Bead by Bead The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary for Children - Stephanie Engelman

Bead by Bead The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary for Children

Stephanie Engelman

Inkwell Media, LLC

ISBN 9781734567038

ASIN B0FY4JQMRK

I read A Single Bead by Engelman almost a decade ago, and it still comes to mind often, and is a book I recommend frequently. While working on a different review I stumbled upon this trilogy of books, one for each of the traditional sets of mysteries of the Rosary. This was the second in the set I have read. And though this book and series is completely different I enjoyed it just as much. These three volumes are prayer books, but they are also Visio Divina, which Visio Divina (Latin for "divine seeing"). It is a traditional Catholic method of praying with sacred artwork, icons, or images.  Each two page spread in the volume has a painting or piece of a painting to help with the reflection. And each station has two different paintings. But I am getting ahead of myself, the description of this volume states:

“Immerse children in the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary with this beautiful book complete with vibrant, classical art to capture their attention and enliven their imaginations.

Each Hail Mary is coupled with one or two sentences detailing the stories of Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension, the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and Our Lady's Assumption and Coronation. Similar to a scriptural Rosary, these are written in language even young children will understand and enjoy, helping youth learn to love this beautiful prayer.

Color-coded Hail Mary beads further help guide children’s fingers along their Bead-by-Bead rosaries, which can be crafted at home or purchased online if.

Whether your family prays the Rosary together every day or once in a blue moon, or even if the family Rosary is an ideal to which you longingly aspire, this book promises to elevate your family prayer and make contemplation of the Mysteries of Christ a reality.”

The volume begins with a quote:

"Say the Rosary every day, especially to obtain peace in the world."

     Our Lady to the children of Fatima

In note for children we are informed:

“The Rosary is the Blessed Mother Mary's very special prayer, which she gave to us so we could grow closer to her Son, Jesus. When we pray the Rosary, Mother Mary guides us on a beautiful journey, walking with us through Christ's life and helping us to know and love Him better.

Countless miracles have happened through the Rosary. Wars have been won, people who were very sick have been healed, and - most importantly- many, many people have been brought to Christ and His Church.

When you pray the Rosary, you can ask Mary to pray with you for things that are important to you. Do you know someone who's sick or going through a difficult time? Is there something you're afraid of or worried about? Would you like to ask Jesus to help you to always love Him? Or maybe you'd like to ask Jesus to help your priest, the leaders of your country, or your school? While not every prayer is answered in the way we expect, offering our needs to God will always help us grow closer to Jesus and to have peace and joy, knowing that we are beloved children of God.

Today, we will pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, which are usually prayed on Sundays and Wednesdays. The Glorious Mysteries bring our focus to Christ's promise of eternal life and the gift of Mary, who is our Mother in Heaven.”

As mentioned each mystery is three facing pages, A piece of artwork on each set. After each Hail Mary is a biblical verse. Thus the volume is both Lectio Divina and Visio Divina. Each of the Hail Mary’s for each mystery is proceeded by a colour circle. Engelman also offers instructions for making matching Rosaries, especially for while teaching children. The colours are:

Yellow

Rust

Purple

White

Blue

Green

Black

Red

Light Blue

Light Purple

At the end of the volume we are provided the list of Image credits. They are:

Breathtaking Joy, commissioned work by Caris Roller, 2025

Madonna de/ Rosario, Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato, 1643

The Virgin in Prayer, Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato, 1640-50

Christ Appearing to His Mother, Juan de Flandes, 1496

Holy Women at Christ's Tomb, Annibale Carracci, 1590's

The Incredulity of Thomas, Caravaggio, 1601-02

Resurrection of Christ, Giovanni Bellini, 1475-79

Ascension, John Singleton Copley, 1775

Pentecost, Juan Bautista Maino, c. 1615-20

St. Peter Preaching in Jerusalem, Charles Poerson, 1642

Assumption of Mary, Guido Reni, 1638-39

Assumption of Mary, Paolo Veronese, 1585-87

The Virgin of the Apocalypse, Miguel Cabrera, 17 60

Coronation of the Virgin, Diego Velazquez, 1635-36

The Resurrection, Francesco Buoneri, 1619-1620

I love the eBook edition as I can always have it on me. I am very thankful I picked up this trio of books. I really enjoyed this volume and the volume on The Glorious Mysteries as the third in the series I have read. I will use this volume often. 

This is an excellent book for the young or to be honest anyone who wants to go deeper with the Rosary. This is a fantastic book in a trilogy that would be great for any home, school, or church library. I loved this and can easily recommend it!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Stephanie Engelman:

A Single Bead

Walking with Christ: Life Stories of Jeanne Wieck Atkins with Scriptural Reflections

...

Bead By Bead Series For Children:

The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary 

The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary 

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary

…

Contributed to:

The Christmas Lights

A Foul Christmas

…

Written As S.J. Engelman:

Mac’s Mission Diary: Operation Save the Summer

…

The Last Cabin - James Wenhwaurth

The Last Cabin 

James Wenhwaurth

The New Ark Studio

ISBN 9798172614361

ASIN B0HFGS83YV

This is the second volume I have read from New Ark, and I have several others on my ‘wish list’; both others by Wenhwaurth and other authors. I was intrigued by all the books from Wenhwaurth, when I was browsing the publisher’s site. I was also intrigued by the company’s Seal and mission. Of the books I was intrigued by, both fiction and nonfiction this was the one I dove into right away. The description of this volume states:

“Four friends. One reunion. A stranger who already knows exactly what happened ten years ago.

They reunite at a remote cabin to finally scatter the ashes of the fifth friend they lost a decade ago -- the "accident" they've spent ten years agreeing not to examine too closely. But the cabin isn't empty. A woman named Sloane is already there, and she knows details about that night that were never made public.

As a storm cuts off the only road out, the group's carefully rehearsed story starts to crack -- because each of them remembers a different, self-serving version of the truth, and Sloane seems to know the real one.

None of them are leaving this weekend with the story they arrived with.

A slow-burn, secrets-and-lies thriller for fans of The Reunion and Lucy Foley -- perfect for readers who love a group of old friends with everything to hide.”

About the author we are informed:

“James Wenhwaurth writes psychological suspense about ordinary people discovering that the story everyone agreed on isn't the true one. His fiction lives in isolated places — a lakeside cabin, a chartered boat, a retreat off the grid — where the exits are limited and the people you arrived with are the only people there.

He also writes about attention and burnout from a systems angle, on the conviction that most people don't need more willpower — they need better-designed defaults.”

The chapters in this novella are:

Ten Years

Two Minutes

You’re The One Who Checks

The Photograph

The Only Ending Available

While reading this I thought often about Article 7 by D.L. Gray and our narrator reminded me a lot of Brock W. Winters the main character in that volume. The Precision, the ability to notice, and the need to process the wanting truth even if it is not easy, wanting what is real even if it is costly. It is the story about a friendship, a friendship that has been forged in tragedy and strained because of how they have handled it. Now 10 years later they revisit the scene and the events. To know things do not add up, and have spent the decade trying to process, or trying to repress. 

Early in the story we are informed:

“I believed it completely for exactly four days. Then something in me — the same thing that makes me good at my job and difficult at dinner — started running the numbers, and I put that thing in a drawer and kept it there for a decade, and I want to be honest that keeping it there was a choice I made every single day, not one I made once.

I believe pieces of it still, even now. That's the part people find hardest to understand. It isn't that the story was a lie. It's that a story can be ninety percent true and the missing ten percent can be the whole thing.”

And also:

“I fact-check for a living.

This surprises people, or it disappoints them, depending. They imagine something adversarial — a man in a newsroom being told his lede won't survive contact with reality. It isn't like that. It's mostly a spreadsheet and a phone and a long, patient afternoon establishing that a hospital named in paragraph four was, in the year in question, called something else.

What it actually trains you to do is notice load-bearing sentences. Every account has a few. Most of what a person tells you is decoration — true, checkable, irrelevant. And then somewhere in the middle there's a sentence holding up the roof, and you learn to feel the difference in your chest before you can articulate it. It reads slightly smoother than the sentences around it. It has been said more often. It has been worn.

A missed footing.”

This is a powerful little story. Readers will really feel for the group of friends, what they have been through, what they have carried and what comes to light. But most of all I appreciate the narrator. I cannot but hope we will have more stories with them.

This is an excellent little story. It greatly draws you in and keep your attention. I loved it and look forward to other offerings from Wenhwaurth’s pen!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by James Wenhwaurth:

The Last Cabin

Overboard

The Fourth Time

Small Resets

…

Graphic Novels:

The Last Cabin

Overboard

The Fourth Time

…

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati: The Boy Who Climbed Higher - Paddy Bréagnamh - Mini Saints & Missionaries Library

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati: The Boy Who Climbed Higher 

Mini Saints & Missionaries Library

Paddy Bréagnamh

Mini Saints & Missionaries Library

Pettyfeather Publishing

ISBN 9798899681424

ASIN B0HL6QF1WM

ASIN B0HL5KV5YT

I have been wondering how this series would handle Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, since I read the first volume in the collection. I was not disappointed, this is an excellent little biography, for the young or young at heart. There are currently 20 volumes available in this series dedicated to specific saints, 3 the focus on 52 female saints, one that focuses on Saints for boys for first communion; and 2 editions of one about 33 saints. I have greatly enjoyed all I have read in the series, and check regularly for new titles. As I keep checking for when new ones to be released, and typically pick them up as soon after as I can. I have benefited from reading them all and recommended each of them to several people. I especially loved the volume on Pope Leo XIV. This volume I picked up shortly after it was released. It was released in 2026. The description of the book is:

“He loved mountains, skiing, and practical jokes.

He also had a secret.

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati was a cheerful, adventurous young man who proved that you don't have to be serious to be holy.

Born into one of the most powerful families in Italy, Pier Giorgio could have had anything he wanted. He climbed the Alps with his friends, pulled pranks, and struggled with Latin like any other student.

But almost every day, he slipped away to the poorest streets of his city. He gave away his money, his time, and even the coat off his back. He hardly told anyone, not even his own family.

When he died at just 24, thousands of strangers filled the streets for his funeral. His parents finally learned who their son really was.

In 2025, Pier Giorgio was declared a saint, alongside Saint Carlo Acutis. He is the patron of young people, students, and mountain climbers, because his story is about more than adventure.

It's about:

 • Joy: showing that faith and fun belong together

 • Quiet kindness: helping others without needing praise

 • Courage: standing up for what's right, even when it's dangerous

What's Inside

 • A powerful, true story told in a clear, engaging narrative style

 • A relatable saint kids can see themselves in

 • Reflection questions to encourage meaningful conversations

 • Timeline and historical context to deepen understanding

Perfect for:

 • Kids ages 8–12

 • Adventurous kids who love sports and the outdoors

 • Young people choosing a Confirmation saint

 • Classrooms, homeschool, and Catholic education

If your child thinks saints are too serious or too perfect to relate to, Pier Giorgio's story offers a surprising reminder:

Everyone has a mountain to climb. Keep going up.”

Most of the volumes in this series are under the pen name Paddy Bréagnamh. The chapters in this volume are:

Introduction

1. A Boy from Turin

2. The Secret Life of Pier Giorgio

3. To the Heights!

4. Standing Up for What's Right

5. A Heart That Gave It All

6. The Last Week

7. From Turin to the World

8. Climb Higher Like Pier Giorgio

Reflection Questions

Timeline of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati

Author's Note

Mini Saints & Missionaries Library Series

I only highlighted numerous passages in this volume. SO much that I exceeded the amount I could export from the eBook. Some of my highlights are:

“For everyone who is climbing something hard. Keep going up.”

“Pier Giorgio Frassati loved skiing and climbing mountains. He played practical jokes on his friends. He was loud, cheerful, and always hungry. He wasn't very good at Latin. He wasn't a priest or a monk or a missionary in a faraway land. He was a university student in Italy about a hundred years ago, with a busy family, a group of close friends, and big plans for the future.”

“This is the story of how an ordinary young man became a saint. Let's find out his secret.”

“The Frassatis were an important family. Pier Giorgio's father, Alfredo, owned La Stampa, one of the most famous newspapers in Italy. He was smart, hardworking, and very serious. Later he would become a senator and an ambassador. Pier Giorgio's mother, Adelaide, was a painter who liked things done properly.”

“Their parents loved them, but they were strict, and they were not happy with each other. The house was often tense and quiet. Alfredo didn't go to church. Adelaide went, but religion was more of a habit for her than a passion. Nobody in the family expected Pier Giorgio to turn out any differently.”

“School, on the other hand, was not simple. Pier Giorgio was lively, loud, and full of energy, but he was not a star student. Math and science were fine. Latin was a disaster. When he was about twelve, he failed his Latin exam and had to repeat the year. His father was embarrassed.”

“Soon he was going to Mass every morning. He never stopped. His parents weren't sure what to make of it. Some relatives thought he was overdoing it.”

“When Pier Giorgio was seventeen, he joined a group called the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. Its members visited poor families in their homes, found out what they needed, and did their best to help.”

“If you had met Pier Giorgio, you might never have guessed he was so holy. You would probably have noticed that he was loud.”

“With a group of friends, Pier Giorgio started a club called the "Society of Shady Characters." It wasn't really shady at all. The members gave each other funny nicknames, wrote each other silly letters, and went on adventures together. But underneath all the fun, the friends had a serious goal. They promised to pray for each other and help each other stay close to God.”

“He joined Catholic student groups that worked for fairness, freedom, and help for the poor. He went to meetings, handed out leaflets, and spoke up for what he believed.”

“In 1922, he joined the Dominicans as a lay member. That meant he promised to follow a special way of prayer and service while still living an ordinary life as a student. He took the name "Brother Girolamo."”

“The day before he died, he asked for paper and a pen. His hand was so weak he could barely hold it. In shaky handwriting, he wrote a note to a friend. It said that there was medicine that needed to go to a poor man named Converso, and a pawn ticket that needed to be renewed so another family wouldn't lose their belongings.”

“When I first learned about Pier Giorgio, what surprised me most was how normal he seemed. He loved the outdoors. He had a big group of friends. He struggled in school. His family was complicated. He could have been someone in your class or on your team.”

“I wrote this book for kids who sometimes think saints are too serious, too perfect, or too far away to understand. I also wrote it for young people preparing for Confirmation and wondering what it means to live their faith for real. Pier Giorgio shows that holiness isn't about being perfect. It's about loving God and loving others, one day at a time, one step at a time.”

I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. I have read much about Pier Giorgio and a bit by him over the years. My children and I have a devotion to him, especially my son. Reading this was like a visit with a friend I had not seen in a while. It was a great reminder of his life, and his example.

This book and series are great read for the young and the young at heart! I would love to see how the author would handle standalone volumes on Josemaría Escrivá, Charles de Foucauld, John Henry Newman, and many of my other favourite saints. But these books are so good no matter who is profiled next I know I will pick it up. And this long awaited volume was excellent! 

That being said this volume would be a great gift for first communion or even confirmation. It would be an excellent addition to any home, school, or church library. This latest release in this series is another fantastic read. The series keeps getting better and better. It was an excellent read in a great series. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books in the Mini Saints & Missionaries Library Series:

From Pirates to Parades: The Story of Saint Patrick and His Day 

Blessed Carlo Acutis: The Boy Who Showed the World Jesus 

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz: The Brave Witness 

Pope Leo XIV: From Chicago to the Vatican: The First American Pope 

Saint Joan of Arc: The Girl Who Heard God's Call 

Venerable Augustus Tolton: Priest of Freedom 

Saint Thomas the Apostle: From Doubt to Devotion

Saint Patrick: The Boy Who Forgave 

Saint Catherine of Bologna: The Artist Saint 

Saint Sebastian: The Soldier Who Wouldn’t Stay Down 

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha: The Girl Who Walked Two Hundred Miles  

Saint Andrew Kim Taegon: The Boy Who Crossed the Mountains  

Saint Cecilia: The Girl Who Sang in Her Heart 

Saint Lucy: The Girl Who Carried the Light 

Saint Josephine Bakhita: The Girl Who Chose Freedom 

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati: The Boy Who Climbed Higher 

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: The Girl Who Found a Little Way 

Saint Francis of Assisi: The Man Who Befriended Birds 

Saint Nicholas: The Orphan Who Became Santa Claus 

Saint Juan Diego: The Man Whose Cloak Held a Miracle 

Saint Faustina: The Messenger of Divine Mercy 

Saint Martin The Soldier Who Shared His Cloak

…

Lives of Women Saints: 52 True Stories of Courage, Faith, and Character 

The Lives of Women Saints Coloring & Activity Book 

The Lives of Women Saints Workbook 

Seven Saints for Boys A First Communion Collection of Courage and Faith 

Catholic Saints for Kids: 33 Inspiring Stories of Faith, Courage and Character

Catholic Saints for Kids: 33 Inspiring Stories of Faith, Courage and Character Full Colour Edition 

Catholic Saints for Kids: 33 Inspiring Stories of Faith, Courage and Character Full Coloring Book Edition

...

Book about Pier Giorgio Frassati:

Pier Giorgio Frassati Inspiration for Students -  Glynn MacNiven-Johnston

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: An Ordinary Christian by Maria Amata Di Lorenzo

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: Journey to the Summit - Ana María Vázquez

Finding Frassati: And Following His Path to Holiness - Christine M Wohar

A Book of Prayers in Honour of Pier Giorgio Frassati - Fr. Timothy E Deeter

The Frassati Field Guide: An 8-Day Ascent to Heroic Virtue - Bobby Angel

The Higher We Go Pier Giorgio Frassati - Corinna Turner - Friends in High Places Book 5

15 Days of Prayer with Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati - Père Charles Desjobert, OP 

Book of Prayers with St. Pier Giorgio Frassati - Frassati Society Philippines  

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati: The Boy Who Climbed Higher - Paddy Bréagnamh - Mini Saints & Missionaries Library 

... 

Prayer to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Prayer for the Courage to be Great

Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Sermon Trinity Sunday Year A Frassati Leadership Program Commissioning Most Reverend Wayne Lobsinger, VG

... 

Holmes By Tuscany Bay - Richard Paolinelli

Holmes By Tuscany Bay

Richard Paolinelli

Tuscany Bay Books

ISBN 9798906106148

ASIN B0HFDR461Q

My introduction to Richard’s work was a story in the anthology Cracked. Since that first story I have read works by him 42 times, not counting contributions to anthologies. I loved these stories when I first read them, and enjoyed them even more reading them again as a collection in this volume. With each story I read I am more impressed with Richard’s skill and talent. And this anthology edition featuring the six Sherlock Holmes pastiches is excellent! Reading it was alike a visit with old friends after a long absence. Richard is not only an author but the driving force behind Tuscany Bay Books, I have read many volumes from the Bay by a number of authors and all have been well worth the read. I regret that I did not dig into his works earlier, so do not make my mistake pick one up and give it a read. The description of this volume is:

“Award-winning, best-selling author Richard Paolinelli has written six critically-acclaimed Sherlock Holmes pastiches in his career. Now, for the first time, all six are available in one collection - Holmes By Tuscany Bay.

In this volume you will find:

The Woman Returns: For a brief period of time the world thought Sherlock Holmes had perished in his battle with Professor Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls. While Holmes was away from London, he traveled the world. Shortly before his return he took up residence in the south of France. To his surprise Irene Adler showed up on his doorstep. She is looking for revenge. The man who murdered her husband has escaped justice and she wants Holmes to help her in her quest.

A Lesson In Mercy: Most of Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes stories were told from the perspective of Dr. John Watson. In this case, Winston Churchill recalls a time in his youth when he was accused of theft at school. At Churchill's beloved Nanny's insistence, Holmes and Watson are called in on the case. The future Prime Minister will receive a shooting lesson from Watson and learn a valuable lesson in mercy from Holmes himself.

The Misplaced Mystery Writer: H.G. Wells has built his time machine and taken American author Edgar Allan Poe on several trips through time. Unfortunately, he has become separated from Poe while hunting for Jack The Ripper in London. Wells enlists the aid of Holmes and Watson to find Poe and return him to his correct time frame.

Nevermore: Once upon a midnight dreary Sherlock Holmes, though not weak and weary, finds himself in a tale connected to forgotten lore. Now he must solve the mystery of an albino raven that seems to be a harbinger of death for the owner of the manor it has taken up residence in.

The Substitute Thief: When a valuable manuscript has been replaced with a forgery during an important football match, Holmes is called in to find the thief and recover the manuscript.

The Assassination of Alan Pinkerton: History records that the famous Alan Pinkerton - founder of both the Pinkerton Detective Agency and the United States Secret Service - died from a head injury suffered from a fall in Chicago. But a mysterious visitor to 221B Baker Street in London has a story to tell Holmes and Watson. A story that calls into question the cause of Pinkerton’s demise. Months later, and thousands of miles away, can Holmes deduce the truth about Pinkerton’s death?”

Richard in the beginning of the author’s note states:

“Growing up as a kid one of my earliest discoveries in my local library in Turlock was the collected stories of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A few years later I bought the same two-volume collection to have in my personal library for life.

Then came the 1980s and Jeremy Brett’s portray of Sherlock Holmes. No actor before, and none since (sorry Robert Downey Jr.) have captured Holmes on the screen like Brett did. I have every episode Brett filmed in my digital library as well.

So yes, I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan.

Never once did I ever dare to think that one day I’d be writing Sherlock Holmes stories, or pastiches, much less getting them published.

Then one day, I landed the chance to write my first such pastiche. As an added bonus, I would be in the same anthology along with Jack McDevitt, a fellow sci-fi author, and a man who I credit as being my inspiration to make one last run at being a fiction writer at the age of 49.”

It concludes with:

“All six were a great joy to write and I hope they are a joy for you to read.”

And indeed they are. After reading them in this collection I have recommended them to my son and he is loving them. The stories in this collection with a brief review of each are:

A Lesson In Mercy

It was fascinating to read this tale of a young Churchill being rescued by Holmes and Watson. Both of whom provide invaluable service and lessons to the young man, that help to shape him into the leader he became.

This story was originally published in the anthology: Beyond Watson, from Belanger Books. If the other stories in that collection are as good as this, it will be one well worth tracking down, but back to this story. This is an excellent story and one I am very thankful I gave it a read!

The Woman Returns

This is a masterfully written story. It fits in perfectly with the other stories I have read years ago. Paolinelli has breathed new life into the characters and yet remained true to their original creation. Adler shows up asking for Holmes' help, and even promises to his condition. And they are immediately off on the chase.

This is a great short story. It draws you in quickly, it keeps your attention, and leaves you wanting more. Fortunately Paolinelli has written 5 other Holmes stories. The characters are masterfully written. I look forward to the other stories in this series and many of Richard’s other series.

The Misplaced Mystery Writer

It was fascinating to read this tale of a young Holmes and Watson interacting with the author and scientist H.G. Wells. The story has a very intriguing principal. Wells approaches Holmes because he has misplaced another author in both time and space. The question is can Holmes and Watson help find and put the man back when and when he belongs. It also raises questions about if the timeline the story ends in was the original or if the time hopping has altered things. A masterful short story in the time travel genre. 

Nevermore

This story was originally published in the anthology: Sherlock Holmes Adventures in the Realms of Edgar Allan Poe, from Belanger Books. If the other stories in that collection are as good as this, it will be one well worth tracking down. But Back to this story. This is an excellent story and one I am very thankful I have read!

This one was another excellent offering. It is very well written story. Paolinelli’s stories fit in perfectly with the other stories I have read in both of official and unofficial Holmes canon. Paolinelli breathes new life into the characters and yet he remains true to their original creation. 

The Substitute Thief

The case detailed in this work took place 2 years earlier in Darlington and focused around Lady Lymington and the Library she created as her father’s request when he passed. The case opens with: 

“t had not been Lestrade, or some strange newcomer, that had set Holmes on the trail to Darlington that foggy London night. Rather, it came in the form of a letter. 

“It seems, Doctor,” he said, holding it up after reading it, “that our assistance is required on a somewhat delicate matter in Darlington,” he said. 

“Darlington?” I exclaimed. “What could possibly be of such a delicate nature up there?” 

“A rare manuscript has been stolen,” Holmes replied. “The theft hasn’t yet become public knowledge. Lady Lymington – ” He waved the note. “ – hopes that it can be recovered before news of the theft does get out. Her husband, Lord Lymington, has contacts that are useful to Her Majesty’s government.”

And the chase is afoot. This is an odd case involving a local football rivalry. A substitute baller, a substituted book, and a whole town talking about the past match and the rematch. And very few being informed about the missing object.  

The Assassination Of Alan Pinkerton

This one was another smashing good story. It is masterfully written story. It fits in perfectly with the other stories I have read in both official and unofficial Holmes canon. Paolinelli breathes new life into the characters and yet he remains true to their original creation. A man shows up at their door asking for an investigation of a murder, and reveals it is he himself who has been killed. Soon Holmes disappears for a few days and gets the ball rolling. But can he solve this case of two men murdered continents apart?

This is an excellent short story. It draws the reader in quickly, it keeps your attention, and leaves you wanting more!

I enjoyed these stories so much when I first read and reviewed them that I wrote a separate piece as an overview of the whole collection to be able to promote it more. I have said it about other books and stories by Paolinelli and I said it about these stories, I can only hope we will see more Holmes stories from his masterful pen. These are excellent stories and I can easily recommend them, especially in the collected edition. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!

For reviews of all books from Tuscany Bay click here.

Books by Richard Paolinelli:

Maelstrom

When the Gods Fell

The Calling

The Last Lonely Trail

A Zombie Christmas Carol

The Woman Returns

Of All The Gin Joints In The Universe

…

Infinity Series:

Escaping Infinity

Exploring Infinity

Expanding Infinity

…

Starguest 4th Age Series:

Ranger

Galen’s Way

Galen’s Blade

Galen's Heart

Cassandra's Line

…

Starquest 4th Age The Complete Saga 

...

Timeless Series:

The Timeless

Secret of the Sphinx

Odin’s Runes

Empire Of The Golden Dragon

Blackbeard’s Treasure

The Last Quest

…

Jack Del Rio Series:

Reservations

Betrayals

Endgames

…

Del Rio Omnibus Edition

Del Rio The Complete Trilogy 

…

Divine Trolls Comedies:

The Fall Of The House Of 770 Vile Aromas 

The Corvo

…

SeaDragon:

SeaDragon 1 May 1986

SeaDragon 2 June 1996

…

Seadragon Novels:

Seadragon 

...

Dreams Of The Storyteller:

Legacy Of Death

The Invited

The Fall Of Denver

Nothing Ever Happens Here

Icarus Falls

The 13th Medallion

At Homeworld's End

The Last Human

Phantoms' Lodge

Polar Shift

Extinction Point

CAG

The Enemy Of My Enemy

Barn Wars

Monster In The Second Reel 

In The Place Called Har-Magedon 

The Timeless

Secret of the Sphinx

…

Dreams of the Storyteller Overview of Series

...

Dreams of the Storyteller Volume I 

Dreams of the Storyteller Volume II 

…

Sherlock Holmes Pastiches:

Sherlock Holmes: A Lesson In Mercy

Sherlock Holmes: The Woman Returns 

Sherlock Holmes: The Misplaced Mystery Writer

Sherlock Holmes: Nevermore or, The Mystery Of The Albino Raven

Sherlock Holmes: The Substitute Thief

Sherlock Holmes: The Assassination Of Alan Pinkerton

...

Sherlock Holmes Pastiches Overview of Series

...

Holmes By Tuscany Bay

...

Non Fiction:

Perfection’s Arbiter

From The Fields

The Space Shuttle: 1981–2011 

…

Contributed to:

To Be Men 

Cracked

Places Beyond The Wild

Space Force Building The Legacy

Secret Stairs 

A Tribute To H.G. Wells (2019 Edition)

Beyond Watson 

Holmes Away From Home, Vol. 2 

Sherlock Holmes Adventures In The Realms Of H.G. Wells 

Sherlock Holmes Aventures In The Realms Of Edgar Allan Poe

The Art Of Sherlock Holmes 

The Mx Book Of New Sherlock Holmes Stories, Part Xxii

…

Planetary Anthology Series:

Sol

Earth

Luna

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Pluto

…

Best Of Planetary Anthology Series

…

The Last Upheaval - Peco Gaskovski

The Last Upheaval

Peco Gaskovski

School of the Unconformed Press

ISBN 9781988604244

eISBN 9781988604268

ASIN B0HMSJNC2N

This second novel I have read from Peco is just as good as the first. I could hardly put it down. I absolutely loved Exogenesis and this is a prequel set 300 years earlier. This was an absolutely fascinating read. As soon as I encountered the title and description of this story really grabbed my attention. The writing is tight and crisp. The characters masterfully written and the plot is very ambitious and extremely well executed. After reading this second offering, I can only hope there will be many more from Gaskovski’s pen. The description of this story states:

“A nation under cyberattack. A family on the brink. An ancient evil lurking behind the Machine.

As cyberattacks bring America's electrical grid to its knees, technology writer Sol Mereman must decide whether to flee with his family or gamble that civilization will survive. Everywhere he turns, the world is coming apart. His church is consumed by apocalyptic prophecies. His wife is wasting away from a mysterious illness. His teenage daughter is drawn into the orbit of a charismatic pagan activist. And the Polygon—a cutting-edge research facility where intelligent machines are blurring the line between human and artificial life—is about to be ground zero for fanatical anti-tech protesters.

But these are only the visible signs of a deeper war.

When Sol is thrust into an unseen realm, he discovers that the chaos engulfing the world is part of a far older conflict. To save his family—and far more than that—he must confront a demonic enemy that has been working behind the veil all along. As civilization teeters on the edge, the final battle won't be fought in cyberspace, but in the human soul.

A gripping blend of dystopian suspense and spiritual warfare, this is a novel for readers who enjoy high-stakes speculative fiction with philosophical and theological depth.”

I highlighted one passage early in the book it was:

“Four months before the collapse, I met the devil at a grocery store. A February day it was, in Garrison, Michigan, the snow heavy, swarming over the road like static, as if the atoms of the world were coming apart. As if the hand of God had reached into the world to shake it back into dust.”

This is an intriguing story set in the near future. The author mentions in his note at the end he started it before Ai really blew up, But the novel could not be more fitting. It is set in the US and society is experiencing the rapid acceleration of AI, ever expanding technology dependence, and a number of cyber terrorism attacks. The story begins during a week long power outage for large areas of the country. And a series of future attacks continue to aim at crippling the, collapsing supply chains, And a complete shift in society. 

Sol Mereman is our main protagonist. He is a tech writer at the Polygon, a large corporate, think tank, government contract recipient. Most employees wear ‘the wire’ a neuro monitor and social monitor. In fact a few times are told the specific percentage of employees who wear it. The Polygon is a giant of research, AI, robotics, The building resembles a massive glass pyramid, and they are plans to add building to the campus. This draw protestors. 

Sal is drawn into conflict on several levels. At home within his family. In his church community and even at the office to some extent. But during this he has sort of a personal revival. Has a growing faith. And is developing a prayer habit and prayer corner in his kitchen. 

The story is an interesting take on technology dependence. The conflict between faith and technology, And learning to find hope, even when it seems to not make any sense at all.

In essence this story follows tech writer Sol Mereman as a series of cyberattacks cripples America's electrical grid and triggers a societal collapse. While the central tech corporation, the Polygon, aggressively expands its biological-machine interfaces, Sol must navigate frozen bank accounts, severe blackouts, and scarce food supplies. A wayward daughter. Amidst the chaos, he is forced to protect his family from an impending breakdown and a deeper, spiritual warfare masquerading as technological progress.

In some ways this story reminds me of Letter to the Future by Michael D. O'Brien, and also Frank E. Peretti’s The Prophet. There are a few other Catholic or Christina novels in similar genera that came to mind, especially That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis. But what I loved most about this what the characters, particularly Sol, his open and honest struggles, his making mistakes, his trying again and again. 

It is a very moving story with few true heroes, but with people who can be respected, appreciated and maybe even a source of inspiration. It is an exceptionally well written science fiction story. One I can recommend and one that would be excellent for a book club or book study. I can easily recommend this story for teens and older readers. In fact I have already recommended it to a few friends and family. And I hope my kids will give it a read, which is the highest praise I can give a story. A great read. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Peco Gaskovski:

The Affair Box

The Last Upheaval 

Exogenesis

…

Chronicles of Remembrance Series:

Ælefas

...

Books edited by Peco Gaskovski:

Staggering Along With God

Comprehensive Spirituality 

…

Author Profile and Interview with Peco Gaskovski.

Dead Saint Walking - Declan Finn - Saint Tommy NYPD Omnibus Vol. IV

Dead Saint Walking

Saint Tommy NYPD Omnibus, Vol. IV

Declan Finn

Tuscany Bay Books

eISBN 9781865243498

ASIN B0HFDW5TMW

 

This is the fourth of the new Omnibus editions of this excellent series I have read. I have absolutely loved rereading these stories. I will again state that Declan Finn is one of my favourite contemporary authors. I have read all the published books and short stories, and many contributions to anthologies. I had been planning to reread this series for a while now, especially as I await the republication of the Pius series. These new omnibus editions look amazing! My son and I both absolutely love these new editions. Without the words on the covers we would both do them as prints and put them up on our wall with Icons we have. 

The description of this omnibus edition states:

“In the mean streets of New York—and beyond—evil has a scent. And one cop can smell it.

Detective Thomas “Tommy” Nolan is a good man: devoted husband and father, faithful Catholic, and an NYPD officer who shows mercy to the desperate while hunting the truly wicked. Then the gifts arrive—the charisms of the saints. He can smell evil. He can bilocate. He heals fast, levitates when needed, and stands as a living target for the legions of Hell.

From a demon-possessed serial killer tearing through Queens to death cults, warlocks in high office, Nazi vampires, sex-trafficking succubi, witches, zombies, Lovecraftian horrors, and worse, every force of darkness marks Tommy for destruction. They learn the hard way that “good” does not mean “harmless.” With prayer, fists, firearms, allies from the Vatican to the streets, and an unshakable faith, Tommy sends them all back to Hell—or dies trying.

This complete collection gathers every novel and short story in Declan Finn’s acclaimed Saint Tommy, NYPD series: the full arc of Tommy’s battles across New York, Europe, and the supernatural underworld, plus the connecting tales that fill the gaps between major cases. Experience the Catholic action-horror that readers call a streamlined, faith-fueled answer to urban fantasy classics—fast-paced, gun-and-grace-filled, and unapologetically on the side of the light.

One saint. One badge. An army of demons. The war against Evil starts here.

The fourth volume of the St. Tommy, NYPD, Omnibus contains the following:

Lightbringer: When a director's daughter overdoses, that's Hollywood; when she comes back as a zombie, that's a mission for NYPD Lt. Tommy Nolan and his new Joint Supernatural Taskforce.

Dark Web: When a Christian internet celebrity is kidnapped, Tommy Nolan must team up with a ghost from his past in order to battle the horrors lurking in the Dark Web.

Blue Saint: When his local church is destroyed by supernatural means, NYPD Lt Tommy Nolan finds himself besieged by old enemies hellbent on revenge. This time, Hell will see Nolan dead, whatever the cost, and destroy his city with him. Nolan will risk everything to stop the coming onslaught, but will it be enough?

Plus these two short Stories (first time published by Tuscany Bay Books)

In The Garden Of Madness

Mark Of Kane.”

About the author we are informed:

“As penance for his sins, Declan Finn spent over 40 years in New York City. He has since made his escape from New York to Texas. He is the author of books ranging from thrillers to urban fantasy to SciFi, including the Dragon Award Nominated Novel for Best horror in 2016, Honor at Stake, and the 2017 follow-up, Live and Let Bite. He was also nominated for "Best Apocalypse" novel at the Dragons in 2017. He also won the book of the year award with his novel Hell Spawn from CLFA.

Finn is known for being annoyingly Catholic, his action sequences, and writing faster than most readers can keep up with. In less than a decade, he has written over 30 novels, and is waiting for all of them to be published. He's been part of multiple anthologies, and will write for anyone.”

This is yet another excellent collection. I was even more impressed reading these stories the second time. I also greatly enjoyed the two new offerings. Spiritual warfare and the war on crime collide. Officer Nolan thought he had his work cut out for him. And as he has said many times, to be a Saint you have to be dead!

In Lightbringer:

Tommy is still officially on staff with the NYPD, but he is working mostly independent of them, with a new task force. They are sort of part of the FBI, the team is the Joint Supernatural Taskforce, the official designation with the FBI was JSTF, but we called it JST or “Just.” The day to day team is Tommy, his son Jeremy, Jeremy’s wife Lena, and his retired partner Alex Packard. They also have some floater desks for FBI agents when they are working with the team. And dedicated desks for Father Richard Freeman, Medical Examiner, Doctor Sinead Holland and ADA William Carlton of Manhattan.

This story does have a lot of action, in fact it opens in the sewers with a battle against spiders including one that could give Shelob a run for sizing. But this story has a lot more police work, uncovering the trail in the old gum shoe fashion. JUST reaches out to their contacts at H.E.R.O. and Human Exploitation Rescue Operative Child-Rescue Corps, and others. They slowly put together a history going back decades to the beginning of Hollywood. And an adversary that goes back much further. Their investigations into Golden Chalice Studios and Luminary Productions the facts just do not add up. The companies seem to be making decisions that are bad business, they only thing they see to focus on is corruption for corruptions sake. Until a piece falls into place for Tommy. And soon they are pulling in all the resources they can in what might became the biggest case to ever hit the New York Court system. But to get there Tommy must face his strongest foe yet! 

This story is has a lot of action, some crime procedural and detective work. All happening while Tommy’s wife is diagnosed with a brain tumor. It is like Die Hard film with the whole family, and a close knit group of friends and allies in on the action. Finn does an excellent job of weaving current events into this Catholic Action Horror novel. The characters are wonderfully written. Wondering what will happen to them next leaves you hanging big time! And with book 12 planned as the last novel, how it will end overall.

In In The Garden Of Madness:

Having not read this story it was like a visit with old friends. Tommy and Alex working a strange case together. This one reminds me of some of the Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley aka Poison Ivy Story arcs from the past as well as Murder Most Picante by Karina Fabian in her DragonEye, PI series. And of course it makes reference to a certain film with Rick Moranis, Steve Martin and Bill Murray. This is an intriguing story. The whole story takes place over the period of a day and night. And Tommy and Alex pull out some old tricks and some new. And even a bit of a Scooby Doo reference in the ending. An excellent story!

In Dark Web:

In this story we encounter a relative of Nolan’s we had not met before and never even heard of. He appears as the heads of the Texas Randers and comes with Lloyd Lermon on the trail of a Catholic YouTube Celebrity who has been shanghaied. One Ranger Chief Aaron Nolan, is appearance is unwelcome, and things go downhill from there. Once again there is a lot of action, some serious misdirection. The story has a lot more police work, uncovering the trail of the missing man. They do battle with witches, dragur’s and more. A side trip to Quebec provides some great information and an excellent battle. We get to see Jeremy and Lena working a mission on their own. An Anti-Fa mob, and various other creatures. And the final battle is epic! 

Again this time Finn does an excellent job of weaving current events into this Catholic Action Horror novel. The characters are wonderfully written. Tommy, his friends and family are the type of people I would love to know. Wondering what will happen to them next leaves you hanging big time! And with book 12 planned as the last novel, how it will end overall.

In Blue Saint:

In this story we have the return of many former foes. Some have come back from hell. We have battles with constructs during the day on the streets of New York. Jihadis with enhanced armour and weapons, MS13, Witches, Draugr’s and more. The final battle for Tommy is coming and he has been warned through many sources that he has to finish it this time, no matter the cost! And oh what a cost. Tommy knows what is coming and pulls in all his friends and allies, and even an enemy of my enemy. Culminating in a final battle taking place during a hurricane.

In Mark Of Kane:

Wow! This is an excellent cross over story. A main character from one of Finn’s other series carries relics of Saint Tommy. Those relics are spent brass. And he encounters a demon Tommy had faced before. A short story with a lot of punch. Characters who we know and love. And action galore. Finn has written another excellent story in this piece!

This is another outstanding collection to read. It wraps up the novels in the St Tommy series. Excellent stories in a series that are now available in 4 Omnibus editions and a collection of all the short stories. I highly recommend this series for mature readers. I have recommended these books to dozens of people and all have loved them. Therefore I recommend them to you. Pick this up and read the conclusion to this awesome series!   

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Declan Finn:

Love At First Bite Series:

Short Stories:

Blood Stained Cliffs of Dover 

Bad Date 

Mad Dog Moon

…

Novels:

Honor at Stake

Demons Are Forever 

     (Murphy's Law of Vampires)

Live and Let Bite

Good to the Last Drop

…

Honeymoon from Hell Series:

The Neck Romancer

Blood Country

Wyverns Never Die

Cross Over

Fae'd to Black

...

The Last Survivors Series:

Codename: Winterborn

Codename: Unsub

…

Convention Killings Series:

It Was Only On Stun!

Set To Kill

…

Pius Series:

A Pius Man

A Pius Legacy

A Pius Stand

Pius History

Pius Tales (Anthology)

…

Pius Trilogy Short Stories:

The Pirate King

...

St. Tommy Series:

Hell Spawn

Death Cult

Infernal Affairs

Lupus Dei

They Burn Witches, Don't They

City of Shadows

Crusader

Deus Vult

Principle Necromancy

Coven

Hussar

Destiny

Lightbringer

Dark Web

Blue Saint

Vessel

…

St. Tommy Omnibus Editions:

This Saint for Hire

Have Saint Will Travel 

A Fistful of Relics 

Dead Saint Walking 

Pathway to Heaven The Complete Short Stories

…

Top Secret Service Series:

Too Secret Service

Too Secret Service 2

Too Secret Service 3

…

Too Secret Service: Omnibus Edition

...

Dances with Werewolves Series:

Dances with Werewolves

Dances with Werewolves Volume II

…

Dances with Werewolves: Omnibus Edition

…

White Ops Series:

White Ops

Politics Kills

Main Street D.O.A.

Gathering Storm

Eye of the Storm

Enemy Within  

…

White Ops Omnibus Volume I

White Ops Omnibus Volume II

...

Land&Sea Season 2:

On Tiber's Edge

...

Other books:

For All Their Wars Are Merry

Arresting Merlin

Sad Puppies Bite Back

Clerical Error: The Death of Fr Timothy A. Lessner (with John Konecsni)

...

Anthologies contributed to:

Astounding Frontiers 1

Storming Area 51 - Bayonet Books Anthology Book 2

Pluto: Planetary Anhtology Series Book 1

Luna: Planetary Anhtology Series Book 2

Supernatural Streets

Starflight: Tales From The Starport Lounge

Mercury: Planetary Anthology Series Book 4

Venus: Planetary Anthology Series Book 5

Mars: Planetary Anthology Series Book 7

Places Beyond the Wild: A Z-Day Anthology

Shoot the Devil: Ten Tales of Humans Defeating the Demonic

Fire for Effect - Bayonet Books Anthology Book 7

Fantastic Schools, Volume 6

Swords and Maidens: Eleven Tales of Chivalry and Valor

The Monster Within - Bayonet Books Antholohy Book 8

Thirteen Stories of Horror: Volume 1

Pinup Noir 3

...

Author profile and interview with Declan Finn.