Select Kindle eBooks: The Subway: A Suspense Thriller or The Forty Elephants

Original Post

I'm a member of a couple book clubs. We all switched over to ebooks when the libraries shut down a couple years ago, and it actually worked out great for most of us! No more running around looking for a book or reserving something three months in advance like the old days. Most of the books we read are 99 cents (or even free with kindle unlimited), which makes our hobby very affordable. We meet about once a week and usually have 2 or 3 books going at a time. That way nobody feels left out and there's always something to discuss. I try to take notes on the books we read, usually just a 3x5 card, sometimes just a scribble on a napkin. Anyway, we read some good stuff and I want to give back to Slickdeals for all the good deals you've given me over the years. I hope you like the books I recommend. If so, please leave a comment below. If not, let me know anyway


1) The Subway: A Suspense Thriller by Dustin Stevens (2017) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0783N7QT7

This one came to our group from Neighbor Nick. He's our resident expert on all things "criminal". By that I mean he loves a good crime story! So when he recommended "The Subway" I knew we were in for a good time. The story moves along quickly, characters and plot lines intertwine and you have to pay attention to the story or you'll get lost. The characters sound authentic and everyone matters. There is no filler in this book to waste your time. I read this one straight through and I bet you will too! (By the way: this book has nothing to do with trains!)


2) The Forty Elephants: A Novel by Erin Bledsoe (2022) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TTCK2SQ

Another crime story for the weekend, but this one is different for a few reasons. One, it's based on a very real cast of criminal characters, and two: those criminals are women - a troupe of female hustlers and thieves! Now, I'm not one to glorify crime, but we all love a good anti-hero and this story has quite a few to cheer for. Plus, it's set in 1920s London so picture Charles Dickens after the Great War. It's a very different angle on the period and I enjoyed this one from cover to cover. PS: after reading this book, I looked them up and just like the book says, these women were some tough cookies! Very successful criminals, maybe not like Al Capone but not far off.


3) The Lawyer's Plea: A Legal Thriller by Freya Atwood (2022) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BB8M66GY

Another one from Neighbor Nick and the newest book in our reading list. (Warning: DON'T READ THE REVIEWS. Spoilers everywhere.) This is a tight legal thriller with courtroom action. I'd be surprised if they don't turn this into a TV movie soon. The characters have depth and emotion, the story can make you stop and scream and say "No, wait. WHAT?" all in a few pages. That to me is a good book. PS: this is Book 1 in a series of 2 books (so far). Both books are 99 cents. I haven't read the second title yet but it's on my reading list!


4) Home for Christmas: An Enemies to Lovers, Winter Vacation Romantic Comedy by Camilla Isley (2022) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09H7PYVQD

OK, Halloween is over and I'm ready for Christmas. Gimme snow snow snow! LOL! This next title comes from Judith in my original book club. She knows I love the holidays and she sent me this recomendation just in time for November. So glad she did! This is a perfect light read for my favorite holiday. OK, about the book: Let's face it, "Home for Christmas" is a fairly simple story, but it's also fun and easy to read. Seems like the entire plot could have been resolved with a quick phone call, but where's the fun in that??!! Instead, we get some silly, light-hearted misunderstandings, some light tension, and a happy ending. That's what I'm looking for this time of year. I want to put my feet up, have a few laughs, maybe spill some wine and enjoy myself. This book put me in a good mood and I hope you enjoy it too.

5) The Kitchen Maid by Val Wood (2011) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VS7D0W

I'm not a fan of romance novels in general, so when my group suggested this title I was apprehensive. I'm so glad I gave it a try. First of all, it's not a romance novel overall, even though there is romance in it. Secondly, I loved the setting and the period. Third, the author pays attention to the little period details that so often derail a historical story like this. The plot may sound familiar at first, but don't let that put you off. The characters are interesting and the story compelling. This one is definitely worth reading, I hope you like it.


And now, here are some of my old favorites that are still only 99 cents each. Most publishers jack up the price on ebooks after they've been out awhile so I'm surprised that these are still only 99 cents. More great ebooks at a great price:


6) Last Train to Cairo by Paul Q. Cohen (2021) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093YSBCD7

This travel memoir tells the story of a couple's trip across Egypt after the revolution a few years ago. Let's just say the trip doesn't always go right but the author is very open about what they see and do. They make a few bad choices but move forward anyway. The author's prose captivates with vivid descriptions and engaging dialogue. I felt like I was traveling with them, eating with them, walking with them, even sweating with them, lol! This is not a travel guide, but you will learn what it's really like to visit the pyramids and many other sights all over Egypt. I'm not sure I'm brave enough to take this trip, but after reading this book I already feel like I've been to Egypt!


7) Lay Me to Rest by E.A. Clark (2017) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07235NKWT

We picked this one for our group a couple years ago. It's a haunted house mystery that takes place in Wales. The setting is gorgeous, the story moves quickly, and the ending is worth the wait. This is a perfect book for late autumn. Grab your favorite glass of wine, turn down the lights, and put your feet up by the fire. I bet you'll get chills and have to turn on a light or two before you're done with this one! Isn't that why we read these books?! I hope you love it like we did.


8) The Hidden Hand of Death by Lawrence J. Epstein (2020) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086T371T7

Another great mystery and murder book series. Start here with Book 1. Setting is World War 2 in New York City. There are Nazis and Mobsters and Bad Cops and Good Cops and great moody settings and characters and dialogue. It's like reading your fave film noir or TV detective. A short book you'll finish in a couple hours and move on to the next I bet. There are 7 books in the series they're all 99 cents each so the price is right.


9) Unwanted by C.J. Petit (2021) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KCL7C13

This one is a classic Western novel by a well-established author. It brings together a couple "unwanted" people - characters who nobody else seems to love or like. The thing I liked about this book was the time period and the setting. I won't say I loved the plot (no spoilers!) but I like Westerns overall so this one was an easy choice for me. This is Book 1 in a series but all the ebooks are 99 cents each so it's a good value I think.


10) Lost Contact by Nathan Hystad (2021) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TJ3GJ3T

Another recommendation from my son, the sci-fi nut. Caveat: As mentioned a few times before, I try not recommend books that are part 1 of a series, because sometimes the story has a cliffhanger and you have to buy the next book to get the ending (just seems greedy). But my son said look at the description: "The Da Vinci Code meets Contact". These are literally 2 of my favorite books so I gave it a try. It's not quite the academic level of Carl Sagan or the fun of Dan Brown, but the premise definitely holds up and the writing is smart (sometimes too smart for me!). I'm going to recommend these at group and I hope you give it a try too.


Note to mods: Please don't make this a frontpage deal. I like it just the way it is. Thanks!