Friday, April 03, 2026
Mystery Fanfare: EASTER CRIME FICTION/ EASTER MYSTERIES
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Snake of Luvercy (1926/27) by Maurice Renard
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: APACHE LAW: SHOWDOWN
Review: Two Truths and a Lie: A Thriller by Mark Stevens
Two Truths and a Lie: A Thriller by Mark Stevens
is the second book in the series that began with No
Lie Lasts Forever.
Billed as a sequel, it is in some senses. In others, it is more a continuation
of the first book as those events are predominant through the entirety of this
book. Therefore, while I am trying to minimize spoilers, some are present in
this review. Suffice it to say, if you continue reading about this very good
book, don’t blame the reviewer.
As the book begins, the trial of Harry
Kugel is underway. Harry Kugel was the man known locally as the “PDQ” killer.
He had killed several times decades earlier and then went dark for many years. His
ego brought him down as recent murders had been reminiscent of his work. He did
not like the fact that somebody was taking credit now off of his legacy. He
wanted the imposter gone. So, he reached out to TV Reporter Flynn Martin who is
a bit of a legend, for good and bad reasons, in Denver. Ultimately, she survived,
and the man who put her and others through hell was identified and exposed by
her reporting. A little over a year later, he has finally been convicted for
what he has done and was sentenced to three consecutive life terms.
Seconds before he is taken off to jail and
then to prison from the courtroom, he turns to her and promises that nothing is
over.
Several months later, long after she and
her son, Wyatt, moved to a more secure home high in a Denver tower, and just
when she finally feels like things are going back to a quasi-normal, the terror
of being stalked and a target begins again. It has been a long day in the field
with camera operator and good friend, Tamica Jones, as she sits and goes
through paperwork her teen son brought home from school. Amidst the normal
stuff is a sealed envelope that scares her at the sight of it. She’s moved and
taken drastic measures for privacy. All that seems to have been for naught as
she opens the envelope and finds a single white sheet of paper.
That single white sheet of paper is full
of cryptic sentences very reminiscent what PDQ used to send her. But, he is in
prison, so he can’t be terrorizing her again this way. Or could he? Does the
prison even look at anything he mails out? Or did he have an unknown accomplice?
Or is it one of his cult members drawn to act by the extensive media coverage
of the trial and her role in his capture? Or is it some whack job looking to
impress PDQ? These questions and others terrorize her as it is clear that
somebody got close enough to her son to send a message.
A message that scares her in every fiber
of her being, while at the same time, intrigues and pulls her into another very
high-profile story. A story that could easily get her and others killed. Which
could also be said about some of the other stories she is soon working on,
including the disappearance of a local family of four.
Two Truths and a Lie: A Thriller by Mark Stevens
again takes readers to Denver, the world of journalism, and the debate over
which stories and which victims get media coverage. Published by Thomas &
Mercer, this read is another good one in the series and a bit more intense than
No Lie Lasts Forever. This read builds on that book extensively
and keeps the momentum going as it very clearly sets up a third book in the
series.
Both books are strongly recommended as
is reading them in order. Not only are the stories in the reads strong, but one
is also given plenty to think about regarding actual journalism, the media, and
what goes on these days.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3NSRghi
By the way, The Poisoned Pen Bookstore
has a recent interview with author Mark
Stevens where he discusses the book. The program is on YouTube here.
My digital ARC reading copy came by way of the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, through NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Thursday, April 02, 2026
Thursday Treats: 4/2/2026
The latest reading opportunities…
SMFS list member Abe Margel announced
that his short story, Maddy on the Beach, was published online at Chewers by Masticadores.
You can read the story for free here.
SMFS list member Jeff Esterholm announced that his latest crime fiction short story, No Quarter, was published online at Literary Garage. You can read it for free here.
SMFS list member Margaret S. Hamilton’s
short story, A Pinch of Death, was published online at Kings River Life
Magazine. This Easter mystery tale can be read for free here.
Punk Noir has published, Find What You
Love and Let It Kill You #4 — a PUNK NOIR Magazine series. This series of short
stories are all free to read online at their website as are the
preceding three installments. The market call for the planned May series was
also announced here.
Author BJ Bourg has another
read out in his long running Clint Wolf Mystery Series. Published
by Death Shadow Press, LLC, But Not For
Cruelty: A Clint Wolf Novel came out last month. This 36th
book in the series is available in eBook format at Amazon.
Also now out is The Uganda
Protocol by Jeffrey James Higgins. Published by Severn River
Publishing
in a variety of formats, this is the fourth book in the Nathan Burke Thrillers series. Available at Amazon.
.jpg)
SMFS members Michael Bracken (Death of
an April Fool) and Josh Pacheter (Turkish Muscle) have short stories in the
latest issue of Black Cat Weekly. You can pick up Black Cat Weekly
#239 here.
Finally, April 7th sees the release of the short story collection, Hot Shots: Celebrating Thirty Years of the Short Mystery Fiction Society. Editor Josh Pachter has culled through all of the Derringer winning stories over the decades to select one for each year to highlight. Published by Level Best Books - Level Short, the book is currently available to preorder in eBook format at Amazon. Editor Pachter has promised the membership that there the paperback version will be available, but the date is unknown at the time I post this column.
Until next time….
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Wednesday, April 01, 2026
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 75 Calls for Submissions in April 2026 - Paying markets
SleuthSayers: Bright Bay Babbles
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: SMFS Official Announcement: 2026 Derringer Award Finalists
Mystery Fanfare: APRIL FOOL'S DAY CRIME FICTION
Short Story Wednesday Review: Dirty Old Town And Other Stories by Nigel Bird
From the archive….
Featuring nine
stories by Edinburgh resident Nigel Bird, this short story collection features
tales told by adults and juveniles dealing with dark days and even darker
thoughts. The characters often are not happy go lucky folks. These are people
trying to survive in a world stacked against them. As such, sometimes the
language is a bit coarse, but life is not all tea and crumpets for these folks.
This short book opens with “Drinking Wine.” She has kids at home and needs a break. If the babysitter hadn’t arrived wearing a tight mini skirt, fishnets and a top that barely covered anything, maybe she wouldn’t have gotten the idea and then went to the bar called “The Dog and Dude.” But, she did in her own sexy outfit and now a fellow drinker is making her feel all tingly with thoughts of Roger far from her mind. The night is young, the possibilities are endless, and things are going to go sideways.
The life of a janitor in a school is never an easy one. Especially when some sort of stomach bug is going around in “Taking a Line for a Walk.” Duke Earl has to quit painting the fence and go clean up the latest mess. He’s seen a lot of things over the years and knows his time on this earth is running out---one way or another.
In “Dirty Old Town” a man named “Chalky Fish” awakes from a beating realizing that not only does he massively hurt, but he lost a tooth and the sight out of one eye. He also managed to lose a button off his favorite jacket. At least the first punch had been good one because it knocked him out. The bad thing is the next day is going to be worse on so many levels.
The young boy is
a long way from home in London every time he goes to visit his Gran on the
island of Skye. This trip is different because not only did they have more
stuff, but dad didn’t make the trip this time with him, his brother Davey and
mom. Along with telling readers what life is like for this eight-year-old,
author Nigel Bird weaves in just below the surface a bit of dangerous
undercurrent in “Sea Minor.” Something is at work on this island where modern
conveniences like television and computer aren’t possible.
Sometimes somebody gets the idea that it is their job to clean the city or village streets of what they think is human trash. The three women picked up by Brandon and his friends might have different ideas about that in “Sisterhood.”
Like in “Dirty Old Town,” sport serves as a backdrop to “One hundred And Ten Per Cent.” Vincent Love is trying to confine his running to the track. He doesn’t want to go back to prison and run in the yard ever again. Getting a good start whether or the track or running from the flashing lights of the cops is everything. No matter how fast he runs, he can’t run from the past.
Craig does not want to go down the chimney, but dad insists he has to in “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight).” After all, dad intends to make sure the boy honors his promise to mom about getting her a pearl necklace. Too bad the boy thought they would actually buy one.
“Three Little Birds” tells readers what they instinctively know. Some kids have that look in their eye of evil. Danny had it and proved on occasion growing up. These days he is in adult, back in the area, and something needs to be done.
The pimp game has done okay for Brad in “Silver Street.” He may only be 17, but he has plans. Big plans. They include a certain young lady because they are destined to be together.
This collection of previously published fiction in a variety of markets shares a common theme of loss and lament. Sometimes the situation is due to decisions and actions that the primary character did in the past, and the character is struggling to turn things around despite the obstacles. Sometimes it happens because not everything or everyone is as the primary character believed.
Sacrifice and
desperate scrambling to survive are present in all of these good stories. Dirty
Old Town And Other Stories features dark works that take readers down
the back ways, into seedy pubs, and places you may never have known about in
merry old England. Tales of noir that pull you in quickly before spitting you
back out like the loser you truly are at the very core of your being. These are
not tales that make you feel good as many are truly at the end of their rope.
No, these are tales that drag the ugly out into the light and make you look at
it and identify with it on every level.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3O413ky
Other books by the author: https://amzn.to/4bYoB2d
Author supplied a word document for this book for purposes of an objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple
© 2011, 2022, 2026
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Mystery Fanfare: PASSOVER MYSTERIES //PASSOVER CRIME FICTION
SleuthSayers: Some Great New Books
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Death Through a Dark Green Glass by Julia Buckley
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Spell the Month in Books — March 2026
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Judges of Hades and Other Simon Ark Stories (1971) by Edward D. Hoch
Publication Day Review: From the Dust: A Novel by David Swinson
Death is something the retired DC Metropolitan
Police Department Detective is very familiar with, professionally and
personally. Graham Sanderson has quiet working homicides in Washington, DC, and
moved into his dad’s house in upstate New York. Most of his possessions sit in
storage as he came to the house to help his brother, Tommy, after dad died. Tommy
is agoraphobic and has not left the property in many years. With dad’s death,
he had nobody to help him, so Graham came with a few things and moved into a
guest bedroom in the house.
He came with some clothes and a few
mementos. That includes the urn with his late wife’s ashes. It sits, top off,
next to his bed and he talks to her on a daily basis. The grief remains strong
and he is coping with that, and other issues, as best as he can. With no
hobbies and the memories of a lifetime of police work, he has far too much time
on his hands to think and brood.
In the hours after the service for dad, William
Finn, who is the Chief of Police, asks for his help as the small local
department is very short staffed. A patrol officer was just recently promoted
to investigator. The guy is good, or he would not have been promoted, but Chief
Finn would like Sanderson to consult as they have a serious problem.
There has been a killer at work in the area
and clues are scarce. Suspects are non-existent. Chief Finn wants to keep the
investigation in house and not ask for outside agency help as the second, and
most recent, victim was his nephew. He wants Sanderson’s help. Something
Sanderson is reluctant to do at all as he is burned out, adjusting to being retired,
mending a relationship with his younger brother that he has not seen in many
years, losing his dad, among other things, and does not want to annoy anyone
inside or outside the department.
But, Chief Finn is persistent, and
Sanderson finally agrees to review the case file to this point and take an
impartial fresh look. The rookie investigator, Mike Gottert, welcomes him with
open arms and quickly invites Sanderson to go along as he goes back to the
scene of the second body with a plan to recanvass the area, knock on doors, and
poke around.
Before long, while not carrying a shield,
Sanderson is almost as involved in the case as if he were a member of the
department. Working helps occupy his mind, even if the case keeps coming closer
and closer to home. A case that may have also, once again, made him a target.
From the Dust: A Novel by David
Swinson is a complex and extremely enjoyable police procedural. With its rich
characters and storytelling, it is also a testimony, in a way, about coping
with complex mental health challenges in a world that often does not understand
what folks are dealing with on a daily basis. This is one of those books that
comes fully alive for the reader in a variety of ways and keeps the reader
turning pages long after one should quit for the night.
All in all, From the Dust: A Novel
by Doug Swinson is a mighty good read and very much recommended.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4ccY7vQ
My digital ARC reading copy came by way
of the publisher, Mulholland Books, imprint of Little, Brown and Company,
through NetGalley with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Monday, March 30, 2026
Little Big Crimes: Solstice Sigil, by Laframboise, Michèle.
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: What Happened Next: A Novel by Edwin Hill
Edwin Hill’s
sixth book is an action-filled thriller with strong similarities to No Time
for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay. As in Barclay’s book, What Happened Next
(Thomas & Mercer, 2026) tells the story of a young adult who looks back to
a crime that affected him as a child and tries to make sense of it through the
lens of time and adult perspective. Charlie Kilgore was a baby when his father
stabbed a man to death, turned on Charlie’s mother, injuring her severely, and
then came after his two sons. Reid, the older, had the presence of mind to take
Charlie into a boat and push it out into the lake, away from their enraged
father. Their father disappeared into the mountains and was believed to have
died. At least this is what Charlie has always been told.
Now in his
early 20s Charlie would like to know more about the attack. His brash young supervisor
at the radio station where he works is pushing him to collect enough personal
interviews of participants to create a series of podcasts, convinced it would
be a major career move for both of them. And in the back of his mind, Charlie
is not convinced his father is dead. He thinks he’s seen his father here and
there over the course of his school years but never said anything, understanding
he would not be believed.
The podcasts
are uppermost in Charlie’s mind when he returns to his family’s summer home in
New Hampshire on Memorial Day weekend. His mother, aunt, and brother actively
discourage his interest in re-opening barely closed wounds. No one else who was
around at the time wants to be reminded of the tragedy but he records the
interviews he can while spending time with Seton, his long-time friend and
daughter of the murdered man.
His plans for
the podcast go sideways when a house owned by his family’s construction firm is
burned by arsonists, his mother’s body is found a short time later, and a
stalker that a former television actor had come to the village to avoid re-appears.
The arson and murder investigations set off more incidents, some of them
violent. Charlie is sure that most, if not all, of the events are linked to the
long-ago murder and attempted murder attributed to his father and he continues
to ask questions.
An intense,
engaging, and fast-paced story full of surprises to the very end. Starred
review from Publishers Weekly.
·
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
·
Publication date: April 1, 2026
·
Language: English
·
Print length: 317 pages
·
ISBN-10: 1662536852
·
ISBN-13: 978-1662536854
Amazon
Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4bWYMj9
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2026
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
Sunday, March 29, 2026
SleuthSayers: Hardy Like a Fox at a Crime Scene
Guesting On The Blog
It
has been a few months, almost six now, so I thought I would remind you that I
welcome guest posts here. If you have read this kind of post before, and have
an interest, please read this updated post today as I have added a couple of
things.
Guests
are more than welcome and very much appreciated. Unlike some folks and their
places, I don’t have a lot of forms to fill out or hoops to jump through as I
have made the process as easy as possible. Most questions you may have been
already answered below so please read the post before reaching out.
Depending
on my reviews—Open days are currently Tuesdays and Sundays. I usually run
excerpts from published or about to be published works on Sundays as excerpts
seem to work best on those days.
No AI for anything. Period.
Topic--pretty
much anything goes. While my blog is mainly aimed towards items of interest for
readers and writers of mystery and crime fiction, I am open to pretty much
anything. I do ask that folks avoid the topics of religion and politics unless
either or both directly relate to the work being discussed or promoted.
Please
Note --- I am not going to run anything that advocates big pharma is hiding the
cure for cancer. Folks that come up with that stuff deserve a special place in
hell.
Before
contacting me, please have an actual idea in mind. I absolutely do not assign
topics. That means I am NOT going to tell you what to write about. This is your
opportunity to write what you want to write about. You know your books, your
expertise in topics, etc. I do not. Your idea does not have to be set in stone.
It does need to have some detail. Have something to say beyond the fact that
you have a new book coming out and you want to talk about it in a guest post. Have at least a couple of things that you know
you want to have in your piece and tell me that in your pitch.
And,
yes, book reviews are very popular here. Several folks regularly contribute
book reviews. I would love to have more book reviews from guests.
Word
Count: Totally up to you. I do not set a maximum or a minimum word count.
When
your piece is ready, you send it to me by email and include a 100 words or
fewer bio. Also send any pics that you think should be included in the piece.
While some guest posts are super heavy in pictures, I think it works best to
have two or so. While I can and do lift author photos and book covers from
Amazon and author websites, it is easier if you just send it from the start as
well as any other pics you believe should be included.
Exclusivity:
The period should be original to my blog. I request that you allow me to be the
exclusive home for the piece for 90 days. This allows me to make multiple posts
about your guest post on social media and still bring in readers.
I
have had folks write for me one weekend and, within two weeks, ignore the
exclusivity period and run the exact same piece elsewhere. Rather kills the
point of my efforts to bring attention to your post.
This
is, as always, a nonpaying opportunity. Yes, I absolutely value your work. I
also have no income other than SSD (and that is just a few hundred each month)
and am supporting myself, my adult son, and this old house on what little I
inherited when my Mom passed. The bank account is steadily shrinking and I am
doing the best I can to hang in here as inflation, my worsening health, and
other issues are making it even harder. Things are going downhill, rapidly, but
as long as I can keep this place going, I will.
While
I have no funds to pay you, I can promise to promote the heck out of your
appearance. You will be seen. I can’t promise a certain number of sales, but
most guests do see a spike in their sales. Guests who are on the blog on a semi
regular basis do far better than one off appearances, but everyone does see an
impact.
Questions/
pitches should be sent to me at Kevinrtipple AT Verizon.net
I
hope you choose to be a part of things here. Looking forward to hearing from
you.
Kevin
R. Tipple © 2026
Saturday, March 28, 2026
KRL Update
Up on KRL this week just in time for Easter, a review and giveaway of "Easter Egg Murder" by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Peggy Ehrhart https://kingsriverlife.com/03/28/easter-egg-murder-by-leslie-meier-lee-hollis-peggy-ehrhart/
And a review and giveaway of "Tell-Tale Treats" by Jennifer J. Chow, https://kingsriverlife.com/03/28/tell-tale-treats-by-jennifer-j-chow/
And an Easter mystery short story by Margaret Hamilton https://kingsriverlife.com/03/28/a-pinch-of-death-an-easter-mystery-short-story/
We also have the latest Queer Mystery Coming Attractions from Matt Lubbers-Moore https://kingsriverlife.com/03/28/queer-mystery-coming-attractions-april-2026-lambdas/
Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and giveaway of "Deadly Ambitions" by Terry Odell https://www.krlnews.com/2026/03/deadly-ambitions-by-terry-odell.html
And a review and giveaway of "Baking Up a Murder" by Hattie Fox https://www.krlnews.com/2026/03/baking-up-murder-by-hattie-fox.html
Happy reading,
Lorie
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 74 Calls for Submissions in April 2026 - Paying markets
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Cheating Death by Maxie Dara
Scott's Take: Absolute Batman Vol 2: Abomination by Scott Snyder and Marcos Martin (Illustrator), and Nick Dragotta (Illustrator)
Absolute Batman Vol 2: Abomination by Scott Snyder and Marcos
Martin (Illustrator), and Nick Dragotta (Illustrator) collects issues 7 through
14. The previous issues in the series were collected in Absolute Batman
Vol. 1: The Zoo which I reviewed here
last September.
In
this action-packed volume, Batman takes on Mister Freeze, Bane, and learns more
about the mysterious man in white, aka the Joker. Bane has Batman in his sights
and has plans for Batman that Bruce is not going to like. Batman investigates
Arkham M, which is supposed to be treating the mentally ill, but instead is creating
monsters to terrorize the world with.
This
is a really interesting action-packed saga, but there is a lot of body horror
and torture sessions. This book introduces new versions of Bane, Cat Woman, and
Mister Freeze, and others. The new version of Killer Croc is pretty cool.
The art for the Mister Freeze section was not
good in my opinion, but the art for the Bane story, which is the main story was
excellent. This series will continue as Batman will face off with Poison Ivy.
We will also meet the new version of Robin. The title of the volume and the
release date have yet to be announced.
Amazon
Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4rBlQL0
I
read some of this through the DC
Universe Infinite app and some through Hoopla by way of the Dallas Public
Library System.
Scott
A. Tipple ©2026
Posts
