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!
A modern detective novel with retro noir undertones, Delvin Chatterson’s BAD BOYS IN BOSTON follows two unorthodox partners reuniting to rescue a girl that’s fallen into the clutches of human traffickers. The depth of the characters’ background is artfully interspersed with the thrill of pursuit as the partners leverage classified technology and mafia connections while attempting to stay on the right side of the law.
High school can be tough, especially when teens are in their senior year, getting ready for “adulthood,” and learning about their own family histories. BECAUSE OF YOU by Fiona Brands travels in different directions of reality and what seems like fantasy—or is it? Trauma, drama, confusion, and life-altering decisions come together in this gentle introduction to what could be classified as friend-based science fiction.
Dr. Davis K. Brimberg’s memoir, TEACHINGS FROM THE GATEKEEPER, explores parapsychology through a blend of personal experiences with the paranormal and scientific research. Brimberg’s narrative not only captures the struggles of academic and personal growth but also underscores the importance of introspection and empathy in navigating life’s complexities. The engaging writing and wealth of information make it a valuable resource for those curious about the paranormal and human potential.
L.R. O’Brien’s 2028 TOMORROW IS THE DAY is a gripping science fiction thriller that expertly blends a high-stakes story with significant ethical themes about technology and humans. Dr. Ray Stone, the story’s central character, is a smart but troubled protagonist who uncovers the Hydrans’ terrible secrets while dealing with his estranged sister Deanna’s commitment to their enigmatic leader, Jordan Taylor. O’Brien’s intriguing investigation of alien AI, the appeal of utopian promises, and the emotional weight of familial relationships make this a thought-provoking book for speculative fiction enthusiasts.
Sandra Tyler’s THE NIGHT GARDEN: OF MY MOTHER is a heartfelt memoir that touches on the complex relationship between mother and daughter through the lenses of caregiving, bereavement, and perseverance. Tyler’s evocative writing style offers a very personal yet approachable story, capturing profound moments of love and frustration. The memoir is a poignant ode to a life well-lived and enduring relationships via contemplations on memory, art, and family dynamics.
Patrick Garvey’s novel, THE HEIR TO ACHILLES, mixes political thriller with mythological and fantastical elements in unique and intriguing ways. In 2022, when Russian soldiers overcame the defiant Ukrainians on Snake Island, they discovered relics tied to Achilles that give them enormous power, but with enormous consequences. Back in the US, CIA analyst Noa Banks gets a call from her ex-boyfriend, an archaeologist, that ties current worldwide political strife with ancient myth. How they unravel fact from fiction is an engaging and often surprising web of intrigue, suspense, science, myth, and history. The characters are strong and engaging, the plot keeps twisting as new layers are revealed, going not just to Achilles and Troy, but to Alexander the Great and ancient Egypt. The heightening stakes and tightening net are paced well to ratchet up the tension. The meticulous research is well integrated into the story and the Garvey includes some of his sources and research at the end, giving interested readers a foundation to go deeper into the elements they found most intriguing. Fans of history, myth, and archaeological suspense will enjoy THE HEIR TO ACHILLES.
PROGNOSIS: GUARDED by Alan B. Hollingsworth, blends the thrill of medical suspense with a reflective look at the origins of the genre. Through Hollingsworth’s engaging storytelling and personal insight, readers are taken on a journey that is equal parts introspective and gripping. This unique blend of memoir and fiction captures the challenges of writing and the medical world, making it a thought-provoking experience for fans of both genres.
Announcing the PTA President’s death in Chapter one of J.A. St. Thomas’ POT LUCK will shock readers, since the question of whodunit will hover over the rest of the story. It will be difficult to pick out the villain because, to be honest, each of the PTA moms deserves the title. Even the narrator, cannabis coffee seller Stephanie Bero, is under scrutiny. Though the killer is nabbed at the end, readers who admire smart sassy women will be intrigued by the end note ‘to be continued’ and the quick dialogue-heavy pace of the story.
A fantastically conceptualized science-fiction tale that draws forth philosophical tones of morality through the depth of its characters and detailed world building, Ian Patterson’s TRANSFERENCE follows a young man undertaking extreme measures to infiltrate higher society in hopes of bringing down the technology that allows the wealthy to pass their diseases to the lower class for a price.
A heartfelt tale of destiny and intrinsic connections, Thomas De Tore’s THE GOLDMINE shares the story of a middle-aged man, down on his luck who stumbles into the lives of people that lead him on a path of self-discovery while showing him the true meaning of fellowship.
In LAST I SAW HIM: AN AMORET NOVEL, the award-winning author Arthur Herbert delivers a suspenseful and intricately woven tale of intrigue, conspiracy, and dark secrets set against the stark, haunting beauty of the West Texas desert. When celebrated writer Rulo Gatlin is discovered dead in an apparent suicide, his agent, Abby Huxford, begins to unravel a far more sinister story buried in the shadows of the desert town. With well-developed characters, gripping twists, and vivid imagery, this fresh and compelling mystery keeps readers hooked until its shocking conclusion.
Tara Pyfrom’s THE OCEAN IN OUR BLOOD is a moving story of resiliency, identity, and the unbreakable bond with the sea that deftly blends the beauty and danger of Bahamas life. The islands’ rich culture, inner conflicts, and environmental difficulties are vividly depicted in Pyfrom’s expressive prose. An uplifting read and poignant tale of bravery, camaraderie, survival and family.
Erudite, abrasive, funny, and sad, Joshua Gidding’s OLD WHITE MAN WRITING is an artfully-rendered self-portrait of white moral schizophrenia. Drawing on both the traditional Western canon and a lifetime of cringe-worthy experiences, the text remains both cleared-eyed about, and sympathetic to, the struggle of white liberals to use the master’s tools – and anything else at hand – to dismantle the master’s house.
Melissa Connelly’s debut novel, WHAT WAS LOST, explores the reverberations abuse can have through a lifetime. Marti brings her teenage daughter to the small Vermont town she ran from as a teenager. A sexual relationship with her art teacher when Marti was fourteen left her pregnant. The repercussions of her choices around the relationship and illegal abortion, and what she thought were choices but were more abusive manipulations, have shaped her life. What she hopes will be a trip of reconciliation and redemption turns out to have even deeper consequences, as she learns what her lies set into motion, and how the agendas of those she trusted were rarely in her best interest. Connelly’s writing is strong and often harrowing and WHAT WAS LOST is a powerful and profound story about how those we trust can shape us, for good or ill.
Ricardo Rosselló Nevares’s THE REFORMER’S DILEMMA is a perceptive and open examination of the difficulties in promoting systemic change, enhanced by the author’s personal experiences as Puerto Rico’s governor. Rosselló offers reform-minded people insightful insights on division, political barriers, and the challenges of leadership in times of crisis like Hurricane Maria. Anyone interested in the complexities of political transformation will find this book to be an engaging read due to his ability to skillfully combine personal tales with more general observations.
TERAMAR BEASTS OF THE FIELD by Thomas Michael Murray is a richly imagined science fiction tale that combines political intrigue, vivid character dynamics, and intense action sequences. The narrative draws readers into a gripping interstellar conflict while weaving themes of survival, betrayal, and resilience, making it a thought-provoking and adventurous read.
Reading Erich Kirchmann’s second book about his travels in France, IT STARTS WITH BONJOUR, is like having a warm conversation with a friend. Kirchmann shares his latest adventure (with his wife) to France, Gascony, and the Côte D’Azur via anecdotes about the people they meet, scrapes they get into and must figure a way out of, and the food! Kirchmann is an affable traveler, curious and interested in his surroundings. As an assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University, he has a natural interest in what makes people tick, especially when he finds it baffling. He encourages his readers to learn from his experiences, both good and bad, as they plan their own journeys. A delight for readers who love armchair traveling; the culinary details are a highlight of the book.
Scott T. Barnes’ MEMORIES OF LUCINDA ECO is a wonderfully written story that skillfully combines mystery, magic, and the strong familial ties that characterize Mexican culture. It chronicles Lucinda’s valiant attempt to free her grandmother from a witch’s curse against the magnificent backdrop of Baja California, telling a gripping tale of bravery and exploration. A compelling voyage into the mystical and the sentimental via Barnes’ lyrical prose and vivid world-building.