Monday, April 20, 2026
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: A Violent Masterpiece: A Novel by Jordan Harper
Jordan
Harper’s newest piece of crime fiction is, like his last book, about the dark
side of the entertainment industry and Los Angeles. In A Violent Masterpiece
(Mulholland, 2026) three distinct voices narrate a graphic tale of grimy mayhem
and amorality. Jake Deal comes alive when he livestreams the nightlife of Los
Angeles to his sensation-seeking audience. Bloody crime scenes, devastating car
crashes, nightclub brawls, all are grist to his mill. Of particular interest
just now is a serial killer known as the LA Ripper. Kara Delgado works for a
secret concierge organization that arranges for entertainment the upper crust
of LA can’t buy on the open market such as, but not limited to, drugs and sex
parties. She’s been quietly searching for her friend Phoebe who disappeared
months earlier and has begun to fear Phoebe was a victim of the LA Ripper. Doug
Gibson is a defense attorney who represents the underdog against a criminal
justice system that overwhelmingly bulldozes over anyone without status or
money.
One of the
Hollywood elite normally supported by that system is arrested for pedophilia.
The complaints have been piling up and the proof is undeniable. He hires Gibson
to defend him, telling him he’s prepared to turn state’s evidence against the
crowd he’s been supplying with underage girls to get a better deal for himself.
Despite being on suicide watch, Gibson’s client is dead within hours of
offering to rat out his friends to the authorities.
The paths of
Jake, Kara, and Doug cross eventually and they realize they have common goals. They
begin working together to expose the most privileged icons of Hollywood in a
hair-raising and explosive resolution.
An explicit story of the worst of LA excesses, strikingly narrated in terse, mesmerizing prose. Expect to see this book on the 2026 best crime fiction lists and on multiple award nomination surveys. Starred reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly.
·
Publisher: Mulholland Books
·
Publication date: April 28, 2026
·
Language: English
·
Print length: 384 pages
·
ISBN-10: 0316458406
·
ISBN-13: 978-0316458405
Amazon
Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/41HqcVv
Aubrey Nye
Hamilton ©2026
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
KRL Update
Up on KRL this week reviews and giveaways of 3 more fun mysteries-"The Whisking Hour" A Bakeshop Mystery by Ellie Alexander, “Death at a Firefly Tea" by Laura Childs, and "The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris" by Mark Pryor https://kingsriverlife.com/04/18/three-food-bookshop-mysteries/
And a review and giveaway of "Murder on Site" by TG Wolff, along with an interesting interview with her https://kingsriverlife.com/04/18/murder-on-site-by-tg-wolff/
We also have the latest Crime Writers of Color Coming Attractions https://kingsriverlife.com/04/18/crime-writers-of-color-coming-attractions-april-june-2026/
If you enjoy Southern Gothic stories, check out the special midweek guest post that went up last night on KRL written by mystery author Erica Wright https://kingsriverlife.com/04/15/the-enduring-appeal-of-southern-gothic-stories/
Up on KRL News and Reviews this week, we have a review and giveaway of "Ours is a Tale Of Murder" by Nora Murphy https://www.krlnews.com/2026/04/ours-is-tale-of-murder-by-nora-murphy.html
And a review and ebook giveaway of "Murder on the Sea Otter Express" by Nikki Knight https://www.krlnews.com/2026/04/murder-on-sea-otter-express-by-nikki.html
And a review and giveaway of "The Boy in the Wall" by Jeffrey B. Burton https://www.krlnews.com/2026/04/the-boy-in-wall-by-jeffrey-b-burton.html
Happy reading,
Lorie
Jerry's House of Everything: THE SPIRIT #1 (APRIL 1952)
Saturday, April 18, 2026
SleuthSayers: Stealing the Show
Mystery Fanfare: The Big Shake: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake Mystery Fiction - Guest Post by Randal Brandt
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Ark (2022) by Haruo Yuki
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Staff Picks For National Library Week: Laura and Luke
Scott's Take: Absolute Superman Vol 2: Son of the Demon by Jason Aaron, and artists Rafa Sandoval, Carmine Di Giandomenico, and Fico Ossio
Absolute Superman Vol 2: Son of
the Demon
by Jason Aaron, and artists Rafa Sandoval, Carmine Di Giandomenico, and Fico Ossio,
the second volume in the series and
follows, Absolute Superman Vol. 1: Last
Dust of Krypton. The Lazarus Corporation is still after Superman,
but he has potential new allies in the Omega Men. But both sides want him to
join them and destroy the other side. What will Superman do?
This is a violent and brutal volume with
multiple torture scenes and lots of action. The art continues to impress. I
continue to like this version of a more alien Superman. This series will
continue with Volume 3, untitled right now, and which will introduce Toyman,
Parasite, and Lex Luthor.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/41292kX
I read some of this through the Hoopla
App by way of the Dallas Public Library System and some through the DC Universe Infinite App.
Scott A. Tipple ©2026
Friday, April 17, 2026
Mystery Fanfare: Orchid Day: Orchids in Mysteries and More!
FFB Review: Still River: A Lee Henry Oswald Mystery by Harry Hunsicker
For what seems like a month now, several
times a week, I have seen ads for the "Oswald Three Pack" which features this
great series by Harry Hunsicker. Constantly seeing those ads finally reminded me that it has been quite awhile since I reminded you of the very first book in the series, STILL RIVER: A Lee Henry Oswald
Mystery. This great series is the
real Dallas, warts and all. My review that first ran over twenty years ago...
Lee Henry “Hank” Oswald
is a private investigator who walks the mean streets of Dallas, Texas. It
begins as a favor for a former fellow high school classmate in the form of Vera
Drinkwater. Crying in his office, she tells Hank that her brother Charles (Charlie
to one and all) Wesson (two years behind both Vera and Hank in school) is
missing and has been for a little less than twenty-four hours. She knows
something is wrong. Hank knows at this point, Charlie hasn’t been gone long
enough to raise an eyebrow or anything else at the Dallas Police Department.
The fact that he is a former addict, allegedly clean and sober now, won’t speed
anyone to look for him as in all likelihood, he is off on a binge.
Charlie had been a
victim all through school both by bullies at school and a stepfather at home
determined to make a man out of him one way or another. Hank has memories of
those times as well as some guilt as he wasn’t in a position to really help but
witnessed enough to have some idea of what Charlie endured. Those memories
trigger his need to help and he agrees to make some calls and look for Charlie.
It should have been easy enough.
But, one thing life has
taught him with a name like his in Dallas, nothing is easy and this certainly
isn’t. Before long, it turns into a huge mess involving crooked real estate
developers, urban renewal in the form of yet another Trinity River project, the
Russian mafia, drugs, guns, and wayward relatives. Through it all, Hank keeps
going as he digs through the muck of Dallas whether they are rich and famous or
the nobodies on the wrong side of the river.
Author Harry Hunsicker’s portrayal of Dallas has absolutely nothing to do with
the chamber of commerce ads for the city. This is a hard-edged noirish style
Dallas that serves as a backdrop for all sorts of things that no doubt happen
on a routine basis and that no one ever talks about. While Still
River stumbles at first in terms of clichés, the book builds a
steady momentum and before long carries the reader violently along for a very
enjoyable read.
Amazon Associate
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4twTe6F
Or go wild and get the
entire three book series. Three books at this price is almost like getting one
free. https://amzn.to/4szQnbu
Kevin R. Tipple © 2005, 2012, 2019, 2026
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: Dopesick, Naturalist, Murder in Constantinople
Thursday Treats: 4/16/2026
The latest reading opportunities…
SMFS list member Joan Leotta announced that her three part flash fiction tale, “Observed, Overheard in the Hallway”, had been published online at Spillwords. You can read it for free here.
SMFS list member Alan Orloff announced that
his novel, The Family Biz, had been published by Level Best
Books. You can get it in eBook or paperback formats at Amazon.
Last month, fellow SMFS Member M. E. Proctor had a guest post here about how the soon to be released new book, Kansas City Breakdown, cowritten with Russell Thayer, came to be. Published by Cowboy Jamboree Press, their new book is a sequel to Bop City Swing of last year. The book is now out. You can pick it up at Amazon and elsewhere.
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Also now out is The Firefall: A Murder in Yosemite by Mark Thielman. Published by Severn River Publishing, this is the third read in The Johnson and Nance Mystery series. You can pick it up in a variety of formats at Amazon. You could also pick up the entire series, to date, as book four, scheduled to be out in January, is available too for preorder. By the way, Mr. Thielman is the current President of the Sisters in Crime North Dallas Chapter, of which I used to be a member, he is also currently nominated for a Derringer Award in the “Best Long Story” category for his short story, Masterpiece, which appeared in Black Cat Mystery Magazine #16.
He is also one heck of a nice guy and
tolerated my weird presence in public at two different book events we were both
panelists at months ago. Experiencing the Tipple, on back-to-back days, has
broken lessor beings.
Fellow SMFS list member Steve Liskow
reached out to tell me that his short story, One on One, appears in Teach.
Write.: A Literary Journal for Writing Teachers Spring/Summer 2026,
Edited by Katie Winkler. Mr. Liskow add, ed: “My story concerns a first-year
teacher who is caught between his rookie idealism and the reality of a student
living in an abusive home.” You can pick up a paperback copy on LuLu.
Back when I worked for a local school
district here in the Dallas area, I used to hear some real horror stories
regarding home life situations. What some kids go through is, literally, hell
on earth.
My good friend Barry Ergang has the
poem, Centerfold, in the latest edition of the online zine, Yellow Mama. SMFS
list members, Elizabeth Dearborn (Lived My Life Too Fast), Joan Leotta (Luck of
the Irish), and Bern Sy Moss (Bragging Rights) all have short stories in Yellow
Mama 115. You can read it for free here.
The latest issue of Black Cat
Weekly also came out. You can pick up Black Cat Weekly #241 here. You could also pick up a
monthly or annual subscription too.
This also means that Ellery Queen
Mystery Magazine: May/June 2026 is now out. SMFS list members DK Snyder
(Home), S.B. Watson (Closing the Case) have short stories in the issue. SMFS
list member Josh Pachter provided the translation of Herbert De Paepe’s short
story, The Defixio Murders (Passport to Crime). You can pick it up at the website or at
bookstores.
By the way, Art Taylor’s “The First Two
Pages” is currently running a feature highlighting several folks that are
featured in the Hot Shots anthology. Things started off with
“The
Touch of Death” by BV Lawson, followed by “Famous
Last Words” by Doug Allyn, with more stories highlighted in the weeks
ahead.
Also now out, if you like fantasy and
science fiction are the new issues of Analog and Asimov’s.
Until next time….
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
News: ShortCon
Some folks claim they have teleported to a Waffle House. While that would be cool, I would rather teleport there and back. This would be a very cool thing to do. Below is a recent message about it from Michael Bracken. You can also follow along at their Facebook page.
ShortCon, the Premier Conference for Writers of Short Crime Fiction, takes place Saturday, June 6, in Alexandria, VA. A one-day conference concentrating exclusively on the craft and business of short crime fiction, is limited to 50 attendees, and there are still a few openings available.
This
year's presenters include Gary Philips, Michele Slung, and Art Taylor. Stacy
Woodson will lead the end-of-day panel discussion, and I'll be there as the
host.
Learn
more and register at https://www.eastcoastcrime.com/#/
We
hope to see you there.
Michael
--
Michael
Bracken
Copywriting
• Creative Writing • Editorial Services
Mystery Fanfare: TAX DAY MYSTERIES // TAX DAY CRIME FICTION // ACCOUNTING FOR MURDER
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: More Hercule Poirot Short Stories
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: UP IN SMOKE
Short Story Wednesday Review: The Ehrengraf Fandango by Lawrence Block
From the archive….
The Ehrengraf Fandango is the twelfth short story
featuring the lawyer Martian H. Ehrengraf. He has a small room at his home
reserved for attorney-client meetings. The room is a bit reminiscent of such a
room at a police station as both the table and the chairs are bolted to the
floor. The surroundings lean towards the austere and Ehrengraf may or may not
be recording everything that goes on in the room. It is not exactly clear from
the start that he pushes the legal boundaries hard if not flat out obliterating
them. That talent comes in handy with his latest client, Cheryl Plumley, as the
story begins.
The
entire world knows she fired the gun that killed three people in a house on
Woodbridge Avenue. She has no memory of actually going into the home and
shooting Mary Beth and Richard Kuhldreyer as well as their neighbor, Patricia
Munk. While her only explanation other than sheer madness for the crime would
be satanic intervention, Ehrengraf has a much more down to earth explanation.
Not only does he know how he can help her with the case, he has a few other
ideas to help her and her future.
Along
with a touch here and there of subtle humor, The Ehrengraf Fandango by
Lawrence Block is a complicated multiple case mystery. The Plumley case is just
part of a much larger tale in this work. Martian H. Ehrengraf is a lawyer who
bends the law to suit himself and enjoys the fruit of his labors in the
process. He only defends innocent clients and he never loses a case. If you
need his services, it is always best to pay his free promptly and without
delay.
Also
present at the end of the book is the original introduction to the first
story, The Ehrengraf Defense, written by Edward D. Hoch for
the 1978 initial appearance in Ellery Queen’s mystery magazine. That is
followed by two different afterwards from the author, first in 1994 and then
2014. Those pieces by Hoch and author Lawrence Block provide intriguing details
about the dapper lawyer, the other eleven tales in the series, as well as
publishing in general.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4dGRDpM
Material
was picked up to read and review when the author made it free in January 2016.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2016, 2021, 2026
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