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Novelist's Boot Camp
Todd A. Stone
Writer's Digest Books

reviewed by JRG de Marco

Have you grown flabby in your writing habits? Are you flagging in the war of words? Did you fall flat during the latest NaNoWriMo?

Well, Novelist's Boot Camp can be the answer you're looking for. This book will have you doing literary push ups and hating your sergeant for working you so hard. Until you see the results. When you come away from this workout your literary muscles will be toned and taut, your ability to write page after page in a single sitting will increase tenfold, your tenacious focus will enable you to tackle that project and finish it. And you'll end up with a smile on your face and a warm glow when you think about the guy who ran you through your paces.

Boot Camp is a very clever idea for a book to get you into writng form and keep you there. It is set up like a military manual -- kinda reminds me of my old Boy Scout manual as do the illustrations throughout. The military green is attractive and easy on the eyes. Maybe it's my old Scouting days calling but I get a nice feeling just looking at the book. As I learned in the Scouts, you've actually got to read what's in the manual in order to tie those knots, pitch that tent, or survive in the woods alone. It's the same with this book -- it isn't enough to look at it and dream. You've got to read it and follow it's direction. It's filled with good stuff and will pay off if you read it.

Each set of sections is set up as a Battle Plan with missions for each section -- from Alpha ( Mental Preparation and Mission Planning), Bravo (Invention) Charlie (Development) on through Golf (Staying Battle Ready). Within each mission is a set of Drills, e.g. Adopt a Principled Approach, No Sniveling Allowed, Control Your Calendar -- and they are filled with sound advice and lots of goodies for the writer. You won't go wrong if you read through this plan of action and follow it -- Stone even lays out a 12 week plan at the back of the book. Twelve weeks! Who wouldn't like to have a workable draft in twelve weeks. Stone can get you there if you follow his lead.

The whole book is written with a deep knowledge of how to write more efficiently and how to make your life as a writer easier and more productive. Stone writes with a wonderful sense of humor but it is never condescending or frivilous. He's on your side, just like that sergeant with the Smokey the Bear Hat. Stone knows his business and also knows how to present it in a readable, workable manner.

Now, drop and give me ten pages!

 

GRAND & Humble
Brent Haartinger
HarperTeen

reviewed by JRG de Marco

What else can be said about a book with a great premise, great writing, and a twist ending? Hartinger, tells a story in alternating chapters and introduces two high-school kids who seem to be worlds apart. Gorgeous Harlan, high school senior, brilliant son of a rich senator, who seems to have it all, except that his father is always busy and his mother is a control freak. Manny, another senior and a geek, is the child of a poor but nurturing single-parent father. The dad has secrets he won't share with his son but this doesn't bother Manny until his curiosity reaches critical mass. The boys are alike in that they both have panic attacks and recurring nightmares. Hartinger also does justice to his minor characters including Harlan's best friend, Ricky, who is a gay sports star. Manny's best friend, Elsa, is deaf, and she is a wise and perceptive person. talk is relaxed and friendly. Both Harlan and Manny slowly lose their grip on reality as their panic attacks and nightmares exert a stronger hold on them and their goals.

The novel is complex and often disconcerting until the surprising ending twists your own reality and forces you to ask “What if?” It has a psychological edge as well as a fantasy aura which will certainly keep readers reading. There's mystery and the supernatural and enough teen angst to fill a stadium. And everything leads to an intersection downtown, Grand & Humble – where everything is revealed and nothing can ever be the same.

 

The following books are all reviewed by Vero G. Caravette

Under a Raging Moon
Frank Zafiro
Wolfmont Publishing

A serial gunman is plaguing River City , Washington in Frank Zafiro's "Under a Raging Moon." The gunman becomes ever more violent bringing fear to the community. The police, dedicated to stopping him. Using his years of experience as a police officer, Zafiro crafts a tale that is at once spell binding and realistic. He knows police departments and shows the inner workings with the authority of someone who has been there. He portrays a department rife with internal politics which hampers the hunt for the killer. Zafiro is also good at making his characters and consequently the police we see every day patrolling our streets, more human; they are people dealing with their own inner problems and personal crises. The novel has been described as gritty, compelling, and intriguing. It's all that and more. Zafiro's world is a tough one filled with people who have to make difficult choices and try to keep a balance between their lives and their jobs. You won't regret reading this book.

The Last Secret
Lynn Sholes and Joe Moore
MIDNIGHT INK

A follow-up to The Grail Conspiracy, protagonist and famed journalist Cotten Stone finds that one of her discoveries is proven a hoax. Now her job is gone, her credibility is in question and she has little self-respect left. But all is not lost. A year later at an Inca site, she unearths a crystal tablet that predicts a final "cleansing" for the planet to be led by the daughter of an angel. But the Venatori -- an ancient society – claims there is another tablet which tells how to survive the cleansing. Racing to recover this last secret, Cotten faces her destiny -- to battle the Son of the Dawn until the End of Days. The Last Secret is told with multiple POVs and it a largely compelling tale which will entertain and keep you reading.

The Last Cato
Matilde Asensi
Rayo

The murder of an Ethiopian man covered with enigmatic tattoos sends the upper echelons of the Roman Catholic Church into a frenzy. Sister Ottavia Salina, head of the Restoration and Paleography Laboratory of the Vatican 's Classified Archives, is called to interpret the symbolism of the Ethiopian's scars. Church officials also inform Salina that the Ethiopian was one of many who are stealing relics of the True Cross. The church charges her and two men – a captain of the pope's Swiss Guard and an Egyptian archeologist – to retrieve the relics. The three plunge into intrigue and danger, encountering a secret brotherhood and making a labyrinthine journey through initiation rituals – with clues found in Dante's Divine Comedy as a kind of coded guidebook to the order's rituals, since he was a member of the society. Asensi's first novel translated into English will satisfy readers with insatiable appetites for church history, clandestine church societies, and weird initiation rituals. More compelling than the DaVinci Code, according to some, it is well researched and has an authentic feel to it.

Calling the Dead
Marilyn Meredith
Mundania Press

Tempe Crabtree is the deputy of Bear Creek, a small mountain community. She has an abiding interest in the spiritual side of her Native American heritage which is unsettling to her marriage to her minister husband. In Calling the Dead, Crabtree investigates a murder that initially appears to be death from natural causes, and a suicide that looks like murder. In the first, a multiply widowed woman finds herself wearing black once again and though her husband seems to have died naturally, the widow's track record makes people think otherwise. In the second a woman found dead certainly looks murdered but Crabtree feels that though her lover could have done it, she was probably a suicide. The detectives on the case, however, have two suspects and won't listen to a suicide theory. Crabtree jeopardizes her job by investigating both the deaths on her own without permission and puts her marriage in danger by delving deeper into Native American practices to call the dead in order to learn the truth about the suicide. The writing is crisp and good, the plot twisty enough for any reader. It's a book worth reading.

The Last Testament
Eric Van Lustbader
Forge Books

Bravo Shaw, a medieval scholar with ties to secret societies and enough cloak-and-dagger experience to qualify for this job – is called in to help untangle a mess involving a lost gospel (which is on the verge of reappearing and which will rock the Catholic Church and all Christendom), a secret society, and more. Mush more. It's an action packed thriller minus the deep research and clever puzzles of the DaVinci Code. But it's a page turner. It's not just another rip off of the Code, it has its own world view and it's own original twists and turns as well as similarities to others like it. Besides, it's written by the venerable Van Lustbader and he knows plot and action!

 

The following books are all reviewed by Dawn Dowdle mysterybks@yahoo.com
You can also find her work and more at: www.mysteryloverscorner.com and www.romanceloverscorner.com

A Blush With Death
India Ink
Berkley

Persia and Aunt Florence are struggling to keep Venus Envy open. Why? Bebe Wilcox has opened her own boutique and is hell bent on putting everyone else out of business. She and her workers stop at nothing. They steal and sabotage without so much as a second thought.

Then one of Bebe's pushy saleswomen ends up dead. The “game” has advanced to a new level.

In an attempt to save Venus Envy, Persia and her aunt stage a public falling out. Persia applies at Bebe's Boutique and is hired. Can she snoop around without getting caught? Can she find the stolen goods and enough evidence to put Bebe away and close down her shop for good? Can she do all this before the killer finds out and comes after her?

I like Persia . She is a fun character and very well constructed by the author. She is three-dimensional and her friends and aunt are terrific as well. I love the small-town feel of this book. The boutique is a great setting for the story. The feud between the two boutiques is very believable and there are plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep you guessing.

Bitter Sweets
G. A. McKevett
Kensington

Savannah Reid has finally established herself as a P.I. in San Carmelita , CA . She gets her first case. She is to find the long-lost sister for her brother. Things are not what they seem, and soon Savannah finds out that she has been double-crossed and she must relocate the sister and her daughter before they are killed.

Savannah puts all of her Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency to work on this case. Dirk, her old partner with the police, is also working this case. Unfortunately Savannah did not leave the force with the brass liking her. She is hauled in for questioning and becomes the prime suspect in this case.

Savannah and her team uncover plenty of suspects. Can she determine who the real killer in time before he/she kills again? And can she do that without putting herself in harm's way?

I love Savannah . She is such a likeable character. She is a sexy, southern, black belt woman who isn't a small petite thing. She likes to cook and eat. Her granny is very important to her. Even though she often gets on Dirk, she cares about him, too. John and Ryan are great peripheral characters as well. I love Tammy. Savannah has put together a great staff for her agency. Working with Dirk in the police department gives her the ability to do things others might not be able to accomplish.

Blood Relations
Rett MacPherson

Torie O'Shea is a local historian and genealogist in New Kassel, Missouri. There's been a drought and as the depth of the Mississippi River lowers, a steamboat wreck, believed to be The Phantom which wrecked in 1919, has emerged.

There are many rumors, but the most prominent one seems to be that there was a cache of diamonds on board when it wrecked that have never been recovered. Soon treasure seekers from all over arrive in town. The sheriff, her step-father, has his hands full trying to keep people away from The Phantom.

After someone is killed, Torie and her friend, a reporter, dig for the truth. At the same time, Torie is trying to deal with the news of a half-sister she never knew she had. The wreck gives her a diversion, but her personal turmoil must be dealt with as well.

Can she find out the truth about the wreck and the diamonds as well as come to grips with the existence of her half-sister? What kind of relationship is she willing to have with her new half-sister?

I really enjoy this series. Torie is such a wonderful character and New Kassel is a great small town setting for this terrific cozy series. The townspeople are great, but yet they are very realistic. I feel as if I have been a visitor in their town by the time I finish a book in this series.

The steamboat wreck and the turmoil over finding about her new half-sister work well together. The author has done a great job of interspersing them but yet keeping them separate. I really enjoyed this book and love the series.

The Cameo Clue
Dorothy Bodoin
Hilliard and Harris

Katherine Kale has purchased the elegant blue Victorian on Walnut Street in Maple Creek , Michigan . She will soon be teaching in a local school. Not long after moving in, strange things start happening.

Not long after meeting her, Cora Valentine is poisoned at the annual Apple Fair, and Katherine is almost poisoned as well. Maybe Maple Creek isn't the perfect town after all.

Katherine finds a damaged antique cameo while planting chrysanthemums in her backyard. Accidents start happening to Katherine. Garth, her new friend and possible love interest, always seems to show up to help out at just the right time. Could he be involved? Then there is Lieutenant Dalton Gray of the local police department.

Does everything relate to Cora's death, or is this something larger than that? Katherine is determined to find out. But can she do it without putting herself at peril?

I enjoyed this book. The twists in the plot kept me wondering who did it and why. I liked Katherine and thought she was a determined woman, but the author kept a good balance with the investigation and the love interest.

 

Carbs & Cadavers
J. B. Stanley
Midnight Ink

James Henry is a former English Lit professor. He has come back home to Quincy 's Gap, Virginia , to take care of his father after his mother's death and his divorce. His father isn't a very nice person. James was lucky to get a job as the local librarian, and now he has no social life. He just hides among the books at work and eats cheese puffs.

When he hears about the supper club, he figures he can stand to lose fifty pounds and he might make some friends. He jumps at the chance to join. He meets Lucy Hanover who works in the sheriff's department and is attractive. She'd like to be a deputy someday. He also meets Lindy, Gillian, and Bennett. They decide to call themselves the “Flab Five.” Each of them needs to lose weight, but they all seem to have dreams and aspiration. I think that's what made me like them so much.

James and his fellow dieters end up in the middle of a murder investigation when someone mysteriously drops dead in the Sweet Tooth Bakery. Soon James finds himself looking forward to the next meeting of the supper club. But can they stick to their diets and find the killer without putting themselves in danger? And what is James' father doing in the shed all the time?

I really enjoyed this book. I read it in two days. The characters are so much fun. You might think that a mystery set around dieting would be boring. Not in this case. You will laugh out loud at their antics. The supper club is such a fun idea. I just wanted to keep reading. Can't wait until the next one is out! I highly recommend this book. I hope she writes fast!

The Dead Sea Codex
Sarah Wisseman
Hard Shell

Lisa Donahue is in Israel examining some ceramic object for loan to Philadelphia 's University Museum where she is curator. She is also an archaeologist, and is very interested in some ancient papyrus she discovers.

She runs into her ex-boyfriend Greg Manzur. They met seven years ago when she was here during her junior year to study archaeology. Now she's engaged to a dr. She doesn't want to revisit her relationship with Greg.

But, when he tells her about the ancient manuscripts he is searching for and she tells him about the ancient papyrus she has discovered, they join forces. There are people out to find the manuscripts to destroy them, and they will also destroy anyone who tries to hinder them in their quest.

Can Lisa keep things professional with Greg? Can they locate the manuscripts before anyone else and without getting injured along the way?

This is a great book. Such a fast read, too. You won't want to put it down. Lisa is a well-written character and the fact that the book is told from multiple points of view only enhances the story. The location is wonderful. The author has a great way of making you feel like you are there with Lisa. The search intensifies and you often don't know who is good and who is bad.

Dead Wrong
J. A. Jance
William Morrow

I devoured this book in two days! I loved it!

Joanna is 8 ½ months pregnant and finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation that takes many twists and turns. Bradley Evans, an ex-con convicted for murdering his wife and baby, is found murdered. Even though he confessed years ago, the bodies were never found of his wife and newborn child.

As Joanna and her investigators follow the evidence, they find it linked to a prominent Arizona judge. Plus Joanna discovers that her father was involved in arresting Bradley for his wife and child's murders so many years ago.

Joanna has recently been re-elected sheriff, and she realizes this is no longer just a job. She can't see herself doing anything else.

Butch is off to a writer's convention promoting his upcoming book. Joanna and Jenny are trying to hold down the fort, but Joanna is putting in some late nights on this case. Frank, her fight hand man in the department, wonders if Joanna will be able to let go long enough for her maternity leave.

Plus one of Joanna's animal control officers is beaten and left for dead. Already stretched thin, her office has to add another investigation into the mix.

I love how J. A. Jance intertwines multiple investigations. It flows wonderfully. The many police officers and investigators are crafted so well that I often forget I'm just reading a story. I find myself pulled into the story. So much so that I just can't put it down!

I wish J. A. Jance could write them as fast as I can read them! I highly recommend this book, this whole series, and all of J. A. Jance's mysteries. Keep them coming!

 

Deadly Trail
Marilyn Meredith
Hard Shell Word Factory

Deputy Tempe Crabtree arrests Nick Two John for slashing the tires of a logging truck during a protest. On the way to the jail, he repeatedly begs for his freedom. He believes that with her Native American heritage, she should understand she should understand what the loggers represent and not arrest him. Then he offers to reveal a secret information if she'll release him. While she is curious to know the information, she does not give in.

She begins to regret that decision when Andre Donato, owner of the Bear Creek Inn, collapses and dies in the kitchen when Tempe and her minister boyfriend Hutch are there eating dinner. It is ruled a heart attack until another worker collapses with similar symptoms. She is saved, but it becomes evident that both people were poisoned.

The police center their investigation on Nick Two John. Deputy Crabtree is convinced he didn't do it, but she is soon pushed out of the investigation. She comes up with other suspects with good motives and begins to investigate on her own.

When she becomes the target of the killer, she knows she's close, but can she discover the identity of the killer before the killer takes care of her?

I highly recommend this book. It is the first I've read in this series. It won't be the last. Deputy Crabtree is a very likeable character. Her son and fiancé really add to the story. The townspeople do too. I like the setting. It is a very fast and enjoyable cozy read.

Death By Committee
Carole Shmurak
Sterling House

Professor Susan Lombardi vowed when she got tenure that she wouldn't be on any more committee at the college. Unfortunately she gets asked to be on the committee to decide tenure for Abby Gillette. Abby is a very controversial teacher. Susan's will be the deciding vote.

A group of supporters of Abby's start causing trouble on the campus. And when a suspicious fire sends one of the committee members to the hospital and then another is found dead in Abby's office, Susan must try to find out who is behind all this. Could it be the group of supporters?

Susan begins to dig deeper into everything to try to sort things out. Can she do so without becoming the next victim?

I really enjoy this series. Susan is such a fun character. The college campus setting is so entertaining. It's a great cozy and you'll devour it in no time! I highly recommend this book.

 

The Wrong Drawers
Misty Simon
Draumr Publishing

Ivy Morris is unsure of this in-home demonstration party her best friend Bella is having. She offered to help just to get out of the house. Ever since her dad came to visit, she can't get much time to herself, or for her and her hunky boyfriend Ben. When she sees the cookies she is to decorate, she begins to understand the type of demonstration they'll be having.

Not long after she speaks bad of Tarrin to Bella, Tarrin is found murdered, and Ivy was the last one to see her alive. So, she is the prime suspect. To make matters worse, Bella refuses to talk to Ivy for some time after the murder. And her dad refuses to leave town until she is cleared.

Ivy is determined to clear her name, if for no other reason than to get her dad to leave town so she and Ben can have some time together. Then strange things begin to happen. Ivy's store The Masked Shoppe is broken into. Ivy is attacked and left in the closet. She gets packages delivered that she didn't order.

Can she unravel the mystery of who killed Tarrin and what that has to do with her without putting herself in any more danger?

I really like Ivy. She is such a enjoyable character. There is a lot of humor in the book. One thing I really appreciate is that even with the questionable subject matter, the author keeps the book to a PG-13 rating.

I can't wait until the next book publishes in this wonderful cozy series.

 

Death In The Cards
Sharon Short
Avon

Josie Toadfern owns the local laundromat and is a stain removal expert. Not only does she get to see everyone's dirty laundry, she gets to know many of their dirty secrets.

Everything is going along well in Josie's life. Her romance with Owen Logan, a local professor, seems to be blossoming. She enjoys visiting her cousin, and she has recently rented out the second apartment above the Laundromat to a couple that own a New Age bookshop in town for extra money.

Josie's borders are sponsoring the upcoming “Psychic Fair,” and that has put a local evangelist and his followers up in arms. Tensions are running high. A psychic in town for the fair stops Josie on the street and warns her of impending doom.

Josie and Owen end up stumbling over a body in the dark. Can she help find the killer before he/she kills again? Can Josie keep herself from being the next victime?

Josie is such a fun character. Her laundromat is a great setting for her to be in contact with most of the town and to hear what is going on. The small town in Ohio is such a great place for this series. The author has done a great job creating it and all the characters in the series.

 

Death Waxed Over
Tim Myers
Berkley

Harrison Black, owner of At Wick's End, decides to have a table at the Founder's Day celebration in New Conover, NC, to try to increase his business in the face of possibly being run out of business. Gretel Barnett has recently opened Flickering Lights and had vowed to put At Wick's End out of business.

At the Founder's Day celebration, Harrison doesn't hear the shot that kills Gretel, but he is soon the prime suspect of the shooting.

Although Harrison would rather leave the investigating to the police, he is soon pulled in to help clear his name. In the process he gets pulled in deeper and deeper. Can he uncover the killer and save At Wick's End?

I thought was a great installment in the candlemaking series. I really like Harrison Black. I don't know anything about candlemaking, so I always feel like I learn something when I read the books in this series.

This cozy series is wonderfully set in a small town. The author has captured the feel of a southern small town. The interaction between Harrison and Eve, his employee who was thrust upon him when he inherited At Wick's End, is progressing at a very believable pace.

 

Driven To Murder
Judith Skillings
Avon

In this newest book by Judith Skillings, Rebecca Moore is off to Indianapolis to join the pit crew of driver Ian Browning. He is driving a vintage Formula One car and since she is a classic car restorer, it makes sense she would jump at the chance to join his pit crew.

Being the only female in the crew doesn't phase her, but when a bullet whizzes past her head, she takes notice. Even though the owner refuses to notify the police, Rebecca begins to question what is going on. Then Mick Hagan shows up to keep an eye on her, thanks to Jo. After Rebecca discovers a body in the cockpit the day before the race, she is thankful to have his help.

Rebecca is a well-developed character and her past continues to haunt her. I really liked this book. Even though Rebecca was not at home and we had many new characters, I felt it was superbly crafted and had plenty of twists and turns to keep my attention. I liked how the author interspersed calls with Jo to bring the home front into the story.

 

Duty Free Murder
Lori Sandys Lapierre
Xulon Press

Elsa Michaels Mercy has a best selling mystery, and she and her husband Ran decide to take a cruise to celebrate. They want this to be a quiet second honeymoon. They've never been on a cruise before.

They end up paired with some very obnoxious people, and then Elsa is pursued by overzealous fans. They don't feel they have much privacy on this cruise. Then when there is a murder and another jewel theft, she is asked to help find the jewel thief. This puts her in danger more than once.

Can she discover the thief and murderer before they stop her?

This is the first I've read by this author. I really enjoyed this great cozy Christian mystery. I look forward to reading many more by her.

Elsa and Ran are such a wonderful couple and the author has done a great job in creating them. The cruise ship was a fabulous setting for this book. I've never been on a cruise, but I felt like I had by the end of the book. I think she did a wonderful job with the way she described it.

 

Ghost Across The Water
Dorothy Bodoin
Wings ePress, Inc.

Joanna Larne, a Gothic novelist, is almost run off the road on her way to her new cottage at Spearmint Lake . She is shaken but unharmed. Later, after settling into her cottage, she helps a woman who has been shot in the local cemetery. Wondering about the community she is vacationing in, she learns about Lieutenant Ned Seymour, a policeman who was murdered twenty years ago. His murder has never been solved, and people often see his ghost.

Joanna is having strange happenings at her cottage. She keeps hearing water when none is running.

As she gets to know more people in the community, she finds herself getting deeper and deeper into the investigation. Can she figure out what is going on without putting herself in danger?

I enjoyed this book. Joanna is a wonderful character. There is plenty of suspense without any gore—my kind of suspense mystery! The pace of the story kept me wanting to read more. I found there to be plenty of red herrings to keep me from determining the killer.

 

The Ghost And The Dead Man's Library
Alice Kimberly
Berkley

Penelope Thornton-McClure and her aunt Sadie own the Buy The Book bookstore. They head out on a stormy night to look at some old books of Peter Chesley, an old friend of Sadie's. Turns out to be an extremely rare collection of Edgar Allan Poe's complete works.

There is a rumor that there is a secret code hidden within the books' leather-bound pages, and that it leads to buried treasure. Bad thing is that as Pen sells off various valuable volumes, everyone who has bought one is murdered.

PI Jack Shepard, the resident ghost of the bookstore that only Pen can hear helps her work on solving the case. The police believe most of the deaths were accidents, but Pen and Jack are certain that isn't the case. Can they discover the identity of the killer without putting Pen in harm's way? Plus what about the secret code and buried treasure. Is there anything to the rumor?

I love this series. Pen and Jack are such likeable characters. Usually I have trouble with mysteries with a ghost, but this series is so well written that it doesn't bother me in the least. The bookstore setting is so natural and so is the fact that Pen gets involved in unraveling the mystery. The additional people in the story are well written and add to the story.

 

The Hayloft
Alan Cook
AuthorHouse

Gary Blanchard has been kicked out of school after the first two weeks of his senior year. His parents send him to live with his aunt and uncle and attend their local high school. This is the school where his cousin Ralph mysteriously died six months before. It was labeled an accident, but as Gary gets to know the students and discusses it, he begins to wonder.

Could Ralph have found the diamond necklace his new cousin Ed has been talking about? Ed and his family have come from England recently. The necklace was supposedly stolen from Dutch royalty by an ancestor and then lost for many generations. Gary had never heard of the necklace before.

Gary is able to assist Sylvia and Natalie and thus meets many students and gets a lot of information. But could his association with Sylvia cause problems and get him kicked out of yet another school?

This is a great novel set in the 1950s. The author has really captured the time period. I liked the characters and found myself fully engrossed in the story. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep you guessing.

 

Herr Schnoodle & McBee
P. K. Paranya
Five Star

Alexander McBee has become a private investigator. He has trained by watching re-runs of Magnum P.I., Rockford Files, and other old detective series on the television. He comes upon a strange dog who becomes his partner. Herr Schnoodle is not the most attractive mix of schnauzer and poodle, but he knows how to investigate.

They begin to get more cases as they are able to solve them quickly. They meet Apple Sally, a local street woman. McBee is intrigued by her, but he can't figure out why. Then there's the beautiful Darcy, the gossip reporter out to scoop McBee's cases.

Soon McBee realizes there is more to Apple Sally than meets the eye. Can he uncover her past without alienating her or letting Darcy break the story before he's ready? Can he keep investigating his cases without letting on about Herr Schnoodle's part, especially to Darcy?

McBee is definitely a quirky character, but that's what makes him interesting. I really enjoyed this first book in this series. I look forward to reading many more. The setting and other characters is well written and I feel as if I've been there and met everyone.

 

High Rhymes and Misdemeanors
Diana Killian
Pocket

Grace Hollister, an American schoolteacher and literary scholar, has come to England 's Lake District to visit the old haunts of her favorite poets. While there, she stumbles upon the body of Peter Fox laying face down in a stream. Thankfully he isn't dead.

Soon after saving Peter's life, she finds herself being chased by two thugs after the gewgaws Peter, a local antiques dealer, is hiding. One problem. Peter doesn't have any idea what the gewgaws are, let alone have them.

The two begin searching for answers and end up chased by the thugs in the process. Eventually they discover the gewgaws have something to do with Lord Byron. Can they find them and solve the mystery without getting themselves killed?

Normally I don't like mysteries set in England , but I loved this book. I can't wait to read more in this series. Grace and Peter make a terrific pair. They are constantly finding themselves in trouble and Peter's dark past lends itself to the mystery as well.

The setting is terrific and there are lots of red herrings to keep things interesting.

 

Love You Madly
Linda Palmer
Berkley

Link Ramsey, leading man on Love Of My Life, the daytime drama Morgan is head writer for, has a problem. A woman is stalking him. She doesn't seem to be able to tell the difference between fact and fiction. Morgan must help keep him safe.

Link's apartment is ransacked. Morgan moves him out with a friend. Then Morgan discovers someone is also following her.

As the cast prepares for a big promotional trip to Las Vegas , the threats keep coming. Can they keep Link safe during this trip? Will Morgan be able to stay safe? Plus, Morgan is coping with some new twists in her life as well. Will she be able to stay focused on work and tracking a killer?

I love this series. Morgan is a great character. You can tell the author knows about the behind the scenes issues in daytime drama. It is very believable and because of that, I often forget it's just a story.

The issue of a stalker is so real as well. Happens quite often with stars from what we hear on the news.

 

Murder By The Book
D. R. Meredith
Berkley

After an old abandoned car surfaces due to a bad drought, Megan wants to find out who the Depression-era car belonged to. She tries to get her book group to assist her as they have in the past. But most of them decline.

Then Megan stumbles over some dead bodies. So much so that the police think she is the prime suspect in the slayings. They look ritualistic and she seems to have the only knowledge to understand the markings.

As she looks into events of the past, she finds more than she bargained for. Could one of the members of her book club be the killer? Can she tie up both the current murders and the past without ending up in jail or putting herself and those she cares about at risk?

I like Megan and Ryan and most of the book group. The author has assembled a good cast of characters. I especially like the book group setting. Their interest in mysteries makes them naturals at investigating crimes.

The only thing I don't like is that the story is told from many perspectives. I much prefer cozies to be told from one point of view. That way I really get to know one character. This format gives you insight into the two main characters, but I found it confusing at time as to who was speaking and thinking.

 

Murder In Steeple Martin
Lesley Cookman
Accent Press

Libby Sarjeant is helping to produce a play at an exciting new venture, the Oast House Theatre, in a Kentish village. The play depicts true events from Peter's family's past during the hop-picking era. Some family members are not too happy with this play being produced.

Some strange things begin to happen with rehearsals. In the midst of all this, Libby finds herself with a new romance with Ben. She never expected that to happen.

Will the stirring up of the old murder bring tragedy to the play and the people in it?

I really like Libby. She is such a wonderful character. She is good with the people in the play. I only wish the Oast Theatre was a real venue to go watch the play and meet Libby.

 

Murder Of A Smart Cookie
Denise Swanson
Signet

Skye Denison is organizing the First Annual Route 66 Yard Sale as her new summer job. She got fired from the first two, and is now working for her uncle. The main reason she took this job was to get enough money to purchase the house she's been renting. Bad thing is her uncle rented out her house to Faith Fairchild, tv personality, who has come to film a “Faith Finds Special” during the nine-day yard sale.

Skye ends up jumping through hoops to keep her uncle happy and keep peace with everyone during the yard sale. This isn't easy.

In the meantime, her parents aren't speaking to each other. Skye is staying with them and ends up in the middle. How can she get them back together? And if that isn't enough, a couple of students from the high school where she works are having problems, and one of them goes missing during the yard sale.

Top it all off when Cookie Caldwell, her former summer-job boss, is found murdered. The sheriff suspects Skye, so Skye sets out to clear her name. Along with that, Skye's love life gets more complicated.

Can Skye find the real killer, patch up her parents' relationship, find the missing teen, keep the yard sale going to get her bonus, and figure out her love life all before the yard sale ends?

I love this series. Skye is so much fun. When I read a book in this series, it's like sitting down with an old friend and catching up on the latest. It is so well written and Skye and the other characters in the series are so well crafted that you forget you're reading a book. I always find these books to be hard to put down, and this one was no exception.

 

Murder Passes The Buck
Deb Baker
Midnight Ink

Gertie Johnson doesn't think her son Blaze, the sheriff of their backwoods community in the upper peninsula of Michigan , is fully investigating the death of her neighbor Chester Lampi. He was shot in his hunting blind on opening day of deer hunting season.

Blaze does things by the book, but Gertie is afraid he's dropping the ball on this one. He has ruled it as an accident. Gertie is sure that it wasn't an accident. So she sets out to investigate on her own. Since she can't drive, she gets her grandson, Little Donny, to drive her around. Her best friend Cora Mae assists her, and Kitty wants to be her bodyguard.

Gertie and her friends have many wild adventures along the way. In the meantime, Blaze files to become Gertie's legal guardian. She tries not to let this keep her from her investigation. But can she keep herself and her friends safe while on the trail of a killer? Is the killer someone they know and trust?

I really enjoyed this book. Gertie is such a fun character. Her friends are a hoot as well. I found myself laughing out loud. The predicaments they got themselves into! I look forward to reading the next book! Plus this author has another series starting that I am anxious to try.

 

The Nitrogen Murder
Camille Minichino
St. Martin's Minotaur

Retired physicist Gloria Lamerino and her homicide detective fiancé Matt Gennaro are in Berkley , CA , to help her friend Elaine prepare for her wedding. Elaine's fiancé, Phil, is a fellow scientist, but he rubbed Gloria wrong from the minute she met him.

Phil's daughter's EMT work partner is shot dead by what is believed to be a mugger. Gloria is soon suspicious because of the information Phil seems to have about the shooting and the patient his daughter was helping transport when her partner was shot.

Gloria's suspicions of Phil soon alienate Elaine, but when Phil goes missing, everyone joins together to try to locate him. Plus Gloria is sure that this has something to do with his work and the shooting. Can she find him in time to save the wedding?

I really like Gloria. Even though she is a scientist, I don't feel these mysteries are written so that laymen can't understand even the scientific talk. I like that. This is a great cozy series that is such an easy read.

This one being set in California was fun. It was Gloria's old stomping grounds from years ago, so she knew people and places. Made it all more believable.

 

On The Run
Lorena McCourtney
Revell

Ivy Malone is on the run in a motor home. She's trying to hide out from some Mafia thugs who want revenge. She ends up in a small town in the middle of nowhere.

Ivy has done some sleuthing in the past, so when she stumbles across two dead bodies, she feels right at home looking in to it. Only problem is the police don't think it was murder. They believe it is a murder/suicide. Ivy is not so sure.

Abilene , a hitchhiker that Ivy befriends, and Ivy end up working together to try to figure out who the killer is. Can they do so without putting themselves at risk?

You will laugh out loud with this LOL (little old lady)! I devoured this book in two days because I just couldn't put it down. I wanted to find out what would happen next!

Ivy is such a fun LOL and Abilene is a great addition. I hope she'll be in future books. I think these two characters worked well together, and with Ivy traveling, she needed a “sidekick.”

I hope there'll be many more books in this series. I can't wait to read the next one!

 

The Orkney Scroll
Lyn Hamilton
Berkley

Lara McClintoch is asked to look at a rare Mackintosh writing cabinet for one of her wealthiest clients. On her word, he purchases it. Only to find out it's a fake. The dealer who sold it to him is found murdered the next day with an axe in his head.

They arrest Lara's client, but she doesn't think he did it. She assists the police and finds a couple of invoices for the cabinet. She begins to wonder if there might have been two cabinets. But how can she prove it?

She ends up going to Orkney Islands to prove her client's innocence. This is where one of the cabinets was to originate. She ends up pulled into a Viking saga from centuries before. Plus there are lots of inconsistencies and mysteries to keep everyone guessing, including Lara. Can she discover the truth without putting herself in danger?

I love this series. Lara is such a great character. She knows her antiques, and I love the trips she takes. I get to go to lots of exotic places I'll never see. So I “see” them through Lara's eyes. The descriptions are wonderful.

 

Power In The Blood
Brenda Robertson Stewart
SterlingHouse Publisher

Lettie Sue Wolfe is a forensic sculptor, but most of the town is unaware of her profession. When local children find a human skull in a sinkhole, Lettie is asked to reconstruct the face.

Lettie is shocked to find the face of her childhood friend's sister's face staring at her when she finished. The sister had been missing for thirty years. She decides to try to discover what happened to her friend's sister. She uncovers information people would rather not be made public. She finds herself in some sticky and dangerous situations

She hires a distant friend who is a private investigator to help her discover the truth. But can they find the truth without becoming the killer's next victims?

I really enjoyed this story. I found it difficult to put the book down. There was enough suspense to keep me guessing. It's a great cozy suspense. I found the forensic matter to enhance the story, and the author did a great job of not going into too much detail. It was just enough.

 

Sonnet of the Sphinx
Diana Killian
Pocket Books

Grace Hollister is still staying in the Lake District . She has just sold her first book, and is enjoying her time with the charming antiques dealer and ex-jewel thief Peter Fox.

Peter recently acquired all the antique furnishings and papers from an old farmhouse. They begin to sort everything out. Grace discovers an old letter that refers to a Shelley sonnet, “Sate the Sphinx” that has never been published and is now lost. The writer appears to have disappeared during World War II not long after writing it. Unfortunately before they can sort the rest of the papers, boxes and boxes of papers, to try to find the sonnet, everything is purchased back by the current owner.

Hayri Kayaci was a guard in the Turkish prison Peter served some time in. He shows up at Rogue's Gallery (Peter's gallery). He demands the return of an item that Peter has no idea how to obtain. He threatens to extradite Peter if he doesn't cooperate.

Soon after that, Hayri is found murdered. Peter is the prime suspect. Grace is conflicted on whether she thinks Peter did it.

In the meantime, she is hot on the trail of the sonnet. She is trying to piece together the life of the man who discovered it and wrote about it.

Can she find the sonnet and evade the person trying to kill her? Will she be able to figure out who is the murderer?

I really like Grace and Peter. They are such fun characters. The Lake District setting really adds to the story.

I was sad to learn that this is the last in this series at this time. I hope the author is able to locate a new publisher fast so that we can have many more adventures with Grace and Peter.

 

Two Wrongs
Morgan Mandel
Hard Shell Word Factory

Danny Callaway's sister has been killed. He knows who did it. He testifies and helps is sending Kevin Green to prison. That should satisfy him, but it doesn't. He wants to see him dead. Since he didn't get the death penalty, Danny decides to take matters into his own hand.

Danny puts himself into basketball and ends up making it to the pros.

Kevin becomes a hardened criminal in prison. He is bent on revenge.

Danny starts losing family members. This really takes its toll on him. Soon Danny finds it hard to continue towards his quest.

The choices each man makes affects the other. This was a very interesting story. It is told from two different points of view. The plot is well-written and provided enough twists to keep me reading.

 

Witch Way To Murder
Shirley Damsgaard
Avon

Ophelia Jensen feels guilty because she couldn't save her friend a few years ago. Ophelia has psychic powers, but she tries to ignore them. She just wants to do her job as librarian and nothing more.

When a good-looking stranger comes to town claiming to be a chemical salesman, Ophelia tries to ignore him. He keeps coming around asking about thefts of fertilizer that have plagued the town. When he tries to go meet her grandmother Abby, Ophelia steps in to stop him. Abby is a witch, and the last thing she wants is that news broadcast. Who is this stranger and what does he want?

When a body is dumped in Abby's backyard, Ophelia and Abby decide they'd better figure out what is going on before someone else is harmed. Can they discover who murdered this man and why without putting themselves or others in harm's way?

I was very skeptical when I started reading this book as I had recently read another cozy about a witch that I didn't like. I loved this one. I can't wait to read the next book. Ophelia and Abby are such likeable characters. The witchcraft is truly kept to a minimum and is not the main focus of the story. The small town location is wonderful as well.

The following reviews are all by Kevin Tipple

13 DAYS: THE PYTHAGORAS CONSPIRACY
L. A Starks
www.lastarksbooks.com
Brown Books Publishing Group
www.brownbooks.com

Concerns over the vulnerability of the nation's oil supply rose late last summer in the wake of the devastating hurricanes that struck along the Gulf Coast . Oil production and processing was severely impacted with resulting shortages across the nation. As soon as normal operations returned, the fragile state of U.S. energy production and processing faded from public view as media attention shifted elsewhere. It is against such a backdrop, that author L. A. Starks has crafted an interesting, though at times excessively technical, thriller.

Executive Vice President Lynn Dayton convinced her bosses to buy Centennial Refinery right before it landed in bankruptcy court. A group of current management had wanted to buy it as well but when their funding didn't come through, the door was open for outsiders to take over. They did and Lynn Dayton and her company is somewhat resented by the employees. That isn't her concern though as she has just four short weeks left to finish the refit and prove to the board that her argument to buy the plant was worth it to the bottom line of the parent company.

Then people start dying. Not just employees at her refinery but at other ones up and down the Houston Ship Channel. Houston Police start to come out more and more to Centennial as the refinery along with neighboring plants begin to experience a series of freak accidents. The casualties in terms of the dead and injured and losses in production steadily mount while all involved are unable to stop it. As hurricane season brings a storm of steadily increasing strength on a deadly course towards Centennial, Lynn Davis is forced to not only save her employees and her refinery, she is also forced into a life or death struggle to save her family.

This is an enjoyable and interesting thriller that showcases too well the current and ongoing vulnerability regarding U. S. oil production and processing. When the author focuses on the story itself, the novel moves forward at a steady pace. Lynn Dalton is an interesting character, as are several others, despite the fact that as in most thrillers, character development is rather limited.

Oil production and processing is a highly complex subject and the author draws upon her long career in the industry to write what she knows. Clearly she knows the subject matter. In addition to a brief “notes for understanding” at the beginning of the book, terms defined at beginnings of chapters, there are large sections devoted to detailed descriptive narrative in the mode of a Tom Clancy novel. The read grinds to a complete halt as the point in the process is described in great detail.

Once the description is finished, the pace again picks back up and the result is an overall enjoyable read. The premise works, as do the character situations and the book resolves everything by the end without leaving any story threads hanging. Clearly a statement book, the author conveys real world concerns while delivering a good story worthy reading.

 

Dangerous Depths
Kathy Brandt
Signet

Detective Hannah Sampson is back in her third adventure and this time dealing with what she believes was an attempted homicide. It was Sampson who was first on the scene when her friend Elyse Henry was thrown into the burning sea by an explosion aboard the boat “Caribbe.” Sampson was asleep on board her own boat “Sea Bird” when the noise woke her up and she investigated. Despite her injuries due to the flames, she was able to rescue Elyse who now lies in the hospital in a coma.

For Hannah Sampson, she believes that the explosion and resulting fire were caused by foul play. Everyone else, including Chief Dun of the Tortola Police Department, believes it was just an accident. Elyse Henry, advent environmentalist especially in regards to the sea turtles and the coral reef, annoyed some of the natives in the British Virgin Islands and appealed to others. With no real evidence other than a gut feeling on Hannah's part, Dun wants her to move on to more serious and obvious matters such as who is breaking into charter boats and stealing stuff. Hannah is not about to let anything go.

What follows is a rather simplistic but enjoyable read. The second storyline of the break-ins on the charters is rather obvious as is the author's feelings on environmental issues. Frequently the narrative read stops completely as the groups are portrayed simplistically as either for or against the environment and the reader is lectured. Like the character development itself, the lectures are simplistic and cultural differences regarding native islanders are mentioned but basically ignored.

The main plot line is enjoyable however and holds a couple of minor surprises. Obviously, the author loves the area she writes about and that comes through clearly to the reader when she concentrates on her main plot and the beauty of the area. When that is in play, the story moves forward at a steady pace. Unfortunately, the lectures are frequent and not at all subtle or woven skillfully into the story and thus, stop the action and the reader cold.

The overall result is an average read at best. Simplistic on all levels, this is a pleasant diversion for a couple of hours.

 

DEATH IS NOT AN OPTION
Gary R. Hoffman
PublishAmerica

Prescott “Rawhide” Hunters works and lives in Mexico Beach , Florida . His boss, who owns an RV park there is Jimmy Rangus. Fleeing a messy divorce five years ago, Prescott had ended up parking his small trailer at the rear of the lot where it has pretty much sat ever since. In exchange for rent for his spot and a small paycheck, Prescott washes and preps RV's as well as minor repairs and runs errands for parts and drives them as needed. In short, his job is a gofer which allows him plenty of time to think as well as pursue his other occupation.

He also works part time as a Bounty Hunter. As it happens, two former RV customers are wanted for bank robbery and there is a 20k reward for their capture and conviction. Before long, in a borrowed RV, Prescott Hunter is on the trail looking for the wanted pair. By doing so, he ultimately puts not only himself but also his girlfriend into the target sights of a former arrestee who is plotting his own form of revenge.

The result is an interesting read that moves slowly forward as readers follow a multi layered character through his daily life. Actual bounty hunting makes up a small part of the 213 page novel released through PublishAmerica. Instead, most of the story involves Prescott 's various experiences as a worker at the RV park and the occasional occurrence that seems to possibly indicate someone is stalking him. Those readers expecting more of a TV style bounty hunting experience may be solely disappointed by a novel that features very little bounty hunting and is more focused on relationships and one man's persistent endurance each day.

 

DEAD GAME: A JOHN MARQUEZ CRIME NOVEL
Kirk Russell
Chronicle Books

California Fish & Game Warden John Marquez and his shrinking team of investigators are once again on the hunt for illegal activity. This time it's the taking of caviar by killing sturgeon. The fact that he has a confidential informant feeding him information should help him build his case as he has an idea of several people who are involved. The fact that while on the way to meet Marquez, she goes elsewhere and after a panic phone call to him, vanishes without a trace, does not. In fact, her disappearance could scuttle the case.

With his informant missing and most likely dead, his case crumbling, bureaucratic pressures which now include more budget cuts which will eliminate his team and quite possibly their very jobs, as well as an always present and interfering FBI, Marquez remains determined to solve the case and all of its various ramifications. His case is just the tip of a gradually appearing iceberg and with Marquez at odds with almost everyone, he is determined that if this is to be the end, he will get results his way one final time.

While this is clearly the slowest moving read of the series and does become bogged down in lectures about sturgeon and caviar, Author Kirk Russell once again provides a detailed and extensive look into the shadowy world of illegal harvesting. As he has done before, the author details extensively the ongoing problem which rarely makes the nightly news and what it will take to stop human greed by some who look to exploit the environment. At the same time, he provides another complex mystery with characters that are very familiar at this point which results in yet another enjoyable read.

 

BY THE CHIMNEY WITH CARE: A HOLIDAY CRIME ANTHOLOGY
Edited By Tony Burton
Wolfmont Publishing
www.wolfmont.com

As noted on the back of this very enjoyable book recently released by Wolfmont Publishing, “Tis the season to watch out for thieves, cutthroats, liars, rogues and con artists!” That it is as the holidays are nearly on us and it is also the season to help others. Not that help should not go out year around, but this is the time of year when more media attention is focused and it could be argued that needs are the highest. With all profits from this book going to support the “Toys for Tots” program the twenty authors and publisher should be very proud of what they have created.

In alphabetical order the authors are, Nick Andreychuk, Guy Belleranti, Tony Burton, Carol A. Cole, Herschel Cozine, Margaret Fenton, Suzanne Flaig, John M. Floyd, John L. French, Gary R. Hoffman, Joseph Ketner, Jean Lauzier, Jeffrey Marks, Debra Gray De Noux, O'Neil De Noux, Neil Plakcy, Rob Rosen, Mike Wiecek, John J. Wilson and Frank Zafiro. The result of their entertaining efforts, compiled and edited by Tony Burton and released through his publishing company, Wolfmont Publishing, take the reader on an emotional ride from hysterically funny to incredibly moving and all stops in between. While not all stories can be covered due to the obvious number and space limitations, there simply isn't a bad one in the bunch.

Starting off the anthology on a humorous note is the short piece penned by Herschel Cozine titled, “The Plight Before Christmas.” Little can be said without ruining the funny read and it is good to know that Ellery Queen is on the case.

Also funny is the short story written by Rob Rosen tiled “Murder In Toddler Town.” The hill is steep, the grass is wet, and clearly the victim fell on his way from fetching a pail of water. Detective Dock isn't convinced it was all an accident and knows this isn't the first time such a thing has happened.

John L. French also uses humor well in his story tiled “Surprise Package.” When an elf is dead, the crime scene is at the North Pole or thereabouts, of course Santa would come in a red Jeep looking for P. I. Matthew Grace. After all, he has a body, a crime may have been committed and there are lots of suspects and Santa doesn't know nearly as much as we were always led to believe.

At the other end of the emotion scale is the incredibly powerful tale titled “Popcorn for Christmas” written by Debra Gray De Noux and O'Neil De Noux. Set in a morgue on Christmas Eve, it is a tale of what could have been. If this one does not get you in the heart, you simply aren't human.

Somewhere in the vast middle between those two extremes are tales such as the one written by John M. Floyd titled “Christmas Gifts.” Dennis Bates has it all and is used to being in power as well as whom to help for his own reasons.

Carol A. Cole's story “The Bells of Christmas” also revolves around helping others in a way. Criminals are stopping cars and helping themselves to the victim's cell phones and Christmas packages before escaping by use of a City Cab.

While those detectives are dealing with a mortal problem, the paranormal makes another appearance in this anthology through Gray R. Hoffman's tale, “In the Chimney With Love.” A few presents are missing from the Wallen's tree but there really is a logical explanation and heartfelt explanation.

Those familiar with Frank Zafiro's novel “Under A Raging Moon” (also available from Wolfmont) as well as his numerous interconnected short stories also set in “River City” won't be disappointed in his story titled, “Three Days of Christmas.” The thief stealing Christmas presents is going to be stopped in the officers involved have their way.

Also putting a hard stop to crime is the theme behind the story “Secret Santa” by Jean Lauzier. Sometimes the best gifts are those that we do not know where they come from and never know who to thank.

The above gives you a small sampling of this excellent anthology as well as glimpse into some personal favorites. Your choices may and most likely will vary. However, you certainly won't be disappointed in this book as each and every story in it is a good one whether a new tale or a favorite reprint. The result is an excellent anthology dedicated to a worthy cause and a book well worth owning.

 

Night Game: A John Marquez Crime Novel
Kirk Russell
Chronicle Books
www.chroniclebooks.com

In this sequel to “Shell Games” John Marquez returns and this time he is on the hunt for bear poachers. Marquez runs a Special Operations Unit within the California Department of Fish and Game. Trafficking in bear parts and products of bears, such as bear bile, is very illegal and as such, can be very lucrative. To stop such actions, undercover operations are needed and take considerable time to build cases under intense risk to personnel.

Marquez along with his team have been undercover working a case built from a tip Marquez does not entirely trust. Clearly, somebody is trafficking in bear parts and could be connected to a bear farm and Marquez has managed to gradually work his way into a shadowy network of paranoid sellers. At the same time, he doesn't trust the snitch who gave him the tip as some of the pieces of information he passed on simply don't add up.

Along with bear trafficking, El Dorado County California seems to be having a bit of a murder problem. A couple of years ago a murder occurred and Detective Jack Kendall was unable to solve it. Now, another murder has happened and there are links between the two cases. This time a geology student, known for involving himself with pro bear support groups against bear farming, bear poaching and the like while working on his thesis was killed and his body was found in the area known as the Crystal Basin, behind Barrett Lake. Kendall wants to know everything Marquez has in case there is overlap with his case.

What follows is a strong and increasingly complex mystery much in the mode of the books written by C. J. Box. While the locations are different, the issues confronting the game wardens involved are the same. Politics also soon becomes an issue as the heard headed Kendall is much more concerned with his murder case than what Marquez and his team are doing.

As the cases lead back and forth through the high country of California, around Lake Tahoe and through Western Nevada, Marquez and his team quickly become more than characters in a book. They take on a flesh and blood substance as they work to solve a case with far reaching implications while juggling the demands of their personal off the job lives.

While occasionally a little slow in spots, the overall read is good with strong character development, multiple storylines and plenty of action moving the work forward. Readers new to this series should definitely start with the first book “Shell Games.” Not only does it set up the characters, several events including how that case was resolved, are explained in detail in this novel.

 

THE COLONEL'S TALE: A DASSAS CORMIER MYSTERY
S.H. Baker
Zumaya Publications

It is November 18, 1924 in Marshall 's Bayou, Louisiana as this latest installment in the Dassas Cormier series opens. Being police chief if the absolute last thing on Cormier's mind. Thanksgiving is foremost in his thoughts and he is really looking forward to his first one since coming back home. He has strong positive Thanksgiving memories and is looking forward to another happy one. The problem is that sibling issues of childhood are never solved and rear up in unexpected ways in adulthood.

For Cormier, he loves his baby sister and really feels his love most when she is far away at her home in North Dakota with her husband Manny Johnson. Word comes via the mailboat that, according to Coralee, there has been a tragic accident and both her and her traveling companion will be delayed in Lake Charles for a few days. Long on drama but very short on specifics, it falls to Cormier on behalf of the family to journey to Lake Charles and find out what happened.

Not that Cormier really wants to go and deal with whatever baby sister is involved in this time, but he is bored out of his mind and he suspects that since the note was addressed to him specifically he is wanted for a reason. Leaving the rest of the family behind, Cormier sets out on the journey. On his arrival in Lake Charles , he finds Coralee is physically fine but her traveling companion Jedidah Gilmore is injured. Not only is he a famous newspaper writer of numerous accounts of his adventurous exploits around the world, he is a witness to a recent crime as well as crime victim himself. More is going on than it appears on the surface and before long Cormier is forced to work the cases as his own to help Gilmore as well as protect his own family.

At 152 pages this novel is a quick cozy style read full of atmosphere and setting. The characters are interesting as is the time period covered because the author is able in a quick span of pages to bring the novel to life. Author S. H. Baker moves readers into a world that one does not want to so quickly leave. For seasoned mystery readers, the case is fairly obvious. Even so, the read itself works well on all levels and provides an excellent way to pass the time.