BookTrib’s latest roundup features four books that delve into crises, courage, and the weight of consequences, offering readers a range of genres from middle-grade adventure to speculative thriller and self-help.
In "The Captain's Clue" by Brock Eastman and Shaun Stevenson, Christian kids are treated to a hilarious action-adventure where the parables of Jesus come to life. Anthony and his friends face the storm of the century in Parable Port, where the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders goes haywire. With flooded streets and electric eels, they must find the mysterious lighthouse keeper, Captain David, to save the town. This fast-paced, faith-filled story helps young readers understand building life on a solid foundation. Available at tinyurl.com/the-captains-clue.
James Chesterton’s "Ashes of the Republic" is a chilling speculative thriller set in 2046 America, a nation transformed by surveillance, AI, and authoritarian rule. Former engineer Lily Osbourne helped create the technology that now oppresses citizens. After falling out of favor, she witnesses her inventions weaponized against ordinary people and must confront her role in building that future. This cautionary tale blends high-stakes suspense with questions about power and freedom. Purchase at tinyurl.com/ashes-of-the-republic.
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino and Dr. Katie Eastman offer "The Peace Guidebook: How to Cultivate Hope, Healing, and Harmony for the Good of Humankind," a practical path to personal healing and collective change. Inspired by the Percolate Peace Project, the book presents Ten Principles of Peace with reflection, storytelling, and daily practices. It encourages readers to quiet inner turmoil, lead with love, and build relationships rooted in shared values. Part guidebook, part call to action, it’s available at tinyurl.com/the-peace-guidebook.
J. Mayberry’s "The Alpha Trace" is a psychological crime thriller set in the small town of Millbrook Falls, where true-crime podcaster Elena Coleman is found dead with a cryptic symbol left behind. Detective James Rios uncovers a pattern of murders tied to a decades-old serial killer, the Alpha. As more bodies appear, Rios must navigate police corruption and family loyalties to solve a case where every clue raises new questions. The novel is a tense investigation full of twists. Purchase at tinyurl.com/the-alpha-trace.
These four books, each in their own way, explore how individuals confront crises—whether supernatural storms, dystopian surveillance, personal turmoil, or serial murder—and the courage required to face consequences.
