumbs trailed the way to this end.

Each character’s journey—what they loved, what they lost, what they were willing to give up—quietly steered the series toward this place. I never truly believed I’d get the chance to see it through to the end, and reaching it now feels both surreal and deeply personal. While there’s so much to celebrate in finishing this series, letting it go is bittersweet. I’m honored to have been able to tell it, and even more honored to share the ending with the readers who walked this road with me.

While Stone of Destiny closes one series, it also opens the door to what comes next. The ending naturally leads into the Dragons of Tantallon, where threads left quietly waiting begin to stir and a new kind of magic takes flight. The world continues, the legacy deepens, and the dragons—long hinted at, long restrained—are ready to rise. One story ends, but another begins, and soon, dragons will fly.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Margaret Izard is an award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. Her latest awards are 2024 Reader’s Favorite Honorable Mention for Stone of Love and 2024 Spring BookFest Silver Award for the same title. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her desire for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets.



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Margaret Izard will be awarding a Stone of Destiny Swag Box to a randomly drawn winner. 


Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Dying to Live Here (Estate Sales Mystery, #1) by Shelley Marsh

 

Dying to Live Here (Estate Sales Mysteries) by Shelley Marsh

About Dying to Live Here

dying to live here cover 3 

Dying to Live Here (Estate Sales Mysteries)

Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting - Florida
Publisher: Fawkes Press
Publication date: February 10, 2026
ISBN-13: 978-1957529516 / ASIN: B0GFNR9XDT

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When tech burnout Emma Stewart follows her best friend’s advice to view a quaint beachside home in Harbor Shores, Florida, she expects palm trees, sea breezes, and maybe a fresh start. What she doesn't expect is to stumble into a murder scene—and become a prime suspect.

With the HOA president lying in a pool of blood and her bestie splattered with the evidence, Emma suddenly finds herself knee-deep in neighborhood secrets, rivalries, and a suspiciously missing knife. Armed with nothing but her dry wit, a talent for digital sleuthing, and an adorable bulldog named Hopper, Emma must navigate a world of nosy neighbors, passive-aggressive happy hours, and one dangerously charming lawyer.

In Harbor Shores, the homes are charming—but the secrets are deadly.

Click to Purchase!


About Shelley Marsh

Shelley Marsh writes laugh-out-loud mysteries set along Florida’s sun-splashed coast. Her forthcoming debut, Dying to Live Here (Feb 10 2026), launches the Estate Sale Mysteries series, pairing clever puzzles with a hint of romance. When she isn’t prowling estate sales for story fodder, Shelley combs beaches and bookstores, searching for treasure.



Review

5 stars!

Murder, romance, and Mother Nature combine in this intriguing Florida-set cozy mystery! 

Dying to Live Here is the first book in author Shelley Marsh’s fabulous new Estate Sales Mystery series set in the Atlantic coastal city of Jacksonville, Florida. Emma Stewart and Laura Benton have been best friends since college, having each other’s back and a ready shoulder to cry on through life’s ups and downs, and when a home opens up after the death of its elderly owner in Laura’s exclusive beachside community, she’s excited and insistent that Emma take a look. Although the house is not yet on the market, Laura has a key she took when she watched the house while the owner was away, and she talks Emma into coming over late one evening so she can get an early preview. But when Laura opens the front door and steps inside the dark house, they discover blood and the body of the former HOA president, and Laura’s nemesis, just over the threshold. With the police looking hard at Laura for the murder, Emma teams up with Laura’s attorney and handsome, single neighbor, Sam Turner, to find the real killer and clear Laura’s name.
 
I loved this story, with its engaging main characters, the murder of a bitter, mean victim, the neighborhood drama, and the fun romance between Emma and Sam. Emma is a successful software developer, long-divorced after a short-lived marriage immediately after college, and the only male in her world is a rescue bulldog mix named Hopper. She and Laura are very different, but their shared past has cemented a strong, long-lasting friendship. I loved their camaraderie, back-and-forth banter, and how they played off one another as they investigated Laura’s neighbors. Sam is adorable and single-minded in his attention to Emma and not afraid to let his interest show.
 
The plot moves briskly, and many neighbors make appearances as the author builds the vibe of the much-coveted community. All the warts of HOA-covenanted living are on full display, as well as the perks, but this lively neighborhood could have been lifted straight out of Peyton Place. And what would Florida in September be without the threat of a hurricane? I loved the big reveal, which occurs as Mother Nature joins the neighborhood shenanigans.
 
I recommend DYING TO LIVE HERE to readers of cozy mysteries, romantic suspense, and domestic thrillers, especially those who enjoy Florida settings, stories of HOA nightmares, and neighborhood gossip.


Tour Participants


February 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 10 – Books1987 - SPOTLIGHT
February 11 – Christy's Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
February 12 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
February 13 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
February 13 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
February 14 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 15 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
February 16 – Sarandipity's – AUTHOR GUEST POST
February 17 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 18 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW
February 19 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books - REVIEW
February 20 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
February 20 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 21 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
February 21 – Storybook Lady – REVIEW
February 22 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT
February 23 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST
February 23 – Boys' Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

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Review Tour & Giveaway: All or None (Detective Ryan Mystery, #2) by Clive Fleury


ALL OR NONE
A Detective Ramesh Ryan Mystery
by
Clive Fleury 


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by
Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.


Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Epicenter Press, Inc.
Publication Date: November 11, 2025
Page count: 346 pages


SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!


SYNOPSIS:

Returning to Sydney, Detective Ramesh Ryan is promoted to the Homicide Squad. Zoe Yang joins him there. Now a detective herself, she is assigned as his junior partner. Straight up, the cops are off and running—investigating the discovery of a murdered company director. Following the clues, Detective Ryan finds that this and a second murder may be linked to past events.
 
As the pressure mounts for a quick solution to the case, the detective finds that he too, is in the killer’s crosshairs. But Ryan is distracted from the investigation by a romantic encounter with an old university friend. He also worries about his mother, Mumta, and her new obsessive desire for grandchildren from her only son. Could this be linked to her recent medical tests? And there’s another pressing problem—the plague of rats in his apartment block.
 
Detective Ryan’s hands are well and truly full.


CLICK TO PURCHASE!


ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

There were eleven of them squashed into the red Ford Transit van. All were in high spirits—except, that was, for the driver, Tommy Clarke. He wasn’t happy. 

Tommy had thought long and hard about offering his services locally as a driver and wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been for Anne, his wife. She had heard that people were looking for transport into the city for a protest march and saw it as the perfect opportunity for them to earn some money—even though it was scheduled for Saturday, which would mean Tommy missing the big match: the Swans versus the Eagles. 

He had tried to argue, but it was a waste of time. Anne Clarke was an unstoppable force of nature and opposing her was an exercise in futility. Still, it was that same determination and persistence that had attracted him in the first place—that and a body that could stop traffic. 

Before meeting his wife, Tommy had drifted like a ship without an anchor. But Anne had plans—lots of them—and the principal one was to buy a house. Of course, properties cost money, and Tommy had no idea where they would get that. Luckily, Anne did. 

She stuck a big whiteboard up in the kitchen, taping it to the wall. Using a black marker, she split the board vertically into three columns: incomings, outgoings, and savings. Then, she crossed the lines with dates. Every week, she filled the boxes with numbers—money they earned, spent, and saved together. The savings column had gotten larger and larger, but they still needed every cent they could get, which was why Saturday’s driving job had to go ahead.

Tommy picked the passengers up outside Absolute Muffin, Church Point’s only bakery. He stashed their banners and signs in the back of the Transit and then set off to Sydney Town Hall, where they would join the others for the Future Is in Your Hands march. After they returned, Tommy would drive them back. He would get three hundred dollars cash for the job. 

It was the first demonstration Tommy had attended. He thought protests and marches were a waste of time and was surprised at the eclectic mix of people he had picked up for the protest. There was old Mrs. Deans, who was almost eighty and could hardly walk; a farming family, the Morinas—father Antonio, mother Lucia, and their eight-year-old son, Sasha; Claire Nichol, who owned the local ladies’ fashion boutique, and her husband Noel, a teacher; a couple of hippies whom Tommy had never met before; and the Coopers, newlyweds who were older than Tommy and Anne but had gotten married at almost the same time and in the same church. Theresa Cooper worked as a dental hygienist and was bubbly and outgoing. Irwin was more intense, an academic who worked as a chemistry lecturer at the local college.


REVIEW:

5 stars!

Detective Ryan returns! 

All Or None is the second novel in author Clive Fleury's Australian police detective series, the Detective Ryan Mysteries, which debuted with the excellent OFF SEASON in 2024. Two years have passed since the events of the previous book. Ryan has returned to Sydney from his exile to the Central Coast and has just been transferred from the Organized Crime Unit to New South Wales Homicide. To his surprise and consternation, he is partnered with his former coworker, Zoe Yang, now a detective and also a new, unwanted addition to the team like himself. Their first case, a dead man discovered in a cabin in the national park, proves to be genuinely baffling, and the partners are under extreme pressure from their chief to find the killer as soon as possible. But things only get more complicated when a second death, with connections to the first, occurs soon after. 

Once again, Detective Inspector Ryan is a strong and worthy protagonist as he and Yang continue to negotiate their working relationship while conducting a well-executed investigation. Both detectives are dealing with issues in their personal lives, as well as outdated workplace attitudes that could distract a less disciplined team. Ryan's mother, one of my favorite characters, is also facing health issues and doubles down on her efforts to get her son married and starting a family, perhaps a result of confronting her own mortality. Meanwhile, Ryan reunites with another woman from his past. 

The book starts with a shocking accident from 20 years earlier, but there are even more surprises in store for readers. The story unfolds from multiple points of view, including the killer's, which is creepy and unsettling, and several storylines are in play throughout. The author juggles these separate threads with ease, keeping them clear and distinct until they cleverly converge. The writing style is engaging and compelling, and I was so absorbed that I almost completed this entire book in one session. I had to know how the story was going to resolve as soon as I could. 

I recommend ALL OR NONE to readers of mysteries, crime fiction, and thrillers.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Clive Fleury is an award-winning writer of books and screenplays and has worked all over the world as a Film/TV director, writer and producer. He has written six books, most recently All Or None, the second novel in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series. 

All Or None sees Detective Ryan back in the thick of things. His latest investigation into a mysterious death couldn’t come at a worse time. He discovers his mother is hiding a troubling secret and is further sidetracked by a new romance. Fans of who dunnits, crime thrillers, and cop and detective stories will love this novel.  

Clive's other books include Off Season - book one in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series; Kill Code - a dystopian science fiction novel set in a world facing climate change;  Scary Lizzy  - a novel about an eight year old girl, who befriends an African child ghost –  and the teen action adventure book - The Boy Next Door -  a story of what happens when a teenage girl has a crush on her next door neighbor, who isn’t all he seems.  He also co-wrote Art Pengriffin and The Curse of The Four - a young adult fantasy adventure about a teenage boy who discovers his father was Merlin the Magician.


GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

Clive Fleury will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.