#authorsocialmedia – Avonna Loves Genres

Book Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: Hunt You Down by Roger Stelljes

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for HUNT YOU DOWN (Agent Tori Hunter Book #9) by Roger Stelljes on this Books-On-Tour Bookouture tour.

Below you will find a book description, my book review, an about the author section and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!

***

Book Description

The girls walk arm-in-arm, laughing through the quiet late-night streets of Manchester Bay, celebrating their homecoming weekend. But arriving home, the laughter dies. Their best friend Cami lies still on the floor, hair splayed on the carpet, and rope marks all around her throat…

When university student Cami Margot is found murdered, Agent Tori Hunter and Detective Will Braddock are among the first on the scene. For Tori, the image of this smart young woman with her whole life ahead of her being hunted down is instantly seared in her mind. The team quickly realizes the murder weapon—a purple, gray and black nylon rope—is an exact match of that used in the murder of another student.

Tori teaches Criminal Justice at the university. Knowing the students trust her implicitly, Tori asks questions all over campus and soon learns that both girls were members of Lake Frat. The group plan secret parties at each other’s lakeside homes, away from prying eyes… and when the rope is linked to a boat from one of the parties, it’s clear the girls were killed by one of their own.

Does a psychopath walk amongst the university students, attend their classes, join in their parties, cheer at their sporting events all while plotting their next kill? The students ask Tori: could they be next? Someone has been hunting these girls. But Tori is a hunter, too… even if the prey is closer to home than she ever thought possible.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1247737.Roger_Stelljes

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0GYDXW4TBsocial

***

My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

HUNT YOU DOWN (Agent Tori Hunter Book #9) by Roger Stelljes is a diabolically twisted addition to the Agent Tori Hunter series that reminds me once again why I love these books. While each book continues to follow the lives and relationships of all the main characters and citizens of Manchester Bay, Minnesota, the author does an excellent job of encapsulating their stories and the criminal case in each, so they can each be easily read as a standalone crime thriller/police procedural.

Agent Tori Hunt is teaching Criminal Justice full-time now at the university, but when her partner Detective Sergeant Will Braddock gets an early morning call, he asks her to accompany him when he is told there is another murder of a university student. As the investigation heats up, Tori and Braddock discover the two dead girls were members of Lake Frat. The group consists of wealthy college students who use their family homes on the lakes for exclusive private parties, and they believe their killer is a member.

When a sting is set up for a probable suspect, it all goes awry. Tori is in a foot chase to capture the suspected killer and when he goes to trial, the case blows up in embarrassment for Tori and the prosecution in court when a third girl is killed in the same manner. Tori and Braddock know they are being manipulated but proving it beyond a reasonable doubt is the problem.

This is an excellent addition to this series! There are so many twists and red herrings in the criminal plot that I kept reading to the end. All the books in this series have had gripping criminal plots I have loved, but this is now my favorite. Tori and Braddock continue to be an intelligent pair of supportive and loving protagonists with the entire cast of secondary characters in the sheriff’s department giving the reader a strong police procedural. After these nine books, I feel like I am visiting old friends and cannot wait to return. This is a thriller series that checks all my boxes and leaves me wanting more.

I highly recommend this captivating criminal thriller/police procedural!

***

About the Author

Roger Stelljes is the acclaimed New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of pulse-pounding murder mystery and suspense novels, including the Tori Hunter and McRyan Mystery Series. Roger’s crime thrillers are noted for their fast-paced, yet intricate plots filled with layered and complex characters.

Roger started his first novel in July 2002 while on vacation in Minnesota’s Brainerd Lakes area and has been writing ever since. His debut book, The St. Paul Conspiracy, was nominated in genre fiction for the Minnesota Book Awards along with finalists Brian Freeman and William Kent Krueger. With his follow-up, Deadly Stillwater, where Vince Flynn hailed Roger as a “powerful new thriller voice”, he won the Midwest Independent Book Publishers award for commercial fiction.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Roger still lives there with his family. In addition to his work as an author, Roger is a partner in his law firm. Roger is an avid sports enthusiast and enjoys spending time outdoors boating, attending hockey games, and honing his golf game.

Mailing List: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/roger-stelljes

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rogerstelljesbooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rogerstelljes

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rogerstelljes.bsky.social

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/roger-stelljes

Book Review: The Old Girls’ Network by Judy Leigh

My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

THE OLD GIRLS’ NETWORK by Judy Leigh is an emotional roller coaster of a women’s fiction story with romantic elements featuring a trio of septuagenarians; two very different sisters and the man they befriend after hitting him with their car. I enjoy reading these small village British stories to compare and contrast with small town American stories.

Barbara and Pauline are sisters in their seventies who have never been close in location or attitude. Barbara is strait-laced, opinionated, and bossy, while Pauline is a friendly, open-minded, and homey. After a health scare, Barbara tells her sister she is coming to convalesce at her home in the small village of Winsleigh Green. The two soon begin to have trouble with each other.

When Pauline accidentally knocks down an apparent vagrant, Bisto, with her car, she invites him into her home to recuperate. Now as the three get to know each other they learn to embrace each other, let go of the past, and possibly make the changes they need to embrace fresh starts and new loves.

This is a charming story with three protagonists that will make you laugh, cry, and want to hug them all. And while I loved the main characters, the village members were just as eclectic and fun to follow. To read the changes brought on by both pain and/or love in all the characters’ interactions made this heart wrenching, heartwarming and ultimately very satisfying. It was also nice to see these characters in their 70’s find their HEAs and demonstrate that is never too late to change and find happiness and love.

I recommend this delightful women’s fiction.

***

About the Author

I’m Judy Leigh. I’ve lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently I live in Somerset. After teaching theatre, writing lyrics for a punk band and setting up Shakespeare Festivals, I completed an MA in Professional Writing. Since then, I have been writing novels and having the time of my life doing it.

I write ‘golden’ stories that feature characters of all ages, but focus on the lives of older people.

These novels celebrate communities, fun and friendship, love and the power of laughter, the belief that everyone should have another chance at happiness.

I also write under the name of Elena Collins, who was my grandmother. These are dual timeline historical stories, slightly spooky. Writing in this genre gives me the opportunity to focus on history and the lives of women then and now. Please take a look at my Elena Collins author page. I love writing in this genre and I know you’ll enjoy the stories.

I also write cozy crime under the name of JR Leigh. The Morwenna Mutton ‘Seal Bay’ series is set in a beautiful coastal town in Cornwall, and Morwenna is a sixty-something sleuth who gets into mischief solving local crimes.

In my second series, set in beautiful rural France, DI Archie Darling and his trusty Dalmatian companion Juno set off in their camper van to explore the surrounings, but uncover more than they expect.

.Please check out these books – I know you’ll love them.

When I’m not writing, I’m often on the beach or on the moors, walking, doing yoga or travelling. I’m a Reiki healer, a vegan, an interpreter of dreams and an animal lover. I have three black cats and I enjoy sunshine, conversation, laughter, travelling, live music, theatre and football.

Social Media Links

Website: https://judyleigh.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judyleighuk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judyrleigh/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-old-girls-network-by-judy-leigh

Feature Post and Book Review: Love on Beach Avenue by Jennifer Probst

Book Description

Avery Sunshine might not have a soul mate of her own, but she still believes in happily ever after—for her clients. Making dreams come true is her business at Sunshine Bridal, which she runs with her two sisters. When her best friend announces her engagement, Avery is thrilled to take charge of the giddy bride-to-be’s big day. Less thrilling? Her best friend’s arrogant and demanding brother, who just so happens to be the man of honor.

Carter Ross’s first instinct: call 911. He promised to always take care of his impulsive little sister, and he honors that vow. Even if it means taking over her wedding, where he is sure Avery will fail. At best, Avery is unpredictable. At worst, if she’s anything like the spitfire of a college girl he remembers, the main event could run wild.

With Avery and Carter wrestling for control, tempers heat up. So does the spark of attraction they’re fighting with every kiss. As the wedding draws near, it’s time to reconcile a rocky past and make a decision that could change everyone’s lives. Because what they’re rebelling against looks a lot like love.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50160315-love-on-beach-avenue?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=7nkK8ZCahV&rank=1

***

My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

LOVE ON BEACH AVENUE (The Sunshine Sisters Book #1) by Jennifer Probst is the first contemporary romance in a trilogy featuring the Sunshine sisters who own and run the top Jersey Shore bridal planning business located in Cape May. This first book is an enemies-to-lovers romance with the eldest workaholic Avery always believing her forever love is out there somewhere. An emotional, fun, and sexy start to the trilogy.

Avery Sunshine is excited when her college BFF, Ally, calls with the news she is getting married and she and her fiancée hope Avery can fit them in with little notice for her dream beach wedding. Avery is constantly busy, but she is determined to give Ally the wedding of her dreams. What she does not plan on is Ally’s staid older brother being her man of honor.

Carter Ross has been Ally’s guardian since the death of their parents. He has always put her first and wants her to have the best wedding ever, but he believes hiring Avery is a mistake. Avery and Carter butted heads during her and Ally’s college years and he still sees her as an impulsive and unpredictable influence.

As Avery and Carter battle over every decision and control of the wedding, sparks begin to fly and they discover they want more than just Ally’s happiness.

This is a wonderful introduction to the very different Sunshine sisters. Avery steers the company with an optimistic personality, but her life has become more work than play. Carter knows just how to get her ire up and he becomes just what she needs, for a while, but he has an emotional wall that is difficult to bring down. It is a great back and forth over Ally’s wedding and all the emotional baggage in-between. The secondary characters are funny, supportive, and are a bit of a peek into what I hope are the future sister matchups. I absolutely adored Lucy, Carter’s pampered dog. The dialogue, especially the intense banter between Avery and Carter, is great. The sex scenes are explicit and smokin’ hot while believable to the romance.

I really enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers romance and am looking forward to following the other Sunshine sisters to their HEAs.

***

About the Author

Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She holds a masters in English Literature and lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley in upstate New York. Her family keeps her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean. Her passions include horse racing, Scrabble, rescue dogs, Italian food, and wine—not necessarily in that order.

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance fiction. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, spent 26 weeks on the New York Times. Her work has been translated in over a dozen countries, sold over a million copies, and was dubbed a “romance phenom” by Kirkus Reviews. She has over fifty books published.

Social Media Links

Website: https://jenniferprobst.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferprobst.authorpage/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferprobst/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/love-on-beach-avenue-by-jennifer-probst

Feature Post and Book Review: Jove by Jack Davies

Book Description

Retired secret service agent Ron Eldon hunts his daughter’s killer, taking on the role of detective in a case that everyone says is suicide. Aided by his ex-colleague Yolanda Reddy, they are confronted by official obstructions, plagued by red herrings, confounded by false information, and tricked by a Russian spy who has history with Eldon from the Cold War. Leaving behind him a trail of bodies and a minefield of revelations, Eldon is beaten and captured before escaping to continue his crusade across London, Bristol, Cornwall, and Yorkshire. Ending with a shocking twist that reframes the story in a new and defining light, this spy thriller delves into Britain’scolonial past, present-day slavery, and Russia’s dirty tricks, uncovering truths that dare not speak their names.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243607679-jove?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=SKDAVmteZa&rank=1

***

My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

JOVE: A Novel by Jack Davies is an engrossing British espionage/crime thriller mash-up that gives the reader an exciting, action-packed story of a retired secret service father seeking justice for his daughter, Jove, the deception and double cross of British and Russian spies, and a far-right criminal conspiracy.

Retired secret service agent Ron Eldon is sent to identify the body of a young women who is believed to have committed suicide by jumping off the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. The young woman is his daughter, Jove, who is currently a secret service asset who followed her father into service. With the help of an ex-colleague, Eldon searches for information, but with official obstructions, kidnapping, murders, and a Russian spy from his past, Eldon will have to use all his experience to discover the truth and survive.

This novel is written with such intimacy and intrigue it is difficult to put down. As we meet and follow our protagonist, retired secret service Ron Eldon you feel as though he could walk right off the page. Eldon is not a super spy caricature, but a very human man. As you follow him throughout the story, the plot contains many red herrings, twists, and surprises that continue through the end of the book. Being a novel of spies, deception, and misinformation, I was continually guessing if what I was reading and being led to believe was true. The tie-in of the historical subplot of Bristol’s part in England’s slave trade is interesting and added to the questions and suspicions around Jove’s investigations into historical slave holders’ compensation, BLM, and right-wing extremists.

I highly recommend this smart and surprising British espionage/crime thriller mash-up!

***

About the Author

Jack Davies is an award-winning writer/director/producer based in London. Writer of published short stories, film scripts and poetry, he was shortlisted for the York Poetry Prize in 2020. He lives in London, UK.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.jackdaviesauthor.com/

Simon & Schuster: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Jove/Jack-Davies/9781917704557

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jove-Novel-Jack-Davies-ebook/dp/B0GYQ6QKN7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2M0QPWPPINGZ2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1Vk_P9gXD2ET2ssAkJr083Ms

Feature Post and Book Review: The Masala Chai Mystery Club by MJ Soni

Book Description

Retired librarian Neeti Shah was hoping for a restful life with her chai-loving friends, but when the body of a neighbor, a childhood friend of Neeti’s, turns up dead and the killer’s MO is similar to that of Neeti’s most recent book club read, things start to get out of control.

When Neeti hears a commotion at a neighbor’s house, she finds Rohit’s body sprawled across the bottom of the staircase with Agatha Christie’s Dumb Witness nearby. Blackmailing his neighbors, threatening them with lawsuits, and calling them by nasty nicknames were only some of the hateful things that made him so disliked. But were they angry enough to kill?

Neeti is indebted to her old friend, and she’s determined to find his killer. But she can’t do it alone, so she enlists her mystery-loving friends, the Masala Chai Mystery Club, to get to the bottom of the murder.

But Neeti and her club members need to be careful. As more bodies turn up and more suspects start to appear, they’ll need to find the killer before they end up in hot water!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243039861-the-masala-chai-mystery-club?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=73fJXvWbiL&rank=1

***

My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

THE MASALA CHAI MYSTERY CLUB by MJ Soni is an engaging debut cozy amateur sleuths murder mystery which features a cast of multi-cultural characters who come together to solve a murder in their HOA community with the added bonus of descriptions of mouth-watering food from around the world. This is a standalone cozy mystery, but I am hoping it will return as a series with the MCMC (Masala Chai Mystery Club) solving many more cases together into the future.

Neeti Shah has loved reading and books her entire life. She was the head librarian at her local library until she was forced into early retirement. While she feels rudderless without her job, and becoming a widow a few years ago, she does have her niece, Myra and nephew, Ved living with her and wonderful neighbors in her multi-cultural HOA.

As she sits on her porch with her best friend, they hear a terrible scream from across the street and rush over to see what is happening. Rohit, a friend from her childhood in India, lies dead at the bottom of his staircase with his wife nearby. Rohit was not well liked in their community and could be quite mean to his neighbors, but while everyone else feels it is an accident, Neeti feels the scene is not quite what it appears.

Neeti and her mystery loving neighbors form the Masala Chai Mystery Club and with the help of a local police officer begin to gather evidence to prove Rohit was murdered. Will they catch the killer before they strike again much closer to home?

I loved Neeti and her love of reading and books, “real” chai, and how she shared it and many flavorful dishes with her neighbors. As is common with a new cozy mystery cast of characters, especially in a community setting, it takes a bit to get names and descriptions untangled, but it is worth it for the rich cultural mixing pot in this neighborhood. This is a well written debut mystery plot full of red herrings and surprises that kept me guessing and changing my mind on the identity of the killer multiple times. I also enjoyed the homage to Agatha Christie’s The Dumb Witness.

This is an enjoyable cozy mystery read with a great new cast of characters and wonderful food and recipes to try and share.

***

About the Author

MJ Soni’s heartwarming debut, the Masala Chai Mystery Club, is to be released in July 2026.

It’s a murder mystery about badass diverse women, featuring a saree-wearing amateur sleuth, warm communities, and a dash of humor, and draws upon her love of the culture and cuisine of her diverse Indian, African, and American background.

She is also the author of DEFYING APARTHEID, her part-memoir about being a doctor activist in apartheid South Africa.

Social Media Links

Website: https://mjsoniauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjsoniauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjsoniauthor/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-masala-chai-mystery-club-by-mj-soni

Feature Post and Book Review: The Quiet Kill by Robert Bryndza

Book Description

Winter, 1987. Detective Jamie Day arrives in London determined to prove himself. After years policing a quiet seaside town, his promotion to the Metropolitan Police feels like the opportunity he has been waiting for.

But the capital is a very different world.

On his first day in plain clothes, Jamie makes a grim discovery: the dismembered body of a young man, left in a dark corner of the city. What should have been a routine first shift quickly becomes the beginning of a major murder investigation.

Then another victim is found.

As winter deepens, young men are being killed late at night across London, their bodies discovered in eerily similar circumstances. The detectives soon realise they may be hunting a serial killer.

Working alongside a tough and experienced team, Jamie must prove he belongs while navigating the pressures of a high-profile investigation. But as the case grows darker, the killer’s pattern begins to emerge. And if they don’t stop him soon, another body will be waiting in the shadows.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246299368-the-quiet-kill?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=nyHxyZKINL&rank=1

***

My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

THE QUIET KILL (Detective Jamie Day Book #1) by Robert Bryndzna is the beginning of a new murder mystery series set in 1987 London and featuring a newly minted detective from a small English seaside town thrown into a big city murder investigation with an already cohesive group of seasoned detectives. I was excited to dive into this chilling criminal murder investigation set in the 1980s with a new group of characters from one of my favorite authors and I was not disappointed.

Detective Jamie Day is on his way to his new position as a plain clothes detective in London when he is detoured to go to the location of a discovered dismembered body. Immediately thrown into a major murder investigation, Jamie knows he must prove himself, but he is having trouble fitting into the already tight group of murder detectives. DCI Harry Dean takes him under his wing and helps him navigate his new position, colleagues, and the big city.

Dismembered bodies of young gay men continue to be discovered, and the detectives soon realize they have a serial killer in London. Can Jamie help find the killer and prove he belongs in his new job to his colleagues?

This is a fast-paced, intense introduction to a new group of characters from Mr. Bryndza that kept me engrossed in not only the gritty murder mystery, but also the differences in investigation techniques and technologies from the 1980s. It does not seem that long ago to me, but the differences in criminal investigations and technology have been immense in the last 40 to 50 years. While the killer is known in this story, the chase to catch him is what pulls you in. It is an intense, dark story that highlights the fear and ignorance of AIDS and the immergence of a more open gay culture in 1980s London. The investigative plot is realistic and leads to a satisfying conclusion. I am looking forward to seeing how these characters progress in future books in the series.

I highly recommend this suspenseful start to a new murder mystery series!

***

About the Author

Robert Bryndza is an international bestselling author, best known for his page-turning crime and thriller novels, which have sold over five million copies.

His crime debut, The Girl in the Ice was released in February 2016, introducing Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster. Within five months it sold one million copies, reaching number one in the Amazon UK, USA and Australian charts. To date, The Girl in the Ice has sold over 1.5 million copies in the English language and has been sold into translation in 29 countries. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller (2016), the Grand prix des lectrices de Elle in France (2018), and it won two reader voted awards, The Thrillzone Awards best debut thriller in The Netherlands (2018) and The Dead Good Papercut Award for best page turner at the Harrogate Crime Festival (2016).

Robert has released a further five novels in the Erika Foster series, The Night Stalker, Dark Water, Last Breath, Cold Blood and Deadly Secrets, all of which have been global bestsellers, and in 2017 Last Breath was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Mystery and Thriller. Fatal Witness, the seventh Erika Foster novel, has just been published.

Most recently, Robert created a new crime thriller series based around the central character Kate Marshall, a police officer turned private detective. The first book, Nine Elms, was an Amazon USA #1 bestseller and an Amazon UK top five bestseller, and the series has been sold into translation in 18 countries. The second book in the series is the global bestselling, Shadow Sands and the third book, Darkness Falls.

Robert was born in Lowestoft, on the east coast of England. He studied at Aberystwyth University, and the Guildford School of Acting, and was an actor for several years, but didn’t find success until he took a play he’d written to the Edinburgh Festival. This led to the decision to change career and start writing. He self-published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels, before switching to writing crime. Robert lives with his husband in Slovakia, and is lucky enough to write full-time.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.robertbryndza.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bryndzarobert/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertbryndza/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-quiet-kill-by-robert-bryndza