Mysterical-E

Book Reviews

Organized to Death: Tina Tales by Jan Christensen

A fun read with a fast pace, this book is one you won't put down. Tina Shaw is beginning her job as a professional organizer. SHe faces a house filled with boxes and clutter, and one very dead body in the nursery. Drawn into the case against her will, Tina discovers a lot about the people around her as well as some old faces she thought she knew. She learns about herself as well and becomes more confident and self-reliant. As her list of suspects gorws, Tina herself is targeted by the killer and works furiously to find the murderer before any more killings take place. This is not only a good mystery but also a wonderful character study. As Tina learns the basics of organizing other people's lives, she also learns something about herself and how to make her own life something she can be proud of. This is one not to miss.

Murder Misdirected by Andrew MacRae

An unwitting pickpocket, the Kid, puts his hand where he shouldn’t and finds himself the object of a hunt for stolen diamonds he knows nothing about. But he should. He picket the pockets of the last man thought to have had the diamonds. Now the FBI, fearsome criminals, and a host of others want The Kid to cough up the diamonds. But he can’t. Really, he can’t. Except no one believes that and that’s when the Kid’s world changes radically. MacRae writes a serviceable mystery with lots of plot and twists, some well realized characters, and an atmosphere readers will enjoy.

Edited for Death by Michele Drier

Small town journalist, Amy Hobbes finds herself rooting out a scandal that began during World War II and which echoes down to the present. Several murders, lost of cozy details, and a dash of romance will have readers turning pages. She manages to uncover a puzzle that has been hanging in the background for a long time. A dangerous puzzle, Amy finds herself challenged on a number of fronts while getting to solve it. A leisurely cozy, this book will please readers on a number of scores. It has details, flashbacks, romance, and characters that are sure to engage.

Grilled Chilled Killed by Lesley A. Diehl

Emily Rhodes, retired and working in rural Florida as a bartender to supplement her small pension, seems t find her tiny self caught in mysteries wherever she goes. Having agreed to work a local barbeque cook-off, she finds a dead body covered in barbeque sauce in the beer cooler. Shocking but it doesn’t surprise her. She, however, decides to stay out of it and lets Detective Stanton Lewis do his job. But she quickly sees he’s got it al wrong and just has to jump in. The writer has filled this mystery with some attention-getting characters whose mouths get them in more trouble than they can handle. The characters have complex lives and this makes them more interesting. There’s also romance. Emily has two men vying for her: the Detective and Donald, a man who loves fish more than other things in his life. The sparks really fly between Emily and the detective, however, and Donald has to fight for his place in the game. Plenty of plot, humor, and setting will keep readers interested in this mystery.

Boystown 5 by Marshall Thornton

It’s the fall of 1982 in this fifth installment of the Boystown mystery series. Chicago is reeling and panicked after five people die from poisoned Tylenol capsules. At the same time, the Bughouse Slasher has taken his eighth victim, which strikes close to home for private investigator Nick Nowak. The Chicago Police are overwhelmed and can’t put much effort into the Slasher case so Nowak steps in. But once he finds the Bughouse Slasher what then? This new installment in the series is nicely done, the era is portrayed with skill, and the characters are up Thornton’s usual high standard.

A Hostage to Heritage by Suzanne Adair

If you’re a history buff and the American Revolution is one of your passions, this is the book for you. This is the series for you. In this entry, the American Revolution is entering its seventh year. In Wilmington, North Carolina, redcoat investigator Lieutenant Michael Stoddard tries to find two criminals before Lord Cornwallis's army arrives to resupply. But he is thrown off track by a kidnapping. Someone has abducted an English heir. Stoddard must find the boy and in doing so, gets placed into a situation peopled with radical insurrectionists, whiskey smugglers, and secrets from his own past in Yorkshire. The second novel in this series is rich with details and history – enough for any buff to sigh with pleasure as he or she gets lost in the historical recreation. Murder, war, espionage, kidnapping, tax evasion, and bootlegging all mixed well with military and civilian politics of the era. It’s engrossing. Fast-paced, with characters who are as real as the times that spawned them, and with a sense of time and place that make this a pleasure to read and savor.

Peak Season for Murder

A ghost seems to be haunting the Bayside Theater. Local actress Danielle Moyer, who vanished twenty-three years before after starring in a play at that theater, is apparently returning for another bow. A series of pranks also jumbles things up at the theater which make things difficult. But even more surprising, someone is leaving bizarre clues in the abandoned Moyer cabin. Local newspaper reporter Leigh Girard, preparing an article on the theater, is also investigating the murder of Brownie Lawrence, a formerly homeless man she befriended. When the theatrical pranks turn deadly, Leigh suspects that the unsolved case of Danielle Moyer has triggered murderous and revenge. A suspenseful read and worth it.

Greater Treasures: A DragonEye Novella by Karina Fabian

Vernn is a dragon and a private detective in the border town of the Faerie and Mundane worlds. And doing his job is never easy. Still, finding the wayward brother of a woman who needs his help seemed like an easy job until it turned deadly dangerous. His partner, Sister Grace, gets poisoned by a dart meant for him, and Vern gets more involved than he’d intended, offering to find an artifact in exchange for a cure for Sister Grace. However, this trinket can be used to control every living creature. Now Vern’s work is cut out for him save his sidekick or risk letting everything come under the control of a nefarious power. Vern is hardboiled and the story is energetic and fun with plenty of everything to please fans and newcomers to the series.

Out of Circulation by Miranda James

Diesel, a rescued Maine coon cat, returns to Athena, Mississippi along with his human companion Charlie who wants to get lost in some books. But when the Ducote sisters find themselves in the middle of a fight with Vera Cassidy about where to locate the annual library fundraising gala, well, neither Charlie nor Diesel will enjoy the sublime pleasure of reading until things calm down. Unfortunately. Murder only heats things up. Charlie discovers one of the sisters standing over Vera’s body. Now he and Diesel must find out exactly who did it, if they’re to get on with their reading. This is the fourth outing for Diesel… and the human, of course, and they’re still solving murders and getting entangled in things that make for a lot of good reading. The characters, situations, the setting and the plot all make this a winner.

Kneading to Di by Liz Mugavero

Stan Connor has lost her high-stress public relations job which gives her plenty of time to work on her dream: creating healthy, organic pet treats! Stan lives in a quaint Connecticut town and this atmosphere is just one of the things that make this book a pleasant way to spend some time. Stan is successful in mixing up treats both pets and their humans love (not for the same reasons). But there’s usually someone who doesn’t just love organic and Stan’s treats don’t thrill Carole Morganwick, the town vet. However, when Stan’s cat Nutty needs care, Morganwick is the only vet there. At least until Stand and Nutty get to the office. There they find Morganwick dead, kibble scattered over her remains. Of course, Stand also finds that she’s the suspect the police like most for the crime. Now she’s got to put the treats on a back burner and try to discover the real murderer. With a bit of romance and a lot of exciting plot, this mystery is sure to please.

The Llama of Death by Betty Webb

Spitting llamas, Renaissance faires, zoos, and murder. This is a mystery that will hold your attention and propel you along with the need to solve the case. Zookeeper Teddy Bentley takes the Gunn Zoo llama, to a Monterey Bay-area Renaissance Faire but finds murder on the schedule. The Rev. Victor Emerson, owner of the local wedding chapel and RenFaire participant, is dressed as Henry the Eighth but he’s deader than a doornail and, at first, it looks as if the llama stomped him to death. But upon closer inspection, the Reverend was nailed with a crossbow dart in his back. Teddy gets involved even though her llama is innocent and finds that old Rev was not really an ordained anything. But he is – or was – an escaped convict. Which means, and this complicates things, that every marriage he’s performed for twenty years is null and void. Populated with fun characters and a lot of interesting details, this is a great read and a good mystery. Besides murder and bad marriages there’s plenty more to keep readers entertained. Romance, dirty doings, RenFaire fun, and more. Put it on your list and get to it soon.

A Purse to Die For by Melodie Campbell and Cynthia St-Pierre

When television fashionista Gina Monroe returns home for her grandmother’s funeral, she’s not expecting to find a murder. This page turner of a mystery has lots: family tension, the reading of a will, murders, and a plot that will keep you guessing. Written with style as any mystery about fashion should be, this book, the pace is fast and the characters are well-developed. Readers will enjoy a peek into Gina’s world and the people that surround her.

Four of a Kind ed. Douglas Quinn

A mystery novella anthology, this books works are centered around a poker theme – thus four of a kind. There’s humor as well as darker stories. Great characters and situations make this a collection you won’t want to miss. Plot twists and plenty of action keep the stories exciting and readers turning pages. “Papa's Girl” by J.R.Lindermuth, is set in Pennsylvania in 1957 is up to his usual high standards. “Jigsaw”, by Carol Culver Rzadkiewicz, features a hard-boiled P.I. “I Lost My Happy Days” by Douglas Quinn features his well-known creation Webb Sawyer. “Millie McCall's Full Moon Poker Night” by Sara Williams is yet another tale of poker-playing that is well done. All the stories are noteworthy and entertaining.

5 Mysteries by Mike Befeler

Befeler is an accomplished practitioner of what has come to be called “geezer lit” and the five books below are good examples of his work:

Retirement Homes Are Murder
Paul Jacobson, a man in his eighties, wakes up in a room he doesn't recognize and is forced to deal with his reality. Diagnosed with short term memory loss, Paul must make his way each day dealing with problems and situations that seem new since. Paul handles it with sarcasm and toughs it out. He gradually realizes he is in a retirement home and finds himself becoming friends with Henry, man with Asperger's Syndrome, and Meyer, a retired Attorney. Settling into this new situation, Paul tries cleaning his room and makes a trip to the trash shoot. He discovers a body in the shoot and finds his life becoming even more complicated. When the police are called in, they decide that Paul is a good suspect. Now Paul and his friends must find the actual killer before Paul is arrested.

Care Homes are Murder
This series features Paul Jacobson, an elderly man with memory problems – every morning his memories are reset. This entry starts with Paul and his wife, as well as their son and his family, on a vacation in Hawaii. One morning Paul takes a walk and promptly finds a dead body floating in the marina. The action begins there with attempted killings, sabotage, and more. It’s fast paced and readers will be turning pages to find out what happens next. Even when Paul visits friends in nursing homes, the danger doesn’t stop. A suspect and a potential victim, Paul can’t rely on his memory to rescue him, so his family and friends and his quick wits are all he has.

Cruising in Your Eighties is murder
This entry can be read without benefit of the others. As with all his geezer books, this one is filled with characters – well drawn and fine tuned. The plot is also a winner. This time Paul is on a cruise to Alaska and even before they get there, the temps are pretty frigid on the ship as Paul manages to make enemies among the passengers, not the usual thing a person does on vacation. His memory problems cause difficulty and pain and are handled well. Of course, he stumbles upon a murder and because of his ability to make enemies, he’s a suspect. The only one. To make matters worse, if he doesn’t find the real killer before the boat docks, he’s facing a life in prison.

Senior Moments are Murder
Paul, now living in Venice Beach California, with his fiancé, is supposed to get married the afternoon the book opens. But all he knows when wakes up is that he's in an unfamiliar bed with a woman he doesn't know. He decides to leave before the woman wakes up. But on his way from the place, he discovers a body in the canal. Though no one believes him when he says he doesn’t remember anything, when he is taken back to his starting point, his fiancé is awake and explains things to the police. Unfortunately for Paul, the dead man is someone he’d had a terrible argument with the day before in front of many witnesses. He claims he doesn’t remember but the police still don’t believe him. Paul eventually figures out what he needs to do with the help of a journal he keeps and his friends. There’s plenty in this volume to keep readers interested.

The VV Agency
The V V Agency is a paranormal mystery intended as a spoof of the P.I. genre. Van and Vanna run a detective agency, but clients never see them together , the reason is interesting and, why spoil the surprise? Find out. However, their conditions, present interesting dilemmas for them both, but also gives them an advantage as detectives. The first book in this new series has Van and Vanna taking the case of a woman suspected of killing her husband. There’s lots of plot, plenty if interesting characters, and enough twists to keep readers interested.

Designer Dirty Laundry by Diane Vallere

Samantha Kidd, buyer turned Trend Specialist, has designs on a great career, but when she finds the Fashion Director's corpse on her first day, she is thrown off course. Samantha and Nick Taylor, a high-ticket shoe designer, are the only witnesses. The police are called but they don’t find the body and dismiss the case out of hand. When the killer supplies evidence enough to frame her, Samantha delves right in to save her hide. This book has a sense of fashion as well as mystery and it’s style will please readers while giving them a taste of a different world. A fun cast of characters, a fast-paced plot, clues and surprises are what makes this a fun read.

Capacity for Murder by Bernadette Pajer

Set in 1903, Bernadette Pajer's new Professor Bradshaw Mystery, finds Bradshaw, an electrical engineering lecturer at Seattle University, receiving an urgent telegram from Dr. Arnold Hornsby, of the Healing Sands Sanitarium, southwest of Seattle, Washington. It seems that while trying to cure his son-in-law of infertility by using electrotherapy, his son-in-law dies. Hornsby requests that Bradshaw solve the mystery and determine whether it was a machine malfunction or human error. The Professor takes on the case. The Healing Sands offers a Spartan lifestyle with no perks at all, not even housekeeping. Bradshaw begins his investigation immediately and makes some surprising discoveries. The cast of characters is interesting and nicely done as is the setting and historical background. The plot is well thought out and engaging.

The Right Side of Wrong by Reavis Z. Wortham

Constable Ned Parker has a seemingly unrelated series of murders to puzzle out. Set in 1964, summer approaches and along with it an increasing unrest in the US which seeps into the life of many communities and townships. The people of this northeast Texas setting wonder why their community has become a dangerous place to live. Colorful characters, a good sense of place and the era in which this all happens, make this an engrossing read.

Floats the Dark Shadow by Yves Fey

Set in Belle Époque Paris, this novel finds Theodora Faraday, a struggling American painter making her way in the world of art. She’s tasted success, having illustrating poems for the Revenants, a group of poets led by her cousin, Averill. But when children vanish mysteriously, she confronts Inspecteur Michel Devaux who suspects the Revenants are involved. Theo refuses to believe this, especially as the man she loves in one of them. This novel takes readers on a trip through the frightening underbelly of Paris. Theo and the Inspector maker some shocking discoveries as they try to reveal the killer. This historical is well done, the era nicely recreated, and the characters just right. There’s a lot to make readers squeamish.