Legal Mystery / Political Thriller / Suspense / Humor
Published by: Tule Publishing
Publication Date: February 23, 2026
Number of Pages: 279
SYNOPSIS:
The Rizk Brothers Legal Mysteries
In the corridors of Indiana’s justice system, power is both a weapon and a curse.
Jakob Rizk never expected to become Indiana’s acting attorney general—especially not after his mentor’s sudden death. Two weeks in, he’s losing sleep, battling a ruthless rival, and facing off with a powerful senator focused on his downfall. The last thing he needs is for his twin, Seth—a Miami cop hiding secrets of his own—to arrive unexpectedly.
Jakob is under pressure to prosecute a young engineer for the murder of a hard-nosed inspector famous for rooting out corruption. But with scant evidence and clear signs of political interference, the case is a minefield. Jakob has always lived by the law, but now one misstep could cost him a career.
Together, the brothers must unravel a web of greed and deception, each dead set on appearing strong in the other’s eyes. As they race the clock, which matters more: the truth, their careers, or fragile bonds that could be shattered forever?
I don't spend time on plot summary, so please read the book synopsis above.
HALL WAYS REVIEW: What an absolute delight it is to read Murder on Site, the series starter of the Rizk Brothers Legal Mysteries. Perfect pacing, memorable characters, and liberal doses of danger and deception -- and humor -- will keep readers thoroughly entertained and engaged. TG Wolff is an author to watch (and YIPPEE! I see that the second book in this series, Guilty by Association, is publishing later this month. I'm ready for more of the twin brothers Jakob and Seth's shenanigans.
Time flies while reading Murder on Site, and before I knew it, I had devoured the story and had barely taken any notes. In my reading world, that's about the best compliment I can offer an author. (The very few scattered typos I found barely slowed me down, and it's unlikely most readers will even notice them.) The ability to completely immerse a reader in another world is truly a gift and TG Wolff has it. Her knowledge of civil engineering allows for a unique premise and provides insight into the world behind the projects (like building bridges), which is more convoluted and competitive than we laypeople can imagine.
In Murder on Site, Wolff does an interesting thing: the subplot of a death of a beloved public personality and forthcoming funeral for him provide a framework for the primary murder mystery to unravel. As the funeral draws nearer, the tension runs higher as the Rizk brothers draw nearer to finding a killer. But they don't do it alone. There's a full team of players including one of the most robust and favorite characters, police detective Angel Martinez. I sure hope to see her return in the next installment. Creating realistic, fully fleshed-out characters is one of TG Wolff's superpowers.
Beyond the terrific plot and characters, Wolff throws in some pop culture references that those of a certain age will appreciate (Risky Business & Bewitched gave me a smile), which make the people and places of Murder on Site feel more authentic...like if we showed up in Indianapolis, we'd know right where to have a cold beer, get a sammie, avoid construction sites, and feel right at home.
Highly recommend.
I voluntarily reviewed this book and received an e-ARC from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.
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AUTHOR BIO:
TG Wolff has never been able resist a good puzzle. With an engineer’s mind for logic and a lifelong love of mysteries, she crafts whodunit stories that challenge readers to outsmart her detective. Her books are filled with quirky characters, red herrings, and—because she firmly believes solving (fictional) murders should be fun—a healthy dose of humor.
TG earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, learning early to see every problem as a mystery and each solution as the answer the result of asking the right questions. That same curiosity drives her fiction, where nothing is ever accidental and every detail counts.
When she’s not plotting fictional crimes, TG is a mystery reader and reviewer and the co-creator / co-host of the whodunit mystery podcast Mysteries to Die For. A Cleveland, Ohio native, she now lives in northeast Indiana with her husband and two sons, where dogs and mysteries are always welcome. Catch up with TG Wolff:
ABOUT THE BOOK: From beloved, bestselling author Cornelia Funke comes a bright and bold introduction to the world’s extraordinary creatures—perfect for the youngest readers.
Dragons, unicorns, and thunderbirds are only a few of the fabulous creatures young children will meet in this book!
In this bright and bold introduction to fantastical and magical animals from around the globe, bestselling and celebrated fantasy author Cornelia Funke and illustrator Ruby Warnecke invite children into the fabulous world of myth and legend.
------- 🕮------- BOOK REVIEW I don't spend time on plot summary, so please read the book synopsis above.
HALL WAYS REVIEW: I loved this
book so much that as soon as I finished reading the digital ARC, I pre-ordered
the hardcover copy...and am considering ordering it in French, too, just
because I can! (It's also available in German, the original language in which
it was written, and Spanish. Cool!)
“They fly and gallop
through our dreams and remind us that there is so much more to the world beyond
our human creations.” – author Cornelia Funke
The cover of Fabulous
Creatures entices with original artwork (HOORAY!), and the illustrations
within the book are out of this world. The illustrator has even drawn
delightful borders around the edges to draw the eyes in to the vibrant drawings.
Each creature feature consumes every inch of the two-page spreads, making this
book absolutely mesmerizing. Even the youngest readers will be kept engaged and
enjoying this selection of mythical beasts from around the world.
Author Cornelia
Funke’s accompanying text (which was wonderfully translated by the author’s
daughter into English) is well-written, informative, and full of fascinating
tidbits. It’s interesting that the author inserts herself and opinions in the story,
even countering one legend with, “But I think that’s a lie!” (Otso)
“I hope Tumu-Rai’I
Fenua keeps on trying.”
As an adult
reader, I am aware of many of the critters featured in the book, but I learned
more about them (Phoenixes are Egyptian!). I loved seeing the sweet and gentle Qilin
get a mention. I remember that critter from one of the Fantastic Beasts movies.
Wouldn’t it be handy to have a few of those around to judge the purity of our
souls? There were just as many creatures I’d never heard of, like Tumu-Rai’I Fenua,
a giant kraken, who “is said to have once had the task of teaching us humans
how to live in peace and harmony.” But we quit listening…siiigh.
My only gripe
is the print font size. I read an eBook ARC, but I read it on my very large computer
screen, and the font was still very small; like 10pt small, and some pages are
word-heavy for a picture book. Young eyes won’t have trouble with the print size,
but the author uses a robust and somewhat advanced vocabulary for the audience,
so a new reader might struggle with sounding out words and comprehension (and
an older reader might need a magnifying glass). Being a glass-half-full kinda reader,
the plus side is that the text is unobtrusive and allows the illustrations to
take center stage.
There’s a bit
of an abrupt ending, and I’d expected that there’d be some concluding page
showing all the creatures and to sum up things before going right into the
about the author/book info (which has no heading to offset it). But my quibbles
are minor, and this is a book I must have in hardcover to share with my
grandkids. Can’t wait for pub day!
Thanks to the publisher for reaching out for a review.
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About the author
Cornelia Funke is one of today’s most beloved writers of magical stories for children. She is the author of The Thief Lord, Dragon Rider, Inkheart, Inkspell, the Ghosthunters series, When Santa Fell to Earth, and Igraine the Brave. She lives with her family in Los Angeles, California, in a house full of books.
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