RTE for July 28, 2018

The JULY 28 2018 issue of RTE is out and includes fifteen new reviews as 
well as a new interview:

http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com

Priscilla Royal in the 'Sixty seconds with . . .' interview hot seat: 

http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com/interviews.html?id=257


REVIEWS THIS WEEK:

A NOISE DOWNSTAIRS Linwood Barclay Reviewed by Anne Corey

THE OTHER WOMAN Daniel Silva Reviewed by Anne Corey

BABY'S FIRST FELONY John Straley Reviewed by Barbara Fister

PIRATA Patrick Hasburgh Reviewed by Susan Hoover

THE BOOK OF M Peng Shepherd Reviewed by Katie Voss

CONAN DOYLE FOR THE DEFENSE Margalit Fox Reviewed by Rebecca Nesvet

SALT LANE William Shaw Reviewed by Barbara Fister

DEAD IF YOU DON’T Peter James Reviewed by Jim Napier

DAY OF THE DEAD Nicci French Reviewed by Lourdes Venard

RESCUED David Rosenfelt Reviewed by Caryn St Clair

A HOWL OF WOLVES Judith Flanders Reviewed by Caryn St Clair

THE MARMALADE MURDERS Elizabeth J. Duncan Reviewed by PJ Coldren

STILL WATER Amy Stuart Reviewed by Diana Borse

MURDER TO THE METAL Annie Hogsett Reviewed by Ruth Castleberry

FEAR ON FOUR PAWS Clea Simon Reviewed by Ruth Castleberry

We post more than 900 new reviews a year -- all of them are archived on 
the site -- as well as a new interview with a top author every issue.

Yvonne Klein
Editor: ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com

Monday Markets and Jobs for Writers for 7/30/18

Monday Markets and Jobs for Writers for 7/30/18

KRL This Week Update for 7/28/18

Up in KRL this morning reviews and giveaways of another group of fun food related mysteries-"Killer Green Tomatoes": A Farm-to-Fork Mystery by Lynn Cahoon, "Italian Iced": An Ethnic Eats Mystery by Kylie Logan, "Bought the Farm": A Farmer’s Daughter Mystery by Peg Cochran, "S’More Murders": A Five-Ingredient Mystery by Maya Corrigan, and "Last Call": Mack’s Bar Mystery by Allyson K. Abbott

http://kingsriverlife.com/07/28/end-of-july-food-mysteries/

And a review and giveaway of "Return to Hiroshima" by Bob Van Laerhoven, along with an interesting interview with Bobhttp://kingsriverlife.com/07/28/return-to-hiroshima-by-bob-van-laerhoven/

We also have the latest mystery Coming Attractions by Sunny Frazier, along with a giveaway of an ebook copy of "Destination: Murder", A Travelogue of Cozy Mysteries which includes books by 8 different authors, among them Leigh Selfma http://kingsriverlife.com/07/28/coming-attractions-the-dog-days-of-summer/

And a review and ebook giveaway of "Ice Blonde" a novella by Elaine Viets http://kingsriverlife.com/07/28/ice-blonde-novella-by-elaine-viets/

And up on KRL News & Reviews we have a review and giveaway of "Magick Run Amok" by Sharon Papehttps://www.krlnews.com/2018/07/magick-run-amok-by-sharon-pape.html

And for those who also enjoy fantasy, we have a review of "Ash and Quill" by Rachel Caine, and a giveaway of the first book in the series "Ink and Bone" https://www.krlnews.com/2018/07/ash-and-quill-by-rachel-caine.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/ 

FFB Review: BRASS KNUCKLES: The Oliver Quade, Human Encyclopedia Stories by Frank Gruber (Reviewed by Barry Ergang)

For this final Friday in July, I thought I would run again the below review which first ran in May of 2013 here. It was probably way too hot then too. The full list of books that may or may not cool you off, but just might distract you from the heat can be found over at the wonderful blog of Patti Abbott. I also remind you of the fact that these are the final few days of the current Smashwords sale where I and far more famous and prolific authors such as Barry Ergang, Kaye George, and others, have books for sale. Whatever you choose to read or watch, stay cool and hydrated.  Dallas Cowboys have started training camp so our long national nightmare is almost over as the NFL returns….

  

BRASS KNUCKLES: The Oliver Quade, Human Encyclopedia Stories (1966) by Frank Gruber

Reviewed by Barry Ergang

Frank Gruber had a fondness for itinerant book salesmen who stumble into murderous situations. His best-known series of novels features Johnny Fletcher and his partner Sam Cragg. Fletcher pitches the book Every Man a Samson while the muscular Cragg, who maintains he's the strongest man in the world, shows off his physique to the audience. For the pulp magazines Gruber created Oliver Quade, the Human Encyclopedia, ten of whose adventures are collected in Brass Knuckles. (One was published in Thrilling Detective. The rest appeared in the legendary Black Mask.) Quade pitches the one-volume The Compendium of Human Knowledge, which he sells for only two ninety-five. Declaring himself possessed of "the greatest brain in the United States, possibly the greatest in the world," he maintains that "I know the answers to all questions." Over fifteen years, he has read a twenty-four volume set of the Encyclopedia Americana four times. "I've an unusual memory," he tells a woman in one of the stories. "I remember everything I read and therefore I know everything that's in the encyclopedia." The odd bits of knowledge he's picked up often aid in the solutions of the murders he has the convenient habit of stumbling upon.

The book opens with a lengthy, fascinating foreword, "The Life and Times of the Pulp Story," in which Gruber reminisces about how he struggled to break into writing for the pulps, and about the early failures and eventual successes, large and small, he experienced. It includes an eleven-point formula he claims is a "foolproof" method for plotting a salable mystery story. Although I enjoyed them, I'm not convinced all of the stories that follow exemplify it.

In the first and shortest story in the collection, "Ask Me Another," Oliver Quade and Charlie Boston are on the verge of being locked out of their hotel room because they owe three weeks' rent. But Quade figures they can raise the money by pitching the Compendium of Human Knowledge to the attendees of the Great Chicago Auditorium Poultry Show. Neither he nor Boston expects to encounter murder.

At the kennel show in Westfield, New York, the last thing Quade and Boston expect to find in their booth is the corpse of one Wesley Peters. Even more confusing is the willingness of several people in attendance to confess to shooting him. Before long, Quade tangles with the local police chief, a renowned private detective named Christopher Buck, a gangster just out of prison, and has another corpse to account for in "Dog Show Murder."

"Funny Man" takes Quade and Boston to Hollywood, where Quade is hired by Slocum Studios head man Tommy Slocum to dub the voice of cartoon character Desmond Dogg, since the actor who usually voices the character has laryngitis. Coming out of Slocum's office, Quade encounters his old adversary, self-declared "world's greatest" private detective Christopher Buck. Buck assumes Quade is working as an investigator and wants to know what he knows. Conversely, Quade wants to know the same about Buck. When studio executive Stanley Maynard, Buck's client, is found murdered, the amateur and professional sleuths compete to discover the killer's identity.

Still in Hollywood and staying at an expensive hotel, Quade and Boston owe more than four hundred dollars for rent, meals, and incidental charges—money they don't have. The hotel manager confronts them in the dining room and tells them they have until six p.m. to come up with the cash or he'll have them arrested for intent to defraud. Having overheard, another diner named George Grimshaw offers them twenty dollars to deliver a letter to a Martin Lund. They accept, not worried about the two thugs who want to relieve them of the letter. They find Lund but can't give him the letter because he's been murdered. So Quade opens the envelope, finds another envelope inside and a note from Grimshaw telling Lund to meet him at the track. Thus, it's "Oliver Quade at the Races," where Grimshaw is also murdered and Quade must use his wits and wiles to get to the bottom of things—and pay the hotel bill.

A small passenger plane makes a "Forced Landing" in a snow-covered clearing in northern Wisconsin. One passenger is dead, the result of flying glass from a shattered window. The pilot is dead, too—from a bullet wound. Around the same time, Oliver Quade and Charlie Boston are driving through the area on their way to Duluth when the car runs over an animal that turns out to be a silver fox, a creature whose pelt is very valuable. When their car won't start, they have to start walking. Eventually they come to a house owned by fox breeder Karl Becker. Not long after they arrive, the airplane's co-pilot staggers in and tells them of the crash. They set out to find and bring back the remaining passengers. That's only the beginning of an adventure that includes a pair of profit-minded fugitive kidnappers, another murder, and plenty of action.

In "Death Sits Down," Quade, sans Boston, goes to the Bartlett Cash Register Company's recreation room to launch into his sales pitch, not knowing the employees are about to go on strike and prevent anyone from entering or leaving the building. Among those in it is a vicious murderer who doesn't intend to let anyone hinder the scheme he's hatched. The author does a good job of building the tension in this fast-paced story.

"Words and Music" opens with Quade and Boston "in the dough" for a change, and relaxing in the cocktail lounge of New York City's Midtown Hotel, where they have rooms. They're approached by a drunk named Billy Bond who says he's a song writer, claims "I wrote the best little damn song that's been written in this damn town in the las' five years." He then hands sheet music to the lounge's piano player, tells the man to play, and sings the lyrics himself. After a pause during which he gulps some beer, violent convulsions seize him and he falls into Quade's arms—dead. The police are summoned, and Quade describes a man he saw switch glasses with Bond. The police detective recognizes the description as belonging to a deranged chemist named Soup Spooner, so named for providing nitroglycerine to safecrackers. Quade can't resist investigating, despite Boston's objections, and plunges into the world of music publishing rackets. Spooner is still out there, setting an insidious and deadly trap.

The second shortest story in the book, "State Fair Murder" takes Quade and Boston to the titular location in Minnesota. Quade has barely launched into his pitch when a man in the crowd falls into him, the victim of a poisoned dart in his back. As usual, despite Boston's protests, Quade can't resist playing detective in a case dealing with conflicts within a publishing company.

Among the "how-to" advice often given to both beginning and experienced writers is never open a story with a description of the weather. But in "Rain, the Killer," Frank Gruber does exactly that—and very effectively. This is, for me, the most exciting story in the book, so I don't want to give too much away. Suffice it to say that it's a take on the isolated, impassable locale that puts Quade (who once again is without Charlie Boston), the members of a wealthy household, and a sheriff and his deputy in dire peril from the weather and a particularly brutal murderer, one of whose crimes is depicted somewhat graphically. A whodunit, it does not play fair with the reader, but the tense and exciting situation that befalls the cast of characters more than makes up for it. The only element in the story that is somewhat dubious by modern standards is the psychology of the murderer.

In another story that omits Charlie Boston, Quade finagles his way into the barn Reggie Ragsdale converted into an arena on his Long Island estate in which to hold cockfights. "Long Island didn't see many cocking mains. Cocking wasn't a gentleman's sport like horse racing and fox hunting In fact, many of Long Island's blue-bloods had shaken their heads when young Ragsdale took up cock fighting. But they had eagerly accepted invitations to the Ragsdale estate to witness the great cocking main between Ragsdale's birds and the best of the Old South, the feathered warriors of George Treadwell." When Treadwell is murdered, Quade as a gate-crasher becomes a prime suspect and has to solve the crime himself. "Death at the Main" is sort of fairly-clued, if one allows for an obscure bit of lore that provides the solution.  

Were he writing today, Frank Gruber would be designated a minimalist, so stripped-down was his style. The physical descriptions of characters in these stories are always very brief and sometimes non-existent, and the people themselves are largely dimensionless names on the page. There is no sense of place of the kind one finds in, say, Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler and, except in "Rain, the Killer," no real sense of atmosphere. I would not rate Gruber as one of the top-tier writers who honed their skills in the pulps, but he could nevertheless tell a story effectively, as the tales in Brass Knuckles demonstrate. They aren't serious literature to be pored over and explicated; they're fast-reading fluff meant strictly for entertainment. Regarded in that light, they're recommended.

Barry Ergang ©2013, 2018

Some of Derringer Award-winner Barry Ergang’s work is available at Amazon and Smashwords. The latter site is running its annual sale through the month of July. Barry and Kevin Tipple are among the participating authors, so take advantage of their reduced prices.

Only days left to win books by Kate Carlisle, Kathi Daley, Leigh Hearon and more from KRL

Only days left to win a copy of "Buried in Books" by Kate Carlisle
http://kingsriverlife.com/07/21/buried-in-books-by-kate-carlisle/

And to win a copy of "Runaway Murder" by Leigh Hearon, while there check
out an interesting interview with Leigh
http://kingsriverlife.com/07/21/runaway-murder-by-leigh-hearon/

Also to win a copy of "Secrets by the Sea" by Kathi Daley and while there
check out a mini interview with her, and a fun guest post
http://kingsriverlife.com/07/21/secrets-by-the-sea-by-kathi-daley/

And to win a copy of "Death on the Vine" which is set in the Central Valley
and written by Linda Lee Kane. While there check out her interesting
article on wine fraud http://kingsriverlife.com/07/21/california-drinking/

And on KRL News & Reviews to win a copy of "A Stone's Throw" by James Ziskin
https://www.krlnews.com/2018/07/a-stones-throw-by-james-w-ziskin.html

Also to win a copy of "Saving Dabba" by Randy Rawls
https://www.krlnews.com/2018/07/saving-dabba-by-randy-rawls.html


Happy reading,
Lorie

Review: Down and Out Volume 1, Issue 2 Editor Rick Ollerman

Down and Out: The Magazine Volume 1, Issue 2 offers a short welcome back note from Editor Rick Ollerman before diving into the short stories. First up is the tale titled “One at a Time” by Lissa Marie Redmond. The problem with a 1969 Ford Fairlane is that it is old.  Bad news if you are trapped in the trunk and being driven out to somewhere out in the woods so that you can be killed and dumped. Being strapped for cash and a beautiful woman was the combination that led to imprisonment in a trunk with no emergency release.

“Family Business” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins comes next where a man by Foley needs to take care of various issues. That includes ending his relationship with Kelsey. A relationship that has had its benefits, but that has also crossed too many of his self-imposed boundaries.

In a world where it is rare for a person to actually drive a car, technology has the ability to record, for a fee, everything in your loved one’s home after their death. “Closure” by Nick Kolakowski details a small slice of that world where a VR recorder can move from room to room scanning and collection the visual record in order to recreate the place later for the family. It can also be used in other ways which the customer may never see.

As he was in the first issue, J. Kingston Pierce of the website, The Rap Sheet, is back with his book suggestions column, “Placed into Evidence.” Just take a moment and go ahead and get out your checkbook, your credit card, or your library card, as there is reading to do.

A work by the late and deeply missed Bill Crider comes next. “Tell the Bees: A Sheriff Dan Rhodes Story” features the good sheriff at work in a mystery story with plenty of humor and Texas flavor. Note that the next and possibly final installment in the long running Dan Rhodes series, That Old Scoundrel Death, is scheduled for release in February 2019. I keep hoping that his daughter, Angela Crider Neary, will pick up the Sheriff Rhodes legacy as she is the only person remotely qualified to do so.

Timothy J. Lockhart is up next with his tale “Last Night at Skipper’s Lounge.”  It has been quite a few years, but the bar that Mackey spent a lot of time in during aviation officer candidate school still stands. Mackey is back in Pensacola as the bar will soon close for good. Back to relive memories good and bad and maybe make some new ones.

Sam has a problem and he is pretty sure his current plane ride is going to end badly for him and everyone onboard. In “A State of Decline” by J. J. Hensley, Sam has to try to talk some reason into the man who just killed everyone who could fly the plane. Not only has he got to figure out how they are going to safely land the plane with the flight crew all dead, he has to figure out a way to disarm the man who has proven more than willing to use that gun.

“Say It with Lead: A Race Williams Story” by Carroll John Daly comes next. This story originally appeared in the June 1925 issue of Black Mask Magazine and it is a good one. Howel L. Foster knows that his life is about to be in serious danger. Mr. Foster knows as he is a man of resources who has his fingers in a lot of endeavors. He also knows who is most likely behind the threat and knows the motive most likely would be revenge. He wants Race Williams around to prevent his death. Should Foster die anyway, he intends to set up things so that the person who captures or kills those responsible will get two hundred thousand dollars. Foster hopes that by having Race Williams at his side and letting it be known that if he is killed the well-known Race Williams would come after the killer or killers for the two hundred thousand dollar reward just might keep him alive. To make all this happen and to make sure the word gets out Foster will pay him a significant sum of money know for Race to accompany him back home and make his presence known. The deal is struck and soon Williams and Foster are headed north out of NYC on the business of trying to keep Foster alive. As always, the context introduction by Rick Ollerman is very helpful to the reader.

Revenge is also a theme in the closing story, “A Calculated Risk” by Ben Boulden. It has been six years, two months, and thirteen days since everything changed. Most folks would have forgotten. He had lost it all. But, like the proverbial phoenix, he is back with a vengeance and a plan. Harry is ready to have his revenge.

A final word from Editor Rick Ollerman previewing the third issue and a listing of other books available from the publisher brings the second issue to a close.  Building on the strength of the first issue, the second issue is another solid and highly entertaining read. The book column from J. Kingston Pierce is a definite winner as are the short intros to each story that place the work in context while also making reading suggestions.  Down and Out: The Magazine Volume 1, Issue 2 is a solidly good read and very much worth your time.

My review last month of the first issue.

Down and Out: The Magazine Volume 1, Issue 2

Editor Rick Ollerman

Down And Out Books

http://www.DownAndOutBooks.com

December 2017

ASIN: B077XYK2XV  

eBook (also available in print format)

168 Pages

$5.99

Material was purchased by way of a gift card from my oldest son late last December.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2018

KRL This Week Update for 7/21/18

Up in KRL this morning a review & giveaway of "Buried in Books" by Kate Carlisle http://kingsriverlife.com/07/21/buried-in-books-by-kate-carlisle/

And a review & giveaway of "Runaway Murder" by Leigh Hearon, along with an interesting interview with Leigh http://kingsriverlife.com/07/21/runaway-murder-by-leigh-hearon/

We also have a review and giveaway of "Secrets by the Sea" by Kathi Daley along with a mini interview with her, and a fun guest posthttp://kingsriverlife.com/07/21/secrets-by-the-sea-by-kathi-daley/

And we have an interesting article by local mystery writer Linda Kane about wine fraud and how it plays a role in her mystery series, along with a chance to win a copy of her latest book "Death on the Vine" which is set in the Central Valley http://kingsriverlife.com/07/21/california-drinking/

We also have a mystery short story by Gary R. Hoffman http://kingsriverlife.com/07/21/finding-jason-peterson-mystery-short-story/

And for those who also enjoy fantasy, a review and giveaway of "Unlit" the first in a brand new fantasy series by Keri Arthurhttp://kingsriverlife.com/07/21/keri-arthurs-newest-series-begins-unlit/

Up on KRL News & Reviews we have a review and giveaway of "A Stone's Throw" by James Ziskin https://www.krlnews.com/2018/07/a-stones-throw-by-james-w-ziskin.html

And a review and giveaway of "Saving Dabba" by Randy Rawls https://www.krlnews.com/2018/07/saving-dabba-by-randy-rawls.html

Happy reading,
Lorie

Saturdays With Kaye: The Girl Before by JP Delaney

The Girl Before by JP Delaney

Psychological suspense? Only if that category includes an extreme amount of suspense. This begins as a story of two women and one bizarre location, One Folgate Street.

Emma, whose chapters are labeled “Then,” needs a new place to live after a traumatic burglary during which she was threatened with a knife. The rental agent has just the thing, One Folgate Street, a fantastic property, even though the landlord is a bit particular. Jane, whose chapters are “Now,” is looking for a new place with an agent named Camilla, who wants to show her the property first, then explain the drawbacks.

Emma doesn’t have too much trouble getting used to the ultra modern place, where the lights and heat are automatic, and nothing is to be changed. No wastebaskets, no coasters, no cushions, are just a few of the prohibitions. The staircase is a series of stone slabs with no handrail. Emma’s friend Simon likens the sparse, stark place to an upmarket prison cell. Soon Emma realizes that she hasn’t had any panic attacks or flashbacks since moving in. Jane thinks the application process is a bit odd, submitting answers to intrusive questions in order to be approved, although most applicants are rejected. The landlord, she’s told, is looking for honest people.

The questionnaire is given in the book, bit by bit. I had fun trying to answer them as I went. The first one: Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.

The house affects everyone who lives there, molding them and shaping them—changing them. Besides filling out the long list of questions, I found myself wondering who “The Girl Before” really was. Both women delve into the history of the building and the builder. What they find leads to deadly discoveries of birth, death, and terror. I hope you will enjoy this as much as I did. A real edge-of-the-seat read!

Reviewed by Kaye George, author of Requiem in Red, for Suspense Magazine

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 Kristen Lepionka 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 DARK ANGEL by Elly Griffiths, reviewed by Sharon Wheeler
University lecturer and forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway is asked to
lend her expertise to the discovery of bones in an Italian hilltop village.
But the past and present collide when there’s a present-day murder.

ROBICHEAUX: YOU KNOW MY NAME by James Lee Burke, reviewed by John Cleal
Sheriff’s Detective Dave Robicheaux hits the bottle after his wife Molly is
killed in a road crash and wakes from a ‘lost’ night to find his hands cut
and bruised and the man who killed her beaten to death.

ANGEL IN THE SHADOWS by Walter Lucius, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Journalist Farah Hafez is falsely accused of being a terrorist to undermine
her attempts to expose an international web of crime and corruption.

ALL THE BEAUTIFUL LIES by Peter Swanson, reviewed by John Cleal
Harry Ackerson, on the verge of graduation, is called home to Maine after
the death of his father in a mystery fall. As he learns more about his
father’s life – and the various women involved – he becomes convinced the
death was no accident.

THE GIRL IN THE WOODS by Camilla Lackberg, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
Thirty years after they confessed to killing Stella, Marie and Helen are
yet again under suspicion when Nea disappears.

THE LADY KILLER by Masako Togawa, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Ichiro Honda spends his weekday evenings cruising the bars for lonely women
who can fulfil his fantasies. Then his pick-ups start dying.

SILVER-TONGUED by David Barrie, reviewed by Linda Wilson
The murder of a celebrity photographer sparks another investigation for
Captain Franck Guerin of Paris’ Brigade Criminelle.

LOOK FOR ME by Lisa Gardner, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
Out of the family of five, four are dead. The hunt is on for the survivor
and two blind dogs, but no one knows if the girl is a victim or a murderer.

FIRE IN THE THATCH by ECR Lorac, reviewed by John Cleal
When a man’s body is found in the burned-out shell of a cottage, it is
assumed it is that of ex-navy officer Nicholas Vaughan and that his death
was due to an accident. His former CO refuses to believe the verdict and
Inspector Macdonald is sent to re-examine the case.

A DARKER STATE by David Young, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Newly-promoted Major Karin Muller is assigned for action when the body of a
young man emerges from a river between East Germany and the Polish border.

A VOICE IN THE NIGHT by Andrea Camilleri, reviewed by Sylvia Maughan
Inspector Montalbano’s birthday starts badly and then gets a whole lot
worse when a number of deaths occur on his patch.

AGATHA RAISIN AND THE WITCHES’ TREE by MC Beaton, reviewed by John Cleal
A vicar and his wife driving home from a dinner party find the body of a
wealthy spinster hanging from a lightning-blasted ‘Witches Tree.’ When more
deaths follow, it’s another case for former PR expert-turned detective
Agatha Raisin.

BEAU BLACKSTONE by Richard Falkirk, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Bow Street Runner Edmund Blackstone has gone undercover to prevent the
opening of the Stockton and Darlington railway being sabotaged, but he’s up
against stiff opposition.

WHITEOUT by Ragnar Jónasson, reviewed by Ewa Sherman
Two days before Christmas, a young woman is found dead beneath the cliffs
of a deserted village. Siglufjörður’s detective Ari Thór and his former
boss Tómas investigate whether she jumped, or whether something more
sinister or supernatural happened to her.

VENGEANCE IN VENICE by Philip Gwynne Jones, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Honorary consul Nathan Sutherland is enjoying a preview at the Venetian
Biennale when a critic is decapitated falling from a defective balcony on
to glass artwork.

THE GALLERY OF THE DEAD by Chris Carter, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
The man caught by accident in her selfie is last thing Linda Parker sees.
The first thing Detective Hunter sees is the man’s horrific mutilation of
her body.

TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN (audiobook) by John Green, reviewed by Linda Wilson
American billionaire. Russell Pickett has disappeared and there’s a reward
for any information that leads to him being found ñ alive or dead.
Sixteen-year-old Aza and her friend Daisy need the money, so some sleuthing
is in order.

WHEN TIME RUNS OUT by Elina Hirvonen, reviewed by Ewa Sherman
As a young man fires shots from a rooftop in downtown Helsinki, his mother
and sister are confronted with a horrifying truth, and the realisation of
what has been happening to their loved one.

THE ASSET by Shane Kuhn, reviewed by Arnold Taylor
Kennedy’s younger sister, Belle, had been one of the victims of 9/11 and he
never forgot that the last words he spoke to her were in anger. In an
attempt to make amends, he abandons his studies and joins the Transport
Security Administration as an aviation security specialist.

BLACK LIGHT EXPRESS (audiobook) by Philip Reeve, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Empress Threnody Noon has been deposed. She needs the help of a thief and a
psychotic war train to get her to safety, but she soon realises nowhere is
safe.


Best wishes

Sharon
www.crimereview.co.uk

Only days left to win books by Laurien Berenson, Cynthia Riggs, Carole Beers, Cara Black from KRL

Only days left to win a copy of "Ruff Justice" by Laurien Berenson
http://kingsriverlife.com/07/14/ruff-justice-by-laurien-berenson/

And to win a copy of "Widow's Wreath" by Cynthia Riggs and while there
check out an interesting guest post by Cynthia about her senior main
character http://kingsriverlife.com/07/14/widows-wreath-by-cynthia-riggs/

Also to win a copy of "Ghost Ranch" by Carole Beers and while there check
out an interesting interview with Carole
http://kingsriverlife.com/07/14/ghost-ranch-by-carole-t-beers/

And to win a copy of "Death by Expresso" by Alex Erickson
http://kingsriverlife.com/07/14/death-by-espresso-by-alex-erickson/

And to win a copy of "Confessions of a Red Herring" by Dana Dratch
http://kingsriverlife.com/07/14/confessions-of-a-red-herring-by-dana-dratch/

And on KRL News & Reviews to win a copy of "Murder on the Left Bank" by Cara
Black http://www.krlnews.com/2018/07/murder-on-left-bank-cara-black.html

Happy reading,
Lorie

In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange for 7/11/18

In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange for 7/11/18

Mystery Fanfare: I'LL COP TO IT: Guest post by Jim Doherty

Mystery Fanfare: I'LL COP TO IT: Guest post by Jim Doherty: JIM DOHERTY: I'LL COP TO IT When a policeman writes a police procedural novel, people are bound to wonder if the main character is ...

Monday Markets and Jobs for Writers for 7/9/18

Monday Markets and Jobs for Writers for 7/9/18

The Rap Sheet: Revue of Reviewers for 7/5/18

The Rap Sheet: Revue of Reviewers for 7/5/18

In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange for 7/5/18

In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange for 7/5/18

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 30 LGBT Publishers Accepting Manuscripts - No agen...

Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 30 LGBT Publishers Accepting Manuscripts - No agen...: Wikimedia Commons If you write LGBTQ fiction and nonfiction, there are many publishers that are eager for your work, none of which requi...

New Books and Short Stories by MWA Members

New Books and Short Stories by MWA Members

Only days left to win a ton of books from KRL-Sheila Connolly, Eva Gates, Kathi Daley, Lynn Cahoon & more from KRL

Only days left to win copies of 4 more June mysteries for your summer
reading-"Crime and Punctuation": Deadly Edits series by Kaitlyn Dunnett,
"Murder at the Mansion": Victorian Village Mystery by Sheila Connolly, "The
Spook in the Stacks": A Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates, and "Till
Death Do Us Tart": A Bakeshop Mystery by Ellie Alexander
http://kingsriverlife.com/06/30/end-of-june-mystery-catch-up/

And to win a copy of "Seven Suspects" by Renee James which features a
transgender main character, and transgender author. We also have an
interesting interview with Renee
http://kingsriverlife.com/06/30/seven-suspects-by-renee-james/

Also to win a copy of "Firework Fiasco" by Kathi Daley
http://kingsriverlife.com/06/30/firework-fiasco-by-kathi-daley/

And to win a copy of "Killer Transaction" by Catherine Bruns, and while
there check out our review of the new book in the series, "For Sale by
Killer"
http://kingsriverlife.com/06/30/for-sale-by-killer-by-catherine-bruns/

Only days left to win a copy of "Read Herring Hunt" by VM Burns when you
check out the latest Coming Attractions
http://kingsriverlife.com/06/30/coming-attractions-the-lets-dine-out-edition/

Also to win a copy "Finding Answers" by Kathi Daley
http://kingsriverlife.com/06/30/finding-answers-by-kathi-daley/

And to win a copy of "Tailed" by Joyce Ann Brown
http://kingsriverlife.com/06/30/tailed-by-joyce-ann-brown/

And on KRL News & Reviews, only days left to win a copy of "Rocket's Dead
Glare" by Lynn Cahoon
http://www.krlnews.com/2018/06/rockets-dead-glare-lynn-cahoon.html

And to win a copy of "Beyond the Pale" by Clare O'Donohue
http://www.krlnews.com/2018/06/beyond-pale-by-clare-odonohue.html

Happy reading and holiday!
Lorie