Lesa's Book Critiques: Captivated & Entranced by Nora Roberts
Saturday, November 14, 2026
KRL Update
Up on KRL this week reviews and giveaways of 2 more historical mysteries-"A Deadly Entanglement" by Cathy Pegau & "Death Down the Aisle" by Colleen Cambridge https://kingsriverlife.com/11/14/a-pair-of-historical-mysteries-by-cathy-pegau-colleen-cambridge/
And a review and giveaway of "Fighting Edge" by Margaret Mizushima https://kingsriverlife.com/11/14/fighting-edge-by-margaret-mizushima/
We also have a short story that is more action than mystery, written by John A. Tures https://kingsriverlife.com/11/14/short-story-alaska-hawaii-or-california/
Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and ebook giveaway of "Death of a Bad Penny" by A.M. Loweecey https://www.krlnews.com/2026/11/death-of-bad-penny-by-am-loweecey.html
And a review and giveaway of "Mancini Blue" by Maggie Toussaint https://www.krlnews.com/2026/11/mancini-blue-by-maggie-toussaint.html
And a review and giveaway of "A Field Guide to Death and Deceit" by Michelle Cullen https://www.krlnews.com/2026/11/a-field-guide-to-death-and-deceit-by.html
Happy reading,
Lorie
Jerry's House of Everything: TERRORS OF THE JUNGLE #4 (APRIL 1953)
Jerry's House of Everything: TERRORS OF THE JUNGLE #4 (APRIL 1953): Terrors of the Jungle was a pre-Code title from L. B. Cole's Star Publications, which ran from 1949-1955. There were twelve oddly numb...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Spin #46 for the Classics Club, November 2026
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Spin #46 for the Classics Club, November 2026: The latest Classics Club Spin has been announced. To join in, I choose twenty unread books from my classics list and list them in a post ...
Scott's Take: Truth To Power: A Luke Cage Crime Novel by S. A. Cosby
Truth To Power: A Luke Cage Crime
Novel
by S. A. Cosby is the third book in the Marvel Crime series. Each
one is primarily written as a standalone read that is loosely connected to the
other books.
In this one, Luke Cage takes a case
investigating thugs getting armed with cutting edge cybernetic enhancements. He
asks his cousin in Virginia to poke around at one of the manufacturing plants
since his cousin happens to work there as a security guard. Of course, this
leads to his cousin getting killed as the evil corporation runs the town and
the local law enforcement. So, Luke Cage is off to Virginia to figure out who
killed his cousin and stop what is happening.
So, Luke Cage basically is Reacher for
the whole novel. Cosby sticks to his usual script in the action packed read
that that deals with racism, small town politics, and corruption. There was one
scene where Luke Cage was in danger and the only option was for the author to
have the bad guys too stupid to finish him off right there.
Matt Murdock and Jessica Jones guest
star in this book, but only exist to provide important contextual information
over the phone. There is a running secondary plot point with Jessica Jones that
got annoying after a while because Luke Cage is written as super smart while
being kind of oblivious at the same time. She wants to have an important
conversation and every single time they are about to do so, the call gets interrupted.
I am not a fan of the trope of two characters need to have a conversation, but
keep getting interrupted. In this case, it gets to the level of being absurd
and could be used in a drinking game.
There is also an epilogue that is a
vague teaser for the future book. This
book does not require one to have read any of the previous books in the series.
I enjoyed it, but the fact that I have
read several of Cosby’s book in the past made the read far more predictable
than I would like. If one has read other works by Cosby, than one will notice
that the only actual difference here is the superhero aspect of things. this is not very different than any of his
others. It is not very original, but it is fun. I hope the author gets to do
another in the Luke Cage universe, but I also hope he does some things a bit
differently.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4jzG7ze
My dad got the digital ARC came from the
publisher, Hyperion Avenue, through NetGalley, so I got to read it on his
kindle after he read and reviewed it last month.
Scott A. Tipple ©2026
Friday, November 13, 2026
Pistol Jim Submission Theme: Mistaken Identity
As announced on Twitter. You have 1 week. 500 words or fewer. All the details at the link. Direct all questions to them.
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Sheet Cakes! More than 50 Exceptional Cakes to Make in One Pan by Zola Gregory
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Sheet Cakes! More than 50 Exceptional Cakes to Mak...: Reviewed by Jeanne As we all know, I don’t cook or bake. Part of the reason is clean-up, which seems to take longer than cooking and...
In Reference to Murder: Friday's "Forgotten" Books - A Dram of Poison
In Reference to Murder: Friday's "Forgotten" Books - A Dram of Poison: American author Charlotte Armstrong Lewi (1905-1969) wrote poetry, plays, short stories and 28 novels under the name Charlotte Armstrong and...
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: SIMPLICIUS SIMPLICISSIMUS
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: SIMPLICIUS SIMPLICISSIMUS: Simplicius Simplicissimus by Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen (1668; with many editions and translations) And now for something a...
Thursday, November 12, 2026
In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange
In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange: Crime Fiction Lover revealed the shortlists for its annual Crime Fiction Awards, "a special celebration at the end of the year that h...
In Reference to Murder: Best Swedish Crime Novels of 2026
In Reference to Murder: Best Swedish Crime Novels of 2026: The Swedish Crime Academy announced the best crime novels in three categories: Best Crime Novel of the Year for Swedish Translation, Best C...
Beneath the Stains of Time: Like a Thief in the Night: "The Diamond Pentacle" (1939) by Carter Dickson
Beneath the Stains of Time: Like a Thief in the Night: "The Diamond Pentacle" ...: John Dickson Carr 's "The Diamond Pentacle," published as by " Carter Dickson ," originally appeared in The Times o...
Thursday Treats 11/12/2026
Some reading opportunities of interest this week. Things are a little light as publishing tends to be feast or famine.
SMFS list member Armand Rosamilia announced that his short story, In
And Out, had been published at Umbra Magazine. You can read the flash fiction
piece, for free, here.
Unloaded: Volume 3 is now available for preorder at Amazon in advance of the November 17th publication date. Published by Level Short, the 21 tales share the common thread of no guns involved. SMFS list members James L'Etoile (Till Death Do Us Part), Terry Shames (Bring It), and Gabriel Valjan (Locks Changed) are just some of the well known names in the read.
A reminder that Santa Rage II: Another Killer Claus Compendium, is on the way and available for preorder. In alphabetical order the authors in the read are: John T. Aquino (The Bad Side of Santa Claus), Madison Blackwell (The Contract), Ron Clyburn (Jingle Bell Justice), Michael Ferreter (Get What You Need), John M. Floyd (Up On The Roof), Tom Haftmann (Christmas Week at the North Pole), Geoff Holder (All l Want For Christmas Is An Ass Tattoo), April Kelly (The Devil's In The Details), Beverle Graves Myers (Slay Ride), Pat Remick (The Throuple Claus(e)), Kevin R. Tipple (Second Contact), and Christine Verstraete with “Nick's Secrets.”
I am no fan of editors who shove their own
story into a project just because they can. The late Sandra Murphy pushed me very
hard to write a story for this read and wanted to see my character return in a
new tale. After she read it, she told me that no matter what, my story was in
the planned second volume. So, after a lot of thought, and discussion with Jay
and other folks, I decided to include my short story, Second Contact, in the read to honor Sandra.
If you like eBooks, Jay Hartman set up a
great deal at DriveThru Fiction where you can get both volumes for the low
price of $5.00. Learn more at https://www.drivethrufiction.com/en/product/592630/the-santa-rage-bundle-bundle?affiliate_id=4074688
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 Kindle+, the read can be
purchased now on Amazon.
Until next time…
Kevin R.
Tipple ©2026
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Mystery Fanfare: VETERANS DAY CRIME FICTION
Mystery Fanfare: VETERANS DAY CRIME FICTION: Veterans Day, November 11, was originally known as Armistice Day ( also known as Remembrance Day ). Veterans Day commemorate...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Golden Age Detective Stories, edited by Otto Penzler
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Golden Age Detective Storie...: I sampled four stories from this anthology, which is part of the American Mystery Classics series published by Penzler Publications. Each...
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: WAXWORKS
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: WAXWORKS: "Waxworks" by Ethel Lina White (first published in Pearson's Magazine , December 1930; reprinted in Australian Woman's W...
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Mystery Fanfare: MURDER IN WARTIME: Veterans Day
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SleuthSayers: BAMS BSP
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Jerry's House of Everything: OVERLOOKED FILM: THE UNEXPECTED MRS. POLLIFAX (1999)
Jerry's House of Everything: OVERLOOKED FILM: THE UNEXPECTED MRS. POLLIFAX (1999): Emily Pollifax, widow and senior citizen, decides to leave her comfortable and predictable life and joins the CIA. Through a misunderstand...
Publication Day Review: The Taken Ones: A J.P Beaumont Novel by J. A. Jance
The Taken Ones: A J.P Beaumont Novel by J.A. Jance features a large
cast of characters, a horrible multistate missing person case, and a slow-moving
tale of greed and deceit. One also wonders if this is the last one in the
series. If so, it ends well.
It
is late May 2025 as the book opens with J.P. Beaumont and his family in
Bellingham, Washington. His wife, Melissa Socmes, has just retired from being
chief of police for the city of Bellingham. His grandson, Kyle Cartwright, was
one of the rookies sworn in by the police chief yesterday shortly before her
duties ended. The public side of things is over. Today is for a private party
that is part family reunion and part retirement celebration. Everything is to
be kept from Mel and Kyle and J.P. might have pulled it off. After the party,
Mel and J.P. will head out to Calgary, Cananda, on a vacation trip.
At
the same time, a friend that J.P. met awhile back while working a case in
Alaska, has a lot going on in her life as well. Twinkle Winkleman is at home,
running her auto repair business, taking care of her grandson and more. A long-time
client, Art Holt, comes to see her.
He
does not need a mechanic; he needs an investigator and help. His granddaughter,
Regina, has gone missing. Everybody
calls her Gina. A brilliant student, she is in college, and went to Seattle
where she is supposed to have an internship. It’s been several days since she
allegedly arrived at the airport in Seattle and subsequently vanished. The
police have been zero help. Because of what Twinkle was able accomplish when
she went through something similar a few years back, Art Holt has come to see
her to seek her advice on what to do next.
She
has some ideas. After promising Art she will help before sending him on his
way, she reaches out to J.P. Beaumont, former detective and current private
investigator, and ask him to help.
He
does and reaches out for help through his contacts. Beaumont still has contacts
and through those contacts he is able to get the ball rolling on the case. What
gradually evolves is a tale of multiple brilliant young women being taken for
some unknown purpose. The cases are spaced out and occurring all over the
country. So local law enforcement has no idea that their solitary case is part
of a nationwide network of cases. Until J.P. and his wife, Mel, start putting
pieces together.
The Taken Ones: A J.P Beaumont Novel by J.A. Jance is a complicated
tale full of a large cast of characters, each with their own point of view.
Those points of view shift with each chapter as pieces of the tale are related
to the reader by the investigators, the captive women, and others. That and all
the exposition and backstory of several characters, makes for a very slow
moving read for nearly two thirds of this book. The last third is a rocket trip
to a finish and a satisfying conclusion.
While
not one of the best reads in this long running series, the overall read is enjoyable if you stick with it. It also ends
well and provides a nice cap to the series if this is the final book.
Amazon
Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4dVYACo
My
digital ARC was provided by the publisher, William Morrow, through NetGalley,
with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin
R. Tipple ©2026
Monday, November 09, 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 Oscar winne...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Fetal Position by Carolyn Huynh (Advance Review)
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Fetal Position by Carolyn Huynh (Advance Review): Fetal Position by Carolyn Huynh (publication date 12-1-26) Reviewed by Kristin Imagine if in just a few generations the global birth ...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: My Books from the 2026 Book Sale
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Jerry's House of Everything: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARY TRAVERS!
Jerry's House of Everything: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARY TRAVERS!: I am a child of the Sixties. Little wonder that my idols are those show compassion, kindness, empathy, and common sense. Mary Travers (193...
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: The Taken Ones: A J.P. Beaumont Novel by J. A. Jance
The prolific
Judy Jance, who has four distinct crime fiction series to her credit, started
with a book about Seattle homicide detective J. P. Beaumont in 1985. The 27th
case of the retired detective turned private investigator is due to be released
on 10 November 2026.
In The
Taken Ones (Morrow, 2026) Beau’s network of former colleagues and
associates gets a workout in this story of disappearing women kidnapped from
various parts of the United States. The police do not take the missing persons
reports from their families seriously, since all of them are responsible adults
and there were no indications of violence. Beau is first contacted by a grandmother
who is also an excellent vehicle mechanic in Alaska who had helped Beau when he
was in the area on a missing person case years earlier. She had known Gina
Holt, the granddaughter of close friends, since she was a child. The news that
Gina had disappeared after traveling to Seattle for a summer internship at a
prestigious architectural engineering firm stunned her. Then she thought to
call Beau for help. On vacation in Calgary, Beau can still make a few phone
calls to Seattle to jumpstart a search and to find someone in law enforcement
to take the grandparents’ concerns seriously. He learns that the airport camera
footage showed the young woman in the terminal after landing. What happened
after that required more work to discover.
A
knowledgeable IT friend sorted the thousands of missing persons reports filed
across the nation, identifying all of the victims who were about Gina’s age.
More filtering winnowed out a group of young women who disappeared in much the
same way as Gina, giving Beau and his active law enforcement buddies the
distinct impression some sort of mass kidnapping or trafficking ring was at
work.
The revolving
changes in narrative perspective from Beau to the kidnapped young women to one
of the kidnappers to the Alaska vehicle mechanic who first alerted Beau and
back again is a little distracting but the various points of view help fill in
the background leading up to the kidnappings. A fast-moving story with a
satisfying ending. A good addition to the series.
·
Publisher: William Morrow
·
Publication date: November 10, 2026
·
Language: English
·
Print length: 368 pages
·
ISBN-10: 0063413124
·
ISBN-13: 978-0063413122
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://link.amazon/B08DcObvH
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2026
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal
It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
Sunday, November 08, 2026
Little Big Crimes: How to Find a Lost Dog in the Woods, by Steve Hamilton
Little Big Crimes: How to Find a Lost Dog in the Woods, by Steve Hami...: "How to Find a Lost Dog in the Woods," by Steve Hamilton, in The Strand Magazine, Issue 77, 2026. The magazine says this is Issu...
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: A Cornucopia of Great Reads from the Short Mystery Fiction Society
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Beneath the Stains of Time: The Double Death of Frédéric Belot (1932) by Claude Aveline
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Double Death of Frédéric Belot (1932) by Claud...: Evgen Avstine was a French editor, poet, publisher and writer born to Russian-Jewish parents who wrote everything from non-fiction, poetry, ...
Deadline Extension: Hookers and Handguns: Crime Fiction Solved by Strippers, Streetwalkers and Other People of the Night
After a thorough review of all submissions, the
submission period for Hookers and Handguns: Crime Fiction Solved by
Strippers, Streetwalkers and Other People of the Night has been
reopened. The new submission window deadline is 12/31/2026. The submission call
at the website link below will be updated as soon as possible to reflect the
new date. This is being done in order to, hopefully, be able to publish this
anthology next year. To do that, there must be enough submissions that meet
expectations.
Reminder….
Short stories should be between 3-5K though slightly
longer would be considered.
Short stories submitted must have a beginning, middle,
and end.
The sex worker(s) in the tale must be portrayed in a
positive light. As expressly noted in the guidelines: “No strung out meth
addicts, alcoholics, etc.”
There must be at least one sex worker in the tale and
his or her job must be a vital aspect of the short story.
Any sex act in the tale should not be described in
graphic detail. Erotica, within limits, is one thing, but X-Rated type stuff
will not be accepted for publication.
For the complete guidelines, please read the posting
at https://www.mistimedia.com/hah/
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