BookTrib’s Bites: From Thrillers and Mysteries to Memoirs and More

(NewsUSA) –  We’re All Mad Here: An (In)Elegant Memoir by Marie KuipersPeer behind the curtain of one fiercely opinionated and unapologetically peculiar woman’s unhinged life. If her upbringing in Dirty Jerz and her narcissistic mother aren’t enough, add a psychotic catfishing ex-husband, a lifesaving Solo cup, heaps of grief, and a dash of Lyme, and you’ve got the recipe for a (mostly) hilarious roller-coaster ride of a read.Experience the epiphany that saves a beloved rooster from an evil HOA Karen. Bond over such atrocities as puke, the patriarchy, and plus-sized effrontery. Find unexpected solace in a simple feather.This collection of sketches forms the gooey center of a Venn diagram for “dark,” “irreverent,” and “raucously funny.”For everyone who has dreamed of conquering calamity, embracing chaos, or banging a hot vampire, We’re All Mad Here plunges you into a maelstrom of heartbreak, hilarity, and, finally, forgiveness. Purchase at https://amzn.to/4jP0KFh.Under the Charcoal Sky by John H. CunninghamAfter a life-changing discovery, Buck Reilly embarks on his greatest adventure, which threatens to be his last. The identity of the woman who gave him life is a closely guarded secret for reasons that go far beyond her own short existence. As Buck pursues information that has been fiercely hidden in Scotland for generations, it puts him and his friends in the crosshairs of a secret society whose sole purpose is to eliminate any threat of exposing the truth. Their lives depend on Buck finding missing ancient documents and treasure, impossibly fast, or they will all be killed.The breathless pace will carry readers deep into the night as Buck races against the clock to overcome a double-cross that will cut him to the core as he faces off against the coldest, most brutal circumstances one could endure. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3W9UfT8.Puppied to Death by C.B. WilsonA murder, an ancient rivalry, and a puppy you can’t help but love…A frantic plea from her sister sends Cat Hawl on a rescue mission to Hawaii. What should’ve been a simple mediation between Lani and their mother turns deadly. Not only is a tea sommelier murdered, but a puppy has turned the crime scene into a dog’s breakfast, and Cat’s trouble-prone sister is nowhere to be found.Since the police suspect the worst, it’s up to Cat to dig deeper. With her mother and Miss Marple Mahjong Mama’s help, Cat uncovers an ancient rivalry rooted in the Forbidden City. Can a thousand-year-old tea reading be the cause of the current puppy pandemonium and mounting body count?Puppied to Death is the charming ninth book in the Barkview Mysteries series, with characters out of their comfort zones, spectacular twists, and plenty of paw-friendly humor. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3PoCzQ2.My Bully, My Aunt & Her Final Gift by Harold PhiferSometimes the death of a loved one can fix your pain. Here’s a funeral that turned into a comedy show. The death of the author’s evil aunt taught him a lot about grief, love, loss, resentment and redemption. After her death, he was tasked with the job of putting together a memorial that no one wanted to attend.It’s far from grim — there’s laughter until the end.Most of the story is recreated from real-life experiences of a misguided kid. Readers will be shocked by the darkness and behaviors of a close blood relative. Logic and Aunt Kathy never coexisted, whereas her philosophies and arbitrary enforcements kept the author off-balance for much of his young life. Somehow, he survived the chaos, abuse, and despicable treatment then and found another way. This story pulls back the covers to that sick, twisted, and formative relationship the author had to endure. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3PZlNqQ.