🔍 Review Tour: The Booker by Kevin R. Doyle | A Sam Quinton Mystery
“Forget his budding Hollywood career—Sam’s fighting just to stay alive.”
I’m excited to join the Goddess Fish Promotions Review Tour for The Booker by Kevin R. Doyle. This is the fifth entry in the Sam Quinton Mystery series, and it brings our reluctant PI into the glitzy (and dangerous) world of Hollywood promises gone wrong.
If you’ve followed Doyle’s work, you know Sam Quinton is not your typical detective—he’s a former pro wrestler turned gym owner who keeps finding himself pulled into cases that blur the line between personal survival and professional duty.
🔻 Keep scrolling to enter the giveaway! 🔻
📝 Book Details
The Booker
By Kevin R. Doyle
Series: Sam Quinton Mystery Series Book #6
Published by Camel Press on August 12, 2025
Genres: Mystery
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 254
Source: Goddess Fish PromotionsSam Quinton hadn't thought much about the entertainment business for several years. His days as a minor celebrity were part of his past, which was fine with him. But when a Hollywood producer walks through the doors of his gym and offers to create a TV show around his life, Sam doesn't say no right away.
Then the producer's partner ends up dead in her hotel room, and Sam has to put on his private detective hat to straighten things out. It doesn't take long to realize the TV offer may not have been exactly what it was cracked up to be. Suddenly, a whole lot of seemingly bad folks are gunning for Sam. Forget his budding Hollywood career. He has to do everything possible to keep himself and his client alive.
📜Excerpt from The Booker
I’ve chosen a snippet that captures Doyle’s sharp dialogue and the quirky humor that runs through the danger. I love how this excerpt shows Sam’s dry humor—and how quickly he realizes this Hollywood pitch may not be all glitz and glamour.
He finally leveled his gaze on me. “Monumental Productions is a studio.”
“I pretty much figured that.”
“We mainly package series concepts for the major streaming services.”
“Any shows I may have heard of?” I asked.
“Sure.” Carson said. “You ever see Two for Tango?”
I shook my head.
“How about Three for a Party?”
Another shake on my part.
“Maybe Sexy Sixes?”
I shook my head again. It was starting to get monotonous.
“Okay,” Carson canted his head a bit. “Actually, we’re still looking for our first really big hit.”
“And your studio’s been in business how long?” I asked.
“About eight years, but we’ve got some really good financial backing.”
“Must have,” I said, “but what’s all of that got to do with me?”
Carson grinned, and I suddenly felt like a mouse that had stepped into a trap. He raised his hand up to me, shaped like kids do to show a gun, and cocked his trigger thumb.
“Are you kidding?” he asked. “It’s got everything to do with you. The Blond Bomber? Once a professional wrestling champion and now a big-time private eye? You’re gold, baby, and we’re going to make you the next big thing.”
Baby?
📚 Where to Find The Booker
Available on Amazon
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🛍️ You can also purchase The Booker from your favorite indie bookstore online.
Bookshop.org is an excellent option that supports indie authors—and book bloggers like me—while avoiding the big-box route.
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✨ My Thoughts on The Booker ✨
Sam Quinton is today’s version of the classic hard-boiled detective—tough enough to survive the hits, yet human enough to keep readers rooting for him. Kevin R. Doyle has a knack for blending grit with authenticity, and this entry in the Sam Quinton Mystery series shows that off beautifully.
This story will appeal to anyone who loves reluctant heroes, private eyes who don’t quite fit the mold, and a mystery that keeps you guessing. The writing is sharp, the pacing steady, and the mystery itself is hands-down the best part—layered, intriguing, and satisfying all the way through.
Although The Booker works perfectly as a stand-alone tale, I always recommend starting a series in the author’s intended order. It gives you the deepest engagement with the characters and the full immersion that Doyle’s writing deserves.
If you’re a fan of gripping mysteries with a PI who feels both old-school and refreshingly modern, you’ll want to spend time with Sam Quinton.
⭐ Review at a Glance
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)
The Booker delivers a gripping, well-written mystery with Sam Quinton standing tall as today’s hard-boiled detective. Fans of reluctant heroes, private eyes, and tightly woven mysteries will be hooked. While it works as a standalone, reading the whole series in order offers the richest experience.
I received a copy of the book as part of this tour. This review reflects my honest, unbiased opinion.
📚 The Sam Quenton Mysteries
👨💻 About the Author
Kevin R. Doyle is a retired high-school teacher and former college instructor who has turned his passion for storytelling into a vast body of work.
He has written across mystery, thriller, and horror genres, with his first Quinton novel, Squatter’s Rights, earning a Shamus Award nomination.
A lifelong Midwesterner, he currently lives in Missouri and loosely bases Sam’s city of Providence on Columbia.
🔗 Find Kevin R. Doyle online:
🌟 Closing Thoughts
Thank you to Goddess Fish Promotions, author Kevin R. Doyle, and Camel Press for the opportunity to share this review today.
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a $10 Amazon/BN gift card — and be sure to check out The Booker if you’re ready for an adventure filled with danger, deception, and a hard-boiled PI you won’t forget.
Good luck, and happy reading!
🎁 The Booker - Giveaway!
Enter below for your chance to win a $10 Amazon/BN gift card—courtesy of the author.
🌟 The Booker Review Tour Stops 🌟
- August 25 – Sandra's Book Club
- September 1 – Gina Rae Mitchell
- September 8 – Our Town Book Reviews
- September 8 – The Avid Reader
- September 15 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
- September 15 – Long and Short Reviews
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Civil, respectful conversation is always welcome—let’s chat about books, food, or whatever brings you joy.
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Sounds like a interesting book.
Good morning Gina,
Thanks for your kind words and this really awesome presentation. Looks really nice. I'm glad the book didn't disappoint. As always, I'll check in periodically throughout the day. One small little thing, I did notice the Kindle link reverts back to your main web page.
Thanks, Kevin. Good catch on the link error. I have it fixed now. I hope the tour goes well!
This looks like a fascinating novel. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for featuring and reviewing THE BOOKER today.