Still Missing
Chevy Stevens
St. Martin’s, Jul 6 2010, $24.99
ISBN: 9780312595678
In Clayton Falls on Vancouver Island, thirtyish realtor Annie O’Sullivan hosts an open house in which hardly anyone visits. She is about to call it quits as a failed day when a nicely attired man arrives. Annie thinks she may have a sale, which would help her overcome the nasty taste of the argument she had with her mom. Instead he abducts her taking her to a remote shack in the mountains.
Annie eventually escapes after a year-long imprisonment by an obsessed lunatic. However, the ordeal is far from over as she visits a psychiatrist to explain her trepidations then and now since the police have not captured her psychopathic kidnapper who she fears will come back for her, but insolently refuses to be a victim a second time, physically or emotionally.
The ordeal is told by Annie to her psychiatrist is so emotional readers will cringe at what she went through, still going through and will be going through with one last twist. Annie makes the tale as the emotional scars will be with her for the rest of life. This is a one sitting tale by what may be the best debut thriller of the year.
Harriet Klausner
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
A Colourful Death-Carola Dunn
A Colourful Death
Carola Dunn
Minotaur, Jun 8 2010, $24.99
ISBN 9780312379469
In 1960s Port Mabyn, Cornwall, Eleanor “Aunt Nell” Trewynn runs the charity shop. The widow lives with Teazle the Westie. Overall she is contented with her life.
Eleanor's artist friend and neighbor Nick Gresham returns from London. He stops at his shop only to be greeted by the horrific destruction of several of his paintings. Outraged by the vandalism, he rejects Eleanor’s idea to call the police as he believes his artistic rival Geoffrey Monmouth slashed his work; Nick goes to confront Geoffrey with Eleanor at his side trying to calm him down. However, the pair is even more deeply stunned to find someone killed Geoffrey in his bungalow. The local police suspect Nick, but Eleanor knows otherwise and obstinately investigates as she ties the slashed paintings to the stabbing death and considers a third artist.
The second Aunt Nell Cornish amateur sleuth mystery (see Manna From Hades) is a terrific 1960s village cozy starring a likable somewhat quirky heroine and a delightful support cast. The story line is fast-paced from the moment Eleanor and Nick arrive at his gallery and never slows down as the cops know the artist has a motive although they are ignoring opportunity even though he was with Aunt Nell when the homicide and the vandalism most likely occurred (only five decades ago and yet forensic science feels like ancient history). Fans will enjoy the heroine’s return engagement as she investigates the murder of a local artist.
Harriet Klausner
Carola Dunn
Minotaur, Jun 8 2010, $24.99
ISBN 9780312379469
In 1960s Port Mabyn, Cornwall, Eleanor “Aunt Nell” Trewynn runs the charity shop. The widow lives with Teazle the Westie. Overall she is contented with her life.
Eleanor's artist friend and neighbor Nick Gresham returns from London. He stops at his shop only to be greeted by the horrific destruction of several of his paintings. Outraged by the vandalism, he rejects Eleanor’s idea to call the police as he believes his artistic rival Geoffrey Monmouth slashed his work; Nick goes to confront Geoffrey with Eleanor at his side trying to calm him down. However, the pair is even more deeply stunned to find someone killed Geoffrey in his bungalow. The local police suspect Nick, but Eleanor knows otherwise and obstinately investigates as she ties the slashed paintings to the stabbing death and considers a third artist.
The second Aunt Nell Cornish amateur sleuth mystery (see Manna From Hades) is a terrific 1960s village cozy starring a likable somewhat quirky heroine and a delightful support cast. The story line is fast-paced from the moment Eleanor and Nick arrive at his gallery and never slows down as the cops know the artist has a motive although they are ignoring opportunity even though he was with Aunt Nell when the homicide and the vandalism most likely occurred (only five decades ago and yet forensic science feels like ancient history). Fans will enjoy the heroine’s return engagement as she investigates the murder of a local artist.
Harriet Klausner
Maid of Murder-Amanda Flower
Maid of Murder
Amanda Flower
Five Star, Jun 15 2010, $25.95
ISBN 9781594148644
In Stripling, Ohio, Martin College librarian India Hayes also works as a struggling artist. When her longtime friend Olivia Blocken asks her to be a bridesmaid, India agrees though she fears how her brother Mark will react as he still loves Olivia. Mark suffered a nervous breakdown when Olivia left Stripling to go to college so her trepidation is jusrified.
As Mark hides himself in math and in teaching at the college, India conceals from him that she is a bridesmaid at Olivia’s nuptials. When someone shoves Olivia to her death, the police suspect Mark as the prime culprit with the motive being unrequited love based on the fact he broke down once before when Olivia left him so if he can’t have her no one can have her. India investigates believing Mark would never kill anyone let alone the woman he loves.
This is a lighthearted fun amateur sleuth cozy due to the eccentric support cast (human and feline). India feels a deep need to prove her sibling may have suffered from unrequited love, but was not a jealous killer as sulking and weeping is more his style. Since she does not trust the cops to look elsewhere though she admits this might be a throwback to her 1960s hippy activist parents, she makes inquiries. Readers will enjoy Maid of Murder as the amateur sleuth uses her librarian research skills to land in trouble as she investigates who killed Olivia.
Harriet Klausner
Amanda Flower
Five Star, Jun 15 2010, $25.95
ISBN 9781594148644
In Stripling, Ohio, Martin College librarian India Hayes also works as a struggling artist. When her longtime friend Olivia Blocken asks her to be a bridesmaid, India agrees though she fears how her brother Mark will react as he still loves Olivia. Mark suffered a nervous breakdown when Olivia left Stripling to go to college so her trepidation is jusrified.
As Mark hides himself in math and in teaching at the college, India conceals from him that she is a bridesmaid at Olivia’s nuptials. When someone shoves Olivia to her death, the police suspect Mark as the prime culprit with the motive being unrequited love based on the fact he broke down once before when Olivia left him so if he can’t have her no one can have her. India investigates believing Mark would never kill anyone let alone the woman he loves.
This is a lighthearted fun amateur sleuth cozy due to the eccentric support cast (human and feline). India feels a deep need to prove her sibling may have suffered from unrequited love, but was not a jealous killer as sulking and weeping is more his style. Since she does not trust the cops to look elsewhere though she admits this might be a throwback to her 1960s hippy activist parents, she makes inquiries. Readers will enjoy Maid of Murder as the amateur sleuth uses her librarian research skills to land in trouble as she investigates who killed Olivia.
Harriet Klausner
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Anywhere She Runs-Debra Webb
Anywhere She Runs
Debra Webb
St. Martin's, Apr 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780312532970
In Huntsville, Alabama, on her day off while enjoying a tryst, FedEx delivers an envelope to Police Detective Adeline Cooper. The return address is from her home state of Mississippi. Inside is a note, the second referencing three princesses that she received in four days. Also the package contains a newspaper clipping from the Hattiesburg Gazette stating that: “City Attorney Cherry Prescott Missing”. Her boss at Huntsville PD says this is serious and needs to be treated as such.
Pascagoula Sheriff Wyatt Henderson informs Adeline to send the evidence to him; she tells him she will personally deliver it to him and will be on the investigation team. Neither is happy with their pending team-up as they have a history before she left town a decade ago; a past that has left him feeling guilty that he failed to protect his beloved Adeline; while she feels remorse that she never let him explain. They plan to go after the killer, but Wyatt vows to keep his Adeline safe this time.
The key to this excellent police procedural is that the second chance at love subplot is kept in arrears except when the lead duo argues over safety issues. The investigation is super as the killer and the intrepid female cop play a deadly game of chess with each other while the resolute local sheriff does everything he can to participate in the checkmate to death encounter. Readers will enjoy Debra Webb’s super romantic suspense thriller as she gives the Colby Agency operatives a well deserved respite.
Harriet Klausner
Debra Webb
St. Martin's, Apr 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780312532970
In Huntsville, Alabama, on her day off while enjoying a tryst, FedEx delivers an envelope to Police Detective Adeline Cooper. The return address is from her home state of Mississippi. Inside is a note, the second referencing three princesses that she received in four days. Also the package contains a newspaper clipping from the Hattiesburg Gazette stating that: “City Attorney Cherry Prescott Missing”. Her boss at Huntsville PD says this is serious and needs to be treated as such.
Pascagoula Sheriff Wyatt Henderson informs Adeline to send the evidence to him; she tells him she will personally deliver it to him and will be on the investigation team. Neither is happy with their pending team-up as they have a history before she left town a decade ago; a past that has left him feeling guilty that he failed to protect his beloved Adeline; while she feels remorse that she never let him explain. They plan to go after the killer, but Wyatt vows to keep his Adeline safe this time.
The key to this excellent police procedural is that the second chance at love subplot is kept in arrears except when the lead duo argues over safety issues. The investigation is super as the killer and the intrepid female cop play a deadly game of chess with each other while the resolute local sheriff does everything he can to participate in the checkmate to death encounter. Readers will enjoy Debra Webb’s super romantic suspense thriller as she gives the Colby Agency operatives a well deserved respite.
Harriet Klausner
The Galilean Secret-Evan Drake Howard
The Galilean Secret
Evan Drake Howard
Guideposts, May 2010, $24.99
ISBN: 9780824947941
Palestinian Karim Musalaha fears his volatile father whose hatred of the Zionists make life untenable at home. Currently Karim hides from his dad, head of the Jihadist Palestinian Patriotic Alliance in a cave in Qumran. There he finds a clay jar containing a brittle ancient looking scroll. His discovery makes him a target of Jews, Christians and Muslims.
In circa 33 AD in Judea, Jewish Judith of Jerusalem is to marry merchant Gabriel ben Zebulon, but on the day of their wedding she knows she does not want to be his wife though he is a nice attractive man. Instead she elopes with Gabriel’s brother Dismas, a Zealot who shares her loathing of the occupying Romans who killed her brother. Judith regrets hurting her family and her intended, but runs off with Dismas praying her loved ones and her jilted fiancée will forgive her. Heartbroken Gabriel decides to kill himself by jumping off the Temple but the Pharisee Nicodemus saves his life. He talks about the Epistle Rabbi Jesus wrote that tells people to forgive themselves so they can forgive others. Disillusioned with the Zealot cause, Judith reads that epistle she and Dismas stole from Nicodemus' home.
Expanding on his terrific The Lost Epistle Of Jesus, but keeping the premise of enabling readers to see the human and divine sides of Jesus and the love shared with Mary Magdalene, Pastor Evan Drake Howard provides an even deeper more relevant tale. Judith’s subplot mirrors Mary’s life and that of Karim as ironically the Zealots of the first century are the Jihadists of the twenty-first century. All three and others especially Gabriel seek the Galilean Secret truth of Jesus in order for all to embrace the message to live in peace and harmony while loving all of God’s creations.
Harriet Klausner
Evan Drake Howard
Guideposts, May 2010, $24.99
ISBN: 9780824947941
Palestinian Karim Musalaha fears his volatile father whose hatred of the Zionists make life untenable at home. Currently Karim hides from his dad, head of the Jihadist Palestinian Patriotic Alliance in a cave in Qumran. There he finds a clay jar containing a brittle ancient looking scroll. His discovery makes him a target of Jews, Christians and Muslims.
In circa 33 AD in Judea, Jewish Judith of Jerusalem is to marry merchant Gabriel ben Zebulon, but on the day of their wedding she knows she does not want to be his wife though he is a nice attractive man. Instead she elopes with Gabriel’s brother Dismas, a Zealot who shares her loathing of the occupying Romans who killed her brother. Judith regrets hurting her family and her intended, but runs off with Dismas praying her loved ones and her jilted fiancée will forgive her. Heartbroken Gabriel decides to kill himself by jumping off the Temple but the Pharisee Nicodemus saves his life. He talks about the Epistle Rabbi Jesus wrote that tells people to forgive themselves so they can forgive others. Disillusioned with the Zealot cause, Judith reads that epistle she and Dismas stole from Nicodemus' home.
Expanding on his terrific The Lost Epistle Of Jesus, but keeping the premise of enabling readers to see the human and divine sides of Jesus and the love shared with Mary Magdalene, Pastor Evan Drake Howard provides an even deeper more relevant tale. Judith’s subplot mirrors Mary’s life and that of Karim as ironically the Zealots of the first century are the Jihadists of the twenty-first century. All three and others especially Gabriel seek the Galilean Secret truth of Jesus in order for all to embrace the message to live in peace and harmony while loving all of God’s creations.
Harriet Klausner
A Night of Long Knives-Rebecca Cantrell
A Night of Long Knives
Rebecca Cantrell
Forge, Jun 22 2010, $24.99
ISBN: 9780765320452
Journalist Hannah Vogel, traveling as Frau Zinsli, and her adopted nine year old son Anton fly on the Graf Zeppelin to Switzerland. Hannah is concerned that she is so close to Nazi Germany as three years ago she kidnapped the alleged son of the chief of staff of the storm troopers Ernst Rohm. Her fears become affirmed when the airship lands in Germany with she and the lad dumped by the Swiss, who continue their journey. Worse she is separated from the lad as she is taken to Rohm.
However, she has her first break since being captured on German soil when Hitler and a contingency arrive at Rohm’s hotel room to arrest him. Hitler’s inadvertent intrusion enables Hannah to escape. However, she refuses to leave without her Anton so the intrepid reporter searches for her son at great risk to her life.
A Night of Long Knives is a fascinating Depression Era tale that centers on the Nazi’s strengthening their power over all aspects of German society. The story line is action-packed with a courageous heroine who has way too many Houdini-like escapes that eventually detracts from the sense of what is happening to Germany circa 1934. Still historical readers will enjoy Rebecca Cantrell’s exciting thriller rooting for Hannah the heroine.
Harriet Klausner
Rebecca Cantrell
Forge, Jun 22 2010, $24.99
ISBN: 9780765320452
Journalist Hannah Vogel, traveling as Frau Zinsli, and her adopted nine year old son Anton fly on the Graf Zeppelin to Switzerland. Hannah is concerned that she is so close to Nazi Germany as three years ago she kidnapped the alleged son of the chief of staff of the storm troopers Ernst Rohm. Her fears become affirmed when the airship lands in Germany with she and the lad dumped by the Swiss, who continue their journey. Worse she is separated from the lad as she is taken to Rohm.
However, she has her first break since being captured on German soil when Hitler and a contingency arrive at Rohm’s hotel room to arrest him. Hitler’s inadvertent intrusion enables Hannah to escape. However, she refuses to leave without her Anton so the intrepid reporter searches for her son at great risk to her life.
A Night of Long Knives is a fascinating Depression Era tale that centers on the Nazi’s strengthening their power over all aspects of German society. The story line is action-packed with a courageous heroine who has way too many Houdini-like escapes that eventually detracts from the sense of what is happening to Germany circa 1934. Still historical readers will enjoy Rebecca Cantrell’s exciting thriller rooting for Hannah the heroine.
Harriet Klausner
Saturday, May 1, 2010
House of Secrets-Richard Hawke
House of Secrets
Richard Hawke
Random House, May 11 2010, $25.00
ISBN: 9781400066087
U.S. Senator Andrew Foster believes his manifest destiny is the White House. He has everything going for him that an ambitious person needs and with the vice president forced to resesign, a potential rival is out of the game with an opening for him to move up. However, like a Shakespearean tragic figure, Andrew has a flaw; the married Andy loves the women.
At his Shelter Island, New York bungalow, Andy enjoys sex with his campaign adviser Joy when Robert Smallwood crashes through the glass door. The intruder hammers the young woman with a pipe before leaving her dead. Andy flees into the night, but Dimitri Bulakov was taping Foster’s infidelity when he captured the homicide and flight. Whereas Bulakov’s clients blackmail Foster over his affair, he blackmails them over the tape.
This is an exciting thriller in which failure to remain zippered may nuke the political and personal lives of Foster. Although the motive for Joy’s murder seems over the top of the moraines, the strong cast and frantic pace from the opening bungalow invasion to the final confrontation with numerous subplots in between will leave readers enjoying this entertaining tale.
Harriet Klausner
Richard Hawke
Random House, May 11 2010, $25.00
ISBN: 9781400066087
U.S. Senator Andrew Foster believes his manifest destiny is the White House. He has everything going for him that an ambitious person needs and with the vice president forced to resesign, a potential rival is out of the game with an opening for him to move up. However, like a Shakespearean tragic figure, Andrew has a flaw; the married Andy loves the women.
At his Shelter Island, New York bungalow, Andy enjoys sex with his campaign adviser Joy when Robert Smallwood crashes through the glass door. The intruder hammers the young woman with a pipe before leaving her dead. Andy flees into the night, but Dimitri Bulakov was taping Foster’s infidelity when he captured the homicide and flight. Whereas Bulakov’s clients blackmail Foster over his affair, he blackmails them over the tape.
This is an exciting thriller in which failure to remain zippered may nuke the political and personal lives of Foster. Although the motive for Joy’s murder seems over the top of the moraines, the strong cast and frantic pace from the opening bungalow invasion to the final confrontation with numerous subplots in between will leave readers enjoying this entertaining tale.
Harriet Klausner
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