Echoes From The Grave
S.D. Tooley
Full Moon Publishing, Aug 2007, $26.00
P.O. Box 408, Schererville, IN 46375
ISBN: 9780978540234
The digging at a construction site on the south side of Lake Michigan uncovered many human bones. Everyone assumed that a Native American burial site was inadvertently exhumed.
As the local tribes want the site preserved as a cemetery, Chasen Heights detective in charge of the investigation Jake Mitchell arrives at the dig accompanied by his detective wife Sam Casey. She quickly informs her spouse that the remains of one of the dead told her that they were murdered three years ago. Jake knows to heed Sam’s Native American psychic skills. However, the bones go missing before they can be tested as if someone fears what they will tell will affirm Sam’s information.
Few if any paranormal police procedurals are as good as the Casey-Mitchell Lake Michigan whodunits (see NOTHING ELSE MATTERS, WHEN THE DEAD SPEAK and RESTLESS SPIRIT). The latest entry ECHOES FROM THE GRAVE is a terrific whodunit as a cunning person manipulates the construction crew and the Native Americans to insure Mitchell cannot learn the truth although his sleuthing spouse Sam has pointed him in the right direction. The investigation brings to life some of the history of the Lake Michigan area while the husband and wife detectives are a delightful pair as they do their jobs professionally enhanced by her talent and that of her Native American family. Although construction sites in the Chasen Heights area seem extra dangerous, S. D. Tooley provides an exhilarating fast paced mystery that readers will appreciate.
Harriet Klausner
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
The Sovereign's Daughter-Susan May Warren and Susan K. Downs
The Sovereign's Daughter
Susan May Warren and Susan K. Downs
Barbour, Jan 2008, $9.97
ISBN: 9781597899833
In 1917 in Alexander Palace just south of Petrograd, Tsar Nikolai Romanov gives state secrets to his faithful twenty something chambermaid Oksana Terekhova. Though he trusts God will protect her, the Russian ruler assumes she has a better chance of survival than he and his royal family from overzealous revolutionaries especially the Bolsheviks, but still fears for her life. As such to keep Oksana and the secrets safe, he asks visiting Mennonite Anton Klassen to escort her to a safe haven; although dangerous the young Mennonite accepts the assignment that will bring honor to him and his family. Anton decides to hide Oksana inside his family on a South Russian farm.
As the Mennonite and the servant travel together, they begin to fall in love. However, dangerous adversaries seem to know that Oksana carries state secrets and make efforts to capture her so they can torture the information out of her. As the peril grows Anton begins to realize the state secrets he assumes his companion possesses is not what is the enemy wants; it is the woman that he vowed to his sovereign he will protect with his life who their adversaries vigorously pursue.
Using the Bolshevik Revolution as the impetus to this superb inspirational historical tale Susan May Warren and Susan K. Downs provide an interesting look at the turmoil of 1917 Russia. The key couple makes for a fascinating story as they flee for their lives heading from royalty to a Mennonite farm while revolutionaries pursue them. Each learns the hard way how difficult it truly is to trust God when you don't understand why bad things are happening to good people. Historical and inspirational fans will fully appreciate this fine saga and seek more collaborative works by the two Susans (see Heirs of Anton trilogy).
Harriet Klausner
Susan May Warren and Susan K. Downs
Barbour, Jan 2008, $9.97
ISBN: 9781597899833
In 1917 in Alexander Palace just south of Petrograd, Tsar Nikolai Romanov gives state secrets to his faithful twenty something chambermaid Oksana Terekhova. Though he trusts God will protect her, the Russian ruler assumes she has a better chance of survival than he and his royal family from overzealous revolutionaries especially the Bolsheviks, but still fears for her life. As such to keep Oksana and the secrets safe, he asks visiting Mennonite Anton Klassen to escort her to a safe haven; although dangerous the young Mennonite accepts the assignment that will bring honor to him and his family. Anton decides to hide Oksana inside his family on a South Russian farm.
As the Mennonite and the servant travel together, they begin to fall in love. However, dangerous adversaries seem to know that Oksana carries state secrets and make efforts to capture her so they can torture the information out of her. As the peril grows Anton begins to realize the state secrets he assumes his companion possesses is not what is the enemy wants; it is the woman that he vowed to his sovereign he will protect with his life who their adversaries vigorously pursue.
Using the Bolshevik Revolution as the impetus to this superb inspirational historical tale Susan May Warren and Susan K. Downs provide an interesting look at the turmoil of 1917 Russia. The key couple makes for a fascinating story as they flee for their lives heading from royalty to a Mennonite farm while revolutionaries pursue them. Each learns the hard way how difficult it truly is to trust God when you don't understand why bad things are happening to good people. Historical and inspirational fans will fully appreciate this fine saga and seek more collaborative works by the two Susans (see Heirs of Anton trilogy).
Harriet Klausner
Lady Killer-Lisa Scottoline
Lady Killer
Lisa Scottoline
Harper, Feb 2008, $25.95
ISBN 9780060833206
When they attended St. Maria Goretti High School, Trish Gambone was the student queen of mean; amongst her victims was good girl Mary DiNunzio. Now Trish needs help and turns to Philadelphia attorney “Saint” Mary for assistance.
Mary is shocked to learn Trish is on the receiving end of an abusive relationship and wants out. However she fears her boyfriend Bobby Mancuso has strong mob connections and will never let her go unless he decides to end it. Mary offers a few suggestions, but Trish thinks none will work with violent Bobby. When Trish vanishes, their mutual friends blame the layer for failing her classmate. When the Feds learn that Mary hides key information re her ties to Bobby, they toss her off the team trying to save Trish so the Saint goes it alone.
Fans of Lisa Scottoline will enjoy the return of intrepid Saint Mary (see KILLER SMILE) as she tries to save the life of her high school enemy. The story line is fast-paced and filled with entertaining action, but most readers will have plausibility doubts of Saint Mary to the rescue; the Feds seem to struggle with the difficult case much more than she does as an attorney turn super sleuth heroine.
Harriet Klausner
Lisa Scottoline
Harper, Feb 2008, $25.95
ISBN 9780060833206
When they attended St. Maria Goretti High School, Trish Gambone was the student queen of mean; amongst her victims was good girl Mary DiNunzio. Now Trish needs help and turns to Philadelphia attorney “Saint” Mary for assistance.
Mary is shocked to learn Trish is on the receiving end of an abusive relationship and wants out. However she fears her boyfriend Bobby Mancuso has strong mob connections and will never let her go unless he decides to end it. Mary offers a few suggestions, but Trish thinks none will work with violent Bobby. When Trish vanishes, their mutual friends blame the layer for failing her classmate. When the Feds learn that Mary hides key information re her ties to Bobby, they toss her off the team trying to save Trish so the Saint goes it alone.
Fans of Lisa Scottoline will enjoy the return of intrepid Saint Mary (see KILLER SMILE) as she tries to save the life of her high school enemy. The story line is fast-paced and filled with entertaining action, but most readers will have plausibility doubts of Saint Mary to the rescue; the Feds seem to struggle with the difficult case much more than she does as an attorney turn super sleuth heroine.
Harriet Klausner
The Boys in the Tree-Mary Swan
The Boys in the Tree
Mary Swan
Holt, Feb 2008, $14.00
ISBN: 9780805086706
William Heath was badly abused as a child. The scars on his body remind him never to hit a child, a vow he made to himself. He kept his personal pledge, but was a distant man, unable to display affection towards his wife and children. His employer in England caught William embezzling, but instead of sending him to prison he exiled him to Canada. There he and his family live in poverty, but he believes they are better than others in their poor community.
He has few job offers but accepts a job in Eastern Ontario in the town of Emden as a bookkeeper to Mr. Marl. Things look up for William and his family until he is arrested for embezzling from his new employer and in a twist of irony Mr. Morl bails him out. William gets a gun and kills his family members before surrendering to the law. His case upsets townsfolk who thought they knew him like his daughter’s schoolteacher, the doctor and his son.
While the crime is shocking and horrifying, the effects ripple throughout the community long after the victims are buried and the killer hung. For instance the teacher regrets her inactivity and inability to read the signs of violence and feels guilty that she allowed him to take his daughter out of her class. The doctor wonders if he should have had an inkling on Mr. Heath’s mental health when he came to pay his daughter’s bill and perhaps prevented the tragedy by stepping forward. Others feel shock and shame for ignoring the signs (think of the Genovese killing in Queens, NY). Thus the audience obtains a fascinating crime tale that focuses on how everyone missed the signs of pending violence and the guilt shared by all.
Harriet Klausner
Mary Swan
Holt, Feb 2008, $14.00
ISBN: 9780805086706
William Heath was badly abused as a child. The scars on his body remind him never to hit a child, a vow he made to himself. He kept his personal pledge, but was a distant man, unable to display affection towards his wife and children. His employer in England caught William embezzling, but instead of sending him to prison he exiled him to Canada. There he and his family live in poverty, but he believes they are better than others in their poor community.
He has few job offers but accepts a job in Eastern Ontario in the town of Emden as a bookkeeper to Mr. Marl. Things look up for William and his family until he is arrested for embezzling from his new employer and in a twist of irony Mr. Morl bails him out. William gets a gun and kills his family members before surrendering to the law. His case upsets townsfolk who thought they knew him like his daughter’s schoolteacher, the doctor and his son.
While the crime is shocking and horrifying, the effects ripple throughout the community long after the victims are buried and the killer hung. For instance the teacher regrets her inactivity and inability to read the signs of violence and feels guilty that she allowed him to take his daughter out of her class. The doctor wonders if he should have had an inkling on Mr. Heath’s mental health when he came to pay his daughter’s bill and perhaps prevented the tragedy by stepping forward. Others feel shock and shame for ignoring the signs (think of the Genovese killing in Queens, NY). Thus the audience obtains a fascinating crime tale that focuses on how everyone missed the signs of pending violence and the guilt shared by all.
Harriet Klausner
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
The Deadliest Strain-Jan Coffey
The Deadliest Strain
Jan Coffey
Mira, Jan 2008, $13.95
ISBN: 9780778324584
The family of four and their dog were on vacation on an isolated island in Moosehead Lake, Maine with only one other family of three and a canine there. One week later the seven on the island, the owner of the two cabins, and two emergency technicians are dead as well as the two dogs. They are victims of extremely rapid necrotizing fasciitis bacteria that ate their organs in under 24 hours. Fear is that the disease will continue to concentrically spread wider as no one knows how it got there in such an isolated locale or by whom, and worse how to stop it as Homeland Security assumes a bioterrorist attack occurred.
The hope for a cure resides in a CIA secret prison. Kurd Dr. Rahaf Banaz accidentally invented the bacteria weapon and risked her life to find an antidote. The CIA holds her indefinitely, but she remains locked inside her head not willing to communicate with anyone. HSD Intel Officer and offensive biological weapons expert Austyn Newman hope to persuade the unresponsive Rahaf into helping them. There are only three problems with their scenario. First terrorists want the deadly bacteria to use on large populations; second there is no known cure; and third the female prisoner incarcerated by the CIA is not Rahaf, but instead is her non scientist sister Fahimah.
This is an exhilarating action-packed thriller that grips the audience the moment that the dog Trouble finds the decomposed corpses of the other vacationing family and never slows down until the climax. The scenario is frightening and worse plausible, especially as innocent people and the canines are the early victims. Fans will find THE DEADLIEST STRAIN fascinating while praying biological warfare never comes to pass. Although the ending seems too contrived, no one will leisurely be drinking coffee while reading this spine-tingling tale.
Harriet Klausner
Jan Coffey
Mira, Jan 2008, $13.95
ISBN: 9780778324584
The family of four and their dog were on vacation on an isolated island in Moosehead Lake, Maine with only one other family of three and a canine there. One week later the seven on the island, the owner of the two cabins, and two emergency technicians are dead as well as the two dogs. They are victims of extremely rapid necrotizing fasciitis bacteria that ate their organs in under 24 hours. Fear is that the disease will continue to concentrically spread wider as no one knows how it got there in such an isolated locale or by whom, and worse how to stop it as Homeland Security assumes a bioterrorist attack occurred.
The hope for a cure resides in a CIA secret prison. Kurd Dr. Rahaf Banaz accidentally invented the bacteria weapon and risked her life to find an antidote. The CIA holds her indefinitely, but she remains locked inside her head not willing to communicate with anyone. HSD Intel Officer and offensive biological weapons expert Austyn Newman hope to persuade the unresponsive Rahaf into helping them. There are only three problems with their scenario. First terrorists want the deadly bacteria to use on large populations; second there is no known cure; and third the female prisoner incarcerated by the CIA is not Rahaf, but instead is her non scientist sister Fahimah.
This is an exhilarating action-packed thriller that grips the audience the moment that the dog Trouble finds the decomposed corpses of the other vacationing family and never slows down until the climax. The scenario is frightening and worse plausible, especially as innocent people and the canines are the early victims. Fans will find THE DEADLIEST STRAIN fascinating while praying biological warfare never comes to pass. Although the ending seems too contrived, no one will leisurely be drinking coffee while reading this spine-tingling tale.
Harriet Klausner
Special Assignments-Boris Akunin
Special Assignments
Boris Akunin
Random House, Feb 2008, $13.95
ISBN 9780812978605
“The Jack of Spades”. The conman is brilliant as he tricks government officials. Embarrassed to be taken in, most prefer to say nothing about their foolishness; a few are outraged but their descriptions of this master thief never match in the slightest except for the same calling card the felon leaves behind. The Moscow Governor-General assigns his deputy for special assignments the great detective Erast Fandorin to end this brazen criminal’s activity. Fandorin takes on pathetic Anisii Tulipov as his assistant as they battle in a game of wits with a master opponent.
“The Decorator”. In 1889 someone is killing the prostitutes of Moscow. Fandorin believes to his deepest concern that the Modus Operendi is identical to what he has heard about the Ripper case in London. He hopes to have better success than his English counterparts in bringing Jack to justice as Fandorin bases his chances as better because he brings different values and preconceptions than the Bobbies to the hunt.
These are two terrific investigative Tsarist era police procedurals as those who already have met Fandorin (see THE WINTER QUEEN and THE TURKISH GAMBIT) know he is the Russian Sherlock Holmes with Tulipov as the Muscovite Watson. The tales showcase the vast talent of Boris Akunin as they are incredibly different in tone with The Jack of Spades being lighthearted and amusing so much so that the hero enjoys the game while The Decorator is dark and tense with the hero forced to cross ethics line to stop the serial killer. These are two strong works in one of the best historical mystery series on the market today.
Harriet Klausner
Boris Akunin
Random House, Feb 2008, $13.95
ISBN 9780812978605
“The Jack of Spades”. The conman is brilliant as he tricks government officials. Embarrassed to be taken in, most prefer to say nothing about their foolishness; a few are outraged but their descriptions of this master thief never match in the slightest except for the same calling card the felon leaves behind. The Moscow Governor-General assigns his deputy for special assignments the great detective Erast Fandorin to end this brazen criminal’s activity. Fandorin takes on pathetic Anisii Tulipov as his assistant as they battle in a game of wits with a master opponent.
“The Decorator”. In 1889 someone is killing the prostitutes of Moscow. Fandorin believes to his deepest concern that the Modus Operendi is identical to what he has heard about the Ripper case in London. He hopes to have better success than his English counterparts in bringing Jack to justice as Fandorin bases his chances as better because he brings different values and preconceptions than the Bobbies to the hunt.
These are two terrific investigative Tsarist era police procedurals as those who already have met Fandorin (see THE WINTER QUEEN and THE TURKISH GAMBIT) know he is the Russian Sherlock Holmes with Tulipov as the Muscovite Watson. The tales showcase the vast talent of Boris Akunin as they are incredibly different in tone with The Jack of Spades being lighthearted and amusing so much so that the hero enjoys the game while The Decorator is dark and tense with the hero forced to cross ethics line to stop the serial killer. These are two strong works in one of the best historical mystery series on the market today.
Harriet Klausner
Monday, December 3, 2007
The Killing Room-Peter May
The Killing Room
Peter May
Dunne, Feb 2008, $24.95
ISBN: 9780312364656
Already upset that a killer was freed because of either corruption or incompetence in the Procurator’s office, Ministry of Public Security Deputy Section Chief Li Yan is not in the mood to talk to anyone. However Detective Wu tells his superior that the dismembered girl found in the shallow grave near the Summer Palace was not buried alone; upwards of twenty females share a grave with her. The powers that be demand Li fix the mess that was shown internationally as a New York bank CEO was the VIP digger in a sea of body parts.
Shanghai Public Security Serious Crime Squad Deputy chief Mei-Ling is assigned to assist Li, who learns from her that there are eighteen torsos and sixteen heads so far. Li’s on and off Irish girlfriend pathologist Margaret Campbell arrives following the wake of her deceased father. Although the two ladies compete for the affection of Li, the trio works together realizing that someone apparently conducted autopsies on the female victims while they still lived; the cause of death in each case is the autopsy. They know preventing the monster from more killings comes before straightening out their personal relationships.
This excellent Chinese police procedural will please fans of that sub-genre immensely as this is a top rate whodunit in a country in which connections impedes the strong investigation much more so than in the United States where influence gets a great lawyer. The story line is action-packed and the triangle cleverly developed to allow the reader to understand the motivations including personal demons of the investigating team. However, as with THE FOURTH SACRIFICE, the novel belongs to Peter May’s deep insightful look at modern China’s Socialist market economy in which Shanghai is filled with Porches, sex shops, discos and nightclubs standing near traditional mom and pop stores.
Harriet Klausner
Peter May
Dunne, Feb 2008, $24.95
ISBN: 9780312364656
Already upset that a killer was freed because of either corruption or incompetence in the Procurator’s office, Ministry of Public Security Deputy Section Chief Li Yan is not in the mood to talk to anyone. However Detective Wu tells his superior that the dismembered girl found in the shallow grave near the Summer Palace was not buried alone; upwards of twenty females share a grave with her. The powers that be demand Li fix the mess that was shown internationally as a New York bank CEO was the VIP digger in a sea of body parts.
Shanghai Public Security Serious Crime Squad Deputy chief Mei-Ling is assigned to assist Li, who learns from her that there are eighteen torsos and sixteen heads so far. Li’s on and off Irish girlfriend pathologist Margaret Campbell arrives following the wake of her deceased father. Although the two ladies compete for the affection of Li, the trio works together realizing that someone apparently conducted autopsies on the female victims while they still lived; the cause of death in each case is the autopsy. They know preventing the monster from more killings comes before straightening out their personal relationships.
This excellent Chinese police procedural will please fans of that sub-genre immensely as this is a top rate whodunit in a country in which connections impedes the strong investigation much more so than in the United States where influence gets a great lawyer. The story line is action-packed and the triangle cleverly developed to allow the reader to understand the motivations including personal demons of the investigating team. However, as with THE FOURTH SACRIFICE, the novel belongs to Peter May’s deep insightful look at modern China’s Socialist market economy in which Shanghai is filled with Porches, sex shops, discos and nightclubs standing near traditional mom and pop stores.
Harriet Klausner
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