Month: November 2022

THE FIRST HARM by Steven Piskula

November 29, 2022 / Kyle Wendy Skultety / 0 Comments

A first-year medical student determined to do everything right . . . discovers something very wrong. Now somebody wants her dead. Tanna Christensen spent countless hours planning for her first gross anatomy dissection, but nothing could have prepared her for what she found. Beneath her scalpel lies a cadaver riddled with disturbing genetic abnormalities—evidence pointing to an unthinkable crime. Tanna believes her discovery is the tip of a terrifying secret that goes far deeper than a single corpse. But when her investigation leads to a brutal murder, a lethal cover-up threatens to destroy the future she once dreamed of. And now she’s the next target. Afraid and on the run, Tanna must expose the truth before more lives are lost—including her own. Or is it already too late?

Thanks to the author, BookSirens, Hidden Gems Books, and editors Jim Thomsen and David Gatewood for this ARC!

THE FIRST HARM is an excellent first outing by author Steven Piskula. There is suspense, mystery, sci-fi medicine, and a strong female lead character. Aspiring physician Tanna is drawn into a conspiracy when she secretly dissects a corpse that has an unusual anatomy glitch. Soon, her world comes crashing down around her as she is hunted mercilessly to prevent her from sharing her knowledge with the world. She finds an unlikely ally in an emotionally damaged former biker, Jason, who gets caught up in the whirlwind cat-and-mouse game purely by accident.

Tanna is a strong character, yet weak at the same time. She is filled with self-doubt and sometimes hesitates when she should be acting. She is full of dogged persistence, however, as she never gives up in her quest to uncover the truth. At times I wished she would stop second-guessing herself and be confident; this was probably the most frustrating thing about the story.

There is a love-to-hate self-aggrandizing head scientist, Dr Craig Emmerson, who is the head of Modern Genetics, a futuristic but entirely plausible company doing some unethical research. He is arrogant, narcissistic, and brilliant. Even though he was the baddest of villains, I enjoyed reading his innermost thoughts and learning about his evil intentions. I would be eager to see a prequel with him as the center of attention (this fictional character would LOVE that!) to learn more about his journey as he created Modern Genetics.

I did feel dubious about Jason, who is an addict who just wants to be high so he can escape his demons. He is very rough around the edges, but no fool, as he helps Tanna escape some precarious situations. As the book progresses, they become more of a cohesive team while the action ratchets up. I was definitely turning those pages to see what was going to happen next!

The author’s writing style is straightforward and easy to read. His ability to create the sci-f medicine of Modern Genetics is amazing and thought provoking, as his creation of other characters, some of which may be unreliable narrators. I was not sure who I should trust as the book progressed, and the ending was satisfactory without being abrupt or inconclusive. There were twists along the way that held my interest and I could not predict how the book would end. Piskula is an accomplished screenwriter with an MFA, and his talent shines bright in THE FIRST HARM. It was a wonderful read.

Want your own copy? You can pick it up here.

THE LINDBERGH NANNY by Mariah Fredericks

November 15, 2022 / Kyle Wendy Skultety / 0 Comments

When the most famous toddler in America, Charles Lindbergh, Jr., is kidnapped from his family home in New Jersey in 1932, the case makes international headlines. Already celebrated for his flight across the Atlantic, his father, Charles, Sr., is the country’s golden boy, with his wealthy, lovely wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, by his side. But there’s someone else in their household—Betty Gow, a formerly obscure young woman, now known around the world by another name: the Lindbergh Nanny. A Scottish immigrant deciphering the rules of her new homeland and its East Coast elite, Betty finds Colonel Lindbergh eccentric and often odd, Mrs. Lindbergh kind yet nervous, and Charlie simply a darling. Far from home and bruised from a love affair gone horribly wrong, Betty finds comfort in caring for the child, and warms to the attentions of handsome sailor Henrik, sometimes known as Red. Then, Charlie disappears. Suddenly a suspect in the eyes of both the media and the public, Betty must find the truth about what really happened that night, in order to clear her own name—and to find justice for the child she loves.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this review copy!

It’s always satisfying to read a well-written historical fiction book, especially when it’s about an event that is integral to American history (the Federal Kidnapping Act was created as a result of this heinous crime). I didn’t know that much about the Lindbergh kidnapping, only that the famous aviator lost his 1-year-old child Charlie, and the baby was never seen alive again. I also was reminded that this took place in central NJ, close to where I live. Learning as I read makes a book more appealing, and this novel did not disappoint.

This story is told in the first person of the nanny herself, Betty Gow. Her love for Lindbergh Jr. is greatly professed and makes the story all the more poignant. Lindbergh Sr. is described as a gruff, sometimes joyless man while his wife seems content to live in his shadow. Gow feels guilty because she thinks Charlie is bonded with her, stronger than with either of his parents. She takes her job seriously and blames herself for not being there for Charlie, preventing the kidnapping.

Gow is written as a sympathetic character, while the others in the Lindbergh’s circle of servants are all potentially unreliable narrators. Gow does her best to try to find the guilty party while being questioned by the police multiple times. She never gives up hope until she finally identifies his body at the morgue. Her emotions are what makes her character stand out; ironically enough, Lindbergh Sr. is written as a man who despises emotions. Gow sees him as somewhat of an automaton, more interested in engines and science rather than his human wife and child. Despite her misgivings, she tries to win his favor, both before and after Charlie is kidnapped.

All the Lindbergh servants start turning on each other, laying blame back and forth until I wasn’t sure who was telling the truth or not. I definitely think I enjoyed the book more by not knowing who, if any, of the servants were to blame. Each character is described well and their motivations for orchestrating the kidnapping seem accurate. The author creates suspense as she advances the plot and I was completely enthralled with how I developed emotions towards the characters, especially Violet. I thoroughly disliked her and was frustrated when Gow tried to sympathize with her. I believe she must have been suffering with depression or some other affliction, considering her actions towards the end of the book.

The author also did an excellent job of describing the inside of the houses as well as the surrounding landscape. I found it interesting that Hopewell NJ was noted as being far away from the beaten path, while now it’s quite populated.

As the story came to an end, I found chapter 31 to be one of my favorites. As Gow takes a final visit to the house in Hopewell, the desolation is apparent:

She uses her old keys to unlock the door. Inside the air is stale with dust and emptiness. Much of the furniture has been left behind. It’s been covered in cloth. The sofa, the coffee table, the grandfather clock – all bodies dressed for burial and eternal silence. Elsie and I part to explore the rooms we can bear. I step into the kitchen, which is empty, the cabinet doors all open for some reason. Peek into the servants’ sitting room, where there is only a chair and the card table. One lamp with its plug pulled out. There are memories to be conjured if I want to. I find I don’t want to. Better to leave these as blank, meaningless spaces. Like the sofa and the clock, cover the feelings in anesthetizing white cloth. And leave them behind.

This paragraph sums up Gow’s emptiness, a hole that cannot ever be filled, a chapter in her life best left alone lest the utter insanity of it take her over.

THE LINDBERGH NANNY examines this tragedy from another point of view, and Fredericks does an excellent job. Even if you are familiar with aspects of this story, you will enjoy this book.

Want to read it? You can pick up your copy here:

MEN OF 18 IN 1918 by Frederick James Hodges

November 1, 2022 / Kyle Wendy Skultety / 0 Comments

In the spring of 1918 German forces broke through Allied lines in a last-ditch attempt to overcome their enemies. To hold back this tide young, inexperienced men from France, Britain, the United States, Australia and Canada were sent into war against battle-hardened and desperate German soldiers. What was it like to be an eighteen-year-old and sent to the frontlines in the First World War? Frederick James Hodges was one of these young men and his book, Men of 18 in 1918, provides insight into the ordeals of an ordinary soldier who left Britain as a teenager but returned as a man having witnessed the full horrors of war. Hodges charts his progress through the conflict from his short period of training to being thrown into defending Allied lines against the onslaught before being ordered, as part of Britain’s prime assault troops, into a ninety-five-day non-stop attack which only ended with the armistice of November 1918.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for this review copy!

The author tells a terrifying and true story of his experience in one of the most brutal wars known to man.

His memories of names, places, and battles is amazing – a good part of the book is recollections of the men he knew and their fate. At times I did find it tedious to read name after name, but I understand that the author wanted to ensure that they weren’t forgotten over time. The descriptions of life in the trenches are full of detail and heartbreaking to read. Boys that turned eighteen were eligible to enlist for battle, and by the time they turned nineteen they were hardened men, inured to death and destruction.

The story follows Hodges as he enlists, trains, and eventually is called up to the Western Front. Even though he is only involved in the war for a brief time, he experiences an immense amount of physical and mental struggles. Despite these hardships, Hodges continually writes that his experience in the war is exhilarating and fascinating. He and his fellow soldiers try to make the best of their days as they bond and support each other.

One thing I enjoyed about this book is how the author described his surroundings as a juxtaposition to the horrors around him. He mentions singing birds, fields of poppies, and bright blue skies, and makes sure to note that he is able to appreciate the world around him as nature continues to thrive despite the horrors of war and the bloody casualties.

The author includes many anecdotes about how the soldiers pass the time by talking about life back home and making lighthearted jokes. Each soldier is doing his best to fight the Germans (known as “Jerry” among the men) and maintain their hold on the Western Front. There are also stories about the tedious tasks that must be done: polishing their weapons, digging out trenches, and repairing the miles of barbed wire that provided a barrier to No Mans Land.

This story is poignant and gripping at the same time. I enjoyed the author’s insights on his harrowing experience as well as the opinions he shared about the war. His writing style is easy to read, and you will learn about life in the trenches firsthand. The more I read about WW1, the more I respect the men that gave their lives for this pointless conflict. I highly recommend this book.

You can pick up your copy here.