Murder Among Friends-William Cahn

Murder Among Friends


William Cahn

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, May 29 2012, $14.95

https://www.createspace.com

ISBN: 9781470173333



In 1946, Robert Stevens, Kingsland Gordon and David Penner meet at Midwestern University. They quickly become roommates and best friends. A few years later all three are successful, but remain roommates. Robert becomes Wade County District Attorney; Kingsland is a highly regarded lawyer; and David a super salesman.



Late at night, Robert orders Kingsland and David to his office. Police Inspector Spahn and Detective Carr arrest David for murdering with a fireplace stoker his boss Pierre Lancer, the father of his fiancée Georgette. Robert pleads with a stunned Kingsland to defend their friend as the DA believes his pal is the best attorney in the county; he reluctantly agrees though he is not a criminal lawyer.



This is a terrific post WWII era legal thriller that brings to life the 1950s in New York State. The story line focuses initially on the cherished close friendship between the lead trio who possess different personalities before switching to the murder case, which appears to end their tight relationship. The legal scenes are top rate as readers obtain a deep look at courtroom rights a decade before Miranda. Though the storyline starts slow as fans meet the amigos, William Cahn provides a fabulous historical.



Harriet Klausner

Ruined by Midnight-Emma Wildes

Ruined by Midnight


Emma Wildes

Signet, Sep 4 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780451237798



The shiniest diamond of the Ton Lady Elena Morrow awakens in a strange room with no idea how she got there from the theater and why the most roguish rake of the Ton Randolph “Raven” Raines, Viscount Andrews shares the bed with her. He awakens as confused by what has happened to him and why he is sharing a bed with Lord Whitbridge’s daughter. After initially bickering over marriage in which they agree not, the pair finds they are locked inside a room with no means of escape.



Her family wants her back safe, sound and scandal free. However, they fear the Ton will notice that not just Elena is missing but Ran the rake is missing at the same time. Elena’s father pleads with Lord Benjamin Wallace, known for resolving political problems, to find his beloved daughter. Though outside his expertise, Benjamin agrees to help the distraught uncle of his wife Alicia, who resolves to have a marriage of love and passion in and out of the boudoir. As time runs out, the incarnated couple falls in love.



This Whispers of Scandal Regency romance is a fabulous brisk historical as the ultimate extreme matchmaker deploys a daring diabolical scheme. Fast-paced with two delightful romances, readers will enjoy Benjamin’s investigation as he falls in love with his wife and the subject of his search also do the same thing with each other. Though he and Ran thank their anonymous benefactor for opening their eyes and hearts, Benjamin also now dreads the infamous words “You have a visitor.”



Harriet Klausner

Pitch Perfect-LuAnn McLane

Pitch Perfect


LuAnn McLane

Signet, Sep 4 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780451237804



Though she claims she needs to prove to her dad she can thrive without his wealth, deep down Mia Monroe knows she needs to prove her assertion to herself. Thus she buys a clinker with what little money she calls her own and drives to “destination unknown.” Her resolve takes a hit when her car breaks down in Cricket Creek. Kentucky. Having no money for repairs or alternate means of travel, Mia “Money” as she goes by is stranded as she obstinately refuses to ask her daddy for help. Her father hires a private eye to follow his beloved daughter from a distance to insure she is safe,



First baseman Cameron Patrick has a second chance for a career playing for the popular local team the Cricket Creek Cougars; but he must stay pristine clean. Mia obtains a job working for the Cougars. When he meets Mia, he spells her name as Trouble with a capital T and she proves him right. As they fall in love, Cam wonders if he has to choose between his love for the woman who gets him into perpetual tsuris and his love for baseball.



The latest Cricket Creek contemporary sports romance (see Catch of a Lifetime) is an entertaining lighthearted tale starring a baseball player and a mistress of mayhem. Although the plot follows the expected path around the diamond, fans will enjoy this zany amusing tale filled with eccentric players, fans and Mia’s horde within a storyline faster than Ricky Henderson stole bases.



Harriet Klausner

Wall-to-Wall Dead-Jennie Bentley

Wall-to-Wall Dead


Jennie Bentley

Berkley Prime Crime, Sep 4 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780425255568



Avery Baker gave up her work as a textile designer and her boyfriend Derek Ellis gave up his work as a doctor to do something they love. They became business partners flipping various abodes while also sharing love for each other demonstrated by Derek’s proposal to Avery who accepted.



Their latest venture is fixing up a condo in Waterfield, Maine so that the owner can sell it. However, a creepy woman Hilda Shaw stalks their every move just like she does to all the residents. Everyone loathes the busybody spy, Avery understands why. However, Avery is stunned to find Hilda’s corpse. The police chief insists the woman died accidentally from anaphylactic shock. When a second person dies, Avery believes a murderer resides amongst the condo dwellers and resolves to identify the culprit before she or Derek become obits.



The latest Do-It-Yourself Mystery (see Flipped Out) is an engaging amateur sleuth due to a strong eccentric support cast and the lovable lead couple. A sort of locked condo whodunit, fans will enjoy Wall-to-Wall Dead as Avery investigates the homicides.



Harriet Klausner

Foul Play At The Fair-Shelley Freydont

Foul Play At The Fair


Shelley Freydont

Berkley Prime Crime, Sep 4 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780425251553



Feeling the bridezillas and their momma grizzlies sucked out her soul, bone weary Liv Montgomery, accompanied by Whiskey the Westie terrier, leaves Manhattan for Celebration Bay, New York. Liv assumes the stressful inane demands of an event planner will prove much smaller in her new location.



Though her predecessor Janine Tudor wants to drive her back to the Big Apple, Liv works as the town’s event planner. Her first local gala, the Harvest by the Festival is a success though she a problem with the newspaper editor Bristow of the Clarion. However that proves a minor nuisance when her assistant Ted shows her the corpse of Pete inside an antique apple press. Pete fled town three decades ago after committing an odious crime; but came home as part of the Zoldosky performing troupe. Liv investigates the current homicide that she believes ties back to what happened thirty years ago.



The fun first Celebration Bay Mystery is an engaging whodunit starring a burned out protagonist who though she fled the city remains in a constant state of stress. The townsfolk are quirky and the first of what appears to be many galas in the festival capital of New York adds local color to the murder mystery. Though Liv has no reason to investigate except to remove the pall shrouding her initial event, fans will enjoy this regional amateur sleuth.



Harriet Klausner

Buffalo Bill's Dead Now-Margaret Coel

Buffalo Bill's Dead Now


Margaret Coel

Berkley Prime Crime, Sep 4 2012, $25.95

ISBN: 9780425252710



In Wyoming the Wind River Reservation tribe is ecstatic that after over a century the regalia worn by Arapaho Chief Black Heart in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show are finally coming home as Trevor Pratt is shipping them from Germany. These relics will be placed in the Arapaho museum.



To the aghast of those opening the containers, nothing is inside. Attorney Vicky Holden and Catholic Father John O’Malley cherish their Arapaho friends and feel the despondency of the elderly. They search for the stolen heritage and quickly find avaricious killers prepared to murder anyone starting with the now dead Pratt to include a lawyer and a priest who get in the way of their profits. However, worse than the greedy deadly SOBs in the minds of the amateur sleuths are the horrid realization that some of the younger tribe members prefer to take the money and run over their heritage.



As always in this series with the entertaining Wind River Reservation Mysteries readers obtain a taste of modern day Arapaho life while shining a spotlight on the tribe’s heritage as the present repeats the past (the regalia was also stolen decades ago too). Although the investigation by Vicki and Father John is fun though similar to previous entries (see The Spider’s Web), fans will appreciate this engaging tale as the regalia provides fresh meaning to avarice.



Harriet Klausner

Death Where the Bad Rocks Live-C.M. Wendelboe

Death Where the Bad Rocks Live


C.M. Wendelboe

Berkley Prime Crime, Sep 4 2012, $15.00

ISBN 9780425256114



The FBI assigned academy instructor Manny Tanno to investigate a murder on the Pine Ridge Reservation near Wounded Knee, South Dakota though he preferred not to do field work anymore. Not welcomed by the elders, the former Oglala Sioux tribal cop worked the case anyway (see Death Along the Spirit Road). Now the Feds have assigned him permanently to the Pine Ridge Reservation.



In Badlands National Park, a contractor removes live ammo from the isolated Stronghold sector once used as WWII bombing training site only to find human remains. An unknown killer murdered years ago to probably hide something in this barren wasteland and has recently begun killing again including a failed attempt to murder Manny. As the Fed investigates he gets no cooperation from the locals who distrust the FBI and hindrance from the Oglala Sioux Tribal Police.



This entertaining Native American police procedural stars a confused hero who struggles with his sense of self identity as an Oglala Sioux FBI Special Agent. The investigation is engaging and the locale symbolically fascinating. Although the storyline does not always flow smoothly, fans will enjoy Tanno’s struggles to do the undefined in his mind right thing.



Harriet Klausner