Wednesday, November 20, 2024

The Rap Sheet: Plaudits from the Post

 The Rap Sheet: Plaudits from the Post

Lesa's Book Critiques: The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard

 Lesa's Book Critiques: The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard

The First Two Pages: “Tone Deaf” by HC Chan

 The First Two Pages: “Tone Deaf” by HC Chan

The Hard Word: NOT YOUR NORMAL LONGMIRE TALE: CRAIG JOHNSON'S TOOTH AND CLAW

 The Hard Word: NOT YOUR NORMAL LONGMIRE TALE: CRAIG JOHNSON'S TOOTH AND CLAW

Jungle Red Writers: I Am Already Over AI

Jungle Red Writers: I Am Already Over AI:   JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING : It started out innocently enough, wit a few articles about this new "Artificial Intelligence" thing and ...

SleuthSayers: Double Event

SleuthSayers: Double Event: I have had an unusual experience recently.  For one thing, I have a story, "Welcome to JFR!", in the November/December issue of El...

The Hard Word: NO FANTASY ISLAND: HONOLULU NOIR EDITED BY CHRIS MCKINNEY

 The Hard Word: NO FANTASY ISLAND: HONOLULU NOIR EDITED BY CHRIS MCKINNEY

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Deadly Anniversaries

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Deadly Anniversaries:   Three years ago I purchased Deadly Anniversaries , edited by Bill Pronzini and Marcia Muller, so that I could read "Chin Yong-Yun Set...

George Kelly: WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #202: REVELATIONS IN BLACK By Carl Jacobi

 George Kelly: WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #202: REVELATIONS IN BLACK By Carl Jacobi

Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: THE RIDDLE OF THE MARBLE BLADE

Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: THE RIDDLE OF THE MARBLE B...: "The Riddle of the Marble Blade" by Stuart Palmer  (first published in Mystery , November 1934; reprinted in The Saint Mystery Mag...

Patricia Abbott: Strangers in Town: Three Newly-discovered Mysteries by Ross Macdonald, edited by Tom Nolan

 Patricia Abbott: Strangers in Town: Three Newly-discovered Mysteries by Ross Macdonald, edited by Tom Nolan

Short Story Wednesday Review: Resort to Murder: Thirteen More Tales by Minnesota's Premier Writers Compiled and Edited by the Minnesota Crime Wave


From the archive…

 

Awhile back, I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing the anthology The Silence of the Loons. Put out by the "Minnesota Crime Wave" (Ellen Hart, Carl Brookins and William Kent Krueger) the anthology was a good one and I enjoyed it immensely. So, Carl Brookins sent me a review copy of their latest anthology quite some time ago. I was thrilled and added it to mount TBR which promptly surrounded it, burped in satisfaction, and continued to grow. I'm officially over 300 books now at last count and woefully behind in my reading. Fortunately, Texas is a long away from Minnesota, so I should be relatively safe.

 

After a brief introduction by Lorna Landvik on why Minnesota produces so many good mystery writers, the book delves into the tales. There are 13 tales by 13 writers which include the three of the "Minnesota Crime Wave" and many more authors. Each tale is set at a fictional resort in Minnesota and each one is complex and enjoyable with no depictions of graphic violence, gore or sex. Some of the tales can be described more fully than others simply because to comment on some of them would blow the read. Having read many reviews that told way too much, I always lean towards being very cautious in my reviews so the tales will be explained as much as possible or not as the case may be.

 

William Kent Krueger kicks off the killing in his "Hills Like White Rabbits." “Cooper knew they planned to kill him. Exactly how was the part that was still a mystery." (Page 2)

 

"The Locked Fish–cleaning House Mystery" by Jess Lourey is next. While the title may not be inspired, this tale about an elderly woman determined to party and solve a murder at the same time is.

 

Followed by "14-A" written by Ellen Hart that takes a look at the pain of love and how relationships evolve or de-evolve over time. The little things begin to burrow under the skin and an outside threat can make everything explode.

 

The age old theme of cheating comes to light in the tale of "Miss Behavin'" by David Housewright. A favorite author of mine whose most recent novel is "Dead Boyfriends" creates here a story a story full of misdirection and complications.

 

"Out of the Jacuzzi, Into the Sauna" by Scott Pearson marks the author's first published mystery story despite a long and impressive publishing history in various areas. Kate and Bill, a married couple, have known things at Great Lakes Lodges were wrong from the moment they called to confirm their check in. They didn't know that while they could check in, they easily might never check out.

 

Pat Dennis follows with a tale titled "Mother's Day." Carl has had enough of dear old mom and he has a plan.

 

If you haven't read Carl Brookins before you have really missed out. "Bloody Halls" was/is an excellent book as is the often laugh out loud "The Case of the Greedy Lawyers" featuring private investigator Sean no middle initial Sean always present in his red sneakers. Sean also makes an appearance here in the tale titled "Fish Story." Sean isn't much happy to be in a vacation resort in northern Minnesota. He had a more exotic climate in mind for vacation and if that isn't enough, he certainly didn't want to be dragged in to a local murder case.

 

While many of the stories are told from the viewpoint of the guests, Joel Arnold took a different angle. In "Leave No Wake" he weaves a tale told from the view point of one of the elderly owners of a resort who soon has a dead body to deal with along with a business to run. Along the way, Mr. Varney is reminded just how quickly time passes under business pressure. This very good story does feature a character with a penchant for graphic language that is out of tone with the rest of the anthology.

 

"The Moose Whisperer" by Deborah Woodworth features characters who aren't sleeping as well as they should be or need to. Police Chief Jens Johansson is one of the nocturnal wanderers and he saw something odd in the middle of the night while on vacation at Glass Lake. Something that he will need to follow on and something that is just a small piece of a bigger deal.

 

Barbara DaCosta is next with her disturbing story "Cabin 6". This is her first story and it is a good one. A story that really can't be explained at all without ruining it for other readers. So, I won't.

 

Like the "Bird of Prey" the human known as the "Falcon" goes after his next kill. In this tale written by Michael Allan Mallory, some things are obvious while many others are not.

 

"The Body at Dust Bowl Lake" is exactly that and much more. History plays the main role in this interesting tale written by Moira F. Harris.

 

Judith Yates-Borger concludes the anthology well with her tale "Hunter's Lodge." The past is a huge part of the tale as well and in this case the past must be honored and it will be. Like others in this anthology, this also marks her first foray into the field of mystery writing after an extensive and award winning journalist career.

 

Unlike many anthologies that place the interesting author biographical information at the back of the book, this anthology does the right thing and places it at the beginning of each tale. Also, pictures of the authors are included. Therefore, the book is well designed and places the picture of the author and bio on the left page with the tale written by the author on the right. By such format, one gets a feel for the author before delving into the tale.

 

Like the anthology The Silence of the Loons, the tales in Resort to Murder: Thirteen More Tales by Minnesota's Premier Writers feature intriguing characters from a variety of viewpoints and walks of life. Some have seen this collection as darker in tone, but, I would not agree. Graphic descriptions are not present here with the focus being on the characters and the tales they tell. Each tale, well told, often is filled with misdirection while touching on some of the age old concepts of deceit, family honor, envy and others that ultimately lead to murder. Murder, well told, and another good read compiled and edited by the members of the "Minnesota Crime Wave."

 


Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4hYZI90

 

 

As noted in the review, author Carl Brookins sent it to me long ago when dragons still flew overhead and magic ruled the land.

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple © 2008, 2024

Monday, November 18, 2024

Mystery Fanfare: THANKSGIVING MYSTERIES // THANKSGIVING CRIME FICTION

Mystery Fanfare: THANKSGIVING MYSTERIES // THANKSGIVING CRIME FICTION: Thanksgiving is next week, so you'll want to get reading these Thanksgiving crime novel and short stories. This is an updated   Thank...

Dark City Underground: Review: "Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop" ed. by Otto Penzler

 Dark City Underground: Review: "Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop" ed. by Otto Penzler

Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL & Season 3: The Chelsea Detective

Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL & Season 3: The Chelsea Detective: Well this is good news. I've been waiting for the return of The Chelsea Detective , one of my favorite detective shows. Acorn TV has an...

Kathleen Marple Kalb's Blog: So You Wrote the Book, Now What?: Follow That Map

 Kathleen Marple Kalb's Blog: So You Wrote the Book, Now What?: Follow That Map

Beneath the Stains of Time: And Then There Were Nyan (2024) by A.Z. Ruin

Beneath the Stains of Time: And Then There Were Nyan (2024) by A.Z. Ruin: So for the past three, four months, I've been reading, rating and reviewing impossible crime novels and short stories that were nominate...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Cat...:   Reviewed by Kristin Martha Andersson has had a good life, but is having a little trouble adjusting to conditions at Diamond House, a S...

In Reference To Murder: Media Murder for Monday 11/18/2024

 In Reference To Murder: Media Murder for Monday 11/18/2024

Markets and Jobs for Writers 11/18/2024

 Markets and Jobs for Writers 11/18/2024

Lesa's Book Critiques: Murder in the Ranks by Kristi Jones

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Murder in the Ranks by Kristi Jones

Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Crimes Against Nature, Editor Robert Lopresti


With an unprecedented hurricane in the Appalachian Mountains that no one could have expected and wildfires in the West and rampant deforestation in many states, no one can say that the environment and the damage caused by humans does not affect our lives. Robert Lopresti has collected and edited a set of 15 short stories all about human impact on nature. Sometimes thoughtless, sometimes deliberate, the impact of the destruction is the same.

The authors in Crimes Against Nature (Down & Out Books, 2024) are well known and recognized for their skill in crime fiction, which shows to great advantage in this assortment of mayhem. Instead of offenses against people, the misdeeds here are against the earth. Michael Bracken, Susan Breen, Sarah M. Chen, Barb Goffman, Karen Harrington, Janice Law, R.T. Lawton, Robert Lopresti, Jon McGoran, Josh Pachter, Gary Phillips, S.J. Rozan, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Mark Stevens, and David Heska Wanbli Weiden have each contributed a story. They also have selected a conservation nonprofit to receive half of the royalties. Their chosen charity is described at the end of each story; I was glad to learn about a few groups unfamiliar to me.

The stories are as varied as the charities that will benefit from them. Some of the protagonists use their native guile to defend the environment, others are not above committing a felony for the same reason. One protagonist continued to battle for the earth’s welfare beyond the grave.

I am charmed by the number of devious old ladies here. In Chin Yong-Yun Plants a Seed, a grandmother saves her grandchildren’s school plot of carefully selected native plants and arranges for a nearby factory to be brought to account for its illegal emissions in one fell swoop. We have all had dreadful neighbors but Emily Kitchener takes drastic steps to deal with those who destroy an established native species garden in Heavenly Bamboo. Annabelle addresses the problem of the marijuana-smoking neighbors who create a second-hand smoke hazard for the nearby residents, including a cat, in Gone to Pot. A committed recycler goes to great effort to see that her apartment complex complies with the reprocessing sorting rules in The Trouble with Saving the World.

Then there are the destructive tourists who in their desire to see nature in its pristine state destroy it as they explore. Eruptions discusses a tour group scaling an active volcano in defiance of the police in beautiful Costa Rica, where the fragile habitat is being wrecked by excessive tourism. A social media darling, an influencer who films everything he does, is the subject of The Gift. This particular influencer trespasses on private beaches and encourages his followers to do the same, leaving a tsunami of trash as they go. A man bent on revenge goes after several media influencers who damage delicate ecosystems and invade protected reserves in Bad Influence.

Virgil Wounded Horse of the acclaimed novel Winter Counts is still looking out for the people on the Rose Bud reservation in Wind Spirits. When an activist comes in, agitating for trouble over the wind turbines set up on the land, Virgil steps in.

The Smart One focuses on the worst possible consequences of careless disposal of toxic materials. Scrap Heap is set in a metals recycling plant that ignored federal regulations for decades; the protagonist here is the most original I have seen in a long time. Illegal dumping of used oil is the environmental crime in Todd’s Fault, Todd is a dog for anyone who needs a dog in their reading, and Stinkwater Lake addresses the dangers of emptied oil wells left unremediated.

Firestorm describes an enterprising felon’s creation of a storage unit to preserve artwork and other valuables from the wildfires that are endemic in the West these days.

An earnest do-gooder decides to single-handedly reduce the number of meth labs polluting the groundwater, wells, and rivers in Lenny and the Lab. This is the funniest entry in the book.

Body Parts and Bathtub Rings deals with the drought in the Southwest and the people who refuse to accept that the need to conserve water is past urgent.

This is a fascinating collection of stories with as diverse a set of protagonists and plots as I can remember seeing. The annual major gift-giving season is upon us and this book would be welcomed by any crime fiction reader who also champions ecological causes. I found it informative and entertaining, and I expect they would too. Recommended.

 

·         Publisher: Down & Out Books (October 6, 2024)

·         Language: English

·         Paperback: 294 pages

·         ISBN-10: 1643963805

·         ISBN-13: 978-1643963808


 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4i2Ud9g


Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2024

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

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Lesa's Book Critiques: Kevin’s Corner Annex – Vengeance at Sundown by Larry D. Sweazy

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Kevin’s Corner Annex – Vengeance at Sundown by Larry D. Sweazy

The Rap Sheet: Revue of Reviewers: 11-17-24

 The Rap Sheet: Revue of Reviewers: 11-17-24

Little Big Crimes: Truth or Die, by Austin S. Camacho

Little Big Crimes: Truth or Die, by Austin S. Camacho:  "Truth or Die," by Austin S. Camacho,  in  S cattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House, ...

Don't Need A Diagram: James Ellroy, “Killer on the Road”

 Don't Need A Diagram: James Ellroy, “Killer on the Road”

Bitter Tea and Mystery: The Mayors of New York: S.J. Rozan

Bitter Tea and Mystery: The Mayors of New York: S.J. Rozan: I am a big fan of S. J. Rozan's Lydia Chin and Bill Smith series. I started reading the books in the series in 2008 and by the middle of...

Saturday, November 16, 2024

The Rap Sheet: Bullet Points: Packed Potpourri Edition

 The Rap Sheet: Bullet Points: Packed Potpourri Edition

Lesa's Book Critiques: Rare Danger by Beverly Jenkins

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Rare Danger by Beverly Jenkins

Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of November 17, 2024

 Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of November 17, 2024 

KRL Update 11/16/2024

Up on KRL this week, a review and giveaway of Joanne Fluke's "Lake Eden Cookbook" along with a recipe from the book perfect for your Thanksgiving get together https://kingsriverlife.com/11/16/joanne-flukes-lake-eden-cookbook-hannah-swensons-recipes-from-the-cookie-jar/

 

And a review and giveaway of "The Grey Wolf" by Louise Penny https://kingsriverlife.com/11/16/the-grey-wolf-by-louise-penny/

 

And a review and ebook giveaway of "Beyond the Veil" by Lawrence Kelter along with an interesting interview with Lawrence https://kingsriverlife.com/11/16/beyond-the-veil-by-lawrence-kelter/

 

And a review and giveaway of "Zero Sum" by John Gilstrap https://kingsriverlife.com/11/16/zero-sum-by-john-gilstrap/

 

Up on KRL during the week we posted another special midweek guest post, this one about the new mystery anthology "Janie's Got a Gun" https://kingsriverlife.com/11/13/janies-got-a-gun-and-the-intersection-of-music-and-mystery/

 

And another special midweek guest post, this one by mystery author Kathleen Kaska where she talks about the Luther Hotel in her second Sydney Lockhart mystery which has been recently reissued https://kingsriverlife.com/11/13/its-more-than-just-the-hotel/

 

Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have reviews and ebook giveaways of "Mingling with Murder" and "Mashed Potato Murder" (Thanksgiving mystery) by Leslie Langtry https://www.krlnews.com/2024/11/mingling-with-murder-mashed-potato.html

 

Happy reading,

Lorie 

SleuthSayers: Going Golden, Committing Capers, and Getting Cozy

SleuthSayers: Going Golden, Committing Capers, and Getting Cozy: We've been talking quite a bit at this blog about writing stories for anthologies--mostly mystery/crime anthologies. It's easy to se...

Scott's Take: Wesley Dodds: The Sandman by Robert Venditti, Illustrator Riley Rossmo


Wesley Dodds: The Sandman by Robert Venditti, illustrated by Riley Rossmo, is a miniseries whose main character is the original Sandman (there are several Sandman). This read is set back in the 1940s in the DC Universe. The original Sandman is just starting out and has not joined the Justice Society Of America. The JSA was one of the original super teams before the Justice League. They protected their world until the red scare forced them to disband. The United States government turned on them.

 

The original Sandman was a gas mask wearing vigilante who used sleep gas to fight crime. He had the ability to see the future in nightmares which showed him horrible fates awaiting people. He would attempt to intervene. I am using the past tense since he is currently dead in the DC Universe, but was alive during this miniseries flashback.  

 

In this graphic novel, someone has stolen his chemical formulas for chemicals weapons that he accidently created in the process of creating his sleep gas. Thus, the hunt is on to find out who plans to use them in WW2 which is currently raging outside the USA. While this read also explores his origin, it also deals with his relationship with his father. A man who was shaped by the horrors of WW1 and warped a young Wesley Dodds by intimately discussing the horrors of war with him.

 

This is an action-packed mystery with a character I am not very familiar with but found myself enjoying. The artist is talented, but I found the cartoony art style not fitting for this tale. While some really good splash pages were created, the use of bioweapons and the horrors that arose from them, was diminished by the art choice.  This is an interesting miniseries with some twists and turns. Overall, I enjoyed this hoopla read.

 


Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4fwpGi2

 

 

My reading copy came by way of the Hoopla App through the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2024

Friday, November 15, 2024

Lesa's Book Critiques: Winners and Giveaways Ending

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Winners and Giveaways Ending

Mystery Fanfare: CALL FOR ARTICLES: Mystery Readers Journal: London: London; Extended Deadline Monday, November 18, 2024

Mystery Fanfare: CALL FOR ARTICLES: Mystery Readers Journal: London...: EXTENDED DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 18, 2024 While the Deadline for the London issue of Mystery Readers Journal (40:4) is actually November 15, some...

Writer Beware: Dogging the Watchdog Redux: Someone Else is Impersonating Writer Beware

 Writer Beware: Dogging the Watchdog Redux: Someone Else is Impersonating Writer Beware

In Reference To Murder: Author R&R with David Finkle

 In Reference To Murder: Author R&R with David Finkle

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida, translated by E. Madison Shimoda

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida, translat...:   Reviewed by Jeanne Shuta Kawaga is struggling with his job.   It’s a prestigious company and he should be happy but the long hours, ca...

Happiness Is A Book: Friday’s Forgotten Book: Whiskey River by Loren Estleman

 Happiness Is A Book: Friday’s Forgotten Book: Whiskey River by Loren Estleman

Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: BEYOND THE POLE

Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: BEYOND THE POLE: Beyond the Pole  by A. Hyatt Verrell  (first published in two parts in Amazing Stories , October and November 1926; reprinted in The Gernbac...

Smart Girls Read Romance: NEW AUDIO RELEASE!

Smart Girls Read Romance: NEW AUDIO RELEASE!: By Caroline Clemmons More wonderful thin gs are happening for the Pinkerton Matchmaker Series books. This series is tremendously popular. Ba...

The Rap Sheet: “Dancing” All the Way to Victory

 The Rap Sheet: “Dancing” All the Way to Victory

In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange 11/15/2024

 In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange 11/15/2024

FFB Review: The Case Of The Greedy Lawyers by Carl Brookins

 

You may not have been aware of it, but Minneapolis is the home of private detective Sean “No Middle Initial” Sean. Yes, you read that right. His first name is his last, he has no middle name, and maybe that is why he looks at everything just a little differently than most would. He’s short at just five foot three, known for wearing his red Keds even when wearing nothing at all, and is good at what he does no matter what the might be. He also has a sense of humor except when one of his clients gets murdered.

 

Except she really wasn’t his client. She drifted into his office one day, hardly said a word, told him she would have to give things some more thought and left. Sometime later she was found dead. For Sean, after being asked to identify the body, he isn’t ready to let the police take over. He begins to investigate with all trails leading back to a huge law firm with a name that sounds like many publishing houses all put together. As he digs, violence begins to erupt and it becomes clear that his wise talking PI is being used as a pawn in someone’s power game.

 

This book is a very enjoyable read from short to finish on two different levels. On one, it is a send up of all the classic detective novels. With allusions to other books and characters and how they would react, the read is often very funny. The author clearly has a knack for puns and delights in naming so many things after various publishing houses. Many of them seem to be villains in one form or another which increases the amusement factor especially for those working in the writing profession.

 

On another level, the read is a typical detective story with occasional violence, a beautiful woman in his life, and all the rest including a complicated and intriguing case that slowly becomes clear. The story line moves forward at a steady pace and features a character that is unique and entertaining. The misdirections are many and what appears obvious in the middle part of the novel is far from certain by the end.

 

The result is an entertaining roller coaster of a ride and one very good novel. A fun fast read; one can only hope that more adventures are planned for the detective with no middle initial.


 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Z0bvfr

 

I have no idea now, all these years later, how I got the read. It could have been as a library book as the Plano library system always had a lot of Five Star reads. It could have also come direct from the author as, back then, he and many authors were sending my print copies every week. How I got it is lost to the mists of time. 

 

Kevin R. Tipple © 2006, 2024

Thursday, November 14, 2024

The Rap Sheet: Amazon Renders Its Verdict

 The Rap Sheet: Amazon Renders Its Verdict

Lesa's Book Critiques: What Are You Reading?

 Lesa's Book Critiques: What Are You Reading?

Jim Nesbitt: Ed Earl Does Dallas

 Jim Nesbitt: Ed Earl Does Dallas

Mystery Fanfare: SHETLAND, SEASON 9: BritBox

Mystery Fanfare: SHETLAND, SEASON 9: BritBox: I miss Jimmy Perez on Shetland. Nevertheless, I'm still watching the series. And, here's the latest news! Shetland, Season 9, will ...

Beneath the Stains of Time: The Crossword Mystery (1979) by Robert B. Gillespie

Beneath the Stains of Time: The Crossword Mystery (1979) by Robert B. Gillespie: Robert B. Gillespie is, or perhaps was, an American writer who authored eight now largely forgotten, out-of-print crime, detective and thril...

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Thrilling Detective: Recent and Upcoming Comic & Graphic Novel Releases

 Thrilling Detective:  Recent and Upcoming Comic & Graphic Novel Releases

Mystery Fanfare: Flavia, the Movie!

Mystery Fanfare: Flavia, the Movie!: And this news from BV Lawson's In Reference to Murder , one of my favorite mystery sites.  We've been waiting a long time for this ....

The First Two Pages: “Drop Dead Gorgeous” by M.E. Proctor

 The First Two Pages: “Drop Dead Gorgeous” by M.E. Proctor

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Two Novellas by Rex Stout

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Two Novellas by Rex Stout:   In early October I reviewed "This Won't Kill You" , a novella in Three Men Out by Rex Stout. Today I am discussing the othe...

George Kelly: WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #201: FIFTY YEARS OF THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION FROM ANALOG Edited by Stanley Schmidt

 George Kelly: WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #201: FIFTY YEARS OF THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION FROM ANALOG Edited by Stanley Schmidt

Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: A CASE FOR DEDUCTION

Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: A CASE FOR DEDUCTION: "A Case for Deduction" by M. P. Shiel & "John Gawsworth" (T. I. Fytton Armstrong) (first published in Thrills:  Twen...

Patricia Abbott: Short Story Wednesday: "Cranked" Bill Crider

 Patricia Abbott: Short Story Wednesday: "Cranked" Bill Crider

Lesa's Book Critiques: A Ghost of a Chance by Bill Crider

 Lesa's Book Critiques: A Ghost of a Chance by Bill Crider

Short Story Wednesday Review: Silence of the Loons: Thirteen Tales of Mystery by Minnesota's Premier Crime Writers

 

From the archive….

 

While writers of the southwest, in particular, write of the broiling heat of summer, writers of a Minnesota background seem too often write about the brutal cold of the winter. That brutal cold of the winter is certainly a factor in a number of stories here but not in all of them. The stories do share a number of clues that had to be encompassed in each story. I’m not going to ruin the clue list by explaining it here but it’s a good one. So too are the stories in this anthology.

 

Carl Brookins who, among other things, wrote the excellent comedic mystery novel The Case Of The Greedy Lawyers which I have reviewed here and elsewhere contributes “A Winter’s Tale.” For the recluse, the snowstorm is bad enough but he really doesn’t need to find the lost traveler nearly dead in his barn.

 

For Kaye Brock, her past is known by all in “Take Me Out” by Lori L. Lake. Being an ex-con has its burdens as does living up to expectations of others.

 

Then, there is David Housewright’s tale “A Domestic Matter.” Jack is convinced his wife wants him dead. Reporter Dan Thorn doesn’t believe his old friend at first and then follows the reporter’s credo to take lots of notes as it’s going to be important later.

 

This anthology also features stories by M.D. Lake, Mary Logue, William Kent Krueger, Judith Guest, Monica Ferris, K. J. Erickson, Ellen Hart, Deborah Woodworth, Kerri Miller, and Pat Dennis. In each of the thirteen stories, some of the clues are the same and yet each author goes in very different directions. While the stories share clues, they also share the fact that almost all of them are highly atmospheric noir style reads. Maybe it’s the cold. Maybe it’s the short daylight hours. But this is a dark read that should be savored in front of a roaring fireplace. Just make sure you can keep an eye on your surroundings while you are reading.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3UMep52

 

I have no idea now how I got this book. It has been 18 years. I think that probably Carl Brookins sent it my way. But, that is just a guess. 

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple © 2006, 2024

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Lesa's Book Critiques: Kevin’s Corner Annex – Back in Black

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Kevin’s Corner Annex – Back in Black

Mystery Fanfare: DALGLIESH, SEASON 3 News!

Mystery Fanfare: DALGLIESH, SEASON 3 News!: DALGLIESH, SEASON 3, PREMIERES MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, ON ACORN TV I'm looking forward to series 3.  The six-episode season includes three t...

SleuthSayers: Bad Dates—I’ve Had A Few

SleuthSayers: Bad Dates—I’ve Had A Few: My newest short story was published yesterday in the anthology Agatha and Derringer Get Cozy : Thirteen Tales of Murder, Mystery, and Mast...

My Writing Corner : A Visit to the World of the Media

My Writing Corner : A Visit to the World of the Media: As someone who spent 40 years working in television and the media, and still writes books set in the television world, today's guest in ...

Ink-Stained Wretches: Writing “Galápagos People Watching” by N. M. Cedeño

 Ink-Stained Wretches: Writing “Galápagos People Watching” by N. M. Cedeño

Trace Evidence: Not Writing (by Nick Guthrie)

 Trace Evidence: Not Writing (by Nick Guthrie)

The Rap Sheet: Time to Air Your Opinions

 The Rap Sheet: Time to Air Your Opinions

Call for Guests


As the blog crosses the four million page views point, it seems a good time to remind you that I welcome guest posts here.

 

Guests are more than welcome and very much appreciated. Unlike some folks and their places, I don’t have a lot of forms to fill out or hoops to jump through as I have made the process as easy as possible. Most questions you may have been already answered below so please read the post before reaching out.

 

The open days are currently Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. I usually run excerpts from published or about to be published works on Sundays as excerpts seem to work best on those days.

 

Topic--pretty much anything goes. While my blog is mainly aimed towards items of interest for readers and writers of mystery and crime fiction, I am open to pretty much anything. I do ask that folks avoid the topics of religion and politics unless either or both directly relate to the work being discussed or promoted.

 

Please Note --- I am not going to run anything that advocates big pharma is hiding the cure for cancer. Folks that come up with that stuff deserve a special place in hell.

 

Before contacting me, please have an actual idea in mind. I absolutely do not assign topics. That means I am NOT going to tell you what to write about. This is your opportunity to write what you want to write about. You know your books, your expertise in topics, etc. I do not. Your idea does not have to be set in stone. It does need to have some detail. Have at least a couple of things that you know you want to have in your piece and tell me that in your pitch.

 

Word Count: Totally up to you. I do not set a maximum or a minimum word count.

 

When your piece is ready, you send it to me by email and include a 100 word or fewer bio. Also send any pics that you think should be included in the piece. While some guest posts are super heavy in pictures, I think it works best to have two or so. While I can and do lift author photos and book covers from Amazon and author websites, it is easier if you just send it from the start as well as any other pics you believe should be included.

 

This is, as always, a nonpaying opportunity. Yes, I absolutely value your work. I also have no income other than SSD (and that is just a few hundred each month) and am supporting myself, my adult son, and this old house on what little I inherited when my Mom passed. The bank account is steadily shrinking and I am doing the best I can to hang in here as inflation, my worsening health, and other issues are making it even harder.

 

At this point, I am probably going to be forced to sell the house next Spring and downsize massively to an apartment. At that point, I probably will fold the tent and call it a day on the blog, reviewing, and being online.

 

But, in the meantime, while I have no funds to pay you, I can promise to promote the heck out of your appearance. You will be seen. I can’t promise a certain number of sales, but most guests do see a spike in their sales. Guests who are on the blog on a semi regular basis do far better than one off appearances, but everyone does see an impact. Questions/ pitches should be sent to me at Kevinrtipple AT Verizon.net

 

I hope you choose to be a part of things here. Looking forward to hearing from you.

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2024

Monday, November 11, 2024

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Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg


Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg (Thomas & Mercer, 2023) finally drifted up my TBR stack and I tackled it over the weekend. I didn’t know anything about the book and I was delighted to see that the primary characters are arson investigators. I have wondered for years why arson investigators are not considered interesting enough to feature as leads in crime fiction. Homicide detectives, private eyes, department store detectives, insurance investigators, even food inspectors and railroad detectives, but I don’t remember seeing arson investigators as anything but incidental characters. Much of what they do is based on science, and I can understand that analyzing burn patterns and checking for accelerants does not make a scintillating read but I always thought it was fascinating.

Walter Sharpe is an old hand in the arson shop. He draws Andrew Walker as his new partner. Walker is a former U.S. Marshal, a bit of a cowboy, but his pregnant wife pressured him to find a job that would bring him home at night and arson seemed to be a likely alternative. With the wildfires in southern California never-ending and the winds whipping the smallest spark into an inferno that consumes acres of forest and millions of dollars in real estate, the arson department did not lack for work.

Danny Cole is a likable and talented thief, aided in his chosen profession by a significant degree of intelligence and creativity. His attention is drawn to the mega mansions in Malibu. These over-the-top residences (20 bedrooms! 40 bathrooms!) are full of valuable collectibles, art, jewelry, and cash. He decides that a well-placed wildfire would force the residents to flee, leaving the contents of their homes open to plunder.

The narrative moves back and forth between the investigators and the thieves. Along the way it draws attention to the political maneuvering that directs scarce fire protection resources to the wealthy and away from those who need them more. An informative thread describes the California convict firefighting program in which prisoners have the option to join a firefighting unit instead of living in a cell. A quick internet search says at least 14 states have programs that use inmates as firefighting resources and that they are considered essential in rural areas.

With over 50 books and multiple popular television series to his credit Goldberg is a master at character development, consistent pacing, and inventive plotting. I liked it!

The second adventure of Sharpe and Walker was released in September 2024 and the third is scheduled for April 2025. A promising new series. Starred review from Library Journal.




·         Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (September 1, 2023)

·         Language: English

·         Hardcover: 304 pages

·         ISBN-10: 166250067X

·         ISBN-13: 978-1662500671

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link:  https://amzn.to/3Csm2qW


Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2024

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