Aubrey Hamilton Reviews: Broken Ice by Matt Goldman

Broken Ice by Matt Goldman (Forge Books, 2018) is the second book about Nils Shapiro, a former police officer who has joined forces with former police colleague Anders Ellegaard to establish a private detective agency in Minneapolis. Anders brings business sense and marketing know-how to the partnership, and Nils contributes investigative skills and acute intuition. They are both fully realized characters; of the two, I liked Anders more. He is at a loss sometimes as to the moral ambiguity of the situations to which their work leads him. Nils, on the other hand, isn’t especially troubled by such considerations.

Two teenage girls are missing from the area and Nils is retained to find one of them, Linnea Engstrom. The two girls aren’t particular friends but the connection between the two events is unmistakable. While interviewing Linnea’s parents, the other girl is found dead in the St. Paul caves. Feeling increasing pressure to find Linnea quickly, Nils and Anders go to the scene to learn whatever they can that might apply to their search. Standing outside the cave entrance talking to the police, Nils is hit in the shoulder by an arrow. Not just any arrow, but one meant for big game hunting, with lethal razorlike edges. The medical examiner was leaving the cave as he fell and took prompt action to keep him from bleeding to death.

Nils arranges to leave the hospital with a full-time nurse, whom he escapes as soon as possible to continue his investigation, which takes him to a small town near the Canadian border known as the Hockey Capital of the World. Playoff season is in full swing and many of Linnea’s friends are there. Two more people connected to Linnea turn up gruesomely dead, and Nils is constantly on the look-out for the archer to come back to finish him off while he conducts interviews and visits Linnea’s known hangouts.

New information about halfway through suggests a different motive for Linnea’s disappearance than earlier assumed and leads Nils into Canada with an interesting pair of travelling companions. The supporting cast of characters in this book is one of its strong points.

This new series is a pleasant addition to the catalog of fictitious private investigators in general and to the Minnesota collection in particular. (Why is Minnesota so saturated with crime fiction? We don’t hear anything about private investigators in Idaho.) I noticed three or four jarring typos in the book. “Grilled leaks” instead of leeks and “Char road shotgun” instead of rode for instance. Someone used spellcheck instead of an actual proofreader. I expect better from a prominent publisher like Forge.

  

·         Hardcover: 336 pages

·         Publisher: Forge Books (June 12, 2018)

·         Language: English

·         ISBN-10: 0765391317

·         ISBN-13: 978-0765391315

  

Aubrey Hamilton ©2019

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

Author Dennis Palumbo on Erotomania for Mystery Scene

Author Dennis Palumbo on Erotomania for Mystery Scene

New issue of Crime Review

We feature new 20 reviews in each issue of Crime Review (
www.crimereview.co.uk), together with a top industry interview. This time
it’s author LC Tyler in the Countdown hot seat:
http://crimereview.co.uk/page.php/interview/5835

We’re on Twitter at:
Crime Review: @CrimeReviewUK
Linda Wilson: @CrimeReviewer
Sharon Wheeler: @lartonmedia

This week’s reviews are:

LINE OF FIRE by Andy McNab, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Nick Stone is operating on home soil for a change. He has to find a woman,
snatch her and deliver her to the shadowy operator he knows as the Owl.

INTO THE WATER by Paula Hawkins, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
Nel Abbot has gone where all the troublesome women have, for hundreds of
years – into the water. But what drove her and a teenage girl to take their
lives in a place where witches were drowned?

3 MINUTES by Roslund and Hellstrom, reviewed by Ewa Sherman
Former government agent Piet Hoffman is on the run from his old life in
Sweden. Now he tries to survive as an infiltrator of the Colombian mafia on
which he also informs for the Americans. Then things get terribly
complicated.

THE CUBAN AFFAIR by Nelson DeMille, reviewed by John Cleal
Afghan combat veteran Daniel ‘Mac’ MacCormick, now a charter boat captain,
refuses a fishing trip to Cuba, but reconsiders when offered a small
fortune and sets sail on his most dangerous cruise.

BURIED LIES by Kristina Ohlsson, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Stockholm lawyer Martin Benner is visited by the brother of a woman accused
of five murders, now dead, insisting that the case against her was flawed.

MY NAME IS NOBODY by Matthew Richardson, reviewed by Arnold Taylor
Solomon Vine, a highly rated MI6 officer, is suspended when a prisoner whom
he is interrogating is shot. However, his suspension proves useful when the
Head of Station in Istanbul is abducted and an unofficial investigation is
required.

THE DEATHWATCH JOURNAL (audionbook) by Ian Rankin, reviewed by Linda Wilson
A man awaits death in Edinburgh’s Saughton Prison, but the guard who is
tasked with keeping the death watch with him is not convinced of his guilt.

RUSTY PUPPY by Joe R Lansdale, reviewed by John Cleal
Hap and Leonard investigate the murder of a young black man and uncover the
dirty underbelly of a town.

THE LAKE by Lotte and Søren Hammer, reviewed by Ewa Sherman
The remains of a young woman, tied to a stone, are discovered in a lake in
the Danish countryside. After fruitless investigation by the local police,
the case finds its way to the Copenhagen Homicide Department.

DEAD IN THE DARK by Stephen Booth, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Ten years ago, Reece Bower’s wife went missing and he was in the frame for
murder. Now he’s the one the police are looking for and it’s his new wife
who wants him found.

THE MOUNTAIN by Luca D’Andrea, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
Surviving the crash that he believes was his fault is just the start of
Jeremiah Salenger’s nightmares.

GOING DOWN SLOW by John Harvey, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Seven short stories featuring the creations of John Harvey, including
private eye Jack Kiley and detective Charlie Resnick.

MARKED TO DIE by Sarah Hawkswood, reviewed by John Cleal
A mysterious archer leaves a string of corpses in his wake as he leads
attacks on the salt road from (Droit)Wich. When a local lord falls victim,
the Sheriff of Worcester dispatches Hugh Bradecote and Serjeant Catchpoll
to put a stop to the attacks.

THE PRIME OF MS DOLLY GREENE by EV Harte, reviewed by Anthea Hawdon
A missing woman, a body in the river and dangerous dealings next door.
Dolly Greene, tarot reader, must use her people skills and sixth sense to
make sense of the puzzle.

THE END OF THE WEB by George Sims, reviewed by John Cleal
When a philandering, middle-aged antiques dealer is found dead next to the
body of a beautiful younger girl, his widow asks ex-detective Ed Buchanan,
a family friend, to investigate.

BLED DRY by Abdelilah Hamdouchi, reviewed by Chris Roberts
When a young Casablanca couple are found butchered, detective Hanash is
under pressure to get quick results, if only to protect himself.

DEADLY ALIBI by Leigh Russell, reviewed by Kate Balfour
An apparently inoffensive woman is murdered and DI Geraldine Steel’s
colleagues all believe that they have found the murderer. Then the person
giving him a strong alibi is also found murdered. Geraldine’s instincts
tell her that they have got the wrong man.

THE BOOK OF DUST by Philip Pullman, reviewed by John Barnbrook
Life is pleasant and uneventful for Malcolm Polstead until, by chance, he
becomes embroiled in a power struggle between the competing worlds of
religion, politics and academic study. He also becomes inextricably linked
to a baby called Lyra.

WALDEN OF BERMONDSEY by Peter Murphy, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Resident judge Charlie Walden relates several tales featuring life in
Bermondsey Crown Court, both in the courtroom and behind the scenes.

A SKINFUL OF SHADOWS by Frances Hardinge, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Twelve-year-old Makepeace is caught up in both a civil war and a war for
possession of her own mind, and finds friends and allies in the most
unlikely places.

Best wishes

Sharon
www.crimereview.co.uk

Only days left to win books by Charles Todd, Kathi Daley, Sheila Connolly & MANY more from KRL

Only days left to win a copy of "The Valentine Mystery" by Kathi Daley http://kingsriverlife.com/02/10/the-valentine-mystery-by-kathi-daley/

And to win copies of 5 food mysteries & one wedding mystery for your Valentine's Day reading-"Biscuits and Slashed Browns" by Maddie Day, "Curses, Boiled Again!" by Shari Randall, "Murder Borrowed, Murder Blue" by Stephanie Blackmoore, "Scone Cold Killer" by Lena Gregory (the giveaway for this one only is EBOOK), "Survival of the Fritters" by Ginger Bolton, and "Dial M for Mousse" by Laura Bradford http://kingsriverlife.com/02/10/five-food-mysteries-for-your-valentines-day-reading/

Also to win a copy of "Another One Bites the Crust" by Ellie Alexander, & while there check out a Valentine's Day Food Guest post and recipe by Ellie http://kingsriverlife.com/02/10/another-one-bites-the-crust-by-ellie-alexander/

And to win a copy of "Say No Moor" by Maddy Hunter & while there check out a fun Valentine's Day travel guest post by Maddy http://kingsriverlife.com/02/10/say-no-moor-by-maddy-hunter/

And to win a copy of "Many a Twist" by Sheila Connolly & while there check out an interesting interview with Sheila http://kingsriverlife.com/02/10/many-a-twist-by-sheila-connolly/

And on KRL News & Reviews, only days left to win a copy of "The Masque of the Red Dress" by Ellen Byerrum http://www.krlnews.com/2018/02/the-masque-of-red-dress-by-ellen.html

And to win a copy of "The Gate Keeper" by Charles Todd http://www.krlnews.com/2018/02/the-gate-keeper-by-charles-todd.html

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lorie

--

KRL is now selling advertising & we have special discounts for
mystery authors & bookstores! Ask me about it!
Mystery section in Kings River Life http://KingsRiverLife.com

Check out my own blog at http://mysteryratscloset.blogspot.com/

KRL This Week Update for 2/10/18

Up in KRL this morning a review & giveaway of "The Valentine Mystery" by Kathi Daley http://kingsriverlife.com/02/10/the-valentine-mystery-by-kathi-daley/

Also up reviews & giveaways of 5 food mysteries & one wedding mystery for your Valentine's Day reading-"Biscuits and Slashed Browns" by Maddie Day, "Curses, Boiled Again!" by Shari Randall, "Murder Borrowed, Murder Blue" by Stephanie Blackmoore, "Scone Cold Killer" by Lena Gregory (the giveaway for this one only is EBOOK), "Survival of the Fritters" by Ginger Bolton, and "Dial M for Mousse" by Laura Bradford http://kingsriverlife.com/02/10/five-food-mysteries-for-your-valentines-day-reading/

And a review & giveaway of "Another One Bites the Crust" by Ellie Alexander, along with a Valentine's Day Food Guest post and recipe by Ellie http://kingsriverlife.com/02/10/another-one-bites-the-crust-by-ellie-alexander/

We also have a review & giveaway of "Say No Moor" by Maddy Hunter along with a fun Valentine's Day travel guest post by Maddy http://kingsriverlife.com/02/10/say-no-moor-by-maddy-hunter/

Also a look at 3 Valentine's Day mysteries- "The Saint Valentine’s Day Murders" by Ruth Dudley Edwards, "The Coniston Case" by Rebecca Tope, & "Valentine" by Tom Savage http://kingsriverlife.com/02/10/my-deadly-valentine-three-valentines-day-mysteries/

And we have a review & giveaway of "Many a Twist" by Sheila Connolly along with an interesting interview with Sheila http://kingsriverlife.com/02/10/many-a-twist-by-sheila-connolly/

And a mystery short story with a Valentine's Day twist by Nupur Tustin

http://kingsriverlife.com/02/10/annas-potion-a-valentines-day-mystery-short-story/

Up on KRL News & Reviews we have a review & giveaway of "The Masque of the Red Dress" by Ellen Byerrum http://www.krlnews.com/2018/02/the-masque-of-red-dress-by-ellen.html

And a review & giveaway of "The Gate Keeper" by Charles Todd http://www.krlnews.com/2018/02/the-gate-keeper-by-charles-todd.html

Happy Valentine's Week!

Lorie


--

KRL is now selling advertising & we have special discounts for
mystery authors & bookstores! Ask me about it!
Mystery section in Kings River Life http://KingsRiverLife.com

Check out my own blog at http://mysteryratscloset.blogspot.com/

Monday Markets and Jobs for Writers for 2/5/18

Monday Markets and Jobs for Writers | ErikaDreifus.com

SuperBowl Sunday

Like a lot of things these past weeks, today marks another first I hate.....the first SuperBowl without Sandi here. Today is made worse because the team she loved, The New England Patriots, are once again in it. She would have screamed herself hoarse as she cheered for them.

I don't like either team. Quite honestly, if I had my way, neither one would have made it this far. It almost makes the game unwatchable for me. Though, I will be watching as I still love football despite the made up controversy over some players taking a knee and the very real issues regarding injuries, CTE, and concussions. Having had five concussions myself --not caused by organized football-- and having dealt with post concussion syndrome for almost a year after the last one, I know something about what can happen when your brain bounces around in your skull.

So, I will be watching though I am not rooting for anyone. I think the Patriots win going away. I have no faith at all in Foles. And while the Eagles defense is something to fear, Brady is a malicious surgeon and will carve them apart.

I also expect this to be Brady's final game. As I said on FB earlier this week, I think Belchick's celebrations after each post season victory this year and his behavior at Media Day back on Monday indicate a man that knows this is his final SuperBowl appearance. I believe that in a manner of hours to a few days after their win today we will learn that he is retiring effective immediately. That will cause Brady to decide that he is also retiring as he won't want to learn new schemes or deal with a new coach. Those decisions will end the New England Dynasty that began on this date yesterday with NE win at the SuperBowl in 2002.

There you have it....place your bets accordingly as we approach kickoff.

And lift your celebratory drinks to Sandi who I choose to believe is still with us in spirit.

New Issue of Crime Review

We feature new 20 reviews in each issue of Crime Review (
www.crimereview.co.uk), together with a top industry interview. This time
it’s author Alafair Burke in the Countdown hot seat.

We’re on Twitter at:
Crime Review: @CrimeReviewUK
Linda Wilson: @CrimeReviewer
Sharon Wheeler: @lartonmedia

This week’s reviews are:

THE FORCE by Don Winslow, reviewed by John Cleal
Detective Sergeant Danny Malone leads an elite unit fighting drugs, guns
and gangs in Manhattan at the heart of a criminal justice system riddled
with corruption, cronyism and lies.

THE SILENT DEATH by Volker Kutscher, reviewed by Arnold Taylor
It is March 1930 in Berlin and silent movie actress Betty Winter is killed
when a lighting system falls on her. Inspector Gereon Rath is determined to
find out the cause.

THIS IS HOW IT ENDS by Eva Dolan, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Molly and Ella are bound together by more than years of friendship. They’re
now accomplices in covering up a fatal accident.

LINCOLN IN THE BARDO by George Saunders, reviewed by John Barnbrook
President Lincoln’s son is dead, existing in a place between life and
death. His father can’t stop visiting his body, but others are conspiring
to enable Willie Lincoln to pass on.

A DAMNED SERIOUS BUSINESS by Gerald Seymour, reviewed by John Cleal
MI6 officer Edwin Coker known as Boot for his obsession with the Duke of
Wellington and Waterloo, puts together a daring plan to combat Russian
cyber terrorism and recruits a British mercenary to carry it out.

ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL by Sarah Vaughan, reviewed by Chris Roberts
A politician close to the centre of government stands accused of rape. The
barrister for the prosecution is certain he is guilty and is determined to
make him pay.

SNARE by Lilja Sigurðardóttir, reviewed by Ewa Sherman
Sonja survives on a cocktail of cocaine smuggling and love for her young
son. She's desperate to escape drug barons’ snare and to win full custody
of Tomas, so must become more daring and entrepreneurial. But things are
getting dangerous.

THE GATHERING DARK by James Oswald, reviewed by Linda Wilson
A tanker carrying a toxic load crashes into a bus stop in Edinburgh. DI
Tony McLean is one of the first on the scene and must unravel the tangled
truth behind the carnage.

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE by Boris Akunin, reviewed by John Cleal
A friend asks Erast Fandorin to look into apparent threats to Moscow’s
favourite artiste, a talented and beautiful actress, but the detective
compromises his quest by falling in love with her.

PARTY GIRLS DIE IN PEARLS by Plum Sykes, reviewed by Sylvia Wilson
Fresher Ursula Flowerbutton arrives for her first term at Oxford hoping for
ballgowns and determined to write for student newspaper Cherwell. When
another student is murdered, Ursula and her best friend, American Nancy
Feingold, investigate.

STRANGE SIGHT by Syd Moore, reviewed by Anthea Hawdon
Ghostly sightings, mysterious writing and blood flowing from a chandelier
lead up to the murder of a chef in an upmarket London restaurant.

SCORCHED EARTH by David Mark, reviewed by John Cleal
A former Mozambican guerrilla fighter enters England illegally bent on
revenge – and DS Aector McAvoy is plunged into a case where present crimes
lead him to an enemy from his past.

THE KILLING BAY by Chris Ould, reviewed by Ewa Sherman
A body of a woman is found following the clash between international
activists and local fishermen on the Faroe Islands. Detective Hjalti Hentze
wants to find out if there is a connection between the murder and the
slaughter of whales.

LAST STOP TOKYO by James Buckler, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Alex Malloy has fled disgrace in the UK to Japan, but his life gets even
more complicated when he meets Naoko, who like him has a past she is trying
to leave behind.

ED’S DEAD by Russel D McLean, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
Jen is a failed writer, but she’s just about to become famous for being the
most dangerous woman in Scotland.

VETERAN AVENUE by Mark Pepper, reviewed by Chris Roberts
John Frears visits the US for the funeral of an old military buddy, and
finds a connection to a girl whose photo he has been carrying in his wallet
for over 30 years.

WHAT ALICE KNEW by TA Cotterell, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
Alice and Ed have a wonderful life, but when Ed doesn’t come home one night
after attending a party, strange things start to happen. In searching for
the truth of what really took place that night, Alice risks her family and
her way of life.

STARDUST by Neil Gaiman (audiobook), reviewed by Linda Wilson
A young man travels to the realm of Faerie to find a fallen star and win
the hand of a lady.

SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE FOUR-HANDED GAME by Paul D Gilbert, reviewed by Kati
Barr-Taylor
The robbery of a gold mandolin, an assault on a young actress and a violent
murder bearing the hallmarks of Jack the Ripper would seem entirely
disconnected to all but Sherlock Holmes.

SONGS ABOUT US by Chris Russell, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Charlie Bloom is back taking photos of world famous boyband Fire&Lights,
but cracks are starting to appear in the gloss and hype that surrounds the
band and Charlie is faced with some difficult choices.

Best wishes

Sharon

KRL This Week Update for 02/3/18

Up in KRL this morning a review & giveaway of "A Murder for the Books" by Victoria Gilbert & an interesting interview with Victoria http://kingsriverlife.com/02/03/a-murder-for-the-books-by-victoria-gilbert/

Also up a review & giveaway of "The Phantom of Oz" by Cindy Brown http://kingsriverlife.com/02/03/the-phantom-of-oz-by-cindy-brown/

And a review & giveaway of "In Cave Danger" by Kate Dyer-Seeley http://kingsriverlife.com/02/03/in-cave-danger-by-kate-dyer-seeley/

We also have a mystery short story by Diana Hockley http://kingsriverlife.com/02/03/a-walk-in-the-park-a-mystery-short-story/

And a review of "Silenced by Sugar" by Catherine Bruns, and a giveaway of the first book in the series, "Tastes Like Murder", along with a fun cookie recipe for your Valentine's Day http://kingsriverlife.com/02/03/silenced-by-sugar-by-catherine-bruns/

We also have a review of the latest mystery movie from Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel-"Morning Show Mystery: Mortal Mishaps" http://kingsriverlife.com/02/03/morning-show-mystery-mortal-mishaps-on-hallmark-movies-mysteries/

And on KRL News & Reviews we have a review & giveaway of "Pre-Meditated Murder" by Tracy Weber http://www.krlnews.com/2018/02/pre-meditated-murder-tracy-weber.html

Happy reading,

Lorie

--

KRL is now selling advertising & we have special discounts for
mystery authors & bookstores! Ask me about it!
Mystery section in Kings River Life http://KingsRiverLife.com

Check out my own blog at http://mysteryratscloset.blogspot.com/

Author Terry Shames Hits The Road in Febraury

While this is her current list featuring places everywhere, I am most excited about her Dallas stop at INTERBANG BOOKS over on Preston Road. Brand new place that I have never been. So, hopefully, if things work out right, I will get to check the place out AND meet Terry on the nineth. By the way, this would also mean you too might experience Tipple After Dark.

FEBRUARY 2018 EVENTS
 

2.2 - Tucson, AZ  @ Clues Unlimited || 5:30 PM
2.3 - Scottsdale, AZ @ Poisoned Pen Books || 2:00 pm - with Shannon Baker
2.4 - Austin, TX @ BookPeople (for Lone Star Lawless Anthology) || 5:00 PM
2.5 - Austin, TX @ BookPeople || 7PM - with James Ziskin and Laura Oles
2.8 - Houston, TX @ Murder by the Book with James Ziskin || 6:30 PM
2.9 - Dallas @ Interabang Books || 7:00 PM
2.16 - St. Petersburg, FL @ Books at Park Place || 6:00 PM
2.23 - Davis, CA @ Avid Reader Bookstore || 7:30 PM

Publishing... and Other Forms of Insanity Blog: 8 Writing Conferences in February 2018

8 Writing Conferences in February 2018: February is brutal little month punctuated by a groundhog, chocolates, and valentines. Winter is still with us, but by now the snow has lo...

The Rap Sheet: Starter Set

The Rap Sheet: Starter Set