Indie book reviews

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IndieReader’s reviewers are tough, but fair

Our Reviewers won’t judge your book as compared to other self-published titles, but against other books, period. Our ratings are based on the following criteria, although reviewers are able to award partial stars (i.e. a 1.3 or a 4.7), rather than rounding up or down to a whole or half number.

1/5

Really bad 
Work on it.

2/5

Mediocre
1-2 bright spots.

3/5

Good
Worth reading.

4/5

Very Good
1-2 spots that need work

5/5

Excellent!
Must-read.

* IndieReader receives compensation for most of the books it reviews, along with copies of those books.

IR Approved
April 9, 2025

CHILL OF TRUTH

By Tess Raynes
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

Though offering no new takes on the murder-mystery genre, Tess Raynes's CHILL OF TRUTH is a splendidly entertaining whodunit set in Canada's polar north.

Rating:
3.8 / 5.0

SMITTY: MY MARRIAGE TO SERIAL KILLER CHARLES SCHMID, THE PIED PIPER OF TUCSON is an intriguing perspective on a serial killer that offers plenty to...

IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

Josh Bottomly’s EUCATASTROPHE: The Story of a Modern Day Fairy Tale has a somewhat loose, scattershot arrangement, but it successfully portrays the vital, nourishing relationship...

April 7, 2025

KENTUCKY BLOOD

By Ashley Thomas Sheikh
Rating:
3.5 / 5.0

Ashley Thomas Sheikh's KENTUCKY BLOOD has a deep, compelling cast of characters and a horrifically effective skill at building tension.

IR Approved
April 4, 2025

CIAO, AMORE, CIAO

By Sandro Martini
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

An engrossing historical mystery that unravels before the reader layer by layer, Sandro Martini's CIAO, AMORE, CIAO explores the depth of cruelty and human suffering...

IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

Harold Phifer's MY BULLY, MY AUNT, AND HER FINAL GIFT offers a humorous and touching memoir of an abusive childhood in America's Deep South.

April 2, 2025

CORPORATE ESCAPADES

By T.K. Ambers
Rating:
3.7 / 5.0

T.K. Ambers's CORPORATE ESCAPADES is packed with romance and scandal, keeping readers on board despite its flaws.

April 2, 2025

WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE: A NOVEL

By Leslie A. Rasmussen
Rating:
3.5 / 5.0

A heartwarming and life-affirming novel, Leslie A. Rasmussen's WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE deals tenderly with issues like suicide, addiction, parental loss, and family trauma.

IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

With darker and more complex themes than its predecessor, S.A. Reeves’s THE BOOKSHOP MYSTERIES, BOOK TWO: A MURDER AT THE CHURCH still rides high on...

IR Approved
April 2, 2025

COLONY

By Ron Wolff
Rating:
4.8 / 5.0

Tightly plotted and excellently paced, Ron Wolff’s COLONY is an exciting YA science fiction novel.

IR Approved
March 31, 2025

LEAD LIKE AN EDITOR

By Victor Maze
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

Though some may find fault with a few of its pronouncements, Victor Maze’s LEAD LIKE AN EDITOR contains much useful advice for managers and solopreneurs...

Rating:
3.9 / 5.0

Despite a few layout and display issues, Cheryl Olsten's PUNCTUATION TO THE RESCUE (ill. Sara Not) is a brisk, fun primer on the form, function,...

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