Showing posts with label April 2025. Show all posts
Showing posts with label April 2025. Show all posts
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Books Read in April 2025
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Books Read in April 2025: In April I read eight books: one nonfiction, one graphic novel, one time-loop novel, one very long fantasy novel, three crime fiction novels...
Friday, May 02, 2025
FFB Review: Purgatory Bay by Bryan Gruley
Having
reminded you last Friday of the very good book, Bleak
Harbor, it seemed to be a good idea to remind you of this one. From the
archive…
Purgatory Bay by Bryan Gruley continues what began in Bleak Harbor. While not a
straight sequel to the prior book, it features the local area and some of the same
characters. There are also numerous references, some far more detailed than
others, to the prior book and those events. For that reason, those who have
read the prior book will get far more out of this read than those who have not.
Jubilee Rathman lives a life of wealth
and splendid isolation in her home on Purgatory Bay near Black Harbor. It has
been twelve years since the night her family was wiped out by murders. She knew
who was responsible as did law enforcement, but when the wealthy and connected
are involved, the fight to hold those accountable is often impossible. Long ago
she gave up on the legal system and those within it that had so utterly failed
her. Those that believe she moved on and managed to put the past behind her would
be sadly mistaken.
Instead, she is financing her own very
personal quest for justice. She sees it as holding those involved, no matter
how far removed, as accountable for their roles in her personal tragedy. Others
would see her plan, if they knew of it before things commenced, as nothing more
than a revenge list and that many of her targets would be misplaced targets of
her rage.
One of the not so obvious targets is a
local resident, Ophelia. A renowned artist and a contributor by way of various sculptures
around the area, she lost her sight during her teen years. Removing her from
the home and making her vanish is a key part of Jubilee Rathman’s plan. She
must vanish so that former reporter Michaela “Mikey” Deming can experience just
a small beginning taste of what Jubilee Rathman has in store for her and many
other folks.
Purgatory Bay by Bryan Gruley is very much like the preceding book, Bleak
Harbor, in that it is another very complicated read filled with
multiple storylines, family tragedies, and acts of violence, betrayal, and
vengeance. All of the characters involved in the read are flawed and very
realistic. While the overall tone is dark for much of the book, there are the occasional
flashes of subtle humor which tend to lighten the mood at various times
throughout the book. Several of the characters in the read, evolve, and work
out their own ways to redemption by way of the violence that is unleashed
across the area.
An intense and powerful read, Purgatory
Bay by Bryan Gruley is one of those book that most likely will be
nominated for a slew of awards and collect at least a couple. Simply put, it is
very much worth your time.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/42QfZGk
My reading copy came by way of the
author with no expectation of a review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2019, 2025
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
SleuthSayers: Tillie, Gertrude, and Molly
SleuthSayers: Tillie, Gertrude, and Molly: This piece has nothing to do with crime, but it certainly is related to writing. Or one specific writer. Back in March came Purim and so my...
Beneath the Stains of Time: Give Me Death (1934) by Isabel Briggs Myers
Beneath the Stains of Time: Give Me Death (1934) by Isabel Briggs Myers: Last year, Chosho Publishing reprinted Murder Yet to Come (1929/30) and Give Me Death (1934) by the co-creator of the Myers-Briggs Type In...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: "Philomel Cottage" by Agatha Christie,
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: "Philomel Cottage" by Agath...: For my Short Story Wednesday post this week, I have reviewed a story for the Agatha Christie Short Stories Read Along hosted by Fanda at F...
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: REACHING FOR THE MOON
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: REACHING FOR THE MOON: "Reaching for the Moon: by S. A. Lombino ( Science Fiction Quarterly , November 1951; reprinted in American Science Fiction #12.1953; ...
Little Big Crimes: The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea, by David Spencer
Little Big Crimes: The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Se...: "The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea, " by David Spencer, in Every Day A Little Death: Crime Fiction Inspired by...
Short Story Wednesday Review: Dark Yonder: Issue 1
From the archive…
Dark Yonder:
Issue 1
opens with two introductions. The first is by editor Eryk Pruitt in which he
pays homage to Thuglit. The second is by editor Katy Munger where she
expresses her love for short stories, the of “idea neo noir,” and how it
relates to what they are going to publish. Then, after a drink recipe, it is on
to the stories.
Mike McHone
starts things off with “Perforation Of A Moment.” Birch Run, Michigan, is not a
favorite place for Josh Howard. He went back there to either finish his novel
or commit suicide. Which it will be is a tossup. It is late October and the 49-year-old
man is going through some things. He has not seen nothing yet.
In “The Twenty-One
Foot Rule” by Mick Mamatas, one is reminded that bringing a gun to a knife
fight is an interesting choice. Tracy and Robin are twins. They are in a
constant battle for supremacy, one way or another.
“Dorothy” by
Anna Elin Kristiansen is a tale of what happens after the slap. Her husband
never should have slapped her. He did. Things had not been that great lately,
but even he knows he should not have done that. Now he wants it all to blow
over and to be easily forgotten.
Beni is being
forced to be a child soldier in “Beni” by Greg Williard. His fate is grim, even
if he survives the training. That same training might give the skills he needs
to deal with those who killed his parents and changed his live forever.
Todd Pierce is
working the bar as “Verna Maxwell” by Dana King begins. She came into the bar,
started a tab, and likes Vodka Collins. Her walking into his bar is going to
start a string of events that will ultimately lead to violence. The only
question is what will happen and how bad it will be.
Reni knew
somebody was in the house, but Teddy refused to get up and look. She used to be
a cop, still has her K9 partner though he is up in years, and has the 1911 cold
Teddy’s father used in WWII. She also has home field advantage in “Home Game”
by Craig Faustus Buck.
After a string
of short stories firmly grounded in noir style crime fiction, the next several
stories are more science fiction or fantasy general tales. While enjoyable reads,
they may not fit how you see the noir word, neo or otherwise.
“The Worst Game
Of Baseball Ever Played” by Adam Breckenridge features a world gone mad. The
unrest starts in the stands of a baseball stadium and soon spills over into the
surrounding neighborhood. Extreme violence with no sign of law enforcement. Is
our hero going mad? Is the world ending? Neither? Both? The answer is in the
mind of the reader as this one is very much open to interpretation.
An incident at
school means he is suspended and going home. Mom’s a bit worried about why he
did what he did in “A Harvest Of Malice” by Matt McHugh. The story within the
story is an ancient and powerful message-- if he listens.
It is 1965 and
King Booker has a plan in “The Entitled Life And Untimely Death Of King Booker”
by P. M. Raymond. New Orleans. Voodoo. Need I say more?
The final story
returns the reader to a more crime fiction noir style bent and without the
paranormal in Johnny Shaw’s “Or Not To Be.” A poker game in a bar goes wrong.
At least it did for the guy who got invited to the game, won big, and now has
one heck of a problem staying alive and keeping his winnings.
Dark Yonder:
Issue 1
is an interesting mixture of stories. All the tales are solidly good. Some are
more clearly crime fiction rooted noir type tales than others. Science fiction
and fantasy elements are present in three tales. More than anything or any
label, these are dark tales and not ones that make you feel very good about
anyone involved. As was the legendary Thuglit, this is not a read that
makes you feel all warm and gooey about humanity. The overall result here is an
interesting and enjoyable read as well as a new market to keep an eye on going
forward.
Amazon Associate
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4lOsPxt
My eBook reading
copy was a gift from a friend.
Kevin R. Tipple
©2023, 2025
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Jungle Red Writers: Kim Hays--Life in a Tower
Jungle Red Writers: Kim Hays--Life in a Tower: DEBORAH CROMBIE : There is nothing I love more than a good police procedural, especially one with an appealing detective duo. Add a fascinat...
SleuthSayers: Quotes and other memories from Malice Domestic
SleuthSayers: Quotes and other memories from Malice Domestic: I just returned from this year's Malice Domestic convention, where I had a lovely time celebrating my friends Marcia Talley, Donna Andre...
Monday, April 28, 2025
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: God of the Woods by Liz Moore: Reviewed by Jeanne For decades, campers have come to Camp Emerson, located on the Van Laar Preserve. They’re children of well-to-do ...
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