In Memoriam: Fred Hunter

The mystery world has lost another great writer. Fred Hunter, creator of the Charters and Ransom series and the Alex Reynolds series, passed away this year. His many fans will miss him. He was a gay author and his work may not have reached the widest audience it could have if the world was a different place. He had many fans though and they were loyal and loved his work.

One of the series he wrote had straight sleuths but Hunter always managed to include gay characters – he was trying to show his readers what his vision of the world was, what the world could be.

It's best to put things in his own words. The quote is from an interview done with Fred. You can find the full text on his website: http://home.earthlink.net/~fhunter/welcome.htm He does not identify the interviewer or the source of the interview.

Q: Now, let's talk about the Ransom mysteries for a moment. Despite the fact that this is called your "straight" series, you're always careful to include gay characters ...
A: Well, I wouldn't exactly say I'm careful to do it.
Q: [laughs] You do include gay characters, though. Why?
A: Because visibility is important. I want Ransom to come across gay people the way you would in real life, and I want the gay characters to appear without necessarily making a point of their sexuality. For example, there's a continuing character called Lynn Francis who is a lesbian, although the term is never used. But we meet her lover during one of the investigations and their relationship is taken as a matter of course. I don't feel the need to have anyone say, "Look! They're lesbians!" I think it's important for gays to be visible both in fiction and in real life. It's the only way we're ever going to make a difference ... particularly in our own lives.

Some of Hunter's books are:

The Charters and Ransom series:

Presence of Mind
The first Jeremy Ransom / Emily Charters mystery. Chicago Police Detective Jeremy Ransom is assigned to investigate the seemingly random shooting of Lawrence Watson. When Ransom finds his investigation running into a blank wall, into his life comes Emily Charters, a sharp, elderly woman who unknowingly holds the key to a series of murders.

Ransom at Sea
Emily Charters wonders if she has let her imagination run away when she suspects that things are not quite right on the seniors' cruise of Lake Michigan put together by her church. But suspicion turns to certainly when one passenger turns up dead, and another is accused of the murder. It's up to Emily, with the help of her adoptive grandson Chicago Police Detective Jeremy Ransom, to unravel the mystery.

The Mummy's Ransom
An exhibit of Chinchorro mummies opens in Chicago at Dolores Tower amidst controversy and protests. But when one of the mummies is reported moving around, and the equally controversial owner of the building, Louis Dolores, is attacked and events turn deadly, Chicago police detective Jeremy Ransom is called in to investigate. With the help of his adoptive grandmother, Emily Charters, he must sort out what could be his strangest assignment ever.

Ransom at the Opera
Emily Charters is in the audience on opening night of Carmen , the inaugural production at the new Sheridan Center for the Perfoming Arts. When the actor playing Don Jose dies during the performance, it's up to Chicago Police Detective Jeremy Ransom (with Emily's help) to solve the case!

Ransom Unpaid
The elderly Abigail Pearson has a heart attack at home when she has a "vision" of her long-disappeared husband. When Emily Charters goes to stay with Abigail to look after her, Emily begins to believe something nefarious is indeed afoot. The strangest case yet for Emily and her friend, Chicago police detective Jeremy Ransom.

Ransom for a Killing
DNA tests prove Ben Harvey innocent of the rape he was convicted of nearly a decade ago. But when his conviction is overturned and he is released, his accuser is mysteriously and brutally murdered. To solve this murder, Ransom--with the help of his friend Emily Charters--must reopen the ten-year-old crime.

Ransom for a Holiday
Chicago homicide detective Jeremy Ransom has decided to take Emily Charters, friend and partner-in-sleuthing, away to a picturesque Michigan guest house for Christmas. Ransom wants it to be restful and restorative for Emily, who is still recovering from open heart surgery. But they soon find themselves entangled in a two-year old mystery--the brutal murder of the brother of the owner of the inn--a mystery whose solution hides some very real danger.

Ransom for Our Sins
While Emily is recuperating in the hospital from bypass surgery, Ransom and his partner are assigned to a bizarre murder case in which the young victim was found bearing the marks of the stigmata. His investigation leads him into a strange religious community where neither the leader nor his followers are willing to talk. With the help of Emily's advice, Ransom must find the murderer before another murder occurs.

Ransom for an Angel
Angela Stephens gave Chicago detective Jeremy Ransom all the details of an impending murder, including a description of the killer: her husband. But when Angela turns up dead, Ransom doesn't believe that the husband is the killer, and with the help of his confidante Emily Charters, he probes into Angela's murky past to solve her murder.

Alex Reynolds series:

The Chicken Asylum
Alex, Peter and Jean help a defecting Iraqi soldier elude American agents and a terrorist group bent on eliminating him and wreaking havoc in the States!

National Nancys
When the office of a gay-friendly senatorial candidate is blown up, Alex Reynolds and his husband Peter Livesay are called upon to infiltrate the new office to try to discover the culprit. Meanwhile, Alex's mother Jean is romanced by a handsome Brit who may or may not be implicated in the explosion!

Capital Queers
Alex Reynolds, his husband Peter, and Alex's mother are thrust into a confusing and deadly game when friends of theirs are killed for possessing a stolen religious artifact. Now, in addition to inheriting their friends' annoying dog Muffin, the killers believe that Alex and his family also possess the missing artifact, putting Alex next on their list if it isn't found and returned.

Government Gay
With Peter, his longtime lover, busy for the evening, Alex Reynolds decides to stop in for a quick beer at a local Chicago gay bar, where he is inadvertently mistaken for an agent receiving important information. Along with his lover and his unflappable mother, Jean, Alex soon finds himself the target of government agents and foreign agents, both of whom are convinced he knows something he isn't revealing. Alex must first discover what he's unwittingly become involved in and then rescue himself, Peter and Jean from it before they all come to a permanent conclusion.

Federal Fag
Nominated for the 1998 Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Men's Mystery
On a visit to Los Angeles with his husband, Peter Livesay, Alex Reynolds discovers that an old college friend, Patrick Gleason, has become involved in gay porn. When Patrick is murdered, Alex and Peter launch an investigation that leads them into a web of conspiracy from which they may never return. With the help of Jean, Alex's mother, they try to untangle the web.

REVIEWS

WIN a copy of the following CD! Email juliechatterbox@msn.com with “Sherlock CD” in the subject. Drawing November 25th

Jim French Presents: The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Volume Three CD (also available on cassette)

Reviewed by Julie Obermiller

Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories are classics. We've read them until the pages are worn and watched scores of film adaptations to stay in touch with our quintessential sleuth. Just like the old radio shows of yesteryear, Holmes fans can now enjoy new mysteries just about anywhere with a CD or cassette player.

Noted actor John Gilbert portrays Sherlock to Lawrence Albert's Dr. Watson on this third volume of The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes . There are three stories never before released to the public, allowing listeners the opportunity to play along and solve a Holmes and Watson mystery with an ending not memorized after all these years! After fifty years, the Holmes' estate has allowed new stories to be recorded in the grand tradition and Jim French and company do it well.

The striking of the bell and clackety-clack of horseshoes on cobblestone streets opens the stories and immediately places the listener in mind of merry Olde England . The readings are crisp and natural, as seemingly unrehearsed as real life unfolding near by. One can hear the fear in voices and the quick catch of breath as the chase ensues.

“The Mystery of the Patient Fisherman,” The Diary of Anthony Moltaire” and “The Bee and the Spider” are all quick mysteries worthy of the master duo and are charming as well as entertaining. These recordings can be sandwiched into life's hectic schedule and savored a bite at a time. Audio tales are not just for those who have trouble reading, but for anyone who wants to relax and be immersed in a classically styled mystery. There is something very primal and soothing about being told a story that we can all appreciate. There is also a collection of sixteen original tales on “Sherlock Holmes Radio Mysteries” which are available by mail order from Jim French Productions.

New mysteries with the elegance and nostalgia of another era; what more could Holmes Fans ask for?

A visit to the website www.sherlockholmesradio.com will offer more details. Also available are mysteries featuring Raffles, the Gentleman Thief and more.

From the site:

“ Imagination Theatre is American radio's premiere drama series, now heard coast to coast on well over a hundred radio stations in North America and by satellite on XM Radio. These hour-long weekly broadcasts feature mystery, suspense, fantasy and adventure , produced by Jim French Productions before live audiences on a state-of-the-art recording stage.” You'll be able to listen to clips on the site, and even buy detective mugs and gear!

Highly recommended as a stocking stuffer for those cold winter nights with a mug of tea or a Sherlock mug full of cocoa! The game's afoot!

Murder Passes the Buck
by Deb Baker
Midnight Ink 2006
ISBN: 0-7837-0872-0 |
Softcover- Cover Illustration by Cathy Gendron

Look for an interview with author Deb Baker in this issue of Mysterical-E!

What do you say about a sixty-six year old woman with orange hair? If everyone's Grandma were like Gertie Johnson, there would never be a dull moment at family suppers. The pint-sized dynamo of the Upper Peninsula is a force to be reckoned with and no one, not even her son the sheriff, can keep Gertie from smelling a mystery a mile away. When neighbor Chester Lampi finds his reward in a deer blind on the first day of hunting season, Sheriff Blaze writes it off as an accident. Leave it to Gertie to find evidence of murder, more through her bumbling than her prowess, and the hunt is on for the killer.

Set in the back-woods of Michigan , “Murder Passes the Buck” will take you on a merry romp with Gertie, and friends Cora Mae and Kitty, as the guilty finger moves from one local native to another. These three are no Charlie's Angels; more like the Three Stooges, and you'll laugh at their fast-paced antics. It's open season on everyone as the girls hunt down a motive in the search for the killer, and in a town where everyone knows everything about everybody, there seem to be more than a few secrets left.

Every chapter of Deb Baker's “Yooper Mystery” begins with a word of the day, Gertie's attempt at self-improvement. Despite all her attempts at self-improvement, at the end of the day there is no taming the crusty spirit that covers a soft heart pining beloved husband Barney, who died a year before. Ready to tackle the world again, Gertie steps fearlessly into the deep woods of the mystery and even the blazing orange hair might not keep her from a bullet of her own.

This cozy gives you no gentile, blue-haired ladies sipping tea, but you'll embrace Gertie Johnson and the resident Yoopers as family. The storytelling is marvelous and the characters colorful and entertaining. Suspicion moves from one to another like a hot potato and although the clues are liberal and fair, you might be surprised at the end.

Here's hoping Gertie, Queen of the Yoopers, will be back soon. Baker's characters will remind you of the folks in your own life and you'll feel right at home. The first outing for Gertie Johnson and her homegirls, grandson Little Donny and Sheriff Blaze (who wants to be called Brian because he was named after a horse) is a winner! You'll thoroughly enjoy your visit to the land of hats with earflaps, trucks and venison steaks and the many sub-plots will keep you entertained and guessing.

“Murder Grins and Bears It” is the upcoming sequel and a must-read for cozy lovers who will be Gertie-lovers after this read. Five mittens up for Deb Baker and the Yoopers!

Scrambled Eggs
Boris Riskin
Five Star
ISBN: 1-59414-291-2

Reviewed by Julie Obermiller

It was some wild party. Jake Wanderman was trying hard to lose himself in booze in self-pity. His wife Rosalind announced over a bowl of oatmeal that she was leaving him after 25 years. Lured of his slump by his best friend Dr. Morty Adler and wife Sherri. Jake hoped to catch a glimpse of his soon-to-be ex-wife.

Instead of Rosalind, a green-eyed blonde broke through his haze to ask him for a favor. When a gorgeous babe takes you to her Jaguar and then to a castle-size mansion, your heart starts beating to a jungle beat. When their somewhat unsteady journey took them to a magnificent four-poster bed, Jake thought he was going to see something wonderful. He wasn't prepared for what he saw. From a locked attaché case, the woman he would come to know as Cynthia Organ, pulled out one delicate, magnificently crafted Faberge egg that must have cost a fortune. There were five more eggs in that cotton filled nest and images of Tsars and Tsarinas and the opulent splendor of the times knocked at Jake's fuzzy brain. The Faberge pieces he had seen at an exhibit as a child had filled him with wonder. These filled him with dread when he learned that they were hidden away by Cynthia's now-dead husband Boris. She claims to want help with the jumbled financial mess left after Boris died one week ago, and there seems to be little remorse in that fabulous form. What about the eggs?

Of course a man named Boris would turn out to be member of the Russian Mafia, and his partner Solofsky was calling the widow about the “package” before the body was even cold. Jake finds himself caught up in a web of international intrigue, far removed from the poetry he used to write or the English literature classes he used to teach. Enter the FBI, the Russians, the KGB and not everyone is who he seems to be. There is murder, and mayhem on two continents as they chase down the real provenance of the fabulous eggs, and then the eggs themselves.

This is surely no cozy mystery. The kaleidoscope of characters and sub-plots weave a pretty tight web around the mystery. Scrambled Eggs hits the mean streets and runs flat out the whole way. There is wry humor and the action is hard-hitting. This one won't simmer on a back burner; it'll come to a full boil from the very beginning of the read.

Death Goes Dutch
Albert A. Bell, Jr.
Claystone Books
ISBN: 1-932158-65-0

Reviewed by Julie Obermiller

Those who grow up not knowing their birth parents or roots must shoulder a deep longing for truth. The search for parents who may or may not want a reminder of their past is difficult at best, and social worker Sarah DeGraaf can identify with that pain and longing. As a Korean –American adoptee, Sarah has traveled the road, never knowing about her own origins. In her job in Michigan , she gets to help others looking for a connection to the past.

For Josh Adams, discovery of his birth mother brings an unwanted end; his mother is dead. Sarah must be the one to break the news and for some reason she cannot even locate Josh's original file. It gets even more complicated when he learns that his mother was one of the Dykstras. Martha Dykstra was head of the family furniture empire, a talented artist and a beloved philanthropist, until her untimely death five years earlier. The Dystras are old money and very powerful in west Michigan , and when news of Josh's search reaches them, they close ranks against the outsider. All but Grandma Dykstra.

Mrs. Dykstra welcomed Josh and Sarah into her mansion on Heritage Hill, which was shared with her son Edmund and his family. Edmund ran the family business, and the family and none were too eager to have someone claim a part of the Dykstra empire.

Bits of information fall into Sarah's lap like the petals of a fading rose, and none of it makes sense. Something just doesn't fit.

Could Josh be a clever actor trying to pass himself off as an heir? Odd clues keep Sarah wondering, even though in her heart she trusts him. Then there is the family, putting pressure on Sarah's agency. What are they so afraid of? Her tenacity puts Sarah's beloved job in jeopardy but she is determined to find out the truth about Margaret Dyksta's death. Something is not right in the family's actions and reactions, and Sarah and Josh uncover some sinister secrets, to their own peril.

The book is fast-paced and sharp and the setting and characters are vividly painted as a backdrop. The clues are subtle and plentiful but suspicion dances from one to the other on both sides of the table. Bell has crafted a finely honed puzzle that will satisfy the most discriminating mystery fan. Let's hope there are more Wooden Shoe Mysteries on the work bench!

May Day
A Murder-by-Month Mystery
Jess Lourey
Midnight Ink
ISBN: 0-73787-0838-0
Soft cover

By Julie Obermiller

Thirty-something Mira James finds disaster and drama at every turn. She finally finds a cute love interest, and then a corpse; in the library where she works! Oh yes, the love interest is the corpse! With a cynical and sassy approach to life and murder, Mira sets out to solve the mystery of her lover's demise, and why not get a great story for her boss at the newspaper, in the bargain?

Mira certainly clashes with the stereotypical image of a “Librarian” as she cruises from clue to clue in her puddle-jumper Corolla. When her other job as a reporter has Mira gathering recipes, she finds one for Phony Abalone, chicken disguised as fish, and Deer Pie. The reader will wonder if this and other local delicacies are real and be looking for recipes. They're amusing in any case, described with Lourey's wry wit.

When it comes to characters, Mira knows them all. The inhabitants of Battle Lake , Minnesota are light years away from the staid New Englanders in Jessica Fletcher's hometown. They're quirky and zany and the laughs are fun. The characters are so flamboyant they take over the stage, especially the wacky senior citizens and Mira's friend Gina.

May Day fits the cozy slot and is a light, easy read; no heavy mystery here. Although most cozies make the transition to Young Adult readers, don't try it with this one. May Day is liberally salted with sexual savvies that keep it strictly adult reading. Perhaps a “lightening up” of the crude remarks would make future books in the series reach a broader range of readers, because the characters and story base deserve it.

The Murder-by-Month Mystery series starts off with May (don't worry, you haven't missed any) and the second, June Bug, is awaiting publication in early 2007. Knee High by the Fourth of July” is in the works. Series fans will find themselves looking forward to another visit with Mira and friends, like a comical and cozy sitcom.

WIN a copy of this book, signed by author/editor Diane J. Newton! Email juliechatterbox@msn.com with “Secrets in the subject.” Drawing November 25th

Secrets, Fact or Fiction? II
A Collection of Stories
Edited by Diane J. Newton
Wingspan Press
Soft cover
ISBN: 1-59594-062-6

By Julie Obermiller

The success of the first “Secrets, Fact or Fiction?” is no mystery. The collection of stories from writers across the genre board begged a question from the reader. Is this a true story? The mission of the book was to promote literacy and recreational reading in an era of electronic gizmos. The humble printed word was set out as a lure and the catch was amazing!

“Secrets, Fact or Fiction? II” has just been released and is every bit as tantalizing as the first! This anthology takes the reader on a voyeur's journey, allowing glimpses through the window of lives from removed from our own. Some of the stories allow you to creep in on kitten feet for quiet observation, while others pull you headlong into the author's maelstrom. From humble heart to sinister soul, the human psyche is laid bare before the reader, and the journey is a roller-coaster of emotions.

Fiction is safe. No matter how horrible or bizarre a story, the reader knows it equates to tales of the bogeyman and can be set aside. But what if it were true? It would be nice if all the warm and fuzzy stories were true and the bad things were just the stuff of imagination, but that isn't necessarily so, and we find ourselves trying not to believe in the baser evil that man is capable of. In Secrets, the reader is invited to guess, but long after you have read it and made up your mind, the story will drift back to you in another context and you will wonder…is it real? That's the real mystery about this book!

The broad appeal of this book, to readers from young teens to hardened armchair sleuths, is another plus. The bite-of-life stories often tackle questions of morality and judgment, and may inspire wholesome debate between parents and teens, although it was not the primary intent of the authors. A large portion of the proceeds from the Secrets series is earmarked to be donated to the National Center for family Literacy, to help the organization support literacy programs across the nation.

Story writers include award winning suspense author Diane J. Newton of New York; Hill Kemp, critically acclaimed political thriller novelist from Louisiana; C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp, award winning romance writing partners of Texas; C.W. Gortner of California, critically acclaimed historical novelist; Kathy Strelow, a rock and roll novelist from Illinios; Larry Pontius, award winning speculative fiction novelist, poet and lyricist of Florida; novelist and magazine editor Carlene Reed of Washington State and A.P. Fuchs, a horror novelist and poet from Canada. Marketing expert and mainstream novelist, Carolyn Howard-Johnson of California has also joined the group, contributing a story for Secrets, Fact or Fiction II. The excitement of being part of a program that nurtures a new generation of readers is a draw for many accomplished authors who hope to become a part of the project. Newton on P.R. Web

If you are lucky enough to separate the facts from fiction, you can win a contest that awards the reader sleuth with signed copies of each of the authors' books. The stories in Volume I were so superbly crafted that no one was able to sift the truth from lies, and the winner was chosen by random draw of entrants. Will someone be able to decipher the truth in Volume II? Sandwich these short stories between your own slices of life and you'll find it a satisfying repast! Like good Chinese food, it will leave you hungry for more!

The Wrong Drawers
An Ivy Morris Mystery
by Misty Simon
Draumer Publishing
ISBN: 1-933157-10-0
Softcover

reviewed by Julie Obermiller

“The Wrong Drawers” is the right book for lighthearted mystery lovers! Author Misty Simon has given fans a second serving of the delectable Ivy Morris and it's every bit as delicious as the first. Readers will find themselves satisfied but hungering for the next Ivy adventure.

Ivy Morris is every woman. No slave to diet or fashion, she shares the same problems as most gals today, including the need for self-discovery, security and romance. In the first of the series, Ivy inherited a house, a costume shop and a way out of the house she was born, raised and stuck in. Her fresh start found her a handsome guy named Ben, some new friends and a dead body. Having solved one crime, Ivy settled into her new life and romance. In “The Wrong Drawers,” Ivy finds her Dad now living under her roof and cramping her style (and her love life), while Ivy tries to keep the popular lingerie room in her store away from his judgmental eyes.

In the grand home party tradition wrought by Tupperware, Ivy's friend Bella is planning a Play It Up! gathering to let the local ladies find lewd and lascivious luxuries to buy. The book's opening has Ivy squirming while frosting anatomically correct cookies for Bella, with her cheeks as brightly colored as the frosting! Party demonstrator Tarrin has just returned to town and becomes an unwelcome thorn in Ivy's side pretty quickly, with hints of a competition with Ivy for the ladies intimate wear dollars. It doesn't improve relations when she is found dead and Ivy is the chief suspect. Here we go again. Can Ivy bumble through to a solution or will investigator Ben save his ladylove from the lock-up?

The murder mystery is neatly woven into funny subplots that will keep you turning pages long into the night. A burglar who steals everyone's paper products? Will Ivy and Ben finally take the next step in their so-far chaste relationship? Will Ivy's Dad ever accept her new life and go back his own part of the country? Will Ivy ever repair the friendship with the best friend who took her life and personality from brown to magenta? It isn't all fun and games as Ivy almost becomes a victim herself, in the most unlikely way, and Ivy must find Tarrin's killer before she gets arrested or murdered!

Simon has a gift for storytelling and for making the reader feel instantly at home with her lovable characters. You'll want to grab a bite at Mad Martha's Milk and Munchies just to get a glimpse of life in Martha's Point. The scene setting is gloriously colorful and inviting, and the kaleidoscope of characters whirling through the reader's mind will make for a very satisfied adventure. While there is much humor and merriment in a Simon book, there are still fair and abundant clues and a good, strong mystery for whodunnit fans.

Misty Simon has the unique ability to tell a story with just enough words to keep it rich, and flowing smoothly to the end. There is no skimming over extraneous prose to get to the heart of matter; you'll devour every word so as not to miss a laugh or clue! While Simon can easily fit into the contemporary romance genre with Ivy, mystery fans will acknowledge her solid footing in the mystery cozy genre and will be begging for more!

If this is your first look at Simon's Ivy Morris Mysteries, I can guarantee you'll go looking for Ivy's debut in Poison Ivy while you await the third in the series.

The following reviews are by Melissa Green (see her bio under Nicole Andrews).

Every Breath You Take:
A True Story of Obsession, Murder, and Murder
By Ann Rule

reviewed by Mellissa Green Greenmellissa@earthlink.net

This book is narrated by Laura Gianarelli.

This book tells the story of the Florida murder of Sheila Blackthorn-Bellush in front of her quadruplet toddlers. This book was written at the victim's request. A Cast of Characters begins this selection. The first chapter located in Part One describes Sheila's current husband and her children. It also describes her daughter coming home to find the toddlers with only their life vests on, crying, and with dark red patches on their skin, hair, and feet. Sheila's mother life is discussed in the next chapter. This chapter also focuses on Sheila's early family life. The next set of chapters relates the Vanhoutte family.

Chapters 3-7 detail the rest of Allan Vanhoutte's early life previous too, and after he met Sheila.

Chapter Eleven describes how Sheila leaves her abusive husband, and Twelve describes how Sheila goes through proceedings. The next chapter describes Sheila's new life, and one of her engaged friends by her ex-husband. Allan has Sheila and their daughters move into a house in his neighborhood, so he can monitor Sheila's every move. Sheila moves into a rather small house in another neighborhood in Chapter 14.The last chapter in Part 2, focuses Allan new fiancée, Maurine. Part Three starts off with the details of how Sheila met Jamie Bellush, the man and their subsequent marriage. Maurine and Allan also get married. Although the next section discusses both marriages, it mainly focuses on Allan's and Maurine. This chapter also brings up the Child Custody between Sheila and Allan, who still persists in destroying their lives. Then, Sheila gives birth through Invetro Fertilization. The child custody battle rages on in the next chapter. When the Bellush's move into Country Bend, they make new friends.

When Sheila's first two girls, Stevie and Daryl start complaining that their parents punishments are really abuse, their friend's mother, contacts Allan, and become his closest friend, while becoming enemies. The mother begins taking photos of the girls various injuries, and Allan has a reporter come to document tapes of him and the girls. The next chapter describes Allan and Maurine's marriage. Allan also decides to relinquish all parental rights to his two children. Then, on a golfing trip with a friend, Allan begins hatching his murder plot. His friend soon finds someone to go through with the murder plot. More alleged claims of child abuse surface, and Sheila is arrested. This chapter concludes Part 3.

Chapter 23, which begins Part 4, discusses witnesses' accounts of who might be Sheila's killer. A woman spots a man walking near her house. He turns and walks towards Mark Ridge Road Road, where the Bellush's live. A man notices a man pulling into the Bellush's driveway. The car happens to belong to a woman in Austin , Texas named Maria Del Toro. It also goes into more detail about Stevie's discovery.

She actually finds her mother lying in the kitchen doorway. The kitchen drawers are open, and the wall phone is off the hook. There is an actual 9-1-1 transcription. The next chapters discusses with the interview of Sheila's husband, and Sheila's mother's reaction to the news. The next chapter relates the newspaper and TV coverage of the murder and Allan and Maurine, and how they don't react to the news. The 26th chapter discusses Daryl's reaction to the killing. The children are interviewed. The car owner's husband, Joey's girlfriends, both current and past are interviewed. One of them is video taped.

Then, Jo flees Texas , and enters Mexico . The Memorial services are held for Sheila. Sheila's sister, Carey and her husband take in Deryl, and Stevie and the quads are taken in by Jamie in Chapter 28. Her funeral services are held in the Newton Presbyterian Church.

Another one of Joey's male friends, Samuel Gonzalez, comes forward, and their's another interview, and more interviews are conducted in Chapters 29-31. Joey

Continues to elude capture, but Sammy Gonzalez and another participant in the murder plot are arrested. Joe is finally arrested in Mexico , but is charged with immigration. Part 5 begins Chapter 33. In this chapter, the detective begin to connect the dots, and realize how intensive Allan's search for his ex was. Sammy comes out, and tells the whole murder plot when he is alone with one of the detectives in Chapter 34. In the next chapter, the detectives interview Allan's uncle who tells them of Allan's past history. A call log on tape is sent to one of the detectives. Chapter 36 focuses on the interview with Allan's former secretary, and the mounting evidence against three previous suspects. The investigation into Allan's involvement continues. One of the men involved in the murder plot goes on trial. He is found guilty of committing murder in the first degree, and guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in the third degree. Allan begins to talk to the media, but denies his involvement in his ex-wife's killing, both to the media, and in court, where he was tried in a civil suit hearing against Sheila's current widower. The police track down Allan's first two wives, Ellen and Mary Kelly to use as testimony. Del Toro is brought in from Mexico to Sera Sota on July 13, 1999 . In Chapter 41, the police prepare to arrest Allan. In Chapter 42, Allan is arrested. He is charged with interstate domestic violence and using interstate commerce facilities to commit murder for hire. This chapter ends Part 5. Part 6 begins with Chapter 44, which focuses on jury selection. Chapters 45-52 discuss Allan's trial and conviction and Joey's guilty plea. The last chapter focuses on Allan's denial of appeal. The Afterward summarizes Allan's childhood.

The book describes a possibly abused child who could have a combination of mentaldisorders including Narcissistic Personality Disorder. As with Ann Rule's other books, the trial section is excellently detailed. I believe that this book gives me a glimpse into the master manipulator. Unlike the other books I've read by this author, certain chapters had actual crime scene reports and police notes. I think that a great feature! Overall, I felt the book was well researched.

…And Never Let Her Go:
Thomas Capano: The Deadly Seducer
by Ann Rule

Reviewed by Mellissa Green greenmellissa@earthlink.net

True crime author, Ann Rule, describes the chilling account of the disappearance of Delaware 's governor's Scheduling Secretary, Ann Marie Fahey, in June of 1999, in … And Never Let Her Go .

When her former married lover, Thomas Capano, an attorney, is accused of murdering her and disposing of the body, he blamed his long-time mistress, Debbie McKintire. Ann Rule, Seattle 's former policewoman, has investigated thousands of homicides. This knowledge gives an insight into murder. She has written 17 books and more than 1000 articles on criminal investigation and anti-social Personality Disorder.

This 46-chapter book is divided into 5 parts. Each part begins with a quote, most from the Bible, and narrated by Martha Harmon Pardee. In Part 1, Chapter 1, begins with history of Wilmington and Delaware . It then moves on to it, then, goes into a description of the city and state. The chapter traces the early lives of Anne Marie and her siblings. Chapter 2 traces the early life of the Capano family.

Chapter3 revisits the Fahey family, while Chapter 4 revisits the Capanos. These chapters focus on the later lives of the families. Chapter 5 focuses on Capano's mistress, Debbie McKintire's life. While Chapter 6 focuses more on Anne Marie, Chapter 7 focuses on Tom Capano and his mistress.

Chapter 8 focuses on the Capanos.

The end of Part 1, which comprises of Chapters 9 through15 Continue the focus on Anne Marie.

Part 3, which cover Chapters 16 through 20, lead up to Anne Marie's last moments alive.

Chapters 16-24, begin the discussion of the case, noting the location of her diary, and some disturbing letters her sister finds when searching her apartment. By Chapter 25, the missing person's case, turns into a possible “interstate kidnapping” case. The suspicion grows in Chapter 26, when the detective search Tom Capano's residence. They find that he has made large credit card purchases. The cleaning woman testifies that when she went to clean one of the rooms, the furniture had been unreasonably. He'd placed a new rug on the floor, and “the TV was flat against the wall.” By Chapter 30, the case has turned into a definite murder case, even though there is no body. This part ends with Tom's arrest and imprisonment.

Part 4 discusses his imprisonment, and ends with planned burglary of Debbie McKintire's house, as well as a murder plot to kill Debbie and Jerry, which goes awry.

Part 5, beginning with Chapter 36, discuss Tom's trial. The book ends with an Afterwards, which talks about the rest of the lives discussed in the previous sections.

The cassette version of this book was not commercially recorded, so there was no music. I felt I was actually there during the trial. Since the book was recorded on a four-track recorder, their was no music. These types of tapes are designed especially for the blind. This cassette was well read. The details given in this book are so well written that I know she's done her research.

Heart Full of Lies:
A True Story of Desire and Death
by Ann Rule

Reviewed by Mellissa Green greenmellissa@earthlink.net

Martha Harmon Pardee narrates this book.

In this character study, Liysa, a sociopathic wife, murders Chris Norson. The book begins with a Cast of Characters and a foreword. Chapter 1 describes the discovery of Chris's body by an undersherriff in Wallawala County . It also discusses a brief history of the county. Chapter 2 goes into Liysa's early life and Chapter 3 continues by focusing on her later life. She has many affairs, one with Nick Matson, which produces a boy named Popico. Chapters 4 and 5 complete the first part of her life. Chapters 6-7 focus on Chris's later life. Chapter 8 focuses on the investigation of his deaf and the discovery that he was shot by his wife. Chapters 9-17 focus on Chris's family and flash back to his marriage to Liysa and the birth of their son Burin. Chapters 18 and 19 focus on Liysa's possible writing career. In Chapter 19, she attends Maui 's writers' conference, where she meets Craig Elliot, an agent. She shows him her screenplay, and he agrees to help her sell it. Her screenplay doesn't sell and she gives up her agent, saying she can work alone, although he promises her it will sell somewhere with his help. Her screenplays, as do her other works of fiction, focus around the theme of spousal abuse. Chapter 20 discusses Chris's last moments alive, and 21-22 relates Chris's deaf from Liysa's point of view. Liysa then gets arrested on a murder charge. Chapter 25 starts off discussing Chris's Memorial services, and then leads into the discovery of Liysa's journals, stories, screenplays, and letters which get locked into evidence. Chapter

27 details interviews with Chris's friends by Oregon State police detective, Pat Montgomery, and Chapter 28 discusses Liysa's imprisonment.

The next chapter details an interview

With Chris's friend, Phil Hess, by Pat Montgomery, and an interview with Liysa's friends, Marni and Ben Clark, by Dennis Densmore. Dan Jones, another one of Chris's friends is also interviewed. Chapter 30 continues the interviews. Chapter 31 concludes the interview section and 32 starts the discussion of the trial. Chapters 33-38 conclude the trial section. During the trial, Computer Forensics is used to prove that Liysa's claims are false. Chapter 39 focuses on her imprisonment, and Chapter 40 details some venomous letters written to family and her appeal for Child Custody. In this chapter, it's discovered that Liysa is allowed to represent herself. It is decided that Burin will live with the Matsons' and his two brothers.

Ann Rule's Afterwards presents some questions about Liysa's statements, actions, and motives. It also looks at some possible theories on Chris's last moments alive. It completes the section by recounting the later lives of the families and the investigative team.

This chilling account of a woman's drive to kill her husband can be extremely creative. They can come up with shocking accusations such as spousal abuse. This tactic is so realistic, especially if they show you physical evidence, that whoever was given the information, would most likely believe it. I believe her claims of child as well as spousal abuse were false. Their was no evidence of it. Though this book may never be complete, it's a good start. I like the fact there is a writer in this manuscript, and I feel inspired that, since she's attended a Writer's Conference, I probably will too.

The following reviews are by Dawn Dowdle. You can see more work at: www.mysteryloverscorner.com and www.romanceloverscorner.com

The Cradle Robbers
by: Ayelet Waldman
Berkley
Hardback, 8/05, 224 pages, $23.95
ISBN: 0425202844

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle - mysterybks@yahoo.com

Juliet Applebaum's youngest of three is now four months old. Previously she graduated Harvard and was a crushing public defender. Now she's exhausted and trying to make a go of it as a part-time investigator. Plus she never has time or energy for her husband, Peter.

Juliet's office assistant talks her into looking into some female prisoners who had their infants taken from them under false pretenses. She finds herself unable to turn this case down. She keeps thinking how she'd feel if her own infant had been taken.

She talks to some of the inmates and family members. Finally she goes to Lambs of the Lord, a church-based foster organization, to try to find out the location of these children. Having a four-month-old child, she often has to bring her with her. This helps in some situations and is difficult in others.

This was the first book I've read in this series. I've heard a lot of people talk about it. I liked it, but it wasn't quite what I expected from the comments I had heard from other readers.

The story was well written, and I wanted to finish it to find out what had happened to the children. The plot was constructed well. I didn't figure it out ahead.

I do look forward to reading another book in this series. I like Juliet and the author's style.

Don Of The Dead
By: Casey Danield
Avon
Paperback, 5/06, 325 pages, $6.99
ISBN: 0060821469

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle - mysterybks@yahoo.com

I LOVED this book! Paranormal isn't normally my thing, but this cozy is great!

Pepper Martin is the tour guide at a local cemetery. There are some notorious people buried there, including Augustino “Gus” Scarpetti, a Mob don that was killed thirty years ago.

One day Gus appears to Pepper. At first she doesn't want to believe it, but he convinces her it is really him. He needs her to solve his murder as he's stuck in limbo.

Pepper soon finds herself in many sticky situations, one of the biggest being she's talking to someone no one else can see, and often finds herself in danger. Can she solve his murder without putting herself in the cemetery? Can she find the truth even though Gus seems to be hiding some facts from her?

Even though I don't believe in ghosts, this was so well written, I couldn't wait to read the ending to find out who did it and why. There were lots of great twists and turns in the plot. Pepper is such a likeable character, too.

For Better Or Hearse
By: Laura Durham
Avon
Paperback, 3/06, 258 pages, $6.99
ISBN: 0060739045

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle - mysterybks@yahoo.com

Annabelle Archer, one of D.C.'s top wedding planners, and Chef Henri have a falling out right before a wedding reception. Then Annabelle discovers him impaled on an ice sculpture. Since everyone wanted revenge with the chef, Annabelle isn't the only suspect.

Soon Annabelle's friend Georgia Rhodes and catering exec at the hotel Henri worked at is arrested for the murder. Annabelle is certain Georgia didn't do it, so she sets out to find the real killer.

As deaths begin to stack up in this case, the list of suspects is shrinking and Annabelle finds herself more and more in danger.

I love this series. Annabelle is such a fun character. Having the setting of weddings and the frenzy associated with them really adds to the ambiance. I love Annabelle's friend Richard and her assistant Kate.

Getting Old Is Murder
By: Rita Lakin
Dell
Paperback, 11/05, 300 pages, $6.99
ISBN: 0440242584

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle - mysterybks@yahoo.com

Gladdy Gold and girls, other retirees in her Fort Lauderdale complex, are a hoot! I really enjoyed them.

It appears someone is killing off residents the night before their birthday, but the police believe they were all heart attacks. Who wouldn't. The residents were old and it looked like a heart attack. Gladdy believes it was murder and sets out, with the help of her friends, to prove it.

There are some truly crazy characters in their complex, and getting at the truth is not always an easy feat. The detective isn't investigating until they can bring him some concrete evidence. Can they, at their ages, get to the bottom of these murders? Can they do that without putting themselves at risk?

This is the first book in this series. You can bet I'll be reading this series for years to come. Gladdy is such a terrific character. The author has created such a wealth of interesting characters, that I bet she can write many books! I sure hope so!

Murder By The Glass
By: Michele Scott
Berkley
Paperback, 6/06, 246 pages, $6.99
ISBN: 0425210219

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle - mysterybks@yahoo.com

Nikki Sands is beginning to settle in to her new job at the Malveaux Estate in Napa Valley . Plus she has two men who appear to be interested in her, but she isn't sure.

Her friend Isabel is catering a big wedding at a Sonoma mansion before she realized it was the wedding of her lover (she didn't know he was engaged). The bride treats Isabel terribly. Nikki tries to help out to run interference.

After the ceremony, Nikki is asked to take a glass of wine up to the bride. Unfortunately she finds her sprawled on the floor, murdered. Even though the bride had many enemies, the police find evidence that Isabel is the killer. Nikki knows this is impossible. So she and Isabel's brother, one of the two men interested in her, to try to prove Isabel innocent.

Murder On The Rocks
By: Karen MacInerney
Midnight Ink
Paperback, 5/06, 281 pages, $12.95
ISBN: 0738709085

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle - mysterybks@yahoo.com

Natalie Barnes is the new owner of the Gray Whale Inn on Cranberry Island , Maine . She has turned it into a bed and breakfast and loves cooking breakfast for her guests.

Bernard Katz comes to stay at the Inn . He has plans to build a resort for the rich next to her Inn . Natalie and her friends try to defeat him at the selectman meeting but are defeated. She is worried about the future of her Inn .

While out walking, she trips and falls partway down a cliff. She finds Bernard Katz dead below her. It is determined he was murdered, and the police detective thinks Natalie killed him. It doesn't help that it is discovered Bernard Katz had planned to demolish the Inn and put in a parking lot for his resort.

Natalie decides she'd better find the real killer before she ends up in jail. Can she do that without putting herself in serious peril?

I have only vacationed in Maine once. After reading this book, I felt as if I had gone again. I loved this book. The descriptions are wonderful, especially of the food. I wish the Gray Whale Inn existed so I could vacation there! I can't wait for the next book to be transported there, if only in my mind.

Natalie is such a fun character. She is accepted by some on the island, but others treat her as an outsider. Her friends are great as well. The setting is spectacular. And the food will make your mouth water!

Murder Over Easy
By: Jimmie Ruth Evans
Berkley
Paperback, 7/06, 292 pages, $6.99
ISBN: 0425209245

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle - mysterybks@yahoo.com

Melvin, Wanda Nell's boss at the Kountry Kitchen restaurant, has been arrested for murdering Fayetta, another waitress. They had been dating. He asks Wanda Nell to help clear him because she helped clear her son recently when he was charged with murdering his dad. As if Wanda Nell didn't have enough to do.

Fayetta wasn't a nice person. She and Wanda didn't get along, but no one deserved to die the way she did. So, Wanda Nell decides to try to help Melvin in any way she can. She runs the Kountry Kitchen in his absence, hires Tuck as his lawyer, and does some snooping on her own.

She discovers that Melvin wasn't the only man Fayetta was dating. Plus Wanda Nell finds a bankbook with a large sum in the savings account. There was no way she made that money as a waitress. Wanda Nell works to uncover more about Fayetta's life and those she “worked” with, including a club where it didn't appear she was delivering food. But can Wanda Nell discover the truth without putting herself or her family in jeopardy?

I love this series. Wanda Nell is such a terrific character. I love how she interacts with her kids and grandson, as well as her best friend Mayrene. Tuck is a wonderful character as well. Wanda Nell's mother-in-law is as cantankerous as they come, but that makes it work so well.

The fact that Wanda Nell lives in her double wide mobile home with her 2 daughters and her 16 month old grandson lends a lot of credibility to the story. So does the fact that she has to work two jobs to make ends meet, and then it's still tough.

The setting is great and the plot has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing who did it until the end.

Raiders Of The Lost Corset
By: Ellen Byerrum
Berkley
Paperback, 7/06, 282 pages, $6.99
ISBN: 0451219031

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle - mysterybks@yahoo.com

Lacey Smithsonian, fashion reporter in D.C., is heading to France with her friend Magda, corset creator for the rich and famous (as well as some kinky people). The paper is paying for the trip as Lacey will supposedly be reporting on haute couture. But the real reason is trying to find a lost corset lined with jewels that was supposedly stolen from the Czar Nicholas' family after they were assassinated. This has been a mystery in Magda's family for years. She believes she has the needed clues to lead Lacey to it.

Unfortunately, Magda is poisoned before they leave, and she hadn't given Lacey the clues. Lacey does some digging to try to figure out the clues on her own. She ends up heading to France with her friend Brooke to look for the corset.

Can Lacey discover the truth about the corset without putting herself or her friends in danger? Will she find love along the way?

I love this series. Lacey is such a wonderful character. The setting is so rich in fashion issues, and Lacey always gets caught up in some murder related to fashion. The plot has many twists and turns to keep you turning the pages to discover the truth.