The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Penguin Pool Murder
Stuart Palmer, author
American Mystery Classics
c/o The Mysterious Press
http://mysteriouspress.com
Brilliance Audio
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781613163894, $25.95, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Penguin-Pool-Murder-Stuart-Palmer/dp/1613163894
Synopsis: For the third graders at Jefferson School, a field trip is always=
a treat. But one day at the New York Aquarium, they get much more exciteme=
nt than they bargained for. A pickpocket sprints past, stolen purse in hand=
, and is making his way to the exit when their teacher, the prim Hildegarde=
Withers, knocks him down with her umbrella.
By the time the police and the security guards finish arguing about what to=
do with Chicago Lew, he has escaped, and Miss Withers has found something = far more interesting: a murdered stockbroker floating in the penguin tank. = With the help of Detective Oscar Piper, this no-nonsense spinster embarks o=
n her first of many adventures. The mystery is baffling, the killer dangero= us, but for a woman who can control a gaggle of noisy third graders, murder=
isn't frightening at all.
Critique: A fun read for all dedicated fans of 'whodunnit' mysteries featur= ing amateur women sleuths, "The Penguin Pool Murder" by Stuart Palmer is pa=
rt of the Hildegarde Withers Mysteries series, which also includes Murder o=
n the Blackboard and Murder on Wheels. While especially and unreservedly re= commended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be = noted for personal reading list that "The Penguin Pool Murder" is also avai= lable in a paperback edition (9781613163979, $15.95), in a digital book for= mat (Kindle, $7.990, and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brillianc=
e Audio, 9781531816032, $9.99, MP3-CD)
Editorial Note: Stuart Palmer (June 21, 1905 - February 4, 1968) was an Ame= rican author of mysteries. Born in Baraboo, Wisconsin, Palmer worked a numb=
er of odd jobs including apple picking, journalism, and copywriting, before=
publishing his first novel, the crime drama Ace of Jades, in 1931. It was = with his second novel, however, that he established his writing career: The=
Penguin Pool Murder introduced Hildegarde Withers, a schoolmarm who, on a = field trip to the New York Aquarium, discovers a dead body in the pool. Wit= hers was an immensely popular character, and went on to star in thirteen mo=
re novels, including Miss Withers Regrets (1947) and Nipped in the Bud (195= 1). A master of intricate plotting, Palmer found success writing for Hollyw= ood, where several of his books, including The Penguin Pool Murder, were fi= lmed by RKO Pictures Inc. (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Palmer)
The Album
Mary Roberts Rinehart
American Mystery Classics
c/o The Mysterious Press
http://mysteriouspress.com
9781613163610, $25.95, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Album-Mary-Roberts-Rinehart/dp/1613163614
Synopsis: Even in the early 1930s, Crescent Place is a neighborhood out of = the past. The five Victorian mansions and the remote patch of pasture place=
d between them have the air of the 1890s, even as the city (once miles away=
from this idyllic retreat) encroaches and surrounds the enclave. But while=
these rarified residences may appear calm on the outside, their isolated i= nteriors contain dark secrets, prolonged feuds, and generations of high-ton=
ed trouble.
In these houses are a husband and wife who fight constantly, and another co= uple who hasn't spoken to each other in two decades. There is a widow in pe= rmanent mourning and a daughter whom the newspapers call psychotic. And the=
re is a bedridden old woman who is about to be killed with an ax.
When her murder shatters the well-mannered quiet of the cul-de-sac, the tab= loids delight in trumpeting Crescent Place's peculiarities. But as the sear=
ch for the killer intensifies, it becomes clear that the area's strangest s= ecrets have yet to be revealed.
Critique: A suspenseful and 'yesteryear' mystery that enriched for the read=
er by sly social satire and set against the backdrop of the Great Depressio=
n, "The Album" is a memorable and classic whodunnit by the late Mary Robert=
s Rinehart -- one of the most beloved and popular mystery authors of the Go= lden Age era. While strongly recommended for community library Mystery/Susp= ense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedi= cated historical mystery and amateur sleuthing fans that "The Album" is als=
o available in a paperback edition (9781613163627, $15.95) and in a digital=
book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: Mary Roberts Rinehart (August 12, 1876 - September 22, 1958=
) was the most beloved and best-selling mystery writer in America in the fi= rst half of the twentieth century. Born in Pittsburgh to the owner of a sew= ing machine factory, she wrote fiction in her spare time until a stock mark=
et crash sent her and her husband into debt, forcing her to lean on her wri= ting to pay the bills. Her first two novels, The Circular Staircase (1908) = and The Man in Lower Ten (1909), established her as a bright young talent, = and it wasn't long before she was a regular on bestseller lists. Among her = dozens of novels were The Amazing Adventures of Letitia Carberry (1911) and=
The Bat (1932), which was among the inspirations for Bob Kane's Batman. To= day, Rinehart is often called an American Agatha Christie, even though she = was much more popular than Christie during her heyday. (
https://en.wikipedi= a.org/wiki/Mary_Roberts_Rinehart)
Murder in the Manger
Debbie Young
Boldwood
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781804830772, $41.00, PB, Large Print, 328pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-in-the-manger-debbie-young/11355229=
85
Synopsis: When Sophie Sayers' plans for a cosy English country Christmas ar=
e interrupted by the arrival of her ex-boyfriend, her troubles are only jus=
t beginning. Before long, the whole village stands accused of murder.
Damian says he's come to direct the village nativity play, but Sophie think=
s he's up to no good. What are those noises coming from his van? Who is the=
stranger lurking in the shadows? And whose baby, abandoned in the manger, = disappears in plain sight?
Critique: With the publication of this large print paperback edition of "Mu= rder in the Manger", the legions of Debbie Young fans will enjoy the fun of=
a traditional Cotswold festive season, as Sophie seeks a happy ending for = her latest village mystery -- and for her new romance with charming local b= ookseller Hector Munro. A mastery of the cozy mystery genre, Debbie Young n= ever disappoints, making "Murder in the Manger" a welcome addition to perso= nal reading lists and a 'must' for community library Mystery/Suspense colle= ctions.
Editorial Note: When Debbie Young (
https://authordebbieyoung.com) is the UK=
Ambassador for the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), a course tutor = for Jericho Writers, and the author of several instructive guidebooks for a= uthors. In 2015 she founded the Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival in her=
home village in the Cotswolds. The Festival now takes the form of a year-r= ound series of talks on different themes and genres, each featuring at leas=
t three guest authors, with me in the chair. See www.hulitfest.com for more=
details.
The Tears of the Buddha
E. A. Allen
Addison & Highsmith Publishers
c/o Histria Books
www.histriabooks.com
9781592111756, $24.99, HC, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Tears-Buddha-Allen/dp/1592111750
Synopsis: Marie-Claire Bernard was the widow of a national hero and the dau= ghter of a wealthy, politically powerful family and her murder threatened d= omestic consequences for the French Government.
Eager to avoid uproar in the press, the Minister of Justice summons Gerard =
de Montclaire (the most renowned detective of the era) to assume a familiar=
role. Examining Magistrate, with sweeping powers to find and prosecute the=
killer.
Montclaire soon learns that Marie-Claire was in possession of three rare an=
d priceless porcelain bowls of the Tang Dynasty. The legendary bowls (calle=
d The Tears of Buddha) are now missing. Are they the motive for the murder?
Critique: A brilliantly written novel that will have a very special appeal =
to readers with an interest in historical murder mysteries, "The Tears of t=
he Buddha" by E. A. Alen is a deftly crafted crime thriller that is unreser= vedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/= Suspense collections. It should be noted that "The Tears of the Buddha" is = also readily for mystery buffs that "The Tears of the Buddha" is also avail= able in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.49).
Editorial Note: E. A. Allen (
https://histriabooks.com/project/e-a-allen) is=
a History Professor, cattle farmer, and retired CIA intelligence officer. = When he's not out chasing staying cows that have no respect for fences, or = tracking-down undergraduates who have no respect for assignment deadlines, = he's at his desk, writing mysteries in the great tradition of Sir Arthur Co= nan Doyle, Agatha Christie, and Dorothy L. Sayers.
Murder at an Irish Castle
Ellie Brannigan
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639102587, $18.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Irish-Castle-Mystery/dp/1639102582
Synopsis: Rodeo Drive bridalwear designer Rayne McGrath expected her thirti= eth birthday to start with a power lunch and end with champagne, lobster, a=
nd a diamond engagement ring from her fiance. Instead, flat-broke and buste=
d, she's on a plane to Ireland where she discovers that she's inherited a r= un-down family castle.
But her Uncle Nevin's will contains a few caveats -- for example, if Rayne = doesn't turn McGrath Castle around within a year, the entire village will b=
e financially destroyed.
With the fate of the town in her hands, and rumors that Rayne's uncle's dea=
th wasn't actually an accident, she can't possibly go back to her old life =
in L.A. As the devastating truth about her uncle dawns on Rayne, it's not j= ust her reputation that's on the line, it's her life.
Critique: Featuring a sharp and endearing protagonist, a colorful and quirk=
y locale, and replete with twists and turns befitting an old Irish village,=
"Murder at an Irish Castle" is the first in author Ellie Brannigan's new I= rish Castle Mystery series and transports the reader to a milieu as romanti=
c as it is deadly. Unreservedly recommended to the attention of dedicated C= ozy Mystery fans, "Murder at an Irish Castle" is a fun read from cover to c= over. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book for= mat (Kindle, $13..99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamsca=
pe Media, 9781666628593, $22.99, CD), "Murder at an Irish Castle" is a high=
ly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Ellie Brannigan (
https://crookedlanebooks.com/ellie-brannig= an) is the author of the Irish Castle Mystery series. When she's not creati=
ng new fictional worlds, she reads and travels. She has lived in South Flor= ida for the last twenty years.
Murder Served Neat
Michelle Hillen Klump
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639102341, $29.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Served-Cocktails-Catering-Mystery/dp/16391023=
45
Synopsis: Reporter-turned-mixologist Samantha Warren has already thwarted o=
ne murder (A Dash of Death). Now, her world is shaken (definitely not stirr= ed) once again as another killing throws her world into chaos.
Samantha is mixing up traditional cocktails at the German Texan Lodge's Fou= rth of July festival -- a gig she was roped into by her mother. But amidst = the bratwurst and brass bands, trouble is brewing. Lodge loyalties are divi= ded over a proposal to build a private, country-club-style tennis center on=
the lodge grounds. Her mom's best friend Patty Davis is vehemently opposed=
to the plan. Society matron Angela Clawson is all for it. At the festival,=
they're seen in a heated argument -- and hours later, Angela is found dead=
, killed by one of the ceremonial shovels intended for the groundbreaking.
Samantha's mother begs her to help clear her best friend's name, but can sh=
e handle another murder case or will the whole investigation go bottoms up?
Critique: The second superbly crafted cozy mystery in author Michelle Hille=
n Klump's 'A Cocktails and Catering Mystery' series, "Murder Served Neat" h=
as everything fans of the genre look forward to -- an amateur female sleuth=
and a plot with more twists and turns than a Coney Island Roller Coaster. =
A fun and masterfully crafted novel from first page to last, "Murder Served=
Neat" is recommended for both personal reading lists and community library=
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that "Murder Served Neat"=
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Editorial Note: Michelle Hillen Klump (
https://michelleklump.com) is a form=
er newspaper reporter who covered government, courts and crime throughout A= rkansas and Central Texas. Still a working journalist, she is also a member=
of Sisters in Crime. Her short fiction has appeared in Crimson Streets and=
Tales of Texas, Volume II (a Houston short story anthology).
A Good Day to Pie
Misha Popp
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639102327, $28.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Good-Pies-Before-Guys-Mystery/dp/1639102329
Synopsis: Daisy bakes a little murder into every pie she creates, and she (= and her dog, Zoe) delivers them to the town's worst cads. Now, Daisy has en= tered a televised, elimination-style competition and has a shot at $100k in=
prize money -- but she still has a murder pie to deliver between filming.
In a completely unexpected turn of events, she discovers that her intended = victim is one of the competition judges, and he turns up dead before the pi=
e even arrives. Now, Daisy has to solve the murder (even if it means workin=
g a bit of magic) before someone calls foul play and exposes her murderous = secret.
Critique: For anyone who's ever fantasized about the world of competitive b= aking =E2=80=A6 la the Great British Bake Off (or has ever dreamed of getti=
ng back at that guy who wronged them years ago) Misha Popp's culinary cozy = mystery novel takes the idea of "a dessert to die for" to a whole new level=
.. Featuring a unique and memorable amateur female sleuth, "A Good Day To Pi= e" is a fun and riveting read from cover to cover. While highly recommended=
for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for=
the personal reading lists of dedicated cozy mystery fans that "A Good Day=
To Pie" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99=
).
Editorial Note: Misha Popp (
https://crookedlanebooks.com/misha-popp) enjoys=
writing about murdery women and over-the-top baked goods. She lives in rur=
al Massachusetts where she bakes entirely too many pies and sculpts things = out of chocolate. Ideal inspiration for her 'Pies Before Guys' mystery seri= es.
The Hunter
Jennifer Herrera
G. P. Putnam's Sons
c/o Penguin Group
www.penguin.com
9780593540213, $27.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hunter-Jennifer-Herrera/dp/0593540212
Synopsis: After reckless behavior costs NYPD detective Leigh O'Donnell her = job and her marriage, she returns with her four-year-old daughter to her be= autiful hometown of Copper Falls, Ohio. Leigh had stayed away for more than=
a decade (even though her brother and a trio of loving uncles still call i=
t home) because, while the town may seem idyllic, something rotten lies at = its core. Three men in town have drowned in what Leigh suspects to be a tri= ple homicide. She hopes that by finding out who killed them, she just might=
get her life back on course.
Headstrong and intuitive, Leigh isn't afraid to face a killer, but she has =
to do more than that to discover the truth about what happened to those men=
.. She must unravel a web of secrets going back generations, and, in doing s= o, plumb the darkness within herself.
Critique: All the more impressive when considering that "The Hunter" is aut= hor Jennifer Herrera debut as a novelist, this impressively crafted suspens=
e thriller of a read also provides a haunting look at how the search for tr= uth often leads back to the most unlikely of places! With its roster of def= tly crafted and memorable characters -- and a plot with more twists and tur=
ns than a Disneyland Roller Coaster, "The Hunter" is available for personal=
reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and unreservedly r= ecommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Jennifer Herrera (
https://www.jenniferherrerabooks.com) is =
a former philosophy grad student turned literary agent, who is fascinated b=
y the stories we tell ourselves to live and the lies we cling to that sabot= age our chances at a good life.
Night Shift
Robin Cook
G. P. Putnam's Sons
c/o Penguin Group
www.penguin.com
9780593540183, $29.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Night-Shift-Robin-Cook/dp/0593540182
Synopsis: Colleagues-turned-spouses Dr. Laurie Montgomery and Dr. Jack Stap= leton already have their plates full with demanding forensic pathology work=
and family pressures. The last thing they need is the sudden death of a co= lleague. Yet when Laurie's apparently vital and healthy longtime friend Dr.=
Sue Passero dies mysteriously in the hospital parking garage, an autopsy i=
s required, and it falls uncomfortably under Laurie's purview as the chief = medical examiner. So when Laurie asks Jack to take special care with the ca= se, he can hardly refuse.
With his curiosity sparked by an inconclusive autopsy, the indefatigable Ja=
ck is compelled to resolve the case at hand, and sets out to investigate on= -site at Manhattan Memorial Hospital, even though it means blatantly defyin=
g the Office of Chief Medical Examiner's rules. What started out as an inqu= iry into Sue's tragic passing soon turns into a deadly and dangerous chess = game between Jack and the clever and deranged killer, who might just admini= ster another lethal blow if Jack isn't careful.
Critique: Another beautifully crafted medical thriller by a seasoned master=
of the genre, "Night Shift" by Robin Cook will prove to be an immediate an=
d enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary Mystery/Sus= pense collections. It should be noted for the legions of Robin Cook fans th=
at "Night Shift" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99=
) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Penguin Audio, 9780593629888=
, $40.00, CD).
Editorial Note: The literary career of Robin Cook (
https://robincook.com) b= egan with his first novel, The Year of the Intern, which he wrote underwate=
r while on board the nuclear submarine, Kamehameha. It was written to illus= trate the less than salubrious psychological impact of graduate medical edu= cation on the psyche of young physicians. It was followed 5 years later in = 1977 with Coma, which had been written at night while he was a senior ophth= almology resident and which was published while Dr. Cook was a student at t=
he Kennedy School of Government. This novel created the genre of the medica=
l mystery-thriller, and changed the public's perception as well as the medi= a's portrayal of medicine. Prior to Coma, medicine was on the proverbial pe= destal (e.g. Dr. Ben Casey and Marcus Welby, M.D.); post-Coma, there were q= uestions, meaning bad doctors and bad hospitals exist and should be avoided=
.. To date Robin Cook has written a total of thirty-seven worldwide bestsell= ers.
The Twyford Code
Janice Hallett
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas. New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781668003220, $27.00, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Twyford-Code-Novel-Janice-Hallett/dp/1668003228
Synopsis: Forty years ago, Steven "Smithy" Smith found a copy of a famous c= hildren's book by disgraced author Edith Twyford, its margins full of stran=
ge markings and annotations. When he showed it to his remedial English teac= her Miss Iles, she believed that it was part of a secret code that ran thro= ugh all of Twyford's novels. And when she disappeared on a class field trip=
, Smithy became convinced that she had been right.
Now, out of prison after a long stretch, Smithy decides to investigate the = mystery that has haunted him for decades. In a series of voice recordings o=
n an old iPhone from his estranged son, Smithy alternates between visiting = the people of his childhood and looking back on the events that later lande=
d him in prison.
But it soon becomes clear that Edith Twyford wasn't just a writer of forgot= ten children's stories. The Twyford Code holds a great secret, and Smithy m=
ay just have the key!
Critique: A deftly crafted novel from cover to cover, with the publication =
of "The Twyford Code", author Janice Hallett rivals Agatha Christy as a nov= elist able to construct fiendishly clever, maddeningly original crime novel=
s that will have a very special appeal to lovers of word games, puzzles, an=
d to those who enjoy stories of redemption. A fun and fascinating read from=
first page to last, "The Twyford Code" is a truly exceptional and unreserv= edly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections=
.. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated crime nove=
l fans that "The Twyford Code" is also available in a paperback edition (97= 81788165334, $14.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Janice Hallett (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janice_Hallet=
t) is a former magazine editor, award-winning journalist and government com= munications writer. She wrote articles and speeches for, among others, the = Cabinet Office, Home Office and Department for International Development. A=
playwright and screenwriter, she penned the feminist Shakespearean stage c= omedy NetherBard and co-wrote the feature film Retreat, a psychological thr= iller starring Cillian Murphy, Thandiwe Newton and Jamie Bell. The Appeal i=
s her first novel, and The Twyford Code her second.
Barking Up The Wrong Tree
Janice Thompson
Barbour Publishing
P.O. Box 719, 1810 Barbour Drive, Uhrichsville, OH 44683
www.barbourbooks.com
9781636094519, $14.99, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Barking-Wrong-Tree-Gone-Dogs/dp/1636094511
Synopsis: Inquisitive, detail-oriented, Veterinarian Kristin Keller prides = herself on winning over any dog. But has this self-proclaimed dog whisperer=
finally met her match in a Sheltie named Remington who has just won the Te= xas state agility course competition?
The champion pooch is acting out of sorts -- almost as if he is not the sam=
e dog. Has he, by chance, been switched out with another dog just before th=
e next big competition? Kristin and the other Lone Star employees will do a= nything to help the Atkinson family figure out this mystery surrounding the=
ir beloved Remington.
Critique: Cosy mystery fans everywhere will want to grab a puppy to snuggle=
and unwind with "Barking Up The Wrong Tree", a delightfully fun small-town=
mystery that is book 3 of author Janice Thompson's 'Gone to the Dogs' seri= es. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book forma=
t (Kindle, $9.99), "Barking Up The Wrong Tree" is unreservedly recommended = for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Janice Thompson (
https://janiceathompson.com) writes romant=
ic comedies, cozy mysteries, nonfiction devotionals, and musical comedies f=
or the stage.
Murder Book
Thomas Perry
The Mysterious Press
http://mysteriouspress.com
9781613163832, $27.95, HC, 420pp
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Book-Novel-Thomas-Perry/dp/1613163835
Synopsis: When a sudden crime wave hits several small midwestern towns, the=
U.S. Attorney for the region calls on Harry Duncan to investigate. An ex-c=
op known for his unorthodox methods, Duncan is reluctant to go up against a=
widespread criminal organization -- but the attorney in question is Ellen = Leicester, the wife who left him fifteen years earlier, and to her, he can'=
t say no.
Initially brought in as a consultant to determine if the racketeering is se= vere enough to require an all-out investigation by the FBI, Duncan quickly = finds himself in conflict with a syndicate far more violent than first susp= ected. As the investigation develops, he begins compiling a "murder book", = the notebook in which a detective keeps records, interviews, photos -- ever= ything he needs to build his case. But his scrutiny of the gang soon makes = Duncan a target. And Ellen, too.
Critique: A thrilling and suspenseful tour of crime-addled midwestern towns=
, "Murder Book" is signature Thomas Perry police procedural suspense thrill=
er of a read with memorable characters, crisply-described action sequences,=
and breathlessly tense plotting. A 'must' for the growing legions of Thoma=
s Perry fans, "Murder Book" is a compelling and unreservedly recommended ad= dition to community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. For = personal reading lists in should be noted that "Murder Book" is also availa= ble in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Thomas Perry (
https://www.thomasperryauthor.com) is the bes= tselling author of over twenty novels, including the critically acclaimed J= ane Whitefield series, The Old Man, and The Butcher's Boy, which won the Ed= gar Award.
The Girl Who Took What She Wanted
David Handler
The Mysterious Press
http://mysteriouspress.com
9781613163849, $26.95, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Took-What-Wanted/dp/1613163843
Synopsis: Stewart "Hoagy" Hoag hasn't written any fiction since his debut n= ovel rocked the literary world of the 1980s and then left him with a paraly= zing case of writer's block. Since then, he's been reduced to ghostwriting = celebrity memoirs. But his newest project could have him diving back into t=
he world of fiction in a way he never imagined.
Nikki Dymtryk is Hollywood's hottest reality TV star, known for her wild pa= rty lifestyle and prolific sexual conquests across the music, film, and spo= rts industries. But when the ratings for her show Being Nikki begin to drop=
, the Dymtryk family engineers a new plan to keep Nikki in the limelight: r= einventing the young star as a bestselling author. Nikki's team hires Hoagy=
to ghostwrite a steamy romance novel showcasing the glitz and glamor of th=
e Hollywood elite.
Reluctantly, Hoagy flies out to L.A. with his trusty basset hound Lulu to s=
ee what he's gotten himself into with Nikki. But when he finally meets the = starlet, she's nothing like the aimless, airhead image she presents to the = media. This project may just be the key to getting Hoagy's creative juices = flowing again -- and staying in L.A. might also give him a chance at gettin=
g back together with his actress ex-wife, Merilee.
But spending time with Nikki isn't all parties and poolside lounging. As Ho= agy gets closer to the young woman, he begins to uncover the Dymtryk family=
's dark secrets. Secrets that are worth killing for.
Critique: Another deftly crafted mystery novel by an author with a true mas= tery of the genre, "The Girl Who Took What She Wanted" is David Handler's n= ewest edition to his Stewart Hoag Mystery series. With a special appeal to = fans of the cozy mystery/amateur sleuth novel, "The Girl Who Took What She = Wanted" is available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (K= indle, $17.49) and will prove to be a popular addition to community library=
Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: David Handler (
https://davidhandlerbooks.com) is the Edgar = Award-winning and critically acclaimed author of several bestselling myster=
y series. He began his career as a New York City reporter, and wrote his fi= rst two novels Kiddo (1987) and Boss (1988) about his Los Angeles childhood=
.. In 1988 he published The Man Who Died Laughing, the first of his long-run= ning series of mysteries starring ghostwriter Stuart Hoag and his faithful = basset hound Lulu.
Blooming with Murder
Kathryn Long
Camel Press
6524 NE 181st Street, STE #2, Kenmore, WA 98028
www.camelpress.com
9781684920679, $16.95, PB, 220pp
https://www.amazon.com/Blooming-Murder-Kathryn-Long/dp/1684920671
Synopsis: Spring is blooming in Sierra Pines, and everyone's busy preparing=
for the annual Spring Fling Festival. Ali Winston takes her B&B guests for=
a tour, and their first stop is the face painting booth. Local school boar=
d president, Melvin Renville, is there to honor a bet he lost to the studen=
t body by having his face painted. However, things turn tragic when he has =
an allergic reaction and ends up dead. No one is more surprised than Ali's = best friend and art teacher, Lyla Lane, when it's discovered her face paint=
contains peanut oil, an ingredient Renville was highly allergic to. Lyla i= nsists she'd never use store-bought paint, only homemade because in teachin=
g elementary school, she's aware many kids have food allergies.
Ali suspects someone wanted Renville dead and cleverly framed Lyla for the = crime. The question is who had motive and the opportunity to pull off such =
a daring deed? Of course, rumors spread, and fingers point at Lyla when wor=
d gets out that Renville had notified her, merely hours before his death, t= hat the art program and her job would be cut next year. Talk about a motive=
to kill. With Sheriff Sterling painting Lyla as his prime suspect, Ali is = determined to help her friend by discovering the true killer and to keep sp= ring blooming in Sierra Pines.
Critique: A superbly crafted cozy mystery that will have immense appeal to = readers with an interest in amateur women sleuths and a plot with more twis=
ts and turns than a Disneyland rollercoaster, "Blooming with Murder" is a f=
un read from cover to cover and will send its readers looking for more stor= ies from novelist Kathryn Long. While highly recommended for community libr= ary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal readi=
ng lists of dedicated cozy mystery buffs that "Blooming with Murder" is als=
o available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Kathryn Long (
https://kathrynlongauthor.com) is a native Oh= ioan who spends her days plotting murder and writing mysteries. She's a mem= ber of Sisters in Crime as well as of International Thriller Writers. She i=
s also actively involved in the writing and publishing worlds and stays up =
to date on her social media platforms.
The Photo Thief
J. L. Delozier
CamCat Books
www.camcatpublishing.com
9780744307221, $23.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Photo-Thief-J-L-Delozier/dp/0744307228
Synopsis: Still grieving his toddler's death, Detective Dan Brennan of the = Philadelphia P.D. returns to the force and is assigned to investigate a soc= ialite's fatal fall down her mansion's staircase. But the open-and-shut cas=
e is turned on its head when the victim's epileptic daughter alleges her mo= ther was murdered. Her evidence? The dead. Vintage crime-scene photographs = displayed on the mansion's walls have told her so.
Compelled by the reclusive teen's pleas, Brennan investigates her mother's = death and the disturbing secrets hidden in plain sight on the mansion's wal= ls. He soon discovers the vintage photographs are tied to a quartet of cold=
cases with a disturbing commonality.
As the wealthy family's long, sordid history threatens to bury him, Brennan=
's forced to make a choice: save his career, or risk it all for the chance =
to hear his daughter's voice again.
Critique: A riveting read from first page to last, "The Photo Thief" by nov= elist J. L. Delozier will have a very special appeal to readers with an int= erest in murder mysteries with a ghost thriller theme. While available for = personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs, it should be noted that = "The Photo Thief" is available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99). Wh= ile community libraries are advised to acquire "The Photo Thief" for their = Mystery/Suspense collections, librarians should be aware that it is also re= adily available in a large print edition (9780744307290, $19.99, PB, 424pp)=
from CamCat Publishing.
Editorial Note: J. L. Delozier (
https://www.jldelozier.com) draws inspirati=
on from science that exists on the edge of reality -- bizarre medical anoma= lies, new genetic discoveries, and anything that seems too weird to be true=
.. Her debut thriller was nominated for a "Best First Novel" award by the In= ternational Thriller Writers organization; her fourth novel won a Silver Fa= lchion Award. Her short fiction has won an Omega Award and appeared in Arte= mis Journal, The Pittsburger, Thriller Magazine, Retreats from Oblivion, an=
d the anthologies, Noirville: Tales from the Dark Side and Writers Crushing=
COVID-19. Her day job is being an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine=
at Penn State.
Trouble
Katja Ivar
Bitter Lemon Press
www.bitterlemonpress.com
9781913394776, $15.95, PB, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Katja-Ivar-Mystery-3/dp/1913394778
Synopsis: Hella has been asked by the police to do a background check on Jo= hannes Heikkinen, a senior member of the Finnish secret services. Heikkinen=
has a complicated past: a child dead just weeks after birth and a wife who=
died in the fire that destroyed their house a few years later.
Background checks are not exactly the type of job Hella was hoping for, but=
she accepts it on the condition that she is given access to the files conc= erning the roadside death of her father in 1942. Colonel Mauzer, his wife a=
nd other family members were killed by a truck in a hit and run incident.
An accident, file closed, they say. But not for Hella, whose unwelcome inve= stigation leads to some who would prefer to see her stopped dead in her tra= cks.
Critique: The third in the Hella Mauzer mystery series by novelist Katja Iv= ar, "Trouble" is set in Finland, early summer 1953 and features Hella Mauze=
r -- the first-ever woman Inspector in the Helsinki Homicide Unit, who has = been fired and is now a reluctant private investigator. A simply riveting r= ead from start to finish, "Trouble" will have a very special appeal to read= ers with a liking for historical thrillers, international mystery novels, a=
nd women sleuths. While especially and unreservedly recommended for communi=
ty library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the persona=
l reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Trouble" is also available=
in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Katja Ivar (
https://www.bitterlemonpress.com/blogs/authors/= katja-ivar) was born in Moscow and spent her teenage years in Dallas, Texas=
.. She holds a BA in Linguistics and a Masters in Contemporary History from = Sorbonne University; she lives in Paris with her husband and three children=
and is moving to Washington DC in June 2022. Evil Things was her fiction d= ebut and the first of this three-book series.
Last Chance Chicago
Diana Digangi
Bywater Books
P.O. Box 3671, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-3671
www.bywaterbooks.com
9781612942513, $18.99, PB, 310pp
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Chance-Chicago-Diana-DiGangi/dp/1612942512
Synopsis: Attorney and recovering cocaine addict Sam DiCiccio didn't think = she was ever going to see her ex-wife Amy Igarashi again, much less wind up=
defending her against felony insider trading charges.
But Amy's been falsely accused, and Sam, who's still in love with her, can'=
t bear to watch her take the fall for a crime she didn't commit. Amy is hol= ding on to resentment from their broken relationship and is hesitant to let=
Sam back into her life. But that all changes when her assets are frozen by=
a judge, and Sam is the best and only lawyer she can afford.
As Sam and Amy pull the threads of the alleged crime, they begin to unravel=
a mysterious corporate conspiracy that runs deep and wide. But as the cloc=
k ticks faster each day, the chance to prove Amy's innocence and keep her o=
ut of jail begins to slip away.
Sam and Amy keep inching closer to the truth, but each step draws them clos=
er to shadowy enemies and amplifies the heat between them.
Critique: A deftly skilled suspense thriller of a novel, "Last Chance Chica= go" by Diana Digangi will have a special appeal to readers with an interest=
in novels that combine the themes of LGBTQ contemporary romance and women = sleuths. While highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense co= llections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated s= uspense/thriller mystery fans that "Last Chance Chicago" is also available =
in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.49).
Editorial Note: Diana Digangi (
https://www.bywaterbooks.com/diana-digangi) = was born and raised in the suburbs outside Washington D.C. She holds both b= achelor's and master's in journalism from Virginia Commonwealth University,=
where she started her journalism career in television news, then returned =
to the D.C. area to pursue work as an investigative journalist. She now cov= ers the federal government full-time while writing fiction in her spare tim=
e.
Greenwich Mean Time
Reed Bunzel
Coffeetown Press
www.coffeetownpress.com
c/o Camel Press
www.camelpress.com
9781684920358, $19.95, PB, 362pp
https://www.amazon.com/Greenwich-Mean-Time-Reed-Bunzel/dp/1684920353
Synopsis: On assignment for Earth Illustrated magazine in Northern Pakistan=
, Monica Cross stumbles upon a deadly secret that makes her the target of a=
dark web outfit known as the Greenwich Global Group.
As this lethal cabal dispatches a team of hired assassins to ensure Monica = never makes it home to New York, Ronin Phythian (once considered the most l= ethal man alive and long presumed dead) emerges from self-exile in his remo=
te African camp and vows to save her life, while taking down the brutal hit=
squad for good.
At the same time, freelance blogger (and former Washington Post reporter) C= arter Logan gets word that the wreckage of the airplane crash that killed h=
is fiance has finally been found, and vows to bring justice for all those w=
ho died-and revenge to those who killed her.
Spanning ten time zones, nine countries, and four continents, "Greenwich Me=
an Time" by novelist Reed Bunzel is a tightly spun thriller that plays out = against a violent plot designed to change the course of history forever.
Critique: Original, riveting, and with more unexpected plot twists and turn=
s than a Disneyland roller coaster, "Greenwich Mean Time" is a fun read for=
anyone with an interest in assassination and conspiracy psychic thriller n= ovels. While particularly and unreservedly recommended for community librar=
y Crime Fiction and Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for pe= rsonal reading lists that "Greenwich Mean Time" is also available in a digi= tal book format (Kindle, $6.49).
Editorial Note: Reed Bunzel (
https://www.reedbunzel.com/) is the author of =
a half dozen crime novels and thrillers, as well as several nonfiction book=
s. He also produces BunzelGram, a weekly newsletter that focuses on mysteri=
es and thrillers both in print and on the screen. A former media industry e= xecutive, Bunzel was editor-in-chief for United News and Media's San Franci= sco publishing operations, overseeing the weekly publication of The Gavin R= eport and Gavin.com. Earlier in his career he was editor-in-chief of Stream= line Publishing's Radio Ink and Streaming magazines, as well as an editor a=
t Radio & Records and Broadcasting magazine. Additionally, he served in an = executive capacity at both the National Association of Broadcasters and the=
Radio Advertising Bureau. A graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Main=
e, Bunzel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology, cum laude.
The Last Orphan
Gregg Hurwitz
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250252326, $26.99, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Orphan-Novel/dp/1250252326
Synopsis: As a child, Evan Smoak was plucked out of a group home, raised an=
d trained as an off-the-books assassin for the government as part of the Or= phan program. When he broke with the program and went deep underground, he = left with a lot of secrets in his head that the government would do anythin=
g to make sure never got out.
When he remade himself as The Nowhere Man, dedicated to helping the most de= sperate in their times of trouble, Evan found himself slowly back on the go= vernment's radar. Having eliminated most of the Orphans in the program, the=
government will stop at nothing to eliminate the threat they see in Evan.
But Orphan X has always been several steps ahead of his pursuers. Until he = makes one little mistake!
Now the President has him in her control and offers Evan a deal -- eliminat=
e a rich, powerful man she says is too dangerous to live and, in turn, she'=
ll let Evan survive. But when Evan left the Program he swore to only use hi=
s skills against those who really deserve it. Now he has to decide what's m= ore important -- his principles or his life.
Critique: Another riveting novel of suspense that will have special appeal =
to the legions of fans who are hooked on Gregg Hurwitz 'assassination/adven= ture' novels in his Orphan X series, "The Last Orphan" has it all as it tak=
es the raptly engaged reader along in a story that has more unexpected twis=
ts and turns than a Disney World rollercoaster. Certain to be an immediate = and enduringly popular addition to community library Thriller/Suspense Acti=
on collections, it should be noted that "The Last Orphan" is also readily a= vailable in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and un= abridged audio book (Macmillan Audio, 9781250787903, $39.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Gregg Hurwitz (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_Hurwitz)=
is the author of the Orphan X novels. Critically acclaimed, his novels hav=
e been international bestsellers, graced top ten lists, and have been publi= shed in thirty-two languages. Additionally, he's sold scripts to many of th=
e major studios, and written, developed, and produced television for variou=
s networks.
Crystal Blue Murder
Saralyn Richard
Palm Circle Press, LLC
www.palmcirclepress.com
9780989625555, $29.00 Hardcover/$18.48 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Blue-Murder-Detective-Parrott/dp/0989625567
In Crystal Blue Murder, Detective Oliver Parrott finds the bucolic countrys= ide of Brandywine Valley disrupted by a meth lab's explosion, a corpse, thr= eats, and a circle of danger that begins to embrace the wealthiest segment =
of society.
The story opens with a literal bang. ("Being awakened at two a.m. was bad e= nough, but the word explosion yanked Detective Oliver Parrott out of bed in=
nothing flat. The barn on eighty-two-year-old celebrity hostess, Claire Wh= itman's fifty-acre farm was burning.") The action becomes non-stop as Parro= tt's personal life challenges spill over into his professional efforts. Sar= alyn Richard is adept at painting the contrast between these lives and the = mysteries, secrets, and dilemmas that happen within the community and behin=
d closed doors. She explores lies and truths, layer by layer, through event=
s and character interactions.
As Parrott delves into Claire's life and relationships, readers gain a mult= i-faceted perspective of life in a moneyed community, where relationships a= ffect outcomes. Money usually talks, but it doesn't always deliver answers.=
As Parrott develops a theory of the explosion and the murder it was suppos=
ed to hide, he digs ever deeper into the heart and soul of a community that=
prides itself on not just its wealth, but its secrets. Parrot finds himsel=
f fielding relationship information and dangerous circumstances.
Readers who look for mysteries thoroughly steeped in community interactions=
and the intersection between intrigue and affairs will find much to like i=
n this third book in the Detective Parrott series. An added plus is that it=
stands nicely alone and requires no prior familiarity with the other books=
in order to prove immediately accessible and involving to newcomers.
Libraries that choose Crystal Blue Murder will find its attention to buildi=
ng connections and disconnections in an environment where meth and murder r=
un hand in hand with wealth and secrets to produce a creative, involving st= ory. It offers many twists and turns as it navigates rocky relationships an=
d murder alike.
Murder at Amapas Beach
James Gilbert
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9781639886494, $17.99
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Amapas-Beach-James-Gilbert/dp/1639886494
Murder at Amapas Beach opens in Puerto Vallarta, where Amanda Pennyworth is=
experiencing a romantic interlude with Romero while on vacation in Mexico = when trouble strikes in the form of stranger Danielle Maglin. A chance conv= ersation overheard leads Amanda to realize their connection with Racine, Wi= sconsin, which is Amanda's childhood home.
The strange coincidence evolves into something more when Danielle is murder= ed. Amanda feels compelled to take on her case and discover the underlying = factors affecting Danielle's death, which belays the intention of both her = vacation and the agenda of the Sun and Fun Travel Agency (in this instance,=
perhaps ironically named).
As events lead to a second demise, Amanda finds not answers, but more quest= ions as a wide-ranging list of suspects evolves, each containing their own = complexity. Where should she begin? Everything feels "contradictory and con= fusing." So much so, that perhaps even the suspects themselves are confused=
about their roles and choices in various situations.
Murder at Amapas Beach offers the fine scenario of a vacation that segues i= nto a murder mystery. Its atmospheric portrait of Mexico, tourist personali= ties, the intersection of fun and frightening developments, and underlying = simmering resentments on the parts of many creates an engrossing set of pos= sibilities.
"Whodunnit" becomes a laundry list of special interests as Amanda pursues t=
he truth while facing her own mystery over Romero. The intersection of roma= nce and intrigue works well as readers absorb not just Amanda's efforts, bu=
t the role of Sergeant Colin McMillan, who appears midway in the story to a=
dd the involvement of an investigator far from Mexico who finds a foreign m= urder case dumped in his lap.
Readers and libraries looking for multifaceted mysteries that take on an in= ternational flavor as they evolve too many suspects and possibilities, as w= ell as prior fans of Amanda Pennyworth, will find Murder at Amapas Beach an=
involving read which is highly recommended.
Murder in Third Position
Lori Robbins
https://www.lorirobbins.com
Level Best Books
9781685121969, $5.99 ebook/$16.95 Paper
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Third-Position-Pointe-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BGYS= C7XH
Murder in Third Position is an On Pointe mystery that combines ballet with =
a female sleuth's latest case. Readers need not be ballet dancers themselve=
s in order to enjoy the pirouettes and placements this story embraces. A li= mber attitude towards intrigue goes far, as the story unfolds a different N= utcracker scenario in which intrigue blends with the challenges of being a = dancer. Lori Robbins demonstrates a vivid descriptive prowess as lead dance=
r Leah Siderova finds her starring role fraught with political, artistic, a=
nd investigative challenges.
Murder and Christmas do not ordinarily go together. With the abusive overse=
er Maurice dead and suspicion falling upon Leah's dance partner, she has no=
choice but to embark on her own investigation of what really happened behi=
nd the scenes. When the theater goes dark and allows a predator access to t=
he stage, Leah exits stage left to play the dangerous role of a detective t= hat leads her into more deaths and unexpected territory.
As a novelist, Robbins does an outstanding job of juxtaposing the ballet wo= rld with the investigative process that challenges Leah's set roles, forcin=
g her to new heights of realization about the world of dance, her colleague=
s, and her own ambitions.
When performers go missing and more potential victims emerge, Leah and her = sister must walk a dangerous path to get at the truth. Readers who enjoy ba=
ck stories of the dancing world and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the rigor=
s of a ballet production will find these realistic elements contribute to L= eah's foray into an entirely different milieu.
The first-person characterization is very well done as readers become immer= sed in Leah's artistic and professional efforts, easily understanding how s=
he feels driven to solve this dangerous riddle, even though her sister is s= upposedly the intelligent one. Leah maintains: "I'm a dancer. I talk with m=
y body." Her efforts to speak through her dance rather than becoming anothe=
r body on a widening hit list makes for compelling reading. Perhaps this is=
because the tension is finely drawn and the movements between dance and de= ath assume their own form of masterful entwining that keeps readers involve=
d in a realistic character's moves.
Readers and libraries interested in mysteries that embrace the ballet world=
and the motivations of a non-P.I. dancer who finds herself pulled into an = unexpected romance will find Murder in Third Position exquisitely complex, = nicely steeped in both drama and the competitive atmosphere of the dance wo= rld.
Choke
Lisa Towles
Rebel ePublishers
9781944077174, $12.99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1944077170
What would happen if everything you believed about yourself and your life h= istory proved to be a lie? Choke reveals just such a dilemma as Certified N= ursing Assistant Kerry Stine finds her entire life called into question ove=
r a patient that vanishes from the hospital under her watch. As her repress=
ed past pushes into her consciousness and sends her on the run, Kerry finds=
not only her history, but everything she's presumed about her role in life=
to be in question. Is she being drugged and manipulated? Is she insane? Th=
e questions mount as Kerry keeps finding reasons for mistrusting everyone a=
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