The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Desert Deadline
Michael Craft
www.michaelcraft.com
Questover Press
9798218138813, $26.99 hardcover, $16.99 paperback, $6.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Desert-Deadline-Dante-Jazz-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0C41ZVC=
9D

Desert Deadline delivers another Dante & Jazz mystery that returns the duo =
of Dante O'Donnell and Jazz Friendly to Palm Springs and the mystery surrou= nding another conundrum.

Dante is a gay white man whose position as a concierge for Sunny Junket Vac= ation Rentals in Palm Springs leads him into unfamiliar territory far outsi=
de his job description. Jazz is a straight Black female on the rebound from=
a failed marriage who is struggling to establish her P.I. business. Their = association in Book 1, Desert Getaway, (an Edgar Awards nominee for the Lil= ian Jackson Braun Award), presented an unabashed romp through seeming impos= sibilities as the
disparate investigators faced unlikely scenarios that tested the talents an=
d different perspectives
of each character.

Desert Deadline opens with the unexpected, as well: the specter of Swedish = death cleaning and the "cleaning dervish" Agnetha Berg, who is employed by = Dante to help prep a newly listed vacation rental. As events unfold, Dante = and Jazz discover that the latest baggage to land in their laps (from a big= -name author's last-minute mandate for solitude and secrecy) draws them int=
o another scenario that probes the underbelly of a vacation town's seedier = residents.

From the start, Michael Craft embeds his mystery with the quirky personalit= ies of investigators who discover that their presumptions and attitudes are=
both useful and a hindrance to their latest investigation. As Agnetha's di= sdain for Dante and Jazz dovetails with inconsistencies in her story, the t=
wo narrow their focus on perps and possibilities, but find that their own p= articipation in subterfuge leads them not just to truth, but surprising out= comes. The flash and flamboyance of Palm Springs is revealed, along with it=
s darker nature, and the two investigators find themselves both thoroughly = immersed in too many possibilities and searching for the romance and emotio= nal links missing in their own lives.

The moral and ethical conundrums these changing relationships introduce to = each are nicely presented, providing subplots that rest firmly on emotional=
connections and conundrums as big as the murder they're investigating: "I = was hoping he'd tell me that something had come up, that we'd have to postp= one our rendezvous, our first date. Please, I thought, let it be his decisi= on. Let him spare me the need to tussle with this, the need to juggle him w= ith Isandro in my conflicting notions of loyalty versus desire. I wanted an=
easy way out. But no."

Strengthened by a myriad of characters who each hold special interests and = roles in the community, this mystery is as much about preserving the magic =
in relationships as it is about preserving life in a gay community when mot= ive, means, and opportunity seem to point to a murderer who resides too clo=
se to home for comfort.

Library mystery collections strong in LGBTQ+ stories, with patrons interest=
ed in mysteries solidly steeped in a realistic sense of place and the juxta= position of very different characters, will find the intrigue, emotional co= nnections, and surprising twists and turns of Desert Deadline translate to =
a solid acquisition choice.

Fault Line
H.N. Hirsch
Pisgah Press, LLC
www.pisgahpress.com
9781942016762, $22.95

https://www.amazon.com/Fault-Line-H-N-Hirsch/dp/194201676X

Libraries and readers looking for a classic gay murder mystery steeped in C= alifornia culture, political subterfuge, and characters that live on the li=
ne of lies and danger will find Fault Line a fine study in intrigue that dr= aws from its initial words, when Bob Abramson's first morning in California=
brings him an earthquake, rain, and murder.

Even though a new lawyer Bob is no stranger to murder. The murder of his ro= ommate four years earlier introduced him to the victim's Harvard professor,=
Marcus George, leading to a relationship which challenged them to build a = new life together in California. In this novel, the two new transplants exp= lore California's gay subculture and continue to evolve their relationship = against the backdrop of a different murder that mirrors a "small earthquake=
" in their changed lives together.

H.N. Hirsch does an excellent job of juxtaposing a murder mystery with a ga=
y couple's continuing evolution. The story is replete with satisfying twist=
s and turns that contrast social and political insights with personal life = challenges in unpredictable, realistic, satisfying ways. As the ins and out=
s of local politics, conventional marriages, and closely held secrets come =
to light, both Bob and Marcus find their lives transformed. Bob comes to re= alize that many of his assumptions about lifestyles and age groups prove qu= estionable in California's unique milieu: "Bob thought for a minute. 'And d=
o you have any impression of the marriage?'

'None whatever. I've never really understood straight folk.'

Bob was startled; he hadn't really stopped to consider whether Philip was g=
ay or straight. He felt a pang of guilt; like many people his age, he hardl=
y thought about older people in terms of relationships, or sex." As relatio= nships between mayors, attorney generals, and other public figures come to = light, Bob comes to realize there are too many suspects and secrets too clo=
se to home for comfort.

Readers who embark on this foray into California culture with Bob and Marcu=
s will find the story packed with social and political as well as psycholog= ical and relationship insights. Hirsch brings to life a myriad of character=
s that swirl around this unique murder case and its accompanying special in= terests. This creates a memorable, compelling read as suitable for genre re= aders of murder mysteries as it is for those seeking explorations of gay cu= lture in California. Another surprising strength of the story: it's set in = Southern California, where the gay lifestyle is less famous and pronounced = than in the San Francisco Bay Area, which has become almost a cliche in gay=
circles.

Libraries and readers will find Fault Line a powerfully reflective whodunit=
that adds value with its realistic inspection of gay subculture perception=
s and experiences.

French Ghost
Corinne LaBalme
Wild Rose Press
https://wildrosepress.com
9781509239191, $17.99 Paper, $4.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/French-Ghost-Corinne-Labalme/dp/1509239197

French Ghost features a ghost writer whose employment becomes literal when = her movie star boss suddenly dies in a drowning that leaves her floundering=
in Paris. Re-hired for the job by a sullen son who obviously resents his f= ather, Melody Layne is puzzled about his motivation and attitude until her = biographical journey becomes a foray into crime and threats. Is Melody's bi= ography the product of lies, or truth? As she makes the choice to delve dee= per into deceased Charles-Henri Banville's life, she uncovers hidden truths=
that emerge with powerful threats not only to her writing, but her life an=
d those around her. It doesn't help that she's in a foreign milieu, or that=
she comes to realize her writing is actually a murder probe -- something s=
he has little experience in pursuing.

Corinne LaBalme's dialogues are intriguing, reflecting a dash of humor as M= elody chases clues to facts she has no business knowing about: "Melody, Mel= ody... perhaps, in retrospect, I may have jumped to a conclusion..."

"I'd say you pole vaulted to a conclusion."

"But not without justification," he countered. "You are definitely my fathe= r's type." The romance that evolves alongside her duty to chronicle the tru=
th leads to moral and ethical conundrums as Melody comes to realize that wh=
at she loves may be ultimately dangerous.

LaBalme walks a fine line between murder story and romance, but it's one ni= cely steeped in the atmospheres of both as Melody navigates situations she =
is both ill equipped to manage in terms of experience, and uniquely talente=
d to trail, thanks to her writing and research background.

Other facets of the son's anguished relationship with his father come to li= ght over an inheritance he never wanted, but which lies in question and com=
es with ironic twists: "Why did this man, who ignored me all his life, make=
me his heir and executor? Thanks to him, I'm a member of the one percent t= hat I've fought against all my life."

French Ghost's backdrop blends the allure of a Paris romance with the intri= gue of a mystery that draws special interests to interact on emotional and = investigative levels as police search for a reason to finger son Carlos Ort= ega and Melody seeks the truth.

Libraries and readers looking for mysteries steeped in first-person revelat= ions and astute considerations of romantic and detective pursuits alike wil=
l find French Ghost an appealing study in a writer's quest against all odds=
and a romance that evolves despite her recognition that "It was getting ha= rder and harder to love that man."

A Gilded Drowning Pool
Cecelia Tichi
Independently Published
9798985121667, $15.99 Paper/$3.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Gilded-Drowning-Pool-Roddy-Devere/dp/B0C118ZCX3

With its dovetailing of murder mystery and historical fiction, A Gilded Dro= wning Pool introduces a special brand of captivating action that will attra=
ct both types of genre readers with its compelling contrasts between 1899 h= igh society New York and a childhood spent in the Western mining camps.

This backdrop of evolution is cemented by the specter of dangerous threat w= hen a young woman whose name harkens to Val's Gaelic nickname is drowned on=
family property, embroiling Val and her husband Roddy in a series of event=
s and accusations that threaten everything they've built in their lives and=
between one another.

Val's first-person contrast between her girlhood in the far West and the po= sition she finds herself in as Mrs. Roderick W. DeVere of New York's Fifth = Avenue comes to life as the story moves through an unlikely set of circumst= ances and challenges to their social status and Val's efforts to rise above=
adversity.

What does a proposed Health-to-Wealth tent camp venture have to do with mur= der? As Val and her husband begin to realize that a bogus project is entang= ling their affairs in a serious and unexpected way, readers join them in a = romp through the world of the 1800s and its social and political currents.

Cecelia Tichi develops an exquisite tension fostered by the first-person ob= servations of Val and the interactions between her husband and various stra=
ta of society. From issues of financial gain and mutual cooperation to an i= nvestigation that exposes the fallacies of boyhood loyalties and the danger=
s Val and Roddy face in pursuing the truth,

A Gilded Drowning Pool virtually sizzles with unexpected twists. These lead=
readers to carefully examine the social and political entanglements of the=
times that lead to murderous decisions. Val and Roddy find themselves fall= ing ever deeper into the quicksand of relationships they thought they knew = well, only to discover that the veneer of geniality and decorum overlays a = dangerous undercurrent of threat that reaches out to grasp and pull them in=
to ever-deadlier situations.

From tyrants and liars to dark truths revealed, A Gilded Drowning Pool crea= tes an evocative, compellingly rich story that proves hard to put down. It =
is highly recommended for historical fiction and murder mystery collections=
alike.

If Only Truman Were Dead
William F. Crandell
Hawkshaw Press
www.hawkshawpress.com
9781957224169, $15.99 Paper, $4.99 ebook

If Only Truman Were Dead is the second book in the Jack Griffith Detective = series, continuing the same gritty exploration of a bygone 1940s milieu fro=
m the eyes of a streetwise detective newly returned from war.

Jack finds that almost everything has changed -- but some things never do. = The Washington, D.C. he knew is seedier, yet will feel familiar to modern a= udiences: "Washington in 1948 was a different planet. The squalid Southern = town I'd left behind to fight in Europe had become a squalid Southern city.=
Sex, cabs, booze and life were still cheap because Congress ran D.C. as a = game preserve."

The trail of corpses that immerse Jack in another series of investigative q= uandaries and challenges has not yet begun -- but it's on the threshold as = his month starts off with an unusual case.

What makes If Only Truman Were Dead stand out from the beginning is an obse= rvational first-person style that is candid, revealing, and sometimes start= ling in its ability to deliver punches via succinct first-person impression=
s of motivations for actions and hard choices: "Somebody hired Harry to han= dle the ransom demand for a young boy who'd been abducted. Harry botched it=
, and nowadays he drank his form of pain medicine neat. The kidnapper got w= hat was coming to him. Luckily for my sanity, I was off shooting Germans at=
the time."

A second wife's concern that her rich husband is falling prey to alluring a=
nd clever young ladies introduces a series of events that lead far from an = easy probe into a wife's worries, entering political circles that once agai=
n challenge Jack's ability to survive the layers of deceit he uncovers in h= igh-level social and political circles.

The dialogues, atmosphere, and quandaries are spot-on and absorbing, often = pairing astute observations with surprising conclusions: "Cissy Patterson h= eld the commanding heights of the marble staircase in a hunter green dress = cut injudiciously low. She must have been sixty or so. What had clearly onc=
e been engrossing breasts had turned flabby. You could see from her eyes an=
d her nostrils she had too much money and spent some of it on cocaine. If y= our ears worked, you also knew Cissy drank too much. I liked her right away= .." Between the noir atmosphere of a sultry mystery, the satisfying question=
s and twists that keep Jack immersed in a strange new world he once knew we=
ll but now is barely familiar with, and the evolving events that portend mo=
re threats than he'd anticipated.

If Only Truman Were Dead commands the kind of riveting attention that can o= nly come from powerful writing that extends the story's interest from detec= tive readers to general-interest audiences. As dames, dolls, and the dead c= oalesce, If Only Truman Were Dead comes alive with dilemmas spiced with des= criptions that are supercharged with psychological and mystery surprises: "= Maybe part of a siren's allure goes beyond sex appeal - a puzzle loaned bew= itchment to Aileen's allure."

If only one mystery were chosen by genre detective readers to try to lure n= on-mystery-reading friends into the fold, it should be If Only Truman Were = Dead. Mystery and history entwine in a backdrop in which politics and motiv= ation are powerfully engaged. Impeccable characterization, atmosphere, and = intrigue will prove draws to anyone who appreciates a rollicking good romp = through nefarious motivations and suspense, making If Only Truman Were Dead=
highly recommended for libraries and book clubs seeking solidly appealing = stories that conclude with a political bombshell.

No Consent
Teresa Burrell and L.J. Sellers
Silent Thunder Publishing
9781938680403, $14.99 Paper, $4.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/NO-CONSENT-Conner-Hitch-Thriller/dp/1938680405

Thriller genre readers seeking a story that incorporates unusual relationsh= ips between forces on either side of justice will find No Consent a satisfy= ing study in contrasts. It unites the forces of District Attorney Clara Hit= chens ("Hitch"), who is facing the possibility of a corrupt boss, and newly=
released jail inmate Nate Conner, whose new focus is locating his missing = sister while fending off a bully's demands for money.

Conner taps Hitch to help him, but when he's implicated in a murder case, s=
he has her hands full on more than one front. Hitch also harbors too many d= oubts about what is really going on, suspecting she might be aiding and abe= tting what is possibly the wrong side in the pursuit for justice.

Part of the attraction in No Consent lies in its constantly-shifting allian= ces and situations that test Conner's ability to stay out of trouble and Hi= tch's ability to identify the real perps in her legal case. Teresa Burrell = and L.J. Sellers excel in action-packed scenarios that begin the moment Con= ner steps out of jail to confront his past and the grave mistake he made in=
getting involved with a scammer. When he is rescued from this confrontatio=
n by his other sister, Conner comes to learn that his baby sister, who has = been in and out of trouble for years, has actually been missing for months.=
This sends him on a mission before he's even stepped into his revised role=
in society, immersing readers in the specter of a newly released inmate wh=
o once again finds himself skirting the edges of the law and society.

Burrell and Sellers navigate a thin line that moves among informants, accus= ations, social and legal possibilities, and fresh issues with practiced agi= lity. The story excels in the ebbs and flows of a tension that stems not ju=
st from discovery, but from social inspection: "She would do her best to ma=
ke Heather look... more wholesome? Meaning less slutty. Hitch hated society=
's double standards."

As No Consent evolves its multifaceted plot, readers receive a tale steeped=
in ironic twists, circumstances that test ideas of political correctness, = and setups which reveal to Connor frightening possibilities about his missi=
ng sister's life. Trial proceedings mire Conner deeper in legal entanglemen=
ts and threats as his little sister tunnels into hiding and Hitch is thwart=
ed by a successful corruption effort that turns her trial into a travesty.

The character development, action, and tension are well developed, creating=
a compelling story that rests as much on the individual challenges to Conn=
er and Hitch as on their conjoined purposes. Light references to a budding = friendship that could turn into something else pepper the story for future = development, but the foundations of intrigue and proactive thinking that dr= ive each character in No Consent lay a firm foundation of adventure that th= riller readers will relish.

Libraries and readers seeking a story that navigates political, social, and=
legal circles to challenge its two main characters' perceptions and roles = will find No Consent action-packed, vivid, and hard to put down.

The Philosophical Detective's Last Case
Bruce Hartman
Swallow Tail Press
https://swallowtailpress.com/index.html
9780999756471, $13.95 paper, $2.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/dp/099975646X

The Philosophical Detective's Last Case adds to and completes the trilogy o=
f detective experiences of narrator Nick Martin, demonstrating the ability =
to stand on its own strengths with no prior introduction to the series requ= ired for newcomers.

The tale opens with the confession that its narrator resides in a memory ca=
re center, where he has "caretakers" who are charged with maintaining him. = Nick cultivates a minor form of rebellion against his newly managed life. H=
is keepers "...care for my memory as the gardener cares for the lawn, by sa= turating it with poisons and eradicating anything that sprouts up unexpecte= dly. Their mission is to make me remember what they think I ought to rememb= er." But Nick admits that "My secret revenge is to remember only the things=
I want to remember." Thus his final story is also a defiant statement as h=
e spends "my endless days and nights sifting through lost time for fragment=
s of what has made my life worth living."

Nick's memorable fictional associations with "great Argentinian poet and fa= bulist Jorge Luis Borges" provides a rich treasure trove of experiences whi=
ch fueled prior books and appears early on in this one to cement the presen=
ce of mysteries and conundrums that appear in literary and physical milieus=
alike. "The fundamental mysteries of nature aren't the kind a detective tr= ies to solve," Nick protests to Borges. But as he is drawn to this literary=
giant's world and finds himself on yet another philosophical mystery adven= ture, readers will discover that the underlying inquiries that power this s= tory are every bit as intriguing as the detective's foray into unfamiliar t= erritory.

Bruce Hartman continues the concurrent themes of philosophical inspection t= hat consider the roots of investigations and the definition of mysteries as=
unique to human reasoning: "The detective is to a mystery what the observe=
r was to Schr=C3=B6dinger's cat," Borges said. "Unless he's looking (and as= king) there isn't any mystery." Literary readers, especially, who enjoy the=
intersection of philosophical examination and intrigue will find that both=
evolve in attractive, engrossing manners as Borges and Nick explore matter=
s of fate, time, and the methods and outcomes of arrogant fools.

The threads of humor that consistently run throughout the story line add a = fine dimension of laughter that is unexpectedly delightful as the story pro= gresses. From ironic twists of fate to predictions that lead the characters=
to consider the underlying impact and presence of what is likely their las=
t case, Hartman creates a thought-provoking series of events and character = interactions with their world that transcends the usual approach of a detec= tive piece to enter into the realms of philosophical debates and reflection=
: "He liked to say that he could see through the veil of appearances into t=
he essence of things. But in this, his last case as a detective, his percep= tion had been spectacularly wrong. His ideal woman's ugliness - invisible t=
o his clouded eyes - was an accurate reflection of her depraved heart."

The result is another powerfully rendered 'Philosophical Detective' story t= hat (perhaps sadly, but efficiently) concludes Borges and Nick's associatio= ns, giving the reader much more to think about regarding the hearts and min=
ds of humanity than a simple whodunit alone. Between the story's compelling=
evolution, its delightful and whimsical character interactions and jokes, = and its unexpected connections between philosophy and mystery, the result i=
s quite simply a delight and a standout in the mystery genre's usually-stai=
d world.

Libraries and readers looking for literary blends of philosophy and mystery=
, cemented by thought-provoking interludes and action that embraces a wide = cast of characters and possible outcomes, will find The Philosophical Detec= tive's Last Case a unique and delightful standout.

Protective Instincts
Ann Jeffries
New View Literature
www.newviewliterature.com
9781941603123, $15.95 Paper/$0.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Protective-Instincts-Alex-Mont-Kids-Episode/dp/19416= 03122

Protective Instincts is the 24th book in the Family Reunion---Wisdom of the=
Ancestors series and the fifth episode in the Alex-Mont Kids Saga, and ope=
ns with nineteen-year-old Professor Dena Montgomery's involvement in the ab= duction of two children whom she encounters on her way home from work.

The violent confrontation leaves a dead man and two traumatized young child= ren in her hands, sparking her protective instincts towards the kids even a=
s an investigation of these circumstances reveals political complications a=
nd an unexpected air of romance that threaten to change her life.

Dena is already an extraordinary young woman in any definition of the term,=
but her many abilities are tested as the story unfolds to connect her with=
young, handsome Greek police investigator Darrius Pappas and the complicat=
ed case he has been handed. As he probes Dena's life and discovers that she=
is even more mysterious than initial circumstances indicate, Darrius becom=
es immersed in global economic affairs far beyond his experience and callin=
g.

Readers and Darrius learn more about Dena's large family and their connecti= ons as the story unfolds, leading into a second murder that brings new reve= lations into entanglements that result in invasions of privacy and boundari=
es alike.

Ann Jeffries is skilled at carrying the microcosm of a kidnapping into bigg= er-picture thinking, powering it with an evolving relationship that doesn't=
go where readers expect it will and including the examinations and circums= tances that bring these extraordinary characters to the stars.

Libraries and readers seeking a focus on mystery, relationship developments=
, intrigue, and a futuristic mission will find Protective Instincts a power= house of a read that specializes in unexpected developments which immerse r= eaders in extraordinary family developments and political entanglements.

The Tree of Life
Daniel G. Miller
Houndstooth Books
9781737646334, $14.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Tree-Life-Knowledge/dp/1737646331

The Tree of Life, the third book in the Tree of Knowledge series, opens wit=
h the specter of Eva Fix hiding in a cold, windowless basement, a detonator=
in hand. This prologue sets the stage for a story laced with intrigue and = mystery as Princeton math professor Albert's discovery of the Tree of Knowl= edge is threatened by an insurgent movement that also knows the secret of c= hanging the future, and desires to get their hands on it for their own nefa= rious purposes.

One man alone can't stop such a force, so Albert taps the power of a secret= ive global network dedicated to toppling tyrants around the world -- only t=
o find that his association with a different kind of devil brings with it n=
ew challenges to his moral and ethical position. When did Albert's discover=
y first lead him to become a terrorist, and how can he fight against the fo= rces of a new world order which defy his own integrity and lead him to ques= tion whether he's chosen the right side?

Daniel G. Miller creates a steady-paced, action-packed story that juxtapose=
s moments of spiritual and social revelation with philosophical and ethical=
examinations to test readers' minds and their affinity for Albert's cause.=
From Eva's association with the Sword of Eden movement to Albert's journey=
s that lead him to feel "...he had been transported to an alien planet that=
was mimicking an American suburb," the story's edgy changes keep readers c= hanging their minds and alliances during a fast-paced technothriller embedd=
ed with Christian revelations and examinations.

Libraries and readers seeking stories that operate on different levels of s= ocial, political, and spiritual inspection will find that while The Tree of=
Life can stand nicely on its own, it works best in conjunction with the ot= her books in the trilogy. It develops the characters further, moving the st= ory into different directions to expand its social and political movements = with adventurous twists and turns. These make the outcome completely unpred= ictable and the story hard to put down.

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=
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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

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