The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Christmas in Newfoundland 2: Memories and Mysteries
Mike Martin
Ottawa Press and Publishing
www.ottawapressandpublishing.com
9781990896033, $19.00

https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Newfoundland-Memories-Mysteries-Windflower= /dp/1990896030

Christmas in Newfoundland 2: Memories and Mysteries blends the cozy mystery=
with seasonal holiday celebrations in another Sgt. Windflower collection t= hat builds on the first Christmas in Newfoundland book, offering more exper= iences. These will prove especially inviting to both prior Windflower myste=
ry readers and newcomers unused to finding a seasonal theme blending myster=
y with holiday backdrops.

Here, the magic of Christmases past and present mingle with a sense of plac=
e and purpose to capture the season not just through Windflower's eyes and = experiences, but from the perspectives of his two little daughters. This le= nds a special flavor to the collection which represents more than mystery a= lone -- and more than seasonal reflections, as well.

From Winston Windflower's very first Christmas as part of a couple and his = wife Sheila's passion about the season to the process of creating new Chris= tmas traditions, Mike Martin juxtaposes warm memories and relationship-buil= ding with the standard Windflower penchant for investigating trouble. These=
create an intriguing and satisfying juxtaposition between acts of kindness=
and relationships that grow new connections over the holiday season.

These traditions and memories are personal, and embed their own special bra=
nd of holiday warmth into their descriptions: "There were toasts to dear de= parted Dad and to Mom for an excellent turkey. To the turkey for being a wi= lling and tasty participant. To Linda and her mother for accommodating our = Christmas cooking crisis. And cheers when the Christmas pudding was set ali= ght at the end of the meal." The result is a series of vignettes that celeb= rate the season while expanding Windflower's personality, approaches to lif=
e, family connections and experiences, and the Christmas season's ability t=
o introduce new opportunities.

Libraries will find an excellent choice in Christmas in Newfoundland 2: Mem= ories and Mysteries. It's a collection in which the mystery takes second pl= ace to the memories and connections. And, after all, that's what Christmas =
is all about: "Christmas taught us a few things. First, don't take things f=
or granted. Things that you rely on may not always be there when you need t= hem. Secondly, that you really don't need much to have a good time or a gre=
at Christmas. Finally, never underestimate the power of friends at Christma= stime. Or maybe all year, for that matter."

Trust
Lee Chappel
leechappel.com
Bleau Press
https://www.bleaupress.com
9781951796143, $12.99 Paper/$3.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Trust-Lee-Chappel/dp/1951796144

Beth Sullivan has the life she's always wanted. She has love, a new marriag=
e to David Cheshon, a beautiful new home, and is awaiting their first child=
.. The last thing she expected was to become a murder suspect.

"Trust" explores this event when she is thrust into a world of danger and d= eception which is apparently being fueled by her biggest decisions. Her bes=
t friend Abbie Barnes believes her, doesn't quite trust David, but is facin=
g big changes of her own, in the romance department. Her problem? Adam Foy =
is not only the prosecutor in Beth's case, but appears to harbor his own ti=
es to the Cheshon family.

Adam can't afford to have questions sullying his reputation, so he taps Sar= gent Tara Williams to help him keep the case out of the public eye and on t= rack. The last thing Abbie wants is to see her friend wrongly accused, her = life in shambles. The last thing Beth imagined for her future was a stint i=
n jail. The last thing Tara wanted was a high-profile murder case, replete = with special interests and influences, shoved into her lap in her first mon= ths of a new job. But all three find their lives in shambles and challenged=
as events unfold from different perspectives.

Adam always thinks things through. But, perhaps he hasn't thought about thi=
s case enough, because as the problems escalate, he finds himself caught in=
the middle between several impossible situations that hold no clear avenue=
of resolution. Did Beth kill her sister? Could this have been predicted? W= ould Beth's death resolve matters and close the case? A host of characters,=
from David's mom Gail to Larry, Janet, and Zack, find their lives are also=
caught up the drama that spills from Beth and David's union and lives.

Trust between friends, lovers, and family members lies at the heart of a st= ory that tests connections between all kinds of people as the saga unfolds.=
The strong characters interact with one another logically and emotionally,=
driving the story and supporting the mounting intrigue surrounding Beth's = involvement, choices, and her conundrums.

Lee Chappel presents an engrossing analysis of truths, lies, and the murky = waters that lie between them. The mystery that unfolds in Trust is high rec= ommended for its psychological, legal, and interpersonal intrigue, which as=
ks important and thought-provoking questions of not just its major players,=
but its readers. Libraries looking for strong novels of love, heartache, l= oss, guilt, and redemption will find all these elements make Trust a thorou= ghly engrossing read filled with satisfyingly unpredictable twists and turn=
s.

Pilot Who Knows the Waters
N.L. Holmes
WayBack Press
9781735291673, $5.99 ebook, $14.99 pbk

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZQWK45J

Pilot Who Knows the Waters is Book 6 of The Lord Hani Mysteries series, pro= viding a historical mystery and suspense piece that will attract newcomers =
as well as prior fans of Lord Hani's uncanny ability to get into (and out o=
f) trouble. Here, Egyptian diplomat and investigator Hani faces a political=
conundrum. He's charged with secretly obtaining a Hittite bridegroom for Q= ueen Meryet-amen despite the opposition of forces who would do anything to = prevent this.

Family, politics, and ambitious murderers collide in this Egyptian mystery,=
set in 1335 BC. An introduction of historical notes offers newcomers and m= ystery fans background information about the times and its symbols of power=
, while a list of characters and glossary of terms eliminates any possibili=
ty of confusion over the many influences affecting Hani's decisions and wor= ld.

While these introductory segments may feel daunting to casual mystery reade=
rs looking for immediate immersion in action, they prove essential to under= standing the plot, which is both satisfyingly complex and inviting for its = foundations in historical facts. Hani's world opens in the spring. He refle= cts that all seems well in his life: "Despite Hani's misgivings about the p= olitics of the kingdom, he had to confess life was good. The harvest would =
be rich that year. His granaries would be full. He might even have to build=
another one."

This neatly segues into a sense of dread and doom as political pressures an=
d events lead Hani into an unexpected series of challenges that pose Egypt =
on the brink of war. Only his efforts to solve the mystery can keep his nat= ion and loved ones from chaos. The juxtaposition of mystery and history is = nicely balanced in Pilot Who Knows the Waters. Readers of both genres will = find their intersection in Hani's investigations and involvements to be par= ticularly well done. The flavor of the times and its political and social c= hanges is steeped in Hani's efforts in a way that both educates and enterta= ins.

The result is another Lord Hani novel that stands nicely on its own, while = adding to the series as a whole. Libraries looking for powerful intersectio=
ns between mystery and history need look no further than Pilot Who Knows th=
e Waters to satisfy this need.

A Diet of Death
Jinny Alexander
Creative James Media
http://creativejamesmedia.com
9781956183863, $4.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Diet-Death-Jess-OMalley-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0B9KBZV4R

A Diet of Death is a cozy animal mystery set in the small Irish village of = Ballyfortnum that revolves around dieting, death, and dogs. It also revolve=
s around (and opens with) food, as Jess helps herself to food at a wake and=
listens to Kate complain that three of her students have already dropped d= ead. Fletcher, Snowflake, and other pets are as involved in matters as the = diet focus of the local slimming group which is seeing its members succumb = unexpectedly.

Jess suspects a murderer is at large, but she has her hands full trying to = convince authorities that this peaceful small village may harbor a threat. = Jinny Alexander embeds her murder mystery with the satisfying atmosphere of=
rural Ireland. This comes to life as Jess navigates murder and the village=
's culture, with precise descriptions permeating the story of a growing thr= eat.

From Jess's absent love life to a series of lively older characters who are=
meeting their maker too early, Alexander cultivates a wry observational st= yle that brings not only the dilemma, but the small town to life: "You can'=
t lock yourself away in a dead-end street full of old ones for the rest of = your life." With cat captures to dogs and a trail of treats and intrigue, A= lexander builds a warm story based on not just murder and mystery, but pers= onalities who have formed connections and habits that lead to satisfying li= ves.

The result is a cozy mystery packed with animals and intrigue that, most of=
all, excels in a warm sense of place and purpose lending to the underlying=
conundrums. Cozy mystery readers who enjoy stories of friendships and murd=
er possibilities will find A Diet of Death unusually strong in its atmosphe= re, which does equal justice to both the murder mystery component and the e= ntwined lives of a small village which provides a satisfying backdrop for r= etirement and friendships.

Dead Winner
Kevin G. Chapman
Independently Published
9781958339053, $4.99 ebook/$14.99 Paper

https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Winner-Kevin-G-Chapman/dp/1958339067

Dead Winner's mystery opens with a call that involves Rory McEntyre in a su= icide. Tom was his old law school classmate, and Rory was a groomsman at To= m's wedding to Monica Bettger eight years earlier. The couple was just in h=
is office three days ago. Suicide was the last thing on anybody's mind - or=
so he thought. Now it's the first thing he thinks about daily as he embark=
s on a mission to solve a death whose cause feels impossible on too many le= vels.

Complicating matters is a winning lottery ticket that seems to place Monica=
in the crosshairs of suspicion. But, Monica was his old flame - she couldn=
't have committed murder. Or, did she? As he is forced to probe deeper into=
their relationship to uncover facts about Tom's questionable business prac= tices while the winning ticket disappears, too many possibilities arise tha=
t swirl around Monica and Tom. These place Rory in uncomfortable, changing = positions as he defends Monica on several levels but begins to feel that he=
is being pulled into a puzzle beyond his ability to solve.

Kevin G. Chapman's story is as much about entangled relationships and perce= ptions as it is about solving a crime. The attention to revealing personal = details, motives, and relationships makes for an involving murder mystery t= hat engages its readers on many problem-solving levels. As loner, Rory find=
s himself more connected to his former flame's life than he ever could have=
imagined, while readers gain a sense of his proactive attitude not just to= wards crime, but life: "...the more we prepare for different situations, th=
e better we'll be able to deal with whatever does happen."

Rory excels in anticipating many scenarios. But perhaps his great challenge=
lies in preparing to revise his relationship with client and past love Mon= ica and his ideas of who she is and her relationship with Tom. As Rory beco= mes more deeply involved with Monica's dilemmas over money management, vani= shed lottery tickets, and a huge sum of money, he finds himself inadvertent=
ly taking charge on a level beyond the usual attorney-client relationship.

Chapman's story features many satisfying twists and turns that seasoned cri=
me readers might anticipate, but most won't see coming. Rory has back-up he= lp, and their interactions prove essential to solving the surprise that pla= ces Rory in a life-threatening position. Mystery readers who look for more = than whodunit elements will find Dead Winner compelling. It takes the time =
to build relationship puzzles into its overlying mystery; creates a strong,=
likeable, but flawed character in Rory McEntyre; and develops realistic at= mospheres to support its action and inquiries.

Libraries seeking stand-alone investigative stories that excel in interpers= onal action as well as crime-busting events will find in Dead Winner a winn= ing ticket.

Azabu Getaway
Michael Pronko
Raked Gravel Press
9781942410287, $18.99 Paper/$7.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Azabu-Getaway-Michael-Pronko/dp/194241028X

Prior fans of Michael Pronko's Detective Hiroshi Shimizu series and the fou=
r books chronicling his adventures as well as newcomers (especially those w=
ho harbor a special affection for Japanese backdrops) will find this fifth = adventure mystery, Azabu Getaway, a compelling new story.

An introductory list of characters enlightens newcomers to the major player=
s in these events, which open with a break-in: "Patrick Walsh waited outsid=
e, tired of the cold, of the dark, thinking it through, worried that the ke=
y wouldn't work. In case it didn't, he'd brought along a mini cordless dril=
l, three sizes of drill bits, a screwdriver, a pick, and needle-nose pliers=
packed into a drawstring bag. He'd watched a few online videos on how to r= eam out a lock."

Michael Pronko slips the atmosphere of urban Tokyo into subtle observations=
which educate those unfamiliar with the city's culture, setting the stage = for the challenging mystery that evolves as Detective Hiroshi investigates = the disappearance of two girls from the home of a financial manager, and th=
e murder of a wealth management executive. Tracking the trail of financial = clues leads to Hiroshi's better understanding of Tokyo's undercurrents of m= oney and mayhem, drawing him into murky waters that seem to lead away from = his investigative strengths and into financial circles he navigates with in= creasing alarm.

Pronko's juxtaposition of the investigative mystery and Tokyo's atmosphere =
is as delicately wrought as in his other stories. This means that readers r= eceive wonderful interludes of description that embrace not just Tokyo's at= mosphere, but relationships and work conducted in that city. From physicall=
y diminutive but effective female new detective Ishii to new complications = that Hiroshi experiences with his girlfriend Ayana, Pronko creates a multif= aceted mystery. It draws readers on many different levels, icing the cake w= ith Tokyo's social and political atmosphere to make its financial circles f= eel realistic, lively, and fraught with danger.

As Hiroshi's homicide team confronts the outcome of greed and deception in = different circles, readers receive a story that embraces many layers of dis= covery as Hiroshi moves through his private life and professional worlds wi=
th a growing sense of dread. While mystery libraries and readers will choos=
e Azabu Getaway for its strong trail of revelation and financial misconduct=
, it also should attract readers not normally drawn to mysteries, who harbo=
r a special affection for Japanese culture and urban backdrops. This audien=
ce will find much to appreciate in Pronko's exquisite rendition of Hiroshi'=
s latest investigations in matters of money, mind, and heart.

Holmes Coming
Kenneth Johnson
Blackstone Publishing
31 Mistletoe Road, Ashland, OR 97520
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9798200706884, $25.99, HC, 350pp

https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Coming-Kenneth-Johnson/dp/B09QHN7DW3

Synopsis: With the publication of "Holmes Coming", Dr. Amy Winslow tells th=
e following story: In foggy, nighttime San Francisco a jogging SFPD captain=
is savagely attacked by a Bengal tiger which then vanishes. In her ER, Amy=
labors unsuccessfully to save the captain's life, then consoles his aggrie= ved closest friend, Lt. Luis Ortega. Neither suspects their lives will inte= rtwine in a life-or-death mystery.

The next day, checking on former patient Mrs. Hudson at her Victorian house=
isolated in Marin County's forest, Amy discovers in the cellar a secret, c= obweb-covered 1899 electrochemical laboratory containing a Jules Verne-esqu=
e steam-punk sarcophagus out of which springs a wild-eyed, half-mummified, = crypt-keeper-like man who injects himself with something before falling dea=
d at her feet. Amy barely revives him.

He claims to be a real-life Victorian master chemist and detective named Ho= lmes, who allowed Conan Doyle to write stories based on his cases, though w=
as slightly annoyed when Doyle changed his real first name to the catchier = Sherlock. Becoming uninspired by 1890s crime, Holmes devised this method to=
hibernate for a century to investigate future mysteries.

Amy assumes he's a lunatic. His Scotland Yard identity papers were stolen w= hile he slept, so it takes her a while to realize his amazing story is true=
..

Respectably handsome when cleaned up, Holmes is still the same brash, egois= tic, uber-English, cocaine-addicted, non-feminist genius (but now a century=
out of sync) so his still-brilliant deductions are sometimes laughingly or=
dangerously wrong. Holmes and Amy, his reluctant new Watson, find themselv=
es unexpectedly attracted to each other while perilously involved in reclai= ming his proof of identity, aided by cybersavvy street teen Zapper. It's al=
l connected to the horrific death-by-tiger, only the first of several bizar= re, mystifying murders being committed by an exquisitely fiendish descendan=
t of Holmes' Victorian archenemy, Professor Moriarty.

Critique: The tone of "Holmes Coming" by novelist Kenneth Johnson is an ico= nic blending of Edwardian Era science fiction and the deductive mystery sol= ving Sherlock Holmes, blended with a refreshing twist of fish-out-of-water = humor and a surprising spark of genuine romance. A 'must' for the legions o=
f Sherlock Holmes fans and available for personal reading lists in a digita=
l book format (Kindle, $8.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (= Blackstone Audio, 9798200706037, $31.95, CD), "Holmes Coming" is an unabash= edly recommended addition to community library collections.

Editorial Note: Kenneth Johnson (www.KennethJohnson.us) is the author of nu= merous books including The Man of Legends, The Darwin Variant, V The Second=
Generation. He is a successful writer-producer-director of film and TV. Cr= eator of the critically acclaimed landmark TV miniseries V, Kenneth also pr= oduced The Six Million Dollar Man and created such iconic Emmy-winning seri=
es as The Bionic Woman, The Incredible Hulk, and Alien Nation. Recipient of=
multiple Saturn Awards from the Academy of Science Fiction. He can be foll= owed on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/KennethJohnsonAuthor

Doomed Legacy
Matt Coyle
Oceanview Publishing
1620 Main Street, Suite 11, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608094790, $27.95, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Doomed-Legacy-9-Rick-Cahill/dp/1608094790

Synopsis: Private investigator Rick Cahill has been running from his past a=
nd chasing the truth his whole life. But his past is relentless -- and so i=
s his CTE, a disease caused by repeated head traumas that has attacked his = body and his mind. As his CTE progresses, he realizes that the disease not = only threatens his life but also endangers his family's wellbeing.

As Rick struggles to keep his family together, he does a favor for Sara Bha= ndari, a business contact. Then, Sara is murdered, and the police believe h=
er to be yet another victim of a serial rapist who has been terrorizing gre= ater San Diego. But Rick has reason to question their theory. Determined to=
find the truth at any cost, and against his wife's warnings, he investigat=
es on his own.

Along the way, he bumps up against a sinister private investigative agency = and a shady shell corporation that may be hiding more than company secrets.=
As Rick digs for the truth about Sara's death, he risks his own life and t=
he lives of countless innocents caught in his relentless crusade. Ultimatel=
y, Rick must decide if his quest is worth the risk of losing his family for= ever.

Critique: Another deftly crafted suspense thriller of a private eye novel b=
y Matt Coyle, "Doomed Legacy is the ninth in the author's Rick Cahill serie=
s and a simply riveting read from first page to last. While also available = for the legions of Matt Coyle fans in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.49=
), "Doomed Legacy" is an especially recommended and welcome addition to com= munity library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: While all of the novels in the Rick Cahill PI Crime Series = stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence i=
s: Yesterday's Echo; Night Tremors; Dark Fissures; Blood Truth; Wrong Light=
; Lost Tomorrows; Blind Vigil; Last Redemption; Doomed Legacy.

Bleeding Heart Yard
Elly Griffiths
Mariner Books
www.marinerbooks.com
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9780063289277, $27.99, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Bleeding-Heart-Yard-Elly-Griffiths/dp/006328927X

Synopsis: When Cassie Fitzgerald was at school in the late 90s, she and her=
friends killed a fellow student. Almost twenty years later, Cassie is a ha= ppily married mother who loves her job -- as a police officer. She closely = guards the secret she has all but erased from her memory.

One day her husband finally persuades her to go to a school reunion. Cassie=
catches up with her high-achieving old friends from the Manor Park School =
-- among them two politicians, a rock star, and a famous actress. But then,=
shockingly, one of them, Garfield Rice, is found dead in the school bathro= om, supposedly from a drug overdose. As Garfield was an eminent (and contro= versial) MP and the investigation is high profile, it's headed by Cassie's = new boss, DI Harbinder Kaur, freshly promoted and newly arrived in London. = The trouble is, Cassie can't shake the feeling that one of them has killed = again.

Is Cassie right, or was Garfield murdered by one of his political cronies? = It's in Cassie's interest to skew the investigation so that it looks like i=
t has nothing to do with Manor Park and she seems to be succeeding. Until s= omeone else from the reunion is found dead in Bleeding Heart Yard!

Critique: Of special appeal to fans of police procedurals, "Bleeding Heart = Yard" by Elly Griffith is a riveting read from cover to cover and will prov=
e to be a prized addition to the personal reading lists of dedicated suspen= se/thriller fans and community library Contemporary British Mystery collect= ions. It should be noted that "Bleeding Heart Yard" is also available in a = digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio=
book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212222587, $41.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Elly Griffiths (https://ellygriffiths.co.uk) is the author =
of the Ruth Galloway and Brighton mystery series, as well as the standalone=
novels The Stranger Diaries, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel, and=
The Postscript Murders. She is also the recipient of the CWA Dagger in the=
Library Award and the Mary Higgins Clark Award.

A Streetcar Named Murder
T. G. Herren
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639101320, $28.99, HC, 296pp

https://www.amazon.com/Streetcar-Named-Murder-Orleans-Mystery/dp/1639101322

Synopsis: When the mysterious letter arrives by courier, Valerie Cooper doe= sn't know what to make of it. She's become the beneficiary of her late husb= and's estranged uncle's will (a man she never knew) and inherited a majorit=
y partnership in the family's company, New Orleans Fine Antiques. Valerie k= nows nothing about antiques, but she decides to learn the business and beco=
me an active partner. She's also got her hands full fending off Collette, a=
woman who wants to sell the huge old house in the Irish Channel neighborho=
od that Valerie and her husband had painstakingly renovated.

Valerie isn't interested in selling -- but when her best friend Lauren, dra=
gs her to a costume party for the women's Mardi Gras club, the Krewe of Ath= ena, she stumbles over Collette's body, a jeweled dagger sticking out of he=
r chest. In a rush of panic, Valerie recognizes the dagger from her shop --=
and before she knows it, she's become murder suspect number one.

Egged on by Lauren, she starts digging into Collette's business dealings, a=
nd the deeper she digs, the dirtier it gets. Now all fingers are pointing a=
t Valerie. In a desperate bid to clear her name, Valerie frantically tries =
to find who could have gotten hold of the dagger. But among a cadre of gues=
ts in full costume, it could be impossible to find the thief -- and unmask = the real killer.

Critique: A skilled veteran of the cozy mystery genre, T. G. Herren once ag= ain demonstrates her originality anf flair for writing 'whodunnit' novels f= eaturing an amateur sleuth caught up in a web of circumstances. The result =
is an original and fun read from first page to last. While also available f=
or the personal reading lists of dedicated cozy mystery fans in a digital b= ook format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dr= eamscape Media, 9781666622102, $22.99, CD), "A Streetcar Named Murder" is a=
strongly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collec= tions.

Editorial Note: T.G. Herren (https://crookedlanebooks.com/t-g-herren) is th=
e pen name of an award-winning author who has published over thirty-five bo= oks and over fifty short stories under various names. A long-time resident =
of New Orleans, where every day is an Anything Can Happen Day, he has also = worked as a sports and fitness journalist and an editor and has spent far t=
oo many years working in the airline industry.

Death in the Margins
Victoria Gilbert
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639101306, $28.99, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Margins-Ridge-Library-Mystery/dp/1639101306

Synopsis: It's early summer, and while Richard Muir and his dance partner, = Karla, are preparing their new choreographic piece, Richard's wife, Amy, is=
gathering the dance's source materials. Based on folktales and the music o=
f the Blue Ridge Mountains, the production is set to premiere at an old cin= ema that has been converted to a theater. But when dancer Meredith Fox (Ric= hard's former fiance) is found dead backstage, Amy is once again propelled = into a murder case that threatens the careers and lives of those she loves.

After Amy teams up with Chief Deputy Brad Tucker and the sheriff's departme=
nt to discover the killer, they find that there's no shortage of suspects: = Meredith's wealthy ex-husband, several fellow dancers, a romantically spurn=
ed accompanist, and others whom the talented but haughty dancer dismissed o=
r betrayed over the years.

With Richard and Karla's help, and information gleaned from locals who know=
a wealth of small-town secrets, Amy desperately tries to unveil the killer=
before the premiere. But she's pursuing a ruthless murderer who's willing =
to kill again - and who might just be waiting for Amy in the wings.

Critique: Another fully entertaining cozy mystery by an expert in the genre=
, "Death in the Margins" showcases author Victoria Gilbert's enviable exper= tise as a novelist who has a genuine flair for originality, deftly crafted = characters, and a narrative driven storytelling style that keeps her reader=
s fully engaged from first page to last. Of special attraction to fans of '= whodunnit' novels feature amateur women sleuths, "Death in the Margins" is = strongly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It=
should be noted that "Death in the Margins" is also available for personal=
reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).

Editorial Note: Victoria Gilbert (https://cozy-mystery.com/victoria-gilbert= ..html) turned her early obsession with reading into a dual career as an aut= hor and librarian. Victoria has worked as a reference librarian, research l= ibrarian, and library director. he is a also member of Sisters in Crime and=
International Thriller Writers.

Peril in Paris
Rhys Bowen
Berkley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
www.penguin.com
9780593437858, $27.00, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Peril-Paris-Royal-Spyness-Mystery/dp/0593437853

Synopsis: A pregnant Lady Georgiana Rannoch and her dashing husband, Darcy,=
are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their bundle of joy, but an unexpected=
trip to Paris thrusts them straight into a tangled web of international in= trigue in "Peril In Paris", an all-new mystery in the 'Royal Spyness Myster=
y' series from accomplished novelist Rhys Bowen.

Critique: With her usual flair for originality and the kind of storytelling=
skill set that continues to distinguish novelist Rhys Bowne, "Peril In Par= is" is a deftly crafted and inherently riveting read for her legions of fan=
s. While also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital boo=
k format (Kindle, $14.99), "Peril In Paris" is an exceptional and unreserve= dly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Rhys Bowen (https://rhysbowen.com) is the New York Times be= stselling author of two historical mystery series, "In Farleigh Field" and = "The Tuscan Child", as well as three other historical novels.

Sinister Graves
Marcie R. Rendon
Soho Crime
c/o Soho Press
853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
www.sohopress.com
9781641293839, $27.95, HC, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Sinister-Graves-Cash-Blackbear-Mystery/dp/1641293837

Synopsis: A snowmelt has sent floodwaters down to the fields of the Red Riv=
er Valley, dragging the body of an unidentified Native woman into the town =
of Ada. The only evidence the medical examiner recovers is a torn piece of = paper inside her bra: a hymnal written in English and Ojibwe.

Cash Blackbear, a 19-year-old Ojibwe woman, sometimes helps Sheriff Wheaton=
, her guardian, on his investigations. Now she knows her search for justice=
for this anonymous victim will take her to the White Earth Reservation, a = place she once called home.

When Cash happens upon two small graves in the yard of a rural, "speak-in-t= ongues kinda church", Cash is pulled into the lives of the malevolent pasto=
r and his troubled wife while yet another Native woman dies in a mysterious=
manner.

Critique: A deftly crafted 'whodunnit' novel, "Sinister Graves" by Marcie R=
.. Rendon will have a special and particular appeal to readers with an inter= est in a Native American murder mystery. A riveting read from start to fini= sh, "Sinister Graves" is an especially recommended addition to community li= brary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal rea= ding lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Sinister Graves" is also readil=
y available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Marcie R. Rendon (https://www.marcierendon.com) is an enrol= led member of the White Earth Nation, a Pinckley Prize-winning author, play= wright, poet, freelance writer, and a community arts activist. Rendon was a= warded the McKnight Distinguished Artist Award for 2020. She is also a spea= ker on Native issues, leadership, and writing. Her second novel in her Cash=
Blackbear mystery series, "Girl Gone Missing", was nominated for the Sue G= rafton Memorial Award. Rendon was recognized as a 50 over 50 Change-maker b=
y Minneapolis AARP and Pollen in 2018.

The Body Falls
Andrea Carter
Oceanview Publishing
1620 Main Street, Suite 11, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608094301, $27.95, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Body-Falls-Inishowen-Mystery/dp/1608094308

Synopsis: It's April in Florida and Benedicta (Ben) O'Keeffe is enjoying ba= lmy temperatures during the last few days of a six month stint with a U.S. = law firm. A week later, she returns to Glendara, Inishowen, where a charity=
cycle event is taking place. The town is abuzz with excitement, but it sta= rts to rain, causing the cyclists to postpone the start of their event and = stay overnight in the town. The rain doesn't stop -- it becomes increasingl=
y relentless, torrential.

In the middle of the night, Police Sergeant Tom Molloy is called out to Mam= ore Gap, where a body, dislodged from a high bank by the heavy rain, has fa= llen onto a passing vehicle. It is identified as Bob Jameson, a well-known = charities boss and the organizer of the cycling event. Stunned, the local d= octor finds evidence of a recent snakebite. Terrible weather persists and s= oon bridges are down and roads are impassable. Glendara is completely cut o=
ff and since there are no native snakes in Ireland, could there be a killer=
trapped in the community? With no help from the outside world, it's left t=
o Molloy (with Ben's assistance) to find out who is responsible for Bob Jam= eson's bizarre death.

Critique: A classic 'whodunnit' of a mystery read by novelist Andrea Carter=
, "The Body Falls" is the fifth title in the author's simply outstanding 'I= nishowen Mystery' series. Original, entertaining, and a compulsive page tur= ner of a read from cover to cover, "The Body Falls" is enthusiastically rec= ommended for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense = collections. It should be noted that "The Body Falls" is also readily avail= able in a paperback edition (9781472131126, $14.95) and in a digital book f= ormat (Kindle, $11.49)

Editorial Note: Andrea Carter (https://andreacarterbooks.com) grew up in La= ois and studied law at Trinity College Dublin, before moving to the Inishow=
en peninsula in County Donegal, Ireland, where she ran the most northerly s= olicitors' practice in the country. In 2006 she returned to Dublin to work =
as a barrister before turning to write crime novels. Carter is the author o=
f the Inishowen Mysteries, most recently The Well of Ice and Murder at Grey= sbridge. Her books are published by Little, Brown in the UK, Goldmann Verla=
g in Germany, Oceanview in the US and will be adapted for television next s= ummer.

Duplicity
Shawn Wilson
Oceanview Publishing
1620 Main Street, Suite 11, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608095100, $27.95, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Duplicity-2-Brick-Kavanagh-Mystery/dp/160809510X

Synopsis: After the trauma of his last case, and after three months spent r= ecovering in Ireland, life is looking up for newly retired homicide detecti=
ve Brian (Brick) Kavanagh. Back home in Washington, D.C., a new job shows p= romise when he's asked to train criminology students in cold case technique=
s.

Then he's off to a whirlwind weekend in Chicago with Nora, an Aer Lingus fl= ight attendant he'd met in Ireland. There he receives shocking news that hi=
s former partner's wife and twin infants have been kidnapped. Brick rushes =
to D.C. to support Ron, the man who's always had his back -- but as days pa= ss, Brick questions how well he really knows this man.

Brick's cold case (the unsolved hit-and-run death of a college student) is = heating up. Brick finds gaping holes in the original investigation. Is it p= ossible diplomatic immunity granted someone a "get-out-of-jail-free card"?

Meanwhile, Ron's family tragedy unfolds in a most bizarre manner, and the e= scalating cold case points to D.C. corruption at the highest level. Things = are getting very complicated and increasingly dangerous!

Critique: A deftly crafted and thoroughly fun read from cover to cover for = any and all mystery fans, "Duplicity", the second title in author Shawn Wil= son's 'Brick Kavanagh Mystery' series, is unreservedly recommended addition=
to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for = personal reading lists that "Duplicity" is also available in a digital book=
format (Kindle, $11.49).

Editorial Note: Shawn Wilson (https://shawnwilsonauthor.com) is a produced = playwright and the author of the Brick Kavanagh Mystery series. "Duplicity"=
is her second novel following Relentless, the first of that series.

The Poison Machine
Robert J. Lloyd
Melville House
46 John Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
https://www.mhpbooks.com
9781612199757, $29.99, HC, 464pp

https://www.amazon.com/Poison-Machine-Hunt-Hooke-Novel/dp/1612199755

Synopsis: London, 1679 -- A year has passed since the sensational attempt t=
o murder King Charles II, but London is still a viper's nest of rumored Cat= holic conspiracies, and of plots against them in turn. When Harry Hunt (est= ranged from his mentor Robert Hooke) is summoned to the remote and windswep=
t marshes of Norfolk, he is at first relieved to get away from the place.

But in Norfolk, he finds that some Royal workers shoring up a riverbank hav=
e made a grim discovery -- the skeleton of a dwarf. Harry is able to confir=
m that the skeleton is that of Captain Jeffrey Hudson, a prominent member o=
f the court once famously given to the Queen in a pie. Except no one knew H= udson was dead, because another man had been impersonating him.

The hunt for the impersonator, clearly working as a spy, will take Harry to=
Paris, another city bedeviled by conspiracies and intrigues, and back, wit=
h encounters along the way with a flying man and a cross-dressing swordswom=
an -- and to the uncovering of a plot to kill the Queen and all the Catholi=
c members of her court. But where? When?

Critique: "The Poison Machine" is the sequel to author Robert J. Floyd's no= vel "The Bloodless Boy" and is an incandescent historical suspense thriller=
and compulsive page turner of a read. While especially and unreservedly re= commended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it sh= ould be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated historical my= stery fans that "The Poison Machine" is also available in a paperback editi=
on (9781685890407, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Robert Lloyd (https://www.writersdigest.com/author/robert-l= loyd) studied for a Fine Art degree, starting as a landscape painter, but w= hile studying for MA degree in The History of Ideas that he first read Robe=
rt Hooke's diary, detailing the life and experiments of this extraordinary = man. After a 20-year career as a secondary school teacher, he has returned =
to painting and writing. He is also the author of "The Bloodless Boy", whic=
h was selected by Publishers Weekly as a Mystery Book of the Year and The N=
ew York Times as a Best New Historical Novel of 2021.

Black Camelot's Days Of War
Darius Meyers
Independently Published
9798534010404, $14.95, PB, 328pp

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Camelots-Days-Darius-Myers/dp/B0991DQ4B7

Synopsis: Chief of Detectives Teddy Walker, with the help of the Society of=
Protectors, has kept Donald Alexander, Kwame Mills and their spectacular c= rew of friends dubbed the Black Camelots safe from kill squads.

Under Walker's leadership, the attacks were rebuffed and made way for a pea= ceful summer marked by the Black Camelot Weddings. The highly anticipated w= eddings captured the attention of the city, country, and the world and furt= her burnished the Black Camelot's reputation as American royals.

Before Emancipation has re-emerged under the direction of a new and dynamic=
leader. His first order was to resume the deadly hunt for Black Camelot me= mbers and kill key Walker lieutenants in a full declaration of war.

Acts of vengeance are not limited to Walker's fight with Before Emancipatio=
n. Bronson Pagent remains in a bitter feud with Yancey and Dawn Davis Stuar=
t. He makes a move that's true to his psychopathic nature and sets off a ch= ain of reactions with consequences he never imagined.

"Black Camelot's Days of War" also follows the corrupt, former Senator Digb=
y Yates, who emerges as a new and formidable nemesis. Yates wants to be Pre= sident and yearns for a Before Emancipation race war, as it will increase h=
is electoral chances.

In "Black Camelot's Days of War" the white supremacist attacks are no longe=
r a secret, and the good guys have become casualties. It is a period that w= ill leave Walker and the Black Camelots in shock and the city in terror.

Critique: "Black Camelot's Days of War" is the third volume in author Dariu=
s Myers' original and riveting Black Camelot series and continues to showca=
se Darius Myers impressive and narrative driven storytelling skills. Packed=
with action, suspense, and one compulsive thriller of a read from first pa=
ge to last, "Black Camelot's Days of War" is highly recommended for communi=
ty library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal re= ading lists that "Black Camelot's Days of War" is also readily available in=
a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99). It should be noted by librarians th=
at "Black Camelot's Days of War" is also available in a large print edition=
(Fero Scitus, 9781639444502, $28.95, HC, 328pp).

Editorial Note: Darius Myers (https://www.dariusmyers.com) is a New York Ci= ty-based fiction writer and the author of the Black Camelot book series, as=
well as the "Bourbon Will".

Black Camelot's Dazed By Death
Darius Myers
Independently Published
9798798058570, $15.95, PB, 308pp

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Camelots-Dazed-Death-Darius/dp/B09PMBSVK7

Synopsis: Digby Yates and his political aspirations are also undaunted. He = remains focused on his ambitions and begins courting a powerful but flawed = southern televangelist family who will provide his campaign the press suppo=
rt it needs to win white America.

Senator Janet Bivens has reluctant ambitions for the highest office, and he=
r team of advisers want her to go for it. Donald Alexander made a big decis= ion, too. He announces to the public what friends and associates have long = hoped he'd do. He follows Oliver's command to take his power and wealth and=
do some good.

Critique: Black Camelot's Dazed By Death" is Book Four of novelist Darius M= yers suspense thriller Black Camelot series and like its three predecessors=
is a masterfully scripted action/adventure novel that will have a very spe= cial appeal to fans of dystopian suspense thriller fiction. A riveting read=
from cover to cover, "Black Camelot's Daze By Death" is an unreservedly re= commended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It sh= ould be noted by librarians that there is also a large print edition availa= ble of Black Camelot's Daze By Death" (9781088009291, $27.75, HC, 312pp).

Editorial Note: Darius Myers (https://www.dariusmyers.com) is a New York Ci= ty-based fiction writer and the author of the Black Camelot book series, as=
well as the "Bourbon Will".

The Honeycomb Diamond
Sara Stamford
Elite Online Publishing
https://eliteonlinepublishing.com
9781956642308, $24.99, HC, 308pp

https://www.amazon.com/Honeycomb-Diamond-Suspenseful-Mystery-Thriller/dp/19= 56642307

Synopsis: When everyone wants something you have, and they will stop at not= hing to take it.

Margarita had it all. Wealth, beauty, status, a loving husband. Or so she t= hought. In one fateful evening, several days after her husband's accident, = she loses everything as her life is plunged into utter darkness.

Taken hostage in her London townhouse by a ruthless gang appearing out of n= owhere, Margarita is tortured and asked to divulge the location of her extr= aordinarily rare pink diamond. After a suspenseful escape, and under the pu= rsuit of thugs who will stop at nothing to recapture her, she finally finds=
shelter in what she thinks is an oasis of safety -- a secret organization = called Honeycomb.

With her troubles seemingly over and protected by people who anticipate and=
fulfill her every desire and wish, Margarita falls into a rhythm of luxury=
and peace. But soon, clues begin to point at something far more sinister a= foot. Slowly she realizes that the price for her freedom might be far more = than she can afford!

Critique: Original, riveting, memorable, "The Honeycomb Diamond" by novelis=
t Sara Stamford is a compulsive page turner of a read from cover to cover a=
nd unreservedly recommended for community library collections. The stuff of=
which movies are made, it should be noted for the personal reading lists o=
f dedicated suspense/thriller fans that "The Honeycomb Diamond" is also ava= ilable in a paperback edition (9781956642315, $14.99) and in a digital book=
format (Kindle, $5.99).

Editorial Note: Sara Stamford (https://sarastamford.org) is an impressively=
creative novelist who authors great and purpose-inspired stories. Her comm= itment is to crafting novels that center on often overlooked societal theme=
s and characters with a keen focus on female empowerment, inclusion, revers= ing stereotypes, and promoting deeper understanding sets. She can be follow=
ed on Facebook.com/authorsarastamford, on Instagram.com/sara_stamford, and =
on Twitter.com/StamfordSara

The Karma Factor
Thomas Lane
Waterside Productions
9781958848210, $24.95, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Karma-Factor-Thomas-Lane/dp/1958848212

Synopsis: "The Karma Factor" by novelist Thomas Lane is the story of highly=
decorated but conflicted cop who gains access to a database of past lives = (the Akashic Records). Using these expanded "profiles", he begins solving c= ases from a deeper perspective. A combination of James Bond meets Sherlock = Holmes meets Siddhartha, he is forced to evolve: struggling to overcome his=
own dark past to take on the mantle of an "awakened" detective.

Critique: Having a very special appeal to readers with an interest in metap= hysical/supernatural suspense thriller action/adventure novels, "The Karma = Factor" is an original, fascinating, riveting story that fully showcases au= thor Thomas Lane's genuine flair for the kind of imaginative and narrative = driven storytelling -- and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly wel= come addition to community library collections. It should be noted for pers= onal reading lists that "The Karma Factor" is also available in a digital b= ook format (Kindle, $9.95).

Editorial Note: Thomas Lane (https://www.thomaslane.com) is a multi-dimensi= onal creative drawn to spaces where art, spirit, and social justice interse= ct. He is the author of "The Artists' Manifesto" which is a tribute to the = power of the Arts, its value to a society that has forgotten the precious n= ature of life. In addition to a book of poetry, screenplays and paintings, =
he recently recorded a CD of his songs, entitled Hotel Earth under the stag=
e name, Trakker. Politically active since his teens, Thomas subsequently cr= eated The Helen Hudson Foundation, a charitable organization focused on soc= ial issues -- including homelessness, racism, and the environment.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

--- MBSE BBS v1.0.8 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: ---:- FTN<->UseNet Gate -:--- (3:633/280.2@fidonet)