Monday, March 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   Jason Cla...

Little Big Crimes: Dear Mr. Townsend, by E.A. Aymar

Little Big Crimes: Dear Mr. Townsend, by E.A. Aymar:    "Dear Mr. Townsend," by E.A. Aymar, in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, January/February 2026.  This is the second appeara...

Kathleen Marple Kalb: Building a Presence

 Kathleen Marple Kalb: Building a Presence

Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: The Poet’s Game: A Spy in Moscow by Paul Vidich

  

Paul Vidich was an executive in the entertainment industry, specifically in music and media at Time Warner, AOL, and Warner Music Group, where he was Executive Vice President in charge of global digital strategy. He presently serves as an independent board director, investor, and advisor to internet media companies in video and music. He also works on the boards of directors of Poets and Writers, The New School for Social Research, and the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation. He is the author of several well-regarded novels.

The Poet’s Game: A Spy in Moscow (Pegasus, 2025) is his seventh spy thriller, conjuring up memories of John LeCarre and his books about Cold War espionage. CrimeReads called it a Top Five Espionage Novel of the Year and The Financial Times listed it among the Best Thrillers of 2025.

Alex Matthews was the Moscow Station chief at the CIA for years. With the change in administrations came a change in agency priorities, and Alex did not hold back his criticism of the alterations. His dissatisfaction with the new agency direction in addition to dramatic changes in his personal life led to a timely retirement that seemed mutually beneficial. Matthews turned his knowledge of Russia into investments in the Russian economy and created a thriving financial business. He still spent a good bit of time in Russia, putting pressure on his marriage and his relationship with his teenage son.

Because he could travel freely to and within Russia, the CIA director asked him to meet one of Matthews’ former agents to collect information the agent said was critical to the protection of the sitting U.S. president. Matthews wanted to say no but the CIA could throw roadblocks into his dealings with Russia and he agreed to this one last job as he made arrangements to sell his Russian business and wrap up his life there.

Nothing about the job is as simple as he was told it would be. Fortunately he didn’t expect it but the degree of scrutiny he received from multiple levels of Russian authority told him matters were more complicated than he understood.

Layers upon layers of duplicity and double-dealing, some expected as merely part of the job, but others were surprises; one betrayal rocked Matthews to his core. The long-term impact of living a double life in an authoritarian regime meant every agent never knew entirely who could be trusted. A truly prepared agent had an exit strategy that could be exercised at any time. This is a paranoia-laden story of Cold War espionage filled with the unexpected right through to the end. 

 

 

  • Publisher: Pegasus Crime
  • Publication date: May 6, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 336 pages
  • ISBN-10: 163936885X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1639368853

 

 

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3OOZiI9 

 

 

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 08, 2026

Lesa's Book Critiques: Bookish by Lucy Mangan

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Bookish by Lucy Mangan

ButtonDown.Com: Dark & Twisted: Dead Flowers by Duane Swierczynski & Andrea Mutti - quick take

 ButtonDown.Com: Dark & Twisted: Dead Flowers by Duane Swierczynski & Andrea Mutti - quick take

The Rap Sheet: Sometimes Only a Wrap-up Will Do

 The Rap Sheet: Sometimes Only a Wrap-up Will Do

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Six Degrees of Separation: from Wuthering Heights to Dancing in the Dark

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Six Degrees of Separation: from Wuthering Heights ...: The Six Degrees of Separation meme is hosted by Kate at booksaremyfavoriteandbest . The idea behind the meme is to start with a book and us...

A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: Author Interview: 10 Questions With Caroline

A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: Author Interview: 10 Questions With Caroline:  Introduction: Welcome to Our Little Chat  Today I’m doing something a little different on the blog—answering ten of the questions readers a...

Joan Leotta Reviews: Death Times Seven: A Daniel Pitt Novel by Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim

  

Death Times Seven: A Daniel Pitt Novel (Book 7 of 7 in the series)

by Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim 

Publication Date: Apr 14, 2026

Available in Kindle, HB, ($30) and Paper

ISBN#: 978-0593982518

Published by Ballantine Books

Pages: 288 in HB

 

Review by Joan Leotta

 

Imagine that you’ve been out of touch with an old friend for a while and then, unexpectedly, you meet again. That’s how I felt about reading the newest Daniel Pitt mystery from the pen of the late great Anne Perry. I’m a hardcore Perry fan—all of her series. Several of the lines ran their course naturally, but the Daniel Pitt series and the Elena Standish series have young protagonists, so it was harder to say good-by to them when news of Perry’s death was published.

 

However, it seems that before her death she entrusted Daniel and his wife Miriam and the other regulars of this series which follows the young lawyer and wife in their quest for justice for individuals and for society as a whole, in the early twentieth century. By allowing Victoria Zackheim, a close friend as well as an editor to finish this book she has given us a gift from beyond the grave, a legacy of words.

 

Death Times Seven takes place in 1913 England. Daniel is asked to take over (mid -trial) for a more senior person in the law firm, fellow attorney, Toby Kitteridge, who had to leave London upon learning of the sudden brutal attack on his parents in their parsonage—mother dead, accused father.

 

Miriam Ifford Croft (Daniel’s wife), of course, as always, has much to offer, helping Daniel to defend the hapless Peter Ward, the client, whose innocence it seems was only believed by Kitteridge and then herself and Daniel. As the two cases develop, we are given entry to the courts as the trial proceeds as well as to the workings of forensic pathology in that era. New evidence surfaces. We are also party to the mystery in the countryside where Toby is valiantly trying to help his father recover and clear the cleric’s name. Daniel travels out to the countryside to help his friend. It’s a satisfying dual mystery, well plotted, character driven, and full of excitement.

 

I’m often wary of these posthumous additions to a series. But this one is a true gem. Zackheim has seamlessly woven whatever part of the story she was to finish.

 

How did she do it? From a reader’s standpoint, plot and structure are well done. But what brands this book as a piece true to Perry is the way the characters are handled, particularly young Daniel. As I was reading the book, reserving judgment as I traversed the paragraphs, I was confronted with a scene that made me realize the depth of Zackheim’s commitment to the sharing the character of Daniel as Perry had oft portrayed him---she sets a scene where Daniel cuts off a thick slice of bread and slathers it with butter (jam in another place) and eats it as much as for its comfort as for its value as sustenance.

 

This gesture, one that defines Daniel as a man who enjoys the simple things, is typical of Perry and the particular gesture is one that reminds us of Daniel’s youth and even harks back to the time when we knew him as a boy in the William and Charlotte Pitt (his parents) series. I could not stop reading it. Stayed up all night, not wanting to miss any part of it. Will likely read it a second time for the shear enjoyment of the language and to say goodbye once more to these characters. I suppose ending with the seventh is a series is fitting since seven is considered one of the perfect numbers, but I would certainly not be averse to reading number eight, even if wholly penned by Zackheim.

 

But if this is the end, the last new novel by Perry to read, it is certainly a fitting tribute to her talent and her love of the characters she has created and we, her loyal readers, have come to know and love.


My electronic copy came from a reading service. I’m already on the wait list at my local library; I’d like to hold the hardback in my hand to read. Definitely one of my top three books so far this year.

 


Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4bbv3Cw

 

  

Joan Leotta ©2026 

Joan Leotta plays with words on page and stage. Her poetry, essays, cnf, short stories, and articles are widely published. Mysteries are favorite things to read.. short and long.. and to write.

Saturday, March 07, 2026

Lesa's Book Critiques: The Blood Promise by Mark Pryor

 Lesa's Book Critiques: The Blood Promise by Mark Pryor

Mystery Fanfare: DEATH IN PARADISE, SEASON 15 release date

Mystery Fanfare: DEATH IN PARADISE, SEASON 15 release date: Death in Paradise, Season 15,  will be released in the US March 24, 2026, on BritBox . The new season already began in the UK on BBC One. Re...

KRL Update

Up on KRL this week the latest Mystery Coming Attractions from Victoria Fair https://kingsriverlife.com/03/07/mystery-current-coming-attractions-march-2026/

And a review and ebook giveaway of "Buried in the Sand" by J.C. Kenney https://kingsriverlife.com/03/07/buried-in-the-sand-by-j-c-kenney/

And a review and giveaway of "The Case of the Murdered Muckraker" by Rob Osler https://kingsriverlife.com/03/07/the-case-of-the-murdered-muckraker-by-rob-osler/

For those who enjoy fantasy with their mystery, up on KRL this week a review and giveaway of "Twelve Months" by Jim Butcher https://kingsriverlife.com/03/07/twelve-months-by-jim-butcher/

Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and ebook giveaway of "Embroidered Lies and Alibis" by Lois Winston https://www.krlnews.com/2026/03/embroidered-lies-and-alibis-by-lois.html

Happy Reading,
Lorie

--
Kings River Life Magazine https://KingsRiverLife.com
KRL News & Reviews https://www.krlnews.com/
Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast https://mysteryratsmaze.podbean.com/

Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of March 8, 2026

 Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of March 8, 2026

SleuthSayers: At Ease with These Apostrophes

SleuthSayers: At Ease with These Apostrophes: The following is a modified version of a post I made at the Criminal Brief mystery blog almost twenty years ago, griping about the improper ...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Central Appalachians: Mountains of the Chesapeake by Mark Hendricks

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Central Appalachians: Mountains of the Chesap...:   Reviewed by Jeanne I picked this book up because the Bristol Public Library has started a photography club and I was interested in see...

Scott's Take: The Flesh King: The Discreet Eliminators Series by Richard Kadrey

 

The Flesh King by Richard Kadrey is the second novella in The Discreet Eliminators series that began with The Pale House Devil. I had thought I had reviewed that one, but neither I nor dad can find any trace of it here on the blog.

 

The trio of hit people are now in New York City and living in a former police station. The local mob want them to go after a serial killer called the Flesh King. This killer is absorbing the flesh of people and leaving what’s left behind in a mess. Of course, this is getting the attention of the police who have no idea what they are actually dealing with. The local mob wants them to cap this freak and then they will talk about hiring them for actually paying work. So, the hunt begins.

 

This is a dark horror themed story with plenty of action and some humor. There is a good amount of character development in the short run time of this book. Overall, I enjoyed it. The ending sets up another book, but we will see if we get it.

 


 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4asRBzE

 

 

My slim hardback reading copy came from the Central, aka Downtown, Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2026

Friday, March 06, 2026

Lesa's Book Critiques: Comfort Reads

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Comfort Reads

Lesa's Book Critiques: What Are You Reading?

 Lesa's Book Critiques: What Are You Reading?

Don't Need A Diagram: Linda Keir, “I Did Not Kill My Husband”

 Don't Need A Diagram: Linda Keir, “I Did Not Kill My Husband”

Beneath the Stains of Time: Bad Weather: "The Rainy-Day Bandit" (1970) by Edward D. Hoch

Beneath the Stains of Time: Bad Weather: "The Rainy-Day Bandit" (1970) by Edwa...: Edward D. Hoch 's "The Rainy-Day Bandit," originally published in the May, 1970, issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine ...

Happiness Is A Book: Friday’s Forgotten Book: Murder Breaks Trail by Eunice Mays Boyd

 Happiness Is A Book: Friday’s Forgotten Book: Murder Breaks Trail by Eunice Mays Boyd

In Reference to Murder: Friday's "Forgotten" Books: First Cases

In Reference to Murder: Friday's "Forgotten" Books: First Cases: Before they were stars, everyone's favorite literary private eyes had to start somewhere. Many jumped to life fully-formed in novels, bu...

The Rap Sheet: Revue of Reviewers: 3-5-26

 The Rap Sheet:  Revue of Reviewers: 3-5-26

Lesa's Book Critiques: What Are You Reading?

 Lesa's Book Critiques: What Are You Reading?

In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange

In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange: The Southwest Festival Reading Festival returns this Saturday, March 7, to downtown Fort Myers, Florida, sponsored by the Fort Myers Region...

Thursday, March 05, 2026

Thursday Treats: 3/5/2026

  

Welcome back to “Thursday Treats.” 


 SMFS member Judy Sheluk announced that her short story, The Last Detail, was published online at Brown Hound Press. The free to read tale was also inspired by real life. Judy explains more about the story and the submission process in her guest post at The Stiletto Gang. By the way, if you are a writer, this is a paying market. Learn more here at the publication website.  

 



SMFS Member M. E. Proctor announced that her short story, Whack a Moll, appears at The Yard: Crime Blog. You can read it for free here.

 





SMFS Member Barbara Ristine announced the news that her short story, Block 16 Blues, was published at Kings River Life Magazine. The tale is free to read here and takes folks to Las Vegas in 1931.

 


SMFS member Barb Goffman shared the news of the latest issue of Black Cat Weekly. Available at the website, Black Cat Weekly #235 is now out and features short stories by SMFS list members Teel James Glenn (What Would Synbad Do?) and A.L. Sirois (Last Dance), among others, as well as novellas, and more. A single digital issue is $2.99, but the longer subscriptions are the real deal and the way to go.

 


Sherlock Holmes Magazine Issue 24, Spring 2026, is now out. Features news, reviews, and more. You can learn more about the new issue on their website.

 

 

 

Until next time….

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2026

Wednesday, March 04, 2026

Lesa's Book Critiques: Bloom by Robbie Couch

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Bloom by Robbie Couch

Mystery Fanfare: Purim: A Carnival of Secrets, Masks — and Murder? Guest Post by Neil Plakcy

Mystery Fanfare: Purim: A Carnival of Secrets, Masks — and Murder? ...: Every mystery fan knows that intrigue often hides in unexpected cultural corners. One holiday that begs for its own whodunit — yet remains u...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore!

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore!:  The Nevermore Book Club is the library's free-spirited book club.  Members read what they want to and report, whether or not they liked...

SleuthSayers: When Irish Eyes Are Crimin'

SleuthSayers: When Irish Eyes Are Crimin':   My Irish-born Great Grandmother, Mary Scanlon It was a summer day in the mid-seventies.  I was home from college and  on the phone with m...

Bitter Tea and Mystery: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie: Muriel Spark

Bitter Tea and Mystery: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie: Muriel Spark:   Description at Goodreads : 'Give me a girl at an impressionable age, and she is mine for life...' Passionate, free-thinking and un...

Tuesday, March 03, 2026

Lesa's Book Critiques: A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn

 Lesa's Book Critiques: A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn

Jim Nesbitt Reviews: Razor-Sharp & Bloody

 Jim Nesbitt Reviews: Razor-Sharp & Bloody 

Happiness Is A Book: Body Scissors by Jerome Doolittle

 Happiness Is A Book: Body Scissors by Jerome Doolittle

Publication Day Review: The Politician: A DS George Cross Mystery by Tim Sullivan

 

Peggy Frampton is very much dead in her bedroom as The Politician: A DS George Cross Mystery by Tim Sullivan begins. The cleaning lady had found her employer dead that morning. Now Cross, the Detective Sergeant from the Avon and Somerset Police, will lead the hunt for the killer or killers as this most definitely is a murder case.

 

At one time, Peggy Frampton was the Mayor of Bristol. In recent years, she has been a social media influencer through an advice column, and a writer. She has a massive online presence and impact, not only in her local Bristol, England, community, but far beyond. She tended to ruffle feathers, at times, with her blunt advice.

 

She is survived by her husband, Peter, and their adult children. Peter is a lawyer. As it happens, he is in London, on a case, and is on the way back home as DS George Cross looks at the body and the crime scene.

 

While some, such as DCI Ben Carson, believe this is aa case of a simple burglary gone wrong, DS George Cross does not. Before much can be done by the local police, due to the high-profile nature of the case, Chief Superintendent Heather Mathews is brought in to supervise. Fortunately for everyone, while she has never worked with Cross before, she knows of him and how he is, and so she allows him wide latitude to pursue the case as he sees fit. That means he can treat it like any other case and not be micromanaged by Carson or anyone else.

 

That is always a plus. Especially here with a case that is complex and constantly evolving as lines of inquiry are adjusted as evidence comes to light. As always, the reader knows that Cross will identify and build a case against those involved. The real question is what else will he and his team unearth in their pursuit of justice for the dead.

 

For that, you will have to read the book.

 

It would also be best if you started with the first read, The Dentist: A DS George Cross Mystery, and work your way forward to this fourth book of the re-released series. This is not a static police procedural series with very little change over time. Instead, and one of the things that makes it so good, characters constantly evolve and deal with things in life, relationships change, and more happens while the police work continues.

 

The Politician: A DS George Cross Mystery by Tim Sullivan is another very good installment of a really good police procedural series. What more could you want?

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Nu5Hrp

 

 

I received a digital ARC from the publisher, Atlantic Crime, imprint of Grove Atlantic, through NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review.

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2026