Kathleen Marple Kalb's Blog: So You Wrote the Book, Now What?: Take a New Track
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Beneath the Stains of Time: Everyone on this Train is a Suspect (2023) by Benjamin Stevenson
Beneath the Stains of Time: Everyone on this Train is a Suspect (2023) by Benj...: I recently read Benjamin Stevenson's genre debut, Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone (2022), which perfectly blended the contempo...
Jungle Red Writers: O, Canada We Love You! Let's Celebrate!
Jungle Red Writers: O, Canada We Love You! Let's Celebrate!: HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: It is rare that a blog can be so full of multiple meanings and layers of irony and importance. But today, here it is. ...
Guest Post: Writing “A Sign of the Times” by Tom Milani
Please welcome back author Tom Milani to the bog today…
Writing “A Sign of the Times”
by Tom Milani
Michael Bracken’s invitation to
contribute to Sleuths Just Wanna Have
Fun: Private Eyes in the Materialistic Eighties, set the
tone for the anthology: “Stories can be funny or humorous or just
light-hearted. The cases probably won’t be earth-shattering.” When he asked
which historical event I wanted to include in my story, I said the 1984
presidential election. Like a lot of people, I like to root for underdogs, and
there were few underdogs bigger than Walter Mondale that election. For the case
itself, I decided that the crime would be stolen campaign signs.
My setup was classic: Melody
Murphy, a pretty young woman, walks into Steve Kahler’s office, asking for the
PI’s help. At the same time, I wanted to play with the tropes. Rather than
being a femme fatale, Melody is an earnest volunteer, still trying to decide when
to take a stand. Rather than being a cynical PI with a bottle in the desk
drawer, Kahler has been on the job barely a year, his office rent subsidized by
Nunzio Vitale, his best friend and mentor.
Once I’d established the characters
and the circumstances, I knew that the mystery contained two questions: Who was
stealing the signs? Why were they being stolen? For Kahler, finding out who was
stealing the signs was relatively straightforward. Answering the question of
why required some research on my part. I read articles on the campaign and on the
issues of the day.
Reagan’s reelection campaign was
marked by the president’s optimism—“Morning in America” was the theme of one of
his campaign ads. In contrast, Mondale promised to raise taxes. That was
something to draw from, but it wasn’t enough. So, I turned to controversy,
specifically the Reagan administration’s response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. In
this case, the personal turned out to be political.
I hope you enjoy the story, and
thanks again to Michael Bracken for the opportunity to be part of this amazing
anthology.
Amazon
Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4i10lgL
Tom Milani ©2025
Tom Milani (www.tommilani.com) has published short fiction in Groovy Gumshoes: Private Eyes in the Psychedelic Sixties, Illicit Motions, Janie’s Got a Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Aerosmith, and Mickey Finn: 21st Century Noir vol. 5, among other places. “Barracuda Backfire” was published in 2024 as Book 4 of Michael Bracken’s Chop Shop series of novellas. His first novel, Places That Are Gone, will be published on May 13, 2025, by Unnerving.
Saturday, April 12, 2025
KRL Update 4/12/2025
Up on KRL this week reviews and giveaways of 3 more food cozies just in time for your Easter reading feast-"Fudge and Marriage" A Candy-Coated Mystery by Nancy J Coco, "A Spirited Blend" by Lauren Elliott, and "Scone Cold Dead" by Maddie Day https://kingsriverlife.com/04/12/more-food-mysteries-for-your-easter-reading-feast/
Also a review and giveaway of "Waters of Destruction" by Leslie Karst along with a fun spring recipe from Leslie https://kingsriverlife.com/04/12/waters-of-destruction-by-leslie-karst/
And a review and giveaway of "One Sharp Stitch" by Allie Pleiter along with an interesting interview with Allie https://kingsriverlife.com/04/12/one-sharp-stitch-by-allie-pleiter/
We also have a review of Acorn TV's show "A Remarkable Place To Die" https://kingsriverlife.com/04/12/acorntv-a-remarkable-place-to-die/
If you haven't read my latest Tower District Mystery, "One of You" yet, now is the time to get your copy. In honor of my birthday month the Kindle version is on sale for only .99 until the end of April https://tinyurl.com/4t57rps2
Up during the week we posted another special midweek guest post, this one from mystery author Meg Perry about her new book "Spotted To Death" https://kingsriverlife.com/04/09/spotted-to-death/
And a review and giveaway of a signed copy of "Murder Strikes a Chord" by Heather Weidner https://www.krlnews.com/2025/04/murder-strikes-chord-by-heather-weidner.html
And we have a review of "Cat Got Your Tongs" by Victoria Hamilton, along with a giveaway of a $20 Amazon gift card https://www.krlnews.com/2025/04/cat-got-your-tongs-by-victoria-hamilton.html
And a review and ebook giveaway of "Beyond the Gates" by Linda Lovely https://www.krlnews.com/2025/04/beyond-gates-by-linda-lovely.html
Happy reading,
Lorie
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: NLW: Staff Picks: Tonia & Jeanne
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: NLW: Staff Picks: Tonia & Jeanne: Tonia Sandwich by Catherine Newman I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Sandwich , especially since I hadn’t read anyth...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Rachel's Holiday: Marian Keyes
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Rachel's Holiday: Marian Keyes: I was initially drawn to Marian Keyes' Walsh family series when Moira at Clothes in Books reviewed The Mystery of Mercy Close . That bo...
Little Big Crimes: Cast, in Order of Reappearance, by Simon Brett
Little Big Crimes: Cast, in Order of Reappearance, by Simon Brett: "Cast, in Order of Reappearance," by Simon Brett, in Playing Dead, edited by Martin Edwards, Severn House, 2025. This book is i...
Scott's Take: Get Fury by Garth Ennis, Jacen Burrows (Illustrator), and Dave Johnson (Cover Art)
Get Fury by Garth Ennis, Jacen Burrows
(Illustrator), and Dave Johnson (Cover Art) is the newest book in the Max
universe. Featuring the Max versions of Nick Fury (who is a more sleazy
and an amoral version of Nick Fury) and Frank Castle. Back once again in
Vietnam, Castle has a new mission. Kill Nick Fury.
The enemy has captured Fury and is going
to torture him. If he breaks, he knows too much. The mission would be
impossible as a rescue so there is only one option. Kill him before he talks.
Castle is sent to do just that. Of course, things are way more complicated than
that. Throw in some dirty CIA officers, a spurred lover of Nick Fury, and more.
This is going to get messy.
There is plenty of violence and gore as
one would expect from a Max universe book. It is depressing and
realistic. The art is gritty. Castle is a bigger part of this book than Fury.
So, it is not as much of a team up book as one might expect.
Since this is a prequel to the main series, of course both survive Vietnam. How that happens is the majority of the read. This tale is narrated by an old man for a good part of the novel who fought for Vietcong. His parts I could have done without, but the rest was pretty good. There is a lot of violence, some torture scenes, and foul language. This was an interesting read overall.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4hnijdj
I read this through the Hoopla App and
the Dallas Public Library System.
Scott A. Tipple ©2025
Monday, April 07, 2025
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Striking Out by Alison Gordon
In honor of the official start
of the baseball season, I looked for a mystery or two about the sport of
baseball. Alison Gordon (1943 – 2015) was a Canadian journalist
and sports writer for CBC and the Toronto Star. She was one of
Canada’s first well-known women sports journalists, covering the Toronto Blue
Jays. Gordon also wrote five mysteries about sports reporter Kate Henry.
In Striking Out
(McClelland & Stewart, 1995), the fourth book of the series, Kate is at
loose ends because of the major league baseball strike that began in August
1994 and would end eventually in April 1995. But Kate didn’t know that a couple
of weeks after the strike began. With no games being played, she can only
report on the progress of settlement talks, or lack thereof. So when the son of
her friend and neighbor reports the homeless lady who has been camping out in
the alley behind their house has disappeared, Kate has time to look into it.
Around the same time Kate’s
partner, homicide detective Andy Munro, is shot in a prospective drug bust that
unexpectedly turned violent during which the shooter was killed. The resulting
reaction inflamed racial tensions in the city that were already simmering and
brought protests against police violence. Kate is too busy focusing on Andy,
whose injuries were serious, to pay attention to anything else. Once he is on
the mend, she turns back to searching the shelters and social services offices
for someone who might know what became of her back street resident.
The themes in this book of
racial discrimination in policing, police violence, limitations in social
support for those without conventional homes, and domestic abuse are just as relevant
today as they were when this book was published 30 years ago. Gordon works a
good bit of factual information about law enforcement violence and homelessness
into the narrative. Kate is an appealing character; her ability to juggle her
work and monitor her convalescent partner and look for an apparent societal
dropout is impressive, if exhausting.
This book was a finalist for
the 1996 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel. The series is older and will likely
not be available in libraries, but interlibrary loan is always an option. The
books are readily available on the secondary market.
·
Publisher:
McClelland & Stewart
(April 29, 1995)
·
Language:
English
·
Hardcover:
240 pages
·
ISBN-10:
0771034237
·
ISBN-13:
978-0771034237
Amazon Associate Purchase
Link: https://amzn.to/3FWjhjF
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2025
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
Sunday, April 06, 2025
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Fifth Tumbler (1936) by Clyde B. Clason
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Fifth Tumbler (1936) by Clyde B. Clason: Clyde B. Clason was an American copywriter, trade magazine editor and author of ten once very popular, critically acclaimed Van Dinean det...
Jerry's House of Everything: MASK COMICS #1 (FEBRUARY-MARCH 1945)
Jerry's House of Everything: MASK COMICS #1 (FEBRUARY-MARCH 1945): I have no idea why this comic book is titled Mask Comics , but it surely does have a unique cover. It's a catch-all anthology title wi...
KRL This week 4/6/2025
Up on KRL this week we have a review of the latest Coffeehouse mystery by Cleo Coyle, "No Roast for the Weary", along with a great giveaway! https://kingsriverlife.com/04/05/no-roast-for-the-weary-by-cleo-coyle/
And a review and ebook giveaway of "Rebellious Grace" by Jeri Westerson https://kingsriverlife.com/04/05/rebellious-grace-by-jeri-westerson/
And a review and giveaway of "Murder on the Steel Pier" by Rosie Genova along with an interesting interview with Rosie https://kingsriverlife.com/04/05/murder-on-the-steel-pier-by-rosie-genova/
We also have the latest Mystery Coming Attractions from Victoria Fair https://kingsriverlife.com/04/05/mystery-coming-attractions-april-2025/
For those who prefer to listen to Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast directly on KRL, here is the player for the latest episode featuring the mystery short story "Pleasant Drive" written by Chelle Martin and read by local actor Sean Hopper https://kingsriverlife.com/04/05/new-mysteryrats-maze-podcast-featuring-pleasant-drive/
Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and giveaway of "Antiques and Adversity in the Azores" the first in a brand new series by Victoria Tait https://www.krlnews.com/2025/04/antiques-and-adversity-in-azores-by.html
And a review and giveaway of a signed copy of "Snuffling Up Bones" by DonnaRae Menard https://www.krlnews.com/2025/04/snuffling-up-bones-by-donnarae-menard.html
Up on KRL News and Reviews this morning a review of "Cat Got Your Killer" by Sofie Ryan https://www.krlnews.com/2025/04/cat-got-your-killer-by-sofie-ryan.html
Happy reading,
Lorie
Guest Post: It Don’t Come Easy by Tom Milani
Please welcome back author Tom Milani to the bog today…
It Don’t Come Easy
When
Adam Meyer invited me to contribute to In Too Deep: Crime Stories Inspired
by the Songs of Genesis, I was thrilled because (a) he’s a good friend and
(b) he let me have the song “Misunderstanding.” The official video for that
song is perfect noir: man waits by a payphone in the rain for his girlfriend to
answer, eventually gives up and drives to her place, where he sees another guy
emerging.
Seems
like the story should write itself, right? Then how did Little Bijou enter the
picture? More on that in a moment.
In
my first draft, I had the woman be a high school crush of my protagonist’s,
who’s back in town to solicit his help in getting rid of her husband. Never
mind that this is well-trod territory (hello, James M. Cain), I pushed on. I
had a couple of different endings, the only variations being who died (husband
in one; protagonist and husband in the other). The murder was arranged to look
like an accident. The protagonist sabotaged a stairway leading to his crush’s
basement. Unfortunately, my wife (first reader with a degree in interior
design) pointed out to me that stairways aren’t constructed the way I’d
envisioned.
In
my second draft, I decided to pursue a comic route. This time, my protagonist
and the woman planned to kidnap the husband’s dog (Little Bijou), offering to
trade the dog in exchange for the husband’s agreeing to walk away from their
marriage. At some point, my protagonist changed his mind, deciding to keep the
dog and leave the girl. Even I couldn’t stomach it.
Which
led to the third draft. Here, everything changed. The high school crush became
an ex-girlfriend. The protagonist had unresolved trauma of his own. I took the
pain of his apparent betrayal (one misunderstanding) and his ex-girlfriend’s
indifference (another misunderstanding) and increased the stakes for all the parties
involved. My own misunderstanding of how easy the story would be to write led,
finally, to something truer to the theme of the song, if far darker.
Tom
Milani ©2025
Tom Milani (www.tommilani.com) has published short fiction in Groovy Gumshoes: Private Eyes in the Psychedelic Sixties, Illicit Motions, Janie’s Got a Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Aerosmith, and Mickey Finn: 21st Century Noir vol. 5, among other places. “Barracuda Backfire” was published in 2024 as Book 4 of Michael Bracken’s Chop Shop series of novellas. His first novel, Places That Are Gone, will be published on May 13, 2025, by Unnerving.
Saturday, April 05, 2025
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Six Degrees of Separation: From Knife to Valley of the Kings
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Six Degrees of Separation: From Knife to Valley of...: The Six Degrees of Separation meme is hosted by Kate at booksaremyfavoriteandbest . The idea behind the meme is to start with a book and...
SleuthSayers: We Can't Bury Her THERE
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Scott's Take: The Punisher: Born by Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson (Artist) and Wieslaw Walkuski (Cover Art)
The Punisher: Born by Garth Ennis,
Darick Robertson (Artist) and Wieslaw Walkuski (Cover Art), tells the origin
of the Punisher for the Punisher Max series. This read is set back
in Vietnam during Frank Castle’s third tour. Castle claims he is sticking
around to protect the men under his command, but that is not the only reason he
is staying during the war’s last days. He has found that he likes the violence
even though he knows he should not. Stationed at an undermanned, under supplied
firebase on the front lines with a command structure that is failing to do
anything to maintain discipline and several other problems, things do not look
good. He is leading the last combat capable platoon in the area that is still
running attacks against the enemy. A massive enemy offensive is building
unfortunately for him and his men. Things are not going to go well.
This tale is told mostly through the
eyes of one of the men in his command and who wants to go home unlike Frank. He
knows Frank is his best chance of survival, but he also knows there is
something broken in that man. Featuring violent content, some small
supernatural elements, and frantic art, this is an interesting read.
Since it is a prequel to the main Punisher
Max series obviously, he survives, but everyone else’s chances are up
in the air. I enjoyed this more than the first six volumes I have read of the
Punisher Max series since Garth Ennis is not as edgelordy here as
he is in the main series. Sometimes it
seems that Ennis is going to a dark place just for shock value, but there is no
shock value when you expect it. I recommend this for fans of the Punisher who
want a glimpse into the early days of Castle’s life.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4hsA9eV
I read this through the Hoopla App and
the Dallas Public Library System.
Scott A. Tipple ©2025
Friday, April 04, 2025
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Marple: Twelve New Mysteries
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Marple: Twelve New Mysteries: Reviewed by Jeanne I am a long-time fan of Agatha Christie, especially of her stories featuring the elderly spinster Jane Marple. Wi...
Thursday, April 03, 2025
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Hit List: Top 10 Locked Room Mystery Novels That Need to Be Reprinted
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Hit List: Top 10 Locked Room Mystery Novels Th...: In 2022, I posted an addendum to Nick Fuller's " Detective Stories to Reprint " entitled " Curiosity is Killing the Cat:...
Jerry's House of Everything: DRAGNET: ERIC KELBY -- BODY BURIED IN NURSERY (SEPTEMBER 3, 1949)
Jerry's House of Everything: DRAGNET: ERIC KELBY -- BODY BURIED IN NURSERY (...: The story you about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect then innocent... You're a detective sergeant. You'...
Sweet Freedom: Wednesday's Short Stories: FANTASY MAGAZINE, March...
Sweet Freedom: Wednesday's Short Stories: FANTASY MAGAZINE, March...: from the FictionMags Index: Fantasy Magazine [v1 #1, March 1953] (35¢, 160pp+, digest, cover by Hannes Bok ) [] Given as February 1953 in...
Review: The Big Empty: An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel by Robert Crais
The
Big Empty: An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel by Robert Crais is one of those books
that slaps you upside your head. A very good read, but it is a tale full of
pain, heartbreak, and rage, that changed so many lives then and now.
For Private Investigator
Elvis Cole, the case starts when Tracie Beller hires him. Her mom, her uncle
Phil, and her various other advisors wish her not to do it. But, her dad, Tommy
Beller, disappeared ten years ago. Everybody believes he just walked away from
his family. Tracie never believed that.
All these years
later, she is a social media phenomenon as she bakes her way to stardom and
riches. She has millions of followers and there are investors considering
becoming part of her rapidly growing brand. While all of that does matter to
her, what is far more important is finding out what happed to her father. She
has the money to hire a private detective and she wants Elvis Cole.
He agrees to
look into things. That means heading out of Los Angeles to the nearby community
of Rancha where Mr. Beller was last seen working as he serviced various
clients. He and Uncle Phil owned and ran a heating and air company. He was out
there, in a company van, doing service calls when he vanished. So too did the
repair van. The clients of that day are important, especially the last clients
he saw which were Sadie Given and her daughter, Anya.
His presence and
activities bring him to the attention of others who are determined to stop him,
one way or another. As if anything short of being murdered would stop “The
World’s Greatest Detective” and his running buddy, Joe Pike.
I am reminded yet
again that we all need a Joe Pike in our lives.
I am also
reminded that Robert Crais can seriously write. The Big Empty: An Elvis
Cole and Joe Pike Novel is a complex multi layered read that hits you
hard in the guts and then smacks you right between the eyes. The details of what
happened and why are horrific and can’t be shared without blowing up the read.
There is a reason why the jacket copy is so sparse and worded the way it is on
the book.
Strongly
Recommended.
Make sure you
read Aubrey’s review
from early January.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3XHlTb6
My reading copy
came from the White Rock Hills Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2025
Wednesday, April 02, 2025
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Bryant and May on the Loose by Christopher Fowler
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Bryant and May on the Loose by Christopher Fowler: We do not have a Nevermore report for today, so we're digging into the archives for some old posts you may not have seen. This one is...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Two Books of Horror and Strange Stories
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Two Books of Horror and St...: Today I am sharing two of my husband's short story books, which lean toward the strange and the weird. Normally these are not the sor...
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: BLACK STUFF
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: BLACK STUFF: "Black Stuff" by Ken Bruen (from Bruen's anthology Dublin Noir , 2006) We lost one of the truly greats this last Saturday wit...
Short Story Wednesday Review: Black Cat Mystery Magazine #15
It has been
quite some time since I have been able to pick up an issue of Black Cat
Mystery Magazine as the recent issues have been print only. But, the most
recent issue, Black Cat MysteryMagazine #15, is available in print and digital formats so I was able
to get the eBook version. Not only is that better for my shrinking finances as
I pick up things via my Amazon Associate account, but I can adjust the typeface
so that I can actually read it.
As always,
Editor Michael Bracken leads things off with his piece, “From The Cat’s Perch.”
The theme for this issue is praise for the Short Mystery Fiction Society.
Like this reviewer, Mr. Bracken previously served terms as Vice President and
President of the SMFS. A number of the authors featured in this issue are
current SMFS list members as well.
Stacy Woodson’s
short story, “Armadillo By Morning,” leads things off where Roy is looking
forward to retirement. He has enjoyed being an Animal Control Officer for many
decades, but his hip is telling him that enough is enough. So too is Millie
Wendell who has constant complaints from her place just inside their rural
jurisdiction. This time she is mad about an armadillo that keeps coming back
and tearing up her garden.
The guy is dead
in “After Their Convictions, Six Murders Reflect On How Killing Mr. Boddy
Changed Their Lives” by Tara Laskowski and Art Taylor. The husband and wife,
who each individually, have quite an authorship record, collaborate here with a
complicated and amusing tale based of the legendary boardgame, CLUE. I’m
certainly not going to ruin this short story by telling you more.
Author, and in
this case, translator, Josh Pachter is up next with his translation of “Promises
To Keep” by Gert-Jan van den Bemd. In a gut-wrenching story that hit way too
close to home for this reader, Mrs. van Tilt is at the door wanting to make a
certain purchase. The item in question that she wishes to buy from the elderly
couple will change everything for all involved.
Prolific author
John M. Floyd is up next with “A Cold Day In Helena.” The brothers, Ray and
Will Hardy, are up against it. Their only option seems to be to rob the local
bank. The First National Bank is a relatively easy target as far as banks go
and they have a good plan. They just need the nerve to execute the job.
The large barrels
arrive on the occasional truck at the isolated and derelict station in Arizona.
The cartel has stuff that needs disposing of in those barrels and that is why
he has the job. At least job he has the for now in “Human Waste” by Davin
Ireland. The always taciturn Jorge is back with his truck on this Sunday and he
is not happy. His presence, and his attitude, is not good news in many ways.
Life on the
island was a bit limited and routine. Then, a week before his Peace Corps gig
was supposed to be over, Janine’s body was found in a ravine nearby. In “Hiva-Oa”
by J. W. Wood, Michael is naturally a suspect in the death of the married
woman. Especially after several and very public events that led to rumors and
gossip by nearly everyone on the island.
R. T. Lawton is
next and takes readers to NYC in his tale titled, “Most Important Meal Of The
Day.” Our narrator very much likes his free breakfast that Sarah, the cashier,
gives him each day. Times are tough, he is unemployed, and winter is coming.
Breakfast is important and often his only meal. He needs the free food and does
not want to lose it. Leonard and Jules are probably going to ruin things.
She knows he is
watching her in the bar. He thinks he is going to get lucky. He most definitely
is, but not the way he thought in “Luxury Goods” by R. M. Lowery.
Talia Houghton barely survived the murders of her family. Our narrator, the public defender that had to defend the accused, Danny Houghton, remains haunted by her eyes and the horror of her case in “The Child” by Elizabeth Elwood. All these years later though there have been court actions, a prison sentence, and more, the case is not over.
Marcelle Dubé’s short
story, “Getting Back Into Heaven” comes next and takes readers to the Yukon.
Growing up, Jonas’ mom always told him he was a special boy and that God had a special
place for him right by his side waiting for him. He knew that space, and heaven
itself, would never happen after he served in Afghanistan. These days, Jonas
Bellechasse, is working with a group of geologists. His job is to keep them
safe and the main threat has been wild bears. Jonas likes his job and finds the
rugged forest peaceful and pleasant. A wildfire threatens everyone involved in
this increasingly tense tale.
She was having
fun playing at being a spy in ‘An Imp In Spy’s Clothing” by Robert Jeschonek.
Then things got very serious. Now she is wearing what seems to be a suicide
vest and she may not live long enough to enjoy her beloved Lisbon, Portugal,
again.
Evelyn Wheatley
and James Vaughn don’t agree on much of anything in “Let’s Settle This” by Jack
Ritchie. At least, that is what they publicly say. Jimmy’s dad, owner of the
law firm, thinks they should get married. The fact that her current guy, Eddie
Conley, a classmate of Jimmy’s from law school and an adversary in the current
legal case, makes things far more complicated in this story that ends the
issue.
As always, this
publication showcases a variety of mysteries in the spectrum with a variety of
writing styles, locations, and more. Black Cat Mystery Magazine #15,
not to be confused with the also very good Black Cat Weekly, is another solidly
good edition and well worth your time.
Amazon Associate
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4j8rIXl
My reading copy
came by way of an Amazon Associate purchase using funds in my account.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2025
Tuesday, April 01, 2025
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: March News from the Short Mystery Fiction Society
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: March News from the Short Mystery Fiction Society: March of 2025 was another exciting and productive month for the writers belonging to the Short Mystery Fiction Society! Readers looking fo...
Criminal Minds: Not Where, but How
Criminal Minds: Not Where, but How: Terry here with our question of the week: Not “where do you get your ideas, but HOW? Do they come to you as images? Memories? Overheard co...
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: SMFS Official Announcement: 2025 Derringer Award Finalists
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: SMFS Official Announcement: 2025 Derringer Award F...: S ince 1998, the Short Mystery Fiction Society has awarded the annual Derringers—named after the popular pocket pistol—to outstanding publis...
Publication Day Review: Bitterfrost by Bryan Gruley
Have you ever woken
up and not had a clue what happened? I don’t mean a few minutes of disassociation,
but full on many minutes of having no clue what in the heck happened or why you
are in the shape you are in? I’ve done it several times thanks to concussions.
The first, and
probably the most traumatic and the probable source of some of my health and cognitive
issues these days, was back in elementary school many years ago. My parents had
always said that I should not play in the pickup football games before school.
That I would get hurt. I did not listen. One morning, the last memory I have is
running to intercept a bigger kid and make the tackle. I’m told that I got him
and his buddy, in anger, drop kicked my head afterwards as I laid on the
ground.
I lost over an
hour and a half where I have no memory of what went on. It is incredibly scary
to have no idea what in the heck happened.
Former hockey
player Jimmy Baker finds himself in that situation as Bitterfrost
by Bryan Gruley begins. He awakens to a pinging noise in his head and the smell
of blood. He is on his kitchen floor just before four in the morning, missing a
shoe, with torn up knuckles, and a host of other issues. He is still wearing
his IceKings jacket, now with a very bloody sleeve. He knows he wore that
jacket the night before, had it on when he left the arena, and while he had his
one drink at the Lost Loon Tavern. He knows he spent some time there as it is
his nightly ritual, after he puts the Zamboni away, to lock up the place and
hang out at the Lost Loon Tavern. He has one drink and goes home after a while.
But, something
clearly happened. Not only is he wearing evidence that something happened,
there is even more evidence outside his home, and in his truck. Something
really bad happened. He has no clue at all what. With his record, that makes
everything so much worse.
Meanwhile, the
state police get a call that there is an abandoned pickup truck nearby. Upon
arrival, they find that somebody failed at trying to burn the truck. The same
truck that has a lot of blood in it. The same truck that is dumped in close
range of Jimmy Baker’s house.
The truck is
just inside the jurisdictional boundary of city of Bitterfrost, Michigan, and
that means Detective Garth Klimmek is on the case. A case that gains urgency as
the son of a wealthy man has gone missing. Politics, media attention, and the
finding of a body means the pressure is on to solve the case fast.
What follows is
a highly entertaining read that this review only scratches the surface.
Multiple storylines, personal agendas, family secrets going back decades, and more
is at work in this read that one hopes is the start of a new series from this
very talented author. If you have read Bryan Gruley before (Starvation
Lake, Bleak
Harbor, and others), you know that the complicated mystery will
include a lot of references to hockey, wealthy families and their power, and
old murder cases, are always the backbone of his books. Such is the case here as
is a lot more besides. Much of which should not be discussed so as to not ruin
the read.
In short, make
sure you read Bitterfrost by Bryan Gruley. The read is very much
worth your time and is strongly recommended.
Amazon Associates
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3RsDU9s
My reading copy came through NetGalley from the publisher, Severn House, with no expectation of a review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2025
Monday, March 31, 2025
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Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Heartwood by Amity Paige
Told from multiple points of
view, the story is hard to follow sometimes, as the connection between some of
the narrators is not clear. While waiting to be found, Valerie writes a journal
about her experience, directing her notes to her mother and reflecting upon
their relationship. Beverly has the greater part of the narration as she
describes the daily search plans and the attempts to gain more information
about Valerie to try to understand where and how she might have gotten off the
trail. Then a 76-year-old wheelchair-bound nature enthusiast named Lena
Kucharski in an assisted living facility in Connecticut writes about her failed
relationship with her daughter and her uneasiness living among so many people.
Her online friendship with a survivalist is her primary distraction, which
turns out to be unexpectedly helpful. She has no apparent link to either
Beverly or Valerie.
The hiker who walked with Valerie
most of the way, Ruben Serrano, gets almost as much space as Lena does, and
transcripts of interviews with family and friends form chapters. Notes from
other hikers who met Valerie along the trail and from the public saying the
caller knows where Valerie is or that they saw her yesterday, no doubt similar
to those received during a real-life search, break up the longer sections.
I cannot easily categorize
this book. It shows up on NetGalley in the Mystery and Thriller section.
I suppose it can be called a low-key thriller, perhaps suspense is a better
term. It can also be categorized as women’s fiction, since the three main
characters are women at turning points in their lives.
The gradual increase in
tension in the action is restrained but noticeable. I found the book
propulsive, despite its disorderly flow, and insightful in its examination of individual
relationships with people and with nature and how well an individual balances
those needs with their own needs.
Readers who like nature-focused
mysteries or search and rescue stories or find the Appalachian Trail
fascinating should consider this book. In some ways it reminds me of The
Left-Handed Twin by Thomas Perry, in which its protagonist is pursued
through the wilderness of Maine.
Starred review from Booklist.
·
Publisher:
Simon & Schuster (April 1,
2025)
·
Language:
English
·
Hardcover:
320 pages
·
ISBN-10:
1668063603
·
ISBN-13:
978-1668063606
Amazon Associate Purchase
Link: https://amzn.to/4hTmg9N
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2025
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.