|
|
|
|
click on titles for buying info A Pale Horse by Charles Todd Publisher: William Morrow ISBN-10: 0061233560 Reviewed by Harvey Lau, New Mystery Reader There are nine cottages in Berkshire, England beneath the hill with the chalk horse etched out on its side, presumably by ancient Britons. One of the cottages has been empty for a while, once occupied by a man known as Partridge, who has “gone missing.” No one has seen him recently, not his neighbor who feeds his cat in his absence, nor any of the other residents of the cottages. Partridge worked for the British army during WWI, developing poison gases for the war effort. The British War Office has since been keeping tabs on him due to the sensitive nature of that work. When he disappears, Inspector Ian Rutledge is sent out from London by Scotland Yard to find him. Rutledge is also called on visit Yorkshire, a town where some young schoolboys have found a man lying dead in a deserted abbey, his face covered with a WWI gas mask. The schoolboys are convinced it’s the work of the devil, and give no information to the authorities looking into the case. Rutledge clears the local schoolmaster of this crime after the local inspector falsely puts the blame on him. Rutledge begins to suspect the dead man is actually Partridge, the man the War Office wants to find. The mystery of Partidge’s life and death and the effects on his family of his work on poison gases for warfare is the basis of the book’s plot. There are several false leads and red herrings in the way of the truth, including the suspicious deaths of two of the other cottage residents in Berkshire, but with uncommon persistence, Rutledge is able to untangle the web to get to the heart of the mystery of Partridge, his life, the suicide of his wife, and the estrangement of his two daughters. The novel is set in the 1920s, just a few years after the end of the first World War. The theme follows early attempts to develop biological weapons. The seriousness of Inspector Rutledge's job is offset somewhat by a subplot involving Rutledge’s sister and her love affair, which, unlike Partridge’s life, has a happy ending. I heartily recommend the book for mystery lovers who are also history buffs.
Blood Dreams by Kay Hooper Publisher: Bantam ISBN-10: 0553804847 Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader Noah Bishop and his team of physics are used to working some of the most gruesome cases as one of the FBI's covert teams of investigators. But when a serial killer of young women takes his reign of terror from their home base in Boston to the outskirts of Atlanta, the FBI refuses to follow, leaving Bishop with no choice but to bring in his own newly created secret group of psychics that the FBI is unaware of. But even this group of the country's best will find themselves led astray down a false trail when it's discovered that the killer himself might be a psychic, one whose motives involve much more than murder and whose deadly trap is much more personal than they could have ever envisioned. Hooper again expands this ever-growing team of psychic investigators by adding some new characters, a move that's more than familiar in this continuing series. And therein lies the problem; while a couple of faces might be new, the story itself seems like yet another recycled plot that offers little else. With a heavy concentration on the abilities of the group, and little in the way of plot and/or character development, there's not a whole lot of difference between this and what's come before, unless you count the increasing outlandishness mix and match of psychic abilities. And with the ending hinting towards yet another to soon follow, one can only hope that this next will include a bit more of what's been lacking and a whole lot less of what's been in excess.
The Con Artist of Catalina Island by Jennifer Colt Publisher: Tessera Books ISBN 978 1 60461 267 7 Reviewed by Karen Treanor, New Mystery Reader This fourth in the McAfee Twins series starts with Kerry being rudely awakened by her hysterical Aunt Reba, announcing that cousin Robert has been struck by lightning. Same old, same old, thinks Kerry, going to shake her twin awake. Terry doesn’t want to forsake her zombie pyjamas and warm bed, but when bribed with coffee agrees to go along and see what Robert’s gotten into this time. Reba explains that Robert was flatlined by a bolt from the blue whilst in the bathroom. As the three women gather around Robert’s hospital bed, awaiting the last breath, Reba is overcome by past guilt and imminent death, and says how she wishes she’d had a chance to tell Robert about his real father, a French film director with whom she joined the Mile High Club thirty-plus years ago. This startling bit of news not only shocks the girls, it shocks Robert out of his vegetative state and back into the real world. So then they all decide to take a family Christmas holiday on Catalina Island. Well, why not? (All together now, “Twenty-six miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is a-callin’ to me…….” If you can remember all the words you are probably too old for this book.) Once on Catalina, the twins hear about a local mystery. A new bride has vanished and her heartbroken husband is desperate to find her. Being investigators, and not wanting to spend much time with Aunt Reba and the now obsessing Robert, who wants his biological father located, Terry and Kerry take on the job of finding the missing girl. The first thing they find is the body of another local woman, which points them toward a much bigger problem than a runaway bride, although she is also involved. Meanwhile, Cousin Robert has taken on a job as Santa for the casino Christmas Party and gives the girls elf suits so they can help him out. You can imagine what fun this turns out to be—chasing down a murderer just has to be better than spending a day in a grotto with a bunch of seven-year-olds. This is a light-weight good-hearted romp that won’t tax your intellect and should give you a chuckle or two.
Beverly Hills Dead By Stuart Woods Publisher: Putnam—ISBN 978-0-399-15469-0 Reviewed by Don Crouch, New Mystery Reader Woods steps out of the box he’s been in the last few years with Beverly Hills Dead, although it does fall very specifically within the continuity of the “Woodsiverse”, as it were. Those who go back with Woods to L.A. Dead will recall Vance Calder, Hollywood Legend. Feel free to call this new book the “origin story” of Vance Calder. You will see how he got his start, and how circumstances conspire to form the icon of the later story. Beyond that, there really isn’t much else going on here. Woods is trying to create a sprawling epic of 50’s Hollywood, the McCarthy Hearings, the birth of TV, and so on. And while he creates some nice story threads, there isn’t anything happening that actually, you know, MATTERS to the reader. This is probably due to two main things. 1) All the characters here talk the same. Woods’ strong suit has never been dialogue, but that relative weakness is carries much more impact in period. 2) The characters are sketched without ink, they have no vibe, no aura of anything to make them more than characters. The nominal protagonist of the story is Rick Barron (Prince Of Beverly Hills), former cop, now Chief Of Production (uh huh) at Centurion Studios. His attempts to direct something similar, we suppose, to George Stevens’ classic Giant are being hindered by his writer’s problems with Congressional commie-sniffers. Not only that, but he’s also concerned that he’s about to be blackmailed about his wife’s former life as a “party girl.” Most everything that Woods throws into this stew becomes steam, and what remains is in dire need of salt. Since we know that Woods is a Crime Novelist, we read on patiently and wait for some crime. When it finally happens, we greet it with a shrug instead of a real emotion, none of which was invested into the character. There is no big reveal, no sense of dread. Oh, a murder. Sigh. Anyone for cocktails?
Even Cat Sitters Get the Blues by Blaize Clement Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books ISBN: 978-0-312-34093-3 Reviewed by Anne K. Edwards, New Mystery Reader If you’ve ever been involved in an unpleasant situation that involved the law, even as an innocent bystander, you will sympathize with Dixie Hemingway in this tale of strange doings and even stranger characters. Have you ever met someone with blue skin? The day may have started as an ordinary work day for Dixie as she got ready to make her rounds to care for pets that were home alone. Included for the first time on her list was an iguana named Ziggy. Caught in a downpour, Dixie decided to take shelter where she could and stopped at a guardhouse to wait it out. She didn’t stay long. The guard was dead. And so Dixie found herself as a suspect in his death. She manages to make her rounds only to find the guardhouse belonged to the owner of the iguana and meets some of the strangest people she’s met yet—a blue man, a disappearing nurse, a mysterious woman and others. The only normal being seems to be the iguana. Talented author Blaize Clement invites us into the world of Siesta Key, a small island off the tip of Florida where mystery abounds. I’m pleased to highly recommend this fun read that will keep you glued to your chair. You’ll be wanting to read other tales by this creative author. This is a very satisfying read. Enjoy. I sure did.
Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons ISBN: 978-0-399-15445-4 Reviewed by Susan Illis, New Mystery Reader Raine Tallentyre knows that selling her deceased aunt’s house will be a challenge—even before she discovers the Bonfire Killer’s latest victim locked in the basement. Raine manages to duck the attention of the media; fortunately, because she always hates trying to explain that she is a psychic who hears voices. She fears that her aunt’s psychic abilities contributed to her insanity, and Raine doesn’t want to follow in her aunt’s footsteps. However, Raine does garner the attention of Zack Jones, investigator for Jones & Jones and heir apparent to the leadership of the Arcane Society. Unlike the last man she found attractive, Zack is not creeped out by the fact that she is clairaudient. He understands her unusual abilities; although Zack doesn’t hear voices, he does see visions. Discovering Zack’s relationship to the family that destroyed her father’s lab quickly squelches her attraction. For a few hours. Zack, almost too good to be true, reveals what really brought him to Raine: J & J’s suspicion that her aunt was actually murdered by a member of Nightshade, rival organization to the Arcane Society. As it becomes clear that both Raine and Zack have become targets of Nightshade, their alliance grows closer. Veteran author Jayne Ann Krentz deftly weaves paranormal aspects into a suspense novel, without being too over the top. Raine and Zack are intelligent, sympathetic characters, supported by equally believable and likable (or unlikable) secondary characters.
The Fault Tree by Louise Ure Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur ISBN-10: 0312375859 Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader There isn't much Tucson mechanic Cadance Moran is afraid of; blinded in a car accident that left a loved one dead years before, she's warily been making it through, albeit it with a heavy weight of guilt on her shoulders. But when one night leaving work late she hears screams followed by laughter and a car racing away, she's going to learn what fear really is. At first not knowing that she is the only "witness" to the first of many horrendous killings, she all too soon becomes aware that she’s definitely on the list when she becomes the next target in the deadly series of attacks. While Ure offers up an interesting new protagonist whose challenges spark some compelling dilemmas, there's still one too many holes in the story to make this an overall satisfying and convincing read. One has to wonder why she's left to fight off danger alone after repeated attacks, why her clues are left unheard after repeated substantiation, and why she insists upon feeling guilty for every negative event that surrounds her regardless of her complicity (yes, I know, this is the theme of the story, but all too often it sounds like self-pity rather than accountability). Yet, there is promise in this narrative of a woman confronting much more than the usual, with many of her unique issues adding gripping drama to an otherwise all too often heard tale of darkness and light. If Ure is thinking of a series, she only needs some mild tweaking to make this one work.
The Skeleton Man by Jim Kelly Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur ISBN-10: 0312377819 Reviewed by Dana King, New Mystery Reader The Skeleton Man is Jim Kelly’s fifth mystery featuring journalist Philip Dryden, his wife Laura, and Humph, Dryden’s eccentric driver and confidant. As with its predecessors, the writing is tight, the characters are alive, and the story is intricately plotted. Maybe too much so. The hamlet of Jude’s Ferry was bought up by the British Ministry of Defense in 1990 for use as an artillery target range and house-to-house training site. The villagers were an isolated, insular lot, exhibiting both aspects of rural living. Radio interviews made as the villagers prepare to leave show the Norman Rockwell-esque pathos over the ends of people denied their simple existence by world events. The skeleton found hanging in a cellar seventeen years later begins a chain of gruesome discoveries that shows the potential for darkness in an outwardly quaint existence. Dryden was there for both. He covered the exodus as a Fleet Street hot shot; he’s a local reporter when an errant shell leads to the discovery of the skeleton man. By the time he’s done tracking back through the labyrinth of clues and lies, it’s barely possible to tell who’s alive and who’s dead. Kelly’s writing is as solid as ever. Laura’s recovery from a horrific accident, and her gradual return to acting, is lovingly described, never sinking into melodrama. Humph, who drives Dryden everywhere, kills time by listening to foreign language tapes. This time it’s Faeroese. He’s a good foil for Dryden, never a stooge. The travails of writing for weekly newspapers, and the balance that much be struck between sending a hot story to the nationals while preserving some of the scoop for the next local edition, is believable and educational. The characters exiled from Jude’s Ferry are well drawn, with every effort made to keep them distinguishable from their considerable number of peers. Therein lies the rub for The Skeleton Man: there are just too many of them. Kelly parcels them out slowly enough to be absorbed, but the relationships between them overlap, and their stories create such a Gordian knot of logic, it’s hard work to keep track of who did what to who and when. Buggery, thuggery, murder, and incest were rampant in the tiny village, barely submerged until a Day of the Locust orgy of destruction as the villagers have to move out. There is still much to recommend the rest of the book. The overly complicated plot doesn’t ruin The Skeleton Man so much as make it a slog, more of a scholarly exercise than an entertaining read. A hand-drawn map of Jude’s Ferry is a nice touch, a clever way to set a fictional place in the reader’s head. Unfortunately, one also needs a character tree and plot diagram to keep up with everything. Kelly’s an excellent writer, well worth checking out. The uninitiated might want to start with 2005’s The Moon Tunnel for a more approachable story. The Skeleton Man has more meat on his bones than can be easily digested.
Pavel and I by Dan Vyleta Publisher: Bloomsbury ISBN 978 1 59691 451 3 Reviewed by Karen Treanor, New Mystery Reader The first winter of the Cold War was just that: cold. The winter of 1946-7 had seemingly endless days below zero and far more snow than usual. Nobody over the age of five really enjoyed that winter, particularly the inhabitants of the ruined capital of the recently defunct Third Reich. Some people got on better in post-war Berlin than others: Sonia survived by renting out her body to the grossly fat Colonel Fosko, or, at his behest, to others, including a midget who knew some valuable secrets. Boyd White got on after he left the army by trading in women and gambling. The boy Anders scraped a life on the streets, and then almost accidentally began to share the life of Jean Pavel Richter, a man dying of kidney infection in a freezing apartment. Sonia is drawn to Pavel, initially by the boy, who pounds on her door and demands her help to save his dying friend. She discovers Pavel has the body of the midget, entrusted to him by Boyd White. They hide it in the attic and try to forget it. Shortly thereafter, Colonel Fosko comes to Pavel’s apartment and takes him to the morgue to identify a body. It’s Boyd, and he died badly, tortured for information , which Fosko now assumes Pavel must also know. Enter the narrator, Peterson, who is a torturer by trade but a philosopher by inclination. He needs to get information from Pavel, now imprisoned in Fosko’s cellar, but Fosko is away and Peterson doesn’t know how far he can go. He is somewhat hampered in his choices by the presence of Fosko’s wife and young children just upstairs. He therefore leaves the bloodstained apron on its hook and tries to construct a relationship with Pavel through conversation. Like Sonia and Anders before him, Peterson falls under Pavel’s influence and begins to value their talks, the chess games, the personal details that Pavel is sharing with him. Peterson should know better: all torturers must know that the information they come by is flawed and counterfeit, whether gained by bloodshed or deceit. The coin of the tortured is always suspect: it can hardly be otherwise. The story takes a gruesome twist with the return of Fosko, who dies in a scene that calls to mind some of the weirder of the pre-War German silent films. The other characters leave the stage in unexpected ways. Peterson remains obsessed by Pavel: who was he really? Was anything he said true? What happened to him? This is a disquieting book with little to cheer one; nevertheless, it is a compelling and involving story about a disjointed period of history. Alert readers may spot parallels with our own day.
Blue Heaven by C. J. Box Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur ISBN-10: 0312365705 Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader Determined to go fishing one late spring day, 12 year old Annie and her younger brother decide to hitch a ride to a nice spot on the river near their home in the mountains of beautiful North Idaho. But their act of rebellion all too quickly turns to a race for survival when they witness a brutal murder. Fleeing from the killers and not knowing who to trust or where to run, the kids soon end up at the home of a lonely old rancher who also is facing the end of a life he once thought indestructible. And as the bond between these unlikely friends grow, the danger will creep every closer as they approach the final play in a game of greed and conspiracy that begun long ago. What's not to like about this book? Box's stand alone thriller provides everything needed to compel, engage, and dig from the reader every type of emotion possible. Poignantly drawn characters, a heart-racing plot, and an unflinching and provocative look at the nasty reality behind the destruction of a way of life, land, and community that is becoming all too common these days combine to make this a winner that is impossible to put down. Yes, this review is riddled with clichés, but all well deserved nonetheless; a top notch read that fans of this wonderfully creative author will devour and one that will leave them easily forgiving the author for his departure from his well-loved series.
The Crazy School by Cornelia Read Publisher: Grand Central Publishing ISBN-10: 044658259X Reviewed by Karen Treanor, New Mystery Reader Madeline Dare is back, a welcome return for those who enjoyed her debut in “A Field of Darkness” last year. In need of a job, Madeline accepts work teaching at the Santangelo Academy in the beauteous Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. This is a school for mentally and emotionally disturbed kids, those who ‘have issues’ with authority and civilised behaviour. Despite her classroom difficulties, Madeline soon wonders if maybe the staff isn't crazier than the kids. She is drawn into the lives of several of the students almost against her will, and her own life becomes complicated as she tries to juggle her teaching schedule, the secrets she’s keeping for the students, and trying to fake her way through the enforced group counselling sessions for staff. She hasn’t been at the school very
long when she finds herself framed for murder. The police don’t have a lot of
trouble accepting her as a suspect, given that she killed a man once, in
self-defence, but it can be twisted to look otherwise. Fortunately Madeline has
a good lawyer, (“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”) but even so
things look pretty grim for a while. Life could hardly get any worse, Madeline thinks, but worse happens soon enough with another two deaths, and finally Madeline and a murderer up on a wintry roof. The book has some surprisingly light moments despite the heavy themes, and Madeline’s friend Lulu is a great antidote to the rest of the school staff, who are as big a bunch of navel-gazing neurotics as you’ll every come across.
The Book of Old Houses by Sarah Graves Publisher: Bantam ISBN-10: 0553804308 Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader When readers last met up with Jacobia (Jake) Tiptree, a woman intent on restoring her Eastport, Maine home, she had uncovered a century's old book in her cellar that listed the names of the home's residents written in blood - including her own. And as the book appeared to be written long before Jake even existed, she had sent it to an expert to verify its age, never suspecting that her request might lead to death. So now she's confronted with yet another mystery when the book historian is murdered and a stranger comes to town who claims to be a dear friend of the murdered man and who is searching for the answers behind the victim's death. But when he asks Jake to safe keep his gun for him, she can't help but question what this man is really looking for: revenge, the truth, or something even deadlier? And so as she prepares to host a party for the town's matriarch, redo her bathroom, keep her son sober, and stay out of the way of her housekeeper's quarrel with her father, she'll find herself once again in facing her own demise as she determinedly searches for the truth. After having read a few in this series and not being overly impressed, I was delighted with just how entertaining this latest proved to be. Not only does Grave, as usual, do a fine job of depicting the wonder that is rural Maine, but this time around she throws in some great secondary characters, a dash of something ethereal, and a solid detailing of the continuing saga of her regular cast and crew that all combine to make this one of the best so far. So if you're in need for a cozy and engaging romp through the woods and alongside the sea, filled with well drawn good guys and bad guys, this one easily fits the bill.
The Chameleon's Shadow by Minette Walters Publisher: Knopf ISBN-10: 0307264637 Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader After returning home to Great Britain after a bombing in Iraq that left two of his men dead and himself disfigured, Lt. Charles Ackland seems quite different than the affable young man he was before he left. Now quick-tempered and unable to connect to those around him, especially the fiancée that dropped him just days before his deployment, his violently prone behavior sets off warning flags for those trying to help him. And as his rage seems to only increase with each refused act of kindness, the police begin to suspect his involvement in the deadly beatings of a number of men that Ackland may have had encounters with. But there's much more going on here than meets the eye; Ackland's rage has been simmering long before the war, and so finding out what's behind his rage might just lead to the answers the police are striving to hard to find. When you think of "psychological suspense" in its purest form - the search for the truth of what lies just beneath the surface when dismantling the nuances behind motivation and emotion - you'll find Walters to be one of those authors who delivers on the promise to reveal the darkest shadows no matter how disconcerting they might be. She's one of those few who has such a firm grip on her characters and story that each revelation only serves to spur the reader forward towards the next. And, as before, in this latest she compels and provokes the reader to go down pathways otherwise not considered as she brilliantly obscures the truth. Layers and layers of possible realities reside in this uneasy tale of violence and rage- layers in which the reader will rejoice in the challenge provided to uncover and understand.
Salt River by James Sallis Publisher: Walker & Company ISBN-10: 0802716172 Reviewed by Dana King, New Mystery Reader It’s no surprise that James Sallis has published volumes of poetry after reading his latest novel, Salt River. The writing is reminiscent of James Lee Burke, without the soaring lyricism Burke is so often effortlessly capable of. (I almost said Sallis was Everyman’s James Lee Burke, until it occurred to me that James Lee Burke is Everyman’s James Lee Burke.) The book reads like warm milk, easy on the ear and with a gracious flow that conjures a small southern town solely through the rhythms of Sallis’ storytelling. It’s good the book is such a pleasure to read in the literary sense, because there’s really no story. There are fragments that could have become stories if Sallis had written middles and ends for them. What’s left is a brief, meandering series of loosely linked episodes through which John Turner searches for meaning. Searching for meaning is big in Salt River; rarely is anything made obvious. The relationships among characters are tests to see which readers are paying attention. You can guess that Lonnie is Billy’s father, but good luck figuring out who some folks are, or why they’re there. It’s the third book in a series, and Sallis clearly assumes you’ve read the first two. Most of the important personal relationships are inferred, never explained. Salt River has no real mystery and no real resolution, chock full of stuff that reads a lot like symbolism. I’ll take the blame for that. Why someone has fixed up the insides of a house Turner hasn’t lived in for two years while not touching the crumbling outside, with no clues being given for who’s doing it, or why, is beyond me. I’m sure it’s my loss, and I never stood in line for a Bergman film, but I’m also not the shallowest pool at the water park. You may fare better, if your mind is of a more poetic bent. You’ll pay for the privilege: the advanced reader’s copy describes the finished product as 160 5 ½ by 8 ¼ pages costing $21.95. (The publisher’s web site describes it as 256 pages for $23.95. The ARC is 146 pages. Either almost half the book was left out, or the final version makes Robert B. Parker’s recent work seem as densely printed as a pocket Bible.) It’s an enjoyable read, and there may be cosmic significance I’m missing. On the other hand, a lot of people are going to finish it, reflect on the artistry of the writing, and decide – to paraphrase Gertrude Stein – that there’s no there there.
They Did It With Love by Kate Morgenroth Publisher: Plume ISBN-10: 0452288975 Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader When not too long after the death of her father, Sophie's husband Dean suggests the couple move to the upscale community of Greenwich, Connecticut, Sophie warily agrees to leave the big city. But it doesn't take long for the pretentious and inconsequential lifestyle of her wealthy neighborhood to drag her into boredom and depression. And while at first it seems that joining the local woman's mystery book club might just be the perfect way to help alleviate some of the boredom, the sudden death of one of the members proves to be a bit more than anticipated. And as the secrets of these women's lives begin to be revealed, so will the danger that comes with every ugly truth exposed. Morgenroth's fascinating and convincing look at the lies, betrayals, and pettiness behind the lavishly decorated walls of wealthy suburbia make it easy to distinguish this as the year's first must-read. This one has it all: complexly crafted characters, brilliantly choreographed suspense, and perhaps best of all, an ending so full of audaciously cunning twists that it's difficult to determine which has been more fun: getting there, or at last arriving. Start this one when you have plenty of time to savor it, because once started you won't want to stop.
Death Song by Michael McGarrity Publisher: Dutton Adult ISBN-10: 0525950362 Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader With a mere three weeks to go until his retirement, Santa Fe Police Chief Kevin Kearney unexpectedly finds himself teaming up with his son Lincoln County investigator Clayton Ishtee in the dual investigation of the murder of a patrol officer in Lincoln County and the murder of his wife near Santa Fe. But with little clues to go by, discovering the possible motives behind the deaths might just prove this likely last case of the Chief's impossible to solve, especially when it's discovered that the officer's teenaged son has gone missing. And as the investigation progresses, the mystery will only deepen when it's discovered that more than one person in this family had some very deadly secrets worth killing for. Not having been too impressed with McGarrity's previous outings featuring Chief Kearney, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying this latest quite a bit. Usually finding his factual detailing of investigating to be dry and unemotional, the teaming of Kearney with his newly discovered Apache son, while not necessarily a first, added color and depth to this fast moving read. And, as usual, McGarrity's depiction of the slow corruption by wealth of Santa Fe and environs proved to be accurate and timely, and one that will be familiar to anyone who lives in such a place. A tightly woven and cleverly written tale, this one will easily hit the spot for those who like a good police procedural. |
|
New Mystery Reader Magazine editor@newmysteryreader.com
|
