Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Jerry's House of Everything: UNDERAPPRECIATED STINKER: CLASS OF NUKE 'EM HIGH (1986)
Jerry's House of Everything: UNDERAPPRECIATED STINKER: CLASS OF NUKE 'EM HIGH (...: Troma Entertainment has been scraping the bottom of the B-movie barrel for 52 years and is now known mainly for its horror comedies, full of...
Mystery Fanfare: Mystery Readers Journal: Cross-Genre Mysteries
Mystery Fanfare: Mystery Readers Journal: Cross-Genre Mysteries: Mystery Readers Journal: Cross-Genre Mysteries (42:3) is now available. Thanks to all the authors, reviewers, and columnists who contribute...
Mystery Fanfare: HALLOWEEN CRIME FICTION // HALLOWEEN MYSTERIES
Mystery Fanfare: HALLOWEEN CRIME FICTION // HALLOWEEN MYSTERIES: Happy Halloween! Halloween so lends itself to crime fiction ! Here's my updated List of Halloween Mysteries (mysteries that take plac...
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 38 Writing Contests in November 2026 - No entry fees!
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 38 Writing Contests in November 2026 - No entry fees!: This November there are more than three dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes ra...
SleuthSayers: File Purging
SleuthSayers: File Purging: Many members of the crime fiction writing community spent this past weekend at Bouchercon in Calgary. I spent it cleaning out my files. The ...
Publication Day Review: The Hollow: A Bosch Novel by Michael Connelly
As The Hollow: A Bosch Novel
by Michael Connelly begins, retired LAPD Detective Harry Bosch is at a
cemetery. Having undergone a recent knee replacement, he can’t chase anyone,
and is using a cane for support. He doesn’t plan on chasing anyone today though
he is definitely going to confront Gregory Talbot.
He knows without a shadow of a doubt
that Talbot killed his wife years ago. It has been 25 years since he did it and
got away with it. Jenifer was found beaten to death in her apartment where she
had recently moved. The scene appeared to be of an intruder that had waited for
her to come home from work and then killed her. Bosch knows that the scene was
staged and that the husband did it.
Back in the day, Bosch was very close to
breaking Talbot. They verbally fenced in the interrogation room for a couple of
hours and then Talbot asked for a lawyer and that was that.
He still wants justice for Jennifer. Good
thing he has the help of LAPD Detective Renee Ballard and her volunteer cold
case team.
That isn’t the only long dormant case
Bosch is working and seeking justice. Decades ago, after the murder of his
mother, Bosch was in the foster system. He spent a lot of time MacLaren
Children’s Center (MacLaren Hall). Allegedly a safe place for youth in the
foster system in Los Angeles, it was a very bad place.
In a way, Bosch was one of the lucky ones.
He was only physically abused. He was never sexually assaulted. He survived the
horrible place. His friend, Charlie Edward Lamb, known to all as “Chops,” did
not.
Bosch is convinced that Chops was
murdered back in 1965. There was a place, under the stairs, that was referred
to as “the hollow.” Bosch is sure Chops was killed in that space. Now that the
lawsuit has been settled with the county, and finds will be released to the
survivors, the legal case is over. Now, through his lawyer brother, Mickey
Haller, Bosch can finally see all of the discovery materials related to the
case. That includes internal reports of what happened to Chops and other kids
at the facility.
Those records give him a thread to begin
digging into the past. That digging will also bring him into a world of
problems.
The result is a complicated and very enjoyable
read. We learn quite a bit more, through flashback scenes of his memories of his
time at MacLaren Children’s Center (MacLaren Hall), how Bosch came to be who he
is now. While it would be best to read this series in order, one could safely
read The Hollow: A Bosch Novel first as references to other reads
are fairly minimal.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4xEuMRQ
I received a digital ARC, at my request,
of the book from the publisher, Little, Brown and Company, through NetGalley,
with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Monday, October 26, 2026
Little Big Crimes: Louie the Mailman, by Jim Fusilli
Little Big Crimes: Louie the Mailman, by Jim Fusilli: "Louie the Mailman," by Jim Fusilli, in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, November/December 2026. This marks Fusilli's...
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 22 Notable Writing Conferences and Workshops in November 2026
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 22 Notable Writing Conferences and Workshops in No...: This November there are more than a dozen writing conferences and workshops. Some conferences and workshops will be held online, but most wi...
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 Patrick Sch...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Hidden Haunts: A Creepy Collection of Forgotten Ghostly Places by Conner Gossel, illustrations by Natalie Dean
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Hidden Haunts: A Creepy Collection of Forgotten Gh...: Reviewed by Jeanne With an interest in both history and ghosts, Conner Gossel combined his interests to create “The Haunted Historian,” wh...
Jerry's House of Everything: INCOMING...AND A POEM
Jerry's House of Everything: INCOMING...AND A POEM: Incoming: Yesterday, Open Books, the best used book store in Pensacola, held its annual Fall Book Sale, with thousands of books priced at on...
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Midnight in the House of Commons: A Charles Lenox Mystery by Charles Finch
I was lucky
enough to receive an early copy of the newest book in one of my favorite series
via NetGalley. Charles Finch writes a wonderful historical series set in
Victorian London, nicely balancing credible characters with a clear portrayal
of a transitional time in English history. Midnight in the House of Commons,
the 16th case of Charles Lenox, a member of the aristocracy turned
amateur sleuth who now owns a detective agency, is set for release by Minotaur
in a couple of weeks on 3 November 2026. I am happy to report it is up to the
standard of its predecessors, maybe even a little better.
Charles
juggles multiple cases, including a shocking murder in the House of Commons,
where a womanizing conservative MP is found poisoned. The death has
far-reaching political consequences, as a hard-fought bill for relief of the
poor is tied in the House. With the loss of the dead member’s vote, the bill
will pass. One of the members known to favor the bill could not confirm an
alibi and is charged with the murder, even though a number of people had cause
to object to the victim’s personal life.
In addition,
Sari, one of the new members of the Lenox household introduced in the last
book, has incurred a romantic disappointment. The man she hoped to marry has
older relatives who object to her dark skin and she is devastated. Angela, on
the other hand, Lenox’s cousin and ward, is blooming happily with an
appropriate engagement and her study of government economics. The visitor to
the Lenox menage in this book is a cousin on Jane’s side of the family, an odd
young man whom the Lenox daughters tease unmercifully. And Lenox is approached
by another young lady whose fiancé has disappeared with no explanation, and
Lenox searches for him while he tries to sort out Sari’s romance.
The English
social structure is examined closely here, how various placements on the
invisible ladder affect life in particular for women, most clearly demonstrated
by the two young ladies who were not considered good enough for their
prospective husbands. The hotly contested bill for poor relief is a window into
the wide gap between the wealthy and the destitute, highlighted by the novels
of Charles Dickens. Then there is Laura Runcible, a newly wed matron with great
social ambitions, anxious to capture the Lenox couple as guests in her home, as
their status would enhance her own.
All in all,
this is a lively story with multiple plot threads and a considerable number of
characters. Followers of the series will enjoy it immensely. Readers new to the
Lenox saga will find enough back story to understand the narrative but will
miss the finer detail that has built up over the course of 16 books. An
excellent addition to a reliably good mystery series.
·
Publisher: Minotaur Books
·
Publication date: November 3, 2026
·
Language: English
·
Print length: 272 pages
·
ISBN-10: 1250433940
·
ISBN-13: 978-1250433947
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://link.amazon/B0b6DFvyu
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2026
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
Sunday, October 25, 2026
SleuthSayers: Publishing Malpractice
SleuthSayers: Publishing Malpractice: I've written here before about the murder mystery book club I joined a little over a year ago at my local independent bookstore. They te...
Beneath the Stains of Time: Crime in May (1946) by Marten van Alland
Beneath the Stains of Time: Crime in May (1946) by Marten van Alland: Back in July, I reviewed a long out-of-print, practically forgotten Dutch mystery novel, De dood kwam door de sneeuw ( Death Came Through t...
Saturday, October 24, 2026
KRL Update
Up on KRL this week perfect for Halloween season, a review of "The Ghost and the Dead Librarian" by Cleo Coyle, along with an amazing giveaway and a fun guest post from Cleo about ghosts. Note for this giveaway you can only enter via comment not email https://kingsriverlife.com/10/24/the-ghost-and-the-dead-librarian-by-cleo-coyle/
And a review and giveaway of the latest Halloween Bookshop Mystery by Emmeline Duncan, "Hysteria at the Historical Society" https://kingsriverlife.com/10/24/hysteria-at-the-historical-society-by-emmeline-duncan/
And a review and giveaway of "The Year of the Goat" by Lila Blake, along with an interesting interview with Lila https://kingsriverlife.com/10/24/the-year-of-the-goat-by-lila-blake/
We also have the latest Queer Mystery Coming Attractions from Matt Lubbers-Moore https://kingsriverlife.com/10/24/queer-mystery-coming-attractions-mysteries-and-the-cozy-magic-of-fall/
Up during the week we have another special midweek guest post, this one by horror author Elliott Dunstan taking a look at gothic horror and talking about their new book "Grotesque" https://kingsriverlife.com/10/21/a-look-at-gothic-horror/
Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and ebook giveaway of "Death By Mail" by Abigail Keam https://www.krlnews.com/2026/10/death-by-mail-by-abigail-keam.html
And a review and giveaway of "Hail Mary" by Elizabeth Urso https://www.krlnews.com/2026/10/hail-mary-by-elizabeth-urso.html
Happy reading,
Lorie
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Seasonal Favorites: King, Kingfisher, Bradbury, Schwartz
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Seasonal Favorites: King, Kingfisher, Bradbury, Sc...: Cell by Stephen King: I found this book to be a great take on the classic "zombie" trope, portraying a post-epidemic world broug...
Jerry's House of Everything: FANTASTIC FOUR #1 (NOVEMBER 1961)
Jerry's House of Everything: FANTASTIC FOUR #1 (NOVEMBER 1961): Let's hop back in time 65 years (has it really been that long?) and meet a new comic book superhero group -- The Fantastic Four -- Reed,...
Scott's Take: Time to Play by Erin Ampersand (Book 1 of the Apocalypse Parenting series)
Time to Play by Erin
Ampersand is the first book in the Apocalypse Parenting series. Meghan and her three kids are enjoying a
typical day when aliens use some sort of technology to render most electronics
and combustible materials useless. So, no cars, no internet, no cell phones, no
firearms, etc. The aliens declare that all surviving humans will be forced to
fight for their lives against monsters for alien entertainment. The kids will
be forced to fight as well.
To accomplish this each person is given
an ability is given a power. The youngest, Cassie, accidently turns her stuffed
turtle into an alien AI. The boys go with magical powers. Meghan is going to be forced to solo parent
this apocalypse until her husband can make it back from Colorado. He was away
on business when the aliens launched their take over. So, its mom and kids vs
monsters while trying to rebuild the community of survivors and while hoping
dad is alive and coming home.
This is action packed family drama is a
LITRpg is recommend by the author who writes Dungeon Crawler Carl series.
According to the acknowledgement pages, he played some role in getting this
book published. This read was humorous while being darker than I expected.
There are deaths of children, seniors, and more. This is a violent and
dangerous apocalypse
Additionally, one of the support
characters is named Scott. He is a guy training dogs to identify hostile mimics
in the environment. Mimics are shapeshifters that can disguise themselves. So,
points for naming a character Scott.
Apparently, there are five books in the
series all of which are available through Kindle Unlimited. I got my copy in eBook
form from the library system. There is a spinoff, Engineer's Odyssey: An LitRPG Adventure in the
Apocalypse Parenting Universe, which is about the dad trying to get
home to his family. The spinoff is available through Hoopla. The spin off takes
place sometime from book one until book four or so of the main series.
The second book in the main series is titled
Making Friends. Meghan is
continuing to try to survive while taking care of her kids. One son is now a wizard, one son has turned
himself into a monkey, and the daughter keeps getting new magical alien friends.
Sounds like Mom has her work cut out for her.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4xGAD9i
I read this book through the Libby/Overdrive
app by way of the Dallas Public Library System.
Scott A. Tipple ©2026
Friday, October 23, 2026
Mystery Fanfare: 2026 Barry Award Winners: Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine
Mystery Fanfare: 2026 Barry Award Winners: Deadly Pleasures Mystery...: The 2026 Barry Award Winners The Barry Awards are nominated by Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine . Congratulations to all. The winners of t...
In Reference to Murder: Friday's "Forgotten" Books - Bouchercon Revisited Edition
In Reference to Murder: Friday's "Forgotten" Books - Bouchercon Revisited ...: In honor of the current Bouchercon mystery conference, instead of choosing just one "forgotten" book as usual this week, I thought...
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: THE ICE-COLD NUDE
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: THE ICE-COLD NUDE: The Ice-Cold Nude by Carter Brown, 1962 Now let us sing the praises of Alan Geoffrey Yates (1923-1985), the English-born Australian author ...
In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange
In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange: On October 31, the Cardiff Library in Cardiff Wales is hosting "Conversations in Crime," a day of panel discussions and workshops ...
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Jerry's House of Everything: DUFFY'S TAVERN: ARCHIE PROPOSES TO MARIE "THE BODY" McDONALD (APRIL 6, 1945)
Jerry's House of Everything: DUFFY'S TAVERN: ARCHIE PROPOSES TO MARIE "THE BODY...: Duffy's Tavern , where the elite meet to eat, ran from March 1, 1941 to December 28, 1951 on several radio networks (CBS, 1941-41; NBC B...
Thursday Treats: 10/22/2026
Some reading opportunities of interest this week.
Personal Note: My understanding is that
when it becomes Black Cat Mysteries next month and relaunches as a monthly release, a subscription will
be $60 bucks a year. As folks are well aware, as I have made no secret of it,
things are very bad here so I will not be a subscriber. I hope the new venture
works, but this reader has been priced out. And that should not be taken as a
criticism of what they are doing. If anything, it is yet another indictment of
my failure in life.
Author Maryann Miller announced on Twitter
that her new book, Second Chances And Other Stories, is now available
for preorder. Published by MCM Enterprises, the read is about characters experiencing
life in many different ways. Scheduled to be published on November 24rth, when
it will also be available on KindleUnlimited, the read can be purchased now on Amazon.
Released last week is the new anthology, Songs
to Woody. Published by Cowboy Jamboree
Press,
the read includes short stories by SMFS list members Zakariah Johnson (Oklahoma
Hills) and Stephen M. Pierce (This Machine Kills Itself). You can pick it up at
Amazon.
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Speaking of SMFS, The Short Mystery
Fiction Society, I remind you of other reads by our members as recently compiled
and posted by SMFS President Joseph S. Walker. In his October 7th
post titled, A Plethora of Pulse-Pounding Pages as the Short Mystery Fiction
Society Enters a New Age!, Mr. Walker details numerous reads and includes the
launch of the first issue of the new SMFS Mystery Magazine. All the
details are in his post
on the SMFS blog.
Coming in November from Murderous Ink Press is the anthology,
Crimeucopia - Objection! Overruled!! SMFS list members in the
read are John M. Floyd (Nothing but the Truth), and Wil A. Emerson (Three
Strikes—You’re Out). The read is available for preorder at Amazon and other
vendors.
A reminder that Tollund Man: Stories
by SMFS list member Jeff Esterholm is now out. Published
by Cornerstone Press, you can get it at Amazon.
Finally, at the end of the month, A
Fatal Affair: The Murder of Helen Grier by Amanda Capper and Judy Penz Sheluk will be released
by Superior Shores
Press.
This is a true crime read on the case of the death of Helen Grier. Was it
murder or something else? You can get it in eBook and print formats at Amazon and other
vendors.
Until next time….
Kevin R.
Tipple ©2026
Picture taken earlier this week. Vote. It matters.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
SleuthSayers: Advice for Writers Events
SleuthSayers: Advice for Writers Events: Recently our own Joseph Walker posed an interesting question on the Short Mystery Fiction Society list: In a few weeks I'm going to hav...
Beneath the Stains of Time: First Contact: Q.E.D. iff vol. 5-6 by Motohiro Katou
Beneath the Stains of Time: First Contact: Q.E.D. iff vol. 5-6 by Motohiro Katou: The simply titled story "Even" opens Motohiro Katou 's Q.E.D. iff vol. 5 and begins when Ashikaga Ren, a second-year universi...
Jerry's House of Everything: A SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY TWOFER, PART 2: THE HOAXTERS
Jerry's House of Everything: A SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY TWOFER, PART 2: THE HOAXTERS: "The Hoaxters" by Richard Wilson (from Galaxy Science Fiction , June 1952; reprinted in the collection Those Idiots from Earth , 1...
Jerry's House of Everything: A SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY TWOFER, PART 1 : THE SERPENT
Jerry's House of Everything: A SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY TWOFER, PART 1 : THE SERPENT: THE SERPENT THE SERPENT Three boys were playing together in a field; and as they played, one passing by called to them: "Beware! ...
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