Saturday, January 04, 2025

Scott's Take: Batman-Santa Claus: Silent Knight Returns by Jeff Parker (Author) and Lukas Ketner (Illustrator)

 

Batman-Santa Claus: Silent Knight Returns by Jeff Parker (Author) and Lukas Ketner (Illustrator) is the sequel to the first Batman- Santa Claus team up book, Batman – Santa Claus: Silent Knight by Jeff Parker, Illustrator Michele Bandini. I read all five issues on DC Infinite and they have not collected it in trade form yet. This means I did not have access to the variant covers. such as the sexy Santa variant, which is supposed to be scratch and sniff. I am glad I do not. Sexy and Santa is not something I want connected in my mind.

 

In this Christmas tale, the Justice League attempts to stop a magical knight who is sucking the life out of random people. The league is quickly defeated and banished by the knight. Mera, Batman, Superman, and others are forced into a pocket dimension away from the world. Robin (Damian) barely escapes and goes to Zatanna for help. Soon Santa joins them. Along the way other heroes join up to rescue their friends such as Mary Marvel and Mrs. Claus.

 

This action-packed Christmas tale with some minor horror elements is a fun fast read with Fairey and Arthurian mythology. Mrs. Claus as a warrior was not something I expected to read. The art is good and several minor heroes get the spotlight who usually don’t get to appear as much. The main covers are really cool and fun. One such cover has Santa making wood figures of the heroes who join as reinforcements midway through the tale.

 

The Flash (Wally) joins in the fun with his horrible new costume. I know this is a nitpick, but his costume is so bad. Its jarring. I really don’t know how someone got that thing approved. You know it’s bad when its being mocked all the time online.

 

The ending sets up potential further adventures for Santa and the League. One hopes they keep this series going as there is setup for more.

 


As noted in the review, at this time, only the five single issues that make up the read are available at the DC Unlimited app. Scroll down to COMIC SERIES.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2025

Friday, January 03, 2025

Lesa's Book Critiques: Rosemary Kaye’s Favorites of 2024

 Lesa's Book Critiques: Rosemary Kaye’s Favorites of 2024

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: New Books in January!

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Writer Beware: Karma’s a Bitch: The Law Catches Up With PageTurner Press and Media

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Happiness Is A Book: Friday’s Forgotten Book: Death Lights a Candle by Phoebe Atwood Taylor

 Happiness Is A Book: Friday’s Forgotten Book: Death Lights a Candle by Phoebe Atwood Taylor

Patricia Abbott: FFB: CROSS COUNTRY, Herbert Kastle

 Patricia Abbott: FFB: CROSS COUNTRY, Herbert Kastle

FFB Review: The Good Detective by John McMahon


I have long been a fan of the books by John McMahon. I don’t know why more folks are not read and supporting his stuff. Having just finished his new one, Head Cases, coming out at the end of the month, I thought I would remind you of The Good Detective. This came out a few years back and was the first book of a series (The Evil Men Do and A Good Kill.) This a great series and one that is well worth your time.

 

 

Set in Mason Falls, Georgia, The Good Detective by John McMahon is a complicated novel of family history, legacy, southern tradition, and in one major way, redemption. In this intense police procedural, deals are made with the devils you know to get not just what you want, but what you need.

 

Detective P. I. Marsh desperately needs to have his wife and son back with him. Thanks to a recent tragic accident late one night, that will never happen again on this mortal plane. Now he needs booze to push down the pain and to stop from thinking about his loss and the fact he continues to live without them.

 

That heavy drinking means he does not often remember what he did the previous evening. As the book jacket telegraphs to everyone---“How Do You Solve A Crime If You Killed The Prime Suspect?”--- this is precisely Detective Marsh’s problem. He does not know if he killed the abusive boyfriend of the stripper known to all by her stage name of “Crimson.” He was there, the guy is very much dead, and he can’t remember what happened after he showed up and sent her on her way before explaining reality to the abusive boyfriend. It is possible, but he does not think he is so far gone that he actually did it. He just does not know and has no one he can confide in and no evidence one way or the other.

 

With that issue on him, he has his own murder case to solve. There just might be a link back to the other murder case which might be a way of proving his innocence. He has to work hard and fast to solve his own case with his colleagues actively working the other murder case. Their hard work may soon result in a situation where he is named as the one and only suspect.

 

His case is bad as a young African American male was found burned to death in a farmer’s field. That was bad, but the fact that, at some point, a noose was around his neck makes things so much worse. Beyond that link, there are other links to southern history in this small part of Georgia. It soon becomes clear that these killings happen in pairs and another child is missing.

 

A fast paced and intense police procedural, The Good Detective takes several classic tropes and throws them into a blender before tossing in a bunch of other stuff. What comes out is an intense read that has hints of Shakespeare and Greek tragedies, more than a dash of dark humor, and a trace of redemption that is not one hundred percent pure, among other elements. Race and history play major roles in the read as does grief and trying to go on after you have lost everything that truly mattered.

 


 

For more on the book, head over to Lesa Holstine’s blog where she has an interview with the author. You can read that interview here. This is one of those deals where the fictional character interviews the author. A short interview that also does not spoil the book unlike many such interviews out there on the internet and in print.

 

Amazon Associates Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3W5SSoO

 

My reading copy came by way of the Forest Green Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2020, 2025

Thursday, January 02, 2025

Lesa's Book Critiques: What Are You Reading?

 Lesa's Book Critiques: What Are You Reading?

Dark City Underground: Booked (and Printed): Dec. 2024

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Jerry's House of Everything: 21st PRECINCT: THE NOLEN BROTHERS (JULY 7, 1953)

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Barry Ergang: Books I read in 2024

 

Those who have been around these parts awhile know that Barry used to review a lot of books here. While he is not doing that—his choice and absolutely not mine--- he is still reading. He sent the below list of his reading last year. Also, check out the reads he wrote and published here

 

72 titles altogether. If you're curious as to how I felt about some of them, have a look at my Bookbub page (https://www.bookbub.com/profile/barry-ergang?list=reviews&review_step=search) and click on the cover of a title to access my rating and reaction. Bookbub only allows users to post "reviews" about books available in digital formats from sellers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and others. If a title you're curious about isn't shown, it's because the book is not available digitally--e.g., Peter Gunn, which was a paperback original published in 1960.

 

Acevedo, Elizabeth—The Poet X

Albert, Kevin—Chat GPT for Authors (very short ebook)

Anderson, Laurie Halse--Speak

Ballinger, Bill S.—Portrait in Smoke

Blake, Nicholas—The Widow’s Cruise

Block, Lawrence—The Burglar Who Counted the Spoons

Block, Lawrence—When the Sacred Ginmill Closes

Boswell, Len—A Grave Misunderstanding

Carr, John Dickson—Scandal at High Chimneys

Chbosky, Stephen—The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Cheney, Liz—Oath and Honor

Coben, Harlan—Found (Mickey Bolitar #3)

Coben, Harlan—Seconds Away (Mickey Bolitar #2)

Coben, Harlan—Shelter (Mickey Bolitar #1)

Collier, Brad—California Living: A Raymond Chandler Tribute Novel

Deaver, Jeffery--Twisted

De Palma, Brian & Susan Lehman—Are Snakes Necessary?

Dewey, Thomas B.—Hue and Cry

Dick, Philip K.—I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon

Dzemianowicz, Stefan R., Robert Weinberg, Martin H. Greenberg, eds.—Hard-Boiled Detectives

Estleman, Loren D.—Downriver

Garber, Joseph R.—Vertical Run (2nd reading)

Gardner, Erle Stanley—The Adventures of Paul Pry

Gaspard, John—The Ambitious Card

George, Kaye--Choke

Goldberg, Lee—Mr. Monk Gets Even

Goodis, David—The Wounded and the Slain

Gratz, Alan—Ban This Book

Haddish, Tiffany—The Last Black Unicorn

Hale, Bruce—The Hamster of the Baskervilles

Hallinan, Timothy—Crashed

Hay, A.D.—The Locked Room

Healy, Jeremiah—Foursome

Hess, Joan—Mortal Remains in Maggody

Hess, Joan—O Little Town of Maggody

Hiaasen, Carl—Squeeze Me

Hiney, Tom—Raymond Chandler: A Biography

Hogan, Robert J.—The Secret 6 #1: The Red Shadow

Jackson, Colby—Shooter’s Cross {Rancho Diablo Book 1}

Johnson, Craig—The Cold Dish

Kane, Henry—Peter Gunn

Kistler, Bonnie—The Cage

Levine, Paul—Solomon vs. Lord

Lowry, Lois—The Giver

Macdonald, Ross—The Chill (2nd reading)

McBain, Ed—Fiddlers

McKinnon, Hannah Mary—The Revenge List

McNulty, Brandon—Entry Wounds: A Supernatural Thriller

Marks, Jeffrey—How to Write a Murder Mystery: Seven Steps to Success

Mead, Tom—Death and the Conjuror

Milchman, Jenny—The Usual Silence

Millar, Margaret—Ask For Me Tomorrow

Morris, Mary—The Jazz Palace

Muller, Marcia & Bill Pronzini—The Spook Lights Affair

Nolan, Tom—Ross Macdonald: A Biography

Oppedisano, Tony with Mary Jane Ross—Sinatra and Me In the Wee Small Hours

Palumbo, Dennis—City Wars

Penny, Louise—Still Life

Pilkey, Dav—The Adventures of Captain Underpants

Queen, Ellery—The Four of Hearts

Rice, Craig—Murder, Mystery, and Malone (Jeffrey A. Marks, Editor)

Ronson, Jon—The Psychopath Test

Setoodeh, Ramin—Apprentice in Wonderland

Spicer, Bart—Blues For The Prince

Swartwood, Robert, ed.—Hint Fiction: An Anthology of Stories 25 Words or Fewer

Thomas, Robert J. et alWanted: A Western Story Collection

Thompson, Jim—Bad Boy

Vachss, Andrew—Shella

Wirt, Tony—Pike Island

Woolrich, Cornell—Vampire’s Honeymoon

Wright, Steven—Harold

Wrobel, Stephanie—The Hitchcock Hotel 

Wednesday, January 01, 2025

Lesa's Book Critiques: February Treasures in My Closet

 Lesa's Book Critiques: February Treasures in My Closet

SleuthSayers: Being Resolute

SleuthSayers: Being Resolute:   Happy New Year!  Since I have the honor of welcoming in the glorious new annum I thought I might provide some Resolutions for Writers.  N...

Happiness Is A Book: Favorite Books of 2024

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Beneath the Stains of Time: The Labyrinth House Murders (1988) by Yukito Ayatsuji

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SleuthSayers: 2024 Year in Review: Editing

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Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 2025 New Year's Writing Resolution (for writers): Recycle Your Work

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 2025 New Year's Writing Resolution (for writers): ...: Every year, I make a New Year's Resolution just for writing. I don't bother with personal resolutions, because I never keep them. (I...

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke

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Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESAY: SELECTION

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Patricia Abbott: Short Story Wednesday: SIGNAL, John Lanchester HAPPY NEW YEAR

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