No Rest for the Wicked
Elizabeth C. Main
Five Star, Sep 7 2011, $25.95
ISBN: 9781432825041
In Juniper, Oregon, con artist Hunter Blackburn is found dead in the trunk of a rental. Sheriff Arnie Kraft thinks the late Hunter’s former wife Wedding Belle Bridal Shop owner Alix Boudreau killed the grafter who targeted the elderly.
At Thornton's Books, Alix’s friend Jane Serrano and her Murder of the Month Book Club members think otherwise. One of the group participants Minnie Salter decides to follow her bible citing intuition and investigate. Velda Kubek joins Minnie as an excuse to escape her care-giving of her elderly aunt. Jane, whose daughter works for the prime suspect, knows many of the older Thornton customers and other Juniper residents lost money to Hunter’s schemes so while Arnie fumbles she looks in that direction.
The second Jane Serrano amateur sleuth (see Murder of the Month) is a super amateur sleuth as Jane, encouraged by Velda quoting the bible and Minnie wanting to become a detective, leads the inquiry. Filled with humor, fans will enjoy the investigation by Jane and company as they look like amateurs by fumbling on the case but next to the sheriff they look like pros.
Harriet Klausner
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Dandy Gilver and the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains-Catriona McPherson
Dandy Gilver and the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains
Catriona McPherson
Minotaur, Aug 16 2011, $23.99
ISBN: 9780312654184
In 1926 in Edinburgh, aristocratic private detective Dandy Gilver is the lead sleuth while Alec Osborne is her sidekick. Walburga Balfour sends her a note: "My husband is going to kill me, and I would rather he didn't." She also requests Dandy come to her home masquerading as a woman seeking downstairs employment as a maid. Dandy does and accepts a servant’s position in order to protect her client.
However in a strange twist, a murder occurs, but instead of Walburga being the victim, her husband Phillips is dead in a locked room. With the cops spread out dealing with labor unrest and a transit strike, Police Superintendent Hardy by omission allows Dandy to investigate.
Historical mystery readers will enjoy the latest Gilver whodunit (see The Winter Ground) as Catriona McPherson provides a strong sense of time and place starting with the strike inside of a strong locked room murder investigation. The story line is fast-paced, filled with dry humor and somewhat twisting. With a nod to Kerry Greenwood’s between the World Wars’ aristocratic sleuth, Phryne Fisher, sub-genre fans will relish this entertaining detective story.
Harriet Klausner
Catriona McPherson
Minotaur, Aug 16 2011, $23.99
ISBN: 9780312654184
In 1926 in Edinburgh, aristocratic private detective Dandy Gilver is the lead sleuth while Alec Osborne is her sidekick. Walburga Balfour sends her a note: "My husband is going to kill me, and I would rather he didn't." She also requests Dandy come to her home masquerading as a woman seeking downstairs employment as a maid. Dandy does and accepts a servant’s position in order to protect her client.
However in a strange twist, a murder occurs, but instead of Walburga being the victim, her husband Phillips is dead in a locked room. With the cops spread out dealing with labor unrest and a transit strike, Police Superintendent Hardy by omission allows Dandy to investigate.
Historical mystery readers will enjoy the latest Gilver whodunit (see The Winter Ground) as Catriona McPherson provides a strong sense of time and place starting with the strike inside of a strong locked room murder investigation. The story line is fast-paced, filled with dry humor and somewhat twisting. With a nod to Kerry Greenwood’s between the World Wars’ aristocratic sleuth, Phryne Fisher, sub-genre fans will relish this entertaining detective story.
Harriet Klausner
The Good Thief's Guide to Venice-Chris Ewan
The Good Thief's Guide to Venice
Chris Ewan
Minotaur, Aug 2 2011, $24.99
ISBN: 9780312580858
His bad luck in Vegas (see The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas) has the thief-mystery writer Charlie Howard fleeing to Venice after swearing to his agent, Victoria Newbury, he'll focus on writing the next Michael Faulks burglar thriller. He also has vowed no more thieving.
However, saying and acting on his two resolutions prove difficult. He fears he may have writer’s block as he struggles to author his next novel. Additionally as Victoria arrives to encourage him, a female cat-burglar breaks into his home and ironically steals his autographed first edition of The Maltese Falcon that he stole. Graziella, as she calls herself to Charlie, gives him instructions on how to get his inspirational book back. It has been nine months since he stole anything yet Graziella wants Charlie to leave an attaché case in a strongroom of the Palazzo Borelli on the Grand Canal if he wants the return of his literary muse.
The latest Charlie caper (see The Good Thief's Guide to Paris) has the gentleman thief-writer being manipulated by an agile cat burglar whose cleverness matches the hero and in many ways trumps him. With a nod to “To Catch a Thief” fans will enjoy the jocular chess match between the Good Thief and the Venetian Bella Donna.
Harriet Klausner
Chris Ewan
Minotaur, Aug 2 2011, $24.99
ISBN: 9780312580858
His bad luck in Vegas (see The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas) has the thief-mystery writer Charlie Howard fleeing to Venice after swearing to his agent, Victoria Newbury, he'll focus on writing the next Michael Faulks burglar thriller. He also has vowed no more thieving.
However, saying and acting on his two resolutions prove difficult. He fears he may have writer’s block as he struggles to author his next novel. Additionally as Victoria arrives to encourage him, a female cat-burglar breaks into his home and ironically steals his autographed first edition of The Maltese Falcon that he stole. Graziella, as she calls herself to Charlie, gives him instructions on how to get his inspirational book back. It has been nine months since he stole anything yet Graziella wants Charlie to leave an attaché case in a strongroom of the Palazzo Borelli on the Grand Canal if he wants the return of his literary muse.
The latest Charlie caper (see The Good Thief's Guide to Paris) has the gentleman thief-writer being manipulated by an agile cat burglar whose cleverness matches the hero and in many ways trumps him. With a nod to “To Catch a Thief” fans will enjoy the jocular chess match between the Good Thief and the Venetian Bella Donna.
Harriet Klausner
Friday, August 5, 2011
Claim of Innocence-Laura Caldwell
Claim of Innocence
Laura Caldwell
Mira, Aug 23 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780778329329
In Chicago, attorney Maggie Bristol asks her friend lawyer Izzy McNeil to help the defense defend Valerie Solara against a murder charger. Valerie is accused of poisoning her BFF Amanda Miller in a crime of passion; the prosecution contends Valerie loves Amanda’s husband Xavier known as Zavy, but the defendant denies such feelings. Izzy retains private investigator John Mayburn to look into the homicide.
Izzy works the trial but also has personal issues. Her former fiancé Sam wants a second chance; she considers it in spite of her wonderful caring younger boyfriend Theo. Her assumed dead father Christopher wants back in her life too and is willing to investigate the Miller murder; while her mother Victoria is acting strangely out of character.
The fourth Izzy thriller (See RED, WHITE AND DEAD; RED HOT LIES and RED BLOOD MURDER) is an engaging balance between a strong legal thriller and a fascinating relationship family drama. Izzy is the hub of both subplots as she focuses on defending her client while also dealing with the men who want into her life and her mom. Fans will enjoy the first non-“Red” McNeil twisting thriller.
Harriet Klausner
Laura Caldwell
Mira, Aug 23 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780778329329
In Chicago, attorney Maggie Bristol asks her friend lawyer Izzy McNeil to help the defense defend Valerie Solara against a murder charger. Valerie is accused of poisoning her BFF Amanda Miller in a crime of passion; the prosecution contends Valerie loves Amanda’s husband Xavier known as Zavy, but the defendant denies such feelings. Izzy retains private investigator John Mayburn to look into the homicide.
Izzy works the trial but also has personal issues. Her former fiancé Sam wants a second chance; she considers it in spite of her wonderful caring younger boyfriend Theo. Her assumed dead father Christopher wants back in her life too and is willing to investigate the Miller murder; while her mother Victoria is acting strangely out of character.
The fourth Izzy thriller (See RED, WHITE AND DEAD; RED HOT LIES and RED BLOOD MURDER) is an engaging balance between a strong legal thriller and a fascinating relationship family drama. Izzy is the hub of both subplots as she focuses on defending her client while also dealing with the men who want into her life and her mom. Fans will enjoy the first non-“Red” McNeil twisting thriller.
Harriet Klausner
Zillionaire-Gary Alexander
Zillionaire
Gary Alexander
Five Star, Sep 7 2011, $25.95
ISBN: 9781432825348
Nonagenarian Saburo “Mongoose” Taihotsu was the last warrior fighting WW II after three Japanese sakes caused him to miss the target Pearl Harbor and crash on Kauai. He did not just elude capture by the Americans; the recluse built an incredibly successful business selling consumer goods to the greedy. Allegedly the Mongoose took his fortune with him though in fact he took shame to the grave as well as leaving a strange clue.
In Seattle Rob Weather the Midwest TV reporter shows his only known maybe relation the Last Chance Insurance Agency owner Carla Chance and her boyfriend standup comic Buster Hightower a 26-diit calligraphic numeral puzzle left inside an unmarked envelop. Carla thinks her never married forty-eight year old friend Sarah Hilyer the mathematician would be a perfect match for her only known maybe relation. The quartet work the numerical clue while also trying to locate Buster’s stolen 1959 Coupe. Others including Vegas mobsters seek the Mongoose’s loot. Soon all converge at the Mayan ruins of Tikal, Guatemala.
From Japan to Hawaii to Seattle to Peoria to Tikal, Zillionaire is an amusing over the top insane thriller. The amusing story line is fun to follow and not just because of Buster’s lawyer jokes (needs to turn to financial humor). Readers will enjoy this entertaining zany amateur sleuth which also satires various cultures for their illogical superiority.
Harriet Klausner
Gary Alexander
Five Star, Sep 7 2011, $25.95
ISBN: 9781432825348
Nonagenarian Saburo “Mongoose” Taihotsu was the last warrior fighting WW II after three Japanese sakes caused him to miss the target Pearl Harbor and crash on Kauai. He did not just elude capture by the Americans; the recluse built an incredibly successful business selling consumer goods to the greedy. Allegedly the Mongoose took his fortune with him though in fact he took shame to the grave as well as leaving a strange clue.
In Seattle Rob Weather the Midwest TV reporter shows his only known maybe relation the Last Chance Insurance Agency owner Carla Chance and her boyfriend standup comic Buster Hightower a 26-diit calligraphic numeral puzzle left inside an unmarked envelop. Carla thinks her never married forty-eight year old friend Sarah Hilyer the mathematician would be a perfect match for her only known maybe relation. The quartet work the numerical clue while also trying to locate Buster’s stolen 1959 Coupe. Others including Vegas mobsters seek the Mongoose’s loot. Soon all converge at the Mayan ruins of Tikal, Guatemala.
From Japan to Hawaii to Seattle to Peoria to Tikal, Zillionaire is an amusing over the top insane thriller. The amusing story line is fun to follow and not just because of Buster’s lawyer jokes (needs to turn to financial humor). Readers will enjoy this entertaining zany amateur sleuth which also satires various cultures for their illogical superiority.
Harriet Klausner
Senior Moments Are Murder-Mike Befeler
Senior Moments Are Murder
Mike Befeler
Five Star, Sep 7 2011, $25.95
ISBN: 9781432825096
Octogenarian Paul Jacobson’s short-term memory loss has him confused when he awakens to find a strange woman in bed with him. The garage apartment means nothing to bewildered Paul except that he is almost certain this is not Hawaii and his wife Rhonda is nowhere around. He goes outside with his daily journal and learns he is living in Venice Beach with his fiancée Marion Aumiller; and today they are to marry before going on an Alaskan honeymoon cruise.
Paul finds a body in a canal and decides to solve the case because Police Detective Quintana believes he is a serial killer. With the assistance of his tweener granddaughter Jennifer and his fiancée’s grandson Austin, he investigates related homicides rocking the homeless and the arts.
Once again the key to the third jocular Geezer-lit cozy (see Retirement Homes Are Murder and Living with Your Kids Is Murder) is the realism of the geriatric hero’s memory loss with little nuances to make it seem plausible like relearning who Marion is and what the Internet is. The senior moments' story line is humorously fast-paced as Mike Befeler provides an amateur sleuth version of Fifty First Dates.
Harriet Klausner
Mike Befeler
Five Star, Sep 7 2011, $25.95
ISBN: 9781432825096
Octogenarian Paul Jacobson’s short-term memory loss has him confused when he awakens to find a strange woman in bed with him. The garage apartment means nothing to bewildered Paul except that he is almost certain this is not Hawaii and his wife Rhonda is nowhere around. He goes outside with his daily journal and learns he is living in Venice Beach with his fiancée Marion Aumiller; and today they are to marry before going on an Alaskan honeymoon cruise.
Paul finds a body in a canal and decides to solve the case because Police Detective Quintana believes he is a serial killer. With the assistance of his tweener granddaughter Jennifer and his fiancée’s grandson Austin, he investigates related homicides rocking the homeless and the arts.
Once again the key to the third jocular Geezer-lit cozy (see Retirement Homes Are Murder and Living with Your Kids Is Murder) is the realism of the geriatric hero’s memory loss with little nuances to make it seem plausible like relearning who Marion is and what the Internet is. The senior moments' story line is humorously fast-paced as Mike Befeler provides an amateur sleuth version of Fifty First Dates.
Harriet Klausner
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Hotwire-Alex Kava
Hotwire
Alex Kava
Doubleday, Jul 12 2011, $25.95
ISBN: 9780385532013
In the Western Nebraska Sandhills, FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell accompanies State Patrol Investigator Donald Fergusson as he shows her mutilated cattle with no blood on rancher leased land in the Nebraska National Forest. However, five miles away in Halsey, teenagers toss a party in which two are electrocuted and a third barely survives; others are also injured or in shock. Fergusson and O’Dell quickly rush to the tragic scene. The survivor Goth loner Dawson Hayes swears he saw a white creature with red eyes as well as a strange light show. However, he was stoned and in shock so his testimony is discounted as drug induced inanity. That is except for the local UFO Network operative Wesley Stotter who stalks aliens.
In Washington, Metro DC Detective Julia Racine picks up her partner's daughter at school when a nasty case of ptomaine poisoning attacks over one hundreds students. Maggie's lover, military Dr. Benjamin Platt, and CDC’s Dr. Roger Bix investigate the food poisoning.
The latest O’Dell police procedural (see Damaged) is an exciting thriller in which the two apparently diverse subplots cleverly merge into a tense suspense. The Nebraska alien invasion and the DC poisoned lunches are intriguing scenarios that grip the readers. Although the villains in spite of their results never ironically seem frighteningly developed to matter, fans will enjoy this fine investigative tale.
Harriet Klausner
Alex Kava
Doubleday, Jul 12 2011, $25.95
ISBN: 9780385532013
In the Western Nebraska Sandhills, FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell accompanies State Patrol Investigator Donald Fergusson as he shows her mutilated cattle with no blood on rancher leased land in the Nebraska National Forest. However, five miles away in Halsey, teenagers toss a party in which two are electrocuted and a third barely survives; others are also injured or in shock. Fergusson and O’Dell quickly rush to the tragic scene. The survivor Goth loner Dawson Hayes swears he saw a white creature with red eyes as well as a strange light show. However, he was stoned and in shock so his testimony is discounted as drug induced inanity. That is except for the local UFO Network operative Wesley Stotter who stalks aliens.
In Washington, Metro DC Detective Julia Racine picks up her partner's daughter at school when a nasty case of ptomaine poisoning attacks over one hundreds students. Maggie's lover, military Dr. Benjamin Platt, and CDC’s Dr. Roger Bix investigate the food poisoning.
The latest O’Dell police procedural (see Damaged) is an exciting thriller in which the two apparently diverse subplots cleverly merge into a tense suspense. The Nebraska alien invasion and the DC poisoned lunches are intriguing scenarios that grip the readers. Although the villains in spite of their results never ironically seem frighteningly developed to matter, fans will enjoy this fine investigative tale.
Harriet Klausner
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