Sunday, August 16, 2026
SleuthSayers: The Gingerbread Man
SleuthSayers: The Gingerbread Man: In June, Level Short released Wish Upon a Crime: Crime Fiction Inspired by Fairy Tales , an anthology I edited with Michael Bracken. The sto...
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Hit List: Top 10 Favorite Detective Novels from the 1950s
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Hit List: Top 10 Favorite Detective Novels fro...: The Golden Age of Detective Fiction is generally narrowed to the interwar period, roughly covering the 1920s and '30s, because the World...
Joan Leotta Reviews: Joy to the Bones: A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery by Carolyn Haines
Joy
to the Bones: A
Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery
Book by
Carolyn Haines
Book 31
of this series (and the last)
Available
on Amazon in Hardback, Kindle, and Audio
This title will be released on October 27, 2026.
Review by Joan Leotta
Holiday season in Zinnia, Mississippi, a bayou country bayou
country town, takes on new and rather scary dimensions for private investigator
Sarah Booth Delaney. What at first presents as a small, mostly document hunting
job, to determine ownership of the DeLonge Mansion turns into a murder case. Of
course the abandoned property with seemingly no one left alive to claim ownership,
in the swampland near Zinnia, looks the part of a haunted house, but what truly
haunts our intrepid protagonist is the discovery that her parents’ deaths
twenty years earlier were not accidental, and even worse, her best friend
Tinkie Richmond, Sarah Booth’s boyfriend, Coleman Peters, Sherrif of Sunflower
County, and even Sara Booth’s friendly “haint” (southern for ghost), Jitty, all
knew that it was a murder and to protect Sara Booth had not told her.
Sarah Booth is stung
to the core, feeling betrayed by those closest to her, and decides to cut ties
with all three of them, a decision that leaves her feeling depressed and very
very alone. The path to forgiving them for holding back information from her to
save her from pain, leads her to discover new things about relationships and
puts readers on track with the contemporary mysteries and gives the
characters—all of them—a rounding out and depth of personality that made me arrive
at a very positive opinion of all of them—put me firmly on their side. In
addition, the author, while tracking Sarah Booth’s line of reasoning catches up
first-time readers like myself with the place of this novel’s action in the
life of our protagonist. Fortunately, she comes to her senses about discarding her living
and the dead (Jitty) friends who love her and want to help her, she enlists
their help in finding out more about her parents’ murders and also works with
Coleman Peters on the contemporary murders that occur on the grounds of the mansion.
Once the affirmation of the strength of the friendships is nailed down, the
plot moves along smartly.
Threats to Sarah Booth add sizzle to the plot which simmers
along like a low country crawfish boil. Seems that an old nemesis, Gertrude
Stromm, might be a part of the past murder and may also be implicated in the
current mansion-related murders. Haines is masterful in her use of dialog to
build suspense and keep the book moving along smartly.
In spite of the series having been around for a while (30
other books!) this was my first encounter with Sarah Booth and her crew. Haines
had a deft hand at description and also uses incidents and character
interaction to reveal that Sarah Booth’s feisty, intellect that helps her
friends love her and makes readers trust what she observes, inspects, and analyzes
in situations of all sorts. In short, it’s easy to begin to think of Sarah
Booth as a friend and the book as an encounter described over a lunch (albeit
lengthy). Would Sarah Booth want to befriend someone old like me? Well, one of
her close circle is well over a hundred years old. For example, I found myself
shouting at Sarah Booth not to go to the old mansion alone—and sure enough she
finds a dead body there-and sure enough the mystery of ownership is entangled
with forces that threaten her safety. Jitty tries to warn her—but Jitty’s
messages are coded and can be misinterpreted-.
In fact, those parts of the haint’s character, that no one
except Sarah Booth can see and talk to Jitty and the haint’s use of code to
communicate were two factors I did not like about the book. But once I decided
to accept these elements, I was able to appreciate how Haine use them to
advance the story and I allowed myself to become immersed in the solving of
these two cases—the mansion murders and ownership issues and the murder of
Sarah Booth’s Parents. In fact, I became so immersed, I stayed up all night
reading. Haines is a master of pacing. Although I own a raft of bookmarks, I
was reluctant to put one anyplace in the book. I just kept reading!
With a
few suggestive lines at a happily -ever-after, (perhaps orange blossoms and
even a law degree) for Sarah Booth, Haines leaves Sarah Booth with this
mystery. Joy to the Bones is the last time we will open a book that carries us
through another of Sarah Booth Delaney’s bayou adventures. Although we readers will not be able to continue
to watch future happenings for these characters, just as life often whisks us
away from close contact with people we meet, I wish them well. And of course,
for anyone who misses Sarah Booth, it is always possible to reread the earlier
mysteries, starting with the first in the series, Them Bones,
published in November 1999. And although the time period for readers’
lives covers several decades, Haines says that the time elapsed for Sarah Booth
is under three years. Fans of the series will definitely want to read this last
installment, and for others, who like me, have not read it before, Joy to the
Bones is a great little holiday mystery and a fun read that can be enjoyed on
its own.
For
more information on Caroyn Haines’ future writing plans, check out the
interview with her that will also appear on Kevin’s blog.
Joan Leotta ©2026
Saturday, August 15, 2026
SleuthSayers: Whoa, Look at THAT!
SleuthSayers: Whoa, Look at THAT!: So far this summer, I've spent a lot of time on the computer, especially when it's hot as blazes outside, and at least some of it...
KRL Update
Up on KRL this week reviews and giveaways of 3 more fun cozies for your end of summer reading TBR- "All Shell Breaks Loose" A Haunted Shell Shop Mystery by Molly MacRae, "Whose Body in the Library" A Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates, & "Malice in Puzzle Land" An Alice Pepper Lonely Hearts and Puzzle Club by Roz Noonan https://kingsriverlife.com/08/15/end-of-summer-mystery-catchup/
And a review and giveaway of "Killer Art" by Jon St. Denis, along with an interesting interview with Jon https://kingsriverlife.com/08/15/killer-art-by-jon-st-denis/
Looking for a new British mystery TV show to binge? Up on KRL this week we have a review of "Inspector Ellis" on Acorn TV https://kingsriverlife.com/08/15/inspector-ellis-seasons-1-2-on-acorn-tv/
Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and ebook giveaway of "Four on the Floor" By Gabriel Valjan https://www.krlnews.com/2026/08/four-on-floor-by-gabriel-valjan.html
And a review and giveaway of "Mr. and Mrs. Dixon Hide a Body" By Jennifer Holdich https://www.krlnews.com/2026/08/mr-and-mrs-dixon-hide-body-by-jennifer.html
And a review and giveaway of "Killer Vibes" by Jack Friday https://www.krlnews.com/2026/08/killer-vibes-by-jack-friday.html
Happy reading,
Lorie
Scott's Take: Paladin’s Strength by T. Kingfisher (The Saints of Steel series)
Paladin’s Strength
by T. Kingfisher is the second book in The
Saints of Steel series that began with Paladin’s Grace. Each
book in the series spotlights a different Paladin.
In this one, the Paladin featured is Ishtvan, a
large man who sort kind of leads what is left of “The Saints of Steel.” Ishtvan
and Galen (another character from the previous book) are, allegedly, providing
escort for a merchant who is in fear of bandit attack. The real mission is that
they are hunting the head cutting off people from the first book.
Things are going slow, but predictable, until Clara,
a slave who is actually a nun, is won in a duel with the locals. As soon as
they have her, Clara says she is not the only nun that has been kidnapped. She and
the rest of her fellow nuns were taken away during a fire at their convent. Someone
has kidnapped a group of nuns for some reason.
Of course, Clara and Ishtvan are hiding things from
the other, but agree to work each with each other. Of course, there is some
sort of attraction between the two of them from the moment they lay eyes on
each other. As they search for the nun kidnappers as well as the folks cutting
off heads, they become closer. And
that’s the plot-- can their connection survive each other’s secrets?
If you like the first book, this is a lot like it,
but with different main characters. Ishtvan here and Stephen from the first
book share a lot in common since they were picked by the same God. Their main
driving emotions are duty and guilt. Clara is more of an action hero character,
than a typical Kingfisher female lead, because of her own secrets. I enjoyed
this book, but it has the same flaws as the first book. The fact that the god
being dead does not matter and that the read is very predictable as it follows
the usual template.
The third act has some horror elements that were
unexpected. They also did not fit the tone of the book. They were a surprise and
did not seem to be a natural outgrowth of the story.
The third book in the series is Paladin’s Hope. According to the plot
synopsis, Piper is a “lich doctor” (basically a fantasy version of a coroner). He
teams up with Galen (the same Galen from this book), to investigate a grisly
series of murders. Galen, who suffers from violent night terrors, is supposed
to protect Piper while he works. Of course, Galen wants to do more than just
protect him or the read would not be a romance fantasy book. But, can Galen
control himself? They are assisted in
their investigation by a Gnole. What is a Gnole you ask? Think dog/monkey/goat
hybrid thing and far more helpful than the man/bear/pig on Southpark. Yes,
Gnoles are also weird.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4fbKEE5
My reading copy came through Hoopla and the Dallas
Public Library System.
Scott A. Tipple ©2026
Friday, August 14, 2026
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie: Reviewed by Jeanne Famed detective Hercule Poirot is troubled when he receives a note questioning his skills and threatening crimes to c...
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: THE COLLECTED WILL EISNER'S JOHN LAW
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: THE COLLECTED WILL EISNER'S JOHN LAW: The Collected Will Eisner's John Law by Will Eisner and Gary Chaloner (a Hard Case Crime Graphic Novel, 20254) Will Eisner (1917-2005)...
Thursday, August 13, 2026
In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange
In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange: The National Bouchercon Board has selected author and Sisters in Crime Executive Director Julie Hennrikus as recipient of the 2026 David Th...
Thursday Treats: 8/13/2026
Some reading opportunities of interest this week.
SMFS
list member Scott McKinnon
announced that his tale, The Proposition, went up earlier this month at The
Yard: Crime Blog. You can read it for free here.
The
latest issue of Starlight Pulp Review is now out. Starlight
Pulp Review #8 features 13 short stories, including one by SMFS list
member Mark Coggins (Liverjack). Available at the publisher
website as well as at Amazon.
.
Black
Cat Weekly #258 is out and includes the cover short
story by SMFS list member N.M. Cedeño (The Case of the Cabochon Ring) and more.
You can pick up the latest issue here.
A
reminder that that my short story, A Plan Comes Together, is in issue 254.
Folks seem to have really enjoyed it too. If you have not read it yet, go here, and grab a copy.
As
I said before, I have long been a fan of Larry D. Sweazy. He has announced on Facebook that the Literary Garage is publishing his short story, A Knock at the Door, on August 13th.
So, today! And go get his books. Great reads.
I
have also long been a fan of the Sheriff Hank Worth Mysteries
series by Claire
Booth. I knew the new one was coming and
have been eagerly awaiting its arrival on NetGalley. That finally happened last
week. Hidden Currents: A Sheriff Hank Worth Mystery is now up for
preorder at Amazon. It comes out in September 1st and will also be
part of their Kindle Unlimited program. Published by Severn House, it is also available on other platforms.
By
the way, the Kindle Unlimited program is a great deal. The downside is that one
is limited to twenty titles out at a time. When you share the account, as I do
with Scott, that is limiting. At the same time, that could be for the best as
we both tend to see a book, --oh, shiny--- and add it to the pile. Which
is why I have 100 titles here that are checked out from the Dallas
Library. He has 90.
The
Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine: September/October 2026 issue is now out and includes short stories by SMFS list
members. Nick Guthrie (The Silent
Partner) and Floyd E. Sullivan (The Wedding Photographer) are in the issue as
is past SMFS President Robert Lopresti (Was
That So Hard?). I have long been a fan of the work of Dallas area author Harry
Hunsicker. His short story, The Basement Girl, also
appears in the issue. Mr. Hunsicker also has a new book, Mother May I,
coming out in October from Oceanview Publishing. The book is up for preorder at
Amazon.
The
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine: September/October 2026 issue is also now out. It includes short stories by SMFS list
members Ashley-Ruth
M. Bernier (Sabotage Can’t Stop de Shower), Richard Helms
(The
Million Dollar Legs Matter), Anna Scotti
(When Bright Angels Beckon) and Dave
Zeltserman (Julius Katz’s Ex Returns). Joseph
Goodrich, Josh
Pachter, and Anna
Scotti have essays in the 85th anniversary issue. Mr. Pachter
also has another short story, Farewell to Baytown, in collaboration with the
late William Bankier.
Last
week, after my previous column was set up, I got an email alert from the
publisher that Four on the Floor: A Shane Cleary Mystery by Gabriel
Valjan was available. Published in late July
by Level
Best Books, the mystery read is available at Amazon and other vendors.
Edited
by SMFS list member Michael Bracken, Sleuths Just Wanna Have Fun: Private
Eyes in the Material World, is again in print. The new publisher is Crimson Gate
Books. Also in the read are SMFS list members, John M. Floyd (Redwood Creek), Debra H. Goldstein (Who Shot J.R.?), Kathleen Marple Kalb (Diana and the Princess), and SMFS President Joseph S. Walker (The Right
Size of Favor). The read is available at Amazon.
.jpg)
Also,
later this month, The Tipping Floor, comes out. This is the
latest in the 509 Crime Stories series by Colin Conway.
Published by High Speed Creative, LLC., the read is available for preorder on Amazon.
Until next time….
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: DOWN SONORA WAY
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: DOWN SONORA WAY: "Down Sonora Way" by Louis L'Amour (first published in Five Western Novels Magazine , December 1951; reprinted in L'Amou...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Stories from Midsummer Mysteries
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Stories from Midsummer Myst...: I was initially attracted to Midsummer Mysteries: Short Stories , edited by Martin Edwards, because of its striking cover and the lovely spr...
Review: One Good Eye: A Jeep Mullane Novel by Kevin Wade
One Good Eye: A Jeep Mullane Novel
by Kevin Wade is the second read in the series that began with Johnny
Careless. I very much liked that first book and was glad to be
approved for an ARC the week before publication on the Edelweiss platform.
Tropical Storm Kyle is headed inbound and Centre
Brookville Chief of Police Jeep Mullane is out and about on Long Island’s North
Shore. He is handing out batteries and bottled water and checking on folks as
the storm comes ever closer. So, he’s already fairly close by when he gets an
urgent text from Nicole. She drives for Jenny Racine and has requested Jeep
come to the house. Jeep has known Jenny Racine since high school.
Without revealing spoilers, they have a very tight
bond and a complicated history that goes back to those high school days. In the
here and now, she is fairly famous for good and bad reasons, is wealthy, and is
in real trouble though she does not want any help. Nicole is ex-Suffolk County
PD and carries, but Jenny needs on duty cops and more assistance than her longtime
driver and friend can provide.
Even if Nicole had not filled in Jeep Mullane on his
arrival, one look at Jenny’s face makes her need for help clear. She’s been
punched in the face and is visibly marked. She’s also been hit hard in her rib
cage on her right side. She says the masked man was in her master bedroom when
she walked in, never said a word, hit her, and fled. She has an idea who did it,
and even knows why, but makes it very clear that she isn’t going to tell him or
anyone. Jenny isn’t going to file a police report. She wants him to leave it
alone as she plans on continuing to handle everything privately.
But, this is Jenny. Jeep Mullane isn’t going to let
her take a beating and do nothing.
Jeep Mullane starts poking around and then the feds
show up. Soon after they make their presence known, the killing starts in, One
Good Eye: A Jeep Mullane Novel. Complicated with plenty of
flashbacks to explain the deep relationship between Jenny and Jeep, this is a
compelling and fast moving read that keeps the reader (at least this one)
rapidly turning pages.
There is quite a lot going on in One Good Eye:
A Jeep Mullane Novel by Kevin
Wade. Many of the things cannot be explained without creating spoilers. I can
say that the book is a mighty good read and well worth your time. Strongly
recommended.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3U6uDIK
My digital ARC came from the publisher, Celadon
Books, through Edelweiss, with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
SleuthSayers: Finding Markets
SleuthSayers: Finding Markets: Where, oh where, can I submit all these stories? This past Saturday, Josh Pachter, fellow SleuthSayer Barb Goffman, and I were panelists for...
Beneath the Stains of Time: Cardula and the Locked Rooms (2026) by Jack Ritchie
Beneath the Stains of Time: Cardula and the Locked Rooms (2026) by Jack Ritchie: Back in 2024, I posted " Locked and Loaded, Part 5: A Selection of Short Impossible Crime and Locked Room Mystery Stories , " a s...
Jerry's House of Everything: OVERLOOKED FILM: THE LAST OF MRS. CHENEY (1929)
Jerry's House of Everything: OVERLOOKED FILM: THE LAST OF MRS. CHENEY (1929): A pre-Code early talkie with Norma Shearer her most glamorous and Basil Rathbone at his most dashing. "[T]his witty and stylish caper f...
Publication Day Review: The Tailor: A DS George Cross Mystery by Tim Sullivan
Who would kill a bespoke tailor?
That is the initial central question for DS George
Cross of the Avon and Somerset police in The Tailor: A DS George Cross
Mystery by Tim Sullivan. This eighth book in the series opens with a
murder on a train. There is absolutely no question it was a murder.
The deceased man was found in the first-class
bathroom of a passenger train headed from Bristol to Paddington Cross in London.
Apparently, the plastic bag over his head did not fully do the job, so the
killer deeply slashed the victim’s throat. He cut so deeply that the killer
almost severed the head from the body.
That got the job done.
He also got away with it with nobody noticing
anything at all.
Because the victim was wearing a bespoke suit with
the label of “Titcomb & Titcomb’s of Park Street,” Detective Sergeant George
Cross believes there is a good chance that the deceased is one of their
clients. Within a short period of time, they learn that the deceased is one
William Titcomb.
Not a client, but one of the owners of a long
running family business. A third-generation tailor, William Titcomb was married
to Min, and had two small children. His twin sister, Gwen, is also heavily involved
in the business.
According to Gwen, he was headed to Heathrow Airport
to board a flight to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates for fittings with two
clients. Then he was to travel on to Xiamen, China, where they have a tailoring
operation and check in there. Min comes from China, has contacts, and the facility
in China has been a huge boost to the family business. Mr. Titcomb was
traveling with two suitcases, presumably full with the suits for the clients in
Dubai. Those suitcases and their
contents are missing.
Where are the suitcases? Who killed the bespoke
tailor? Was he killed for the suits?
Just some of the questions that DS George Cross and
the assembled team must answer in The Tailor: A DS George Cross Mystery by Tim
Sullivan. If the case was not enough, Cross and several others have to deal
with professional and personal upheaval in their lives. For one thing, as long-time
readers know, Josie Ottey, has been promoted. That means she is now superior in
rank to Cross.
An issue that Cross is slowly adjusting to as it has
been very hard for him as social situations are very difficult. Ottey’s
promotion means that she will no longer be with him in the field conducting
interviews and gathering information. That fact also means that she won’t be
around to manage him or smooth over awkward situations with those he talks to
as he goes about investigations. That has the potential to be a real problem
for Cross and a huge problem for the next person in that role.
Then there is a family situation for Cross that is
best left to the reader to discover. I don’t want to reveal more as it could be
construed as a spoiler as it is a major piece of the plot. However, for those readers,
like me, who have gone through the death of a loved one due to cancer and absolutely
hate cancer storylines, it is not that. In fact, the issue here is not remotely
medically related in any way, shape, or form. You can rest easy on that aspect
of the read.
The Tailor: A DS George Cross Mystery
by Tim Sullivan is a complicated, fast moving, and highly entertaining read.
Much is going on in many different ways in the latest book in this long running
series. This review just skims the surface of this very good book.
Strongly Recommended.
Author Website: https://timsullivanusa.com/
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4fjUNAD
My digital ARC came from the publisher, Grove Atlantic, of Atlantic Crime,
through NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Monday, August 10, 2026
In Reference to Murder: Media Murder for Monday
In Reference to Murder: Media Murder for Monday: It's the start of a new week and that means it's time for a brand-new roundup of crime drama news: THE BIG SCREEN/MOVIES Jason Clark...
Little Big Crimes: A Lost Dream, by Dave Zeltserman
Little Big Crimes: A Lost Dream, by Dave Zeltserman: "A Lost Dream," by Dave Zeltserman, in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, July/August 2026. This is the second story by Zelts...
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Freight: A Novel by Ryan Lowell
Ryan Lowell
worked in the trucking industry for more than 10 years and he turned to his
knowledge of the work and the people for the context of his debut novel. Freight
(Little, Brown, August 2026) is a dynamic piece of noir, set in an anonymous
Maine long distance trucking company and told from the perspective of multiple
employees. Lowell doesn’t believe in back story, the reader is plunged headlong
into the life of Billy Trask, an amoral piece of work always on the make. He
complains early that the lady who’d cut his hair for 16 years had selfishly
died and left him to the mercies of someone he doesn’t like. Trask has decided
moving illicit drugs by the box isn’t generating income fast enough and plans
to steal a truck full of pills from a Canadian pharmaceutical company. He enlists
the assistance of another truck driver named Jimmy, who simply follows Trask
without questioning.
Curtis, the
night shift dispatcher, is juggling his job responsibilities just barely well
enough to keep his paycheck. Curtis wants to be a writer and tries to crank out
a few pages at night when things are quiet but they rarely are. Phil is broke
and bitter after a divorce and is driving to stay busy. Theo is having an
affair and hopes his wife Lauren doesn’t find out. He takes Sarah along with
him on his trip, against company policy, and he hopes the company doesn’t find
out. Sarah is her own kind of crazy which is well concealed until she’s backed
into a corner. People underestimate Sarah at their peril. Sarah does not tell
anyone she will be away for a few days when she leaves with Theo, and her
family and coworkers search for her frantically, believing she is in danger.
The quick
changes of speakers and perspectives give the overall narrative a scattered
feeling. They also offer fascinating insight into the logistics that move our
consumables from factory to distributor. With a riveting theft that seems all
too realistic, this original debut is a thought-provoking read.
·
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
·
Publication date: August 11, 2026
·
Language: English
·
Print length: 224 pages
·
ISBN-10: 0316596515
·
ISBN-13: 978-0316596510
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4hW0gyw
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2026
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal
It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
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