Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Lesa's Book Critiques: September Treasures in My Closet

Lesa's Book Critiques: September Treasures in My Closet

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: King, Patterson, Newman, Metzl, Gotist

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: King, Patterson, Newman, Metzl, Gotist: Reported by Lauren This week’s meeting started off strong with one Nevermore reader sharing a horror novella by the master himself, Th...

Beneath the Stains of Time: The Back-Seat Murder (1931) by Herman Landon

Beneath the Stains of Time: The Back-Seat Murder (1931) by Herman Landon: Herman Landon was a Swedish-born American writer best remembered for his pulp stories and novels about a reformed arch-criminal, "Th...

Unlawful Acts: Small Crimes: Wednesday Reads for 7/31/19

Unlawful Acts: Small Crimes: Wednesday Reads for 7/31/19

Only days left to win books and more from KRL

Only days left to win copies of a trio of food related mysteries-"Sweet Tea and Secrets": A Tea and A Read Mystery by Joy Avon, "Southern Sass and Killer Cravings": A Marygene Brown series by Kate Young, and "Strangled Eggs and Ham": A Country Store Mystery by Maddie Day

And to win a copy of "Belinda Blake and the Snake in the Grass" the first in a series of Exotic Pet-Sitter mysteries by Heather Day Gilbert, and while there check out an interesting guest post by Heather about how she came up with the idea for the series

Also to win a copy of "Ripe for Vengeance" by Wendy Tyson and while there check out a fun summer travel guest post by Wendy

On KRL News there are only days left to win a copy of "Total Mayhem" by John

And to win an ebook copy of "Meerkats and Murder" by Leslie Langtry

Happy reading,
Lorie

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: A Risky Undertaking for Loretta Singletary by Terr...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: A Risky Undertaking for Loretta Singletary by Terr...: Guest reviewer Kevin Tipple is back with his review of a mystery novel.  Check out his blog Kevin's Corner for more book reviews and bo...

Do Some Damage: Entertainment (Not) Weekly by Claire Booth

Do Some Damage: Entertainment (Not) Weekly: By Claire Booth Entertainment Monthly? My latest issue came in the mail this past week, and I am not happy. A letter from the new edit...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Skyward: My Low-G Life by Joe Henderson, Lee Garb...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Skyward: My Low-G Life by Joe Henderson, Lee Garb...: Reviewed by Ambrea Willa Fowler has spent her life living in low gravity.  After G-Day—the day when Earth’s gravity shifted—W...

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Day Four Post Surgery

After seeing something pop up on my gum on the right side of my jaw yesterday afternoon that got steadily bigger overnight and this morning, I would up in the oral surgeon's office this afternoon. Where there was some concern it was sepsis, it is not. Whether it is a new infection or a last gasp of the old one is is unknown. I am back on antibiotics and told to take things very easy.

I;m exhausted no matter how much I sleep and am in a fair amount of pain from my mouth. Simply put, I'm not in good shape right now. Hopefully the new antibiotic will stop this in its tracks. In the meantime, I'm told to keep taking the pain meds, rest, stay out of the Texas heat and humidity, and give the old body time to recover from the joy of booting six teeth last Friday.

Do Some Damage: Some Ideas About Running a Noir at the Bar by David Nemeth

Do Some Damage: Some Ideas About Running a Noir at the Bar: By David Nemeth Noir at the Bar, Wilmington DE, (July 21, 12019) I'm still learning how to do organize this whacky thing called No...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams: Reviewed by James Baur Premiering in 1944, The Glass Menagerie after a rocky start became a famous play and won the New York...

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 27 Calls for Submissions in August 2019 - Paying m...

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 27 Calls for Submissions in August 2019 - Paying m...: Creative Commons - Nick Youngston There are more than two dozen calls for submissions in August.  All of these are paying markets, and n...

Beneath the Stains of Time: Lion's Den: "Circus in the Sky" (2000) by Edward D...

Beneath the Stains of Time: Lion's Den: "Circus in the Sky" (2000) by Edward D...: Back in March, I reviewed a short parody story by Jon L. Breen , entitled " The Problem of the Vanishing Town " (1979), which s...

Monday, July 29, 2019

Day Three Post Surgery

When they tell you Day Three Post Surgery will be worse than what you went through before now, they are not kidding. Swelling got worse today as did the pain. Coming off a night when the pain pills took till three in the morning to kick in and then gave me horrible and very weird dreams, today has been rough. I am warned that tomorrow could be as bad or worse.

Blah.

Mystery Fanfare: MACAVITY AWARD NOMINEES 2019

Mystery Fanfare: MACAVITY AWARD NOMINEES 2019: The Macavity Award Nominees 2019  (for works published in 2018) The Macavity Awards are nominated by members of Mystery Reade...

Bitter Tea and Mystery Review: Broken Harbor: Tana French

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Broken Harbor: Tana French: The fourth book in Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series features Mike "Scorcher" Kennedy, who had a minor role in Faithful...

Beneath the Stains of Time: Zaregoto: The Kubishime Romanticist (2002) by Nisi...

Beneath the Stains of Time: Zaregoto: The Kubishime Romanticist (2002) by Nisi...: Back in January, I reviewed Zaregoto series: kubikiri saikuru ( Zaregoto, Book 1: The Kubikiri Cycle , 2002) by the palindromic " N...

Unlawful Acts---Small Crimes: Monday Reads for 7/28/19

Unlawful Acts---Small Crimes: Monday Reads for 7/28/19

The Rap Sheet: Revue of Reviewers for 7/28/19

The Rap Sheet: Revue of Reviewers for 7/28/19

In Reference To Murder: Media Murder for Monday 7/28/19

In Reference To Murder: Media Murder for Monday 7/28/19

Liz Burton's Portable Soup: Book Review: Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier

Liz Burton's Portable Soup: Book Review: Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier

Monday Markets and Jobs for Writers for 7/28/19

Monday Markets and Jobs for Writers for 7/28/19

TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Monday Roundup: Texas Literary Calendar July 29-Au...

TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Monday Roundup: Texas Literary Calendar July 29-Au...: Bookish goings-on in Texas for the week of July 29-August 4, 2019 compiled exclusively for  Lone Star Literary Life  by Texas Book Lover....

Aubrey Hamilton Reviews: She Lies In Wait by Gytha Lodge


She Lies In Wait (Random House, 2019) is the first novel in Gytha Lodge’s series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Jonah Sheens. Set in the New Forest area around Southampton on the southeast coast of England, it carefully outlines the investigation into the murder of a 14-year-old girl who disappeared 30 years ago, when her remains are found not far from the camp ground where she was last seen.

Aurora Jackson is the youngest of the seven teenagers who go camping after school term ends. Her sister didn’t want her along but the others in the group make an effort to look after her and include her in their activities, up to and including showing her the large stash of Dexedrine that one of them hid nearby.

Jonah Sheens was a newly qualified constable when Aurora disappeared and helped in the search for her. He was just a few years ahead of the group in school and had passing acquaintance with all of them. He knows immediately the identity of the set of disintegrating bones when it is discovered, and dental records confirm it.

Sheens and his staff review the entire original case file, looking for discrepancies, then interview everyone again and compare the new statements to the first ones. Not surprisingly, there are differences and they serve as jumping off points for deeper investigation. The story structure of alternating chapters from the night Aurora disappeared with chapters describing present-day police activity serve the dual purpose of moving the story line forward while building suspense. Although the combination of teenagers, drugs, and alcohol suggests a predictable outcome, how Aurora died isn’t revealed until the very end.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the book is the characterization. The personalities of the teenagers are clearly sketched in the chapters about Aurora, then in the chapters about the investigation allow the reader to compare the teenagers to the adults they became. Kirkus starred review.




·         Hardcover: 368 pages
·         Publisher: Random House (January 8, 2019)
·         Language: English
·         ISBN-10: 1984817353
·         ISBN-13: 978-1984817358


Aubrey Hamilton ©2019

Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 30 Writing Contests in August 2019 - No entry fees...

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 30 Writing Contests in August 2019 - No entry fees...: Maxpixel There are over two dozen contests in August for short stories, poetry, essays, scripts, and books in every genre. None charge e...

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 author Jane Harper in the Countdown hot seat:



We’re on Twitter at:

Crime Review: @CrimeReviewUK

Linda Wilson: @CrimeReviewer

Sharon Wheeler: @lartonmedia


This week’s reviews are:

DEAD AT FIRST SIGHT by Peter James, reviewed by John Cleal

A woman’s apparent suicide leads Detective Superintendent Roy Grace into the world of internet romance scams – and a gang willing to kill anyone who threatens to expose them.



RUN AWAY by Harlan Coben, reviewed by Linda Wilson

When wealthy investment manager Simon Green sees his drug addict daughter busking in a park, all he wants is to bring her home. But she runs away, and Simon ends up in a fight with her boyfriend that goes viral on social media. And Paige doesn’t want to be found.



THE VAN APFEL GIRLS ARE GONE by Felicity McLean, reviewed by Chris Roberts

The disappearance of the three Van Apfel girls from their sleepy Australian suburb in 1992 has been a mystery which still haunts their friends 20 years later.



WHITE HOT SILENCE by Henry Porter, reviewed by John Cleal

Aid worker Anastasia Cristakos is kidnapped. Her billionaire husband hires ex-MI6 man Paul Sampson, her former lover, to find and free her.



WHERE NO SHADOWS FALL by Peter Ritchie, reviewed by Arnold Taylor

Formerly a criminal investigator, Superintendent Grace Macallan is stuck behind a desk and, unable to stand it any longer, requests a transfer. It so happens that a notorious Glasgow gang member has apparently committed suicide whilst in prison. Grace is given the task of investigating the suicide and compiling a report.



NEVER HAVE I EVER by Joshilyn Jackson, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor

Amy has the perfect family and a quiet life. But her new neighbour’s nasty little game might just destroy that.



A SINNER’S PRAYER by MP Wright, reviewed by Linda Wilson

Against his better judgement, JT Ellington is lured back into the murky world of private investigation. But with a sizeable proportion of the bad guys in Bristol after him, even the resourceful JT might finally have met his match.



MARKED FOR DEATH by Tony Kent, reviewed by Chris Roberts

Barrister Michael Devlin and his partner Sarah Truman become very personally involved when a retired Chief Justice is found murdered in a spectacular fashion.



OUT OF THE ASHES by Vicky Newham, reviewed by Linda Wilson

When a fire turns out to be arson, DI Maya Rahman heads the investigation into two deaths, and strongly suspects there might be more to come.



THE SILVER ROAD by Stina Jackson, reviewed by Ewa Sherman

In a remote part of northern Sweden the lives of two people become intertwined. Lelle keeps searching for his teenage daughter Lina who had vanished without a trace three years ago. Meja has just moved to the area with her mentally unstable mother.



BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT by Gary Bell, reviewed by Chris Roberts

Elliot Rook, QC, is asked to represent a racist bigot accused of murder and finds it difficult to refuse – his client knows well the skeletons in Rook’s closet.



THE DEATH CHAMBER by Lesley Thomson, reviewed by John Cleal

In 1977, a 17-year-old girl was never seen again after leaving a village disco. Twenty years later, police searching for another missing teenager find her remains. Cleaning company boss and amateur detective Stella Darnell and her tube train driver partner Jack Harmon investigate.



A QUARTER PAST DEAD by TP Fielden, reviewed by Anthea Hawdon

Some residents of Temple Regis might look upon the new Buntorama holiday camp as a disaster for the seaside town. But not as much as a disaster as a dead woman being found murdered in one of the chalets. It falls to Judy Dimont to work out the twisty plot of dynasties and murder.



ENCHANTEE by Gita Trelease, reviewed by Linda Wilson

1798. Paris is on the brink of revolution. Camille Durbonne, struggling to pay food and rent, plays a dangerous game on the filthy streets and in the glittering courts.



THE CONVICTION OF CORA BURNS by Carolyn Kirby, reviewed by John Cleal

Cora Burns, born in a prison and raised in a workhouse, has always struggled to control a streak of violence. A new life as a servant in the home of a scientist gives her a chance of a future, but she soon suspects that she, like a young girl she has befriended, are subjects of a living experiment.



THE SATAPUR MOONSTONE by Sujata Massey, reviewed by Chris Roberts

Lawyer Perveen Mistry is selected to advise on the education of a young maharaja in the tiny princely state of Satapur and finds the boy is at the centre of a power dispute.



BLOOD LINES by Angela Marsons, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor

The victims could not be more disparate, but DI Kim Stone knows their shared cause of death is not coincidental.



WHAT LIES BURIED by Margaret Kirk, reviewed by John Cleal

A ten-year-old girl disappears from a birthday party. Detective Inspector Lukas Mahler races against time to find her. But will her abductor stop at one child – and what is the connection with a murder from 70 years back?



THE DEAD EX by Jane Corry, reviewed by Kati-Barr Taylor

Vicki’s life was already damaged. Now, with her ex-husband missing and the police sure she is involved, everything is in freefall.



INCEPTIO by Alison Morton, reviewed by John Barnbrook

In an alternate reality, Karen Brown’s ordinary life is swept away as a series of incidents reveal her association with high-ranking families in Nova Roma and her life changes forever.


Best wishes


Sharon

Bitter Tea and Mystery Review: Might As Well Be Dead: Rex Stout

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Might As Well Be Dead: Rex Stout: Might As Well Be Dead by Rex Stout is a Nero Wolfe novel, published in 1956. In some ways, this novel fits the (somewhat) standard formu...

KRL This Week Update For 7/27/19

Up in KRL this morning we have a trio of food related mysteries-"Sweet Tea and Secrets": A Tea and A Read Mystery by Joy Avon, "Southern Sass and Killer Cravings": A Marygene Brown series by Kate Young, and "Strangled Eggs and Ham": A Country Store Mystery by Maddie Day 

And a review and giveaway of "Belinda Blake and the Snake in the Grass" the first in a series of Exotic Pet-Sitter mysteries by Heather Day Gilbert, and we have an interesting guest post by Heather about how she came up with the idea for the series 

We also have a review and giveaway of "Ripe for Vengeance" by Wendy Tyson and published by Henery Press, along with a fun summer travel guest post by Wendy 

We also have the latest mystery Coming Attractions by Sunny Frazier 

Up on KRL News we have a review and giveaway of "Total Mayhem" by John Gilstrap

And a review and giveaway of "The Fourth Steven" by Margaret Moseley 

And a review and ebook giveaway of "Meerkats and Murder" by Leslie Langtry 

And for those who enjoy fantasy with their mystery, we have a review and ebook giveaway of "Shadows in the Mist" by Jeri Westerson

Happy reading,

Lorie 

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Saturday Afternoon Update

I am doing okay. Pain, so far, has been minimal and the bleeding finally stopped mid afternoon yesterday. I was able to eat some applesauce for dinner, ice cream late last night, and had some scrambled eggs for breakfast. So, I am doing okay.

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and messages here and in emails to me. I am not up to being online very long so replies will be slow. But, please know everything is much appreciated.

Scott's Take: Justice by Alex Ross, Jim Kruger, and Doug Braithwaite

Papberback and eBook Cover

Justice by Alex Ross, Jim Kruger, and Doug Braithwaite originally came out in 2005 and has been republished a variety of times in various forms. This is a review of the eBook version that came out in 2012. This version collects all twelve issues of the complete comic series for a total of 384 pages.

Justice is an out of canon story of the Justice League vs The Legion of Doom. Many of villains of the DC universe have been having the same dream that The Justice League will fail allowing all of humanity to die as the world literally burns in a fiery end. The villains decide to prevent this dream by killing all the members of The Justice League. To do that, the villains steal the files of Batman and learn the secret identity of every superhero on our planet. They begin to implement their plan by grabbing Aquaman as he is a key component to their plan to eliminate The Justice League.

Most of The Justice League is soon out for the count, so it is up to the backups to rescue the heroes and save the world. Heroes like Shazam (who is really Captain Marvel but DC lost the rights to that name) Zatanna, The Metal Men, Doom Patrol, and more.
Hardback Cover 

This story is very mature and violent and not at all suitable for little kids. The attacks on the heroes are brutal and graphic. In fact, even one hero has parts of his brain removed by one of the villains. The artwork for that section as well as the entire book is amazing and very realistic. Alex Ross more than lives up to his reputation for realistic and detailed illustrations.

All the heroes have epic moments that help a person understand the character. The perspective of the book shifts throughout as different characters visualize what is happening and their own personal experiences. This results in the fact the reader fully understand that the plans by the villains are impressive and lead to horrible actions which are counteracted by pragmatic and well-designed plans of the heroes.
Paperback and eBook Back

It is hard to discuss much of this book without spoiling the various scenes in the book that are very cool and very different. If you don’t like one of the main heroes of the DC Universe this book could change your mind. If you think Aquaman is lame, you probably won’t after this. Aquaman has one of the best story lines in the book but everyone involved pretty much has a good storyline.

This story I personally like a lot and it is one of my favorite comic books. I have read this story multiple times in different formats and especially prefer the eBook. The digital format allows one to zoom in on some of the smaller dialog boxes and take in the smaller scenes.

Despite how much I enjoy this story it is not appropriate for younger readers at all. There are sex jokes, torture scenes as well as scenes with extreme violence, and more. This is an Elseworlds story so you do not have to be caught up with any old or current storylines to enjoy. If you like this story you might also enjoy Kingdom Come which is a darker tale from Alex Ross and Mark Waid which is another Elseworlds tale though there one does need to be fairly familiar with most of the DC Universe characters.



Justice
Alex Ross, Jim Kruger, and Doug Braithwaite
DC Comics
July 2012
ASIN# B008Q1XEZ8
eBook (also available in various print formats)
384 Pages
$14.99



I purchased this many years ago when it was on sale at a far lower price.


Scott A. Tipple ©2019

Friday, July 26, 2019

I Am Alive

All six bad teeth are out. I am told it went very well and everybody involved is very pleased. I slept through it. I am heavily medicated. Still numb in my lower jaw, chin, and lower lip which makes trying to drink water and take pills an interesting and messy experience.

I am told the next few days will be worse pain wise and I am not looking forward to that.

Just wanted to let one and all know I survived and hope to be online a little more tomorrow. I have a ton of email and messages on FB and whatnot so I know folks were letting me know they care. I do appreciate it and will work on reply, as I can over the weekend.

Thanks again, everyone.

Dental Surgery Day

By the time this post appears, I should be at least part of the way through a procedure to remove six teeth. I am losing all four wisdom teeth, each of which is apparently fractured and a mess, and two more broken teeth that I knew were broken. Both broke long ago, at different times, while Sandi was in her battle and my focus was on taking care of her.

This mess in my mouth played a role of some type in my recent hospital stay. So, it absolutely has to done. I don't have a choice. But, I hate it. Nervous wreck over it as my phobia about needles, dentists, and all the rest of it is in full bloom. I am more than a bit freaked out. I am very aware that things can and do go wrong on occasion even with things that should and usually do go okay.

Fingers crossed and all that.


Thursday, July 25, 2019

Dental News

Dental News....or an update on the tooth that is trying to self eject now and not wait to be extracted.

The damn thing got really loose as I was eating last night. So much so, I only was able to eat about half of my dinner. It did stay in last night though this morning it is clearly way looser. I had set my alarm  to be able to call in when the office for the dentist opened at 7:30 and did so.

Told them the issue and they called the oral surgeon people and then called me back. I am to be at the oral surgeon place at 12:45 to do paperwork and then they will "work me in." Code for come spend the afternoon with us. They will numb the area and remove the tooth that wants to leave the plane now. While they have me in they may look at the others or not as it all depends on how things work out.

In theory, I should be able to drive myself and will be doing that. In theory, this should go off without any issues other than being there awhile. I am guessing I will be filling prescriptions for antibiotics and pain pills on the way home.

Not looking forward to this at all. But, at least it is today and not Saturday afternoon at five.


Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Only days left to win a bunch of books from KRL

Only days left to win a copy of "Bite Club" by Laurien Berenson

And to win copies of "Down in Flames": A Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery by Cheryl Hollon, "Guilty as Charred": A Cook-Off Mystery by Devon Delaney, "Left Fur Dead": A Jules & Bun Mystery by J.M. Griffin, "Seeing Red": A Red Herring Mystery by Dana Dratch, and "Murder’s No Votive Confidence": A Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery by Christin Brecher

Also to win an ebook copy of "Answers in the Attic" by Kathi Daley

And to win a copy of "Cherry Scones & Broken Bones" by Darci Hannah and while there check out an interesting interview with Darci

And to win a copy of "Sifting Through Clues" by Daryl Wood Gerber

Over on KRL News to win a copy of "Chai Another Day" by Leslie Budewitz

And to win an ebook copy of "Game Town" by Janet Elizabeth Lynn and Will Zeilinger 

And to win a copy of "Atlanta Deathwatch" by Ralph Dennis, published by Brash Books


Happy reading,

Lorie

Unlawful Acts-- Small Crimes: Wednesday Reads

Unlawful Acts-- Small Crimes: Wednesday Reads

In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange for 7/24/19

In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange for 7/24/19

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: Davis, McCall Smith, Atwood, Andres

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: Davis, McCall Smith, Atwood, Andres: Reported by Christy In Helen Humphreys’ The Lost Garden , Gwen Davis is put in charge of the farming of potatoes for the war effo...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Interdependency Series: The Collapsing Empire ...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Interdependency Series: The Collapsing Empire ...: Reviewed by Kristin John Scalzi’s imagination is out of this world—literally. I recently reviewed his science fiction novel Reds...

Beneath the Stains of Time: Spitting Image: "The Lithuanian Eraser Mystery" (1...

Beneath the Stains of Time: Spitting Image: "The Lithuanian Eraser Mystery" (1...: Some months ago, I reviewed two short stories by Jon L. Breen, " The House of the Shrill Whispers " (1972) and " The Probl...

Relevant History: Pioneer in the Fast Lane

Relevant History: Pioneer in the Fast Lane

Blood-Red Pencil: Is the State of the World Affecting Your Writing? by Polly Iyer

Blood-Red Pencil: Is the State of the World Affecting Your Writing?: It’s become increasingly obvious that the fate of the world is keeping me from completing my current work in progress. Every day I try to co...

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Dental Update

Back home and exhausted Back is really bad now. Got really close to falling and scaring everyone, but the wall stopped me from going all the way down and I did NOT dent the wall. lol In dentist news.....there is NO cancer. They see what worried me and why.... and it is multiple infection sites. Four teeth have to come out for sure, and maybe two more. The four are broken --two wisdom and two regular-- and are massive infection areas as is two gum boils and a couple of other areas. He is pretty sure that this was part of the reason why I wound up in the hospital and is concerned that things could be making the cardiac deal worse. He is sending me to an oral surgeon who will work with my PCP and the cardiologist to figure out what sedation would work for me and how to go about getting the bad teeth and infected areas out. Then, about a month after the sugery happens, I will have to start doing teeth cleaning in the main dentist office. I am in for along haul,. but he kept stressing that considering how long it has been for me with dental care, things are better than he expected. All the other teeth--at this point--are okay and should be fine once the gum disease situation is stopped.

Buried Under Books: Book Review: Five Days, Five Dead by Carol Wright Crigger—and a Giveaway!

Buried Under Books: Book Review: Five Days, Five Dead by Carol Wright Crigger—and a Giveaway!

In Reference To Murder: Media Murder for Monday for 7/22/19

In Reference To Murder: Media Murder for Monday for 7/22/19

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 31 Great Writing Conferences in August 2019

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 31 Great Writing Conferences in August 2019: Pixabay Summer is the perfect time for writing conferences. This August there are conferences, intensive workshops, retreats and book f...

Bitter Tea and Mystery Review: Allmen and the Dragonflies: Martin Suter

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Allmen and the Dragonflies: Martin Suter: This book was an unusual choice for me. I picked it up in the bookstore on the mystery shelves, knew nothing about it. I loved the cover, bu...

Monday, July 22, 2019

Monday Markets and Jobs for Writers for 7/22/19

Monday Markets and Jobs for Writers for 7/22/19

TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Monday Roundup: Texas Literary Calendar July 22-28...

TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Monday Roundup: Texas Literary Calendar July 22-28...: Bookish goings-on in Texas for the week of July 22-28, 2019 compiled exclusively for  Lone Star Literary Life  by Texas Book Lover. S...

Aubrey Hamilton Reviews: Gunrunner by Graham Ison


Yet another British detective series I did not know and must add to the TBR list. Beginning in 2001, Graham Ison released 16 books featuring Harry Brock and Dave Poole and has three other series, all capitalizing on his career in Scotland Yard. In these stories Harry Brock, a divorced detective chief inspector, and Detective Sergeant Dave Poole, whose family hails from Jamaica, serve on the Homicide and Serious Crimes Command in London.

Gunrunner (Severn House, 2011) is 11th of the titles. Harry Brock is all settled in for a gourmet Christmas feast with his girlfriend and her parents when he’s called to a Heathrow car park. One of the attendants has gotten around to checking the cars, a task ignored during all of the office parties during the past day or so, and found Kerry Hammond bloodily dead in her Jaguar. She was to have accompanied her husband to New York City, and suspicions are raised when the investigators discover he went to New York without her.  While they wait for the husband to return, Brock and Poole visit the trucking company Kerry inherited from her first husband and that she has continued to run successfully. They learn the company has been investigated for smuggling liquor and Gary Dixon, the driver responsible, was let go months earlier after being convicted and fined. Yet his phone number is in Kerry’s recent calls log and his fingerprints are in her car. Dixon immediately moves up in the interest of the detectives, along with the husband, whose real estate business, it turns out, isn’t going all that well. Then there’s the sketchy owner of a sleazy nightclub where Kerry Hammond spent a lot of time, who claims to be Spanish but doesn’t understand a word when one of the detectives starting questioning him in that language. One of the directors of the transport company had expected to receive ownership of the company when Kerry’s first husband died and is afraid that her current husband will inherit it now, and the suspect list keeps on growing.

Brock and Poole are methodical and sound in their interviews and in their investigation, which brings a couple of surprises along the way to a solid and satisfying conclusion.



·         Hardcover: 192 pages
·         Publisher: Severn House Publishers (December 1, 2011)
·         Language: English
·         ISBN-10: 0727880950
·         ISBN-13: 978-0727880956


Aubrey Hamilton ©2019

Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.