The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

A Cryptic Clue
Victoria Gilbert
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639102525, $29.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Cryptic-Clue-Hunter-Clewe-Mystery/dp/1639102523

Synopsis: Sixty-year-old Jane Hunter, forced into early retirement from her=
job as a university librarian, is seeking a new challenge to keep her spir= its up and supplement her meager pension. But as she's about to discover, a=
retiree's life can bring new thrills -- and new dangers!

Cameron "Cam" Clewe (an eccentric 33-year-old collector), is also seeking a=
n archivist to inventory his ever-expanding compendium of rare books and ar= tifacts. Jane's thrilled to be hired on by Cam and to uncover the secrets o=
f his latest acquisition, a trove of items related to the classic mystery a=
nd detective authors. But Jane's delight is upended when a body is discover=
ed in Cam's library. The victim, heir to a pharmaceutical fortune, was the = last in line of Cam's failed romances -- and now he's suspect number one.

Cam vows to use his intelligence and deductive skills to clear his name -- = but with a slight case of agoraphobia, rampant anxiety, and limited social = skills, he'll need some help. It comes down to Jane to exonerate her new bo=
ss -- but is he truly innocent?

Critique: Combine a traditional 'whodunnit' murder mystery with an amateur = female sleuth and you have "A Cryptic Clue" -- an ideal cozy mystery by Vic= toria Gilbert who is a master of the genre. The first of a new 'Hunter & Cl= ewe' mystery series, "A Cryptic Clue" is a fun read that will fully engage = and entertain the reader from first page to last. While especially recommen= ded as an enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense=
collections, "A Cryptic Clue" is also readily available to dedicated cozy = mystery fans in paperback edition (9781639106417, $19.99), in a digital boo=
k format (Kindle, $13.99), and as a complete an unabridged audio book (Drea= mscape Media, 9781666636987, $22.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Victoria Gilbert (https://linktr.ee/victoriagilbertauthor) = turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and l= ibrarian. Now retired after over 30 years in the library field, she's worke=
d as a reference librarian, research librarian, and university library dire= ctor. Victoria writes the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, the Booklover'=
s B&B Mystery series, and the Hunter and Clewe traditional mystery series f=
or Crooked Lane Books. She is also a member of Mystery Writers of America, = Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers.

Broadway
Stan Charnofsky
Hawkshaw Press
www.hawkshawpress.com
9781957224077, $14.99 Paper, $4.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Broadway-Charlotte-Smart-Mystery/dp/195722407X

Cozy mystery readers may recognize Stan Charnofsky's name from the prior Ch= arlotte Smart stories, and will be delighted to find this third book in the=
series also cultivates a special flavor of discovery that brings its chara= cters and setting to life. Broadway Farivar is a devotee of Charlotte. The = son of immigrant parents, he and his sister Brooklyn were on the road to su= ccess when their train derailed, causing Charlotte's investigative skills t=
o enter the picture.

Broadway is determined to find answers to his sister's dilemmas at all cost=
s. Charlotte, used to a small-town atmosphere, finds the call to enter New = York's milieu both alluring and challenging. Can small-town detective skill=
s translate to solving a family's pressing questions in the Big Apple? Char= lotte may have bitten off more than she can chew, because the combination o=
f unfamiliar territory and a family who only knows her via a newspaper arti= cle create a perfect storm of challenge to her instincts and abilities as t= hey translate to appearances on a bigger stage than she's ever imagined.

As Detective Cavanaugh and Charlotte Smart turn up clues about Brooklyn's d= eadly accident, they stumble into subcultures that range from immigrant com= munities to counter-culture enclaves, all operating in New York's underworl=
d and each holding answers that work together to create the puzzle's bigger=
picture.

Author Stan Charnofsky crafts a sultry, revealing tone in his story that im= merses readers in Charlotte's sleuthing abilities and the backdrop of New Y= ork City. He takes the time to test the interplays between various characte= rs, from brother and sister to Charlotte's intuitive intelligence, which ge=
ts "...to the heart of an issue, tear away the cobwebs, ignore the superflu= ous." Charlotte uncovers more than one crime, and her instincts lead her in=
to uncharted territory to give the story a special atmosphere of discovery = that will surprise even avid cozy mystery fans.

Whether or not libraries have the prior Charlotte Smart books in their coll= ections, Broadway both supports this savvy investigator's professional and = personal evolution and stands nicely alone as a solid cozy mystery attracti= on. In the end, Charlotte's realizations about her choices are powerful por= tents of endings and new beginnings: "Now it is resolved, and, yes, there i=
s an empty feeling, as there is after a war is won, after a race is over, w= hen a compelling piece of theater ends. Challenge gone. Something larger th=
an yourself had a life of its own and now has died.

Uncovering material and the intricate details of the conundrum are no longe=
r required. Thank goodness for being an optimist, for viewing endings as op= portunities. As they say, a door closes and a window opens." Will Charlotte=
use her remarkable skills and discoveries to change her life yet again?

Cozy mystery readers are in for a treat, both with the mystery component de= veloped in Broadway and its vision of how detective skills change lives. It=
s ability to build strong characters who step out of their familiar roles t=
o tackle unprecedented issues makes for a riveting story that's hard to put=
down, powered by the attraction of a small-town investigator operating in = big-city environments of stage productions and an older female detective wh=
o is faced with either retirement or developing more skills to address ongo= ing mysteries.

Murder for Liar
Verlin Darrow
The Wild Rose Press
https://wildrosepress.com
9781509248971, $17.99, PB, 298pp

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Liar-Verlin-Darrow/dp/1509248978

Synopsis: Tom is dangerously close to discovering where his threshold is --=
that point of no return for his sanity.

His encounter with the killer represents one more bizarre hot potato he's f= orced to juggle instead of filing away neatly. It's not one too many, but w= hat if the next one is? And could all the coincidences that keep happening =
to Tom be nothing more than that? Could a young woman named Zig-Zag really =
be an angel? How could a dog lead Tom to one of the most important clues? T=
he questions pile up, much as the murders do.

Swept up in a perilous world where nothing is as it seems, Tom struggles to=
make sense of the decidedly dangerous, downright deadly scheme in which he=
has somehow unwittingly become a key player. Tom is about to discover that=
in this treacherous reality, the truth is far, far stranger than fiction -=
- but the real danger is not knowing which is which!

Critique: A unique, unusual, imaginative, and deftly crafted mystery by an = author with a genuine and memorable flair for originality, character develo= pment, and the kind of narrative driven storytelling skills that keeps the = reader a compulsive page turner from cover to cover, "Murder for Liar" by n= ovelist Verlin Darrow will prove a prized addition to community library Mys= tery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading list=
s of dedicated mystery buffs that "Murder for Liar" is also readily availab=
le in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).

Editorial Note: Verlin Darrow (https://www.verlindarrow.com) is currently a=
psychotherapist who lives with his psychotherapist wife in the woods near = the Monterey Bay in northern California. They diagnose each other as necess= ary. Verlin is a former professional volleyball player (in Italy), unsucces= sful country-western singer/songwriter, import store owner, and assistant g= uru in a small, benign spiritual organization. Before bowing to the need fo=
r higher education, a much younger Verlin ran a punch press in a sheetmetal=
factory, drove a taxi, worked as a night janitor, shoveled asphalt on a ro=
ad crew, and installed wood flooring. He missed being blown up by Mt. St. H= elens by ten minutes, survived the 1985 Mexico City earthquake (8 on the Ri= chter scale), and (so far) has successfully weathered his own internal disa= sters.

Love of Art & Murder
Rose Young
https://www.roseyoungauthor.com
Best Books Publish
https://www.bestbookspublish.com
9780998881768, $16.95, PB, 392pp

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Art-Murder-Mystic-Steeples/dp/0998881767

Synopsis: The prominent artist Marilyn Maroney's life-sized sculpture of At= hena, the warrior goddess, stood on the third-floor balcony of the Dahlia A=
rt Gallery. Guests numbering 300 attended the art reception and sauntered b= etween the gallery and the Velvet Muse, a performance venue.

The next morning, Georgi Algarve is sweeping the front sidewalk of his Vinh=
o Verde Wine Bar, but when he looks up, he lets out a blood-curdling scream=
.. His beautiful friend Marilyn was dead, impaled by Athena's spear.

Within days another artist is abducted, and the investigators uncover a wor=
ld of deception, theft, and greed. In shock, the art community wonders - ar=
e any artists, galleries, or museums safe? Can the detective and the sleuth=
s catch the killer before another artist is tricked or murdered?

Detective Morrison, and the enigmatic Dr. Storm M.E., determine if Marilyn'=
s death is an accident or homicide. While Georgi, and his clue-hunting frie= nd, Roxanne Samson, the Fire Chief's wife, are convinced they can find the = culprit yet they proceed to sleuth their way into Morrison's heart - via he= artburn.

Critique: With the publication of "Love of Art & Murder", novelist Rose You=
ng takes her readers on a harrowing journey that goes behind the scenes of = the art world with its museums, galleries, and performance halls, into the = dark underbelly of the art world, populated by art thieves, callous villain=
s, and unexpected murder. Original, fascinating, and with more unexpected p= lot twists and turns than an Oklahoma tornado, "Love of Art & Murder" is gr= eat entertainment for the dedicated mystery buff and an unreservedly recomm= ended addition to community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collectio= ns.

Editorial Note: Rose Young (https://www.roseyoungauthor.com) also publishes=
a Mystery Fan Newsletter.

Fractured Oak
Dannie Boyd
Indigo Dot Press
https://indigodotpress.com
9781958160046, $13.99, PB, 270pp

https://www.amazon.com/Fractured-Oak-Dannie-Boyd/dp/1958160040

Synopsis: In 1853, after Catherine Miller is murdered for daring to become =
a doctor in a field full of men, a molecular fusion between human decay and=
natural rebirth transforms her into a Northern Red Oak. One hundred and se= venty years later, she remains a mute but sentient tree, rooted near a secl= uded Northeast Ohio house. After she watches in horror as the newest homeow= ner murders one of his PhD students, Catherine is resolved, somehow, to see=
that justice gets served.

Fortunately, present-day Catherine has an unwitting ally: Lani Whitaker, a = fourth-generation detective facing mandatory retirement and sick of being t= reated like a dried-up relic by her young chief of police. When the body of=
that same PhD student turns up in the woods, Lani is determined to solve t=
he case and go out with a win.

Two women, generations apart, linked to each other through murder. Can solv= ing a twenty-first-century homicide shed light on a nineteenth-century kill= er?

Critique: Uniquely original and a fascinating read from cover to cover, "Fr= actured Oak" by talented novelist Dannie Boyd will have a special appeal to=
readers with an interest in this story that so deftly blends mystery, susp= ense, and magical realism. While especially and unreservedly recommended fo=
r community library collections, this combination of mystery and fantasy is=
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).

Editorial Note: Dannie Boyd is a pen name for Carrie Rubin (https://carrier= ubin.com), who is a physician-turned-novelist and writes medical-themed thr= illers. She enjoys exploring other genres as well, so she has a cozy myster=
y published under the pen name Morgan Mayer and a novel of magical realism = under the pen name Dannie Boyd. She is a member of the International Thrill=
er Writers association.

The Quarry
DM Gritzmacher
Piqued Publishing
9798986638737, $2.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Quarry-Skulldiggery-Book-2-ebook/dp/B0BYBBXLZK

Occult horror tension comes to life in a satisfyingly unpredictable manner =
in The Quarry, the second book in the Skulldiggery series. The story opens =
in 14th century France, where a fledgling longbow soldier dreams of returni=
ng to his family, but struggles with his actions and choices in times of wa=
r. Fast forward to 1944, where child Jeanne Butte and her family are fleein=
g war, taking refuge in an old Roman quarry that lies outside of their vill= age. Their experience there will return to haunt her forty years later, whe=
n Jeannie finds herself back home looking for answers to a myriad of questi= ons -- all of which seem to stem from the quarry experience and its present= -day promise and threat.

Can history repeat itself? Sure it can ... especially if supernatural force=
s influence events past and present. DM Gritzmacher's special brand of horr=
or needs no prior introduction to the previous Skulldiggery in order to pro=
ve immediately accessible and compelling to newcomers. Jeanne's search for = answers from her childhood experiences and adult dilemmas carries readers i= nto a frightening milieu in which she encounters the deceptive, nefarious D=
r. Criqui, whose lie separated her family and contributed to disparities be= tween her new life in America and her old one in France. Gritzmacher builds=
a special brand of tension that rests on historical precedent, unanswered = questions and surprising revelations, and truths that move from dreams and = nightmares of the past to affect present-day events.

Jeanne's character is realistic and moving as she examines the foundations =
of her beliefs about her family, her past, and the world, discovering new t= ruths that enlighten her about hidden history and long-held secrets. The in= trigue and horror components are nicely developed against this historical b= ackdrop, contributing to a story filled with unexpected moments, surprising=
revelations, and haunting dreams and nightmares that connect seemingly dis= parate lives.

Libraries and readers seeking occult mysteries that stand well alone, yet c= ontribute to other books, will find this sequel to The Relict a powerful ta=
le that exposes war-time truths, hard decisions, and terrible consequences.=
The Quarry's well-developed historical and psychological tension will have=
readers guessing to the end, which creates satisfying connections between = generations of family members exposed to skullduggery of the present and sh= ocking truths about the past.

Barnaby Shea
J.E. Delehanty
https://www.jedelehanty.com
Independently Published
c/o Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798539855741, $14.99

https://www.amazon.com/BARNABY-SHEA-Mr-John-Delehanty/dp/B09CRN5VF5

Barnaby Shea opens with an evening walk between husband and wife and a refl= ection on a peaceful time. In thirty years of marriage, the two have cultiv= ated routines that embrace both. Their quiet life is shaken when lawsuits a=
nd accusations from the past embroil ex-priest Barnaby Shea in controversie=
s he'd thought were long laid to rest.

Readers who pursue this novel for its social and legal conundrums or the my= stery surrounding Barnaby Shea's actions and choices will find the story re= plete in thought-provoking insights. As events of the past are reflected up=
on and their impact on the future considered, readers are prompted to exper= ience and relish not only Barnaby's latest challenges, but the presence and=
impact of church affairs in small community relationships and settings.

J. E. Delehanty paints a vivid picture that moves from a slowly satisfying = life to one beset upon by turbulence and adversity. The specter of self-inc= rimination that affects Frank Hobson, ex-priest Barnaby, and the legal forc=
es that pursue the truth and resolution creates a story replete with revela= tions that emerge to both save and tarnish reputations and connections. Wha=
t is the motivation for causing pain, accusing the innocent, or harboring a=
secret so dangerous that it's worth killing for? Delehanty surveys the wid=
er landscapes of social connections and issues from the perspectives of tho=
se motivated to lie, hide, or repress the truth.

As two couples become embroiled in a mystery that holds well-hidden motivat= ions and secrets, they also reconsider the foundations of the community whi=
ch supports them. Ultimately, forgiveness is at stake as Barnaby tackles th=
e roots of sin and redemption: "Forgiveness can often be selfish, John. Oft=
en we forgive not to help the offender in any way but to help ourselves. Fo= rgiveness is the only way we can move forward. If we are unable to forgive,=
we live forever with the hurt, with the grief, with hatred in our hearts. = The forgiveness is for us."

The result is a thought-provoking consideration of church and community tha=
t opens with set paths and concludes with new possibilities.

Libraries and readers seeking novels that embrace mystery and discoveries t= hat impart both surprise and bigger picture realizations will find Barnaby = Shea an attractive journey into the pulse and power of past and present liv= es.

Alaska Deadly
J. L. Askew
https://www.jlaskew.com
Covenant Books
https://covenantbooks.com
9781685268855, $22.95 Paper/$9.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Alaska-Deadly-J-L-Askew/dp/1685268854

Alaska Deadly follows Memphis private eye Race Warren out of his comfort zo= ne. His latest case leads him to the rugged wilderness of Alaska on a searc=
h for his client's estranged husband, but what he finds in the process of a=
missing persons search churns up even stormier possibilities. His search l= ands him in a remote arctic village where a scientist is studying bizarre a= ncient rites that may have led to local killings.

Mystery readers might anticipate the search will be over when Warren finds = missing ex-cop Billings, but in fact this only jumpstarts further mysteries=
as he discovers that what Billings is looking for poses threats on a level=
he'd never imagined. Something is wrong, both with Warren's initial assess= ment of the mission and with the fate of a captive woman headed to the Nort=
h Slope to confront a nightmare she hadn't foreseen.

There are no easy answers to the paradoxes which emerge as Warren's probe d= raws him ever deeper into Alaskan heritage, ancient cultures, tribal ritual=
s, and an evil awakened into the contemporary world that threatens far more=
than a single man, his daughter, or an investigator's case.

J. L. Askew embeds his novel with Alaskan culture and environment to such a=
degree that readers will shiver at the cold facts that emerge from this fr= ozen tundra of ancient history and contemporary conflict. Excellent charact= erization and unexpected revelations drive a story line replete with danger= ous discoveries well rooted in tribal traditions: "Hartley thought the ritu=
al was animal worship, that the Ankauits believed in a wolf deity. But with=
further observation, it became more ominous."

Forced to enter into fraudulent situations to get at the truth, Billings fi=
nd his morals, ethics, and investigative prowess continually challenged. He=
's forced to reinvent himself for the greater good of solving a puzzle that=
increasingly embraces a wider group of people than he ever could have imag= ined. The tension driving his discoveries and the Alaskan native traditions=
and perspectives that accompany his journey will especially delight reader=
s seeking thrillers that are more than casually steeped in their environmen=
ts and influences.

Libraries and readers looking for vivid thriller stories that evolve an une= xpected set of connections between a singular case and broader world-changi=
ng events will find Alaska Deadly especially powerful in its story of an in= vestigator forced to step outside his usual paths of inquiry and discovery.=
The thought-provoking story is filled with surprises and hard to put down.

All That Glitters
Mike Martin
Ottawa Press and Publishing
https://www.ottawapressandpublishing.com
97819908960905, $18.99

https://www.amazon.com/All-That-Glitters-Windflower-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0C3SG= WMWT

All That Glitters is the thirteenth book in the Sgt. Windflower mystery ser= ies, but his latest tale represents a diversion for the good Sergeant Winst= on, because his new role as a Community Safety Officer in his home town of = Grand Bank, Newfoundland brings with it a case which literally lands on his=
doorstep.

A body discovered in the bed and breakfast he co-owns proves to harbor diam= onds in its digestive tract - jewels that then involve his good friend Dr. = Sanjay, who is given the gems for safekeeping, then vanishes. Diamond smugg= ling has come to Grand Bank, and its glittery attraction brings a deadly da= nger that thwarts Windflower's ability to step neatly and effectively into = his new job while helping his friend Eddie Tizzard track down the perps.

Local Canadian lore, environment, and politics collide with Windflower's ne=
w role outside his familiar Canadian Mountie milieu, challenging him to emp= loy his new position and efforts in unusual ways. One reason why the Windfl= ower series is so compelling is that Mike Martin takes the time to capture = the sights, atmosphere, and culture of Newfoundland: "I remember it being b= usier than this when I was here before. As someone from a land-locked provi= nce like Saskatchewan, I loved seeing them all," said Carrie.

"Yeah, the traffic comes and goes," said Windflower. "Part of what's missin=
g is the big cruise boats. They would take up half this side of the harbour=
.. But it's still pretty nice to be by the ocean. Feels peaceful." These sce= nic interludes also cement emotional connections that build as folklore les= sons are imparted while Wildflower is in a dream state, and clues are given=
that influence not only his investigations, but his approach to life: "Be = strong but be gentle and always show respect to others," said Auntie Marie =
as the moose slowly walked back into the lake. Windflower watched as the mo= ose disappeared into a mist that hovered over the water. He was sad and mis= sed his auntie but felt filled up by her visit."

Windflower's journey also offers rich philosophical and life inspections th=
at mystery readers might not expect. These augment the mystery in a satisfy= ing manner that encourages insights and reflection beyond the usual whoduni=
t: "Did she tell you the moose story?" asked Uncle Frank.

"She did," said Windflower. "Why did she come as a moose, and why did she t= ell me that story?"

"She seems to like that appearance," said Uncle Frank, chuckling. "I think = she finds it funny to imagine the looks on our faces. As for the story, you=
must have needed to hear that message again."

"About being strong and showing respect to others?" asked Windflower.

"And also being gentle," said his uncle. "It's easy to be a strong man. It'=
s harder to be a gentle man."

These gems are every bit as important as the clues to diamonds, smugglers, = and perps that affect Newfoundland's culture and Windflower's newfound role=
, creating a full-bodied and multifaceted story as astute in its psychologi= cal and cultural inspections as it is in its intrigue.

All That Glitters is a satisfying stand-alone mystery that also enhances th=
e Windflower series as a whole, following Sergeant Winston's growth and lif=
e progression. Libraries and readers either new to the series or who hold p= rior affection for Windflower's Canadian milieu will find All That Glitters=
an involving tale that further reveals Windflower's dreams, reality, and r= eflections on life's adversity and promise.

Its powerful character drives an equally rich tension that creates a story = hard to put down and impressively touched by surprising metaphysical and ph= ilosophical reflections.

Big Island, L.A.
Boston Teran
High-Top Publishing LLC
9781567030693, $22.00

https://www.amazon.com/Big-Island-Boston-Teran/dp/1567030696

Big Island, L.A. provides a complimentary volume to Boston Teran's literary=
thriller Never Count Out the Dead, but it's important to note that no prio=
r familiarity is needed in order to appreciate this book as a powerful stan= d-alone crime story.

As is his style, Teran opens this story with a bang and a contemporary twis=
t that doesn't just invite, but grabs readers: "Landshark was the first to = report in his "Big Island, L.A." podcast that a Covid mask arted up to mimi=
c the Joker's heinous grin had been left at the scene of the robbery at the=
Los Angeles Police Revolver and Athletic Club gun shop." In just one power= ful line, the setting, place, and crime are revealed.

This is just the introductory salvo in a series of distinctly hard-hitting = revelations that send author and podcast creator William Worth (a.k.a. 'Lan= dshark') on his journey past self-imposed isolation when former combat mari=
ne Ana Ride enters his investigation with an irresistible lure to drive him=
away from his agoraphobic, reclusive lifestyle. In a city where shootings = occur daily, Ana's experiences stand out and portend a greater foray into b= loodshed, murder, and deadly fighting that mimics the battlefields of war, = but takes place on the streets of L.A.

Readers looking for strong senses of place and purpose, cemented by the spe= cial interests and shifting objectives of a myriad of characters who each s= tep out of their comfort zones, will find the action tense and the psycholo=
gy well depicted in Big Island, L.A. Teran's ability to dovetail disparate = lives, special interests, and "Olympic grade liars" capable of talking them= selves into trouble and deadly situations shapes a tense crime drama packed=
with twists and turns even seasoned thriller readers won't see coming.

Between battles between tenants' associations and different conspirators wh=
o "have more juice than us, so they have more veracity," the story embraces=
a host of political special interests and interactions that fairly sizzle = with hard gravity, gunfire, and actions and reactions outside the norm.

Libraries and readers seeking crime thrillers that embrace literary and soc= ial inspections above and beyond the norm will find Big Island, L.A. a powe= rful foray into L.A. culture and the psyche of Landshark, who comes to admi=
t that "The living world out there had become the embodiment of every paran= oid fear he had forever been tormented by. The terror he emotionally suffer=
ed more alive in the day to day existence down below than he could have eve=
r imagined. He and the world were about the same."

Death in a Bygone Hue
Susan Van Kirk
Level Best Books
https://www.levelbestbooks.us
9781685123369, $16.95 Paper, $5.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Bygone-Hue-Center-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BYGSHN93

The second book in the Art Center Mysteries, Death in a Bygone Hue, continu=
es the story of artist Jill Madison's return to and new life in her hometow=
n, where she has established a position as executive director of a new art = center and cemented a reputation for problem-solving by the mystery she sol= ved in Death in a Pale Hue.

All has not been completely peaceful since then, because 'Ivan the Terrible=
,' the president of the art center's board, is not just an ongoing thorn in=
her side, but a professional nemesis whose ongoing (and often petty) conce= rns constantly thwart her efficiency and attempt to direct her every move. = Think the worst of micromanagers -- that would be Ivan. Now pair him with a=
terrible event that leaves behind a legacy of mystery when her good friend=
and mentor Judge Ron Spivey is killed, bringing his estranged children int=
o her life with a mandate to circumvent her inheritance from his will.

These developments add a fine tension to the plot that evolves on multiple = levels as the story plays out. As in the previous Jill Madison account, Sus=
an Van Kirk creates masterful interactions between all kinds of disparate i= ndividuals and special interests, flavoring the murder mystery with evolvin=
g community quandaries that keep Jill on her toes and often at odds with th=
e very people she's supposed to serve in her new job. "Who knew I lived in = such a colorful town?" Jill is only beginning to scratch the surface of its=
underlying influences, and readers follow along with her discoveries, whic=
h are presented in a thoroughly engrossing and revealing manner that touche=
s upon these emotional and special interest connections to involve them in = the heartbeat of a small town's secrets.

Van Kirk's ability to bring Jill and her conundrums to life comes from both=
her astute observational tone and the revealing events that embrace the fe=
el of a cozy mystery and the revelations of interpersonal strife: "I took s= everal sips of wine, sat back on the sofa, and thumbed through the rest of = the newspaper. Summer sports were over for my niece and nephew, Tom's kids,=
so I glanced through the sports pages in a few seconds. Then I returned to=
the front section. Hmm. What might Editor Gushman have found to write abou=
t? I pulled open the editorial page and gasped at the headline: "Cover-Up i=
s Alive and Well in Murder Investigation." It reminded me I despised the wo= man. I folded the page back and read her editorial. Dread came over me."

From accusations of cover-ups and special interests to vividly described ev= ents that often impart a wry undercurrent of humor, Van Kirk creates many c= ompelling twists and turns cemented by a sense of person, place, and ironic=
inspection: "I hit my brakes, skidded on the wet pavement, and went careen= ing onto the shoulder and down into a ditch, coming to an abrupt stop. Befo=
re I got my wits about me, my airbag deployed, and I felt like I'd been soc= ked in the face by a sumo wrestler. Fortunately, my car called 9-1-1. Gotta=
love twenty-first century technology."

Death in a Bygone Hue is a breath of fresh air in the mystery series becaus=
e its focus on evolving and shifting interpersonal relationships powers a w= hodunit that embraces a small town's prejudices, perceptions, and atmospher=
e. Libraries and readers seeking a stand-alone mystery that both supports t=
he prior book and crafts new intrigue as Jill settles into her role and nav= igates the dangerous politics of her hometown will find Death in a Bygone H=
ue a delight.

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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