The Devoted by Catherine Cho

July 12, 2026

The Devoted by Catherine Cho

Eunha is a Korean woman living in Hong Kong. Her father is a Dragon Head, the leader of one of the notorious Triad families that make up organized crime in the city. Although her grandmother tries to shield her from the Triads' influence, it's always there in the background. When her son is kidnapped, Eunha finds herself pulled into the Triads' sphere as she mistrusts everyone around her. Even marrying the love of her life comes at a cost.

An intense story that triggers a wide range of emotions from heartbreak to dread to anger to triumph. Told from Eunha's POV in two separate timelines, the story focuses on her growth and coming to terms with not being able to escape her past, that she has to seize control of her fate with both hands in order to secure the future that she wants for herself and her sons. Up until that point, she is more of a passive observer of life around her, reacting to the actions of the men in her life and doing as she is told. I would like to say that this is unique to her story but women all over the world living in patriarchal or male-dominated societies experience this. At times, I was as devastated as Eunha by the revelations about those she trusted and her realization that she couldn't trust anyone. Characters were well-developed and multi-layered. Themes include family, loyalty, forbidden love, betrayal, honor and revenge. If you're expecting Mafia violence a la The Godfather, this isn't that book.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Red City by Marie Liu

October 14, 2025

Red City by Marie Liu

Two young magicians in training, Sam and Ali, are recruited by two rival magic syndicates who control Angel City. The Lumines and Grand Central have maintained a polite balance of powers in Angel City for decades, but their relationship is becoming strained, mostly because of a highly coveted alchemical substance called sand. Sand enhances everything: beauty, intelligence, charisma, desirability, sexual prowess. But now Sam and Ali realize that their organizations are going to pit them against each other.

This was recommended to me by Edelweiss because I have read most of V. E. Schwab's books, and I do love me some V. E. Schwab. It's supposed to be the author's first adult novel, but it reads pretty YA to me. I enjoyed the multiple points of view. The story moves slowly in the first two sections and I really didn't connect at all with the characters. This is the first book of a new series and the ending makes that pretty obvious - not exactly a cliffhanger or sitting on the edge of my chair waiting for the next volume. Possible triggers include graphic sex, murder, explicit violence, organized crime mentality/politics.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

City of Dreams by Don Winslow

May 5, 2025

City of Dreams by Don Winslow

After double-crossing the Moretti crime family in Rhode Island, Danny Ryan flees the east coast for California with his father, his toddler son, and the remnants of his Irish crew. He just wants a quiet life, to start over with his child. But federal agents contact him about doing them a favor; in return, they will help his problems from his old life go away. But then Danny learns that one of the film studios is making a movie based on the crime wars back in Providence, and he decides he wants in on the project.

The second book in the Danny Ryan trilogy, sequel to City on Fire, picks up exactly where the previous book leaves off. Loosely based on Vergil's Aeneid, which is the sequel to Homer's Iliad. Danny insists (a little too much) that he wants to go straight and live a quiet life, but just like the leopard, Danny can't change his spots: crime and bad decisions just seem to find him. All of the characters except Danny's son display some moral ambiguity - no one is all bad or all good. Furthermore, there is a pervading sense of tragedy that affects all the characters. Doesn't work as a stand-alone novel - you need to read the previous book to really understand what is going on here. I can't wait to get the final book in the trilogy, City in Ruins.

City on Fire by Don Winslow

March 16, 2025

City on Fire by Don Winslow

Danny Ryan is a small-time gangster working for the Irish mob in Providence, Rhode Island, working on the docks and trying to support his little family. Although there has been an uneasy truce between the Irish and the local Italian gang, their peace is shattered when one of the Irish takes the girlfriend of one of the Italians, triggering all-out war between the two factions. As he watches his friends fall, Danny finds himself reluctantly thrust into a leadership role as he tries to find a way to resolve the conflict before more deaths occur.

A modern day retelling of Homer's Iliad, like The Iliad crossed paths with Mario Puzo's The Godfather. I had to go back and make a list of the characters in the Iliad to try and match up the players who represent who (the Achilles character is not who you think it is at first but once I connected the actions, the character absolutely fit). There is even a Trojan horse of sorts. And who doesn't love a good mafia book? Themes include revenge, fate, respect, loyalty, and moral ambiguity. This is the first book of a trilogy. Another good Winslow read is California Fire & Life, a less complicated story but still a very good read. Recommended for readers who enjoyed The Godfather or Casino, especially if you are of a literary bent and are familiar with The Iliad.

Providence, Rhode Island

Mermaid Confidential by Tim Dorsey

October 9, 2022

Mermaid Confidential by Tim Dorsey

Florida's very own wacko historian Serge Storms and his stoner BFF Coleman are once again on the the road, exploring the glories of their fair state. This time, Serge decides it's time for them to investigate that quintessential Florida experience, condo living in the Keys. They find the perfect 1970's condo and quickly meet the neighbors and integrate into the local culture. But when criminals, South American mobsters, and unscrupulous doctors rear their ugly heads. it's up to Serge to right the wrongs for his new friends.

Serge Storms is my favorite anti-hero, living by his own moral code and killing those who really need killing. I enjoy the Serge Storms novels, although I realize they're not for everyone. You don't have to read the books in order, but I would suggest starting with the first two. In this installment, he even explains that the title of a book doesn't really have to have anything to do with the story (and there are no mermaids in this one).

The causeway that connects the Florida Keys

November Road by Lou Berney

December 2, 2019

November Road by Lou Berney

Frank Guidry is a trusted mob lieutenant for organized crime boss Carlos Marcello in New Orleans.  After President Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Guidry finds that he is unwittingly involved in the assassination since he drove a Cadillac Eldorado to Dallas a few days earlier and left it near Dealey Plaza for his boss's hired sniper to use as a getaway car if necessary.  When two of his associates turn up dead, Guidry realizes that Marcello is killing off anyone who knows about his (Marcello's) involvement with the assassination, and that he (Guidry) needs to disappear fast.  As he races west to get away from the hitman who is hot on his trail, he encounters a woman named Charlotte traveling with two her children and their dog, stranded when their car broke down.  Guidry quickly decides that that they are just the camouflage he needs to get to Las Vegas undetected, never expecting to fall in love with Charlotte and visualize a new life with her and her family.

Since the day the Warren Commission issued their findings that John F. Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper (Lee Harvey Oswald) who was working alone, a majority of Americans have doubted the commission’s report.  In 1979, the U.S. House Select Committee on Assassinations issued their own report that the Kennedy assassination was most likely the result of a conspiracy.  Volumes have been written about who the real killer was, and conspiracy suspects include (but are not limited to) the CIA, the KGB, Fidel Castro’s Cuban government, and organized crime.

This is a work of literary fiction masquerading as a crime novel set against the backdrop of the Kennedy assassination, not an in-depth examination of the crime.  Generally speaking, I’m not a fan of books about the Mafia or organized crime, but Berney’s novel is based on the assumption that the assassination WAS a mob conspiracy.  In addition to an intriguing “what-if” plot, Berney’s characters are three-dimensional and fully-fleshed rather than being flat clichés.  Guidry isn’t a crude thug, but a thinking man who questions others’ and his own actions.  A heroic act is completely within his nature, and like any good noir character, Guidry is totally capable of unexpectedly falling for a good dame.  If you enjoy a complex historical thriller, I highly recommend November Road.