Great works of literature are being produced by wonderful independent authors who are breaking the mold in the literary world of fiction.

Too many literary sources completely omit or overlook Indie Books when compiling their lists of the 100 books you should read before you die. They showcase the legends, the classics.

Yet, we are fortunate to have a lot of outstanding books by outstanding indie authors in today’s literary marketplace. We are continuing our series featuring great indie books you should definitely read in your lifetime, knowing that the list will always change with the passing years and with the release of new books.

Here, in no particular order, are the five books we are featuring today.

The Devil’s Lieutenant

By Suzi Albracht

A young Homicide Detective’s first case brings him face-to-face to the ultimate evil. As Jake Holyfield struggles to solve a series of murders where there is no body, no DNA, no clues, he catches the baleful eye of Dimity Ivanovitch, the Devil’s right-hand man. Ivanovitch becomes obsessed with Jake, determined to groom him to be his second in command.

And because Ivanovitch wants to destroy Jake’s circle of trust, he also goes after Jake’s best friend, Max, and his brother, Bobby. Both look to be easy targets, Max can’t pay for the medical help his mother desperately needs, while Bobby can’t control his unfaithful fiance with her insatiable, political demands.

Then Ivanovitch ups the stakes and goes after the young child of one of the men.

Who will give in to temptation and who will fight to protect everyone else and ultimately save their souls no matter the cost?

The battle to save souls is about to explode.

Squalor, New Mexico

Lisette Brodey

Darla McKendrick is nine when she first hears her mother and her aunt Didi secretly discussing their younger sister, Rebecca, speculating about her life in squalor. From the moment Darla asks to know more about her mysterious aunt, she is offered nothing but half-truths, distortions, and evasions.

As Darla grows into her teen years, her life is oddly yet profoundly affected by this woman she has never known. She can’t help but notice that Rebecca seems to exist only in dark corners of conversations and that no one ever wants to talk about her—with Darla. Neither Darla nor her three cousins have a clue about their aunt, yet their respective parents appear to recoil in fear at the sound of her name.

SQUALOR, NEW MEXICO is a 1970s coming-of-age story shrouded in family mystery. As the plot takes twists and turns, secrets are revealed not only to Darla but to the “secret keepers” as well. Darla learns that families are only as strong as the truths they hold and as weak as the secrets they keep.

Mama’s Madness

By Billy Ray Chitwood

A story inspired by a northern California news account a few years ago … Some of the details in this fictional penning are true. Some of the details are exaggerated and are simply the work of the author’s imagination.

What is clearly evidenced in this novel is the coldness of a mother’s heart and the madness of her cruelty. The mind cannot comprehend lives the children depicted here were forced to endure: from black punishment closets of hell, kitchen tables used for crudely performed operations, to a high sierra execution by fire.

The terror is real. The pain is vicariously felt. Unbelievable? Yes, it is unbelievable that such depravity, such MAMA’S MADNESS exists in our world.

Accept the embellishments with the truth.

The Corner Shop of Whispers

By Debbie Viggiano

Romantic Florrie, scatty Daisy and snobby Alison are neighbours, living their married lives in the tiny English village of Lower Amblegate where everyone knows everybody. Together the three friends share laughter, tears, and things they wouldn’t want anybody else knowing.

But unbeknownst to them, a scandal is brewing.

As rumours circulate, the gossips go into overdrive, rocking marriages and revealing the women have much more in common than just neighbourly bonds…

The 9:45 to Bletchley

By Madalyn Morgan

In the midst of the Second World War, and charged with taking vital equipment via the 9:45 train, Ena Dudley makes regular trips to Bletchley Park, until on one occasion she is robbed.

When those she cares about are accused of being involved, she investigates, not knowing whom she can trust.

While trying to clear her name, Ena falls in love.

 

Previous Books Selected:

Sleeping Tigers by Holly Robinson, Wings of Mayhem by Sue Coletta, Blood Orchids by Toby Neal, The Girl Who Watched Over Dreams by Jeff Russell, Blood Land by R. S. Guthrie, Deadly Chocolate Addiction by Sally Berneathy, Circle of Hurt by Jim H. Ainsworth, Dancing on Air by Uvi Poznansky, Army of Worn Soles by Scott Bury, Trouble in Glamour Town by S. R. Mallery, Mateguas Island by Linda Watkins, Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die by Kelly Marshall, The Compost Pile by Stephen Woodfin, The Hollow Man by Paul Hollis, Avengers of Blood by Gae-Lynn Woods, Tabula Rasa by Gordon Bickerstaff, A Silver Medallion by James R. Callan, The Girl in the Window by Jake Needham.

 

Dead Storm by Helen Hanson, Remains by Marjorie Swift Doering, The Last Victim by Jordan Dane, Vigilante by Claude Bouchard, Ludwika by Christoph Fischer, Stranger at Sunset by Eden Baylee, Stutter Creek by Ann Swann, A Change of Hate by Joe Broadmeadow, When the Sun Was Mine by Darlene Jones, Nobody’s Child by Libby Fischer Hellmann, The Zen Detective by Devorah Fox, That One Moment by Patty Wiseman, Mail Order Groom by Dana Wayne, The House of Lies by Debra Burroughs, Redemption Lake by Susan Clayton-Goldner, Pride’s Children: Purgatory by Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt, Cold Justice by Rick Polad, Each Day I Wake by Seb Kirby, The Bridge to Caracas by Stephen Douglass, No Sweat Pants Allowed by Jan Romes, In the Attic by Garry Rodgers, A Fine Year for Murder by Lauren Carr, My Brother’s Keeper by S. S. Bazinet, The Undernet by J. S. Frankel, Pearseus: Rise of the Prince by Nicholas C. Rossis.

 

The Ninth District by Douglas Dorow, The Dead Game by Susanne Leist, Deadly Dominoes by Linda Pirtle, The Desolate Garden by Daniel Kemp, The Promise of Provence by Patricia Sands, Mai Lin: Another New Beginning by Gay Ingram, Murder a la Christie by Marilyn Levinson, The Long Shooters by Daniel C. Chamberlain, The Back Road by Rachel Abbott, Broken Wings by D. G Torrens, Scalp Mountain by Julia Robb, Heaven to Betsy by Pamela Fagan Hutchins, Flawed Gods by Angela B. Mortimer, Moment by Moment by Laura Taylor, Deadly Secrets by Angel Sefer, The Girl in the Dark by Susan Willis, Give the Lady a Ride by Linda Yezak, The Girl in the Time Machineby Debra Chapoton, Closed Heartsby Regina Puckett, Letters to Gabriellaby Patricia Paris.

 

Cassidy Jones and the Eternal Flame by Elise Stokes, The Crazy Girl’s Handbook by DelSheree Gladden, In Sheep’s Clothing by Emily Kimelman, Touching the Wire by Rebecca Bryn, The Luminary by Elle J Rossi. Everyone Burnsby John Dolan, Finding Home by Jackie Weger, Lie Catchers by Paul Bishop, Stealing Time by K. J. Waters, The Beauty Shop by Suzy Henderson, The Drowned PhoenicianSailor by Lesley Hayes, The Bloodstone Reckoning by Michael Wigington, Swerveby Mike Markel, The Curious Miss Fortune by Tina-Marie Miller, Moments in the Moonlight by Deborah J Hughes, Weight of Shadows by Karl Holton, The Manhunter by Gene Shelton, A Cold Tomorrow by Mae Clair.

 

The Nam Within by Leonard Reese, Tissue of Liesby Carole Parkes, Guardian of Secrets by Janet Petken, The Treasure Hunt Clubby Michael Scott Clifton, Coffee, Tea, The Chef, & Me by Caroline James, Annie by Cynthia Woolf, A Hundred Tiny Threads by Judith Barrow, When Darkness Falls by Kathleen Harryman, The Green Room by Faith Mortimer, A Dead Husband by Anna Celeste Burke, A Dead Red Cadillac by RP Dahlke, The Enigma Factor by Charles V. Breakfield and Roxanne E. Burkey.