Praise for works of fiction by V.S. Kemanis

Power Blind

a Dana Hargrove legal mystery

Kemanis is excellent when it comes to both matters of legal procedure and human drama. She does masterly work creating multilayered, flawed characters to root for, and she certainly piles up the troubles for Dana… Intricate twists will hold readers’ thorough attention until the end. Both a precisely accurate portrayal of how things work in justice and law enforcement systems and a searing indictment of bureaucratic corruption and trade-offs, this is a stunner.

A family saga, mystery, and legal tale all rolled into one... The author did a fantastic job drawing me into the story through compelling observations, descriptions, and dialogue. I loved getting a feel for the main character's life and the many roles she played. The author does an excellent job of conveying the feelings she has for her family too. Frankly, there is a lot to like in this one. The look inside the court and legal system was fascinating. The investigation and mystery aspect and the family dynamics that played out through the story made this an enjoyable read.

Kemanis's ultra-clear writing style, encyclopedic knowledge of the courts and the criminal justice system, and conscientious plotting are on full display in Power Blind. A smooth as silk read.

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Power Blind has everything a legal mystery should have: characters you care about, ethical conundrums, ripped-from-the-headlines legal issues, a compelling subplot, page-turning excitement, and an author who clearly knows her way around a courtroom. The action ratchets up just as the reader begins to peel back the secrets in the lives of the victim and the accused, and the tension builds in tandem with the layers of the plot. Kudos to V.S. Kemanis for this well-crafted and timely novel.

An engaging read, with plot twist after plot twist that will keep readers guessing... Readers in need of a heroine find one not only in Hargrove but also in the courageous Josefina. Cinematic in nature, the novel's complex plot lines will remind readers of some of television's greatest legal dramas. Fans of John Grisham and Lisa Scottoline will likely appreciate this book.

Kemanis writes with typical elegance and control, spinning the intricacies of the law into moments of humor and drama, by turns.... With this book, Kemanis has brought Dana into roiling legal battles of the present day, dealing with issues of bodily autonomy and police violence that feel particularly urgent and timely.... An adept and timely courtroom drama.

[Power Blind has] likable, intelligent characters and . . . a well-laid-out plot. Perfect for fans of Grisham and Patterson.

V.S. Kemanis's engrossing legal novel Power Blind follows a murder in New York City [and] parallel cases [that] raise questions of whether those in power help or hurt society... A compelling procedural novel, its story takes on the criminal justice system and the nature of power.

Seven Shadows

a Dana Hargrove legal mystery

An involving mystery... Tension mounts and leads to a climactic confrontation that is surprisingly different... Author Kemanis has created an engaging plot on which to build her narrative—one chock full of technical legal expertise. Yet it is the emotional tributaries that flow from that plot that give this story a greater sense of literary weight. By honestly exploring the intimate feelings of her characters, she lifts this tale to a level above the average mystery. RECOMMENDED.

A finely crafted legal thriller with fully realized characters. Kemanis writes in a precise prose that elucidates the stakes of the cases while delving into the interior lives of her characters... The author takes time to build her characters...and this gives greater emotional depth to the story than one often finds in legal thrillers. Each book in the series—the earliest of which is set in 1988—jumps six or seven years ahead in Dana’s life: a bold strategy to show how much a lawyer can change over the course of her career. This tale stands well enough alone, but those who read it will want to go back and discover the previous volumes.

Kemanis has a strong legal background which she utilizes for maximum impact... The story is fast paced, with lots of twists and turns, and with a very interesting ending that I didn’t see coming... This book at times crosses genres from legal mystery to psychological suspense, equally drawing in readers of both genres. My only worry about the series is that it might end soon... I love these books, so I hope that we will get to see many more stories with Dana, her husband her sister who is an actress, and her now grown-up children. At some point Dana will have to retire, and that will be a sad day for the lovers of this series.

Deep Zero

a Dana Hargrove legal mystery

Deep Zero distinguishes itself with its powerful blend of vivid writing, legal expertise and insight, and finely and compassionately drawn characters.

Fiction that feels true... Kemanis vividly portrays the difficulties of balancing the intricacies of the practice of law with the intimacies of the practice of parenthood. Her principal players seem particularly real ... This is a confident author as at home with courtrooms, legal briefs, and summary judgments as she is with bedrooms, term papers, and adolescent anxiety.

There are no quiet moments, the plot is extremely suspenseful, and drama abounds as well... There were times I was literally on the edge of my seat because the suspense would never let up.

Forsaken Oath

a Dana Hargrove legal mystery

Clever, immersive… Kemanis, a talented weaver of scene and exposition, keeps the reader engaged with each new twist and bit of evidence. There is a lived-in feel to Bureau 90 that sets this work apart from lesser legal thrillers. Kemanis successfully spins a number of subplots simultaneously.

Forsaken Oath is a terrific legal thriller, written by a prosecutor who knows her way around the legal trenches. Kemanis’s expertise brings wonderful authenticity to a twisting plot.

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Forsaken Oath really shines. A powerful book… Dana Hargrove is a beacon of light, a modern idol.

[In] this legal thriller meets murder mystery,... the reader is thrust into the dizzying world of the legal profession at a running pace and never slows down.  Thoroughly absorbing writing... Every character (no matter how minor) is fleshed-out and believable, and … all the stories are woven together in an extremely satisfying way.

Homicide Chart

a Dana Hargrove legal mystery

By far the best of the ebook originals under consideration is V.S. Kemanis’ Homicide Chart … Besides being a well-written novel with interesting characters and strong narrative impetus, it is a law buff’s delight, with intelligent discussions of unusual legal situations and excellent courtroom combat … Kemanis is an excellent writer who would be right at home on any major publisher’s list.

Kemanis’ second novel in the Dana Hargrove series is a page turner, expertly written and well crafted. Kemanis seamlessly juxtaposes Dana’s life inside the courtroom and at home … Deftly plotted with characters that portray real, human emotions … Kemanis is a writer of high caliber worth noting and this is a novel well worth reading. RECOMMENDED.

In Homicide Chart, V.S. Kemanis weaves three separate plot lines into a compelling tale. Her characters are well-defined … authentic [and] … painted with a deft hand. This is Ms. Kemanis’ real talent. She makes us care for the characters.

The second Dana Hargrove legal thriller is a well paced, polished, and highly enjoyable read … Kemanis meters out the suspense in compelling fashion … Highly recommended.

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Thursday’s List

a Dana Hargrove legal mystery

An intelligent mystery about a career lawyer trapped between the professional and the personal … Kemanis draws on her experience as a prosecutor at the county and state levels and brings her personal knowledge of the investigation process into the story … A true page-turner.

An engaging and thought provoking account of financial crimes, money laundering and the workings of a drug cartel … A stunning portrayal of the deep bonds of friendship and the complexities that are encountered when that friendship is threatened … Well written with a plot that is complex and presented in a way that will keep you captivated.

The author knows how to keep her readers glued to the pages … The characters are well-defined and real to us, so everything that happens to them makes us feel everything they feel during their ordeal … Well done, Ms. Kemanis.

A great set of characters, with the protagonist, Dana, my favorite of the bunch … Thursday’s List has some qualities of mystery, legal thriller, and the police procedural … A plot that is different, with qualities that would appeal to fans of any of those genres.

Story Collections

Rich in metaphors and intensely provocative descriptive passages, these stories are to be tasted, savored, enjoyed and read over and over again. Your Pick: Selected Stories is a powerful tribute to this author's mastery of the art of creating not just a good story, but a story that needs to be read many times to appreciate the full power of its presentation.

An exceptional collection of literary triumphs that showcase the variety and vibrancy of the modern short story, Your Pick is recommended without reservation.

V. S. Kemanis is certainly one of the most intelligent writers I have read, writers of classics included. Her insight into human behavior is truly unusual … These are believable stories and believable characters … unwaveringly fascinating.

Eleven compulsively readable short stories. Anyone who appreciates supple writing and fine storytelling will enjoy every minute spent reading the stories in Love and Crime. . . Kemanis knows how to build a story and keep it going.

Quietly effective … Perfectly paced and brimming with mood and insight into our darker moments … Kemanis pulls off the difficult trick of imbuing the humdrum with a subliminal disquiet.

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[Kemanis is] unarguably gifted … a great talent … There are stories here that I think I will remember forever. They’ve stayed with me in the weeks since I read them and make me smile even now as I call to mind their wonderfully flawed characters, their gentle humor, their twists and surprises and, without exception, the compassionate insight at their core.

Little miracle stories … profoundly touching and at other times hilarious… Writing of this quality this early in a writer’s career is rare … Watch her closely.

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