★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Reviews for BookMarck

“I thoroughly enjoyed reading BookMarck by Thomas Boniello. Very original idea and interesting characters.  As an avid reader, I loved the concept of transporting into a book, especially the classics. The story has action, drama and touches of humor which makes for an engaging read. I’m hoping there will be a sequel.“

“I found BookMarck to be an impressive debut novel and an enjoyable read. It is a fantasy novel in which the protagonists are thrust out of our ordinary existence into an unexpected, somewhat parallel reality. The new reality is that some novels (we are unsure how many) have separate existences, known as bookstreams, in which the characters in the novel can interact with people from our world, through the use of magical items known as BookMarcks. The protagonists are siblings, a teen brother and his tween sister who suffers from multiple sclerosis. She, as you will find, is no weak sufferer but an example of female empowerment.”

“Mr. Boniello’s first novel introduces the idea of bookstreaming, in which protagonists can be transported into the world of other novels. This clever idea allows the plot to unfold in different time periods and locations. Although it could be read as a stand alone novel, readers would gain by knowing the plots of The Three Musketeers and The Time Machine. This makes this novel very accessible to young readers. And very exciting. Mr. Boniello shows his knowledge of sword play, language and customs of those times. The ending leaves open the idea of a deeper meaning. I look forward to his next novel.”

Reviews for A Symphony of Spies

“This suspenseful novel offers a unique twist on the traditional spy story. It follows a college student working with the CIA – whose tendency to talk too much leads him to share sensitive information with his roommates, including one who is a Russian cellist. What I really enjoyed was how the story blends espionage with college life, computer technology, and even symphony music. It also gives an interesting look at the CIA’s side of the operation, which adds depth and intrigue. The pacing is quick, with plenty of twists and surprises that kept me turning the pages. If you enjoy smart, original spy thrillers with a modern edge, this is definitely worth the read.”

“The character development, fine detail, (but not overkill) and shorter chapters really held me captive. The plot moves quickly, is never boring, and for those readers with computer and/or musical backgrounds, you will especially find this a treat. I particularly liked how the author lays out the inner workings of the CIA and ties it into college students and overseas espionage. As the end of the book nears, your mind starts to wonder how it will end. And in my case, upon reading the last paragraph and Epilogue, I found myself trying to figure out what had happened. And then I reread the last chapter to see if it confirmed my initial impression of “Why.” For you Soprano fans, the end of this book was akin to the last scene of that classic HBO series, where the screen goes to black, and you are dumbfounded and try to figure what happened or would happen next. Any contemporary book that makes me curious as to who a central character really is and what and why they did it, is a must read. This book will not disappoint.”

“From the very beginning, I was drawn into the tension of the story, but what stayed with me even more was the way you blended intellect, emotion, and suspense into something that felt both gripping and deeply human.

What immediately stood out to me was the premise itself. The idea that one person’s inability to keep a secret could set off such dangerous consequences was incredibly compelling. Drew Reid is such an interesting character because he does not come across as malicious or reckless in the obvious sense. Instead, he feels human, vulnerable, and believable, and that made everything surrounding him even more intense. Watching how one moment of trust could unravel into threats of espionage created a sense of suspense that kept building in a very powerful way.

I was also especially struck by the dynamic involving his college roommates, particularly the accomplished Russian cellist. That detail added such richness and uniqueness to the story. There was something fascinating about the way music, science, loyalty, and international tension all seemed to move together in the same narrative. It gave the novel a sophistication that made it feel like more than just a spy thriller. It felt layered, elegant, and emotionally charged.

Another thing that truly stood out to me was Elizabeth Orr. Her role as a CIA analyst following the trail of illicit foreign money added another dimension to the book that I really appreciated. She brought focus, urgency, and intelligence to the story, and her perspective helped ground the larger stakes. I found myself deeply invested in the way all these different lives and threads were moving toward each other. There was this constant sense of inevitability, as though every decision, every secret, and every hidden motive was building toward a collision that could not be avoided. That tension was one of the book’s greatest strengths.

What I admired most, though, was how the novel did not rely only on action or intrigue. Beneath the espionage and classified research, there was a deeper exploration of trust, vulnerability, and the cost of what we reveal to others. That is what made the story resonate with me on a personal level. It was not just about spies or secrets. It was about human relationships, about the dangerous spaces where intellect, ambition, loyalty, and weakness overlap. That emotional undercurrent gave the novel real weight.

If I had to give it a star rating, I would give A Symphony of Spies 4.5 out of 5 stars. It was intelligent, suspenseful, emotionally layered, and wonderfully distinctive. It is the kind of book that pulls you in with intrigue but stays with you because of the characters and the larger questions it raises about trust, secrecy, and consequence.”