Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: A Murder of Furies (Ancient Crete Mystery, #3) by Eleanor Kuhns

A MURDER OF FURIES

by Eleanor Kuhns

February 16 - March 13, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

AN ANCIENT CRETE MYSTERY 

Bronze Age Crete, 1450 B.C.E.

When Tinos, the High Priestess's consort, asks Martis to search for his missing daughter, Martis becomes involved in the dangerous politics between Crete and Egypt. A minor Egyptian prince is courting Hele, the High Priestess's daughter, despite her persistent refusals. And despite the lobbying by Hele's brother, Khoranos, who seeks the Cretan throne for himself.

Then the High Priestess is found murdered, savagely stabbed multiple times. Martis discovers plans to kidnap Hele and she has to be spirited away to safety. Egyptian soldiers occupy Knossos and Khoranos installs his ally as the High Priestess.

Can Martis rescue the High Priestess's daughters and identify the murderer before Khoranos, with Egypt's help, takes the throne? Martis must embark on several dangerous quests to succeed.

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Murder Mystery
Published by: Indie
Publication Date: January 31, 2026
Number of Pages: 274
Series: An Ancient Crete Mystery, Book 3
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Goodreads | BookBub

The Ancient Crete Mystery Series

In the Shadow of the Bull Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

On the Horns of Death Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Read an excerpt:

Chapter 1

Although it was just late March, Crete was already growing hot. Sweating and panting after the bird dance, I pushed my mask to the top of my head. I sucked in deep breaths and flapped the long white sleeves, pinned to resemble wings. Air rushed over my damp arms and legs,

At least my dance was finished. Other dances would also be performed, and, in fact, the next one was already beginning. The younger girls, all maidens and too young to wear the red spotted scarf, were clad in bearskins. They danced to honor the Lady of Animals and Childbirth. I remembered that hot smelly costume from previous years. Now, at almost seventeen, I danced as a bird in a graceful circle of white-clad girls twisting around one another. I thought we really did look like flying birds; not imprisoned by the earth. We each wore the mask of a different species. Although I’d hoped to dance as a gull or an owl, I was only a sparrow.

The other bird dancers removed their masks and scattered into the audience to join friends and family. Except the vulture. Funny, I thought, I didn’t recognize the vulture. Now that I’d begun my agoge and visited the dorms regularly, I thought I knew all the young women – at least by sight. I certainly should know everyone who I danced with.

Despite the identical white gowns and the masks covering the faces, the bodies were difficult to disguise. This girl was heavier, that other one was as slim as a papyrus reed. Although every girl danced the same steps, some jumped higher and some twisted with an extra roll of the hips. Easy to know them even though we weren’t supposed to – for this short space of time we were the creatures represented by our masks. But I did not recognize the vulture. I squinted against the bright sun. I didn’t remember the vulture from the rehearsals either. And surely at least one girl was missing –

“If you’re Martis, the High Priestess’s consort wishes to speak to you,” said a treble voice behind me. I turned and looked first at the grubby little boy and then around at the crowd. I saw no sign of Tinos.

“Where is he?” I asked, my heart leaping.

At one time, I’d thought – hoped – Tinos and I had developed a special connection. But last fall, during the investigation into the murder of the bull dancer, we’d fallen out. I’d seen very little of him since then and only at a distance, as he conducted his duties. Sometimes I imagined we were still close friends. Other times I despaired we’d ever be friends again.

“I’ll take you to him,” the boy said, extending a grimy paw. I took hold and followed the boy through the crowd.

We went a distance from the theater, finally pausing at a copse of trees. Tinos waited within, almost unrecognizable without his headdress or jewelry. His long black hair had been pulled back and tied with a string. “Martis,” he said. As his eyes drifted from my hair to my white dress, his eyebrows rose in surprise. I touched my long hair self-consciously. I now wore it in the fashionable style - with most of it tumbling down my back except for the locks pulled in front of my ears.

“You’ve grown up? I always think of you in a boy’s kilt . . .”

“I wear that only when I am bull dancing,” I said shortly, affronted. Did Tinos believe I would be a child forever? I was old enough to marry - although I’d vowed before the Goddess that I never would.

Tinos nodded and stared over my head as though regretting this meeting. I could see he felt awkward, without the easy camaraderie we’d once enjoyed, and I was both sorry and angry with him. I’d looked forward to talking with him once again and now he seemed, well, disappointed. “You wanted to see me?” I asked, my tone taking on some sharpness.

He turned to look at me.

“That’s the Martis I remember,” he said, grinning for the first time. “Still as quick to anger as ever.” I went hot.

Unable to think of a smart response, I tossed my head.

“Have you seen Atana lately. I know you and my daughter are friends.”

I knew Atana of course and I’d made an effort to befriend her. At one point, I’d hoped to see more of Tinos, which hadn’t happened. Atana was only nine so I didn’t spend a lot of time with her.

I turned and looked over my shoulder as though I could see through the trees and the crowds beyond. Atana should have joined the younger girls in the bear dance but, because she was the High Priestess’s daughter, she’d been allowed to dance with the birds. Now I knew who’d been missing.

“Did you see her this morning?” Tinos continued, his words rushing out.

“No,” I said. “Didn’t you?”

“No. We – um - quarreled,” he admitted, his eyes seeking the ground beneath his booted feet. “I haven’t seen or spoken to her for several days.”

“Ah.” I said in understanding. Before I moved to the girls’ dorm, I’d been arguing frequently with my mother Now that I stayed occasionally in the dorm, I saw her less often and so we quarreled less. “I saw Atana at most of the rehearsals,” I said now. “How many days has it been since you’ve spoken to her?”

“Almost three. She’s been avoiding me. It was a very bad quarrel,” Tinos’s eyes slid away from mine. He took a deep breath and looked at me. “I’m worried about her.”

“Surely the High Priestess –“ I began. But Tinos was shaking his head.

“She’s too busy now,” he said. I narrowed my eyes at him. Too busy to wonder where her daughter went? After so many days without seeing me, my mother took pains to seek me out. “Atana talks about you,” Tinos continued. “She says you are her friend.”

I stared at him. Friends? Sure, we were friendly, but she was more like my younger sister. We were the two outsiders. I’d just moved into the dorms, years after most girls my age, and I stayed there infrequently, so I didn’t know any of them well. I didn’t care to. They were all looking forward to marriage’ I wasn’t.

“Where would Atana go?” I asked. Atana, Tinos’s oldest child, was much shyer than her older half-siblings and did not make friends easily. Perhaps because of her position – Atana’s mother was the High Priestess after all, the other girls alternately teased or flattered her.

“That’s it, I don’t know,” Tinos said. A pleat formed between his brows and he suddenly looked tired. “But I am very worried. Will you ask the other girls if they’ve seen her?”

“Why can’t you ask them?” I asked. “They would have to answer you.” As the High Priestess’s consort, I meant. Tinos was the most important man in Knossos.

The fingers on Tinos’s right hand began to twitch nervously. “I can’t,” he said at last. “It wouldn’t be wise. The High Priestess . . .” His voice faded and disappeared.

“What do you mean?” I asked, puzzled.

“Speaking to them would be easier for you.” Tinos tried again. “You see them regularly and no one will find it surprising if you talk to them. My appearance would cause too much comment.” He looked at me and I nodded. I was not so much around the younger girls but I did see them as they ran races and wrestled. “Well then,” he said as though it was all settled. “I just want to know she’s safe.”

“And if I find her?” I asked.

“Tell her I’m worried,” he said. “Would you ask her to come home and visit me. And tell her – .” He paused. “Tell her I’m sorry. Will you do that for me?”

“Yes, all right,” I said. I did not believe this would be so difficult.

“And Martis,” Tinos continued, “if she objects or becomes angry with you, don’t argue.” He shot me a stern look from under his heavy brows. “Understand? Just come and tell me.” I nodded although I didn’t understand. Why would I quarrel with Atana? Why would Atana argue with me? More to the point: what exactly had happened between Tinos and his daughter? That was the real puzzle.

“I have to go now,” Tinos said, glancing at the sky. “It is almost time for the Showing. I’ll see you later.” He turned and started down the slope. I watched until he disappeared behind a thicket of trees.

I slowly made my way back to the throng of people gathered around the theater. I did not think I could force my way through the crowd to rejoin my fellow birds and besides I would not watch the Showing. Every spring the High Priestess and her consort copulated in full view of the people of Knossos. It was important for the fertility of this land. But now that I knew Tinos and knew him well, I couldn’t bear to see that ritual.

I pushed my way through the crowd at the bottom of the paved area. As I squeezed by a woman in the fashionable ruffled skirt and tight jacket, the lady wrinkled her nose and tried to move away. I guessed I stank of perspiration.

And then, with a collective sigh, everyone turned to look at the walkway below. The High Priestess, riding sidesaddle on a white bull, was approaching. Her unbound hair tumbled down her back and, instead of skirt and jacket she wore a loose white robe that left her neck and arms bare. Bronze bells hung from the bracelets on her wrists and ankles and they tinkled with every movement. The bull was also decorated; garlands of bright spring flowers festooned his horns and encircled his neck.

Usually, the High Priestess smiled and waved at the people of Knossos but her expression today was uncharacteristically grim.

I turned to look at the top of the stadium. The bull-masked consort waited, glistening with water, as if he had just arisen from the sea. The huge white bull’s head covered Tinos’s head and part of his shoulders, the horns tipped with gold and glittering in the sun. Even though I was not supposed to recognize Tinos, even though who else could it be but the High Priestess’s consort, I’d have recognized him anywhere. His broad shoulders tapered to the narrow waist where the thick twisted scar was just visible as it reached his back. Once a bull leaper, the scar served as a reminder of the bull’s horn that had caught him and ripped open his side.

The white bull came to a halt and the High Priestess’s attendants helped her down. She walked the last few yards to the bed at Tinos’s feet. When she reached him she slid the robe from her shoulders and stepped out of it. But she did not unfasten Tinos’s loincloth, as she had done every one of the nine years previously. Instead, after an awkward few seconds, Tinos slid off the garment himself.

I turned and fought my way through the audience, arriving on the other side of the crowd gasping and trembling. I’d seen this ritual enacted almost every year of my life but a year or two ago I had found I couldn’t watch it anymore. I knew that the bodies coming together on the stage were not the Goddess and Her consort but the High Priestess and Tinos acting their parts. And knowing Tinos and wishing he had his arms around me made everything different.

I set off running, fleeing the central court, to hide in the room in which the dancers changed.

***

Excerpt from Murder of Furies by Eleanor Kuhns. Copyright 2025 by Eleanor Kuhns. Reproduced with permission from Eleanor Kuhns. All rights reserved.

 

 

Review:

5 stars!

Another top-notch historical cozy mystery set in ancient Crete! 

A Murder of Furies is the third book in veteran author Eleanor Kuhns’s excellent Bronze Age Crete Mystery series, and with its riveting murder, political intrigue, and impeccably crafted, highly visual settings, historical mystery fans are sure to be absorbed by this mesmerizing tale just as I was. Martis, the young bull dancer and series sleuth, is drawn into the search for the missing daughter of her friend, Tinos, the consort of the high priestess, Potnia. Atana had stormed off after a heated argument with her father earlier in the week and had been avoiding him, but after her absence stretched to several days and several missed appearances at important religious rites, it is feared that she may have come to harm. The suspense rises when a young priestess, Tino’s younger sister, dies during a public ceremony, when she is bitten by an asp that had been secretly substituted for the sacred serpent that should have been in the basket the girl carried. To make matters worse, the young priestess had just been given Martis’s mother’s place in the ceremony and Nephele would normally have been carrying that basket. 

Martis is such a fun, relatable character, and I love coming back to this series just for her. She’s young and chafes at the restrictions and expectations placed on her by her mother and society for girls of her age and status. She just attained marriageable age, but marriage doesn’t interest her. However, she feels guilty about wanting to follow her own path for her mother’s sake, as she’s lost all three of her other daughters. Martis’s infatuation with Tinos is still causing her some heartache, but she’s perhaps beginning to feel less enamored as she matures. She continues to do all she can to avoid household chores and being stuck at home, though. 

Martis is diligent in her search for the missing Atana, and at the same time, she conducts a pretty logical investigation into the death of Phytia, Tinos’s sister, which includes sneaking into the House of the Priestesses and down to the docks and visiting with Tetis, in a complete disregard of her mother’s admonitions. She does a good job covering all the bases and chasing down any avenue of inquiry she can in pursuit of the truth, even when the stakes shockingly become so much higher. 

I loved the colorful and detailed descriptions of the Cretan settings, on land or in the harbor. The choreography of all the different religious and community ceremonies was fascinating and cinematic. The author really puts her readers smack in the middle of every scene. 

As the political intrigue enters the picture, the suspense intensifies, with the looming threats of betrayal, hunger for power, and jealousy. I was on the edge of my seat, wondering whether Martis would be able to get the answers she needed and if she would even be in a position to thwart the shocking plans that would change everything in her world. 

I recommend A MURDER OF FURIES to readers of historical cozy mysteries.

Author Bio:

Eleanor Kuhns is the 2011 Minotaur/Mystery Writers of America winner for first crime novel. She won for A Simple Murder and now has twelve books in the series.

A Murder of Furies is the third in the Bronze Age Crete Series which began with In the Shadow of the Bull.

A lifelong librarian, she transitioned to full time writing during the pandemic. She lives in upstate New York with her husband and her dog.

Catch Up With Eleanor Kuhns:

www.Eleanor-Kuhns.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @eleanorkuhns
Instagram - @edl0829
Facebook - @writerkuhns

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Book Review: A Poet's Ballad (Crossword Mystery, #1) by Aditya Banerjee

A Poet's Ballad: A Crossword Mystery by Aditya Banerjee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Endearing characters and a well-crafted puzzle of a mystery set in 1980s small-town India.

A Poet’s Ballad is the first novel in author Aditya Banerjee’s new series, the Crossword Mysteries, and I couldn’t have wished for a better, more satisfying debut than what I found. With its endearing main characters, vibrant and lively small-town setting in 1980 India, and well-crafted and, literally, puzzling mystery, I felt like I was taking a refreshing vacation every time I opened the book.

The story is told from the viewpoint of two main characters. Mahesh Pal is a Delhi graduate student preparing to join a Ph.D. program in far-off London, England. Aarvi Lal is the manager at her family’s generations-old bookstore, preparing for her traditional wedding in two weeks. Both face huge life changes when they each receive an odd inheritance from a local retired university professor whose death may not have been as accidental as it has been claimed—the common link among the three is their love of crossword puzzles.

I was immediately drawn into the story by the easy and authentic camaraderie among Mahesh’s university friends. The author completely captures in his portrayal the essence of this time in Mahesh’s life as he prepares to embark on the next phase of his academic career, and he does so quickly and in only a few pages! You could easily understand Mahesh’s conflicting emotions: excitement for the future, sadness over leaving his friends and family, and regrets that he and his father do not see eye-to-eye about his decision to continue his studies rather than return home to work in the family business.

Being a contemporary of the fictional Aarvi Lal, I could readily empathize with her feelings and experiences as a young, educated single woman at the start of the 1980s. She’s always been the obedient daughter, going with the flow (rather than fighting with her mother) and never causing her parents any trouble. She studied hard to succeed academically, only to be expected to shelve her accomplishments and autonomy when she married. The author recreates the restrictive atmosphere of the time, the conservative views of women’s roles in the family and the workplace, and the necessarily cautious arms-length relationship between Aarvi and Mahesh because of the potential damage she could suffer from the juicy gossip should she be perceived to act too casually. I enjoyed their mutual respect and growing friendship. These two are capable and smart in their pursuit of Devesh’s story, and they were a joy to watch as they worked together to work out the mysterious clues.

The author creates a vivid and vibrant setting for the story in his depictions of the historic tourist town Benares and the activities leading up to Aarvi’s pending nuptials. I could feel the heat and humidity of the ancient city, but even the bustle of the tourists and religious pilgrims was nothing compared to the manic preparations necessary before the traditional Indian wedding. It was fascinating, complex, and eye-opening; I was exhausted just reading about it all.

With its engaging characters, compelling mystery, and vivid setting, I recommend A POET’S BALLAD to historical mystery fans, especially those who would enjoy a 1980s time period and an Indian setting.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Review Tour & Giveaway: See Me (Dark Sides, #3) by Lynn Crandall

SEE ME

Dark Sides, Book Three

by

Lynn Crandall

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by

GoddessFish Promotions.

Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Contemporary Fantasy

Publication Date: December 21, 2025

Page count: 290 pages

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

SYNOPSIS:

Skye Stone runs a local coffee shop called Coffee Is. Like the name of her shop, she likes things simple and to the point. But she’s more than just a businesswoman in Auralia. She’s fighting for her life as an Aeon and working hard to save her town and her world. Like the other Aeons, she uses her special ability in her battle against Dark Sides. Hers is reading auras and connecting with her ancestors for help. After all, a lot is at stake, so she can use all the help she can get. But as darkness is getting harder and harder to thrive in, she’s not sure even her ancestors can save the day.

 

Cooper Munson, a former bounty hunter turned doctor of psychology, and Aeon as well, has prided himself on being a solid member of their little band of light workers, using his ability as an empath to define truths and manage others. But the constant interaction with Dark Aspects is disorganizing his very soul. He can’t see a way through for him back to balance in light and love.

 

Cooper and Skye are not alone in the mission, they know. But things are getting complicated, and with darkness closing in, stronger and stronger, will they survive long enough to save the world from Dark Sides? What will they have to do to truly save their town and their world?

 

In the climactic conclusion of the Dark Sides series, will the Aeons prevail and change the balance between dark and light for good? Or will Dark Sides rule with despair and oppression, take down Auralia, and then the world? Can Cooper and Skye go deeper into the darkness and learn the truth about love and light before it’s too late?

Click to Purchase!

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ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

“Thank you, officers, for getting here so quickly,” he said. 

“Sure thing, Braden. This is becoming a regular thing with you.”

 

Overhearing, Cooper recognized the voice. It belonged to Braden’s partner at the APD, Detective Zane Yates. “Looks like the perps caused some damage here.”

 

Payson shot him a look, then quickly ran up the stairs to join them. “I’ll show you around,” she offered.

 

His mind still on Benjamin’s comment, Cooper’s gut clenched. Yes, their successes with defeating the DAs meant something. But he’d rather they all get along for the betterment of humanity than remain divided into sides.

 

He scanned the group of captured men again. One of them had scooched away from the other five. His head bowed, he sat silently staring at the floor, while his cohorts heckled the Aeons.

 

“Hey, I had a great time with your momma,” one said. “Sexy.”

 

“Oh, that was your momma, creep?” Another DA shot him a sleazy grin.

 

Cooper sent his energy down to the ground, centering his emotions and releasing animosity and the need to defend his mom. He stepped over to the quiet DA and stood behind him. The man’s energy didn’t cut through him like the others’. It gave him pause. Had it changed? He felt into the other DAs, checking. Slowly, he gathered information, and noted another’s lighter energy field. He too had moved away from the group.

 

He crouched beside the first one he’d noticed, and the man twisted his head, but kept his eyes down.

 

Cooper bent down to capture the man’s gaze. He sorted through words he could say, choosing carefully. “Are you one of them?” He nodded to the other men.

 

The man frowned, and looked up at him. “I was. Now I don’t know.”

 

“Are they your friends?” He didn’t want to force something false with the man, but support was a given.

 

The man gritted his teeth. “I don’t know what to think.”

REVIEW:

4 stars!

Light and dark battle for control. 

See Me is the third book in author Lynn Crandall's absorbing urban fantasy series, Dark Sides, and features the classic battle of light vs. dark and good vs. evil as modern-day descendants of the people of Atlantis, Aeons, strive to save this world from those who've chosen the Dark Side. With its action-filled story and achingly right romance, it's a definite page-turner. While a standalone novel, the backstory and magic elements would be better enjoyed if one first read the previous books in the series. 

The story picks up immediately after the events of the previous novel, with the Aeons gathering to review and celebrate their recent success of repelling the actions of the Dark Aspects, those the Dark Sides employ, who had teamed up with Irish mobsters to take over the city of Auralia, and destroy the quaint downtown where the Aeons had their businesses. However, their respite is short-lived, as a major figure on the side of the Dark Sides returns with the intent and means to take up the fight once again. 

This book focuses on the relationship between the two friends, Cooper Munson and Skye Stone, both of whom are still working through the trauma of a tragic childhood. It was heartbreaking reading about Cooper's treatment at the hands of his maternal grandparents, who believed his father and, consequently, Cooper, weren't good enough for their family. Skye's parents had escaped one bad situation only to jump into the middle of a cult where their daughter had been brainwashed into believing their harsh patriarchal precepts. With Cooper being an empath and Slye a Highly Sensitive Person, their eventual romance felt natural and long overdue. 

The plot is fast-paced, and the story opens with a bang as the celebrating Aeons are attacked at the home of one of their members. Each of the Aeons has an unusual ability or gift that they use for the good of all, and they are experiencing changes in these traits, with some doubts and confusion about this unexpected upgrade. However, a unique element of the series' magic system is the ability of the Aeons to project their inner love and light to those lacking in goodness, such as the Dark Aspects, and effect change in their actions. As before, I enjoyed the evildoers' various reactions when they were positively affected. 

I recommend SEE ME to readers of romantic urban fantasies.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After cutting her writing teeth as a feature writer for commercial and trade magazines, a reporter for newspapers and radio, and an executive editor for a communications company, award-winning author Lynn Crandall tuned her voracious appetite for stories to writing contemporary and paranormal romance, women’s fiction, and romantic suspense. In her books, she enjoys taking readers on emotional journeys with relatable characters who refuse to back down, and face challenges and tribulations with heart and soul. She believes every love has a story, and hers is with one handsome husband and a large, beautiful circle of family, including her cat Winter.

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Lynn Crandall will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

 

Book Review: Hook, Line, and Murder (Sweet TOOTH Murder Mystery, #1) by G.G. Calpo

Hook, Line, and Murder by G.G. Calpo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was hooked from the start!

Hook, Line, and Murder is the first book in author G.G. Calpo’s fresh new Sweet TOOTH Murder Mystery series, and its engaging main characters and compelling plot had me hooked from the start. Retired kindergarten teacher and recent widow, Meagan “Meg” Brightbook, is still very much in mourning over the suspicious deaths of her husband and son the previous year, and her friend group of other retired educators has been a strong, supportive lifeline for her. So, when Brie Townsend, a local bad girl, is murdered and her friend Edna Gomez, who’d had a recent and very public run-in with the young woman, becomes the police’s number one suspect, she and the rest of her group leap into action to find the real killer and clear their friend’s name.

Meg is such a sympathetic and relatable character, still grieving over the tragic loss of her husband and grown son in a boating accident. But her friends have kept her involved and active, preventing her from giving up on life. The appearance of Edna’s attorney, Fred, has also piqued her interest and sparked thoughts that there could be more to her own story ahead. I liked how Meg and her fellow retired teachers knew everyone in their neck of Long Island, having had them as pupils or the parents of their pupils at one time or another, and boldly asked whatever questions they had without hesitation, confident they would get answers. I enjoyed them developing a plan of action and splitting up their investigatory tasks among the group, giving attention to everyone’s particular strengths, skills, or knowledge.

The plot unfolds through Meg’s point of view and is more complex than you realize at first; there’s more than one death that needs the group’s scrutiny after all. I enjoyed the brief glimpse into Filipino culture and family relationships, too. Although I had some suspicions, I never anticipated the path the story would take to reach its final resolution. Talk about twists and turns!

I recommend HOOK, LINE, AND MURDER to readers of cozy mysteries and domestic thrillers.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

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Book Review: Last Rituals (Thóra Guðmundsdóttir, #1) by Yrsa Sigurdardóttir

Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Witchcraft and murder in modern-day Iceland.

Last Rituals is the first book in the Thóra Guðmundsdóttir series by Icelandic author Yrsa Sigurdardóttir, and it is a compelling but creepy start. When German graduate student, Harold Guntlieb, is found murdered, his corpse gruesomely mutilated, his friend and drug dealer is too conveniently pegged by the local police for his death. His skeptical but wealthy parents back in Germany ask local attorney Thóra Guðmundsdóttir to conduct a private investigation to find the real killer or confirm the official findings. Along with the Guntlieb's local representative in Iceland, Matthew Reich, Thóra retraces the original investigation, discovering more questions than answers the deeper they dig.

Thóra is such a relatable character: a recently single mother of a son and a daughter, with a detached ex-husband who's remarried a younger replacement and is the partner in a small law firm in Reykjavik. Besides coming to terms with her new life, the lease for the office space included a receptionist, the property owner's daughter, who is completely worthless in running the office, so she's having to navigate around her. Thóra's frustration with the clueless but prickly girl leads her to make comments later in the book about the girl's physical appearance that some may find offensive. This book was originally published more than 20 years ago, so it was written even earlier, when such comments weren't viewed as critically as they are now. Thóra does step up in a big way, though, to emotionally support her teenage son when he is discovered to have made a major misstep on the path to his future.

While the murder inquiry is outside of Thóra's wheelhouse, the remuneration offered by the Guntliebs is too good (and needed) to pass up, and she and Matthew conduct a good, methodical investigation. Along the way, they learn a great deal about Harold's field of study: witchcraft and the persecution of those accused of witchcraft in Iceland during the Middle Ages. In meeting his friends, they also discover that witchcraft is more than just an entertaining topic to some of them, who may be putting what Harold had learned into practice, especially upon Harold's death.

A caution to those readers sensitive to such matters: the means and manner of Harold's death are described, as are the body modifications he had made to himself prior. Also, there is some discussion of the horrific treatment and torture of those suspected of witchcraft, and some of the charms and spells call for very off-putting elements.

I enjoyed the story, but wasn't a complete fan of the narrator of the Audible audiobook edition I listened to. Although she provided a great range of voices for the different characters, I felt her delivery of some of Thóra's dialogue did not match the scene's tone or the circumstances, making Thóra come off as a flighty, lightweight airhead who wasn't taking her job seriously. I will probably read the subsequent books in the series in a physical or ebook format.

I recommend LAST RITUALS to readers of mysteries and thrillers, especially those who enjoy grittier tales or Icelandic settings.

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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Diversion (Probation Case Files Mystery, #3) by Cindy Goyette

DIVERSION

by Cindy Goyette

March 2 - 27, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

A Probation Case Files Mystery

 

Phoenix probation officer Casey Carson could use a change of scenery to clear her head and make some major life decisions. When the opportunity arises to take on a side job wrangling juvenile delinquents on a wilderness adventure for a diversion program, she’s skeptical. But she wants to support her cousin, who was hired as a counselor. The extra cash in her pocket sweetens the deal.

Unfortunately, one of Casey’s clients—an escaped murderer after one of her charges—threatens to upend her plans. Facing wildfire, flash floods and an angry mountain lion are nothing compared to the murderous intentions in store for one of the kids.

On a crash course with the killer and with her faithful pup Felony by her side, Casey desperately tries to lead the group to safety. She doesn’t realize that her two love interests, ex-husband Betz, and hunky ex-neighbor, Marcus, are frantically looking for the group. Casey must utilize every negotiating skill she possesses to not fail, or she’ll lose all she holds dear.

Praise for Diversion:

"A breakneck adrenaline rush of wilderness adventure, emotional angst, and high personal stakes. Whether you're a fan of the Probation Case Files Mysteries or jumping in for the first time, Cindy Goyette's DIVERSION is certain to entertain!"
~ Tori Eldridge, bestselling author of KAUA‘I STORM

"With nonstop action, continually mounting stakes, and a fearless heroine, Cindy Goyette’s DIVERSION doesn't let go and will have you turning its pages well past bedtime--and not regretting it one bit in the morning."
~ Audrey Lee, Edgar and Anthony-nominated author of The Mechanics of Memory and Never to Be Told

"Casey Carson is a hands-on probation officer with a lot on her hands in Cindy Goyette's engrossing novel, DIVERSION: Two men's affections, shepherding troubled teens on a wilderness hike gone wrong, and an escaped killer on the loose closing in. A lot of balls in the air that Goyette handles masterfully, all while torquing up the tension."
~ Matt Coyle, author of the award-winning Rick Cahill crime series

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: February 24, 2026
Number of Pages: 320
Series: A Probation Case Files Mystery, Book 3
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Mystery Series

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Read an excerpt:

Prologue

The girl held her breath, hoping her pounding heart wouldn’t give her away. She’d squeezed herself under her parent’s four-poster bed, between totes of out-of-season clothes. It had been her favorite place to hide when she was little… but she was almost full grown now. A stupid choice. Wouldn’t it be the first place they looked?

Fear wouldn’t let her chance a move.

The roar in her head made it difficult to hear what was happening in the other room. Still, she listened.

She knew one thing. Her parents were dead. She’d heard their pleas, their screams. Then gunshots.

Silence after that.

She fought back her tears. Swallowed hard. Held her breath.

Now, the killer was rummaging through the house. Looking for something. Looking for her.

Heavy footsteps sounded in the hall and then stopped at the bedroom doorway.

She clamped her hand over her mouth. Tears dripped down her cheeks, gathering at the cleft of her chin before landing soundlessly on the carpeted floor.

Scuffed black boots walked across the room and came to a stop at the foot of the bed. So close, she could reach out and touch them.

She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to face her fate as it unfolded. She was next.

But a cell phone chimed, and the boots turned. The footsteps moved away and toward the door.

She opened her eyes and risked a small breath.

In her hand, she gripped the key her father had passed to her just before he’d told her to hide.

Chapter One

Six months later

I stuffed crackers in my mouth and washed them down with a Diet Coke before leaving my desk and heading for the probation department’s training room. It was early morning, and I felt like I had a killer hangover. Strange, because I’d had nothing to drink in the last few days. I’d thought about calling in sick, but I’d never done that before, and I didn’t want to ruin my perfect record. Even if no one else was keeping track.

Plus, this training was mandatory. I’d put it off until the last class offering, and I needed to get it done.

Most of the seats in the cramped room were already taken. I didn’t have a record of being on time, so I didn’t sweat it.

“Casey,” my coworker Claire called from across the room. “I saved you a seat.”

I dropped into the chair next to her, took another drink, and placed my Big Gulp on the table. “I can’t take another day of this,” I said, under my breath.

“Sorry to hear that,” the trainer said, reaching around me and placing a binder in my lap. “Just for that, you get to go first.”

I cringed. “Sorry. Didn’t know you were standing there.”

“Obviously not.” The trainer walked over to the dry-erase board, picked up a marker, and opened the cap with a flourish. I didn’t know her well, but she was on the fast track to becoming a supervisor. I also didn’t know she hated me until now. “So, Casey, give us your greatest weakness.”

Right now, it was my stomach. The leftover burrito I’d eaten for dinner last night must have been spoiled, but that wasn’t what she meant. I hated this question. The goal was to name something that you could turn into a strength. Nothing came to mind.

Hands shot up around the room. Apparently, not the case for those around me.

“Impatient,” someone yelled.

“Opinionated!”

“Sarcastic!”

“Workaholic!”

The trainer couldn’t write fast enough.

“Okay, that’s plenty,” I said. I loved my job but clearly had to work on my reputation.

The list was moving into a second column when my work cell vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out. Betz, my ex-husband. Well, he was more than that, but I’d pumped the brakes on reconciling while I figured some things out. Still, taking his call was a good excuse to escape the room and the assassination of my character my peers were treating like a game show. “Gotta take this’” I got to my feet and hurried from the room. “It’s a detective.”

“Evasive,” someone added to the list before I silenced them by closing the door. I answered as I walked down the hall. “What’s up?”

“Sorry to interrupt your day,” Betz said. I could picture him rubbing the back of his neck. Didn’t matter what he was calling about, most times when we talked, he rubbed his neck, shook his head, and I’m pretty sure his blood pressure rose. And yet, he wanted us to get back together. If we reconciled, he’d probably stroke out at the young age of thirty-five from the stress I caused him. Still, he loved me.

“No problem,” I said. “You’re saving me from a painful day of training. Please tell me you have something that can get me out of finishing the class.”

“You supervise Martin Phillips?”

“I do.”

“He’s a suspect in a double murder that happened six months ago. Think it’s over drug money. We want to take him into custody, but we don’t want to spook him since he's armed and dangerous. Think you can trick him into showing himself?”

My adrenaline kicked in, stomach problems vanishing. A double murder was nothing to sneeze at. And if it had happened months ago, before he was on probation, there was nothing I could have done to stop it. Now we had to get my client off the street. “I can text him. Tell him I need to do a field visit, and I need him to be home.”

Typically, we didn’t warn our clients we were coming. But sometimes, if we had enough failed attempts, we’d set something up. Anyway, Phillips was fairly new on supervision. He didn’t know the drill. But he knew we had to do regular home visits, and he was due. He’d probably fall for it.

“That should work,” Betz said. “Gear up, and I’ll meet you at the employee entrance in ten.”

I disconnected the call and took the stairs two at a time to my cubicle. I loved playing with cops. Although I never wanted to be one. Too much blood and guts for me.

***

Excerpt from Diversion by Cindy Goyette. Copyright 2026 by Cindy Goyette. Reproduced with permission from Cindy Goyette. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Cindy Goyette is a former probation officer who had a front-row seat to the criminal justice system. She kept her sanity by finding humor in most situations. A mix of these things helped her create The Probation Case Files Mystery Series. Book one, OBEY ALL LAWS, won a Public Safety Writer’s Association award, and it has been a finalist for Lefty and Silver Falchion Awards. Book two: EARLY TERMINATION released in 2025. She also authors The Wiggle Butt Manor Mystery series. DIAMOND IN THE RUFF is book one. After spending over twenty years in Arizona, Cindy lives in Washington state with her husband and two Cocker Spaniels.

Catch Up With Cindy Goyette:

ccgoyette.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @ccgoyettewriter
Instagram - @cindy.goyette
Threads - @cindy.goyette
X - @cindy_ccgoyette
Facebook - Cindy Goyette, Author

 

Tour Participants:

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No Mystery Here—Just A Great Prize!

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

DIVERSION by Cindy Goyette | Gift Card

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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: The Fatal Saving Grace (Ed Earl Burch Hard-Boiled Texas Crime Thriller, #5) by Jim Nesbitt

THE FATAL SAVING GRACE

by Jim Nesbitt

February 9 - March 6, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

ED EARL BURCH HARD-BOILED TEXAS CRIME THRILLER 

MAYHEM WITH A BADGE

After wandering the peephole wilderness of a private detective for two decades, defrocked Dallas homicide detective Ed Earl Burch is finally an official manhunter again, wearing the badge of a district attorney's investigator working in the harsh desert mountains of West Texas.

Big D, it ain't. And life as a resurrected lawman isn't everything he hoped it would be. Too many rules. Not enough satisfaction. And a boss who hates him for saving his life.

But Burch is back, playing the same deadly game he mastered as a murder cop, tracking a serial killer who tortured and murdered his ex-lover with a straight razor—an Aryan Brotherhood gang leader Burch thought he killed in a desert shootout.

He's also trying to protect the fugitive granddaughter of an old friend and her four-year-old son—from this remorseless killer and cartel gunsels hired by her incestuous Dixie Mafia daddy.

Throats get slashed. Bullets smack flesh. Bodies drop. And Ed Earl Burch and his partner, Bobby Quintero, are in reckless pursuit, dodging death, closing in on their prey.

No place Burch would rather be. Unless he gets killed.

Praise for The Fatal Saving Grace:

The Fatal Saving Grace is the Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite for Action/Adventure 2026

"Nesbitt delivers a scorched-earth tale where every shadow conceals an ambush and every road bleeds history. He paints West Texas in colors of rust, smoke and whiskey, and the result is a story that feels carved in stone. This is cowboy noir at its finest."
~ Baron Birtcher, Will Rogers Medallion winning author of Knife River

"Ed Earl Burch, who's partial to Lucky Strikes and Maker's Mark, makes Mike Hammer look like Miss Marple. Jim's novels offer wicked humor, an eye for detail, brass-knuck action and language that would strip the paint off a Hummer."
~ Noel Holston, author of Life After Deaf and As I Die Laughing

"Jim Nesbitt knows his Texas crime and writes one fine line at a time. Hard-boiled with prickly pears, old leather boots, a bit of tobacco, freshly spit of course, he gets it right."
~ Joe R. Lansdale, champion mojo storyteller and author of the Hap 'N Leonard crime thrillers

"A gritty and deadly must-read, THE FATAL SAVING GRACE cements Nesbitt’s standing among the best writers in the pantheon of Southern noir."
~ Bruce Robert Coffin, bestselling author of the Detective Justice Mysteries

"Ed Earl Burch is back, and that’s great news for readers who love classic hard-boiled noir, colorful characters, crackling dialogue and plenty of action. Highly recommended!"
~ R.G. Belsky, author of the Gil Malloy and Clare Carlson mysteries

"Some would call it justice. Some would call it revenge. No matter what you call it, the concept has been a long running theme of the Ed Earl Burch series. The same is very much true in the fifth book of the series, The Fatal Saving Grace: An Ed Earl Burch Novel by Jim Nesbitt."
~ 'Ace Texas book reviewer' Kevin Tipple

Book Details:

Genre: Hard-Boiled Crime Fiction, Western
Published by: Spotted Mule Press
Publication Date: December 15, 2025
Number of Pages: 301
ISBN: 9780998329482 (ISBN10: 0998329487)
Series: Ed Earl Burch Hard-Boiled Texas Crime Thriller, Book 5 | Each is a Stand-Alone Thriller
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Ed Earl Burch Novels, 1-4

The Last Second Chance Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

The Right Wrong Number Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

The Best Lousy Choice Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

The Dead Certain Doubt Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Read an excerpt:

From Chapter 1

When a man gets hit by a .45 ACP Flying Ashtray or three, by all that's ballistically holy, he ought to get dead and stay dead.

All manner of official paperwork swore he was dead. All of it based on a bogus death certificate filed by parties unknown in the Cuervo County Coroner's Office, with copies popping up like blowflies on a cow carcass. Even the federales had him playing poker with the Devil, his prison mugshot tucked away in ATF and DEA files, DECEASED stamped across his face in bold, black letters.

The con was slick and easy. Money changed hands, files were swapped or ditched, reports were shredded or faked. Somebody else's corpse became him. The relentless power of bureaucratic incompetence and inertia did the rest.

Yessir. According to all that yellowing, lawdog paper, he was nobody they had to worry about no more. Finito. A shade. A ghost who said adios. A good thug now that he was a dead thug. Muerto.

Not hardly.

That's what John Wayne said to all those hombres who thought he was dead in Big Jake. With a growl and a scowl.

Not hardly.

He liked that. Matter of fact, he just trotted out the Duke's line to a guy he used to be tight with. Caught up to him climbing the three cinder block steps to the front door of his desert double wide.

Tapped him on the shoulder, saw the wild-eyed fear when the dude turned and saw who the finger belonged to. Blurted out: "You're supposed to be dead!"

Not hardly. Said it with a growl but no scowl. Then grabbed him by a greasy hank of raven black hair, yanking his head back and cutting a crimson smile across his throat from ear to ear. With a bone-handled straight razor. His favorite.

Threw the guy into the sand at the side of the steps. Listened to the choking gurgle and death rattle. Then licked the blood off the blade.

Not hardly. He tilted his head back and laughed. Savored the kill. Alone and alive. An endless dome of stars glittering in the midnight sky above the rocky desert outback near Radium Springs, New Mexico. No moon. A dead man at his feet. Used to be a member of his crew. Frankie Sheridan.

Met him at Pelican Bay. An Alice Baker brother doing a long stretch for bank robbery. Had a shamrock tattooed on his chest with the initials AB in capital letters—Alice Baker, Aryan Brotherhood. Blood in, blood out. Ex-Army. Knew his way around diesels, alarm systems, and weapons.

Sent him a ticket to Texas when he got out. Made him a member of his crew, smuggling guns and drugs out of a ranch north of Faver, the Cuervo County seat, a bent outfit that ran cattle for cover and fleeced bitter and gullible white trash while promising them the return of the Republic of Texas for Caucasian Christians only, a New Zion based on God, guns, guts, and the Good Book. Niggers, Jews, Arabs, and Spics need not apply.

Bad move. Frankie was a ratfuck snitch. Uno chivato. Not to the lawdogs. Just as bad, though. Frankie sold him out to a rival outfit of gunrunners and drug smugglers. Kept them one step ahead of him as they chased a third outfit that held a cache of stolen military hardware everybody wanted.

Rockets, bloopers, mortars, and full-auto carbines and rifles. Bang-bangs that could tip the scales on both sides of the river. All in the hands of a crew fronted by a flashy woman in jeans, tall boots, a bolero jacket, and a blonde wig. A wet dream for the pendejos she hustled.

La Güera. Just the thought of her caused his molars to grind. He wanted her dead. No, he needed her dead. She and her lover were the reason his life got flushed into the sewer, his crew dead, his stash of guns and drugs long gone. Had him climbing out of the shitter, clawing to the top of the dung heap. Again.

He caught the lover. Sliced off his manhood. Slit his throat. Then chopped off his head and butchered his body to stuff into a giant barbecue smoker. Tucked the man's jewels into his mouth as the crowning touch to a cannibal's mesquite-smoked delight.

Not the same. Didn't have her. She still needed to feel his blade, feel his eyes boring holes into hers as he gave her that crimson smile. He needed to lick her blood off that sharp stainless steel. Taste it. And grin. Only then would the circle be complete. He'd be whole again.

Well, not completely whole.

His right eye was gone, blown out by a glancing hit from one of those .45 ACP slugs that also shattered the orbital bones. Nothing extensive plastic surgery, bone implants and a new glass eye couldn't cure. Had to stack plenty of cash up front to repair damage that severe.

Gave that part of his face a waxy texture straight out of Madame Tussauds. But it sure beat wearing an eye patch and the lopsided face of a Dick Tracy cartoon villain.

His left knee was also shattered, replaced with a titanium joint that allowed him to walk with only a slight limp. Another five-figure hit to his stash of greenbacks.

The man who fired those rounds was also on his payback list. An ex-cop. Big-ass older fucker with a gray beard. Said to be a washed-up Dallas P. I..

Beg to differ, sir. Sumbitch sure kept him from getting to her during that clusterfuck in the West Texas desert. A real Wild West shootout between rival drug gangs wanting the blonde bitch's bang-bangs.

He was oh-so-close to grabbing her up, dodging bullets and bodies, closing the gap between him and Ol' Dude, who was carrying the bitch draped over his right shoulder. He screamed her name and leveled an M-16A1 at the both of them.

"La Güeraaaaaaa! I got you, bitch! Got you now! Gonna slice you wide open and watch you bleeeeeeed!"

Ol' Dude spun on his heel and emptied a 1911 mag at him offhand. Yelled this: "Not today, you cockbite motherfucker. Not in this lifetime or the next." A lefty. On target without dropping the bitch. Only thing that kept him alive was a Kevlar vest that caught the Flying Ashtrays that would have shredded his chest.

Washed-up, my ass. The man wrecked me. His time was coming, though. Count on a reckoning. Soon. But not now. He was working his way up the ladder of a list he kept in his head. One body at a time.

Frankie was the bottom rung. La Güera was at the top with Ol' Dude second. Five other rungs between Frankie and them.

Time to get gone. And get busy.

***

Excerpt from The Fatal Saving Grace by Jim Nesbitt. Copyright 2025 by Jim Nesbitt. Reproduced with permission from Jim Nesbitt. All rights reserved.

 

 

Review:

5 stars!

Gritty and gutsy from page one! 

The Fatal Saving Grace is the fifth book in author Jim Nesbitt’s thrilling, gritty, and gutsy Ed Earl Burch series, featuring the titular former Dallas PI, now wearing a gold shield for the Cuervo County District Attorney. A serial killer is on a mission, tying up loose ends and seeking revenge for those who crossed him. Burch and his partner from the sheriff’s office, Deputy Bobby Quintero, are tracking down their own loose ends, those responsible for a gruesome murder, as their paths converge. 

This story solidly hits the ground running, with action that is tough and shockingly brutal. No quarter is given on either side as Burch does what it takes to track down a killer. Just as the action is unflinching, so is the dialogue. Burch’s words are as unfiltered as his Lucky Strikes. These are hard men talking to other hard men, working a job that requires that type of toughness to succeed and survive. Set in a dry, dusty, and dangerously remote area of West Texas, the author’s vivid imagery had me feeling the heat, the gritty sweat, and the thirst that is a constant companion in those parts. 

While the tale unfolds, there are numerous references to past events from the previous books; some of the characters involved linger on in the present. However, this book stands alone; having read the prior novels, though, would be a bonus (and besides, they’re well worth going back and picking up!). 

I recommend THE FATAL SAVING GRACE to readers who favor harder, tougher stories, grittier crime fiction tales, fans of the previous books in the series, and stories set in West Texas.

Author Bio:

Jim Nesbitt has the perfect radio face, bionic knees that can grind coffee beans and tell time and a cat who poaches his cigars and uses his cellphone to place bets on British soccer. He is also a recovering journalist who once chased politicians, neo-Nazis, hurricanes, rodeo cowboys, plane wrecks and the everyday people swept up in a news event who gave his stories depth, authenticity and a distinct voice.

A lapsed horseman, pilot, journalist and saloon sport with a keen appreciation of old guns, vintage cars, red meat, good cigars, aged whisky without an 'e' and a well-told story, Nesbitt is also the award-winning author of five hard-boiled Texas crime thrillers that feature battered but relentless Dallas PI Ed Earl Burch -- THE LAST SECOND CHANCE, THE RIGHT WRONG NUMBER, THE BEST LOUSY CHOICE, THE DEAD CERTAIN DOUBT and THE FATAL SAVING GRACE.

A diehard Tennessee Vols fan, he now lives in enemy territory -- Athens, Alabama -- with his wife, Pam, and is working on his sixth Ed Earl Burch novel, THE PERFECT TRAIN WRECK. When he's off his meds, he's been known to call himself Reverend Jim and preach the Gospel of Hard-Boiled Crime Fiction.

Catch Up With Jim Nesbitt:

www.JimNesbittBooks.com
Jim's Substack - @edearl56
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @edearl56
Instagram - @edearl74
Threads - @edearl74
Facebook - @edearlburchbooks

 

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Join In On This Hard‑Boiled Texas Noir Giveaway:

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

THE FATAL SAVING GRACE by Jim Nesbitt | Gift Cards

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Cover Reveal: Marked by the Alpha (Tolstone Wolf Shifters, #1) by Sheritta Bitikofer

Marked by the Alpha

Tolstone Wolf Shifters, Book One

by

Sheritta Bitikofer

Adult Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Tule Publishing

Publication date: June 11, 2026

Page count: 331 pages

SYNOPSIS:

An alpha with a storied legacy. An independent woman rebuilding after grief. Forbidden desire—for only one is human….

After her mother’s death, photographer Erica Barrett, buys a home she and her mother obsessed over during her childhood in the quaintly historical town of Tolstone. Her magnetic next door neighbor intrigues and disturbs her. The sensual pull feels otherworldly.

Wolf shifter Dominic Beaumont never wanted to be the prime alpha of the sanctuary city, Tolstone, but when his father dies, he’s forced to step up as pack leader and prime alpha over all the wolf packs sheltering in his town. Erica’s arrival is dangerous. The attraction is fierce and instant, but duty comes first.

When revelations about Erica’s past and parentage create chaos, and she questions everything she thought she knew about herself, Dominic is her strength. But as tension builds in the pack, and his leadership is challenged, love becomes a risk that could cost him his authority, his people, and everything he’s sworn to protect.

Perfect for readers craving illicit wolf-shifter romance filled with fate, secrets, rebellion and an alpha willing to risk everything for love.

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sheritta Bitikofer writes paranormal romance with a particular fondness for wolf shifters and witches. Her stories are driven by one guiding belief: love inspires courage. Through fierce romances, unbreakable pack bonds, and the magic of covens and family, her characters fight for the lives—and loves—they deserve. Sheritta lives in northwest Florida, where she drinks far too much coffee and joyfully balances life as a wife and mother while crafting her next heartfelt paranormal love story.

 

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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Eyes to Deceit (The Company Files, #4) by Gabriel Valjan

EYES TO DECEIT

by Gabriel Valjan

February 23 - March 20, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

THE COMPANY FILES: 4 

Espionage is easy. Living with it isn’t.

The Company named it Operation Ajax. MI6 labeled it Boot. History would call it a coup.

Walker calls it the beginning of the end.

1953. The Company is orchestrating the overthrow of Iran’s elected leader—an operation cloaked in propaganda and alliances. In Rome, Walker is stationed with Leslie, former M16 and now Company agent, and tasked to coordinate efforts between the US and UK. But when resources on the ground become a liability, Walker is forced to make a difficult decision—one that threatens to unravel what’s left of his conscience.

As the coup’s first attempt crumbles and Washington grows desperate, old loyalties shift. Allen Dulles wants results. Kim Roosevelt wants glory. Darbyshire feels left out. And Walker begins to suspect he’s not there to help win the Cold War, but to prove he can stomach it.

From Missouri to Rome to the Catskills to Tehran, EYES TO DECEIT explores postwar American idealism—and the spies who find themselves too loyal, too late, to walk away clean.

For readers of le Carré, Furst, Kanon, and Vidich this is espionage at its most personal—and most perilous.

Praise for EYES TO DECEIT:

"A remarkable, fly-on-the-wall story of Cold War realpolitik, Gabriel Valjan’s EYES TO DECEIT careens from Rockefeller Center to a Catskill resort to Rome and Tehran, giving readers a front-row seat to the plotting of the 1953 CIA and MI6 overthrow of the Iranian government. With noteworthy cameos from the famous, the powerful, and the ruthless, EYES TO DECEIT is intelligent, high-stakes intrigue at its best."
~ James W. Ziskin, Author of the Anthony, Barry, and Macavity award-winning Ellie Stone mysteries

"The burdens of history and secrecy weigh heavily, gracing this excellent historical espionage novel with a gritty, nuanced, and ominous sensibility where betrayal is always possible. Even that of your own soul."
~ James R. Benn, author of the Billy Boyle WWII mystery series

Book Details:

Genre: Literary Noir, Historical Fiction, Classic Spy Fiction
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: November 4, 2025
Number of Pages: 212 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9798898200510, Paperback
Series: The Company Files, Book 4
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

The Company Files

The Good Man Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

The Naming Game Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

The Devil's Music Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Read an excerpt:

Tania moved fast, her shoes clicked sharply on the floor. She fished a five-dollar bill from her clutch and approached a housekeeper in the hallway.

“A roll of toilet paper, and in a discreet bag, please.”

The woman hesitated, but Tania’s eyes were steady, unblinking. She slid the bill into the woman’s shoulder strap with practiced ease.

“Take it,” Tania said softly. “In case someone accuses you of theft.”

The woman nodded.

Ruth led the way. Tania followed, her mind already ahead, calculating the next move. In the bathroom, she locked the door and leaned against the wall. She heard Judith’s groans.

“It’s me, Judy.”

“Tania?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

The air was thick with sweat and nausea, sharp like unchanged hospital linens. Tania handed Ruth the roll of paper and a small perfume atomizer.

“Tell her it’s from London. She’ll like it.”

Ruth nodded and slipped into the stall.

Tania stepped back into the hallway, then stopped. A girl sick and humiliated in a stall behind her. She caught her reflection in a wall sconce—lipstick fine, hair in place, eyes clear.

Decide now.

This wasn’t strategy. She wasn’t gaining leverage. And still, her feet moved.

When she returned, Judith was pale, shaken, but upright. Tania offered her the drink.

“Peppermint helps nausea,” she said.

Judith studied her. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing.”

“There’s no game,” Tania said. “You have to believe me.”

Judith hesitated. “You and your uncle seem awfully interested in my father.”

Tania unwrapped a mint. “It’s a secret,” she said. “Just not the kind you think.”

She leaned in. “The government wants something your father owns or controls. Sheldon’s the go-between.”

Judith stared at her. “That sounds shady.”

“It might be.”

Judith exhaled. “They spiked my drink. Esther and those girls. Laxatives.”

Tania nodded. “Brutal.”

Silence settled between them.

Tania met her eyes.

“Want revenge?”

Judith smiled.

And didn’t say no.

***

Excerpt from Eyes to Deceit: The Company Files by Gabriel Valjan. Copyright 2025 by Gabriel Valjan. Reproduced with permission from Gabriel Valjan. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Gabriel Valjan is the author of The Company Files, and the Shane Cleary Mysteries with Level Best Books. He has been nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, Derringer, and Silver Falchion awards. He received the 2021 Macavity Award for Best Short Story, and the Shamus Award for Best PI in 2023. Gabriel is a member of the Historical Novel Society, ITW, MWA, and Sisters in Crime. He lives in Boston and answers to a tuxedo cat named Munchkin.

Catch Up With Gabriel Valjan:

GabrielValjan.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @gvaljan
Instagram - @gabrielvaljan
BlueSky - @gvaljan.bsky.social

 

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