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Broken River Review - First Issue
27 minutes ago
Monday, August 20, 2018
How Plants Affect Your Mood, Spark Creativity and Improve Focus
How Plants Affect Your Mood, Spark Creativity and Improve Focus: Plants in the workplace could mean the difference between mild and great business success.
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Flat Broke With Two Goats by Jennifer McGaha
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Flat Broke With Two Goats by Jennifer McGaha: Reviewed by Ambrea Jennifer McGaha lived happily in middle class suburbia, her life full of kids, pets, PTA meetings, college f...
TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Monday Roundup: Texas Literary Calendar August 20-...
TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Monday Roundup: Texas Literary Calendar August 20-...: Bookish goings-on in Texas for the week of August 20-26, 2018: Special Events: Book Drive for Houston Area Unaccompanied Minors presents ...
Aubrey Hamilton Reviews: Testimony by Scott Turow
In Testimony (Grand
Central Publishing, 2017) Scott Turow leaves behind the familiar territory of
Kindle County, the location of nine of his previous books, for the byzantine
world of international diplomacy and the investigation of war crimes in Bosnia.
In his early 50s, the protagonist William ten Boom is determined to make his
life over. His marriage has ended, his children have launched, he’s resigned
from his partnership in a solid law firm, and when he’s approached to join the
International Criminal Court in The Hague, it seems to be the logical next
step.
A member of the Romani, the European itinerant
people we call Gypsies, has come forward and testified to the ICC that he
witnessed the mass murder of an entire Roma community, 400 of his family and
friends, at the height of the atrocities in Bosnia in late April 2004. A group
of men dressed in Chetnik uniforms forced them all into transport vans and they
were never seen again.
Ten Boom is hired to lead the investigation and to
prepare to prosecute the perpetrators if they can be identified. In addition to
the Serbian paramilitary, some of the rumors suggest that it was carried out at
the behest of the mad President of Bosnia who plundered and terrorized the
nation until he was driven into hiding. Some blame rogue members of the U.S.
Army, who they say killed the Gypsies in revenge for their theft of military
equipment. The Russian Mafia is mentioned. Yet other rumors said the entire
community simply relocated. This suggestion is given little credence as no
member of the community had been heard from in the more than 10 years since the
incident.
Ten Boom is immediately plunged into a medley of
cultures and the nuanced pace of global diplomacy in The Hague. His lead
investigator is a heavy drinking Australian who turns out to have a doctorate
in forensic anthropology. He is intrigued by the lawyer representing the lone
survivor of the massacre and his relationship with her is a major thread of the
story in addition to the investigation. Another thread is ten Boom’s discovery
of relatives in the Netherlands.
When I need a reliably engaging read, Scott Turow
is on the short list of authors I look for. I was surprised to see the subject
of this book but found it interesting. It is unusually long however, nearly 500
pages, much of it due to ten Boom’s interior monologues, which are perceptive
but not what I expect in a legal thriller. The ending, which has a nice twist,
suggests we might see more of ten Boom in the future.
·
Hardcover: 496 pages
·
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1st edition (May
16, 2017)
·
Language: English
·
ISBN-10: 1455553549
·
ISBN-13: 978-1455553549
Aubrey Hamilton ©2018
Aubrey Hamilton is a
former librarian who works on Federal IT projects by day and reads mysteries at
night.
Sunday, August 19, 2018
The Grandkids Were Here today!
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| Amy, Justin in Mom's lap, Karl, Jacob |
 |
| Scott and Jacob |
SleuthSayers: Cheating on a Novel by O'Neil De Noux
SleuthSayers: Cheating on a Novel: by O'Neil De Noux I was 27,000+ words into a novel (about 1/3 of the way through) when two writer friends put up submission guidel...
TEXAS BOOK LOVER: 2017 Writers' League of Texas Book Awards
TEXAS BOOK LOVER: 2017 Writers' League of Texas Book Awards: The Writers' League of Texas has announced their 2017 Texas Book Award winners, finalists, and Discovery Prize winners! Fiction ...
A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN!
A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN!: At least, my characters are back. Announcing THE RANCHER AND THE SHEPHERDESS , Loving A Rancher Series book 2, is once again available giv...
Lesa's Latest Contest: Giving away mystery collections
This week, I'm giving away copies of Night of the Flood and Ten Year Stretch. Details on my blog, https://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com. Entries from the U.S. only, please.
Lesa Holstine
Lesa Holstine
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines: Reviewed by Jeanne Before Carolyn Haines wrote about Sarah Booth Delaney in the “Bones “ series, she wrote about a cat detective...
TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Review: IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN by Andy Davidson
TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Review: IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN by Andy Davidson: I reviewed In the Valley of the Sun (Skyhorse Publishing) by Andy Davidson for Lone Star Literary Life . This powerful, audacious debut ...
KRL This Week Update for 8/18/18
Up in KRL this morning a review of "The Doctor Blake Mysteries" http://kingsriverlife.com/08/18/the-doctor-blake-mysteries/
And a review and giveaway of "Against the Claw" by Shari Randall along with an interesting interview with Shari http://kingsriverlife.com/08/18/against-the-claw-by-shari-randall/
Also a review of "Thread Herrings" by Lea Wait with links to preorder it, and a giveaway of an earlier book "Thread the Halls"http://kingsriverlife.com/08/18/thread-herrings-by-lea-wait/
We also have a review and giveaway of "Flower Power Fatality" by Sally Carpenter and a fun guest post by Sally about spies in movies and TVhttp://kingsriverlife.com/08/18/flower-power-fatality-by-sally-carpenter/
And we have a review and giveaway of "Knot My Sister's Keeper" by Mary Marks http://kingsriverlife.com/08/18/knot-my-sisters-keeper-by-mary-marks/
Also up this week an article about Anthony Bourdain's mystery novels http://kingsriverlife.com/08/18/chefs-assassins-and-enforcers-anthony-bourdains-three-crime-novels/
Up on KRL News & Reviews a review and giveaway of "Shadow Dancing" by Julie Mulhern, published by Henery Presshttps://www.krlnews.com/2018/08/shadow-dancing-by-julie-mulhern.html
And for those who enjoy a little fantasy with their mystery, we have a review of a Harry Dresden short story anthology called "Brief Cases" by Jim Butcher, and a giveaway of the first book Dresden Files book "Storm Front." If the idea of a wizard PI appeals to you don't miss this! https://www.krlnews.com/2018/08/brief-cases-by-jim-butcher.html
Happy reading,
Lorie
Saturdays with Kaye: The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle
The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle
I started
reading this while I was in the Atlanta area, by happy coincidence. Will and
Iris have been married for just over seven years, but Iris itches only for
Will. She considers their relationship still thrilling. Instead of “I love
you,” they tell each other, “You are my favorite person on the planet.”
A year ago they
bought their dream house in Inman Park, an expensive and historic district in
Atlanta, even though the price means it will remain mostly unfurnished for a
few years. All goes well and their lives hum along, hers as a counselor at a
private school, his as a software engineer—until Will, who is supposed to be on
a business trip to Orlando, is reported dead from a plane that crashed on its
way to Seattle. Iris goes through the mourning process, starting with denial. That
starts to end when she finds that the conference Will was headed for doesn’t
exist. Then she learns that he actually bought tickets to both Orlando and
Seattle. Anger, the next stage of grief, bubbles to the surface. She redirects
it at Liberty Air, the airline whose plane crashed.
Her twin
brother Dave moves in to help her through this. Iris, Dave, and their tough dad
meet with a representative from the airline, Ann Margaret Myers. When Myers
offers Iris a settlement, her anger explodes and she rips up the check.
When she begins
to uncover secret after secret that her husband had kept from her, she begins
to have trouble mourning him, realizing she didn’t know who he was. As she
discovers more about him, her shock increases and the dark past reaches out to
snare her.
Reviewed by Kaye George, Author of Death on the Trek, for Suspense Magazine.
Friday, August 17, 2018
End of an Era
With the help of my brother who is in town for a visit and his truck (which once was my Dad's), and with another assist by Scott Tipple, the last of what was in storage was cleared out today and brought here to the house. I signed the paperwork vacating the place as my brother and my son loaded up. So ends a twenty year plus storage run at what is now called Life Storage out in Plano at Plano Parkway and Coit. End of an era. Upsetting to a certain extent as the last of Sandi's stuff in storage came here. We always were going to clean it out and end the deal, but it has been so much harder to deal with in the wake of everything that happened. At least, it is now done. The staff was always great with us and the same was true today as I said goodbye as they knew Sandi well and miss her almost as much as I do.
FFB Review: See Also Murder: A Marjorie Trumaine Mystery by Larry D. Sweazy
I grant you the obvious concession that a novel published in
May of 2015 does not really fit the concept of a “Forgotten Book.” At least, a
publication that recent should mean the book is not forgotten. Yet, I don’t think
author Larry D. Sweazy gets anywhere near the level of recognition he should. I
find that especially true in the latest one, See Also Proof, where Marjorie is dealing with a lot. Much of the
read has hit very close to home for me. While the book in itself is excellent,
I am having a very hard time reading it as a major theme is smacking me very
hard.
So, as my small part of FFB today hosted by Todd Mason over on
his Sweet Freedom blog, I
thought I would remind you all of my review from June 2015 of See Also Murder. The first book in what
has become an incredible series. Like all good series this one needs to be read
in order as the characters age and evolve. Jumping in at book three and working
your way back simply won’t do.
I have always felt a
deep kinship with Marjorie. I don’t know why. Beyond the decades that would
separate us, there is the fact that she is living a farm life in the Dakotas and
I have always been a city boy, though I did have my time outdoors in the
mountains as a youngster. We have little in common, no matter how you look at
it, and yet my bond with a fictional character has reached an even deeper level
in the new book. I can’t explain it. What is…is.
Just go get the book and get started. And, as many others have said over the years
in far better ways than I ever will, if you care about somebody, let them know.
They can be out of your life in a blink of an eye and leave you broken and
alone.
Living on a farm in Stark County, North
Dakota in July of 1964 is hard, but it isn’t winter and that helps a little
bit. Things are harder for Marjorie Trumaine than most because she is trying to
manage it all pretty much by herself. It has been that way since her
husband, Hank, had his hunting accident that left him blind and paralyzed. He
spends his days, except for a rare trip away from home, lying in their bed
unable to care for himself or the farm they both love.
The Knudsens on the next farm over
were there for Hank and Marjorie long after everyone else in the small
community got on with their lives and forgot about them. Erik, the father,
supervised his sons, Peter and Jaeger, while they did chores on the place after
they had finished work on their own farm. Lida, their mom and Erik’s wife,
brought food for months while Marjorie and Hank slowly adjusted to the
catastrophic change in their lives. Over time that help as well as Marjorie’s
ongoing job as a freelance indexer has allowed them to survive in their new
normal post-accident reality.
The news that Sheriff Hilo Jenkins
brings Marjorie this July morning is hard to deal with on any level, but
especially now after everything that has happened in recent months. Erik and
Lida have been brutally murdered while they slept in their bed. Their sons,
Erik and Jaeger, are physically fine as they slept through the murders in their
home. Sheriff Jenkins does not believe the boys had anything to do with it
though he does intend to question them about the murders. He does believe an
amulet found in Erik’s dead hand plays some role in the case.
Marjorie has a reputation, one that
she has tried hard to control and stifle, as being the smartest person around. She
can’t help using words that many in the area don’t know or understand. Her love
of books and knowledge has only increased the last several years as she has
built a career of freelance work of writing indexes and meeting deadlines. What
began as a source of extra income is now her sole escape from reality as well
as the primary source of income for the
family. Sheriff Jenkins wants Marjorie to figure out what the amulet means so
that he might figure out who killed Erik and Lida. It is his only real clue and
he wants her role in the case kept secret. She reluctantly agrees to help it is
the least she can do for the Knudsens – the living and the dead.
What follows is a very complex and
highly atmospheric mystery by award winning author Larry D. Sweazy. The North
Dakota landscape is a constant character presence in this novel that blends
history and lore, a mystery full of twists and turns, and the role of family
(by birth and other means) into a read that quickly pulls the reader into a
different time and place far from home. Recently published by Seventh Street
Books, See Also Murder: A Marjorie Trumaine Mystery is a highly
addictive read that will keep you reading far past your bedtime. It is very
much well worth your time.
See Also Murder: A Marjorie Trumaine Mystery
Larry D. Sweazy
Seventh Street Books
May 2015
ISBN# 978-1-63388-006-1
Paperback (also available in audio
and eBook formats)
$15.95
256 Pages
Material
supplied for my use by the good people of the Plano Public Library System.
Kevin R.
Tipple ©2015, 2018
Thursday, August 16, 2018
New issue of Crime Review
We feature new 20 reviews in each issue of Crime Review (www.crimereview.co.uk), together with a top industry interview. This timeit’s author Dave Shelton in the Countdown hot seat:
http://crimereview.co.uk/page.php/interview/6530#
<http://crimereview.co.uk/page.php/interview/6530>
We’re on Twitter at:
Crime Review: @CrimeReviewUK
Linda Wilson: @CrimeReviewer
Sharon Wheeler: @lartonmedia
This week’s reviews are:
SNAP by Belinda Bauer, reviewed by Linda Wilson
DCI John Marvel wants to investigate murders not burglaries, so when a cold case gets on his radar, he’s prepared to break a few rules in pursuit of the truth.
GHOST by James Swallow, reviewed by John Cleal
Marc Dane and his partner, ex-Delta Force sniper Lucy Keyes, must call on all their skills to track down a worldwide series of devastating cyber-attacks.
EXCELLENT INTENTIONS by Richard Hull, reviewed by Chris Roberts
When the disagreeable Henry Cargate is poisoned, an accusation of murder is brought against one of four people in a position to have committed the crime.
THE ICE SWIMMER by Kjell Ola Dahl, reviewed by Ewa Sherman
When a man’s body is discovered in the freeing waters of Oslo harbour, city detectives Gunnarstanda and Stigersand face a very complicated case, leading them into the murky world of political secrets.
WHERE THE WORLD ENDS by Geraldine McCaughrean, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Every year a small group of men and boys visit a wind-swept sea stac to harvest the nesting sea birds, but this year the boat fails to return for them.
PERFECT MATCH by DB Thorne, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
Soloman’s sister is in a coma, and he knows this was no accident. But the police don’t believe him. Or don’t want to.
AN ECHO OF MURDER by Anne Perry, reviewed by Sylvia Maughan
A Hungarian man living and working near the Thames, is found brutally murdered. Commander Monk is on the trail of the culprit.
THE RECKONING by James McGee, reviewed by John Cleal
Bow Street Runner Matthew Hawkwood’s investigation of a prostitute’s death leads him into a world of espionage – and dangeR.
BABY BLUE by Pol Koutsakis, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Stratos Gazis’ friend Angelino has taken charge of Emma, a talented blind girl, who is bitter at the murder of the man who protected her. Stratos gets the job of finding the killer.
THE STORY KEEPER by Anna Mazzola, reviewed by John Barnbrook
Audrey Hart leaves London and her unhappy family home to work as a researcher of folk tales with the solitary Miss Buchanan in her fading stately home on Skye. She is drawn into the investigation of several missing girls, whose disappearance is treated with superstitious dread by the locals.
OUR KIND OF CRUELTY by Araminta Hall, reviewed by Nicola Hodges
Mike and Verity have a long-term sexually charged relationship that sometimes involves playing a game called Crave. This game seems to continue after they part, a murder takes place and their lives are catapulted onto a
trajectory of destruction.
ROBERT B PARKER’S LITTLE WHITE LIES by Ace Atkins, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Spenser is on the trail of a conman who doesn’t want to be found.
THE LAST HOUR by Harry Sidebottom, reviewed by John Cleal
Marcus Clodius Ballista, the Romanised Angle princeling, uncovers a plot to assassinate the Emperor Gallenius, but has just 24 hours to warn his friend.
MARKED FOR REVENGE by Emelie Schepp, reviewed by Ewa Sherman
Public prosecutor Jana Berzelius needs to deal with the case of a Thai girl who died on a train while smuggling heroin capsules in her stomach, as well as trying to protect her own old identity. She fears that a notorious
criminal Danilo will uncover her past.
A BRUSH WITH DEATH, by Ali Carter, reviewed by John Cleal
Artist Susie Mahl is a guest at the country seat of the Earl of Greengrass when her host is murdered in the parish churchyard. With the local police baffled, she applies her eye for detail and her natural inquisitiveness to
uncover the killer.
TO DIE IN VIENNA by Kevin Wignall, reviewed by Arnold Tyalor
Ex-secret service operative Freddie Makin has been given the task of watching a computer science teacher and submitting daily reports. Then an attempt is made on Freddie’s life.
THE ANOMALY by Michael Rutger, reviewed by Linda Wilson
A TV film crew are on the hunt for a mysterious cavern in the Grand Canyon that has remained tantalisingly elusive for over a century.
A DATE WITH MYSTER by Julia Chapman, reviewed by John Cleal
Private eye Samson O’Brien and dating agency boss Delilah Metcalfe are reunited in what seems a simple case which uncovers secrets some would far rather stayed buried.
BLUFF by Michael Kardos, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Young magician Natalie Webb is down on her luck and persuaded to use her skills in a bent poker game. However, things don’t go according to plan.
MURDERS.COM by Margaret Duffy, reviewed by Sharon Wheeler
Crime-fighting duo Ingrid Langley and Patrick Gillard are hoping for a quieter life when he takes a desk job. But the discovery of a badly-beaten Met Police cop in a Somerset field puts paid to that.
Best wishes
Sharon
www.crimereview.co.uk
http://crimereview.co.uk/page.php/interview/6530#
<http://crimereview.co.uk/page.php/interview/6530>
We’re on Twitter at:
Crime Review: @CrimeReviewUK
Linda Wilson: @CrimeReviewer
Sharon Wheeler: @lartonmedia
This week’s reviews are:
SNAP by Belinda Bauer, reviewed by Linda Wilson
DCI John Marvel wants to investigate murders not burglaries, so when a cold case gets on his radar, he’s prepared to break a few rules in pursuit of the truth.
GHOST by James Swallow, reviewed by John Cleal
Marc Dane and his partner, ex-Delta Force sniper Lucy Keyes, must call on all their skills to track down a worldwide series of devastating cyber-attacks.
EXCELLENT INTENTIONS by Richard Hull, reviewed by Chris Roberts
When the disagreeable Henry Cargate is poisoned, an accusation of murder is brought against one of four people in a position to have committed the crime.
THE ICE SWIMMER by Kjell Ola Dahl, reviewed by Ewa Sherman
When a man’s body is discovered in the freeing waters of Oslo harbour, city detectives Gunnarstanda and Stigersand face a very complicated case, leading them into the murky world of political secrets.
WHERE THE WORLD ENDS by Geraldine McCaughrean, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Every year a small group of men and boys visit a wind-swept sea stac to harvest the nesting sea birds, but this year the boat fails to return for them.
PERFECT MATCH by DB Thorne, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
Soloman’s sister is in a coma, and he knows this was no accident. But the police don’t believe him. Or don’t want to.
AN ECHO OF MURDER by Anne Perry, reviewed by Sylvia Maughan
A Hungarian man living and working near the Thames, is found brutally murdered. Commander Monk is on the trail of the culprit.
THE RECKONING by James McGee, reviewed by John Cleal
Bow Street Runner Matthew Hawkwood’s investigation of a prostitute’s death leads him into a world of espionage – and dangeR.
BABY BLUE by Pol Koutsakis, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Stratos Gazis’ friend Angelino has taken charge of Emma, a talented blind girl, who is bitter at the murder of the man who protected her. Stratos gets the job of finding the killer.
THE STORY KEEPER by Anna Mazzola, reviewed by John Barnbrook
Audrey Hart leaves London and her unhappy family home to work as a researcher of folk tales with the solitary Miss Buchanan in her fading stately home on Skye. She is drawn into the investigation of several missing girls, whose disappearance is treated with superstitious dread by the locals.
OUR KIND OF CRUELTY by Araminta Hall, reviewed by Nicola Hodges
Mike and Verity have a long-term sexually charged relationship that sometimes involves playing a game called Crave. This game seems to continue after they part, a murder takes place and their lives are catapulted onto a
trajectory of destruction.
ROBERT B PARKER’S LITTLE WHITE LIES by Ace Atkins, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Spenser is on the trail of a conman who doesn’t want to be found.
THE LAST HOUR by Harry Sidebottom, reviewed by John Cleal
Marcus Clodius Ballista, the Romanised Angle princeling, uncovers a plot to assassinate the Emperor Gallenius, but has just 24 hours to warn his friend.
MARKED FOR REVENGE by Emelie Schepp, reviewed by Ewa Sherman
Public prosecutor Jana Berzelius needs to deal with the case of a Thai girl who died on a train while smuggling heroin capsules in her stomach, as well as trying to protect her own old identity. She fears that a notorious
criminal Danilo will uncover her past.
A BRUSH WITH DEATH, by Ali Carter, reviewed by John Cleal
Artist Susie Mahl is a guest at the country seat of the Earl of Greengrass when her host is murdered in the parish churchyard. With the local police baffled, she applies her eye for detail and her natural inquisitiveness to
uncover the killer.
TO DIE IN VIENNA by Kevin Wignall, reviewed by Arnold Tyalor
Ex-secret service operative Freddie Makin has been given the task of watching a computer science teacher and submitting daily reports. Then an attempt is made on Freddie’s life.
THE ANOMALY by Michael Rutger, reviewed by Linda Wilson
A TV film crew are on the hunt for a mysterious cavern in the Grand Canyon that has remained tantalisingly elusive for over a century.
A DATE WITH MYSTER by Julia Chapman, reviewed by John Cleal
Private eye Samson O’Brien and dating agency boss Delilah Metcalfe are reunited in what seems a simple case which uncovers secrets some would far rather stayed buried.
BLUFF by Michael Kardos, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Young magician Natalie Webb is down on her luck and persuaded to use her skills in a bent poker game. However, things don’t go according to plan.
MURDERS.COM by Margaret Duffy, reviewed by Sharon Wheeler
Crime-fighting duo Ingrid Langley and Patrick Gillard are hoping for a quieter life when he takes a desk job. But the discovery of a badly-beaten Met Police cop in a Somerset field puts paid to that.
Best wishes
Sharon
www.crimereview.co.uk
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