IndieReader Discovery Awards 2025 Entrants
Added as our reviewers read them, find the latest verdicts for the 2025 IndieReader Discovery Award entrants, leading up to the big winner announcement in June!
The re-release of prolific author Linda Lappin’s first novel, THE ETRUSCAN, introduces a new audience to this atmospheric tale, set in Italy. American photographer Harriet Sackett travels to Italy in 1922 in order to research and photograph tombs and artifacts. When her letters back to her girlhood friend Sarah (married to Harriet’s cousin Stephen) become erratic, Stephen sends their housekeeper Mrs. Parsons to Italy, who discovers Harriet ill and near death. In an effort to piece together what happened, they find Harriet’s strange diary, which tells of an obsessive romance with a man who doesn’t seem to exist, and hints at old magic, while bringing to light old family secrets. Lappin’s writing is sensory and often beautiful and the deft gothic renderings pay homage to Bram Stoker and Daphne du Maurier. The perfect fireside read for a blustery winter’s night.
HOLDING IT TOGETHER by Robert MacNeil Christie, PhD, offers a timely and deeply analytical exploration of the systemic challenges facing our world as it transitions from industrial to ecological civilization. With a strong foundation in social psychology and decades of research, Christie examines the intersection of social control, environmental crises, and human agency, providing a thought-provoking blueprint for societal transformation. This book is a compelling read for those seeking a profound understanding of our era’s critical issues and potential pathways forward.
NO BIG DEAL by Dean Brownrout offers an insightful and candid dive into the music industry circa 1980-2000, chronicling the gritty realities of the indie record business at the tail end of its golden age. Brownrout’s clever storytelling and colorful tales, from his interactions with punk luminaries to his journey through industry changes, make for a nostalgic yet educational read for music fans while expertly portraying the rollercoaster of ambition and creativity.
JOURNEYING HOME by Emily Saxe Nydam is an emotional historical fiction tale that spans generations as serendipitous fate weaves both through the life of a World War era nurse aspiring to make a difference and through her great niece decades later, striving to uncover the story of her great aunt to ensure she is not forgotten to history.
Jerry Schaefer’s FROM PATRIARCHY TO PARADISE (It’s about time) is an insightful examination of human history from a patriarchal perspective. Schaefer explores the causes and effects of patriarchal structures, revealing how they influenced countries and providing a positive outlook for reform. By fusing historical insights with thoughts on collective healing and progress, these concise and captivating text pushes readers to reconsider their viewpoints.
For nearly 30 years, a beloved “family member” maid has a past that never comes to light until after her death, when author Sandra Schnakenburg learns the story of THE HOUSEKEEPER’S SECRET. This memoir shares a personal story of love, truth, and perseverance. Digging through tunnels of familial despair brings the story to a sad yet satisfying ending.
This tender, graceful novel highlights the devotion of family as the spark of life begins to fade in a beloved mother suffering from dementia. Gilbert skilfully mirrors the autobiographical tale of his mother’s decline with the shifting state of the natural beauty of Maine’s coastline amid relentless development. Though frequently heartbreaking, CONVERSATIONS WITH MY MOTHER ultimately glows with the enduring power of love.
R.A.Ruegg’s THE MAKING OF BRIO McPRIDE is two novels in one: fifteen year-old Bree (also known as Brio) faces too many challenges in their short life – no mother, school bullies, missing father, and severe mental health issues. A bevy of experts surround them for diagnosis, yet Brio only feels ‘free’ when writing a look-alike Lord of the Rings novel. Both fictional journeys experience ups and downs – encountering very interesting characters and adult insights that will inspire readers.
TOUGH TIMES, GREAT PR by Seamus Phan offers a pragmatic and insightful exploration of public relations strategies tailored for navigating challenging economic climates. The book excels in delivering actionable advice, including case studies and a step-by-step approach to leveraging PR during recessions, making it an invaluable resource for business leaders. Phan’s ability to distill complex concepts into digestible, practical tips ensures readers walk away equipped to enhance their brand’s resilience and visibility.
FIONA FOX by Nancy Packes is a beautifully illustrated tale that captures the heart with its poetic storytelling and themes of resourcefulness and kindness. Fiona’s clever solutions to feed her family during the harsh winter and her acts of reconciliation with the forest animals make this a touching and memorable read. Its vivid imagery and warm message about community and sharing make it a delightful book for readers of all ages.
In classic-southern style, this slow build tale ramps up to unexpected twists and turns; MYSTERIES OF THE SOUTHERN GOTHIC does not disappoint in shocking murder mystery admissions. Author Jessica Carrasquillo creates a chilling tale highlighting the lengths the human mind will go to protect through buried memory as she blends trauma, love, familial bonds, and the ultimate sin, murder. More than just a cold case, it’s an investigation deep into the mind of a murderer.
Chris Bennett’s THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION expertly balances historical accuracy with fascinating storytelling, transporting readers to the complexity of the American Revolution through vivid people and wonderfully drawn surroundings. The novel highlights the spirit of perseverance and the challenges of regular people caught up in exceptional times. Bennett’s ability to blend human hardships into larger historical events distinguishes his work from others in the genre.
DELPHI by Karen Martin is a captivating exploration of Greek mythology interwoven with compelling narratives of resilience and transformation that offers readers a highly detailed trip through time and mythology by skillfully fusing historical and mythical themes. Readers who enjoy ancient knowledge and vivid storytelling will enjoy this book.
Lorraine Evanoff’s fourth Louise Moscow novel, WALKING THE CAT, uses Fashion Week in Paris as a backdrop for espionage. Louise is sort of retired from being a spy, although she’s still friends with her former handler. When another ex-spy, now deep in the fashion world, invites her to Paris for a week of fun during fashion week, Louise jumps at the chance. When a photographer’s assistant is murdered during the week, Louise teams up with Parisian police to get to the truth, and finds it tied to her own personal history. Fashion and Paris are more prominent in the book than the darker elements of spy craft and espionage. The world of Paris’s fashion week is well rendered in loving detail, with a strong eye for the drape of a garment, or the perfect accessory, as well as history behind some of the fashion houses and their customs. Food and drink are also prominent in the book, along with the geography and history of some of the most famous Parisian landmarks, making Paris an additional character in the story. Readers who love Paris and fashion will enjoy the latest Louise Moscow tale.
Amitha Kalaichandran’s provocative book ON HEALING is part memoir and also a deep exploration of the complex web that creates “healing.” Caught in a toxic hospital work environment in Ontario, Kalaichandran determined to learn everything there is to learn about the different facets involved in and necessary for healing, on both physical and emotional levels. A thorough researcher and interviewer, she weaves together patient stories with deep histories of various elements of medicine, healing, and spirituality, sometimes reaching back as far as ancient Greece and Egypt while also exploring more modern experiments on the effect environment can have on healing. ON HEALING is a fascinating exploration of just how complicated and interconnected the various elements of healing are, and how little room we are given to fully integrate what we need to heal.
HOW TO HEAR GHOSTS by David Griffiths is a chilling yet insightful voyage into the worlds of spirituality and loss. The book’s complex narrative effectively intertwines the protagonist’s emotional anguish with haunting experiences, resulting in a story that is both thought-provoking and eerie. Griffiths’ powerful storytelling depicts the complications of grief and the search for meaning in the supernatural.
Briskly-paced, action-packed, and with a puckish sense of humor, C.W. James’ MINDFIELD is an energetic sci-fi thriller about a young man with telepathy – and the lengths to which others will go to control him. Bouncing between the “meddling kids” antics of Scooby-Doo and the amoral scientific darkness of Stranger Things, MINDFIELD tells a tight story about the value of friends, the dangers of temptation, and navigating the perplexing world of adulthood as a youth.
D. F. Whibley’s ONE ARCTIC NIGHT wonderfully conveys the essence of Inuit culture and the spectacular Arctic nature through the eyes of Panuk, the novel’s 17 year old protagonist. The work depicts resilience, familial unity, and self-discovery while emphasizing rich traditions and the challenges of life in the North. Whibley’s rich descriptions and moving storytelling make for an engaging voyage that embraces both the severity and beauty of Arctic life.