A Firecracker Book Blast: Featuring 21 Authors!

Can you handle this Firecracker Book Blast Summer Reading Challenge? We DARE you not to add these books to your Summer Reading list! Get ready for the Firecracker Book Blast! Join us for a special book event and a reading challenge from July 4th to 6th. It’s the perfect way to discover new books and connect with the book community.

Check out the featured authors below! They are scheduled alphabetically by last name. Their video links will go live at the specified times.

Firecracker Book Blast July 4th-6th, 2025

You can add all these Firecracker Book Blast Summer Reading Challenge books to your TBR list on Goodreads, and upvote your favorites: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/229888.Firecracker_Book_Blast_Summer_Reading_Challenge

Carmen Amato – 9 AM CST July 4th:

I’m a mystery and thriller author, best known for the Detective Emilia Cruz police series set in Acapulco. The series draws on my 30 years with the Central Intelligence Agency and knowledge of the war on drugs.

I’ve been lucky enough to travel around the world, collecting the ideas, characters, and inspiration that infuse my books. I’ve survived 3 earthquakes (Mexico, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea), one train derailment (France), one persona non grata expulsion (Madagascar), and a scuba diving encounter with a lionfish (off the coast of Guam).

I once spoke French well enough to crash a Givenchy fashion show. Spanish came later and with more of a struggle. Now and then I blog about these travels. Look for the #truestory hashtag on my Shop Talk blog.

I married the smartest man I could find and it worked out pretty well. We have two grown children, of whom we are very proud, and two rescue German Shepherds. Hazel is queen of all she sees, including all toys.  Bear is a giant white dog (also known as Care Bear, Polar Bear, Big Bear, etc) who is the reason all my clothing needs a lint brush. Both make frequent cameo appearances on my Facebook page.

As an author, giving back is part of my business model. Income from my books helps support Water.org, St. Jude’s Research Hospital, and veteran and first responder organizations. For more about my books and writing (plus #topsecrets about my CIA career) join the Mystery Ahead community on Substack.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/xrjlUxp2PWc
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/EA1qbLrG3-Q?feature=share

Winter Austin – 10 AM CST July 4th:

Winter Austin perpetually answers the question: “were you born in the winter?” with a flat “nope,” but believe her, there is a story behind her name.

A lifelong Mid-West gal with strong ties to the agriculture world, Winter grew up listening to the captivating stories told by relatives around a table or a campfire. As a published author, she learned her glass half-empty personality makes for a perfect suspense/thriller writer. Taking her ability to verbally spin a vivid and detailed story, Winter translated that into writing deadly romantic suspense, mysteries, and thrillers.

When she’s not slaving away at the computer, you can find Winter supporting her daughter in cattle shows, seeing her three sons off into the wide-wide world, loving on her fur babies, prodding her teacher husband, and nagging at her flock of hens to stay in the coop or the dogs will get them.

She is the author of multiple novels.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/kM4bLV7Zv6U
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/0TX2zFrYqTE?feature=share

Laurie Buchanan – 11 AM CST July 4th

Laurie Buchanan is a novelist, photographer, and avid reader based in the Pacific Northwest. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for creativity and authenticity, she crafts gritty crime thrillers from her historic hayloft writing studio, where atmosphere fuels inspiration and storytelling thrives.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/0mYfvcCHwH0
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/EWtF_hmMYWo?feature=share

Breakfield & Burkey – 12 PM CST July 4th

Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey are award-winning authors known for the Enigma Series, a collection of gripping techno-thrillers that blend cybersecurity, espionage, and advanced technology. With extensive backgrounds in IT and cybersecurity, they bring authenticity to their stories, exploring the dangers of cybercrime, digital warfare, and artificial intelligence. Their books feature intricate plots, dynamic characters, and high-stakes action, captivating readers with fast-paced storytelling. In addition to writing, they are passionate advocates for cybersecurity awareness and frequently engage in public speaking to discuss the evolving impact of technology. Their ability to merge technical expertise with thrilling narratives has earned them critical acclaim and a dedicated readership. Together, they continue to push the boundaries of the techno-thriller genre.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/dS93YWYgMcA
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/xq6PFOSY2EI?feature=share

Devon Delaney – 1 PM CST July 4th

I entered my first recipe contest on a whim. My three kids were all napping and I had a moment to browse a magazine where I saw an ad calling for recipes showcasing a piece of bread for a cash prize. I won the contest. Suddenly, I was hooked on a new hobby.

Mealtime became an exercise in recipe experimentation, to the point my son asked me if we could have “regular” chicken as a special treat. I’m still considering. Despite the hardship (ha!) on my family, success in cooking competitions has earned me multiple trips and valuable prizes over the past twenty years.

Meeting fellow cooking competitors has enriched my life immeasurably. Throughout my culinary journey, writing has always been a passion. Combining the two hobbies was as destined as the pairing of sea salt and caramel, and just as addicting.​

YouTube: https://youtu.be/jL2ByK-CU5Q
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/uSHQKPq6F3g?feature=share

Matthew Di Paoli – 2 PM CST July 4th

Matthew Di Paoli received his BA at Boston College where he won the Dever Fellowship and the Cardinal Cushing Award for Creative Writing. He was nominated for three Pushcart Prizez, won the Wilbur & Niso Smith Adventure Writing Prize, the Prism Review, 2 Elizabeth’s, and Momaya Review Short Story Contests. Matthew earned his MFA in Fiction at Columbia University. He has been published in Boulevard, Fjords, Post Road, and Cleaver literary magazines among others. He is the author of Killstanbul and Holliday from Sunbury Press.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/l0jYGKqFbOA
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/yh-T0VsOdm0?feature=share

Anita Dickason – 3 PM CST July 4th

Anita Dickason is a retired police officer with a total of twenty-seven years of law enforcement experience, twenty-two with Dallas PD. She served as a patrol officer, undercover narcotics officer, advanced accident investigator, tactical officer, and first female sniper on the Dallas SWAT team.

See more about Anita Dickason by visiting her website https://www.anitadickason.com.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/aj-Xzzj_6KM
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/ffmZLAA-u_0?feature=share

R. John Dingle – 9 AM CST July 5th

R. John Dingle was born and raised in New England. In fact, despite extensive travel, a move to Australia represents his only bragging right for actually residing outside the six-state area. John and his wife currently call a small island in Mid-Coast Maine ‘home’, both living, writing and boating from their restored 200-year old house (which they continually assure their three adult children is not haunted). The psychological thriller, Karma Never Sleeps, is John’s first novel and the first in the Gus Wheeler FBI Series. It will be published in April 2025.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/OKgFRJ2Haqc
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/MtAuUDhlSAY?feature=share

Heidi Field- 10 AM CST July 5th

Heidi Field was raised in the beautiful countryside of the South of England with her parents and her two sisters.

In her twenties she was a freelance Sports Massage Therapist. She achieved a Degree in Zoology at the age of thirty and then went on to raise two boys and become the stepmother of three more young children.

She still lives near her family home with her partner, their Great Dane and the children that have yet to fly the nest.

In her early forties Heidi completed a Masters in Creative Writing at Winchester University. She entered the course hoping she would become a children’s fantasy writer and left with a burning desire to write contemporary mysteries and thrillers. Heidi wanted to put relatable people in extraordinary situations, challenge them, push them to their limits and watch them fight for their sanity.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/Cqaspy89JYA
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/UFdAM1xfaqc?feature=share

Daryl Wood Gerber – 11 AM CST July 5th

Daryl Wood Gerber is the Agatha Award-winning, nationally bestselling author of of The Fairy Garden Mysteries, featuring a fairy garden shop owner in charming Carmel, California, The French Bistro Mysteries, featuring a former chef who is now an up-and-coming bistro owner in Napa Valley, and The Cookbook Nook Mysteries, featuring an admitted foodie and owner of a cookbook store in picturesque coastal California. Under the pen name Avery Aames, Daryl writes the Agatha Award-winning, nationally bestselling The Cheese Shop Mysteries set in fictional Providence, Ohio. Daryl also writes suspense novels, including the Aspen Adams books and standalones, which have garnered terrific reviews.

Prior to her career as a novelist, Daryl wrote screenplays and created the format for the popular TV sitcom Out of this World. A fun tidbit for mystery buffs, Daryl was also an actress and co-starred on Murder, She Wrote, as well as other TV shows. Daryl is originally from the Bay Area and graduated from Stanford University. She loves to cook, read, golf, swim, and garden. She also likes adventure and has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/80tC__1nack
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/NIpw1MiPHFk?feature=share

Howard Gimple – 12 PM CST July 5th

Hey, I’m Howard Gimple. I’ve been writing for my supper for most of my adult life. First as a copywriter and creative director for several ad agencies. After I aged out of the advertising business (you’re a dinosaur at 35), I wrote English dialogue for the American releases of Japanese anime cartoons, reviewed movies for a pay-per-view television network, and was the editor of a newsletter for the New York Giants football team.

I wrote the lyrics for a song used in the soundtrack of the horror film THE REJUVENATOR as well as the fight song for Stony Brook University, where I was a writer and sports editor for their alumni magazine and taught two classes, Rock and Relevance, about the influence of classic rock on politics and Filthy Shakespeare about the sexy bits of the Bard’s plays and poems that they don’t usually teach. Several of my stories have been featured in Akashic Books’ Mondays are Murder online noir series.

I recently finished work on The Garbageman, a documentary about a trash hauler who saved the lives of 50,000 children in underprivileged countries with congenital heart disease. And if you’ve gotten this far on the website, you know about my novels.

After living in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Long Island, I headed west to Glendora, California, with my wife and Goldendoodle.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/_HOAfdPjdbU
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/uUusEwLa2wU?feature=share

Andy T. Hanson – 1 PM CST July 5th

Andy T. Hanson is an author of science fiction, general fiction and dystopian horror. After driving Abrams tanks in the US Army, Andy settled into life as a regional-stage actor. He parlayed that passion first into playwriting – most notable of which is Molly’s Chamber, his modern-day take on the old Irish folk song Whiskey In The Jar – then graduating to screenwriting, with Paradise Valley, a former Los Angeles Film Festival quarterfinalist script.

On the strength of their modest success, he tried his hand at the ultimate goal, Sci-fi novels. His first foray into that magical world was The Despot Chronicles, a dystopian three-part epic series. The first of which is set for release on 10/26/24 by 4 Horsemen Publications, Inc.’s. Andy is thrilled to occupy a slot among their fantastic stable of authors.

Residing in Bay City, Michigan, Andy is an avid Detroit, and Michigan in general, sports fan, and somehow finds time to write in the midst of a busy life packed with Lions games, golf, a healthy love of film and television of all genres, grilling and chilling with his big family, in particular his lovely wife Lauren and son Teddy, and devouring science fiction, historical fiction and fantasy novels.

He’s inspired in large part by George R.R. Martin, Stephen King, Bernard Cornwell, Lee Child and Sara Rosett, with a bit of Stephen Fry, Richard Dawkins, Kurt Vonnegut, Neil Gaiman and Craig Allanson for spice.

Andy is attracted literarily to well-fleshed out characters, especially gray characters. While his favorite part of writing is simply being present as the story seems to grow of its own volition.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/G1wY_28q5Og
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/VRM1qx6v_2c?feature=share

Lou Kemp – 2 PM CST July 5th

Although originally from California, Lou resides in the Pacific Northwest with family and a herd of cats who like to block her computer screen whenever possible. Before turning to writing full time, she was an engineer and project manager. When not writing, Lou quilts for charity and edits on a pro-bono basis for other authors.

Early work was horror and suspense, later work morphed into a combination of magical realism, mystery and adventure, all painted with a horrific element as needed.

She is one of those writers who doesn’t plan ahead, no outlines, no clue, and sometimes writes herself into a corner. Atmospheric music in the background helps entice the moodier muse that must be present. Listening to Black, by Pearl Jam, really helps.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/ZuNiGN_mV5M
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/e-bLasbMqeM?feature=share

RJ Koreto – 3 PM CST July 5th

R.J. Koreto has been a merchant seaman, book editor, journalist and novelist. He was born and raised in New York City and decided to be a writer after reading “The Naked and the Dead.” He and his wife have two grown daughters and divide their time between Rockland County, N.Y., and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/t_Ud0dqLNH0
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/pLEREyYkknI?feature=share

Jackie Layton – 9 AM CST July 6th

I’m Jackie Layton, wife, mother, friend, pharmacist, and cozy mystery author.

I’ve been a reader as long as I can remember, and I’ve dreamed of writing for years. With encouragement from my husband and family, I pursued this dream.

I’ve always loved visiting the coast for vacations. The beach is my happy place despite cracking my ribs while riding the waves and getting a hook stuck in my foot that required a trip to the emergency room. When the doctor pushed the hook out of my foot, I learned a person really can see stars when in extreme pain. Nevertheless, it didn’t stop me from beach vacations and now I live on the coast.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/qjH3qeq_Uw4
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/jEVQLYMLqrs?feature=share

C.S. McDonald – 10 AM CST July 6th

C.S. McDonald taught dance and choreographed shows for twenty-six years. Nowadays, she resides with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister, on their Thoroughbred farm, Fly-by-Night Stables, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. George the Pony is a real pony who lives among the tall Thoroughbreds on their farm.

In 2016, Ms. McDonald decided to write a cozy mystery series. The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are quick, clean reads for anyone 10 to 110! You’ll love Fiona and the quirky, but oh so charming, Detective Landry. Fiona is a kindergarten teacher and an unlikely sleuth from Pittsburgh. If you’ve never been to Pittsburgh, welcome to this wonderful city! If you live in Pittsburgh, you’re sure to recognize many of the venues featured in the books. Ms. McDonald has even sprinkled a little Pittsburghese into her stories just for fun. Yinz will love it!

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/gdKAXz9MHkw
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/IzC5rKEX4Cc?feature=share

Leslie Piggott – 11 AM CST July 6th

Leslie A. Piggott is a mom-turned-author who lives in Buda, Texas. She and her husband, Brad, have two children. She joined Indies United Publishing House in January of 2021. She has been a long distance runner since middle school and following college graduation began running marathons as a hobby.

She has since completed fourteen full marathons with plans for more in the future. Leslie has always loved being creative and in addition to writing, she also knits, crochets, quilts, sews bags and dresses for her daughter, and does watercolor paintings. Always up for a challenge, she frequently designs her own quilt or tote bag patterns.

Leslie enjoys volunteering in her children’s schools as well as within her church and community when possible. In fact, she donates many of her craft and sewing projects to a local silent auction, which she organizes annually. The proceeds from the auction support a memorial fund for her neighbors who tragically lost their son in 2011. Additionally, she also enjoys giving away many of her creations to friends, teachers, neighbors, and other loved ones as gifts.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/KFydOiRo31w
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/U54iNtiOwZQ?feature=share

Raemi Ray – 12 PM CST July 6th

Raemi A. Ray is the author of the Martha’s Vineuard Murders series, publishing in 2024. She takes inspiration from her travels to the island and around the world as well as from local and national headlines. Most of her books are based somewhat on real life. When not writing, working her other boring job, she earns her keep as the personal assistant to the resident house demons, Otto and DolphLundgren. She lives in Boston with her family.

You can find her on Instagram, and Facebook. Please say hi.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/eNoOczWHLAM
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/yD1lAq6gimY?feature=share

Lane Stone – 1 PM CST July 6th

Lane Stone, husband Larry Korb, and Standard Schnauzer, Cordy, live in Alexandria, Virginia during the week and Lewes, Delaware on the weekend.

When not writing she’s enjoying characteristic baby boomer pursuits: traveling and playing golf. Her volunteer work includes media and communications for the Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation. She’s on Georgia State University’s Political Science Department Advisory Board.

She has a post-graduate certificate in Antiquities Theft and Art Crime. Her alma mater is Georgia State University with a degree in political science.

You can reach Lane at www.LaneStoneBooks.com.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/HE74yp1MbM8
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/hEUvTQNWEvI?feature=share

Charlotte Stuart, PhD – 2 PM CST July 6th

Charlotte earned her PhD by studying how values influence behavior. That interest in communication and relationships became a theme in her work life – first as an academic, later as an organization development consultant, and now as a mystery writer. It wasn’t particularly helpful during her time as a commercial salmon fisher in Alaska, but she enjoyed those years of physical labor and being away from everything except the ocean and the captivating Alaskan scenery and wildlife.

Her current passions include writing humorous mysteries set in the Pacific Northwest. She is also engaged with local writers and readers as past president of the Puget Sound chapter of Sisters in Crime.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/QCUX4X8wCZ4
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/8xgEtrLj8a4?feature=share

Stacy Wilder – 3 PM CST July 6th

Stacy Wilder has traveled to six out of seven continents but her favorite place in the world is Charleston, South Carolina. Books have shaped her life and her travels. Her love of mysteries began with Nancy Drew.

Stacy’s debut novel, Charleston Conundrum, is the first in the Liz Adams mystery series. Liz’s sidekick, a Labrador retriever named Duke, is able to detect when people are lying which comes in handy when Liz is solving a case. The Charleston Conundrum cover and manuscript placed first in their respective categories in a national When Words Count Pitch Week competition.

In addition to mysteries, Stacy writes children’s stories, short stories, and poetry. She lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and a totally spoiled Labrador retriever, Eve.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/u4nKyD4UBNI
YouTube Shorts Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/8d-Fio3jVlc?feature=share


Thank you SO much for joining our Firecracker Book Blast Summer Reading Challenge! We hope you found some great new authors to add to your TBR list. We know we did. Let us know your thoughts!

You can add all these Firecracker Book Blast Summer Reading Challenge books to your TBR list on GoodReads, and upvote your favorites: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/229888.Firecracker_Book_Blast_Summer_Reading_Challenge

Until next time, fellow detectives,
The Mystery Review Crew 🕵🏼🔍

Check out some of our Throwback Book reviews for more Summer Reading ideas!

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