The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

City of Fortune
Victoria Thompson
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
www.penguin.com
9780593440575, $27.00, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/City-Fortune-Counterfeit-Lady-Novel/dp/0593440579

Synopsis: Wealthy but uncouth Sebastian Nolan has invited his lawyer, Gideo=
n Bates, and his lovely new wife, Elizabeth, to attend the famous Belmont S= takes. Nolan is anxious for Gideon and Elizabeth to help his daughter, Iren=
e, acquire a bit of polish, now that his venture into thoroughbred racing h=
as allowed them entry into society. He is also hoping to find her a rich po= tential suitor. Elizabeth is not exactly the society girl Nolan believes he=
r to be, but she is eager to attend the races. Her con artist family has ma=
de a lot of money at racetracks, although not from betting on the horses, a=
nd she enjoys the excitement of the track.

Irene Nolan seems more interested in horses than husbands, and she jumps at=
the chance to show Elizabeth her horse, Trench, and introduce her to his r= ider, Cal Regan. Elizabeth soon realizes there is more than just a working = relationship between Irene and Cal. But she also knows that Irene's father = would never allow his only daughter to marry a jockey. When Cal takes a ter= rible tumble injuring both himself and Irene's beloved Trench, Elizabeth an=
d Gideon learn that the mishap was not simply bad luck -- but that the hors=
e and rider are victims of sabotage.

It turns out that Sebastian Nolan has more than a few skeletons in his clos=
et and someone is out to get their long sought-after revenge. Elizabeth kno=
ws that to help Irene and Cal, she is going to need some help in creating t=
he quintessential con. With the ever honest Gideon at her side, she enlists=
those closest to her to come up with a scheme that will either ensure youn=
g Irene and Cal a first-place finish or have disastrous consequence!

Critique: Especially recommended to the attention of dedicated historical m= ystery and cozy mystery fans, "City of Fortune" by impressively talented no= velist Victoria Thompson is an original and fun read from first page to las=
t. While highly recommended for personal and community library Mystery/Susp= ense collections and reading lists, it should be noted that "City of Fortun=
e" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Victoria Thompson (http://www.victoriathompson.com) is the = Edgar and Agatha award-nominated author of the Gaslight Mysteries including=
Murder on Pleasant Avenue, and the Counterfeit Lady Mysteries including Ci=
ty of Scoundrels.

Death on a Winter Stroll
Francine Mathews
Soho Crime
c/o Soho Press
853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
www.sohopress.com
9781641292740, $27.95, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Winter-Stroll-Folger-Nantucket-Mystery/dp/1641292741

Synopsis: Nantucket Police Chief Meredith Folger is acutely conscious of th=
e stress COVID-19 has placed on the community she loves. Although the islan=
d has proved a refuge for many during the pandemic, the cost to Nantucket h=
as been high. Merry hopes that the Christmas Stroll, one of Nantucket's fav= orite traditions, in which Main Street is transformed into a winter wonderl= and, will lift the island's spirits. But the arrival of a large-scale TV pr= oduction, and the Secretary of State and her family, complicates matters si= gnificantly.

The TV shoot is plagued with problems from within, as a shady, power-hungry=
producer clashes with strong-willed actors. Across Nantucket, the Secretar= y's troubled stepson keeps shaking off his security detail to visit a dilap= idated house near conservation land, where an intriguing recluse guards sec= rets of her own. With all parties overly conscious of spending too much tim=
e in the public eye and secrets swirling around both camps, it is difficult=
to parse what behavior is suspicious or not -- until the bodies turn up.

Now, it's up to Merry and Detective Howie Seitz to find a connection betwee=
n two seemingly unconnected murders and catch the killer. But when everyone=
has a motive, and half of the suspects are politicians and actors, how can=
Merry and Howie tell fact from fiction?

Critique: This latest installment in critically acclaimed author Francine M= athews's Merry Folger series, "Death On A Winter Stroll" is an immersive es= cape to festive Nantucket, as well as a poignant exploration of grief as a = result of parental absence. A thoroughly entertaining mystery that plays fa=
ir with the reader while keeping them guessing, "Death On A Winter Stroll" =
is an especially an unreservedly recommended addition to community library = Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the perso= nal reading lists of all dedicated mystery fans that "Death On A Winter Str= oll" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Francine Mathews (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francine_Ma= thews) attended Princeton and Stanford Universities, where she studied hist= ory, before going on to work as an intelligence analyst at the CIA. She wro=
te her first book in 1992 and left the Agency a year later. Since then, she=
has written thirty books, including six previous novels in the Merry Folge=
r series (Death in the Off-Season, Death in Rough Water, Death in a Mood In= digo, Death in a Cold Hard Light, Death on Nantucket, and Death on Tuckernu= ck) as well as the nationally bestselling Being a Jane Austen mystery serie=
s, which she writes under the pen name Stephanie Barron.

Devil's Delight: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
M.C. Beaton, author
R. W. Green, author
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250816160, $26.99, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Delight-Agatha-Mystery-Mysteries/dp/125081616=
5

Synopsis: Agatha Raisin and her assistant, Toni, are driving to their frien=
d Bill Wong's long-awaited wedding, thinking of nothing more than what the = beautiful bride will be wearing when a terrified (and nude!) young man come=
s running down the country lane towards them.

The encounter leads them to become embroiled with a naturist group, a disap= pearing corpse, fantasy games, witchcraft, an ice cream empire, intrigue an=
d murder. In the meantime, Agatha's hectic life swirls along at dizzying pa= ce, her private detective agency as busy as ever and her private affairs in=
turmoil, with old loves to contend with and a new suitor on the scene.

But when she begins to close in on a suspected murderer, she finds herself =
in deadly peril, as the sinister nature of the ice cream business leads her=
to a chilling conclusion!

Critique: Another inherently fascinating and impressively original 'whodunn= it' cozy mystery from the mind, imagination, and storytelling talents of th=
e late novelist M. C. Beaton (completed with the posthumous assistance of c= o-author R. W. Green), "Devil's Delight" is an extraordinary and fun read r= eplete with memorable characters and unexpected plot twists, turns, and sur= prises. Highly recommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspe= nse collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of the g= rowing legions of M. C. Beaton fans that "Devil's Delight" is also availabl=
e in a paperback edition (9781250816184, $8.99), in a digital book format (= Kindle, $13.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Au= dio, 9781665037099, $29.95, CD).

Editorial Note #1: M. C. Beaton (1936-2019) won international acclaim for h=
er New York Times bestselling Agatha Raisin novels and Hamish Macbeth myste= ries. Her Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth titles have sold more than 21 mi= llion copies worldwide and have both been adapted into BBC television serie=
s. She has been hailed as the "Queen of Crime" by the Toronto Globe and Mai=
l, and her books have been translated into seventeen languages.

Editorial Note #2: R. W. Green, a long-time friend of M. C. Beaton, has wri= tten numerous works of fiction and nonfiction. He lives in Surrey with his = family and a black Labrador called Flynn.

The Game is a Footnote
Vicki Delany
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639101450, $26.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Footnote-Sherlock-Holmes-Bookshop-Mystery/dp/1639101= 454

Synopsis: Scarlet House, now a historical re-enactment museum, is the oldes=
t building in West London, Massachusetts. When things start moving around o=
n their own, board members suggest that Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock = Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, might be able to get to the bottom of it. Gem=
ma doesn't believe in ghosts, but she agrees to 'eliminate the impossible'.=
But when Gemma and Jayne stumble across a dead body on the property, they'=
re forced to consider an all too non-metaphysical threat.

Gemma and Jayne suspect foul play as they start to uncover more secrets abo=
ut the museum. With the museum being a revolving door for potential killers=
, they have plenty of options for who might be the actual culprit. Despite = Gemma's determination not to get further involved, it would appear that onc=
e again, and much to the displeasure of Detective Ryan Ashburton, the game =
is afoot.

Will Gemma and Jayne be able to solve the mystery behind the haunted museum=
, or will they be the next to haunt it?

Critique: A fun and finely crafted 'whodunnit' cosy mystery, novelist Vicki=
Delany's "The Game Is A Footnote" is the latest addition to her 'A Sherloc=
k Holmes Bookshop Mystery' series. This original, clever, and inherently fa= scinating story is highly recommended for readers attracted to Amateur Fema=
le Sleuths. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) = and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape, 9781666628142, $22= ..99), "The Game Is A Footnote" will prove to be an enduringly popular contr= ibution to community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Vicki Delany (http://vickidelany.com) is the author of more=
than thirty novels/novellas in several of mystery's subgenres. Born in Man= itoba and raised in Ontario, she is the former president of the Crime Write=
rs of Canada, a member of Capital Crime Writers, and a member of Sisters in=
Crime.

Snuffed Out
Valona Jones
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639102051, $26.99, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Snuffed-Magic-Candle-Shop-Mystery/dp/1639102051

Synopsis: 30-year-old twin sisters Tabby and Sage Winslow own The Book and = Candle Shop in Savannah. Sage is hot-headed and impulsive while Tabby is ca=
lm and collected, making them the perfect partnership. When one of their cu= stomers is found murdered, from a blow to the head, that partnership is put=
to the test.

Blithe McAdam had been seen in a heated argument with shop clerk Gerard, wh= ich immediately makes him suspect number one. The twins are convinced of Ge= rard's innocence and start digging into Blithe's past. But no one is cooper= ating. The neighbor who found the body isn't talking, medical examiner Quig=
won't give any details about the autopsy, and nasty rumors begin surfacing=
about the drowning of Blithe's father years earlier -- evidence that could=
seal Gerard's fate.

Tabby and Sage dig desperately for the truth. But it's not only their frien=
d who's in peril. With the clock ticking, the twins find themselves in the = grip of an unseen and deadly energy that has seeped into their midst -- and=
in the sights of a ruthless killer!

Critique: A master of the cosy mystery genre, novelist and storyteller Valo=
na Jones' "Snuffed Out" is a part of the author's simply outstanding 'A Mag=
ic Candle Shop' mystery series. Certain to appeal to fans of culinary/craft= /hobby 'whodunnit' mysteries, "Snuffed Out" is a mystery lover's delight fr=
om cover to cover. While highly recommended, especially for community libra=
ry Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading li= sts that "Snuffed Out" is also available in a paperback edition (9781639104= 499, $19.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99), and as a complete = and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666628166, $22.99, CD)

Editorial Note: Valona Jones (https://www.valonajones.com) writes paranorma=
l cozy mysteries set in Southern locales. Her work blends mystery and the u= nexplained, along with a sprinkle of romance. A former scientist, she's dra=
wn to the study of personal energy. She sharpened her people-watching skill=
s as a lifelong introvert and thankfully had a bank vault full of personal = observations when she began to write fiction.

Hidden in the Pines
Victoria Houston
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639101474, $29.99, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Pines-Lew-Ferris-Mystery/dp/1639101470

Synopsis: It's Lew Ferris's first day as the newly-elected Sheriff of McBri=
de County, and already things are heating up in the Wisconsin Northwoods. T=
he tragic drowning of a teenage girl draws an eerie parallel to the unsolve=
d murder of another teen thirty years earlier, but one of Lew's new subordi= nates (Alan Stern, Chief of the Deer Haven Police Department) has ruled it =
an accidental death by drowning.

Neither Lew nor the girl's family accept the ruling, but Lew is up against =
a wall of sexism and subterfuge. Not only is Stern belligerent and dismissi=
ve of Lew, but he takes the word of the local coroner, Ed Pecore, who Lew b= elieves is completely unqualified for the job.

Adding to Lew's headaches, an unwelcome interference in the case by a multi= millionaire resident reopens a cold case that stretches back decades -- and=
could lead to an anguished relative taking justice into his own hands to a= venge a crime the cops never solved.

And when Lew's dear friend, Dr. Paul "Doc" Osborne, finds himself witness t=
o a sophisticated money laundering scheme that could threaten the lives of = his daughter and her close friend, Lew finally feels like she's reached the=
breaking point.

The fish may be biting in McBride County -- but now, Lew is on the line to = uncover the long-buried secret that could ensnare a killer once and for all=
..

Critique: A consummate 'whodunnit' novel of impressive originality and with=
more plot twists and turns than a Coney Island rollercoaster, "Hidden In T=
he Pines" by novelist Victoria Houston will have a special appeal for reade=
rs with an interest in police Procedurals and small town fiction. While hig= hly recommended as a community library Mystery/Suspense collection pick, it=
should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated suspense thril= ler fans that "Hidden In The Pines" is also available in a digital book for= mat (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscap=
e Media, 9781666628111, $22.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Victoria Houston (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Ho= uston) is the author of the Loon Lake Mystery Series set in the Northwoods =
of Wisconsin against a background of fishing. An award-winning author speci= alizing in family issues, she has also written six non-fiction books.

Flight Risk
Cherie Priest
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
9781982168926, $27.00, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Risk-Novel-Booking-Agents/dp/1982168927

Synopsis: When psychic travel agent Leda Foley is approached by a man searc= hing for his sister, she quickly agrees to help. The missing woman disappea= red with a vintage orange car, a fat sack of her employer's cash, and a gru= dge against her philandering husband -- a man who never even reported her m= issing.

Meanwhile, Seattle PD detective Grady Merritt has temporarily misplaced his=
dog. While he's passing out bright pink "Lost" flyers at the Mount Rainier=
visitor's center, the wayward pooch appears -- with a human leg in his mou= th.

Thanks to DNA matching, Grady learns that the leg has something to do with = Leda's new client, and soon the two cases are tangled.

Critique: Of special appeal to fans of women sleuths, magical realism, poli=
ce procedurals, and 'whodunnit' mysteries, "Flight Risk" by Cherie Priest w= ill prove a welcome addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collecti= ons. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Flight Risk" is al=
so available in a paperback edition (9781982168933, $17.99), a digital book=
format (Kindle, $10.00), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blac= kstone Audio, 9781797148427, $39.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Cherie Priest (https://www.cheriepriest.com) is the author =
of "Boneshaker" which was nominated for a Nebula and Hugo Award, won the Lo= cus Award for best science-fiction novel, and was named Steampunk Book of t=
he Year by steampunk.com. She is also the author of "Dreadnought", Boneshak= er's sequel, and of the near-contemporary fantasy Fathom. She debuted to gr= eat acclaim with a trilogy of Southern gothic ghost stories featuring heroi=
ne Eden Moore which included "Four and Twenty Blackbirds", "Wings to the Ki= ngdom", and "Not Flesh nor Feathers".

Punishment of a Hunter: A Leningrad Confidential
Yulia Yakovleva, author
Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp, translator
Pushkin Vertigo
c/o Pushkin Press
www.pushkinpress.com
9781782276791, $16.95, PB, 400pp

https://www.amazon.com/Punishment-Hunter-Leningrad-Confidential/dp/17822767=
93

Synopsis: 1930s Leningrad. Stalin is tightening his grip on the Soviet Unio=
n, and a mood of fear cloaks the city. Detective Vasily Zaitsev is tasked w= ith investigating a series of bizarre and seemingly motiveless homicides. A=
s the curious deaths continue, precious Old Master paintings start to disap= pear from the Hermitage collection. Could the crimes be connected?

When Zaitsev sets about his investigations, he meets with obstruction at ev= ery turn. Soon even he comes under suspicion from the Soviet secret police.=
The resolute detective must battle an increasingly dangerous political sit= uation in his dogged quest to find the murderer -- and stay alive.

Critique: A deftly crafted suspense thriller novel of the first order, "Pun= ishment of a Hunter: A Leningrad Confidential" by gifted author Yulia Vakov= leva is ably translated into English for an American readership by Ruth Ahm= edzai Kemp. The result is a simply riveting and original novel that is espe= cially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and academic l= ibrary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for dedicated inter= national mystery buffs that "Punishment of a Hunter: A Leningrad Confidenti= al" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Editorial Note #1: Yulia Yakovleva (https://pushkinpress.com/our-authors/yu= lia-yakovleva) is a writer, theatre and ballet critic, and playwright. She =
is particularly known for two types of historical fiction set in Stalin-era=
Leningrad: the award-winning children's chapter book series The Leningrad = Tales that confront Soviet history, and the thrilling new series of detecti=
ve novels about Leningrad police investigator Vasily Zaitsev. Yakovleva rec= eived her MA from School of Creative Arts of the University of Hertfordshir=
e. She lives in Oslo, Norway, with her husband and son.

Editorial Note #2: Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp (https://ruthahmedzaikemp.com) transl= ates literature from Arabic, German and Russian into English. Her work has = been short listed for many prestigious prizes including the Helen & Kurt Wo= lff Translator's Prize.

The Den
Cara Renard
www.carareinard.com
Thomas & Mercer
Brilliance Audio
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781542039765, $16.99, PB, 335pp

https://www.amazon.com/Den-Cara-Reinard/dp/1542039762

Synopsis: Nothing brings the four Fox siblings together like their detestab=
le father's heart attack -- and a hefty inheritance to be divided equally. =
At his deathbed is his oldest daughter, Valerie; her irresponsible sister, = Lucy; and their two embattled brothers, Christian and Jeremy. Even the form=
er housekeeper, Marian, who's been with the family for forty years, is on w= atch. All Valerie hopes for is an amicable reunion, despite the damages of = the past.

By punishing means, Stefan Fox raised his children to be competitors. The c= ruel lessons now serve them well in a game of life and death. When it comes=
to the family fortune, the rules are simple: fewer siblings means a bigger=
share.

After a suspicious accident, Valerie knows the worst is yet to come -- and = that confiding in the wrong person could be the most dangerous thing she's = ever done.

Critique: A deftly crafted novel of psychological suspense by an author wit=
h a genuine mastery of the genre, as well as having an impressive flair for=
originality and the kind of narrative storytelling talents the keep the re= ader's compulsive and riveted attention from first page to last, "The Den" =
by Cara Reinard" is an especially recommended addition to community library=
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading list=
s that "The Den" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99)=
, and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance Audio, 9781713656= 098, $19.99, MP3-CD).

Editorial Note: Cara Reinard (www.carareinard.com) is an author of women's = fiction and novels of domestic suspense, including Into the Sound and Sweet=
Water.

Rough Justice
Burt Weissbourd
Rare Bird Books
https://rarebirdlit.com
9781644283097, $20.00, PB, 232pp

https://www.amazon.com/Rough-Justice-Callie-Cash-2/dp/1644283093

Synopsis: "When you get out of jail, don't ever come back here."

Callie James thought those were the last words she'd ever speak to Cash Log= an. Two years later, in Danger in Plain Sight, Callie and Cash become an im= probable, incompatible team that faces down money launderers, weapons deale= rs, and professional hit men -- all while unraveling a conspiracy and ultim= ately saving her business and their own lives.

With the publication of "Rough Justice" by Burt Weissbourd, Callie and Cash=
are back, and their now shared lives are about to be shaken to the core. I= t's been a year since they had to take on unexpected, lethal adversaries. H= aving lived through twists and turns, drama and life-threatening danger tog= ether -- they realize they are wildly in love.

The smooth sailing abruptly ends when a half-Algerian female guest, twenty-= five-year-old Sara, appears at Callie's restaurant with a shocking, unbelie= vable story. Someone is trying to kill her, and they've stolen her identity=
.. Desperate for Callie and Cash's help, she shares a stunning, life-changin=
g secret.

Called to action, Callie and Cash assemble their unconventional ragtag fami=
ly - including peg-legged Andre, and Itzac, "The Macher." Together, they go=
to war with formidable adversaries to attempt to save Sara, putting their = own lives on the line. The fierce, global battle leads to Cuba, where they = launch an audacious offensive that's shocking even to themselves... and wil=
l absolutely take your breath away.

Critique: As a novelist, Burt Weissbourd is a master of the Amateur Sleuth/= Crime Thriller genre and his newest story, "Rough Justice" continues to dem= onstrate his genuine flair of originality and the kind of riveting and narr= ative driven storytelling style that makes for a truly entertaining and mem= orable read from first page to last. While also available for personal read= ing lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.49), "Rough Justice" is unr= eservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: From 1977 until 1986, Burt Weissbourd (https://burtweissbou= rd.com) developed screenplays working with screenwriters including Frederic=
Raphael (Two for the Road), Alvin Sargent (Ordinary People), Andy Lewis (K= lute), Stewart Stern (Rebel Without a Cause), and many others. He also work=
ed with actors including Robert Redford, Lily Tomlin, Goldie Hawn, Sally Fi= eld, Diane Keaton, and Al Pacino. During this time he produced films such a=
s Ghost Story, based on the novel by Peter Straub and starring Fred Astaire=
, and Raggedy Man, starring Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard.

Truth is a Flightless Bird
Akbar Hussain
Iskanchi Press
https://www.iskanchi.com
9781957810034, $25.00, PB, 300pp

https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Flightless-Bird-Akbar-Hussain/dp/1957810033

Synopsis: Nice (real name, Theresa) has just arrived Nairobi airport where = she will be picked up by her old friend, Duncan, an American pastor for a s= mall evangelical denomination. Duncan cannot know that Nice is fleeing her = life choices, and her UN job in Mogadishu.

She believes she is too innocent-looking, too nice, for anyone to suspect t= hat she is smuggling drugs. But Nice has not contended with her drug-dealer=
Somali boyfriend having an associate in the Kenya Police Service.

Duncan's car crashes on the way back from the airport. Duncan awakes after = the car crash, to find himself captive to the sociopathic policeman, Hinga,=
and the charmingly amoral Ciru. Nice is gone. Plucked from his expat bubbl=
e, Duncan must plunge into the moral complexities of the under-city to get = Nice back.

But how deep can Duncan go, without destroying his faith, and himself?

Critique: A deftly crafted and riveting read from first page to last, "Trut=
h Is A Flightless Bird" by novelist Akbar Hussain is an impressively writte=
n crime thriller with more unexpected twists and turns that a Coney Island = roller coaster. The stuff of which movies are made (and this one is soon to=
be a major television series), "Truth Is A Flightless Bird" is highly reco= mmended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It = should be noted for personal reading lists of suspense/thriller fans that "= Truth Is A Flightless Bird" is also available in a digital book format (Kin= dle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: A lawyer and co-founder of a successful fintech startup, Ak= bar Hussain (https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09TL4G223/about) lived i=
n Nairobi for 7 years and currently resides in New York.

Nature's Bite
Mark Anthony Powers
www.markanthonypowers.com
Hawksbill Press
9781737032946, $16.99 Paper/$6.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Bite-Novel-Phineas-Mann/dp/1737032945

In Nature's Bite, Dr. Phineas Mann is no ordinary physician, but is assigne=
d to investigate a novel asthma drug treatment developed by the pharmaceuti= cal corporation SynMedical. It's a drug too many will die for in more ways = than one, as Phineas and fellow doctor Marie Porter find out the hard way.

Deeply wound into the story are the political struggles and conflicts of a = Republican president in his final year in office, the climate change warmin=
g that is triggering increases in asthma and other medical issues, and the = special forces that have led the FBI to Dr. Mann's doorstep.

In many ways, Phineas is just a country doctor. He's operated away from the=
political quagmire that has overtaken the country and cultivates a rich ho=
me life with wife Iris, a foster beagle, and the more laid-back job a 70-ye= ar-old physician should be enjoying as a teacher supervising interns and re= sidents. The last thing he should be doing at this point in his life is tac= kling a medical conundrum that holds its roots in politics, climate crisis,=
and subterfuge. But, thankfully for readers, he does.

And Mark Anthony Powers's attention to details of personal and political mi= lieus carries readers into the story with a vigor and attraction that myste=
ry genre formula writing productions too often lack. Phineas may be a senio=
r citizen now, but he's clearly not ready to hang up his medical expertise =
or investigative skills.

Both are demonstrated in a story replete with exquisite action, solid atten= tion to the details and conundrums of a personal lifestyle that butts heads=
with an edict to investigate a new drug, and the ethical and moral issues = which arise as he uncovers new truths that place him in uncomfortable posit= ions both personally and professionally.

Powers has created a medical mystery that goes above and beyond the usual m= edical dilemma to add a special focus and flavor surrounding the ironies an=
d inconsistencies of politics. Its special blend of satirical reflection an=
d heart-pounding action makes Nature's Bite not just a cut above the ordina=
ry for mystery libraries seeking medical thrillers, but worthy of recommend= ation to book club readers. This audience will find much food for thought a=
nd discussion, providing opportunities to contrast its world-changing theme=
s with other genre approaches to medical suspense writing.

The Whispering Woman
Trish MacEnulty
Prism Light Press
9781737575177, $17.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Whispering-Women-Delafield-Malloy-Investigation/dp/1= 737575175

The Whispering Woman pairs the investigative activities of Louisa Delafield=
and Ellen Malloy, two young women who never saw themselves as investigator=
s, much less connected to one another by circumstances beyond their control=
..

Author Trish MacEnulty presents a satisfyingly original take on the mystery=
and murder thriller genre from the start in creating historical fiction se=
t in New York's Gilded Age and tackling the concurrent themes of class, gen= der, and economic status. These work alongside puzzling events that reach o=
ut to grasp the story's main characters and their readers alike.

The turn of the century world of 1901 opens with a headline reporting the m= urder of an ex-pillar of society (now financially bankrupt) whose body is d= iscovered in a hotel room. The scene quickly moves to Louisa's consultation=
with a lawyer who informs her that the family's inheritance money has been=
exhausted. Louisa readily admits that she hasn't been paying attention ("T=
oo busy with work, she had told herself, but the real reason was that she d= idn't want to face the truth. She much preferred the illusion that their sm= all well of money would magically refill itself the way it seemed to do in = all the wealthy families."). Nor has she been paying attention to the fact = that her station in life has been dipping steadily, and that the Delafields=
are now poor.

Marriage, the usual solution to maintaining one's wealth, is not an option = because her father's actions have tarnished the family name, as well. Given=
all this, the relationship that evolves between Louisa and Ellen, who come=
s from a different social class herself, is unexpected and unusual, fraught=
with insights each faces as conundrums force them to work together under e= xtraordinary circumstances.

MacEnulty's ability to contrast these disparate personalities and their exp= eriences to bring forth the underlying strengths and attitudes of each char= acter is one facet that sets this historical mystery apart from many others=
.. The social, political, and investigative story makes for thoroughly engro= ssing reading, powered by two equally capable young women who find their li= ves changed by their association, actions, and their consequences.

Also especially thought-provoking is the fact that other opportunities bela=
y the usual mystery's focus on non-investigators who are somehow intrinsica= lly drawn to the life of a P.I. In this case, the women are reluctant parti= cipants who also have other choices, as in Louisa's contemplation of her ot= her options: "It seemed that her readers enjoyed hearing about the seamier = side of life. She supposed she could find more topics like that, and the ra= ise had improved their financial situation somewhat. She should be satisfie=
d. There was no need to go chasing after doctors and abductors."

The result offers more of a flavor of history and psychology than most stor= ies about women sleuths, injecting realistic and thought-provoking insights=
about not just their investigative prowess, but the kinds of options they = face in re-envisioning their lives.

The Whispering Woman is described as a "Delafield & Malloy Investigation," = which also defines not a newfound career path so much as a course of action=
.. It will attract beyond the usual genre of women investigators with its sp= ecial focus on social status and the struggles turn-of-the-century women fa= ced, and is highly recommended for libraries seeking exceptional acquisitio=
ns in not just mysteries, but women's literature.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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