The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Manning a Raptor
AA Freda
West Point Print and Media LLC
https://www.westpointprintandmedia.com
9781957582931, $24.99 Hardcover/$14.99 Paper
https://www.amazon.com/Manning-Raptor-Aa-Freda/dp/1957582936
Thriller readers can here expect another powerful interplay of the commandi=
ng personalities of James and his wife Sam, who navigate business, politica=
l, and personal interests with a forthright assertiveness that powers both = their relationship and the story's evolution. Here, the Coppis head a power= ful global empire that influences (if not holds) the effort to overthrow go= vernments. Their latest venture into acquiring railroads and fielding accom= panying political and economic controversy involves both characters in a fi= ght that challenges not just their opulent lifestyle and ambitions, but the=
ir relationship with their growing family.
AA Freda paints an involving story of power, love, and international intrig=
ue that carries the characters from their lavish lifestyle and success into=
the murkier waters of political influence and control. The obstacles and c= omplexities that wealth introduces to their family life also tests ethical = and moral compasses as employees, employers, and friends find their connect= ions tested and their commitments questioned. Events unfold in cat-and-mous=
e games that became complex as interplays between characters introduce furt= her issues into the husband-and-wife relationship and the structure they fi= ght to preserve around their family life.
As fictional writer and company controller Miles Cornish surveys the above-= board proceedings and back-room operations of the business and its leaders,=
it's hard to say what element is more commanding or compelling: the person=
al strengths of the main characters, or the issues that arise to test them.=
James notes: "Sic transit gloria mundi." When Sam questions his conclusion=
, he lets her know what someday she will have to step up to replace him as = leader: "It's Latin - - an ancient Roman saying. The literal translation is=
, 'thus passes the glory of the world.' What it means is that 'all glory is=
fleeting.' It's to remind someone who is having success that it won't last=
forever."
The rollicking journey of intrigue that Sam and James experience will delig=
ht both newcomers to their action-packed adventures and those who have enjo= yed previous Coppi stories. Libraries and readers interested in thrillers t= hat profile two equally powerful partners in love, business, and foreign af= fairs will find Manning a Raptor a powerful exploration that grabs with soc= ial, political, and psychological inspection and doesn't let go.
A Song for Leonard
A.I. Fabler
https://www.aifabler.com
Wild & Lawless
9780473638436, $16.99 paper/$3.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BPPW7685
"How long is three minutes when every second commands your attention, and e= very one of them ends up being relived over and over, until it has become a=
pattern in your DNA?"
A Song for Leonard presents a mystery of a different ilk, opening with the = reflective passage above and moving into an unusual encounter that takes pl= ace in 1978 on the streets of New York City, where a beautiful singer/songw= riter is murdered on the streets. Was she a perp that chose the wrong victi=
m? One wouldn't expect a polite New England girl to demand money in a stree=
t mugging, to own a small gun to back her demand, or to smile with a mouth = full of blackened teeth like a nightmare Medusa.
Fast forward to 1996, eighteen years later, when Charles Bateman returns to=
New York City to confront his demons and the mystery surrounding Suzanne F= inch's murder and the implication of Charles, her intended victim, in the c= rime. Intent on clearing his name, Charles embarks on a journey of discover=
y that juxtaposes his defense with his investigation into the singer's moti= vations, life, and the legacy of her songs -- particularly 'A Song for Leon= ard', which may hold strange answers to dangerous questions.
Readers who follow this New York-steeped crime story will find Charles's fo= ray into the arts world inviting and thoroughly engrossing. A.I. Fabler cre= ates an atmospheric, tension-laden read in a tale replete with unexpected t= wists and turns. The story and characters come to life in ways the typical = murder account don't touch, making A Song for Leonard a powerful investigat= ion of New York City culture and conundrums that grabs the imagination with=
many possibilities couched in a powerful series of revelations and self-di= scoveries.
Libraries seeking exceptional intrigue that unfolds over different social s= trata of New York City's culture and changing times will find A Song for Le= onard a standout. Its intrigue and inspection lingers in the mind long afte=
r resolution is reached and answers provided in this musical interlude of d= iscovery.
Fade to Blue
Hank Scheer
Top Reads Publishing
https://www.topreadspublishing.com
9781970107357, $16.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Fade-Blue-Hank-Scheer-ebook/dp/B0BS4DXMFJ
https://www.topreadspublishing.com/book-list/fade-to-blue
Combine a thriller story with the ethical inspection of an overworked medic=
al researcher convinced that her work can change the world for the foundati= ons of a powerful examination of medical possibility and danger that is Fad=
e to Blue.
The story opens with pain ... Sarah's pain, as she struggles to rebuild her=
stamina after quitting smoking. This effort accompanies a brutal work sche= dule surrounding the search for a treatment for Alzheimer's that could chan=
ge the world. It all could be so much easier if she were free to conduct th=
e one forbidden experiment that could result in real change.
The lure proves too much as Sarah gives in to her convictions that her rese= arch is illuminating a path of positivity that others can't see, only to fi=
nd that, in fact, its results introduce a nightmare, involving her in terro= rism and brain-destroying power.
Hank Scheer crafts a powerful story and a set of characters that swirl arou=
nd Sarah's decision with equally significant objectives and perspectives th=
at clash in unusual ways. There are chase scenes, foreign backdrops, and fo= rces set in motion that jeopardize not only Sarah's life and her purpose, b=
ut the results of an experiment gone dangerously awry.
As deaths mount and Sarah finds herself far from her objectives and her sup= portive friends, readers follow her into a world replete with ethical and p= olitical twists. Scheer masterfully accents the changing landscapes and sit= uations that move from a research's illicit decision to lives and nations a= ffected by the release of a new force of adversity and challenge into the w= orld. He navigates Sarah's changing perceptions with a deft hand to outlini=
ng criminal and legal special interests alike; both of whom intersect with = Sarah's life in unpredictable ways.
Thriller readers (especially those interested in medical conundrums which l= ead the protagonist into uncharted ethical territory) will relish how the t= echnological and medical aspects of the story neatly dovetail with individu=
al perspectives and special interests. Libraries seeking medical thrillers = which do a fine job of adding international intrigue into their mix will fi=
nd Fade to Blue a powerful story of pain, redemption, and an earth-shatteri=
ng mission to deploy a drug which could be used for good or evil, depending=
upon who controls it.
The strong characters, fast-paced action, and ethical dilemmas create thoug= ht-provoking reading suitable for book club discussion, contrasting nicely = with other standout medical thriller genre reads.
Assumed
MHR Geer
https://mhrgeer.com
MG3 Publishing
9798987115923, $13.99, PB, 296pp
https://www.amazon.com/ASSUMED-MHR-Geer/dp/B0BNW778K1
Synopsis: When her friend Sandy asks for help, Anne Wilson leaves her small=
, lonely life in Miami for the picturesque island of Saint Martin. But as s= oon as she arrives, Sandy is murdered, and her death exposes lies: an alias=
, a secret past, stolen money. Suspected of murder and trapped on the islan=
d, Anne is shocked when a cryptic message arrives:
Find the money. Take it and run.
She follows Sandy's trail of obscure clues, desperate for proof of her inno= cence and must decide if she can trust the two men who offer help-the dark,=
mysterious Brit or the American with a wide grin and a pickup truck. When = memories resurface-dark truths she'd rather leave buried and forgotten, her=
past becomes intertwined with her present.
Her only way forward is to face her own secrets.
Critique: A deftly crafted and inherently riveting read with more plot twis=
ts and turns than a Disneyland roller-coaster, "Assumed" by novelist MHR Ge=
er will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in novels th=
at feature murder, romance, suspense. An original and inherently compelling=
thriller from beginning to end, "Assumed" is especially and unreservedly r= ecommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections.=
It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated murder myst= ery fans that "Assumed" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,=
$3.99).
Editorial Note: MHR Geer (
https://mhrgeer.com) was born in California but r= aised in the Midwest. After studying Physics at the University of Californi=
a, Santa Barbara, she started a bookkeeping business. MHR enjoys reading su= spense and is always delighted with an unexpected twist. "Assumed" is her d= ebut novel.
The Fishhook Rebellion: Hawai'i 1847
Dan Gooder Richard
https://www.dangooderrichard.com
Inkspiration Media, LLC
https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_va/S3797307
9781939319340, $24.95, PB, 614pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fishhook-Rebellion-Hawaii-Dancer-Advenure/dp/1939319= 34X
Synopsis: It's the antebellum days of 1847: Correspondent Samantha Swift's = voyage from New York to Hawai'i to return a kidnapped island girl turns dea= dly as she struggles to survive aboard a transport ship at the center of th=
e very opium and sex trafficking ring she is determined to expose. From a F= ive Points brothel in Manhattan to the howling graveyard of Cape Horn to th=
e cyclone-of-the-century off Robinson Crusoe Island in the Pacific someone = wants Swift dead - and will do anything to make that happen.
Meanwhile secret agent Jack Dancer's around-the-world odyssey is driven by = orders from President James K. Polk to discover Napoleon's long-lost Maltes=
e treasure before an unknown foreign power finds the trove (and buys domina= tion in the Pacific) a domination that could threaten the new California te= rritory. Duty propels Dancer from the same New York brothel to a stolen not= ebook in Paris to a Christmas tryst in Cairo and headlong into cutthroats i=
n Zanzibar and reeking death temples in Tahiti.
But as Swift and Dancer's separate trails of danger and death interweave no= thing can stop the ruthless and murderous drive of their enemies to achieve=
their ends. Nothing -- that is until Swift and Dancer meet up in the "whal= er's hellhole of the Pacific:" Lahaina, Maui. There they are forced to put = aside their mutual dislikes after they uncover a secret so explosive it cou=
ld destroy America's fragile young republic forever.
Against all odds Swift and Dancer follow an elusive trail stalked by a sadi= stic killer determined to beat them to one of the world's greatest treasure=
s. Only to find themselves in a lost world both wondrous and horrifying whe=
re the Hawaiian chiefs have long guarded an ancient secret -- until now!
Critique: Comparable in dimension to James A. Michener's "Hawaii", Dan Good=
er Richard's veritable saga of an historical novel, "The Fishhook Rebellion=
: Hawai'i 1847" is the stuff of which block buster movies are made and will=
have a very special appeal to readers who enjoy a deft blending of women's=
suspense thriller and military action/adventure. The creation of memorable=
characters, a plot with more twists and turns than a Disneyland roller-coa= ster, "The Fishhook Rebellion: Hawai'i 1847" is one of those works of liter= ary fiction that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long afte=
r the book is finished and set back upon the shelf. While available for per= sonal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), "The Fishhook=
Rebellion: Hawai'i 1847" is an especially and unreservedly recommended add= ition to community, college, and university library Historical Fiction coll= ections.
Editorial Note: Dan Gooder Richard (
https://www.dangooderrichard.com) earne=
d a bachelor's in history blasting water wells in India with the Peace Corp=
s. He earned his master's in journalism at Missouri. Dan's middle name come=
s from his maternal grandfather: Leslie MacDonald Gooder who was a publishe=
r in Chicago from the early 1910s through the 1950s. Dan carried on the fam= ily name in publishing. After he and his wife sold their marketing/publishi=
ng business in 2016 Dan turned his full-time attention to writing historica=
l adventures.
Death of A Dancing Queen
Kimberly G. Giarratano
www.kimberlyggiarratano.com
Datura Books
https://twitter.com/DaturaBooks
9781915202420, $15.99, PB, 344pp
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Dancing-Queen-Kimberly-Giarratano/dp/191520242=
6
Synopsis: After her mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis, Billie Levine revamped = her grandfather's private investigation firm and set up shop in the corner = booth of her favorite North Jersey deli hoping the free pickles and flexibl=
e hours would allow her to take care of her mom and pay the bills. So when = Tommy Russo, a rich kid with a nasty drug habit, offers her a stack of cash=
to find his missing girlfriend, how can she refuse? At first, Billie think=
s this will be easy earnings, but then her missing person's case turns into=
a murder investigation and Russo is the detective bureau's number one susp= ect.
Suddenly Billie is embroiled in a deadly gang war that's connected to the d= ecades-old disappearance of a famous cabaret dancer with ties to both an in= famous Jewish mob and a skinhead group. Toss in the reappearance of Billie'=
s hunky ex-boyfriend with his own rap sheet, and she is regretting every de= cision that got her to this point. Becoming a P.I. was supposed to solve he=
r problems. But if Billie doesn't crack this case, the next body the police=
dredge out of the Hudson River will be hers.
Critique: A riveting read from first page to last, "Death of a Dancing Quee=
n" by novelist Kimberly G. Giarratano will have a very special appeal to fa=
ns of female PI stories. Original and with more plot twists than a Disneyla=
nd roller-coaster, "Death of a Dancing Queen" is highly recommended for per= sonal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It = should be noted that "Death of a Dancing Queen" is also readily available i=
n a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Kimberly G. Giarratano (www.kimberlyggiarratano.com) is an = author of mysteries for teens and adults. Her debut novel, Grunge Gods and = Graveyards, won the 2015 Silver Falchion Award for Best YA at Killer Nashvi= lle. A former librarian, she is currently an instructor at a SUNY Orange Co= unty Community College and a reviewer for BookPage. She is also the chapter=
liaison for Sisters in Crime.
Orders To Kill
Edward Marston
Isis Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
https://www.ulverscroft.com
9780749027810, $41.00, Large Print, PB, 339pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/orders-to-kill-author-edward-marston/11387= 35012
Synopsis: December, 1917. Ada Hobbes arrives on a frosty morning to clean t=
he house owned by Dr Tindall, a surgeon at the Edmonton Military Hospital. = She is shocked to find the blood covered body of her employer who has been = hacked to death.
A horrific scene awaits Detective Inspector Harvey Marmion and Sergeant Joe=
Keedy. Someone clearly enjoyed killing the doctor. Their investigation tak=
es them far out of London and on the trail of a very different Dr Tindall, = one who was not the respectable local GP everyone thought he was.
Marmion and Keedy will need to sift through a number of likely suspects to = find the killer behind this gruesome murder.
Critique: A fun read that will have a special appeal to fans of historical = 'whodunnit' mysteries, "Orders To Kill" is part of author Edward Marston's = 'The Home Front Detective Series'. Originally published by Allison & Busby = and now available in a large print edition from Isis and Ulverscroft, "Orde=
rs To Kill" is enthusiastically recommended for the personal reading lists =
of dedicated mystery fans and community library Mystery/Suspense collection=
s.
Editorial Note: Edward Marston (the pseudonym of Keith Miles) has written w= ell over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for = his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow S= treet Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the H= ome Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Li= ner mysteries. (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Miles)
Mystery In White
J. Jefferson Farjeon
Charonwood Large Print / Thorpe
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
https://www.ulverscroft.com
9781444848915, $TBA, Large Print, PB, 248pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mystery-in-white-j-jefferson-farjeon/11245= 03717
Synopsis: On Christmas Eve, heavy snowfall brings a train to a halt near th=
e village of Hemmersby. Several passengers take shelter in a deserted count=
ry house, where the fire has been lit and the table laid for tea -- but no = one is at home. Trapped together for Christmas, the passengers are seeking =
to unravel the secrets of the empty house when a murderer strikes in their = midst!
Critique: "Mystery In White" by the late J. Jefferson Farjeon (4 June 1883 =
- 6 June 1955) is a classic Christmas mystery thriller that is now republis= hed for the first time since the 1930s in a large print paperback edition f= rom Thorpe/Charnwood Large Print and featuring an informative introduction =
by award-winning crime writer Martin Edwards. Complete and unabridged, "Mys= tery In White" is a true 'time-lost' classic that will be fully appreciated=
by a new general of readers and has the highest recommendation for both th=
e personal reading lists of dedicated mystery fans and community library My= stery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: J. Jefferson Farjeon (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_= Jefferson_Farjeon) was an English crime and mystery novelist, playwright an=
d screenwriter. His "Ben" novels were reissued in 2015 and 2016.
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone
Benjamin Stevenson
Mariner Books
www.marinerbooks.com
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonewholesale.com
9780063279025, $30.00, HC, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Family-Has-Killed-Someone/dp/0063279029
Synopsis: Ernest Cunningham claims that everyone in his family has killed s= omeone. Some of his killer relations are the high achievers, having killed = more than once. His is not trying to be dramatic, but is telling the truth.=
Some of his family members are good, others are bad, and some just unfortu= nate. Call him Ern or Ernie -- and now he wishes he would have killed whoev=
er decided our family reunion should be at a ski resort -- but things are a=
little more complicated than that. -- Has he killed someone? Why, yes he h= as. Who was it? -- Well let us get started.
Critique: One of the most unusual, entertainingly quirky, deftly crafted, a=
nd simply riveting murder thrillers featuring an impressive roster of untra= ditional characters, "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone" by author B= enjamin Stevenson is a terrific read from first page to last. While an espe= cially and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Mystery/S= uspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of a=
ll dedicated mystery buffs that "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone" =
is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99). Librar= ians should note that there is a large print paperback edition of "Everyone=
in My Family Has Killed Someone" (Harper Large Print, 9780063297197, $34.0=
0, 528pp), as well as being available as a complete and unabridged audio bo=
ok (Blackstone Audio, 9798212200752, $41.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Benjamin Stevenson (
https://benjaminstevensonauthor.com) is=
an award-winning stand-up comedian and author. Off-stage, Benjamin has wor= ked for publishing houses and literary agencies in Australia and the USA. H=
e currently works with some of Australia's best-loved authors at Curtis Bro=
wn Australia. He is also the author of Greenlight (shortlisted for the Ned = Kelly First Fiction Award) and Either Side of Midnight.
Murder in Postscript
Mary Winters
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
www.penguin.com
9780593548769, $17.00, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Postscript-Lady-Letters-Mystery/dp/0593548760
Synopsis: Amelia Amesbury (widow, mother, and countess) has a secret. Ameli=
a writes for a London penny paper, doling out advice on fashion, relationsh= ips, and manners under the pen name Lady Agony. But when a lady's maid writ=
es Amelia to ask for advice when she believes her mistress has been murdere=
d (and then ends up a victim herself) Amelia is determined to solve the cas=
e.
With the help of her best friend and a handsome marquis, Amelia begins to p= iece together the puzzle, but as each new thread of inquiry ends with a dif= ferent suspect, the investigation grows ever more daunting. From London's d= ocks and ballrooms to grand country houses, Amelia tracks a killer, putting=
her reputation and her life on the line!
Critique: A very special and original Victorian era cozy mystery set in 186=
0, "Murder in Postscript" by Mary Winters is a highly recommended and fun r= ead for all dedicated mystery fans. Featuring an unusual woman sleuth, nume= rous and expected plot twists on down to the final page, "Murder in Postscr= ipt" is unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense col= lections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicate=
d cozy mystery fans that "Murder in Postscript" is also readily available i=
n a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Mary Winters (
https://marywintersauthor.com) is the author =
of the Lady Agony mystery series. A longtime reader of historical fiction a=
nd an author of two other mystery series, Mary set her latest work in Victo= rian England after being inspired by a trip to London.
Downfall
Mark Rubinstein
Oceanview Publishing
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608095469, $27.95, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Downfall-Mark-Rubinstein/dp/1608095460
Synopsis: When Rick Shepherd, a physician, approaches his office on a busy = Manhattan street, he finds police cars, an ambulance, and crime scene techn= icians. He soon learns a passerby was shot three times in the back, murdere=
d at the front door to Rick's office.
Later that evening while watching the local news, Rick and his fiancee, Jac= kie, see a photo of the victim -- to their horror, the deceased looks ident= ical to Rick.
Two nights later, while making a house call in a Brooklyn apartment buildin=
g, Rick's 64-year-old father is shot and killed in the exact same way. Dete= ctives Art Nager and Liz Callaghan are assigned the case, and they launch a=
n investigation. There are no clues leading to the perpetrator.
Even more ominously, someone has been calling Rick and Jackie's apartment a=
nd hanging up. Whoever is targeting Rick must have murdered his father, and=
they now have Rick in their crosshairs. Nager and Callaghan seem to be mak= ing no progress with their investigation. Rick's quest for the truth draws = him into a labyrinth of secrets, past tragedies, and the agonizing pain of = lives shattered by a single event. Can he make it out before he meets the s= ame fate as his father?
Critique: A riveting suspense thriller of a crime novel, "Downfall" is anot= her compelling novel from the pen of author Mark Rubinstein and is certain =
to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Con= temporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal=
reading lists of the growing legion of Mark Rubinstein fans that "Downfall=
" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.49).
Editorial Note: Mark Rubinstein (
https://www.markrubinstein-author.com) is =
an award-winning novelist, physician, and psychiatrist who has written nonf= iction and suspense-thriller fiction. His books have won the IPPY Gold Awar=
d and two Benjamin Franklin Silver Awards. His Mad Dog Trilogy is under con= sideration for film or TV series adaptation
Murder at an Irish Castle
Ellie Brannigan
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639102587, $18.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Irish-Castle-Mystery/dp/1639102582
Synopsis: Rodeo Drive bridalwear designer Rayne McGrath expected her thirti= eth birthday to start with a power lunch and end with champagne, lobster, a=
nd a diamond engagement ring from her fiance. Instead, flat-broke and buste=
d, she's on a plane to Ireland where she discovers that she's inherited a r= un-down family castle.
But her Uncle Nevin's will contains a few caveats -- for example, if Rayne = doesn't turn McGrath Castle around within a year, the entire village will b=
e financially destroyed.
With the fate of the town in her hands, and rumors that Rayne's uncle's dea=
th wasn't actually an accident, she can't possibly go back to her old life =
in L.A. As the devastating truth about her uncle dawns on Rayne, it's not j= ust her reputation that's on the line, it's her life.
Critique: Featuring a sharp and endearing protagonist, a colorful and quirk=
y locale, and replete with twists and turns befitting an old Irish village,=
with the publication of "Murder at an Irish Castle", novelist Ellie Branni= gan launches the first title in her new Brannigan's cozy mystery series tha=
t is as romantic as it is deadly. A cosy style 'whodunnit' international cu= linary mystery featuring a woman sleuth, "Murder at an Irish Castle" is a v= ery special and highly recommended addition to both personal reading lists = and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that=
"Murder at an Irish Castle" is also available in a digital book format (Ki= ndle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media=
, 9781666628593, $22.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Ellie Brannigan, (
https://crookedlanebooks.com/ellie-branni= gan) also writes under the pseudonym of Traci Hall.
Lay This Body Down
Charles Fergus
Arcade Publishing
www.arcadepub.com
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781956763447, $26.99, HC, 312pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lay-This-Body-Down-Mystery/dp/1956763449
Synopsis: "Lay This Body Down" is a mystery novel by Charles Fergus that ta= kes place in 1837 during one of the most horrific periods in pre-Civil War = America, when dark skinned human beings were considered chattel and both no= rthern and southern states grew rich from slave labor. And when a Pennsylva= nia sheriff like Gideon could choose to uphold the federal Fugitive Slave A=
ct of 1793 or defy that racist law at great peril.
Critique: "Lay This Body Down" (the third novel in author Charles Fergus 'G= ideon Stoltz Mystery Series) is a hard-hitting, action-packed story of how = Gideon tries to protect a boy who has fled north from a Virginia plantation=
-- and pays dearly for his principles. Written with the vivid, atmospheric=
prose that imbues the whole series, the life and times of an early America=
n backwoods town and its hardscrabble citizens will grip readers as Gideon = and his wife True solve a murder, bust a kidnaping ring, and help one unfor= gettable boy who courageously chooses freedom above all else. Original and = deftly scripted, "Lay This Body Down" will have special appeal to readers w= ith an interest in historical mysteries and suspense thrillers that are wri= tten with a distinctive literary style. While highly recommended for commun= ity library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal r= eading lists that "Lay This Body Down" is also available in a digital book = format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Charles Fergus (
http://www.charlesfergus.com) is the author=
of twenty books, many of which are about nature and the outdoors with read= ers reporting that his understanding of wildlife, natural places, and rural=
living informs his novels..
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
Jesse Q. Sutanto
Berkley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
www.penguin.com
9780593546178, $27.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Vera-Wongs-Unsolicited-Advice-Murderers/dp/059354617=
2
Synopsis: Vera Wong is a lonely little old lady (that is, a lady of a certa=
in age) who lives above her forgotten tea shop in the middle of San Francis= co's Chinatown. Despite living alone, Vera is not needy, oh no. She likes n= othing more than sipping on a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy det= ective work on the Internet about what her Gen-Z son is up to.
Then one morning, Vera trudges downstairs to find a curious thing -- a dead=
man in the middle of her tea shop. In his outstretched hand, a flash drive=
.. Vera doesn't know what comes over her, but after calling the cops like an=
y good citizen would, she sort of lifts the flash drive from the body and t= ucks it safely into the pocket of her apron. Why? Because Vera is sure she = would do a better job than the police possibly could, because nobody sniffs=
out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her h= ands.
Vera knows the killer will be back for the flash drive; all she has to do i=
s watch the increasing number of customers at her shop and figure out which=
one among them is the killer. What Vera does not expect is to form friends= hips with her customers and start to care for each and every one of them. A=
s a protective mother hen, will she end up having to give one of her newfou=
nd chicks to the police?
Critique: A quintessential cozy mystery that will have immense interest to = fans of the genre, "Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers" is origin= al, memorable, and a fun read from cover to cover. While certain to be an i= mmediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspe= nse collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of reade=
rs who enjoy novels featuring amateur women crime solvers, that "Vera Wong'=
s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers" is also available in a paperback editio=
n (9780008558734, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Jesse Q. Sutanto (
https://jillgrinbergliterary.com/book_aut= hor/jesse-q-sutanto) is the author of adult, YA, and children's middle grad=
e books. She has a master's degree in creative writing from Oxford Universi= ty, though she hasn't found a way of saying that without sounding obnoxious=
.. The film rights to her women's fiction, Dial A for Aunties, was bought by=
Netflix in a competitive bidding war. Her adult books include Dial A for A= unties and its sequel, Four Aunties and a Wedding. Her YA books include The=
Obsession, The New Girl, and her upcoming romcom, Well, That Was Unexpecte=
d. Her MG books include Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit and an untitled sequel.=
She is on Twitter @thewritinghippo and on Instagram @jesseqsutanto
Standing Dead
Margaret Mizushima
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639102440, $28.99, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Dead-Timber-Creek-Mystery/dp/1639102442
Synopsis: Deputy Mattie Cobb and her sister, Julia, travel to Mexico to vis=
it their mother, but when they arrive, they discover that she and her husba=
nd have vanished without a trace. Back in Timber Creek, Mattie finds a chil= ling note on her front door telling her to look for "him" among the standin=
g dead up in the high country.
The sheriff's department springs into action and sends a team to the mounta= ins, where Mattie's K-9 partner, Robo, makes a grisly discovery -- a body t= ied to a dead pine tree. Mattie is shocked when she realizes she knows the = dead man. And then another note arrives, warning that Mattie's mother is in=
desperate straits. In a last-ditch gambit, Mattie must go deep undercover = into a killer's lair to save her mother -- or die trying.
Critique: A combination of police procedural and cosy mystery, "Standing De= ad" by Margaret Mizushima is a plot rich and entertaining read that is espe= cially recommended for the reading lists of all dedicated mystery fans and = community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that "St= anding Dead" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) an=
d as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666629064,=
$22.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Margaret Mizushima (www.margaretmizushima.com) is the autho=
r of the award-winning and internationally published Timber Creek K-9 Myste= ries. She also serves as president for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Myster=
y Writers of America, and was elected the 2019 Writer of the Year by Rocky = Mountain Fiction Writers. She is a member of Northern Colorado Writers, Sis= ters in Crime, Pikes Peak Writers, and Women Writing the West.She can be fo= llowed on Facebook/AuthorMargaretMizushima, Twitter @margmizu, and on Insta= gram at margmizu.
Even When You Lie
Michelle Cruz
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639102501, $18.99, PB, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Even-When-You-Lie-Novel/dp/1639102507
Synopsis: Reagan Reyes is a woman who hunts other people's secrets. A forme=
r intelligence officer, she's currently the in-house investigator for price=
y criminal defense attorney, Cade McCarrick -- and she's his lover, despite=
the law firm's rules forbidding romantic relationships between partners an=
d staff. But their love (including their agreement never to lie to each oth= er) is the only authenticity they have in a world of subterfuge and betraya=
l.
That agreement is pushed to its limits when a mysterious woman leaves an en= velope for Cade and is soon discovered dead. While the envelope's contents = aren't related to any of Cade's current cases, Reagan uncovers a connection=
to a recent murder outside a Deep Ellum nightclub -- and an even more omin= ous link to the dead woman.
The police don't seem to care about either death, but they hit too close to=
home for Reagan to ignore. As she digs deeper into Dallas's sordid underbe= lly, she's completely on her own except for Cade - and there's a killer ben=
t on eliminating them both at any cost.
Critique: An inherently compelling, pulse-pounding, romantic thriller of a = read from first page to lat, author Michelle Cruz's new novel, "Even When Y=
ou Lie", will be of particular appeal to anyone with an interest in deftly = crafted crime fiction with more plot twists than a Disneyland roller-coaste=
r. While highly recommended for personal reading lists and community librar=
y Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the growing legions =
of Michelle Cruz fans that "Even When You Lie" is also available in a digit=
al book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book=
(Dreamscape Media, 9781666629590, $22.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Michelle Cruz (
https://authormichellecruz.com) is a seventh= -generation native Texan who served as a commissioned officer in the United=
States Air Force and staffed a member of Congress. She resides with her fa= mily in the Texas Hill Country and is a member of WFWA and the Writers' Lea= gue of Texas
The Protege
Jody Gehrman
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639102488, $28.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Protege-Novel-Jody-Gehrman/dp/1639102485
Synopsis: Dr. Hannah Bryers, anthropology professor and forensics expert at=
the prestigious Mad River University, takes pleasure in examining corpses,=
but small talk and living people fill her with dread. When she's not teach= ing, she analyzes the decomposing flesh of murder victims around the globe.
Winter Jones is Hannah's most promising graduate student. She's smart, cunn= ing, and dedicated, but she's got her own agenda for coming to Mad River. S= he's here to bring Hannah Bryers down and she will stop at nothing to make = her life implode.
In alternating narratives, Winter systematically robs Hannah of the things = she values most: her reputation, her job, and ultimately her safety.
When dangerous mistakes are made in her lab, Hannah has no idea who would h= ave it out for her and would be willing to risk students' lives. As the inc= idents become deadly, many suspects come to light. Hannah won't go down wit= hout a fight. She has to figure out who is sabotaging her career and killin=
g people; her life depends on finding answers.
Critique: A compulsive page turner of a read, "The Protege" reveals author = Jody Gehrman's genuine flair for creating psychological thrillers that will=
hold and keep the reader's total attention from cover to cover. While also=
available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $13= ..99), "The Protege" will prove a welcome and enduringly popular addition to=
community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Jody Gehrman (
https://www.jodygehrman.com) has authored sev= eral novels and numerous plays for stage and screen. Her young-adult novel,=
Babe in Boyland, won the International Reading Association's Teen Choice A= ward and was optioned by the Disney Channel. Jody's plays have been produce=
d or had staged readings in Ashland, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and L= ..A. Her full-length, Tribal Life in America, won the Ebell Playwrights Priz=
e and received a staged reading at the historic Ebell Theater in Los Angele=
s. She and her partner David Wolf won the New Generation Playwrights Award = for their one-act, Jake Savage, Jungle P.I. She holds a Masters Degree in P= rofessional Writing from the University of Southern California and is also =
a professor of Communications at Mendocino College in Northern California.
A Mansion for Murder
Frances Brody
https://frances-brody.com
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781643857602, $28.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Untitled-Brody-13-Shackleton-Mystery/dp/1643857606
Synopsis: When Kate Shackleton disembarks at Saltaire station, in the West = Riding of Yorkshire, she has no idea what to expect. A stranger, Ronnie Cre= swell, has written to say that he has urgent information about the past tha=
t will interest her, and he persuades her to make the journey to Milner Fie= ld, the grand house that is said to be cursed. But moments after Kate arriv=
es at the lodge, a messenger brings devastating news to Ronnie's parents: h=
e has been found drowned in the mill reservoir.
Ronnie's father suspects that this was no accident, and the post-mortem pro= ves him right. Ronnie was murdered. Terrified and distraught, Mrs. Creswell=
refuses to stay at the Lodge a moment longer. But events take an even more=
shocking turn when ten-year-old Nancy Creswell, eyes and ears for her blin=
d Uncle Nick, goes missing. An account of the fateful Saturday of Ronnie's = death arouses Kate's suspicions, and furhter investigations could prove her=
right.
But truth is never so straightforward at Milner Field. Uncle Nick spins an = old story that could hold the key to finding Nancy alive -- though the fabl=
ed curse may not have claimed its last victim yet. And only a set of old bo= nes buried on the grounds will finally reveal the horrifying truth.
Critique: The thirteenth novel in author Frances Brody's simply outstanding=
series of cozy mysteries staring that amateur sleuth Kate Shackleton. With=
all the entertainment value of an Agatha Christie novel, "A Mansion for Mu= rder" is an original, compelling, and highly recommended addition to person=
al reading lists and community library collections. Be warned though, if th=
is 13th title is your first introduction to Frances Brody mysteries, then y=
ou will find yourself compelling to seek out the previous twelve cozy myste= ries starring Kate Shackleton! It should be noted that "A Mansion for Murde=
r" is also available in a paperback edition (9780349431970, $14.99), in a d= igital book format (Kindle, $13.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio=
book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666629613, $22.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Frances Brody (
https://frances-brody.com) wrote historical = sagas, winning the HarperCollins Elizabeth Elgin award for most regionally = evocative debut saga of the millennium before creating the Kate Shackleton = mystery series.
A Midsummer Night's Scheme
Harper Kincaid
https://www.harperkincaid.com
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781643856308, $26.99, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Midsummer-Nights-Scheme-Bookbinding-Mystery/dp/16438= 56308
Synopsis: Just when everything is returning to the calm that Quinn Caine an=
d her sidekicks, Ruff Barker Ginsburg and Sister Daria, are used to in thei=
r beloved town of Vienna, a Broadway star crash-lands into their peace and = quiet. Former 'player', Chad Frivole, is Vienna's prodigal son -- the once = notorious lothario has returned a Broadway star, ready to make a different = kind of mark on his hometown.
Not everyone is celebrating the Tony-award-winner's return. Chad's a triple=
threat -- not with a cast of characters lining up to seek their revenge on=
him. So, when he turns up dead in his car, trapped with a sack full of sna= kes, Quinn can't say she's surprised -- but promises handsome detective Aid=
en Harrington that she's staying out of this local mystery.
That is, until someone starts threatening her brother's life. It's true, Se= bastian 'Bash' Caine used to be a womanizer, just like Chad. And the killer=
doesn't seem to care that he's not that man anymore. Bash Caine is in the = killer's sights, and unless Quinn and her crew can find the killer in time,=
whoever it is will drag her brother into his final act on this mortal coil=
..
Critique: As a novelist, author Harper Kincaid demonstrates a complete mast= ery of the cozy mystery genre complete with an amateur female sleuth and he=
r pets. Featuring memorable and deftly crafted characters and a positive ro= ller-coaster of plot twists and turns, "A Midsummer Night's Scheme" is the = latest addition to her 'A Book Binding Mystery' series and is unreservedly = recommended for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspen=
se collections. It should be noted dedicated cozy mystery fans that "A Mids= ummer Night's Scheme" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $= 13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 97816= 66629620, $22.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Born in California and raised in South Florida, Harper Kinc= aid has moved around like a nomad with a bounty on her head ever since. Aft=
er earning her master's degree in Gender History and another in Clinical/Ma= cro Social Work, Kincaid decided to not to use either and become a writer i= nstead! (
https://www.harperkincaid.com/books)
The Shimmer on the Water
Marina McCarron
Head of Zeus
https://headofzeus.com
9781801104449, $16.95, PB, 416pp
https://www.amazon.com/Shimmer-Water-Marina-McCarron/dp/1801104441
Synopsis: 1997. As the people of Fort Meadow Beach celebrate the Fourth of = July, four-year-old Daisy Wright disappears and is never seen again. Presen=
t Day. Fired from her job and heartbroken, Peyton Winchester moves back hom=
e for the summer. Sitting in her childhood bedroom in her parents' sprawlin=
g mansion on the edge of the Atlantic ocean brings back all kinds of memori=
es - including Daisy's vanishing when Peyton was a young girl herself. As s=
he begins her search for the truth, the investigation will hit close to hom=
e, intertwining Daisy's past and Peyton's present with irreversible consequ= ences. How far will Peyton be ready to go to uncover the truth and will wha=
t she finds destroy everything or finally lead her home?
Critique: When you're lost sometimes the only way to look forward is to loo=
k back. "The Shimmer on the Water" by novelist Marina McCarron is the story=
of three women, two generations apart, and one secret they share. Deftly c= rafted and memorable characters, a plot replete with unexpected twists and = turns, "The Shimmer on the Water" is an inherently fascinating blend of a '= whodunnit' mystery and a domestic thriller of a read from first page to las=
t. While highly recommended as an addition to community library Mystery/Sus= pense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The = Shimmer on the Water" is also readily available in a digital book format (K= indle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Marina McCarron (
http://marinamccarron.com) holds a Bachelo=
r of Arts and a Master of Publishing degree. She has worked as a reporter, =
a freelance writer, a columnist and a manuscript evaluator. She gets her id= eas for stories from strolling through new places and daydreaming. Her debu=
t novel, "The Time Between Us", came to her as she stood at Pointe du Hoc o=
n a windy June day and asked the magical question, what if...?
Bones Under the Ice
Mary Ann Miller
Oceanview Publishing
1620 Main Street, Suite 11, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608095377, $27.95, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bones-Under-Jhonni-Laurent-Mystery/dp/1608095371
Synopsis: Two days after a blizzard hits Field's Crossing, Indiana, Sheriff=
Jhonni Laurent discovers the frozen body of a high school senior under a f= ifteen-foot pile of snow and ice. Murder is rare in farm country, and this = death marks the beginning of Jhonni's first homicide case.
Just as the investigation gets underway, Jhonni's opponent for sheriff from=
four years ago wages a bitter reelection battle to oust her. Then, Jhonni = finds another body, and further complications arise when a century-old feud=
between two families reaches its breaking point.
Soon, a slew of newspaper articles causes the Indiana State Election Board =
to doubt her credibility. Jhonni must fight to maintain her reputation, kee=
p the small farming community together, and find the murderer at large -- a=
ll while demons from her own past threaten to crush her. Can she find the k= iller and mend her battered spirit before it's too late?
Critique: All the more impressive when considering that "Bones Under The Ic=
e" is author Mary Ann Miller's debut as a novelist, this carefully crafted = and original suspense thriller of a 'whodunnit' mystery will have a particu= lar appeal to readers with an interest in police procedural murder mysterie=
s. While also available to fans of women sleuth/detective (and in this case=
sheriff) mysteries in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.95), "Bones Under=
The Ice" is unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspens=
e collections.
The Butcher of Berner Street
Alex Reeve
Felony & Mayhem Press
https://felonyandmayhem.com
9781631942822, $27.00, HC, 300pp
https://www.amazon.com/Butcher-Berner-Street-Leo-Stanhope/dp/1631942824
Synopsis: "Cold-hearted murder." That's what was promised in the anonymous = note, and Leo Stanhope can't resist. He may be a working journalist at last=
, but it's a precarious gig, and a good story could bring in the readers. W= hat he finds on Berner Street, though, is a dead body that isn't, not to me= ntion a lady wrestler who's quite a bit more. The crowd is angry: They like=
things cut and dried. But Leo knows all about things that are one thing an=
d also another. He's got a secret himself, and if he's found out, an angry = crowd will be the least of his worries. This is Queen Victoria's London, an=
d the courts are not kind to young men who are -- quite a bit more!
Critique: The third volume in author Alex Reeve's extraordinary Victorian e=
ra 'Leo Stanhope' mystery series, "The Butcher of Berner Street" is an 'who= dunnit' mystery novel that will have a very special appeal to readers with =
an interest in Historical mysteries featuring amateur sleuths and LGBTQ ele= ments. A terrific read from cover to cover, and the stuff from which BBC mo= vies are made, "The Butcher of Berner Street" is unreservedly recommended f=
or both personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense colle= ctions.
Editorial Note: Alex Reeve (
https://felicitybryan.com/fba-author/alex-reeve=
) lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with his wife and two sons. Having don=
e many jobs, including working in a pub and teaching English as a foreign l= anguage in Paris, he is now a university lecturer. His debut novel, Half Mo=
on Street, was the first in a Victorian crime series featuring transgender = amateur sleuth Leo Stanhope. His writing focuses on closing the gap between=
the actual Victorian era and how the period is perceived.
Burning Distance
Joanne Leedom-Ackerman
Oceanview Publishing
1620 Main Street, Suite 11, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608095339, $28.95, HC, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Distance-Joanne-Leedom-Ackerman/dp/160809533=
9
Synopsis: When ten-year-old Elizabeth West's father dies in a tragic plane = crash over the Persian Gulf, her family uproots their life in Washington, D= ..C., and moves to London. Her mother marries a knighted British businessman=
who has two children, and Elizabeth (Lizzy) and her two sisters move in wi=
th their new family.
At age sixteen, while attending the American School of London, Lizzy meets = and falls in love with Adil Hasan -- but when Adil's father, a noted arms m= iddleman, is deported, Lizzy and Adil are separated.
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