Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Lesa's Book Critiques: The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard

 Lesa's Book Critiques: The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard

The First Two Pages: “Tone Deaf” by HC Chan

 The First Two Pages: “Tone Deaf” by HC Chan

The Hard Word: NOT YOUR NORMAL LONGMIRE TALE: CRAIG JOHNSON'S TOOTH AND CLAW

 The Hard Word: NOT YOUR NORMAL LONGMIRE TALE: CRAIG JOHNSON'S TOOTH AND CLAW

Jungle Red Writers: I Am Already Over AI

Jungle Red Writers: I Am Already Over AI:   JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING : It started out innocently enough, wit a few articles about this new "Artificial Intelligence" thing and ...

SleuthSayers: Double Event

SleuthSayers: Double Event: I have had an unusual experience recently.  For one thing, I have a story, "Welcome to JFR!", in the November/December issue of El...

The Hard Word: NO FANTASY ISLAND: HONOLULU NOIR EDITED BY CHRIS MCKINNEY

 The Hard Word: NO FANTASY ISLAND: HONOLULU NOIR EDITED BY CHRIS MCKINNEY

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Deadly Anniversaries

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Deadly Anniversaries:   Three years ago I purchased Deadly Anniversaries , edited by Bill Pronzini and Marcia Muller, so that I could read "Chin Yong-Yun Set...

George Kelly: WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #202: REVELATIONS IN BLACK By Carl Jacobi

 George Kelly: WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #202: REVELATIONS IN BLACK By Carl Jacobi

Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: THE RIDDLE OF THE MARBLE BLADE

Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: THE RIDDLE OF THE MARBLE B...: "The Riddle of the Marble Blade" by Stuart Palmer  (first published in Mystery , November 1934; reprinted in The Saint Mystery Mag...

Patricia Abbott: Strangers in Town: Three Newly-discovered Mysteries by Ross Macdonald, edited by Tom Nolan

 Patricia Abbott: Strangers in Town: Three Newly-discovered Mysteries by Ross Macdonald, edited by Tom Nolan

Short Story Wednesday Review: Resort to Murder: Thirteen More Tales by Minnesota's Premier Writers Compiled and Edited by the Minnesota Crime Wave


From the archive…

 

Awhile back, I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing the anthology The Silence of the Loons. Put out by the "Minnesota Crime Wave" (Ellen Hart, Carl Brookins and William Kent Krueger) the anthology was a good one and I enjoyed it immensely. So, Carl Brookins sent me a review copy of their latest anthology quite some time ago. I was thrilled and added it to mount TBR which promptly surrounded it, burped in satisfaction, and continued to grow. I'm officially over 300 books now at last count and woefully behind in my reading. Fortunately, Texas is a long away from Minnesota, so I should be relatively safe.

 

After a brief introduction by Lorna Landvik on why Minnesota produces so many good mystery writers, the book delves into the tales. There are 13 tales by 13 writers which include the three of the "Minnesota Crime Wave" and many more authors. Each tale is set at a fictional resort in Minnesota and each one is complex and enjoyable with no depictions of graphic violence, gore or sex. Some of the tales can be described more fully than others simply because to comment on some of them would blow the read. Having read many reviews that told way too much, I always lean towards being very cautious in my reviews so the tales will be explained as much as possible or not as the case may be.

 

William Kent Krueger kicks off the killing in his "Hills Like White Rabbits." “Cooper knew they planned to kill him. Exactly how was the part that was still a mystery." (Page 2)

 

"The Locked Fish–cleaning House Mystery" by Jess Lourey is next. While the title may not be inspired, this tale about an elderly woman determined to party and solve a murder at the same time is.

 

Followed by "14-A" written by Ellen Hart that takes a look at the pain of love and how relationships evolve or de-evolve over time. The little things begin to burrow under the skin and an outside threat can make everything explode.

 

The age old theme of cheating comes to light in the tale of "Miss Behavin'" by David Housewright. A favorite author of mine whose most recent novel is "Dead Boyfriends" creates here a story a story full of misdirection and complications.

 

"Out of the Jacuzzi, Into the Sauna" by Scott Pearson marks the author's first published mystery story despite a long and impressive publishing history in various areas. Kate and Bill, a married couple, have known things at Great Lakes Lodges were wrong from the moment they called to confirm their check in. They didn't know that while they could check in, they easily might never check out.

 

Pat Dennis follows with a tale titled "Mother's Day." Carl has had enough of dear old mom and he has a plan.

 

If you haven't read Carl Brookins before you have really missed out. "Bloody Halls" was/is an excellent book as is the often laugh out loud "The Case of the Greedy Lawyers" featuring private investigator Sean no middle initial Sean always present in his red sneakers. Sean also makes an appearance here in the tale titled "Fish Story." Sean isn't much happy to be in a vacation resort in northern Minnesota. He had a more exotic climate in mind for vacation and if that isn't enough, he certainly didn't want to be dragged in to a local murder case.

 

While many of the stories are told from the viewpoint of the guests, Joel Arnold took a different angle. In "Leave No Wake" he weaves a tale told from the view point of one of the elderly owners of a resort who soon has a dead body to deal with along with a business to run. Along the way, Mr. Varney is reminded just how quickly time passes under business pressure. This very good story does feature a character with a penchant for graphic language that is out of tone with the rest of the anthology.

 

"The Moose Whisperer" by Deborah Woodworth features characters who aren't sleeping as well as they should be or need to. Police Chief Jens Johansson is one of the nocturnal wanderers and he saw something odd in the middle of the night while on vacation at Glass Lake. Something that he will need to follow on and something that is just a small piece of a bigger deal.

 

Barbara DaCosta is next with her disturbing story "Cabin 6". This is her first story and it is a good one. A story that really can't be explained at all without ruining it for other readers. So, I won't.

 

Like the "Bird of Prey" the human known as the "Falcon" goes after his next kill. In this tale written by Michael Allan Mallory, some things are obvious while many others are not.

 

"The Body at Dust Bowl Lake" is exactly that and much more. History plays the main role in this interesting tale written by Moira F. Harris.

 

Judith Yates-Borger concludes the anthology well with her tale "Hunter's Lodge." The past is a huge part of the tale as well and in this case the past must be honored and it will be. Like others in this anthology, this also marks her first foray into the field of mystery writing after an extensive and award winning journalist career.

 

Unlike many anthologies that place the interesting author biographical information at the back of the book, this anthology does the right thing and places it at the beginning of each tale. Also, pictures of the authors are included. Therefore, the book is well designed and places the picture of the author and bio on the left page with the tale written by the author on the right. By such format, one gets a feel for the author before delving into the tale.

 

Like the anthology The Silence of the Loons, the tales in Resort to Murder: Thirteen More Tales by Minnesota's Premier Writers feature intriguing characters from a variety of viewpoints and walks of life. Some have seen this collection as darker in tone, but, I would not agree. Graphic descriptions are not present here with the focus being on the characters and the tales they tell. Each tale, well told, often is filled with misdirection while touching on some of the age old concepts of deceit, family honor, envy and others that ultimately lead to murder. Murder, well told, and another good read compiled and edited by the members of the "Minnesota Crime Wave."

 


Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4hYZI90

 

 

As noted in the review, author Carl Brookins sent it to me long ago when dragons still flew overhead and magic ruled the land.

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple © 2008, 2024

Monday, November 18, 2024

Mystery Fanfare: THANKSGIVING MYSTERIES // THANKSGIVING CRIME FICTION

Mystery Fanfare: THANKSGIVING MYSTERIES // THANKSGIVING CRIME FICTION: Thanksgiving is next week, so you'll want to get reading these Thanksgiving crime novel and short stories. This is an updated   Thank...

Dark City Underground: Review: "Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop" ed. by Otto Penzler

 Dark City Underground: Review: "Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop" ed. by Otto Penzler

Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL & Season 3: The Chelsea Detective

Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL & Season 3: The Chelsea Detective: Well this is good news. I've been waiting for the return of The Chelsea Detective , one of my favorite detective shows. Acorn TV has an...

Kathleen Marple Kalb's Blog: So You Wrote the Book, Now What?: Follow That Map

 Kathleen Marple Kalb's Blog: So You Wrote the Book, Now What?: Follow That Map

Beneath the Stains of Time: And Then There Were Nyan (2024) by A.Z. Ruin

Beneath the Stains of Time: And Then There Were Nyan (2024) by A.Z. Ruin: So for the past three, four months, I've been reading, rating and reviewing impossible crime novels and short stories that were nominate...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Cat...:   Reviewed by Kristin Martha Andersson has had a good life, but is having a little trouble adjusting to conditions at Diamond House, a S...

In Reference To Murder: Media Murder for Monday 11/18/2024

 In Reference To Murder: Media Murder for Monday 11/18/2024

Markets and Jobs for Writers 11/18/2024

 Markets and Jobs for Writers 11/18/2024

Lesa's Book Critiques: Murder in the Ranks by Kristi Jones

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Murder in the Ranks by Kristi Jones

Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Crimes Against Nature, Editor Robert Lopresti


With an unprecedented hurricane in the Appalachian Mountains that no one could have expected and wildfires in the West and rampant deforestation in many states, no one can say that the environment and the damage caused by humans does not affect our lives. Robert Lopresti has collected and edited a set of 15 short stories all about human impact on nature. Sometimes thoughtless, sometimes deliberate, the impact of the destruction is the same.

The authors in Crimes Against Nature (Down & Out Books, 2024) are well known and recognized for their skill in crime fiction, which shows to great advantage in this assortment of mayhem. Instead of offenses against people, the misdeeds here are against the earth. Michael Bracken, Susan Breen, Sarah M. Chen, Barb Goffman, Karen Harrington, Janice Law, R.T. Lawton, Robert Lopresti, Jon McGoran, Josh Pachter, Gary Phillips, S.J. Rozan, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Mark Stevens, and David Heska Wanbli Weiden have each contributed a story. They also have selected a conservation nonprofit to receive half of the royalties. Their chosen charity is described at the end of each story; I was glad to learn about a few groups unfamiliar to me.

The stories are as varied as the charities that will benefit from them. Some of the protagonists use their native guile to defend the environment, others are not above committing a felony for the same reason. One protagonist continued to battle for the earth’s welfare beyond the grave.

I am charmed by the number of devious old ladies here. In Chin Yong-Yun Plants a Seed, a grandmother saves her grandchildren’s school plot of carefully selected native plants and arranges for a nearby factory to be brought to account for its illegal emissions in one fell swoop. We have all had dreadful neighbors but Emily Kitchener takes drastic steps to deal with those who destroy an established native species garden in Heavenly Bamboo. Annabelle addresses the problem of the marijuana-smoking neighbors who create a second-hand smoke hazard for the nearby residents, including a cat, in Gone to Pot. A committed recycler goes to great effort to see that her apartment complex complies with the reprocessing sorting rules in The Trouble with Saving the World.

Then there are the destructive tourists who in their desire to see nature in its pristine state destroy it as they explore. Eruptions discusses a tour group scaling an active volcano in defiance of the police in beautiful Costa Rica, where the fragile habitat is being wrecked by excessive tourism. A social media darling, an influencer who films everything he does, is the subject of The Gift. This particular influencer trespasses on private beaches and encourages his followers to do the same, leaving a tsunami of trash as they go. A man bent on revenge goes after several media influencers who damage delicate ecosystems and invade protected reserves in Bad Influence.

Virgil Wounded Horse of the acclaimed novel Winter Counts is still looking out for the people on the Rose Bud reservation in Wind Spirits. When an activist comes in, agitating for trouble over the wind turbines set up on the land, Virgil steps in.

The Smart One focuses on the worst possible consequences of careless disposal of toxic materials. Scrap Heap is set in a metals recycling plant that ignored federal regulations for decades; the protagonist here is the most original I have seen in a long time. Illegal dumping of used oil is the environmental crime in Todd’s Fault, Todd is a dog for anyone who needs a dog in their reading, and Stinkwater Lake addresses the dangers of emptied oil wells left unremediated.

Firestorm describes an enterprising felon’s creation of a storage unit to preserve artwork and other valuables from the wildfires that are endemic in the West these days.

An earnest do-gooder decides to single-handedly reduce the number of meth labs polluting the groundwater, wells, and rivers in Lenny and the Lab. This is the funniest entry in the book.

Body Parts and Bathtub Rings deals with the drought in the Southwest and the people who refuse to accept that the need to conserve water is past urgent.

This is a fascinating collection of stories with as diverse a set of protagonists and plots as I can remember seeing. The annual major gift-giving season is upon us and this book would be welcomed by any crime fiction reader who also champions ecological causes. I found it informative and entertaining, and I expect they would too. Recommended.

 

·         Publisher: Down & Out Books (October 6, 2024)

·         Language: English

·         Paperback: 294 pages

·         ISBN-10: 1643963805

·         ISBN-13: 978-1643963808


 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4i2Ud9g


Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2024

Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Lesa's Book Critiques: Kevin’s Corner Annex – Vengeance at Sundown by Larry D. Sweazy

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Kevin’s Corner Annex – Vengeance at Sundown by Larry D. Sweazy

The Rap Sheet: Revue of Reviewers: 11-17-24

 The Rap Sheet: Revue of Reviewers: 11-17-24

Little Big Crimes: Truth or Die, by Austin S. Camacho

Little Big Crimes: Truth or Die, by Austin S. Camacho:  "Truth or Die," by Austin S. Camacho,  in  S cattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House, ...

Don't Need A Diagram: James Ellroy, “Killer on the Road”

 Don't Need A Diagram: James Ellroy, “Killer on the Road”

Bitter Tea and Mystery: The Mayors of New York: S.J. Rozan

Bitter Tea and Mystery: The Mayors of New York: S.J. Rozan: I am a big fan of S. J. Rozan's Lydia Chin and Bill Smith series. I started reading the books in the series in 2008 and by the middle of...

Saturday, November 16, 2024

The Rap Sheet: Bullet Points: Packed Potpourri Edition

 The Rap Sheet: Bullet Points: Packed Potpourri Edition

Lesa's Book Critiques: Rare Danger by Beverly Jenkins

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Rare Danger by Beverly Jenkins

Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of November 17, 2024

 Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of November 17, 2024 

KRL Update 11/16/2024

Up on KRL this week, a review and giveaway of Joanne Fluke's "Lake Eden Cookbook" along with a recipe from the book perfect for your Thanksgiving get together https://kingsriverlife.com/11/16/joanne-flukes-lake-eden-cookbook-hannah-swensons-recipes-from-the-cookie-jar/

 

And a review and giveaway of "The Grey Wolf" by Louise Penny https://kingsriverlife.com/11/16/the-grey-wolf-by-louise-penny/

 

And a review and ebook giveaway of "Beyond the Veil" by Lawrence Kelter along with an interesting interview with Lawrence https://kingsriverlife.com/11/16/beyond-the-veil-by-lawrence-kelter/

 

And a review and giveaway of "Zero Sum" by John Gilstrap https://kingsriverlife.com/11/16/zero-sum-by-john-gilstrap/

 

Up on KRL during the week we posted another special midweek guest post, this one about the new mystery anthology "Janie's Got a Gun" https://kingsriverlife.com/11/13/janies-got-a-gun-and-the-intersection-of-music-and-mystery/

 

And another special midweek guest post, this one by mystery author Kathleen Kaska where she talks about the Luther Hotel in her second Sydney Lockhart mystery which has been recently reissued https://kingsriverlife.com/11/13/its-more-than-just-the-hotel/

 

Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have reviews and ebook giveaways of "Mingling with Murder" and "Mashed Potato Murder" (Thanksgiving mystery) by Leslie Langtry https://www.krlnews.com/2024/11/mingling-with-murder-mashed-potato.html

 

Happy reading,

Lorie 

SleuthSayers: Going Golden, Committing Capers, and Getting Cozy

SleuthSayers: Going Golden, Committing Capers, and Getting Cozy: We've been talking quite a bit at this blog about writing stories for anthologies--mostly mystery/crime anthologies. It's easy to se...

Scott's Take: Wesley Dodds: The Sandman by Robert Venditti, Illustrator Riley Rossmo


Wesley Dodds: The Sandman by Robert Venditti, illustrated by Riley Rossmo, is a miniseries whose main character is the original Sandman (there are several Sandman). This read is set back in the 1940s in the DC Universe. The original Sandman is just starting out and has not joined the Justice Society Of America. The JSA was one of the original super teams before the Justice League. They protected their world until the red scare forced them to disband. The United States government turned on them.

 

The original Sandman was a gas mask wearing vigilante who used sleep gas to fight crime. He had the ability to see the future in nightmares which showed him horrible fates awaiting people. He would attempt to intervene. I am using the past tense since he is currently dead in the DC Universe, but was alive during this miniseries flashback.  

 

In this graphic novel, someone has stolen his chemical formulas for chemicals weapons that he accidently created in the process of creating his sleep gas. Thus, the hunt is on to find out who plans to use them in WW2 which is currently raging outside the USA. While this read also explores his origin, it also deals with his relationship with his father. A man who was shaped by the horrors of WW1 and warped a young Wesley Dodds by intimately discussing the horrors of war with him.

 

This is an action-packed mystery with a character I am not very familiar with but found myself enjoying. The artist is talented, but I found the cartoony art style not fitting for this tale. While some really good splash pages were created, the use of bioweapons and the horrors that arose from them, was diminished by the art choice.  This is an interesting miniseries with some twists and turns. Overall, I enjoyed this hoopla read.

 


Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4fwpGi2

 

 

My reading copy came by way of the Hoopla App through the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2024

Friday, November 15, 2024

Lesa's Book Critiques: Winners and Giveaways Ending

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Winners and Giveaways Ending

Mystery Fanfare: CALL FOR ARTICLES: Mystery Readers Journal: London: London; Extended Deadline Monday, November 18, 2024

Mystery Fanfare: CALL FOR ARTICLES: Mystery Readers Journal: London...: EXTENDED DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 18, 2024 While the Deadline for the London issue of Mystery Readers Journal (40:4) is actually November 15, some...

Writer Beware: Dogging the Watchdog Redux: Someone Else is Impersonating Writer Beware

 Writer Beware: Dogging the Watchdog Redux: Someone Else is Impersonating Writer Beware

In Reference To Murder: Author R&R with David Finkle

 In Reference To Murder: Author R&R with David Finkle

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida, translated by E. Madison Shimoda

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida, translat...:   Reviewed by Jeanne Shuta Kawaga is struggling with his job.   It’s a prestigious company and he should be happy but the long hours, ca...

Happiness Is A Book: Friday’s Forgotten Book: Whiskey River by Loren Estleman

 Happiness Is A Book: Friday’s Forgotten Book: Whiskey River by Loren Estleman

Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: BEYOND THE POLE

Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: BEYOND THE POLE: Beyond the Pole  by A. Hyatt Verrell  (first published in two parts in Amazing Stories , October and November 1926; reprinted in The Gernbac...

Smart Girls Read Romance: NEW AUDIO RELEASE!

Smart Girls Read Romance: NEW AUDIO RELEASE!: By Caroline Clemmons More wonderful thin gs are happening for the Pinkerton Matchmaker Series books. This series is tremendously popular. Ba...

The Rap Sheet: “Dancing” All the Way to Victory

 The Rap Sheet: “Dancing” All the Way to Victory

In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange 11/15/2024

 In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange 11/15/2024

FFB Review: The Case Of The Greedy Lawyers by Carl Brookins

 

You may not have been aware of it, but Minneapolis is the home of private detective Sean “No Middle Initial” Sean. Yes, you read that right. His first name is his last, he has no middle name, and maybe that is why he looks at everything just a little differently than most would. He’s short at just five foot three, known for wearing his red Keds even when wearing nothing at all, and is good at what he does no matter what the might be. He also has a sense of humor except when one of his clients gets murdered.

 

Except she really wasn’t his client. She drifted into his office one day, hardly said a word, told him she would have to give things some more thought and left. Sometime later she was found dead. For Sean, after being asked to identify the body, he isn’t ready to let the police take over. He begins to investigate with all trails leading back to a huge law firm with a name that sounds like many publishing houses all put together. As he digs, violence begins to erupt and it becomes clear that his wise talking PI is being used as a pawn in someone’s power game.

 

This book is a very enjoyable read from short to finish on two different levels. On one, it is a send up of all the classic detective novels. With allusions to other books and characters and how they would react, the read is often very funny. The author clearly has a knack for puns and delights in naming so many things after various publishing houses. Many of them seem to be villains in one form or another which increases the amusement factor especially for those working in the writing profession.

 

On another level, the read is a typical detective story with occasional violence, a beautiful woman in his life, and all the rest including a complicated and intriguing case that slowly becomes clear. The story line moves forward at a steady pace and features a character that is unique and entertaining. The misdirections are many and what appears obvious in the middle part of the novel is far from certain by the end.

 

The result is an entertaining roller coaster of a ride and one very good novel. A fun fast read; one can only hope that more adventures are planned for the detective with no middle initial.


 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Z0bvfr

 

I have no idea now, all these years later, how I got the read. It could have been as a library book as the Plano library system always had a lot of Five Star reads. It could have also come direct from the author as, back then, he and many authors were sending my print copies every week. How I got it is lost to the mists of time. 

 

Kevin R. Tipple © 2006, 2024

Thursday, November 14, 2024

The Rap Sheet: Amazon Renders Its Verdict

 The Rap Sheet: Amazon Renders Its Verdict

Lesa's Book Critiques: What Are You Reading?

 Lesa's Book Critiques: What Are You Reading?

Jim Nesbitt: Ed Earl Does Dallas

 Jim Nesbitt: Ed Earl Does Dallas

Mystery Fanfare: SHETLAND, SEASON 9: BritBox

Mystery Fanfare: SHETLAND, SEASON 9: BritBox: I miss Jimmy Perez on Shetland. Nevertheless, I'm still watching the series. And, here's the latest news! Shetland, Season 9, will ...

Beneath the Stains of Time: The Crossword Mystery (1979) by Robert B. Gillespie

Beneath the Stains of Time: The Crossword Mystery (1979) by Robert B. Gillespie: Robert B. Gillespie is, or perhaps was, an American writer who authored eight now largely forgotten, out-of-print crime, detective and thril...