Rating: 5/5 Stars

Midnight Blues is now available for Pre-Order

On October 9, 2018, author Robert Kidera releases the 4^th novel in his Gabe McKenna Mystery Series, Midnight Blues. Our friends at Suspense Publishing were kind enough to give us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. We will also be posting our interview with Robert Kidera tomorrow, so be sure to keep an eye out for that!

A continuation of the series, this novel follows Private Investigator Gabe McKenna as he is faced with his newest adventure. After a kidnapping goes awry, McKenna and his partner, “The Onion,” find themselves in a battle against human traffickers, which leads them to an ultimate showdown in New Mexico.

Before reading Midnight Blues, I looked over some reviews of the previous installments in the series to get a better understanding of what kind of writing/storytelling to expect. To say that the Gabe McKenna Series has received a positive reception is an understatement. Kidera’s writing has been praised by readers and writers alike, with New York Times Bestselling Author Darynda Jones saying “Robert Kidera is an absolute master of mystery! He grabs you with irresistible intrigue and fresh, seductive writing and refuses to let go while he pummels you with twist after delicious twist.”

There’s a lot to love in Midnight Blues. I personally enjoy mysteries told from the first-person point-of-view, and this work is no exception. Gabe McKenna’s internal thoughts are a major driving force for the story and rein the reader into the book. It’s a good balance between plot and characters, something that not every mystery novel has. I remember reading some criticism for the first book of the series for a lack of character development or focus on secondary characters; Kidera has seemed to correct that ship with this book.

The writing is sharp and witty; I found myself chuckling and grinning at the clever dialogue and prose on quite a few occasions. Kidera definitely understands how to bring his writing to life. He has an acute flair for rich descriptions that make the scenery and situations easy to envision in the mind’s eye. The plot is filled with twists and turns, but not in a cheap gimmicky way. The third act does not go off the railings as many seem to do, instead staying true to the tone of the work and remaining believable.

A nice thing about the series is that each book functions as a standalone adventure. I had not read the previous three novels, but I was easily able to understand the characters and their relationships with one another. Kidera does a nice job of making it so that new readers will be able to enjoy this book along with loyal fans of the series.

The subject of human trafficking is a tough subject to write about since it is so real and widespread around the globe. I was glad to see that the author handled it with delicacy and respect for its victims. One nice note at the end of the book actually mentions some organizations/agencies that help fight human trafficking; also, some of the profits from the book will be donated to help combat this plague.

One minor critique would be the length of the novel. A little over 150 pages, I would have really liked the story to be a bit longer since it seemed to start and end so quickly. However, the length of the book does not hinder or take away from the great writing and storytelling.

Like the previous books in the series, Midnight Blues is available through all major retailers, including Amazon. Be sure to check it out HERE if you are a fan of the genre! Thank you again to Suspense Publishing for the advanced copy of the book.

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About the Author: After an early fling in the motion picture industry and a long and successful career in academia, Mr. Kidera retired in 2010. With his desire to play major league baseball no longer a realistic dream, he chose to fulfill his other lifelong ambition and became an author. He is a member of SouthWest Writers, Sisters in Crime, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Western Writers of America, and the International Thriller Writers organizations. The author lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife Annette and Woody the cats. He has two daughters, a grandson, and granddaughter. To learn more, visit: www.robertkiderabooks.com

Note: this review was written by Ammar Habib, the editor-in chief of Thriller Magazine