Tuesday, June 09, 2026
Jerry's House of Everything: THE LENA BAKER CASE
In Reference to Murder: Media Murder for Monday
Monday, June 08, 2026
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Every Lie I Told by Hilary Davidson
Hilary
Davidson is a Toronto native now living in New York City. Her first work of
crime fiction The Damage Done (Forge Books, 2010) won the 2011 Anthony
and Crimespree awards for best first novel and was shortlisted for the Arthur
Ellis and Macavity awards for best first. She’s written dozens of short
stories. Every Lie I Told (Blackstone, June 2026) is her eighth work of
crime fiction.
Jackie Swift
is just another hamster on the enormous wheel of New York, running endlessly
trying to reach the next rung on the ladder of success. Her parents died when
she and her sister Madi were young, leaving them to the questionable care of an
uncle. Jackie has been trying to overcome the disadvantages of her early life
ever since, while pretending to have the upper-crust life that she wants. She
learned early that her lack of family connections and resources would keep her
out of her chosen field of journalism, no matter how hard she worked. She slid
sideways into a dubious public relations firm with some credible clients and a
lot of shifty ones. Her habit of shading the truth about her life quickly
expanded to covering up for wealthy people behaving badly. Dissembling about
everything, from her customers’ actions and intentions to the store where she
bought today’s outfit, became routine.
Jackie is
overwhelmingly protective of Madi, who dabbled far too often in drugs and made
other unwise decisions. Jackie had come to keep Narcan on hand for emergencies
so when Madi called in the early hours of Monday morning that she needed help,
Jackie scrambled for the naloxone and drove to an Upper East side townhouse.
She could not find Madi but she did find the quite dead body of her former
mentor and employer. The police focus early on Madi as the likely killer and as
they search for her, Jackie does everything she can to throw suspicion on
others, including an ex-wife who tried to kill the dead man more than once.
The story delivers
credible insight into the inner workings of publicity firms and marketing
psychology, which I found thought-provoking. With a driving pace and one
surprise after another, the story held my attention to the end despite my lack
of sympathy with most of the characters, who were singularly unpleasant. Fans
of contemporary psychological thrillers and unreliable narrators will love this
book.
·
ISBN-13: 979-8228475151
·
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing, Inc.
·
Publication date: June 16, 2026
·
Edition: Hardcover
·
Language: English
·
Print length: 371 pages
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4fv3o3j
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2026
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal
It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
Sunday, June 07, 2026
Little Big Crimes: The Orient Club, by Robin Hazard Ray
Guest Post: The Inspiration Behind "Murder on Vacation" Wasn't Murder After All by Gerald Elias
Please welcome author Gerald Elias
to the blog today. As I recently noted in a “Thursday Treats” post, Mr. Elias’
latest book is his short story collection. Published by White City Press, Murder on Vacation:
Stories from the Case Files of Maury Gross, NYPD (Ret.), is available at
the publisher, Amazon, and other vendors in digital and
print formats.
Where does an author get ideas for
a story? From personal experience? Deep contemplation? From a passing comment
or casual glimpse? From other authors? Totally from out of the blue?
How about by accident?
Eight years ago, my wife and I
stayed at a modest motel on the beach in the cozy coastal town of Cambria,
California, in order to attend our niece’s ritzy wedding in wine country.
During our stay, which lasted only a long weekend, three curious things popped
out to me. (Maybe they were curious only to me because murder mysteries run in
my blood.)
The first was an elderly couple
strolling along the beach’s boardwalk. What was curious about that? Not that
they were elderly—Who isn’t these days?—but that the gentleman in question was
dressed in what his wife—who I imagined determined his attire–– probably
considered appropriate for a California vacation: a 1950s style pair of Bermuda
shorts and a gaudy Hawaiian shirt. And ankle-length, black socks—Don’t forget
those—to round out the eye-catching ensemble.
The second curiosity was a
state-of-the-art Porsche sportscar in the motel’s parking lot, which might have
cost more than the motel itself.
The third and final item was the
colony of dozens of elephant seals lolling on the beach about 10 miles north of
us. In your mind’s eye, do not mistake an elephant seal for a sea lion. They’re
twice as big, up to 4,000 nasty pounds, with a protruding proboscis which gives
them their name. They only spend about a month per year out of the water, and
you can imagine what they do while on shore leave, like most seafarers: rest,
fight, and screw. And when they fight, it’s not for play. It’s for keeps: to
become king of the hill or, more appropriately, king of the beach. Why? To win
the dear damsel of choice, of course. Why else?
As my wife and I observed elephant
seal festivities safely ensconced on a bluff with a chain link fence high above
the beach, I got an idea to package curiosities one and two together with
number three and write a short mystery. What emerged after a few days of
resharpened pencils and crumpled paper was a draft of a story I initially
called “Elephant Seals,” starring retired NYPD Police Chief Maury Gross and his
wife Bobbi (the couple on the boardwalk).
I wrote this story only to amuse my
wife and myself, with no further thoughts about where it might end up. But I
really liked my two protagonists, and so did my wife, so on our next vacation I
gathered more curiosities for a story. And the next. And the next…
Fifteen Maury Gross stories later,
I had spanned the wonders of our great nation from sea to shining sea and
decided they were worthy candidates for a collection. There is a great saga to
be told how I ultimately found the perfect publisher in White City Press, but
that’s another story in its entirety.
Suffice it to say that Maury Gross
is the nicest, most unassuming and thoughtful cop you’d ever want to meet, and
Bobbi is not only his longtime soulmate but also his astute partner in crime
solving. And they’re both sharp as a tack.
The title of the first story,
“Elephant Seals,” was changed to “Murder on Vacation” and, appropriately, is
the name of the whole collection. If you’re looking for entertaining summer
reading, here’s my advice: get an ice-cold beverage, a comfortable chair or
lounge, a shady spot, and Murder on Vacation. As Maury would say, “What’s not
to like?”
Amazon Associates Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4alkqNN
Gerald Elias ©2026
Silver Falchion finalist Gerald
Elias can’t help writing about everything that interests him, from his Daniel
Jacobus mystery series (and audiobooks) set in the dark corners of the
classical music world, to his Western mystery, Roundtree Days. His short story
collections, It’s a Crime! and Murder on Vacation (May, 2026, White City Press)
cover everything from spies to sea elephants.
A former Boston Symphony musician,
Elias is an internationally recognized violinist, conductor, and composer. He
spends his free time enjoying the outdoors, travel, coffee, good food, and most
of all, being a devoted grandpa. https://www.mysteriesandmusic.com/
Saturday, June 06, 2026
KRL Update
Up on KRL this week a review and giveaway of "A Death in the Dark" by Ellie Alexander https://kingsriverlife.com/06/06/a-death-in-the-dark-by-elle-alexander/
And review and giveaway of "Press to the Nines" by Misty Simon along with a fun guest post by Misty about research she did on flowers for the book https://kingsriverlife.com/06/06/pressed-to-the-nines-by-misty-simon/
The audiobook of Jack Townson's dark fantasy vampire novel "The Lightslayer" (which has some mystery in it as well) just released this week! Up on KRL this week I'm re-posting my review of this awesome book and giving away an ebook copy, and I have an interview with Jack, and with the other narrator, Krys Janea. This is also the first of our many features of LGBTQ+ artists for Pride month! https://kingsriverlife.com/06/06/the-lightslayer-by-jack-townson-audiobook-release/
We also have the latest Mystery Coming Attractions from Victoria Fair https://kingsriverlife.com/06/06/mystery-current-coming-attractions-june-2026/
Up on KRL during the week we posted another special midweek guest post, this one by mystery/thriller author Carlisle Richardson about the memories that led him to write his new book "The Soft Underbelly" https://kingsriverlife.com/06/03/a-call-to-action/
Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and giveaway of "Hunted" by D.E. Beckler https://www.krlnews.com/2026/06/hunted-by-d-e-beckler-reviewgiveaway.html
And a review and giveaway of "Hawai'i Rage" By Tori Eldridge https://www.krlnews.com/2026/06/hawaii-rage-by-tori-eldridge.html
And a review and giveaway of "The Man on the Bench" by Hy Conrad https://www.krlnews.com/2026/06/the-man-on-bench-by-hy-conrad.html
Happy reading,
Lorie
SleuthSayers: Goldie Locke and the Three Barretts
Scott's Take: The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (Dungeon Crawler Carl) by Matt Dinniman
The Eye of the Bedlam Bride:
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman is a weird book even for this
series. This is also the sixth book in a series that must be read in order.
So, the Crawlers are sent back to a copy
of Earth before Earth’s destruction. Our heroes are sent to Cuba. There is now
a new battle system in place based on cards. Donut, now as squad leader, must
use cards to battle the monsters on this copy of Earth. There are quite a few
new characters added to the squad on this level. That includes my favorite two new
characters -- Uzi Jesus and the Yule Cat.
On this copy of Earth, Crawlers can
defeat enemies, and flag them before they die in order to put them in their own
squads Pokémon style. Donut and Carl decide to recruit one of the most
dangerous creatures to help them. The Bedlam Bride, a Demigod Spider Woman sort
of thing, with her own plans and own motivations is the one they want. Of
course, things get worse for our heroes.
This is an action-packed adventure that
sees Donut and Carl traumatized even further.
This is even darker book than what has gone on before as there is drug
use, bestiality, child abuse, suicide, and more in this read. There is also plenty
of humor as there has been all along in the series.
The third act consists of twists upon
twists upon twists. While there are always twists upon twists, in this case it
was ridiculous. There are way too many twists in my opinion. Most of them are based
on information the readers do not have. That
was annoying.
I read parts of The Eye of the
Bedlam Bride: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman by way of the eBook
and parts by way of the physical hardback. By having the hardback arrive from
the library after I was more than halfway through the library eBook, I had access
to the bonus short story. A tale that I thought was awful, but also included yet
another twist, only included there, so it would be helpful to read for this
series.
The seventh book is in my library TBR pile
and it is titled, This Inevitable Ruin:
Dungeon Crawler Carl, where the Faction Wars have begun. So, its
armies vs armies now as the Crawlers have formed one faction and various alien
groups have formed factions of their own. The AI continues to go crazy. It now has
agreed to turn the safeties off for the alien leaders. That means that the alien
leaders can die just like Donut and the others. The result is a more level
playing field. Now it is kill or be killed for everyone. Can Warlord Donut and
friends win?
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4edRRVu
Entire Series Amazon Associate Purchase
Link:
While both formats came by way of the
Dallas Public Library System, my hardback reading copy came from the White Rock
Hills Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.
Scott A. Tipple ©2026
Friday, June 05, 2026
In Reference to Murder: Friday's "Forgotten" Books: A Night at the Cemetery
In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange
Thursday, June 04, 2026
Thursday Treats: June 6/4/2026
The latest reading opportunities…
Punk Noir has published, Champagne For My
Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends — Issue 4. This series of flash short stories are all
free to read online at their website. You can also read the first issue for
free here as well as the
second here and the third here.
Fellow SMFS list member Brandon
Barrows announced that he had gotten all right back after the previous
publisher closed and Sinners Ride was back in print. Published by
Full Speed Publishing, the read is available in both eBook and print formats at
Amazon. Additionally, he noted that the
“Paperback edition contains two bonus stories never before in print, including
the Derringer Award-nominated "The Right to Hang!"’
Fellow SMFS list member Richard Helms announced publication of his book, GREAT
WHITE: an Eamon Gold novel. He says this will be the final book of this
San Francisco based private investigator mystery series. Published by Barbadoes Hall Communications, you can pick it
up at Amazon in digital or print formats.
Editor John Connor of Murderous
Ink Press announced that his latest anthology, Crimeucopia - New Kids In
Da 'Hood, will be released on June 9th. Features 16 crime
fiction short story tales including ones by fellow SMFS list members Thomas F.
Gorham III (Classless Reunion) and L.C. Parfomak (Tuberose) It can be preordered at Amazon now.
On another list I am on, author Carole Shmurak announced that Buried
Under Books: A Susan Lombardi Mystery had been published. This fifth
book in the series is out in digital and print formats from Park Court Press.
You can pick up the read at Amazon..
I have a lot of author alerts set up on
Amazon. I have left them going, even when I am way, way, way behind in a
series. That was how I found out that author Ed Lynskey’s new book, Sister:
A P. I. Frank Johnson Mystery is releasing on June 20th.
Published by ECL Press, this
38th book in the long running series can be preordered here.
That is not all from this author either.
Mr. Lynskey’s book, Berried Clues: An Appalachian Farmers' Market Cozy
Mystery, was published on June 1st. Also from ECL Press,
this too can be picked up on Amazon here.
The latest issue of Black Cat Weekly
also came out. Black Cat Weekly #248 includes a short story by fellow
SMFS list member Dave Zeltserman (Sleeping Dogs) among other
works. You can pick up the latest issue of this weekly, multi genre, magazine here.
Until next time….
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
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