 |
| Jacob in a rare moment when he was not flying around |
 |
| Justin (on the left) and Grandpa |
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Grandkids Visit
My son, his wife, and the grandkids came down for a visit this morning and spent much of the day here. Scott and I had fun and we are very worn out. A couple of pictures taken by Scott appear below.
Mystery Fanfare: LEFTY AWARD WINNERS 2019
Mystery Fanfare: LEFTY AWARD WINNERS 2019: Left Coast Crime announced the winners of the Lefty Awards tonight in Vancouver, B.C. during Left Coast Crime . Congrats to all! ...
Saturday, March 30, 2019
KRL This Week Update for 3/29/19
Up in KRL this morning reviews and giveaways of 4 more fun
mysteries-"Something Read, Something Dead": A Lighthouse Library
Mystery by Eva Gates, "Murder, She Meowed": A Pawsitively Organic
Mystery by Liz Mugavero, "Mrs. Jeffries Delivers the Goods": Mrs. Jeffries
series by Emily Brightwell, and "Angels and Alibis": A Sister Lou
Mystery by Olivia Matthews http://kingsriverlife.com/03/30/end-of-march-mystery-catch-up/
And reviews and
giveaways of 2 books by Anna Celeste Burke-"A Body on Fitzgerald’s
Bluff" and "The Murder of Shakespeare’s Ghost"
We also have the latest mystery Coming
Attractions from Sunny Frazier
And a review and giveaway of "The Shaker
Murders" by Eleanor Kuhns along with an interesting interview
with Eleanor
Just up on KRL News and Reviews this week we
have a review and giveaway of "Chocolate a la Murder" by Kirsten
Weiss
And a review and ebook giveaway of
"Sprinkled in Malice" by Catherine
Bruns
Happy
reading,
Lorie
Short Story Review: The Feast Of All Souls: A Short Story by George Wier
Well known
for his Bill Travis Mystery Series, Texas author George Wier has made quite
a name for himself in the realm of short stories as well. Many of them are
stand alone tales with a hint of the paranormal in some aspect. Such is the
case here with The Feast Of All Souls: A Short Story.
It has been fifty-eight years since Glenn Robinson had his pocket
knife. He knows exactly where and when he lost it all those years ago. At seventy-two,
he knows that the clock is ticking on his life. He also knows that the sudden
return of his pocket knife as thanks for a pilfered breakfast is significant
and means a lot. That morning would change everything as there are many other
pieces of his life he would love to have back.
He
also knows that some people are watching for signs of anything that would give
them an excuse to throw him into a nursing home and effectively end his life. He
knows he has to be super careful and have a plan that will work and deal with
all contingencies.
The
Feast Of All Souls: A Short Story is a tale of the past, present, and future. It is a tale of what
was, what is, and what will be. It also is a tale that is not easy to explain
even after one has read it and thought about it awhile. It is a good read and
well worth your attention.
The Feast Of All Souls: A Short Story
George Wier
Flagstone Books
December 2018
ASIN#: B07M5NCSZG
ZG27 Pages
ZG27 Pages
$0.99
Material
was purchased in early February 2019 to read and review by way of funds in my
Amazon Associate account.
Kevin
R. Tipple ©2019
Friday, March 29, 2019
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton: Reviewed by Christy Marisol, a Cuban-American woman, is traveling to Cuba for the first time in her life to spread t...
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 28 Calls for Submissions in April 2019 - Paying ma...
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 28 Calls for Submissions in April 2019 - Paying ma...: Pixabay There are 28 calls for submissions in April. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, ever...
Crime Review Update: New issue of Crime Review
We
feature new 20 reviews in each issue of Crime Review (www.crimereview.co.uk),
together with a top industry interview. This time it’s Kjell Ola Dahl in the
Countdown hot seat:
We’re on
Twitter at:
Crime
Review: @CrimeReviewUK
Linda
Wilson: @CrimeReviewer
Sharon
Wheeler: @lartonmedia
This
week’s reviews are:
THE ROOT
OF EVIL by Hakan Nesser, reviewed by Ewa Sherman
Detective
Inspector Gunnar Barbarotti receives a letter informing him that a murder will
take place in his small Swedish town. And indeed, a man is soon found dead.
When more letters arrive, he and his team must try to prevent more deaths.
THE
CUTTING EDGE by Jeffery Deaver, reviewed by Linda Wilson
A serial
killer with a strange affinity for diamonds is at work in New York targeting
couples seeking the perfect engagement ring. Criminalist Lincoln Rhyme is
drafted in to help make sense of the brutal murders.
THE
MOBSTER’S LAMENT by Ray Celestin, reviewed by John Cleal
Investigator
Ida Davis is called to New York by her old partner, Michael Talbot, to
investigate the brutal slaying of four people in a Harlem flophouse for which
his son faces the electric chair. As they delve into the case, Ida and Michael
realise the killings are part of a far larger conspiracy.
THE
RECKONING by John Grisham, reviewed by Chris Roberts
After
returning to the rural Mississippi town of Clanton, World War II hero Pete
Banning drives to his local Methodist church and shot the Reverend Dexter Bell.
He has never said why.
FEBRUARY’S
SON by Alan Parks, reviewed by Arnold Taylor
Detective
Harry McCoy of the Glasgow police is not long returned to duty when he is
called out by his chief inspector, Murray, to view a body found on the roof of
a 14-storey tower block. The body, showing obvious signs of torture, turns out
to be that of a well-known Celtic footballer.
WE CAN
SEE YOU by Simon Kernick, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Brook
Connor seems to have it all. But her life comes crashing down in ruins when her
daughter is kidnapped. She can’t go to the police, as the kidnappers say they
can see everything she does. The trouble is, Brook doesn’t even know if she can
trust her own husband.
THE
COLOUR OF MURDER by Julian Symons, reviewed by John Cleal
An
unhappy young man trapped in a loveless marriage faces the death penalty for a
crime he claims not to remember, the brutal beating to death of a girl with
whom he had become obsessed.
THE
PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME TRAVEL by Kate Mascarenhas, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
When
Odette finds a body, discovering the identity of the woman murdered in impossible
circumstances becomes an obsession that will drive her into the clutches of the
Conclave.
THE THIN
BLUE LINE by Christoffer Carlsson, reviewed by Ewa Sherman
Detective
Leo Junker has crossed many professional lines. But when John Grimberg, his
oldest friend/enemy and a hardened criminal on the run, asks him to investigate
a five-year-old case of a murdered prostitute, Junker has to face own demons
from the past and corruption at the heart of the Swedish police force.
THE
SELECTED ADVENTURES AND MEMOIRS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES by Arthur Conan Doyle,
reviewed by John Cleal
Ten of
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s best short stories featuring the world’s first
consulting detective.
A FRIEND
IS A GIFT YOU GIVE YOURSELF by William Boyle, reviewed by Chris
Roberts
An aging
porn star, a mob widow and her granddaughter meet as strangers, face some
problems and find they are stronger together.
ALL THE
HIDDEN TRUTHS by Claire Askew, reviewed by Arnold Taylor
Ryan
Summers, a young student equipped with three guns, enters Three Rivers College
and immediately begins shooting girls. He kills 13 of them and then himself.
Everybody wants to know why but there appears to be no answer to the question.
I STOP
SOMEWHERE by TE Carter, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Ellie
Frias is over the moon when rich, good-looking Caleb Breward takes an interest
in her, but the fairytale romance soon turns to horror.
ONE LAW
FOR THE REST OF US by Peter Murphy, reviewed by Chris Roberts
A
revelation of sexual abuse by a child blows open her mother’s repressed memories
of the same treatment she suffered – but will the legal system offer her
redress?
SEVEN
SKINS by John Steele, reviewed by John Cleal
Jackie
Shaw, former soldier, policeman and one-time RUC undercover officer, is coerced
by the security services into investigating a hit-list of retired security
operatives.
STALKER
by Lisa Stone, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
When DC
Beth Mayes begins seeing a link between a series of crimes in the area,
instinct tells her security expert Derek Flint is involved.
THE CHAOS
OF NOW by Erin Large, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Teenager
hacker Eli Bennett is asked by two schoolmates to join them in an attempt to
win a prestigious coding competition ñ and they aren’t prepared to take no for
an answer.
RETRIBUTION
by Richard Anderson, reviewed by Chris Roberts
In a
small farming town in Australia, a few discontented people are drawn together
and tempted into taking retribution for wrongs done, real or imaginary.
SHAKESPEARE’S
SWORD by Alan Judd, reviewed by John Cleal
Antiques
dealer Simon Gold discovers an ancient sword which may have belonged to William
Shakespeare and becomes obsessed with owning it. But how far is he prepared to
go to get it?
JAR OF
HEARTS by Jennifer Hillier, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
Geo kept
a secret for 14 years – one that destroyed her childhood and eventually sent
her to prison. She has served her time, but the destruction is far from over.
Best
wishes
Sharon
New Glasses
Went out to Plano this morning and one of my two new pairs of glasses were in. My new reading glasses are somewhere in transit between California and here. My new driving glasses were in and put into use immediately as soon as we got back into the car. They make a huge difference. Scott did the picture taking honors when we got back here.
Beneath the Stains of Time: Murder Isn't Cricket (1946) by E. and M.A. Radford...
Beneath the Stains of Time: Murder Isn't Cricket (1946) by E. and M.A. Radford...: Edwin and Mona A. Radford were a British husband-and-wife writing team who compiled several encyclopedic works, such as the Encyclopedia...
FFB Review: Warning Signs (Warning Signs #1) by Jan Christensen
Back in April 2012 I first told you
about Warning Signs by Jan
Christensen. For this final Friday of March 2019, I remind you why this short
story collection is a good one. For the full list of other reading suggestions,
head on over to Todd Mason’s Sweet
Freedom blog. Sadly, that blog still has nothing at all about the sweet freedom of
not wearing pants, but maybe someday.
Warning
Signs
by award winning author Jan Christensen is made up of three short stories that
were previously published in print and online markets. This collection is a bit
less than 19, 000 words and each story is a good one. Each story has a small
intro, a brief explanation of how the story came about, and details on where
the piece first appeared.
The
book opens with the longest story “Warning
Signs.” Rhoda isn’t happy with her ex-husband Hank for a lot of reasons.
For one thing, he isn’t paying his child support for their daughter Tiffany. To
draw attention to the problem, Rhoda had a bright idea to put up a few wanted
posters with Hank’s picture prominently displayed along a local highway. He
owes fourteen thousand in back child support and with Tiffany in kindergarten
and other issues, Rhoda is desperate.
Somebody
put up a “For Sale” sign in her front yard and Rhoda is sure Hank did it. She
decides to retaliate by placing “garage sale” signs in his new more expensive
neighborhood so that Hank and his new wife Melanie can get a dose of their own
medicine. It is going to be a busy Saturday for Hank and his wife and serves
them right.
The
war takes a new turn that Sunday morning when she comes outside to find her ex
dead beside her car with the apparent murder weapon, one of her old iron
skillets, on the ground next to him. Rhoda takes the skillet, washes it, and
puts it away where it belongs in her kitchen before calling 911. Rhoda soon
learns she wasn’t the only one angry at Hank and possibly wanted him dead.
28
year old Connie is not divorced yet but the divorce is coming in “Overkill.” She is supposed to meet with
her divorce attorney, Jerry, but one thing after another happens delaying her
arrival at his office. When she finally does get there she finds him apparently
dead at his desk. The murder weapon still embedded deep in his chest.
Soon
named as a suspect and arrested, Connie has no choice but to take help anywhere
she can get it to clear her name. That includes her soon to be ex-husband
Howard who has more on his mind then clearing her name.
The
final story titled “Quack” involves a kidnapping. Awhile back Josie
defended a guy, Harley Summers, who shot up a local coffeehouse. Fortunately,
he didn’t hit anyone but he still ended up serving jail time. He is now
out supposedly none too happy about having had to serve jail time. That
makes him the obvious suspect when Josie disappears and her aunt Reba is told
that the ransom is 50K. The police can’t be involved and fortunately, Reba
is not only also a lawyer, but a resourceful woman who has people she can
trust.
Coming
in a bit less than 1900 words this small short story collection is a fun and
fast read full of mystery and double dealing with the occasional flash of humor.
These three stories feature women who can handle their business and deal with
whatever comes their way. Feisty and independent, the heroines don’t wait to be
rescued but take action on their own to get the job done. Violence is kept at a
minimum in these three stories as are the body counts and descriptions of the
death scenes. Instead, the focus in Warning Signs is more on the
psychology of people and their relationships and how folks may interact in ways
that are not revealed until the aftermath of a murder.
The
award winning author has publicly stated Warning Signs is the first of a
collection series with more around various themes planned in the future.
Warning
Signs (Warning Signs #1)
Jan
Christensen
April 2012
ASIN#
B007ROBUOC
E-Book
$1.99
Material
supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin
R. Tipple ©2012, 2019
Thursday, March 28, 2019
Gravetapping: RIDERS ON THE STORM by Ed Gorman
Gravetapping: RIDERS ON THE STORM by Ed Gorman: Ed Gorman’s Sam McCain—small town lawyer and investigator—is at the top of my list for private eye serial characters. He is charming, sa...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: A Killing in Quail County by Jameson Cole
Bitter Tea and Mystery: A Killing in Quail County: Jameson Cole: This is a terrific mystery narrated by a teenage boy, Mark Stoddard, growing up in Oklahoma, living with his older brother, Jess, after the...
Guest Post: An Author’s Focus in the Chaos of Publishing by C. Hope Clark
Please welcome C. Hope
Clark back to the blog today…
An Author’s Focus in
the Chaos of Publishing by C. Hope Clark
Somewhere along the way, probably with the onset of indie
publishing, authors lost sight of why they became writers. Not everyone, but a
good many, with a chunk of the new entrants never having understood to start
with.
The why we write used to be to create a deeply satisfying
book. No matter how long it took. It had to be written, rewritten, edited and
re-edited. It had to ferment and distill over time to become a book someone
wished to retain in a permanent library to be read again and again.
Now sales rule. The situation is not the author’s fault,
necessarily, but instead has evolved with the industry. Books sell for less,
are easier to produce, easier to distribute, and easier for more people to
become authors. But the number of readers (demand) hasn’t increased with the
number of books published (supply). Simple economics means you have to sell a
higher quantity to earn the same income one would have made even three years
ago, not to mention five or ten.
So authors write faster. Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc.
abounds with groups bragging about daily word count and goals of three to even
twelve books a year. While authors can be prolific (which used to mean a book a
year), one has to wonder if the writers are more focused on production than the
love.
But many would argue that an author has to eat, which means
more sales, more writing, faster writing. It’s painfully true. This pace also
leads to burnout and anxiety. Just read comments in Facebook groups where
writers are freaking about how to do more, get their name out, best the Amazon
algorithms, and advertise yet a new way on Facebook.
A writer has to write. But even more so, writers need to
write for themselves. We miss the concept that we can stroll to our notebooks
with coffee or tea in hand and immerse ourselves into our worlds, reappearing
at the end of the day with whatever creation came about. Just writing. Just
storytelling. No emails, social media, word count per hour, or hourly ranking
checks on Amazon.
Just writing a story.
Becoming the characters, living amongst the players in a
setting so beautifully displayed that the reader doesn’t want to leave. A world
the writer cannot wait to return to the next morning. A story the writer never
wants to end. A journey.
Personally, I don’t believe in writer’s block. But if a
writer struggles with putting words to paper, my solution is simply this.
Unplug from the computer. Remove goals, all goals. Remember how in your youth
you envisioned how a writer was supposed to create? How magical it was supposed
to be? The study. The cup. The right type of pen. Nothing more.
There you go. Write for the fun of it. Go back to when all
you wanted was to tell a story.
C. Hope Clark ©2019
C. Hope Clark’s latest release is Dying on Edisto,
Book 5 of the Edisto Island Mysteries. She has also authored one other
award-winning mystery series and is working on another. She founded
FundsforWriters.com, selected by Writer’s Digest for its 101 Best Websites for
Writers for 18 years. Her newsletter reaches 35,000 readers. www.fundsforwriters.com
/ www.chopeclark.com
LINKS
BOOK BLURB
One death. Two detectives. And
unexpected backup.A Callie Morgan and Carolina Slade crossover, standalone mystery!
When a renowned—and now dead—travel blogger washes ashore on the banks of Indigo Plantation, Edisto Beach Police Chief Callie Morgan agrees to head the investigation as a favor to the county sheriff, whose reasons are as questionable as the death itself. When death turns to murder and a watchdog from the county makes her investigation difficult, Callie reluctantly turns to Carolina Slade and Wayne Largo, vacationing agents with the Department of Agriculture.
Because poison is growing on this plantation and someone knows how to use it well.
TESTIMONIALS
Murder, corruption, and page-turning
intrigue are usually the elements that shine the brightest in mysteries like
Hope Clark’s latest Dying on Edisto. But it’s the characters that bring a vivid
literary element to Clark’s prose and create a strong emotional response to
their tangled lives. The scenic town of Edisto Beach is peopled with a
modern-day pirate claiming to be a descendent of Blackbeard, a degenerate
travel blogger, a yoga teacher who drives a baby blue vintage Benz convertible,
a mixed race waitress and her matriarchal grandmother, and a whole slew of
wealthy and crooked good ole boys. Leading the cast are two strong female
protagonists—a police chief and an investigator with the Department of
Agriculture. Did someone say hemlock? —Susan Cushman, author of Cherry Bomb and editor of
Southern Writers on Writing"In a plot as complicated as the numerous waterways that create Edisto Island in South Carolina, C. Hope Clark has combined the characters from her two series to solve the murder of a renowned travel blogger. They mystery requires all of their detective skills and blends the two mystery worlds in a page-turning standalone. The story opens with a floater and progresses with edge-of-your-seat action. Prepare to be absorbed by Clark's crisp writing and compelling storytelling. This is one you don't want to miss!"--- Carolyn Haines is the USA Today bestselling author of three mystery series. She is the author of over 80 books and has received numerous writing awards.
Hope Clark converges her sleuths, Carolina and Callie Jean, on Edisto Island for the finale, Dying on Edisto, concluding her two murder mystery series. Slews of fans always awaited these highly addictive and superbly penned novels - grabbing you from the first page and not letting go until the last. A pristine, sleeper sea island, two determined masters of law who butt heads, a mystery corpse from Atlantic waters, a few idiosyncrasies along the way - the absolute best cast and plot for an intense coastal thriller. ~Karen Carter, Owner, Edisto Bookstore
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: Running With Scissors, American Prison,...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: Running With Scissors, American Prison,...: Reported by Kristin Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs has been a popular selection for various Nevermore readers o...
Only days left to win books and more from KRL
Only days
left to win copies of some more food mysteries for your spring reading
fun-"Hot Fudge Murder": A Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe Mystery by
Cynthia Baxter, "Restaurant Weeks Are Murder": A Poppy McAllister Mystery
by Libby Klein, "Drawn and Buttered": A Lobster Shack Mystery by
Shari Randall, "No Good Tea Goes Unpunished": A Seaside Café Mystery
by Bree Baker Books
And to
win copies of "True Fiction" and "Killer Thriller" by Lee
Goldberg
Also to
win a copy of "Lily Barlow: The Mystery of Jane Dough" by Carla Vergot
And to
win a copy of "Sleuthing for the Weekend" by Author Jennifer L. Hart
Happy
reading,
Lori
Crime Watch: Review: TEETH OF THE WOLF by Lee Murray & Dan Rabarts
Crime Watch: Review: TEETH OF THE WOLF: TEETH OF THE WOLF by Lee Murray & Dan Rabarts (Raw Dog Screaming Press, 2018) Reviewed by Alyson Baker Scientific consultant Penny...
Review: Hope Never Dies: An Obama Biden Mystery by Andrew Shaffer
Former Vice-President Joe
Biden is having a tough time in his friendship with President Obama. The change
in administration in Washington has seen much of what was accomplished undone.
It has also meant that Biden has not heard from Obama since while Obama has been
busy living the high life doing one fun thing after another all around the
world. It seems like Obama is not so privately auditioning just about everyone
for the role of his new best friend. Biden is more than a bit bitter and
jealous as Hope Never Dies: An Obama Biden Mystery begins.
It is with those dark
thoughts in mind that Biden happens to notice a small orange light outside his home
office window. He goes outside to investigate and finds at least one agent of
the Secret Service in the woods just outside his home in Delaware. Since former
VP Joe Biden has not had Secret Service protection in months that agent is not
for him. The presence of that agent as well as the distinctive odor of a
certain kind of cigarette can only mean one thing- President Obama.
It is the man himself, but
his sudden visit isn’t about the status of their friendship. President Obama brings
the news of the death of Finn Donnelly, and wanted Biden to hear it from him
directly and not see it on the news first. A conductor for Amtrak, Biden and
Donnelly were friends when Biden was riding the trains to and from his home to
the Senate in Washington. Once Biden was Vice President, riding the rails was
too problematic due to the Secret Service rules and security issues, so Biden
quit riding the rails and the two men lost touch. Biden had meant to get in
touch in recent months and one thing and then another happened and he didn’t. Now
Donnelly is dead and Wilmington PD thinks that the fact he was killed while sprawled
out on the tracks was just an accident. They also think the man might have been
stalking Biden since he had a map to Biden’s home in his pockets.
With Biden not under
Secret Service Protection, they won’t investigate and claim it is an FBI
problem. Of course, the FBI refuses to investigate and argues that the issue is
one for the Secret Service. President Obama found out what was going on and
thought Biden should know. Hence, the meeting in the woods between the two men
who have not spoken since their White House days.
Biden doesn’t believe for
a second that Donnelly meant him any harm. Why he had the map and what he was
up to are just two of many questions Biden has. Biden may be out of politics,
but he still has his old contacts in and outside of law enforcement. As a
private citizen who does not believe the man was any kind of threat or a drug
user of any type, he knows something is going on and isn’t of a mind to just
let it go.
First in new series, Hope
Never Dies: An Obama Biden Mystery is a fun read as long as one accepts
the premise that Biden and Obama could go around doing things without being
noticed and/or attracting crowds of people. While it is a mystery, this is not
a read that takes itself too seriously and neither should the reader. Some of
the escapades Obama and Biden get into on the course of finding out what
happened and why are bit out there, but so too is the basic premise. The result
is an enjoyable read with occasional humor and political insight.
The
next book in the series, Hope Rides Again, is scheduled to be
released on July 9, 2019.
For
another take on the book, go over to the Bookblog of the Bristol Library and
read Kristin’s review from last October.
Hope Never Dies: An Obama Biden Mystery
Andrew Shaffer
Thorndike Press (Gale)
October 2018
ISBN# 978-1-4328-5841-4
LARGE PRINT Hardback (also available in
paperback, audio, and digital formats)
385 Pages
$31.99
Material
supplied by the good folks of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin
R. Tipple ©2019