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Reviews for New mystery book reviews for July. Click on links for buying info The Water’s Edge by Karin Fossum Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt ISBN-10: 0151014213 Reviewed by Karen Treanor, New Mystery Reader The newest book by one of Norway’s premier crime writers is not so much a ‘whodunnit’ as ‘why? Jonas August Lowe, an only child, is missing: only for a few hours, but that’s long enough. He is found dead in the woods by a couple of walkers: one a sensitive woman trapped in a barren marriage, the other her husband, who revels in the notoriety of finding a murder victim. He horrifies his wife by taking pictures of the dead child, and this single soulless act sets her on a path that the reader hopes will take her to a life worth living. Early in the story we become aware of who the killer must be. The police are suspicious also, but handicapped by legal requirements; they can’t just go knocking on the doors of men they know to be capable of such crimes. A fortuitous find gives them the DNA sample that locks up the killer. That solves the question of who killed Jonas, but Edwin is still missing, and the confessed killer is adamant that he knows nothing of the other missing boy. Months pass, no progress is made, but then another accidental find reveals Edwin’s fate and gives the reader some skin-crawling moments. Both cases are hard on the police in charge, Inspector Konrad Sejer and his assistant, Detective Jakob Skarre. Fossum tackles the unsavoury topic of pedophilia with a delicacy of touch that helps the reader get past the horrific nature of the crime to look into the motivations behind it. She walks the tightrope between excusing a crime and understanding why it occurred with a sure step, and without descending into graphic and gratuitous detail. Fossum’s writing has the both spare structure of George Simenon and the complex characterisations of P D James. Highly recommended.
Bait by Nick Brownlee Publisher: Minotaur Books ISBN: 978-0-312-55021-9 Reviewed by Jim Sells, New Mystery Reader On the coast of Kenya, a group of foreign misfits carve a precarious living from the tourist trade. This includes running charter-fishing boats. Among them is Dennis Bentley, owner of the Martha B. At the beginning, Dennis is tortured and killed at the hands of a Kenyan deck hand- George - on the orders of a mysterious white man. After George dumps the body overboard, the man departs on another boat. When the George starts the engines, an explosion destroys the evidence and kills the potential witness. George’s wife pesters the police until Inspector David Jouma is ordered to look into the man’s disappearance. The local police quickly declare the incident an accident and close the case. As Jouma investigates, he begins to doubt the verdict of "accident." The detective is not alone in that belief. Dennis’ daughter Martha travels from New York to settle his estate. In Kenya she finds an ally in Jake Moore – a fishing boat owner and former member of an elite English police squad. Lacking trustworthy colleagues in an often corrupt police department, Jouma recruits Jake to help. The investigation becomes complicated and dangerous when the trail leads to prominent Kenyan criminals, a psychotic South African ex-soldier and an international arms dealer. The identity of the arms dealers will be a surprise to all involved. Brownlee spins an entertaining and believable tale. Jouma is a likable and deep character that breaks the cookie-cutter mold of many stories.
Greedy Bones by Carolyn Haines Publisher: Minotaur Books ISBN-10: 031237710X Reviewed by Bonnye Busbice Good, New Mystery Reader Opening with a burst of spicy aging-debutante flavor, the latest of the Sarah Booth Delaney series quickly mellows into a charmingly gutsy tale of close-knit women who define the apt description of “steel magnolias” when their loved ones succumb to an unknown illness. Sarah Booth Delaney has just returned from her Hollywood adventures of acting and falling in love with handsome co-star Graf after learning her best friend Tinkie may lose her beloved husband Oscar. As the personification of the middle-aged modern Southern Belle, Tinkie and fiercely independent Sarah Booth seem unlikely friends but have parlayed their companionship into a detective agency. Staying in her private detective role, Sarah Booth intends to find out why Oscar and three others have fallen gravely ill after visiting the abandoned Carlisle Farm, which has just gone on the real estate market. The situation in Sunflower County worsens as the Center for Disease Control sends two representatives to study and contain the strange illness. Balancing the fears of a potential epidemic are the frequent appearances of Sarah Booth’s devoted friends Cece and Millie, providing levity and mouth-watering descriptions of country cooking. To further muddy the narrative waters, Sarah Booth also must navigate her ill-defined relationship with Coleman, her former boyfriend and local sheriff, with whom she closely works to uncover clues to the sickness. Perhaps the brightest streak of inspiration in Haines’ story comes from the unique character at Dahlia House, Sarah Booth’s ancestral plantation home. Ever-present Jitty has frequented the grounds for two hundred years and freely offers Sarah Booth cryptic advice and a warm family tone, giving Sarah Booth consistent comfort even while inhabiting a spectral form. Some of the major plot points are decipherable in the first third of the book, but Sarah Booth’s journey to those discoveries moves along at such a jaunty pace that the obvious solutions can be overlooked in favor of the local scenery. Greedy Bones offers a pretty fair description of the modern, well-to-do south with heavy doses of exaggeration and colorful adjectives for an occasionally brassy bunch with love, grit, and a deep history that binds these women—dead and alive—to their Mississippi home.
Doomsday Key by James Rollins Publisher: William Morrow ISBN: 978-0-06-12314-7 Reviewed by Jim Sells, New Mystery Reader In the year 1086, royal coroner Martin Borr faces a gruesome task. He must perform autopsies upon villagers who have starved to death – with a stomach full of food. It has become a familiar pattern which results in the villages being marked as ‘wasted’ in the Doomsday Book or as it sometimes known – the Domesday Book. The book was commissioned by the king with the purported aim of taking a census, but could there be another reason? The story jumps forward to modern times. The world is on the brink of famine. The population is rapidly passing the earth’s ability to produce food. A secret group known as the Guild sees this crisis as an opportunity to control the world’s food supplies and thereby control the world. An equally secret organization – Sigma – is using the power, wealth, and technology of the US government to stop the Guild. Led by agent Grayson Pierce and Sigma director Painter Crowe, the agency chases clues and opposition across Europe. However, can even the government stand against a group with seemingly unlimited resources like the Guild in their conquest? The key seems to lie with the secrets hidden in the Doomsday Book – if they can find it. James Rollins has crafted an exciting and well-written thriller that moves from science fact to science fiction to spy games with ease. Rollins shows himself to be a master of the genre.
Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews Publisher: Minotaur Books ISBN-10: 0312377177 Reviewer: Bonnye Busbice Good, New Mystery Reader Black swans, coal-colored vampire horses, horrific all-black interior décor, and murder all shadow the usually colorful world of rose shows in Swan for the Money. Meg Langslow has the gift of organization but little real knowledge of roses, complicating her agreement to produce the Caerphilly Garden Club’s first rose show. After ill-timed treatments of manure at the show’s first venue proves unbearable, all of the events take place on the large estate owned by garden club member Philomena Winkleson. Unfortunately, Mrs. Winkleson’s rules are unbending, emphasizing once more why almost no one in the club can stand to be around her. The change in venue proves deadly for one poor garden club, when Meg discovers Mrs. Sechrest lying prone in a field of fainting goats. In Mrs. Winkleson’s world, black, white and a touch of grey are all that is allowed and she even raises designer animals that fit her color scheme. After Mrs. Winkleson boldly calls the rose show’s entrants to explain that only black and white roses are allowed, Meg loudly reminds her that was idea voted down by a vote of 47-1 and that colored roses remain welcome in several categories. Mrs. Winkleson collapses, leading to curiosity but with little concern since the irritable woman treated everyone horribly, including her poor, ever-present butler whom she selfishly renamed because she didn’t like his Russian moniker. While Meg investigates (carefully avoiding the police investigation unless asked), she encounters the shy Mr. Darby, who takes care of the animals, and Mrs. Winkleson’s highly detested and insufferable nephew, who circles the estate like a vulture waiting for its next meal to die as he dreams of his eventual inheritance. Navigating the estate proves to be like finding one’s way through a maze and Meg makes many new discoveries on her way to finding out who killed Mrs. Sechrest and poisoned Mrs. Winkleson. With the possibility of animal mistreatment, the abuse of potential American Rose Show official rules, an estate full of competitors and a poisoned character whom no one likes, Meg has her hands full in this enjoyable black and white-themed mystery whose solution is anything but.
Storm Cycle by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen Publisher: St. Martin’s Press ISBN: 978-0-312-36803-6 Reviewed by Anne K. Edwards, New Mystery Reader An attempt on the life of Elizabeth Kirby on a college campus is only part of a puzzle that comes to light when she and her team are confronted by missing computer power. “It’s like our system has suddenly sprung a leak,” she admits. Another piece in the puzzle is a mysterious message from half a world away that comes through the powerful computer she calls Jonesy. The message originates in a tomb from a person unknown to her but who confesses to having stolen the computer power. The thief tempts her with ancient medical knowledge that could save Elizabeth’s younger sister who is the focus of all of her research. And so then things go from confusing to vastly complicated as the plot thickens and Elizabeth meets the man in the tomb. A tale with lots of action, intriguing characters, suspense, mystery, and the lure of lost medical knowledge that will provide any reader with a very satisfactory read as the parts of the puzzle come together. Talented authors Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen will keep you turning pages to find out what happens next. I’m pleased to recommend this tale to any reader looking for adventure and excitement, particularly those who enjoy tales laced with ancient history.
The Innocent Spy by Laura Wilson Publisher: Minotaur ISBN-10: 0312538103 Reviewed by Bonnye Busbice Good, New Mystery Reader Bombed-out London becomes grittier by the day with night-time air raids, gang turf wars, constant mistrust and the blurring of civil rights during World War I in spite of the best efforts of the overwhelmed and impeccably honorable Inspector Ted Stratton. After silent-movie star Mabel Morgan takes a quick flight out of her window, Stratton is convinced that the fearlessly witty actress’ descent was no accident. Stratton’s superiors warn him off the case but he gets a surprising helping hand with his unauthorized investigation. While Stratton works his angles, glacially beautiful Diana plays her own game as a “file clerk” for a top-level spy who clearly outranks everyone around him. Through her job requirements, she uncovers secrets that will lead to several ruined upper-class lives if her unshakeable boss is told. Several of the characters are based on real MI-5 spies, which add further credibility and interest. Diana’s spy story is interspersed with Stratton’s police work, offering additional insight into the confusing, difficult times experienced by wartime Londoners. Wilson avoids mawkishness as she describes heart-wrenching family separations as parents sent their children to the countryside to avoid Axis bombs while they continued to work and live as normally as possible. Atmospheric and true to the era, Wilson periodically describes the constant deprivation during the air raids while creating the likeable investigator Stratton and sympathetic, although unwise, spy Diana. Hard to put down, The Innocent Spy holds its secrets close until the very end when they are finally spilled in a very messy and rewarding way.
Londongrad by Reggie Nadelson Publisher: Walker & Company ISBN: 978-0-8027-1752-8 Reviewed by Jim Sells, New Mystery Reader Artemy “Artie” Cohen is a New York City detective. He was born in Moscow, but got out of Russia when he was sixteen. His friend - Tolya Sverdkif - owns much real estate and several nightclubs including one in London. Artie is in love with Valentina, Tolya’s daughter, although Tolya doesn’t seem to know. Artie is delivering some books to a shut-in as a favor to Tolya when he almost runs over a little girl who runs out in the street. After following her to an abandoned playground, he makes a gruesome discovery. There is a young woman wrapped in duct tape and taped to a swing. Was she was killed there or left to die there? Is it a coincidence that she resembles Valentina? Questions like that causes Artie to get involved in the case. When Valentina is murdered, Artie travels to London to tell Tolya. Tolya begs him to stay there while Tolya returns to NY to make funeral arrangements. Artie reluctantly agrees and finds himself thrown into a world of privileged Russians and spies. The book is well written and the plot keeps the reader’s interest. The look into the international community of Russians after the collapse of the USSR is intriguing.
Persona Non Grata by Ruth Downie Publisher: Bloomsbury ISBN-10: 1596916095 Reviewed by Bonnye Busbice Good, New Mystery Reader Set in 119 A.D., this enjoyable mystery from the Roman Empire is a reminder that family squabbles and financial troubles transcend time and cultures even if this particular family lives in a luxurious house with numerous servants and full-bodied, locally-made wine. Roman medicus (doctor) Gaius Petreius Ruso leaves Britannia after receiving a two-line note from his brother Lucius pleading for him to come home to Gaul. Accompanied by native Briton Tilla, Ruso immediately walks into trouble when he’s unexpected, unwanted and his female companion’s strange ways make her even less welcome in Ruso’s social-climbing step-mother’s environment. Ruso’s return is further darkened when he discovers that his brother and obsessively-remodeling step-mother have immersed themselves in debt, his sisters are senselessly spoiled and clamoring for dowries, and a dangerous new religion touting one god and eventual resurrection has spread to the family farm. As head of the family, Ruso becomes irretrievably responsible for his family’s debts and mounting problems so he tackles the significant obstacle of money before they all end up in poverty—which is when the real trouble starts. Deciding to meet with his brother’s main creditor at the family home, Ruso is pleased to find that Severus agreeable to working out a truce. Unfortunately, Severus suddenly expires after muttering that he’s been poisoned. Steadfastly scrupulous, Ruso reports the poisoning and then, since there is no Roman police force, undertakes the investigation to clear his name of murder. Ruso and Tilla are well-matched; each is intelligent, resourceful, and with an innate tendency to keep one’s own counsel, which sometimes causes relationship problems for them but creates exciting situations in the story. The mix of gladiators and the Romanization of other cultures add depth to the family drama and Ruso’s plight makes him sympathetic as he struggles with the needs of so many while wrestling with his own future.
Two of the Deadliest edited by Elizabeth George Publisher: Harper ISBN-10: 0061350338 Reviewed by Carol Reid, New Mystery Reader Few recipes for crime fail to contain Lust and Greed, Two of the Deadliest of the Deadly Sins. And in each of the twenty-three stories in this collection, one sin inevitably leads to another, most often the most mortal sin—murder. Editor and mystery diva Elizabeth George has assembled a distinguished roster of well-known female crime writers and challenged them to create new stories using lust, greed or both as backdrop. Many familiar names here, representing many sub-genres- Marcia Muller, Dana Stabenow, Carolyn Hart to name just a few. Also included are stories by five new writers, all of whom have been students of George’s and whose talent she wished to introduce to a wider readership. This mix of established and new is a trend I’ve noticed in several recent crime story collections. You can probably hear the sound of my hearty applause. Fabulous idea! The opening story Dark Chocolate by Nancy Pickard is a standout and sets the bar high for the stories which follow. Dark indeed- a rich, evocative story of a young mother’s madness and hunger. Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s tale E-Male is a delightfully convoluted account of a man’s ingenuity in satisfying his obsession with a former flame. His expertise in navigating the virtual world leads him into stalking a depraved killer who uses the internet to display his work. Disturbing and chillingly convincing. Another great story which is sure to appeal to anyone who has ever fallen under the influence of a celebrity crush is by new writer Barbara Fryer. The Runaway Camel is an appealingly sexy tale in which a fortyish successful lawyer achieves her goal of a very intimate encounter with an NBA player. When this hunk of burning love is threatened by a false rape charge, the lawyer channels her lust into brainstorming his defense. Her payment? A slam dunk all around. Having a theme run through a collection such as this one is like using a set piece in music competition. Comparison between performances becomes perhaps too easy and some entries fare much better than others. Two of the Deadliest ranges from adequate to virtuoso in quality but taken as a whole certainly provides solid entertainment.
The Second Savior by Mark Bouton Publisher: Five Star/Gale ISBN 978 1 59414 766 1 Reviewed by Karen Treanor, New Mystery Reader You’ll feel you already know the team of Rick Dover and Falcon before you’ve read more than a few pages. Falcon sounds and acts a lot like another dangerous bird, Hawk, from the Spenser novels of Robert B Parker. And Dover, like Spenser, can exchange street talk with his partner with whom he has a closer than usual bond; the two can almost read each other’s minds at times. An ordinary day chasing bad guys in Los Angeles turns unusual very fast when a trio of teenage sociopaths shoots up a discount liquor store and almost gets LAPD cops Dover and Falcon at the same time. Dover is saved by the selfless action of a nearby workman, a carpenter who is working on the store, and who throws himself in harm’s way t save Dover. Why would a total stranger do that? Dover chews over the problem but when he tries to get an answer from the quickly-healed Jake Carroll, he comes away unsatisfied. Carroll is integral to the court case that Dover hopes will convict the shooters, but he seems very unwilling to testify. It takes another couple of murders to bring him around, and he goes into protective custody. Before the trial, Jake disappears as if by magic from a locked hotel room. All that’s left is a pile of clothing and the bullet that the doctors had left in his body because it was too dangerous to remove it. Cue the Twilight Zone theme. This is an entertaining book with some well-drawn characters and a bit of snappy dialogue (“The place is as dead as a salad bar in Watts”) but there’s so much street jive that sometimes you don’t know what the characters are trying to tell each other. The two very different strands of the story line don’t knit together as well as they could, one seems grafted onto the other, especially in the final chapters. Those quibbles aside, this is a fast-moving, entertaining police novel which certainly beats watching almost any song or dance reality show you can name.
Missing Mark by Julie Kramer Publisher: Doubleday ISBN-10: 0385524773 Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader In her follow-up to last year’s Stalking Susan featuring intrepid Minneapolis TV investigative reporter Riley Spartz, Kramer brings back the fearless amateur detective to solve another baffling mystery. This time around it begins with what seems a rather harmless story that Riley hopes might just hit the right demographics during May’s sweeps, a story sparked off when Riley decides to look into the background of an add in the paper offering “Wedding dress for sale; never worn.” And when she discovers that the groom went missing within hours before the walk down the aisle, she knows she has a real mystery on her hands, one that might just make bigger headlines than she had hoped. But convincing her bosses at the station that something’s fishy is only a minor problem compared to the dirt she digs up surrounding the wealthy bride and missing groom in a search that takes her down false trails and head first into danger. This latest from Kramer is a mixed bag to say the least. On the positive side, Kramer throws in quite a bit of inside detail regarding local TV news, some of which is actually pretty interesting and also quite eye-opening for those of us unfamiliar with this particular world. On the negative side, she unfortunately tosses in a couple of sideline mysteries that distract more than add to the story as a whole when her character misses the most obvious clues that might have solved them rather quickly. Interestingly enough, the main mystery of the book could have easily sufficed on its own with its unique turn of events and unfamiliar oddities had they gotten full attention. This is a series that actually has potential, so we’ll look forward to the next.
Swimsuit by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro Publishers: Little Brown, ISBN 978-0-316-018777 Reviewed by Narayan Radhakrishnan, New Mystery Reader This is too much for me. I seriously have to stop reading James Patterson works. A couple of days back I got my copy of SWIMSUIT. I had just come home for my lunch break- and decided to take a sneak peek into the novel. And guess what happened- I took an extended lunch break (that stretched till 5:00 pm); my immediate superior considered it an unauthorized absence and he is demanding an explanation. And so if anything happens to my job, I will be blaming James Patterson and his co-conspirator Maxine Paetro. James Patterson and Maxine Paetro have carved some neat thrillers in the past- including the wonderful Women’s Murder Club- that’s still continuing strong even after 8 outings. But stand-alone books like this one are really interesting and much more thrilling. In a series we know the good guys from the bad, but in these novels anyone, even the seemingly good guy/ hero, can become the villain. The unexpected can happen at any moment. And that’s where SWIMSUIT succeeds. Even if read the novel forewarned that the unexpected is going to happen- you are still in for a shocker. The novel starts with a police officer turned crime reporter turned mystery novelist Benjamin Hawkins, (a character reminiscent of best-selling novelist Michael Connelly, which the authors here are quick to admit) informing us about a serial killer, Henri Benoit who has ‘assigned’ him the task of writing his biography. Unwillingly the author has to join the nefarious schemes of Henri Benoit, as a refusal could mean instant death. Benoit specializes in killing beautiful models. He lures them, seduces them, has sex with them, and kills them at the high point of ecstasy. He also makes video of the sex and killings and emails them to a select group known as the Alliance who gets their kick in seeing the kills. And the horrifying thing about Benoit is that he truly likes what he is doing and considers each killing as art. What follows is nail biting suspense with chills, thrills and kills that will, well, result in extended lunch breaks. But I am not worrying; I am planning to give this book to my superior in the office during lunch break. Can’t wait to see our boss giving him the cold stare… vengeance is truly mine.
Ravens by George Dawes Green Publisher: Grand Central Publishing ISBN 978 0 46 53896 1 Reviewed by Karen Treanor, New Mystery Reader The desire for money is the root of all evil, the Bible tells us. In this book, the desire for money brings together an ordinary family which just happens to have won millions in the lottery, and a pair of no-hopers who’ve rarely done an honest day’s work. The conjunction produces some strange alchemy in human relationships. Shaw and Romeo hatch a hare-brained scheme to get rich the easy way when they accidentally learn about the Boatwright family’s huge lottery win. All they have to do is hold the family for ransom until the check clears. Shaw will move in to keep an eye on the Boatwrights, and Romeo will lurk in a motel, ready to do what needs to be done to keep Mitch Boatwright in line. It sounds simple enough, but soon unexpected factors come into play. Nobody told Shaw about the Stockholm Syndrome, which causes a bond to grow between the captives and captors—or the corollary where the captors start to care about their prey. Shaw develops feelings for the daughter, Tara, to the point of daydreaming about settling down and raising a family with her. This sort of soft thinking isn’t in Romeo’s nature; he’s altogether a tougher breed of cat. Life gets complicated for the grifters when religion and the mass media enter the Boatwright’s lives. Shaw finds himself being made into somebody else—and it’s not a completely unpleasant experience. And then there’s the aging deputy sheriff, who is convinced there’s something amiss despite being told to lay off the case by his boss. Romeo becomes suspicious also, something’s happening to his old friend Shaw, something rather strange and threatening. He knows the girl’s involved somehow, and gets involved in a sick relationship with Tara’s best friend Clio as he tries to work out what’s happening. Eventually Romeo sees only one way out of the deepening quagmire , if only he has the guts to pull it off. This is a story that begins with a thread of simple greed, but which becomes a complex fabric of motives and emotions. It ‘s a measure of Green’s skill that by the last chapter your initial dislike of most of the characters has changed into, if not exactly sympathy, then a sort of understanding.
One of Those Malibu Nights by Elizabeth Adler Publisher: St. Martin’s Press ISBN-10: 0312364490 Reviewed by Bonnye Busbice Good, New Mystery Reader This meets the very definition of a beach-read—light-weight and set in Malibu, with danger, romance and the requisite happy ending (never in doubt) accentuated by beautiful people and well-defined canine characters. Handsome private investigator Mac Riley has his own TV show and runs a PI business for the fabulously famous in his off-hours. One night a woman’s scream compels him to check out his neighbor’s house and he’s almost shot for his efforts. Soon Mac’s services are requested by his billionaire neighbor, Ron Perrin; his estranged wife, the famous actress Allie Ray; and Perrin’s mistress Marisa Mayne. Mac really has his hands full when both Perrin and Allie Ray disappear in completely separate incidents. Armed with an infinitely capable staff and a worldly, good-humored girlfriend, Mac searches Mexico, Italy and the US to find his charges and ease his mind. Allie’s disappearance proves to be the most interesting part and her character’s personal growth is in juxtaposition with Mac’s primarily sophisticated girlfriend who reverts to childlike behavior regarding potential marriage and a lack of attention. Still, the international travel adds a lovely layer to the shallow world that Mac normally inhabits. Although Adler sometimes throws in a little too much information in parts so it reads more like a lecture than adding atmosphere, One of Those Malibu Nights is a fast read perfect for a last minute summer vacation.
Trust Me by Jeff Abbott Publisher: Dutton ISBN# 978-0-525-95121-6 As Reviewed by Scott Parker, New Mystery Reader Sometimes, summer blockbusters don’t arrive in
theaters. Sometimes, they show up at your bookstore.
Jeff Abbott’s Trust Me is a summer
blockbuster worthy of the name. As Reviewed by Jim Sells, New Mystery Reader Luke Dantry has a seemingly privileged life. From the comfort of his Texas condo, he researches and baits users of the Internet he has labeled ‘Night Road’. These users express discontentment with the system. Thanks to the anonymity of cyberspace, sometimes this discontentment takes the form of dark and violent exchanges. Luke does this for his think tank stepfather, Henry and to gather data for his own graduate degree in psychology. Then the reality of the physical words crashes upon him in the form of a kidnapping at the airport as he sees off his stepfather’s flight. At first Luke thinks that the kidnapping is related to his study of cyber terrorism. Gradually a different picture emerges that involves his stepfather. There is colorful cast of characters lurking about as Luke escapes the clutches of his kidnapper. Eric, his kidnapper claims to be saving his girlfriend, but appears to be a banker who stole money intended for terrorist plots. There are Mouser and Snow, who hunt Luke for Henry. There is a mysterious British woman who pulls strings from afar. And there is Drummond – Henry’s former associate and who is involved in the actions and death of Luke’s father that is turn related to the mysterious “Book Club.” Abbot presents a well-written and fast paced mystery. While containing a large cast of characters, the author’s skillful introductions and explanations of the characters allow the reader to keep details straight and enjoy the story.
Blood Lines by Kathryn Casey Publisher: Minotaur Books ISBN-10: 031237951X Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader It’s been about a year since Texas Ranger almost lost her life and all she loved while solving a particularly dangerous case. And while she has yet to return to her job full-time, she’s managed to offer her services to the Rangers from home; a set-up she knows has just about run its course. So when she finds herself suddenly thrust into two separate cases, she decides it’s time to come out of her safe haven and face the mysteries head on. The first case involves the mysterious death of a wealthy business woman; a death that initially seems like a suicide, but upon closer inspection is in fact a brutal murder tied to a dangerous and greed-filled scam. The second case, that of a young Brittney Spears-like teenaged star being stalked, will prove to be a bit more difficult to resolve. The stalker’s identity being just about anyone, meaning everyone is a suspect. But it’s these two separate mysteries that will finally bring her out of her shell and back into the living, that is if she can dodge the danger that comes with finding the answers. Fans of the procedural might find this latest from Casey to be a bit oversimplified and lacking in sizzle. While Casey’s main character is able to solve one case from her home office, all the while dealing with a horse on her ranch giving birth, a daughter filled with anguish over her father’s death, and her own romance in question, the answers seem to come a bit too easily and quickly for this case. And as for the second case, while stretched out a bit further, it’s drawn out into a mystery that seems to hold little enticement as well, with the revelations eventually exposed eliciting only a slight pop as opposed to the bang that should have come with their unexpectedness. Admittedly, however, while this one doesn’t necessarily challenge and thrill, it isn’t altogether a bad read as it does manage to provide enough small doses scattered throughout to make it mildly entertaining.
Murder On A Midsummer Night by Kerry Greenwood Publisher: Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press ISBN-10: 1590586328 Reviewed by Karen Treanor, New Mystery Reader Kerry Greenwood is a prolific author, probably best known for the Hon. Phryne Fisher mystery series. Set in the late 1920’s in Melbourne, Australia, the series follows the aristocratic heroine through a variety of amazing adventures arising out of her career as a private inquiry agent. Phryne is small, slender, tough as old boots, inventive, highly-sexed and a friend to a wide variety of people in all levels of society. In previous adventures she’s flown planes, worked in a circus, broken up a drug ring, and rescued her lover Lin Chung from pirates in the South China Sea. Greenwood sets the scene very well: you don’t need to know much Australian history to feel at home in her Melbourne. She gets the flavour of the place and time without overwhelming you with ‘fair dinkums’ or ’23-skidoos’. The new book starts with a heat wave in January, and the arrival of Phryne’s social worker sister Eliza, with a sad story. Augustine Manifold has been found dead on a beach and his distraught mother doubts the coroner’s verdict of suicide. Her son had a big deal in the works that was going to make them rich—why would he kill himself? Phryne agrees to look into the case, and finds enough clues in his second-hand goods shop to suggest that Augustine was in fact involved with something big, involving a potential fortune. People have been killed for less, but which of Augustine’s acquaintances are responsible? It takes a fake séance with some rather nasty people to find the answer. Before Phryne gets to the bottom of this case, the Archbishop of Melbourne requests her to look into the matter of what may be a missing heir. Many of the surviving family members are angry at what they see as snooping, but the family lawyer is adamant that they must be sure that there is no living half-sibling who should be included in the estate settlement. The surviving children understandably don’t like the idea that their mother may have had a child out of wedlock before marrying their father, and Phryne has to dig deep and hard to find answers. Where there’s money involved, there’s always danger, and Phryne has a couple of close escapes, as is usual with her cases. Probably the biggest danger is her own driving; one is amazed she hasn’t had a fatal pile-up given the way she drives the big Hispano-Suiza. If you haven’t read any of Kerry Greenwood’s books, exert yourself to get some; you will find them literate, different, and entertaining.
Whiskey Gulf by Clyde W. Ford Publisher: Vanguard Press ISBN-10: 1593155220 Reviewed by Scott D. Parker, New Mystery Reader “Mayday. Mayday. Mayday.” Few words signal dire straits better than these. And they start a tension-filled opening chapter where a sailboat and its crew of two wander into a live-fire exercise up in the Pacific Northwest. The area is called Whiskey Gulf and the sailboat never arrives at its intended destination. Worried for their friends, the local yacht club hires retired Coast Guard intelligence officer, now private investigator Charlie Noble to look into the matter. He agrees and uses his past contacts in the Guard to see what he can uncover. Like many stories that feature the military, Noble keeps running into roadblocks and secrets that issue from high in the chain of command. Noble merely redirects his course and tries to get at the truth from another angle. Along the way, however, his girlfriend’s ex-fiancée shows up, making waves in her love life. The ex-fiancée, now her temporary commanding officer, left her at the altar but now regrets his decision. Kate’s unsure of her emotions, causing ripples in her relationship with Noble. That Noble spends some time with a female investigative reporter doesn’t help matters much. Even Noble starts to wonder about his feelings and it takes the help of his Native American partner, Raven, to get to his emotional center. Raven also helps Noble solve the mystery of the missing sailboat as well as its connection to an old Middle Eastern friend Noble knew from his time in the service, a man who may or may not be on Noble’s side. The landscape of the Pacific Northwest is rendered in vivid and loving detail by author Clyde Ford. In fact, it’s a crucial element to the story and one I found wonderfully fascinating. For a great in-depth experience, Ford’s website links to iGeo, an online map application, and you can see where this adventure takes place, a good thing for anyone who doesn’t know the terrain of the Northwest. There’s quite a bit of nautical and military jargon along the way, most of it defined. I found the story sagged a bit here and there, with long patches of back story that could have been tightened. However, when the action starts, the pace quickens and the race to end was fast and bloody. Moreover, the romantic subplot seemed an afterthought considering how it was built up and how it ended. I enjoy a good love story and I wanted a bit more in that department. But these are minor quibbles. Whiskey Gulf is the third book in the Charlie Noble nautical mystery series. For lovers of boating and suspense, Clyde Ford’s novel is a sure-fire winner.
Reviewed by Jim Sells, New Mystery Reader Charlie Noble is a former US Coast Guard intelligence officer who now makes his living in the Pacific Northwest by taking cases as a PI. Two boaters disappear in an apparent accident in a live fire practice area known as “Whiskey Gulf”. The two boaters were members of the local yacht club at the marina where Noble moors his boat. The other members hire Noble to look into the case. With the help of Maya Shimazu - a Canadian reporter of Japanese descent - Noble searches the area where the boat disappeared. What first appears to be a boating accident takes on a more sinister slant as he investigates. Two torpedoes barely miss Maya’s boat as they find wreckage of the lost boat. Then Noble is summoned to a videoconference with his former commander. Noble agrees to help find the couple before his nemesis finds and silences them. With Raven – a Native American ally – Noble searches the coast as he confronts events that forced him to leave the Coast Guard. The author crafts an interesting mystery with an equally interesting nautical setting.
Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime ISBN-10: 042522788X Reviewed by Bonnye Busbice Good, New Mystery Reader Lady Georgianna Rannoch, thirty-fourth in line to the throne, has rushed back to her ancestral home in Scotland just before the annual royal grouse hunt begins at nearby Balmoral. Initially returning home in disgrace, Georgie is heartened by the return of her wild Irish beau, Darcy, among the large number of jet-setting guests eager to witness shattering speed records on the water and fabulous parties lasting well into the night. Because of Rannoch Castle’s proximity to the Prince of Wales’ location at Balmoral, Georgie and her irritable sister-in-law reluctantly host American Wallis Simpson with her boisterous friends and sullen husband in tow. Add a couple of genuine highlander cousins to the mix with their promise of “hunting” haggis, and Rannoch Castle is full of mischief, ghostly visions, and larger-than-life personalities while the lower classes suffer the continuing depression in 1932. With her brother the Duke laid up after injuring his leg in a mislaid animal trap, Georgie investigates the strange rash of accidents occurring around her relatives, including a couple of close shaves herself. The Prince of Wales even suffers a boulder landing on his car—could this be an editorial comment on his relationship with Wallis or is someone trying to move closer to the throne? Royal Flush, of the Royal Spyness Mystery Series, is ably written and engaging throughout most of the book. Inherently period British with its quiet tone and background, Royal Flush disdainfully describes Wallis Simpson’s romance with the prince but is less judgmental of the real-life bed-hopping shenanigans of the rest of the British upper-class. (See The Bolter by the subject’s great-granddaughter Frances Osborne for further insight, especially since Georgie’s own mother was a bolter.) The story moves slowly at first but the time-period, the mysterious Darcy, and craggy Scottish descriptions maintain interest until Georgie’s naïve passivity dissipates and her investigation begins.
Last Known Address by Theresa Schwegel Publisher: Minotaur Books ISBN-10: 031236427X Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader Chicago detective Sloane Pearson has been living life in limbo. Despondency over her going-nowhere live-in situation with a fellow officer, a career that seems stuck on zero, and her father’s questionable health have left her restless and disjointed. And so when a series of rapes falls under her jurisdiction, she jumps head first into the investigation, not only to quickly discover that she is the only one concerned with the fact that a serial rapist is striking the city, but that the suspect might be someone close to the investigation. And so against all odds, and determined to so find the culprit, she begins to rattle some cages and ask some questions that might not just end her career, but her life. Reading this latest from Schwegel is almost as good as being there in person, with her edgy characters, gritty atmosphere, and unforgiving interplay between them all making for a richly multi-layered read. It’s always refreshing to come upon a female character whose mind and soul is filled with the inevitable darkness that comes along with the job of detective, an attribute that is all too often reserved solely for the manly males, with the “gentler” sex all too often worrying more about a broken nail and their latest romance. And so it is here where Schwegel not only breaks the mold, but does it with an almost heart-breaking realism that shows no mercy for either the character or the reader. Detective Sloan Pearson is neither hero nor savior, she’s simply one of many doing a job that is mostly an endless and thankless cycle of all that’s ugly. So if what you’re looking for is light and breezy, you might want to pass; this is a book that dares to reflect on the down and dirty faced by those who live it and dares to expose the damage that results more often than not. Highly recommended, this literate and edgy read puts an all too human face on everyday tragedy and brings it home in a realistic way that will linger long after that final page.
The Puzzle of Piri Reis by Kent Conwell Publisher: Avalon ISBN-10: 0803499582 Reviewed by Bonnye Busbice Good, New Mystery Reader Bernard Odom is a wealthy, brilliant man who isn’t afraid to rub it into other people’s faces. So, it’s no surprise when he’s murdered, only that the Justice of the Peace has ruled it an accident. Bernard’s son, Ted, worries that his father’s crown jewel, the priceless Piri Reis map, will never be located from its hiding place. Ted hires Tony Boudreaux, a private investigator originally from South Louisiana who’s moved to Austin, Texas, in an attempt to avoid some of the worst of New Orleans’ crime scene. Thanks to Bernard’s immodest sense of humor, the biggest clue to finding the map lies in puzzles, another of Bernard’s passions. Neither Ted nor Tony is sure what to expect, giving the reader ample opportunities to try to figure out the answer. Even though Tony’s official investigation concerns the map, the connections of the murdered man with the priceless parchment involves Tony in both cases. With the benefit of having the local Sheriff’s blessing in San Madras, Tony investigates everyone with a motive and a few who just can’t stay away from the investigation. Tony maintains his easy-going Cajun attitude which opens doors for him while the murderer aggressively tries to shut him down permanently. Kent Conwell effectively describes both parts of Texas and Louisiana without bordering on caricature while creating his puzzling mystery. The idea of an accurate map (the Piri Reis, c. 1513) created from several maps drawn during the time of Alexander the Great is fascinating, although treasure hunters can find the real one in the Library of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, rather than in someone’s den cluttered with knickknacks and awards.
Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey Publisher: Random House ISBN-10: 1400067596 Reviewed by Bonnye Busbice Good, New Mystery Reader Detective Darko Dawson remains haunted by the disappearance of his mother in her hometown of Ketanu, Ghana, permanently ending her little boy’s childhood when he was only twelve. With a well-timed dream and an inexplicable murder, Darko returns to Ketanu with a mix of memories and grown-up observations. Darko’s present has the potential to echo his past, but he’s obviously a resilient man dedicated to his family and his profession. Distracting him from his personal problems is the case at hand, the murder of a lovely young woman dressed in blue and white and carrying AIDS prevention literature. Gladys, well-known in her community, planned to be a doctor and interacted with the local healer, the oft-married priest, and admiring men who hoped to win her affection. Filled with different forms of power from witchcraft to shrine priests who claim to speak to gods to Darko’s own ability to hear when others are lying, Wife of the Gods features many different beliefs in a country ranging from the modern city of Accra to the small impoverished town of Ketanu and village of Bedome. In spite of Darko’s intention to represent himself as the professional big-city investigator, there’s still a bit of physical fighting when his frustration with the slow-paced and sometimes brutal old ways boils over, making this a journey he needs to take to become the methodical, patient man he wants to be. Set in the African country of Ghana, Quartey’s personal affection for the culture and kindhearted people show through even as he struggles to understand the continuing belief in witchcraft and fetish priests in some rural areas. Quartey’s work has garnered comparisons to Alexander McCall Smith for his easy descriptions of an African culture, but Quartey’s passionate characters create a slightly more rushed feel rather than the easygoing pace of the No. 1 Detective Agency’s Botswana. This debut shows much promise with its vibrant descriptions of the dense forests, rattling tro-tros for transportation, and unique customs—all offering danger mixed with beguiling beauty to the dutiful, determined Detective Dawson.
Abandon by Blake Crouch Publisher: Minotaur Books ISBN-10: 0312537409 Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader Blake Crouch is one of those authors whose unique and highly imaginative approach to storytelling is so vividly rendered that the reader’s immersion into the tale is so complete that it literally takes a total body shake or cup of cold water to the face to return to reality. And in his latest tale, Abandon, not only does the reader get to go on one such unflagging adventure into a new reality, but two. Switching back from the late 1800s to now, this story begins with the search for gold in the Colorado Rockies, a search that promises wealth for those who found it, but despair for those who don’t. And while the hidden treasure of gold might have been found by those first seeking it, it was just as quickly lost in more ways than one, leaving behind not only a tempting legend of hidden treasure, but a much more confounding mystery - the disappearance of the entire town that seemed to vanish along with the gold. For journalist Abigail Foster it’s not the lost gold that calls her to this place, instead it’s an invitation by her estranged father, a historian who seems to have an obsession with the town’s legend, to look into the mystery surrounding the disappearance of all the residents of the small miner’s town that one fateful day. But when what started as an interesting story turns into a struggle for survival against a new slew of greedy gold-diggers, her long trek into the untamed wilderness of the West goes from a lifestyle feature into front page murder. Crouch’s latest is not only a tale filled with a relentless dose of adventure and excitement that makes the heart race, but one that offers up layer upon layer of provocative queries that challenge the mind and spirit. The basic dilemmas and temptations that have always caused hell are brilliantly laid bare in this novel that seamlessly connects generations through those timeless struggles between good and evil. While the characters’ names might change, settings and technology might change, man-made laws and the way justice is meted out might change, the fundamental battle between right and wrong remains the same. Yet, in the face of this eternal and seemingly fruitless battle, Blake also manages to offer up hope in such a sincere and unflinching manner that the result is a heartfelt and endearing read that will resonate with all; highly recommended, this is easily one of the best this year. For Interview with Blake Crouch
This Wicked World by Richard Lange Publisher: Little, Brown & Co ISBN 978 0 316 017374 Reviewed by Karen Treanor, New Mystery Reader This is a dark and bloody story that gets darker and bloodier as it goes along. It’s not a book I’d recommend as a present for your kindly old Auntie Mabel, not unless she’s a retired drill sergeant. Jimmy Boone is newly out of prison, having served time for GBH. He attacked and beat up a man whom he thought was a child abuser, only to discover he’d been manipulated by a scheming female for her own purposes. Nobody believed Jimmy’s story, and he’s given up trying to justify himself to the world. He’s working in a bar in Hollywood and counting the days until he can move on to something else, somewhere else. Enter his old friend Robo who needs help with a slightly shady operation. Jimmy doesn’t want to get into trouble, but Robo plays the guilt card, and before he knows it, Jimmy is pretending to be a cop and helping Robo find out what happened to a dead boy, Oscar Rosales. One thing leads to another and pretty soon Jimmy is on the wrong side of a major criminal and his band of merry men, any one of whom would kill you as soon as give you the time of day. The answer to Oscar’s death is at Taggert’s lair, but finding out is one thing; getting justice for Oscar is quite another. Especially when some high-end illegal activities are endangered by Jimmy’s snooping. Along the way, Jimmy picks up a toothless fighting dog, a potential girl friend, some near-fatal injuries, and the possibility of having his parole revoked. There are some occasional spots of humour in this dark story, but overall it’s pretty grim. It moves fast, it’s full of colourful characters, and it’s sadly believable. |
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