Reviews
“A fast-paced whodunit, Lawson’s recent installment in the Scott Drayco mystery series contains enough pleasantly unexpected surprises and meticulous details to deliver a fresh mystery. Lawson's protagonist is also greatly compelling; Lawson also excels at crafting seemingly minor figures whose roles in the story may be more significant than they seem.” - Publishers Weekly (Booklife Prize)
“This labyrinthine novel is great for those who love to be as intellectually frenzied as the detectives in the stories they read. They’ll be eagerly flipping back to look for Lawson’s strategically placed clues.” - Library Journal
“The storyline here is nicely structured, and creatively ties together two murder mysteries, which occurred decades apart. The small town setting is ideal, the lead character engaging, and the supporting cast interesting and diverse. Overall, a solid start to this series.” - Omnimystery News
“Dies Irae is a notable title worth putting on your reading list.” - Library Journal
“BV Lawson has created a memorable character in Drayco, a concert pianist turned FBI agent, turned crime consultant. He also has the fascinating condition of synesthesia, which not only adds a mysterious depth to his character it is integral to the plot.” - Big Al's Books & Pals
“An engaging lead and atmospheric setting make for an ideal travel read.” - Library Journal
“BV Lawson is a wonderful storyteller. Trust me and pick up one of her books.” - L.Jones Edition
“Lawson uses the gothic features of the abandoned Opera House to great effect, creating an atmospheric background for the crimes and the solving of them, all of it accompanied with music that’s almost like another character. The pace never sagged and it kept me enthralled.” - Long and Short Reviews
“Now this story was close to brilliance.... loved the concept of this story. The main character was truly three-dimensional, a noteworthy feat especially in a short story. The plot was fast, dark and thrilling. I had a hunch halfway through about what would happen, and I was right, but that didn’t make the reading experience any less pleasant. The writing was fluent and the story intriguing, and I loved the end.” - IHeartReading.net
“Filled with complex characters, multiple motives and agendas...Plenty of twists and turns as the case goes along makes figuring out who did it as well as why in Played To Death quite the challenge.” - Kevin Tipple, Flash Bang Mysteries
“One of the best shorts I've read this year. Scary and triumphant in the bleakest kind of way with two of the best characters I've read.” - AJ Hayes, author of the Mad Dog and Englishman series
“BV Lawson ends the anthology on a strong note. Scott Drayco investigates the death of a shock jock and...cleverly solves the crime. All in all, an excellent read for lovers of quality mystery fiction.” - Jacqueline Seewald, author of The Inferno Collection
“We've had the pleasure of reading these tales and can enthusiastically recommend them.” - Omnimystery News
“Awesome story. Beautifully written...you have really written something special.” - Terrie Farley Moran, author of the Read ’Em and Eat Café and Bookstore series
“I'm a sucker for unreliable narrators, but they are hard to pull off. But Lawson does so with aplomb. A story about small-town life, prejudice (including our own as we read, perhaps), and revenge.” - James Everington, author of Falling Over
“Lawson’s book was so good, I read it twice from beginning to end.” - Ayrial King for Readers' Favorite
“False Shadows kept me guessing until the very end. I’d recommend this book to experienced mystery readers who enjoy wrestling with skillfully placed hints that don’t easily reveal their secrets.” - Long and Short Reviews