Book Reviews
A Few Fruits & An Onion | Frozen Solid
What they say about my books.
Reviews from book readers.
Frozen Solid
Kaiya Moore (Ontario, Canada)
★★★★★
A truly chilling and powerful vision of collapse. Brusso doesn't just describe an environmental catastrophe; he plunges the reader directly into a world of relentless cold and devastating resource scarcity. The novel’s tension is immediate and visceral, focusing not on global spectacle, but on the raw, desperate, hour-to-hour fight for survival of one family. Frozen Solid is a compelling, cautionary tale that lingers long after the last page, affirming the terrifying fragility of our world.
Caleb Boyd (Liverpool, UK)
★★★★★
The central conflict in Frozen Solid is not the cold, but the relationship between mother Sally and daughter Maleta. Brusso masterfully uses the survival setting as a crucible to explore the strain, love, and complexity of familial bonds during an existential crisis. The clash between Sally's determination and Maleta's yearning for independence is intensely relatable, making this far more than a simple thriller—it is a poignant, raw, and deeply emotional reflection on the human spirit.
Georgia Ruth (Washigton, US)
★★★★★
Clifton Brusso, a descendant of literary royalty, demonstrates an impressive mastery of structural storytelling. Frozen Solid is constructed with the precision of an engineer, yet delivered with the narrative flair of Dumas. The pacing is relentless, the setting is evocative, and the decisions faced by the O’Laughlan household feel tragically authentic. This is a gripping, multi-layered read that promises to ignite conversations about tenacity, sacrifice, and the enduring power of family amidst societal decay.
Ben Robinson (Texas, US)
★★★★★
Brusso’s background provides a chilling foundation for this story. Frozen Solid goes beyond the typical disaster novel by focusing on the practical, terrifying logistics of societal collapse—the broken food supplies, the transport failures, and the brutal calculus of survival. This book is a profoundly realistic look at what happens when the world simply stops working, making it a high-stakes, intelligent, and deeply unsettling read. A must-read for fans of grounded dystopian fiction.
Otis Jefferson (Stavanger, Norway)
★★★★★
The environment is the enemy, but the real war is fought inside the O’Laughlan home. Brusso sets an intensely gripping stage, using the relentless cold to expose every flaw and strength in the mother-daughter bond. The complex psychological tension between Sally’s need for order and Maleta’s struggle for independence creates moments of raw, relatable emotion that elevate this far beyond a simple survival tale. It is a powerful, gut-wrenching study of family tenacity.
Nicole Bradshaw (South Carolina, US)
★★★★★
Profoundly moving and relentlessly tense. Frozen Solid is a powerful story of survival that asks: what do you hold onto when the world freezes over? Brusso delivers a chilling, beautifully written reminder of the tenacity of the human spirit.
A Few Fruits and an Onion
Chris Rogers (Manchester, UK)
★★★★★
Absolutely not what I expected—in the best possible way. Clifton Brusso masterfully blends dark crime with unexpected, laugh-out-loud humor, giving us two of the most unconventionally charming protagonists I've encountered all year. The premise alone is genius, and the execution is a witty, fast-paced, high-stakes ride from the busy city to a secluded cabin. A refreshing, highly original take on the crime novel that proves crime can have soul and sharp comedy.
Gracelynn Payne (Frankfurt, Germany)
★★★★★
Brusso proves that literary genius runs in the family. A Few Fruits and an Onion is a thrilling, meticulous crime novel with a plot so intricate it keeps you guessing until the very last page. The convergence of two runaways, an ex-detective, and a determined bounty hunter creates an electric, high-tension atmosphere. This is suspense writing delivered with the precision of an engineer and the storytelling DNA of a Dumas.
Cecelia Larson (Stockholm, Sweden)
★★★★★
Beyond the clever plot twists and sharp action, this book has incredible heart and unexpected depth. Brusso takes characters living on the margins and gives them an honest, compelling journey toward strength, self-improvement, and resilience. The core theme of unlikely companionship shines brightly against the backdrop of dangerous suspense. A truly powerful story of finding the capacity for change, reminding us that no matter your background, redemption is always possible.
Dexter Ruiz (Florida, US)
★★★★★
Clifton Brusso, utilizing his eye for engineering precision, has constructed a flawless, high-octane plot that snaps into place. The novel expertly uses the contrast between the grimy intensity of Chicago's streets and the stormy, isolated cabin setting in Wisconsin to ratchet up the suspense. It’s a beautifully choreographed collision of destinies—a genuinely unique story about desperate choices, unforeseen consequences, and the high price of silence.
Hector Ray (Michigan, US)
★★★★★
If you love classic storytelling with a modern, gritty edge, this is your next read. Brusso clearly inherits the literary flair of his ancestor, Alexandre Dumas, by crafting an exhilarating journey packed with twists and turns that keep the reader hungry for the next chapter. It’s an infectious whirlwind of humor, suspense, and unexpected camaraderie. Be warned: clear your schedule before starting, because you won't be able to put it down.
Bethany Blake (Vancouver, Canada)
★★★★★
This book is a triumphant surprise. Brusso takes two vibrant, unconventional protagonists and forces them into a terrifying crucible, revealing incredible strength and loyalty along the way. A Few Fruits and an Onion successfully transcends the crime genre, becoming a powerful meditation on finding self-improvement and companionship in the most chaotic circumstances. A truly moving, often hilarious, and ultimately redemptive story about the inner capacity for change.