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The following reviews are by Dawn Dowdle - mysterybks@yahoo.com Take a look at her website www.mysteryloverscorner.com
Molly Applebee and her mom are off to Nashville to cover the famous Heart of Dixie antique show for Collector's Weekly. Everything is going well until Molly stumbles over the body of Tom Barnett, a dealer of medical antiques. Just the night before her mom had introduced him to her. He'd seemed worried. Her mom insists that he is one of the most honest antique dealers in the business. When they find out from his ex-wife that he was behind on his child support payments and another dealer asserts that one of his clients is the real owner of a valuable blanket chest in Tom's booth, they begin to wonder about his integrity. Then one of his antiques is stolen and another dealer is attacked. Molly knows she has to find the killer before the show ends and a killer goes free. Can she do it without putting herself in jeopardy? I love this series. Each book is a fun, quick reading cozy. I like how the author intersperses information about antiques without droning on and on. That is a great quality. Molly is such a lovable character, too. I like that she doesn't have a boyfriend who's a cop to be feeding her information. I do hope she and Mark can work out the kinks in their relationship, too. I always enjoy the interactions between Molly and her mother. They make a great pair of amateur sleuths. Assumed Dead By: Eleanor Sullivan Monika Everhardt is an ICU nurse. She ends up involved in two separate cases in this book. First there's a John Doe from a car accident. Second there's a woman who had her head bashed in. Both are in the ICU. A friend asks Monika to help figure out the identity of John Doe because her mother is convinced he's her long lost son. The police ask Monika's help in figuring out who bashed in the head of the woman. Plus Monika is continuing to look into the death of her husband in Vietnam . As she digs deeper into each mystery, the trail takes her from taverns to convents. It even leads back to 9/11. Often the past and the present combine in her quest for the truth. Can she solve each of these mysteries? Will she like what she finds out about her husband? This is the second book I've read in this three-book series. I can't wait for the next one. I find them to be page turners but definitely cozy suspense. The author has done a great job creating wonderful supporting people in and out of the hospital for Monika. I like the hospital setting.
The Case Of The Roasted Onion By: Claudia Bishop Austin spent many years working as a professor at Cornell University and enjoyed caring for their pets and spending time with his wonderful wife Madeline when he retired. But with mounting bills, he has had to come out of retirement and open a veterinarian office. At first when he is offered to be the veterinary delegate to the Earlsdown Three-Day Event, he refuses. Madeline would really like to get away, and the $15,000 check convinces him he needs to accept. Now he has to find someone to watch his practice and pets while they are gone. Joe and Allegra both arrive to apply for the job. Finding it too hard to pick one, they offer a job share to them. They accept, but can they get along well enough to do the job? Before the event, vets start being killed. Everyone fears a sniper, but Austin and Madeline are sure it's something more. Can they, with the help of Joe and Allegra, discover what's happening and who is the killer without putting any of them in danger? I have read and loved all of Claudia's Helmock Falls series, so she is not a new author to me. I really enjoyed this new series. Even though Austin is often grumpy, I found myself liking him. It wasn't hard to like Madeline. She's a mother hen taking care of everyone. I even found myself liking Joe and Allegra. I'm hoping that over time their bickering will subside some. I thought the plot was well constructed and even though I'm not a horse enthusiast, I enjoyed the details about the animals and event. I thought the author did a great job of interspersing the details with the investigation. It is a fast, easy reading cozy.
Charlie Ford Meets Secret Agent Man By: J. D. Tynan Charlie Ford is a nanny. After she is fired from one job, she gets a job caring for Annabelle, the twelve-year-old daughter of one of Hollywood 's top action heroes. She soon finds out her summer will be spent in Africa taking care of Annabelle. Charlie is not excited about the prospects of her summer with a spoiled brat, let along huge bugs and lots of dirt. On their way, their plane is high jacked. Charlie discovers she not only screams like a girl, but she also passes out a lot. The Secret Agent man appears to help them, and soon her life is turned upside down in the jungle with many villains. Doesn't hurt that the Secret Agent man is a very handsome spy. This book was fabulous! Lots of action to keep me turning pages. Was really hard to put down. Charlie is such an amazing character. She was very different than I anticipated. Her interactions with Annabelle and the Secret Agent man were great! The Africa jungle was a great backdrop as well. The Crossed Stitcher By: Pamela Sue James Page Hollow has returned to Hitchcock Cove, Kansas . Initially it was to look after her eccentric Aunt Maddie. While there she decided to open a cross-stitch stop. Aunt Maddie opened a bookstore. A freak snowstorm hits in October and strangers keep appearing in town. As more strange occurrences happen, Page's fears increase. Due to the storm, they get snowed in at Aunt Maddie's. Hunting for a murdered in a town covered with snow is not easy. Luckily Page has her stitching friends. Needles are great weapons! Can they find the murderer before they strike again? Who are the new people in town and what do they want? I really enjoyed Page and Aunt Maddie. They were very likeable and three-dimensional. Page's friend as well as the other ladies really added to the story. The small town atmosphere gave the story a lot of credence. Cut Bait By: C. M. Winterhouse Leona Skavitch and her husband head to their little boat in Alaska 's Prince William sound in Valdez . They were planning to spend a few days on the boat and relax. It starts out that way until she stumbles upon a murder and then the small town is snowbound. Leona keeps putting herself in danger by asking lots of questions and stirring things up. Her husband, a P.I., nor a State Trooper can stop her. But can she figure out the murderer and why he/she killed without putting herself or those she cares about in grave danger? This is the first book I've read by this author. I really liked the Alaska setting. I've never been, and I felt I had been after reading this book. I liked Leona. She is funny and quirky, but she's also smart. I liked that she pretty much investigated on her own. I liked that she was also very human. She made mistakes and showed real emotion. I thought the P.I. and the State Trooper were good supporting characters as well. Plus the various people she interacted with in town were very indicative of a small fishing town. You could tell the author knows the area well. Dead Past By: Beverly Connor Diane Fallon is awakened in the wee hours of the morning by an explosion in the neighborhood. Soon there is an evacuation. As she's trying to leave, an injured and half-crazed youth tries to carjack her. Due to her quick thinking, she gets him immobilized in her car and escapes. Turns out the explosion was a meth lab in the basement of an apartment building where many of the University students lived. Plus there was a party going on in one of the apartments during the blast. Dr. Fallon and her crime scene investigators begin trying to identify the victims and determine who was responsible. Other murders begin happening that appear to be connected in some way. Her people are stretched thin trying to keep up with the various cases. Plus the fire investigator gets in their way many times and compromises some of the evidence. In the meantime, one of Dr. Fallon's museum employees, Juliet, is having anxiety attacks related to an event in her past. Diane is asked to look into it, and soon finds herself in the middle of danger. I love how this author intertwines multiple cases and storylines. You know they'll all come together in the end. It made it really hard for me to put down this book wanting to see how everything related. I love Diane and both her museum staff and her crime scene staff. The author has created a great cast of characters for this series. I like the fact that she manages both as I get a glimpse into both areas. It gives the series a lot of diversity and keeps it fresh. Dead Secret By: Beverly Connor While mapping out a cave, Diane has an accident and discovers a skeleton which had been there for quite some time. She and her team set out to discover the identity of Caver Doe and how he died. Soon the remains of two more people are found. One is found in a car submerged in the water at an abandoned quarry. The other is buried in the woods. Plus Diane is asked to analyze the bones of a witch, legend has it, that died in an English cave years ago. She is visited by people who want the bones and soon finds herself in a battle over them. Diane uses both her crime scene investigators and her museum staff to uncover clues as to the identity of the bones. Many things begin to happen and soon Diane believes Caver Doe and the other two people may be connected. She just isn't sure how. Can they discover the truth before anyone is injured or killed to keep the seventy-year-old secret hidden. This series is forensic, but the author doesn't get really technical. Nor is it gory. Diane and her staff people, both in the crime lab and the museum, are great characters and add so much to each book. The author does a great job of intertwining stories through each book. I always know they're going to connect, but I cannot figure out how or why.
Deadly Interest By: Julie Hyzy Alex St. James, a TV reporter in Chicago , comes home from a night of public humiliation by her former lover to find her elderly neighbor, Evelyn Vicks, has been murdered. Earlier that evening Mrs. Vicks had asked Alex for help with a financial situation. Feeling guilty from pushing her off, Alex does some investigating into Mrs. Vicks' life. She discovers Mrs. Vicks had been secretly looking into the lending practice's of the banks he worked at. Mrs. Vicks' son is soon hounding Alex because he was promised money from his mother and the bank won't let him see her safe deposit box. Add to that the fact that Alex has been attacked and appears to be stalked, Alex knows she must help the police find her killer and fast. I couldn't put this book down. I kept picking it up to read another chapter to find out what happened. I loved Alex. She is such a great character. Her being a TV reporter really added to the story. Make sure you have lots of time to read as you'll not want to put it down! Death Roll By: Marilyn Victor and Michael Allan Mallory Lavender "Snake" Jones is a zookeeper at the Minnesota Valley Zoo. Her husband, Jeff Jones, is a herpetologist from Australia and works with the crocodiles at the zoo. Plus he is the star of the show Zoofari. When the director of the zoo, Anthony Wright, is discovered dead in the crocodile pit in the new Australia Walkabout Trail during the Beastly Ball at the zoo, zoo employee J. R. ends up the prime suspect. Snake sets out to prove their friend and colleague didn't murder Anthony. But is she helping? She keeps uncovering lies that only serve to strengthen the case against him. This begins to throw suspicion on the people she trusts. Can she uncover the killer without putting herself in danger? I loved the zoo setting for this mystery. Snake and Jeff are fabulous characters. The zoo really lent itself to the cozy genre with the "small town" feel of the employees and supporters. There were plenty of secrets and corruption to keep me guessing at the killer's identity. And there were plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep me reading. The Doctor Rocks The Boat By: Robin Hathaway Dr. Fenimore renews his membership at his old boating club to experience some of the relaxation rowing on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia provided in the past. He runs into his old fraternity brother, Charlie Ashburn, as he now runs the club. Charlie had to give rowing up years ago due to a heart condition back when he and Dr. Fenimore were in medical school. Now Charlie's son Chuck is rowing. Charlie's wife asks Dr. Fenimore about the possibility of Chuck's having the same condition as Charlie. He is appalled that they haven't had him tested and helps her bring it up at a dinner party before the big regatta to try to save Chuck's life. This just makes Charlie refuse to talk to him. The regatta goes off without a hitch, but soon after Chuck collapses and dies. Dr. Fenimore is determined to help find the killer. Could it have been his parents? What about his coach or the competition? What about the marina developer who wants to tear down the current boating area in the name of progress? Can he find the killer without putting himself or his girlfriend in danger? I like Dr. Fenimore. He is the kind of doctor most of us would like to find; he still makes house calls. In this book he ends up needing a doctor more than he can be a doctor. I think that vulnerability adds credence to his character. I really like his assistant, Mrs. Doyle, and the teenager who helps out in the office, Horatio or "Rat" as he's called. Plus in this book Rat is helping out a young runaway and brings Dr. Fenimore into that as well. I thought this added a lot to the story. The uncertainty with his girlfriend helped to make his character more realistic. Things weren't totally secure in his life. Dying To Decorate By: Cyndy Salzmann The Friday Afternoon Club is a group of women who get together for some R&R from their busy lives. Liz is a stay-at-home mom who is in the club. She also writes a newspaper column. One of their members doesn't come to meetings for a few weeks, so they seek her out to discover the problem. Lucy is recovering from the deaths of her husband and mother in the past year and has gone into depression. Her aunt recently left her a Civil War style home in a nearby town. The club decides to have a get-away weekend to decorate and restore the home. Lucy isn't too sure at first. Once there, they have some startling discoveries including a diary. This is a good book but it is not your normal mystery with a death to be investigated. Once you understand that, you can relax and really enjoy the camaraderie of the club and how they rally around Lucy to help her out of her depression.
The Fright Of The Iguana By: Linda O. Johnston Ground To A Halt By: Claudia Bishop Sarah "Quill" Quillam runs the Inn at Hemlock Falls in upstate New York . Her sister Meg is the chef. Currently the conventioneers from the International Association of Pet Food are guests. They're meeting about switching to vegan pet food. So far things have not gone smoothly. When Quill discovers the body of Lila Longstreet which she's supervising a field trip to Heavely Hogg's Pig Farm, the fat hits the fan. Pet psychic Olivia Oberlie predicts a second murder. After that prediction is proved right, Meg and Quill decide to investigate. Can they find the killer before he/she strikes again? Can they keep each other safe during the process? I love this series and am sad that it will soon be ending. Quill and Meg are such fun characters. I wish the Inn at Hemlock Falls was real. I'd love to go for a visit and meet them. The peripheral characters at the Inn and in town really add to this great cozy series. Having it set at an Inn really lends itself to have an unlimited supply of characters, but I am sure all the murders would eventually be hard on business! I like the way Quill and Meg work together to solve crimes and the way the author has brought some turmoil into their lives. Seeing them work through it makes them more real. How To Marry A Ghost By: Hope McIntyre Ghost writer Lee Bartholomew is on Long Island , NY , to attend the commitment ceremony between her mother and American billionaire Phil "Phillionaire" Abernathy. They can't get married because her mother is still married to her father. While there, Lee plans to interview secluded rock star legend Shotgun Marriot. Unfortunately her ghostwriting rival Bettina Pleshette had the same idea. Marriot's son washes up on shore during the ceremony wearing a wedding dress. He's been murdered. Soon after, Bettina is also found murdered. Marriot is one of the prime suspects. As Lee begins interviewing Marriot, she also begins investigating who could have killed both of these people. She doesn't believe Marriot is guilty. Can she uncover the truth without putting herself in grave danger? This is the first in this series that I have read. I really enjoyed Lee. I also enjoyed the Long Island residents she interacted with. I would love to see them in future books. I thought the author did a great job of creating a believable scenario and helping us uncover the clues along with the protagonist. The author's humor made this cozy mystery an enjoyable read. Island Intrigue By: Wendy Howell Mills Sabrina Dunsweeney thought she was going to get a month of rest and relaxation when she went to Comico Island to get away from her Ohio teaching job. She never expected to find herself caught between two feuding families. The Tittletots own most of the island. Rolo Wrightly was accused years ago of stealing a neighbor's silver and setting her house on fire. Rolo disappeared never to be heard from again, except for a couple letters to his mother. Sabrina discovers he has recently reappeared on the island. Something not many people know. Not long after she talks to him he is found murdered. The island's police force leaves a lot to be desired, so Sabrina decides to do some sleuthing. Can she figure out who killed Rolo and why without putting herself in danger? I loved this first book in a new series. I've read the author's other series and enjoyed it. I can't wait to read additional books in this series. I found it to be a fast cozy mystery to read. I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next. Sabrina is a complex character that pulls you in from the start.
Just Add Salt By: Jinx Schwartz When Hetta Coffey's vacation plans with Jenks Jenkins, her boyfriend, fall apart, she accepts a job in Baja. She hires Jan as a consultant, and they hire a captain for her yacht and head off. When many captains turned them down due to it being hurricane season and this one didn't, they should have known something was fishy. The more she finds out about the project she has taken on, the more she isn't sure about this. But she refuses to back out, especially when Jenks tells her to. Her disregard for danger soon finds them plagued with illegal aliens, a pesky whale, bodies, and a menacing Mexican. Can they solve the mysteries without putting themselves in harm's way? I love Hetta. She is such a fun character. You never quite know what she's going to do. I often find myself laughing while reading books in this series. Even though I'm not interested in sailing, I really enjoy these books. This one was fun because they end up in the middle of the ocean and can only keep in touch with people through phones. When that's wiped out, they end up having to rely on each other and a few people who are nearby. Murder At A Vineyard Mansion By: Philip R. Craig J. W. Jackson, former copy and now part-time investigator, enjoys his life of fishing and spending time with his family on Martha's Vineyard . Recently the Vineyard has been plagued with antics of the "Silencer." This recent criminal destroys the audio systems in houses blasting music during parties as well as in open-windowed vehicles. Many hate the Silencer, but some are thrilled with the quiet. A night watchman is thrown over a cliff near a new mansion in Chappaquiddick. Who killed Ollie Mattes? There are plenty of suspects. One suspect's mother hires J. W. to prove her son's innocence. If he didn't kill Ollie, then who did? As J. W. investigates, he finds himself looking into the lives of some of the Vineyard's most prominent families. He will have to sort through what he's told to determine who is lying and who is telling the truth. Can he discover the killer before there is another murder? At the same time, will he succumb to the pressure at home to get their first computer? I have long been a fan of this series. J. W. has grown and changed, and I am saddened at the death of the author. I am happy that I still have a few more books in this series to read before I have to say good-bye to J. W. Reading this series is what made me want to visit Martha's Vineyard so much. I like the descriptions the author gives and the slice of life he presents to the reader.
Murder Grins And Bears It By: Deb Baker A game warden is murdered in Michigan 's Upper Peninsula on opening day of bear season. Little Donny, Gertie's grandson, has gone missing. The warden was murdered at Little Donny's tree stand. Gertie's son, Blaze, is the sheriff, but he is after Little Donny as he thinks he is the murderer. Gertie believes in her heart that he's innocent. Gertie and her two friends, Kitty who also believes she is Gertie's bodyguard, and Cora Mae who is after all the men, set out to find Little Donny, prove his innocence, and find the real killer. Grandma Johnson, Gertie's mother-in-law who lives with her (against her wishes), doesn't make things easy. Then when Little Donny's mother descends on Gertie to await word on her son, Gertie kicks it up into high gear. Blaze keeps trying to get Gertie for driving without a license. She keeps working at dodging him. Gertie and her associates are a hoot. I love this series. You never know what Gertie will do next. I wish I knew Gertie. She sounds like she'd be a lot of fun! The setting of Michican'ts Upper Peninsula is great. It really adds to the story. Prime Time By: Hank Phillippi Ryan Charlie ( Charlotte ) McNally is an investigative reporter. She has won many Emmy's, but now that she's in her forties, she's worried they will replace her with someone younger. While she and her producer Franklin are looking for a hit story for sweeps in November, they stumble upon a man killed in a car crash. In a routine interview with the wife, they begin uncovering information but they just aren't sure where it'll lead. Much of it is SPAM. Could this be anything more than just e-mail SPAM? If so, what does it mean? They keep following the leads. Soon there is another death, some thefts, and an attack. They know they must be on the right track, but they just can't put the pieces together. Plus Charlie finds romance. Can she trust him? Can they scoop the other news agencies before anyone else is injured? Can they do it for sweeps? I loved Charlie. She is such a fun character. Very down to earth and the story line was very believable. Using SPAM is such a timely issue. I could see someone doing this and getting away with it. It would be hard to catch.
The Reluctant Burglar By: Jill Elizabeth Nelson Desiree Jacobs' father is killed while overseas. She is left to run their security company and dodge Special Agent Tony Lucano who is intent in proving her father was an art thief. Both she and her father know art. They are often providing security for works of art and museums. She knows her father was a man of faith. She shares his faith. So she sets out to prove his innocence. Unfortunately she soon discovers he left her a hidden container full of stolen paintings. She refuses to admit he was a thief and sets out to return the paintings. When a ring of cutthroat art thieves begins to come after the paintings, she has to decide whether to trust Tony. She finds herself in danger and uncertain of whom she can trust. Can she uncover the ring of thieves and find out who killed her father without having to give the thieves what they seek? This is the first book I've read in this series. It won't be the last. I loved this book. Desiree is such a wonderful character. I loved reading a book where the protagonist had morals and yet had spunk. The tension between Tony and Desiree really adds to the story. I am not an art lover, but I really enjoyed this story. The author did a fantastic job of getting the information to the readers about the various art, but without overwhelming them.
Simmer Down By: Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant Chloe Carter's boyfriend, Josh Driscoll, is the chef at the new restaurant Simmer. At a fund-raiser featuring samples of the Simmer's cuisine, which is to open on New Year's Eve, Oliver Kipper, part owner of trendy night clubs in Boston , is found murdered. He was bludgeoned to death with Josh's professional-grade, state-of-the-art food processor named Robocoupe. Josh's ex-girlfriend and Chloe's ex-boyfriend have shown up at this event. Oh that Chloe wishes she could pin this murder on his ex. Chloe decides to investigate and soon worries that her boss Naomi did the deed, especially once she discovers he was a terrible flirt. Did he put moves on the wrong person? Did his wife know? This is the 2 nd in this delightful new cozy series. I can't wait for number 3. It is a light, easy read. Chloe is such a fun character. I really enjoy all her escapades, especially with men. Josh is a fabulous character. Plus the recipes are to die for. Chloe's work at the Boston Organization Against Sexual and Other Harrassment in the Workplace and her studies in social work really help round her out and add to the ambiance of this great series. The various characters she comes in contact with provide a plethora of suspects and hilarious antics.
Suspicious Circumstances By: Sandra Ruttan Reporter Lara Kelly is suspicious when a man comes to her with a video tape showing a woman falling from a cliff. Especially when he says he first went to the police, and they weren't interested. She begins to investigate, but proceeds cautiously. Soon she has a story compiled that the woman committed suicide. Detective Tymen Farraday is new on the local force. The force has been plagued with scandal and rumors. He is assigned to investigate this story and discredit Lara if he has to. After Lara is attacked and some evidence stolen, Tymen finds himself protecting Lara and having to put aside his feelings about and grudge against reporters. Just when they think they have everything figured out, more murders happen that make them rethink everything. The characters are fun and the story pace kept my interest. The plot is well-written and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
Tangled Webs By: Margaret Tessler Sharon Morgan is an attorney is San Antonio . She's resolved to never return to Zapata , Texas , until her childhood friend Erica calls and asks for her help. Another childhood friend, Laura Velasquez, has died. The official word is it was suicide. Erica, as well as Sharon, can't believe Laura killed herself. From the time Sharon arrives in town, everything is shrouded in mystery and confusion. Things don't get any better when Sharon runs into her old nemesis, Bernice Peralta. Turns out Bernice has been wreaking her havac on the Salazar family. Laura reconnects with her childhood sweetheart, Ryan Salazar. The closer she gets to the family and Laura, the more questions she has. Did Laura kill herself? If not, who killed her and why? And can Laura discover the truth with all the secrets everyone has? And can she do it without putting herself in danger? I have never read anything by this author, but this won't be the last. I loved Sharon and Ryan and the rest of the Four Musketeers. I like how the author interspersed their childhood into the storyline of them as adults. The small town in Texas was a great setting. The Tap Dancing Gorilla By: Renee Gardner Kitty Larsen is on the downside of 65. She run Career Step—The Agency with a Heart, an employment agency she won in a poker game. Kitty's niece, Cynthia, asks for her help to find the killer of two members of the health club she works at. She is concerned another member dressed up like a tap dancing gorilla and killed them both. Kitty gets a free trial membership at the health club to be able to meet other members and work to get to the bottom of things. Soon she enlists the aid of her employee, Phyllis. They are each able to talk to members and find out information from them. Will they be able to uncover the killer before another member is killed? What is the connection between these two women?
Ultra Violet By: Nancy Bush Jane Kelly is an apprentice PI working with her friend Dwayne Durban in his PI firm. Since he has broken his leg, she is not only a process server but working a big case. Roland Hatchmere was a plastic surgery magnate and was murdered right before his daughter's society wedding. He was hit in the head with a heavy silver try, one of the wedding gifts. His second ex-wife, Violet becomes a prime suspect, but she denies having killed him. Dwayne believes her. Jane isn't so sure, especially since Roland's two other wives and his children all say she did it. Every time she thinks she has Violet figured out, someone changes her opinion of her with more information. Can she uncover the truth about Roland's murder? While Dwayne's lain up, he's taken to looking through his binoculars to watch the houses across the water. He doesn't like what he sees when a bunch of teens regularly meet in a house under construction. He asks Jane to check things out. She soon finds herself in the middle of a situation she doesn't like. Can she set things up to put away the bad guys without putting herself in danger? This is the third book in the series, but it is the first one I've read. I will be reading more! I love Jane Kelly. She's such a fun protagonist. There aren't a lot of PI books that I like, but Jane is such a breath of fresh air. She's funny and quirky in all the right ways. I kept picking the book up to read another chapter, even when I didn't really have time to read.
The Vampire Of Venice Beach By: Jennifer Colt Twins Kerry and Terry McAfee are at it again! This time they're working for their friend Darby Applewhie, aka Ephemera, Queen of the Undead, to work crowd control at the Venice Goth Parade. But when Ephemera falls out of the coffin dead instead of popping out very much alive, they set out to determine what happened and how she ended up dead. They find themselves in a dark world with a goth cult led by a thug with a forked tongue and a dentist whose specialty is prosthetic fangs. Will threats scrawled in blood on their Harley stop them? Detective John Boatwright provides his own diversion with his amorous advances. Can they untangle the myriad suspects to discover the killer's identity without putting themselves in further danger? I love these twins. The situations they find themselves in are so entertaining. Plus their many antics make me laugh out loud. I always have trouble putting down a book in this series. I was worried since this one dealt with vampires whether I would like it. The author has done a great job of bringing us into the dark world without making this cozy dark. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to read the next book in the series. The following review is by Montiese McKenzie
The Inferno Collection by Jacqueline Seewald Kim Reynolds, a University reference librarian, has spent years running from a painful past. Finally settled into a life of peace and solitude, Kim suddenly finds herself thrust into a world of deception, the occult, and murder. That is the plot of Jacqueline Seewald's fast-paced new novel, The Inferno Collection. Threats are made against the livelihood and life of Lorette Campbell, one of the few people Kim can call a friend. Lorette turns to her for help. She also wants Kim to look into a possible secret collection of banned books and materials that may be hidden somewhere in the reference library. When Lorette dies suspiciously, Kim decides to seek out her killer. The police initially dismiss the case as suicide but as the body count climbs, no one at the University seems to be safe. Soon even Kim's life is in danger. Her efforts to help solve the crime slam her head first into memories, horrors and gifts from the past. Comfort, and maybe even love, comes in the form of two different yet equally intriguing men. This book is intelligent and holds the mystery from cover to cover. The characters are genuine, both the good and bad. The University setting makes you feel as if you are walking across the pathways, learning in the buildings or living in the apartments that litter every college town. You cannot help but root for Kim, not just to solve Lorette's mystery but her own. At times though, even while enjoying it, the use of metaphor in the text tends to be overwhelming. The author also chooses, too often, to tell you that many of the characters are hiding something though the dialogue and description allow the reader to pick it up perfectly on their own. Still, the whole package of this book was a great read. There is mystery, action, banter and even a little sexiness that is bound to keep any reader turning the pages.
The folloing review is by Victor Banis
Mahu Surfer by Neil S. Plakcy Mahu , Neil S. Plakcy's 2005 mystery novel featuring angst ridden gay Honolulu police detective Kimo Kanapa'aka, established the author as one of today's foremost writers of gay fiction. This follow up page-turner makes clear that the author is too talented to be judged by that genre label alone. Still struggling with his sexual identity, the detective goes undercover on Oahu's famed surfing mecca, the North Shore , to find out who is shooting surfers. While Kimo surfs and sleuths, the bodies continue to pile up and red herrings float ashore, seemingly on every wave. In no time, Kimo himself becomes a suspect. The plot is complex with lots of action on and off the boards. Readers gay and straight will identify with the issues—honesty, loyalty, social acceptance—that trouble the hero, while enjoying a virtual holiday in the islands, thanks to a sense of scene that brings the colorful locale vividly to life. A terrific read that should appeal to a broad crossover audience.
The following review is by Earl Staggs
Deadly Sins – Deadly Secrets By Sylvia Dickey Smith ( http://www.sylviadickeysmith.com/ ) In her first novel, DANCE ON HIS GRAVE, Sylvia Dickey Smith introduced Sidra Smart, a woman brave enough to step out of an inhibitive marriage and begin a new life. When she divorced her possessive, controlling Baptist minister husband, Sid had no idea what she was stepping into. First, she inherited a private investigation agency from her late brother along with a leftover case involving an old murder. Next, she discovered within herself a person she did not know existed, a person unable to ignore injustice or turn away people desperately needing help, even if it meant placing her own life in danger. In DEADLY SINS – DEADLY SECRETS, Sid continues her journey toward personal self-discovery, supported once again by her somewhat eccentric and lovable Aunt Annie and a crusty veteran PI willing to teach her the tricks of the trade, but who also enjoys her stumbling attempts to learn the hard way. In this, her second case as a PI, Sid is drawn into a situation wherein shrouded secrets of the past must be revealed to solve grisly murders of the present. Her digging for the truth extends as far back as Civil War days in the small East Texas town where the story is set when she discovers the diary of a fascinating and feisty woman who seems to be nudging Sid in the right direction. Sid's resolve to prove a man innocent of murder in spite of staggering evidence against him leads her through attempts on her life, butting heads with powerful people equally determined to keep old secrets hidden, and a romantic involvement she tried hard to avoid. Sylvia Dickey Smith is a talented author who, in this second novel as successfully as in her first, seamlessly weaves the story of a woman determined to become the person she left behind years ago with an engrossing tale of murder, deceit and suspense. Reviewed by Earl Staggs © 2007
The following reviews are by Vero G. Caravette
Incidental Death by Bob Iles This book is a tale of two stories, neither of which are handled well or end in a satisfying way. We start out with a mystery which, after a little while is not much of a mystery, if the reader pays close attention. In the middle of things, cut to a legal thriller which is not so thrilling. The stories are told in almost alternating chapters. One is led to believe that the two stories will intersect, that the mystery will become part of the legal scene. But never the twain do meet. A local sheriff's office is contacted by an insurance investigator who, almost late in paying out a death benefit, feels there's something hinky about the death he is investigating. Something about a rush to cremation raises warning flags for him. The sheriff's office, for no real reason other than a lack of interesting things to do, decides maybe they should sort of take another look at the case which was ruled an accidental death. But they are undermanned! Undermanned? There's the Sheriff and his nearly self-appointed Special Deputy, and the Special Deputy's lame brained son, and the jailer – at the very least. And there's nothing to do in the town. It's one of those peaceful, semi-rural villages. Sure, the idiot child can't handle the investigation, but what about the other two? No, they devise a means to hire an investigator using the payroll of the Prosecutor. He's new, they figure, and won't know which way is up. Before you know it, they're hiring some loose cannon of a thug, without even looking into his background. Probably a good thing they didn't take on the insurance investigation themselves considering their hiring practices. Meanwhile, the idiot son has been conned into taking on an extra job – conned by the very woman who is waiting for the insurance company to pay out after her husband was found dead. She needs an alarm system, she tells him. Living on an estate the size of Rhode Island and they don't already have one? Well, it turns out they seem to have something but she claims she isn't happy about it. The idiot deputy, who knows less than nothing about alarm systems, gets a friend to help him install a very sophisticated system with all sorts of ways of detecting intruders – in just a day or so! The woman is really pleased, so pleased she takes the idiot son to bed and they have a ball. But, though she likes sack time with him, she's no slouch in the Scheming Widow department and is really using the idiot to keep an eye on the sheriff's office to see if they are getting curious about her husband's death. Now, the guy died months before – and when found he was literally a bag of bones. No suspicions were raised at the time, no suspicions were raised when she had the bones cremated, no suspicions were raised at all for weeks. Why, you might ask, would she think they're suspicious and arrange to have the deputy install an alarm system in her house just so she can keep an eye on any developments in the sheriff's office? Why? No one knows. The thug of an investigator manages to uncover some tidbits which get the sheriff's office interested in the case. But they don't seem to know what to do for quite some time. Finally, and almost by accident, there's a break in the case. But by that time, there's not much mystery left. And that half of the two stories – which should have been the heart of the book – doesn't generate much interest after a point. Back at the Prosecutor's office, we get immersed in a totally different case. The case of one of those wild and whacky used car salesmen who has gone too far. He's pissed on a customer after selling her a doctored car and refusing to live up to the agreement he signed. There are lots of witnesses. But not one, not one, of them agrees to testify. Their excuses range from lame to lamest. In the real world, they could be subpoenaed. Or, at the very least, they could be convinced on the grounds of human decency to testify. But none do. The most unbelievable of these reluctant witnesses is the victim's sister – who is a nun. Now, it quickly becomes evident that not much is known about the Catholic Church, convents, orders of nuns, Catholic schools, or anything else having to do with that whole scene. A nun's habit is referred to as “nun's clothes”! Catholic schools are characterized as being fortresses of discipline. Maybe forty or fifty years ago but not now. And the order of nuns is characterized as just a plain old order, nothing special, not an order devoted to silent prayer, but a working order whose sisters are out in the world every day. Yet, the sister of the victim, a member of this order, and painted as very pious, cannot find it in her heart to help her own blood relative, the one who raised her after their parents were dead. Cannot get her voice to work above a whisper. Cannot testify in court to save her sister from suffering and humiliation. She acts as if she's a member of a cloistered order, and she's not. The Mother Superior, against reason, protects the sister from testifying. I wasn't buying any of it and that nun would have been laughed out of the order for being such a wimp. In the meantime, the Prosecutor's girlfriend is murdered by a henchman of the Used Car Salesman, and the Prosecutor knows it. Yet, he is able to set aside his deep sorrow to get back to the pissing part of the case. Maybe people can operate that way, but this is a man of the law who knows the law's been broken and knows by whom. But he doesn't seem bothered by all that, there's no fury (except for a very brief moment after her death). There's not even much of an attempt, if any, to send an investigator out to make a murder case against the Salesman. The Prosecutor may be thinking of a way to get to the Salesman but you never get a hint of it in the book. Never fear – the Prosecutor finds a way to help the little old victim. Finds a way to get the salesman, his henchman, and their lawyer. With the help of the Sheriff. Which is one of the few times the two stories intersect. The writing is not bad; the writer has some affection for one or two of his characters, for example, Whit, he's one of the best drawn characters in the story and the most likeable. The two stories could be interesting but the way it was handled made the whole thing not very palatable. If the two stories had been intricately woven together, if the characters had been more real, more human, less stereotypical, if the resolutions were more interestingly worked out, it would have been a much better read.
The Spanish Game by Douglas Quinn Eight years after suffering through the hijacking of an airliner, Jennifer Ellis thought she'd left all those memories behind her. She has begun to lose herself in work at the National Galery. But her hard won peace of mind is shattered when she thinks she sees someone else who had been on that airliner. He seems to attempt to avoid her, but she can't be sure of anything. At the same time Jennifer's family becomes the target of a Spanish assassin who is as high tech as they come and she must do what she can to prevent another tragedy. Douglas Quinn, author of The Catalan Gambit, has produced a page turner of a thriller. Plenty of plot and twists and with a surprise ending, The Spanish Game is sure to please. Quinn is an able writer and knows his way around international byways and intrigue.
Bear Creek's deputy, Tempe Crabtree, is on the case again. This time, a woman is murdered, and since she was a battered wife there seems to be a ready-made solution. But Crabtree is warned by a shaman to take care. As she is interested in the spiritual side of her First Nation heritage, she likes to try things for herself and often finds help in her investigative work through this spiritual exploration. This is the newest installment in the Tempe Crabtree series (Calling the Dead and Kindred Spirits) and it's a page turner. Meredith's writing is top notch. She has created some memorable and interesting characters; from the battered wife/former schoolmate to the abusive husband, to the computer nerd, and others, these are well drawn and engaging characters. Tempe , of course, is the star of the show and is a character whose ability to solve crimes and unravel mysteries is due in no small part to her intelligence and keen observation. She is also a person who reminds us that our past is something important and will help us to answer lots of the questions we have about ourselves. Like all investigators she gets herself into the middle of complicated situations and allows us to enjoy watching her get out of them. We also learn a lot about Native American culture and the prejudice that is part of life for so many minorities. There is much to recommend this book – a good mystery, a strong plot, great characters, and solid writing.
When Brooklyn lawyer, Robert Principe, finds he can barely hold his head above water in his five year old law practice, he decides he has to take action. He's an honest man who is overwhelmed with family (a pregnant wife) and self-doubt. Even a mass mailing fails to bring in new business. So, he's got to take other action. The author uses the premise that every Italian has a wiseguy in his family tree, hiding on some obscure branch. Principe is connected and if he thought he would make money fast with no consequences, he realizes just how mistaken he was. He hatches an insurance scheme and then the violent adventures begin. There's no arguing with the fact that this is a fun read, with great characters, lots of plot twists, and page turning work. Santora is no stranger to writing about the mob, nor is he afraid to pen violent scenes. He's been a writer for the Sopranos (can't get more mobbed up than that), and he created the TV series Prison Break, and even I've had to turn away from the screen when I've watched the occasional episode. In any event. Santora knows how to write and has created a very pleasing read in hi first novel. It's entertaining and keeps you going from one point to the next.
Veteran author William Dietrich has given readers a well-written. Solid, and exciting historical thriller. An one-time apprentice of Benjamin Franklin, Ethan Gage, an American gambler and adventurer, wins an Egyptian medallion in a card game. In Paris at the time, a time which is rife with all sorts of dangers and pitfalls, Gage is the victim of a series of events involving thieves, the gendarmes, highwaymen, Gypsies, and spies. He ultimately “joins” Napoleon's army and heads for Egypt . During the campaign, Gage finds that there are others who want to steal his mysterious medallion. The action never stops until you come to the end. There are battles and daring escapes, there are mysterious characters and dabblings in the mysterious, and a showdown among the pyramids that readers will not easily forget. The characters are engaging, varied, and in plentiful supply. Dietrich manages to produce an exciting tale which keeps the reader riveted and rooting for the hero. What's more, the ending implies that Gage will be involved in further adventures.
Sticks Hetrick, retired police chief, returns in this second in the series. Retires get no rest. He is called in to consult with the new chief who has considerably less experience. Animal mutilations, poison pen letters, lawyers, and the police all mix for a great read. A young lawyer is targeted as the perpetrator of the mutilations and Hetrick is called in to help untangle the problems. He is helped in cracking the case by officer, Flora Vastine. By turns the plot is developed and a solution is discovered. Along the way, they must solve a murder in order to get to the bottom of the case and unmask the reasons for the mutilations and the perpetrator.
The following reviews are by Kevin Tipple
The Concrete Maze By Steven Torres Set in New York City , this novel opens in 1992. Years ago, Luis (Tio) Ramos left Puerto Rico because of the draft and was sent to Vietnam . Like a lot of vets he saw combat and never talks about the things he saw or the things he did. Wounded, he survived it and eventually settled in NYC and began raising a family. That includes his daughter Jasmine who, at age thirteen, is now acting out in ways to annoy her parents. And annoyed they are until she vanishes. Tio has searched a bit and thinks he needs somebody younger, more hip, and so he comes to fetch Marc, a cynical young man if there ever was one, to help him look.Marc doesn't want to do this from the get go but one does not say no to Tio. They begin a search for Jasmine at the local indoor skating hangout known as "The Skate Key" counting on Marc's age as being a way to get other teens to talk. As they begin to look for her and ask questions they run into a wall of police indifference based on racism, kids that won't talk for a variety of reasons, and drug dealers that rule the streets. Tio Ramos is going to attack the problem the same way that he dealt with the Viet Cong in the jungles of Vietnam . He embarks on a search and destroy mission with one goal—to get his daughter Jasmine back and everyone else, including his nephew Marc is expendable. While NYC isn't Vietnam , the enemy is just as tenacious and dug in with the concrete streets and alleyways serving as his jungle. The characters make frequent forays out into various areas of the city searching for information, fight skirmishes and battles, before returning to their homes for food and a few hours of sleep. That military aspect of the work where the concrete city is the urban jungle and just as deadly as the jungle in some far off war zone is clichéd and yet it works well as does the pain of a missing child, a parent's worst nightmare as the cliché goes, a universal truth that almost anyone can relate to. That certainly is true here and something that Author Steven Torres uses to full chilling effect. As he does the cynical world weary young college age student, Marc. Tio's nephew, Marc often sounds far older than his years and routinely expresses a cynical view of life, the world, and his family's place in things. Well aware that nothing can be fixed or reversed, he seeks to get the hunt for Jasmine over as fast as possible. Not because Jasmine could very well be in serious danger, but because he finds it all a bit much as she certainly needs to learn a lesson and besides that he has things to do. That sets up quickly a conflict between Tio, who sees family as everything and a reason for being, and Marc, who sees family as a burden to be tolerated. Of course that results in conflict about strategies to employ in the search for Jasmine as well as how to deal with the other characters inside and outside of the family. While that conflict, that attention to detail could overwhelm the main theme of the work which is the hunt for Jasmine, it doesn't. Instead, it adds a depth and richness to a read full of intriguing characters, plenty of action and a twisting case which ultimately results in an intense and suspenseful novel.
Carols and Crimes, Gifts and Grifters Edited By Tony Burton This anthology of fifteen stories kicks off with “Ho Ho Homicide: An Odelia Grey Short Story” by Sue Ann Jaffarian. Odelia Patience Grey did what any daughter does when her father asks. She took her step mother Gigi shopping. If that wasn't enough, like some spy novel, Odelia is soon confronted at the mall by a woman with a gun and man in a trench coat and fedora with a heavy European accent. Not to mention being hassled by a Santa whose beard is certainly not white as snow as well as the cops. And she thought escorting the non stop talking Gigi would be the worst part of her day. Earl Staggs offers the charming story, “Robbery On Christmas Eve.” It tells the tale of a theft of church money. For Sheriff Mollie Goodall, it is particularly annoying as it is Christmas Eve with her own husband out of town and a church and adjacent community hall full of suspects. One gets the feeling readers might just see Sheriff Mollie Goodall again. Also using Christmas Eve as a backdrop to events is Thomas H Cook's story titled, “The Lesson Of The Season.” Veronica Cross works part-time at the Mysterious Bookshop and is just fifteen minutes away from closing when a frequent customer walks in. In this personal favorite from the anthology and powerfully moving story, Veronica deals with her own echo of the pain. You simply have to read this work to understand because it isn't going to be explained here. Redemption is a frequent them of most of the stories in this anthology and is certainly at work in “Santa And The Poor Box” by Gail Farrelly. The story is about how a local Santa was accused of stealing from the poor box at the church. Pushed by her daughter Lily, Roberta Mchlugh has connections and begins to work the case with Lily's eager help with a plan to clear him by Christmas. “The Proper Trimmings” by Nick Andreychuck plays off a concept frequently reported in the media regarding men in prison and the women who begin romances with them. Russ just got out of prison after ten long hard years and meets his female pen pal, Anna. He comes to her home for dinner and something more if she meets expectation and she does and then some. “The Grinch and I” by Herschel Cozine revolves around George. An average man, George took the job of Mall Santa for one simple reason. A plan honed by years of practice always works best when you are Santa. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading the “ River City ” novels from Frank Zafiro or many of his stories in various anthologies and elsewhere, you have another chance. Police officers have a hard time getting time off, especially during the holidays. Something that Detective Katie Macleod's mother doesn't get in “Home For Christmas.” Crime doesn't take a holiday and before very much of Christmas Day passes; Detective MacLeod is hard at work on the trail of a thief. Traditions are important and they certainly take precedence for George Grimble in “The Christmas Tree Thief” by Chris Grabenstein. Before his three young sons can open their gifts on Christmas morning, George always lights up the baby Jesus as a reminder to all of the real purpose of the day. Something someone apparently didn't understand when they cut down part of his pine tree in his yard and ruined Christmas morning. “A Piece Of Christmas” by Deborah Elliot-Uptown is the story of Arlen. Arlen isn't very happy working as private security for rich folks. But, you do what you have to especially with Christmas next week and at least the rich folks in this case pay in cash. When you destroy your won police career, your marriage and just about everything in your life your options are few and everyone deserves their own piece of Christmas booty. Jan Christensen often creates tales that are just a little off in a way that isn't easy to put a finger on and always delight readers. In “Santa Solves A Murder” the gorgeous Mrs. Cary MacIntyre hires private investigator to find her husband Jimmy MacIntrye who disappeared three days ago. She had no idea that he also worked a second job down at the local mall playing Santa. He does and while dressed in full Santa regalia spots the missing husband and the chase is on. Something Mall Manager Ingrid Scruggs isn't thrilled about but you don't tell Santa what to do while he is checking his list and adding up the clues. “Mystery On Capital Street : A Hannibal Jones Short Story” by Austin S. Camacho also appears in this anthology. All four of the novels featuring Hannibal as well as the two thrillers were good ones and this is no exception as Mr. Camacho has penned an excellent story. Just two nights before Christmas, Private Detective Hannibal Jones has plenty of things to do before being detoured by events on his way home. Events, like dominoes, that once set into motion lead Hannibal in a new direction down a dark and twisting trail. Editor Tony Burton offers his own story, “The Christmas Cut Out Caper.” The for local teenagers called themselves “The Fantastic Four” but as far as most adults in the area were concerned they are known by worse names for very good reason. Since a year has passed since the last prank, some of the adults are starting to relax. When the Christmas crèche figures suddenly are missing from the outdoor display at the church, the suspects are obvious. Virtually any woman is afraid of being confronted by a man with bad intentions on his mind in an empty building. That is precisely what happens in “Ballet Exercises” by Gay Toltl Kinman when she is confronted by a perverted Santa who wants to deliver a present she does not want. Margaret Fenton offers “Christmas Every Day” where lifting the wallet was the easy part. For the thief, it set into motion events she never foresaw in her wildest dreams. The anthology closes with “Have A Harpy Christmas” by Peggy Jaegly. A kidnapped Rebecca is found backstage at the Theater by her agent Manny. Despite her ordeal, the show must go on and Manny intends to find out who was behind everything. The anthology this year while not darker in tone does not have the humor that the one last year had. Which isn't to say this one is a bad one. If anything, the effort is superior in terms of the quality of the stories as well as the diversity in styles and tones. The really nice thing is the proceeds still go to a wonderful cause. Copies may be ordered directly from Wolfmont Publishing at http://www.wolfmont.com/CCGG.htm and you can help make Christmas a joy for a little girl or boy and get a very good anthology in the process. Kevin R. Tipple © 2007 |
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