Short Story Wednesday Review: Hoosier Noir: One

From the massive archive …

 

Hoosier Noir: One is a crime fiction magazine aimed at Indiana. Published by First City Books, the read came on the market in recent weeks and looked interesting, so I picked up a copy. Available in print and eBook versions, I went with the digital file and bought this by way of funds in my Amazon Associate account. I knew going in that this was going to be crime fiction and expected tales with hard edges. That is exactly what I got and more.

 

The issue opens with “Dunn and Dunn” by J. Travis Grundon. Dakota Fisher saw the Dunn boys while he was out in the woods doing his own less than legal thing. Rodney and Wayne saw him and that is a disaster. The only chance he has to live is to run as far and as fast as he can through the woods. If they catch him, he is dead. No doubt about it.

 

That story is followed by an interview titled “Interrogating Rex Weiner.” His new project in his Skull Snyder detective series, the planned new Ford Fairlane adventure, Noir at the Bar, various publications that have his short stories, and more are discussed here in the wide-ranging interview.

 

“Author Spotlight: Alec Cizak” comes next and focuses on “Last Exit before Toll” by him. A night of partying is ending for two young ladies. At least it is for Jessica who is calling it quits. Emily plans to keep going as the DJ seems to be very interested and she may finally succeed in getting him.

 

There are people rolling through social media on a daily basis trying to set off judgmental firestorms on others. We have all seen it if we have not been arty to it in one way or another. That concept familiar to us all if the point of the next story. Brian Klein in “Destroyers” by Alec Cizak is one of those people who lives to rain judgmental social media fire down on others. What he does is the focus of this tale that says a lot about the state of the world today.

 

Preston Lang is up next with “Descent.” Mr. Kent’s report of his missing husband is not being taken seriously by Police Chief Lohta. Maybe he does not care for homosexuals. Maybe Chief Lohta and his police force are incompetent. Hal is missing and, at this point, nobody seems to care.

 

Sometimes you must shoot somebody twice. One so they understand the reason why. The second to end them. He did it in “The Iceman” by Les Edgerton. For good reason too.

 

Rebecca is in a justifiably bad mood “The Haunted Crave Knowing” by J. Rohr begins. The woman on the porch is looking for Doug Conover as she needs help. Too bad he is dead. Rebecca is her only option now.

 

The cleanup after a killing is the hardest part. That is, if you do not want to get caught. Bleach is very important in “It All Comes Out In The Wash” by N. B. Turner.

 

 

The first killing was sort of an accident. A thrilling accident. Travis figured out he liked it in “The Selfie Killer” by N. E. Riggs. The trick is to keep it going.

 

Bobby Conrad is one of those guys that names his own male anatomy. He brags a lot about that and other things in his small town of green apples, Indiana. A current murder case involving Jim and Molly Wagner might prove him wrong on some stuff. “Dick Pic” by Don Stoll concludes the issue.

 

Along with the crime fiction and the interview, there five illustrations and photographs to provide breaks in the reading. Also present are a few scattered ads for books and other short story publications. All of those present nicely in the eBook version and no doubt appear even better in the print version.

 

Hoosier Noir: One is an entertaining and well put together read. The stories are all crime fiction so things are graphic especially in terms of language. These tales are noir and that means they are dark. If you are looking for sweetness and light, this is not the read for you. Along with the quality fiction showcased in this first issue of what hopefully will be a series, the photographs and artwork are a nice added touch and fit well in context. Hoosier Noir: One is very much your time and money. Simply put, this is good stuff.

 

 

 

I picked up my copy back in February using funds in my Amazon Associate account.

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2020, 2023

Crime Review Update for 6/15/2020

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 Sheila Bugler in the Countdown hot seat:

http://crimereview.co.uk/page.php/interview/8579

We’re on Twitter at:

Crime Review: @CrimeReviewUK

Linda Wilson: @CrimeReviewer

Sharon Wheeler: @lartonmedia

This week’s reviews are:

THE BOY FROM THE WOODS by Harlan Coben, reviewed by Linda Wilson

When a girl from her grandson’s school disappears, New York lawyer Hester Crimstein agrees to his pleas to make some enquiries. Then there’s a second disappearance, with possible political undertones.

A SHOOTING AT CHATEAU ROCK by Martin Walker, reviewed by Sharon Wheeler

Police officer Bruno cooks mouth-watering meals for his friends in between investigating crooked dealings behind a dead farmer’s estate and Russian influence in the Dordogne.

THE CHAIN by Adrian McKinty, reviewed by Viv Beeby

When you become part of The Chain at first you are the victim, then you are the criminal and then you are the survivor – but could you be the one to break it?

THE ART OF DYING by Ambrose Perry, reviewed by John Cleal

Will Raven returns to Edinburgh a fully qualified doctor to find he must resolve his feelings for former housemaid Sarah Fisher as the pair plunge into the dark world of a serial killer.

MAIGRET AND THE INFORMER by Georges Simenon, reviewed by Chris Roberts

The body of a restaurateur is dumped on a Paris street and an informer points the finger. Maigret exercises his skills to get the evidence needed.

THE SPLIT by Sharon Bolton, reviewed by Linda Wilson

South Georgia is the dream posting for glacier expert Felicity Lloyd, but dreams have a nasty habit of coming at a price.

THE FLOOD by Kristina Ohlsson, reviewed by Ewa Sherman

A man who’s wearing his daughter’s wedding ring is found dead in front of his fireplace. A funeral director frantically searches for his brother who doesn’t seem to be missing. A woman struggles to protect her family as her husband becomes more dangerous. The three cases baffle investigative analyst Fredrika Bergman and DCI Alex Recht.

THE LAST HOUSE GUEST by Megan Miranda, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor

A year ago, Sadie’s death was said to be suicide. But Avery knows it won’t be long before they accuse her of her friend’s murder.

HI FIVE by Joe Ide, reviewed by John Cleal

PI Isaiah Quintabe – IQ – is coerced into trying to prove that the daughter of the West Coast’s biggest illegal arms dealer did not kill her boyfriend. But the girl has multiple personality disorder – and any of her radically different ‘selves’ could have committed or contracted out the murder.

BLACK RAIN FALLING by Jacob Ross, reviewed by Chris Roberts

On the Caribbean Island of Camaho, young detective Michael ‘Digger’ Digson fights against thugs and the indifference of the local establishment.

BECOMING DINAH by Kit de Waal, reviewed by Linda Wilson

When her neighbour’s campervan containing his prosthetic leg is stolen, 17-year-old Dinah agrees to join forces with the distraught Ahab to track it down.

KNOCK ‘EM DEAD by Peter Morfoot, reviewed by John Cleal

Captain Paul Darac is called to the suspicious death of a former comedy star and enters a world of chicanery, corruption and murder.

PLAYING DIRTY by Helen Black, reviewed by Chris Roberts

A family firm of gangsters finds their territory invaded by a larger gang from out of town. With the police looking over their shoulder they need to play it smart to come out ahead.

SEVERED by Peter Laws, reviewed by Linda Wilson

When a vicar is brutally attacked by his own son in a church service, atheist ex-minister Professor Matt Hunter is asked by the police to advise on whether the teenage boy was involved in devil worship.

LITTLE DISASTERS by Sarah Vaughan, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor

Liz and Jess’s friendship is about to crumble as the truth about Liz’s daughter’s head injury unfolds.

MURDER BY THE MINSTER by Helen Cox, reviewed by John Cleal

Librarian Kitt Hartley is shocked to hear her closest friend has been arrested on suspicion of killing her ex-boyfriend and sets out to clear her name.

WITNESS X by SE Moorhead, reviewed by John Barnbrook

Can you trust the memories of anyone, let alone an apparent serial killer, if you are able to enter their mind and see their memories for yourself? The inventor of such a machine is drawn into an investigation to help find a determined and unusual serial killer.

THE FAMILY by Tom O Keenan, reviewed by Chris Roberts

The arrival of an ISIS zealot in Glasgow threatens not only the Family, a collective of 12 crime families, but the police and the public at large.

DEATHLY AFFAIR by Leigh Russell, reviewed by John Cleal

Detective Sergeant Geraldine Steel must discover what links the deaths of vulnerable men to uncover a vicious killer.

BONES IN THE RIVER by Zoe Sharp, reviewed by Linda Wilson

DC Nick Weston and CSI Grace McColl have to investigate a hit and run and the discovery of the bones of a man in a makeshift grave uncovered by the river Eden against the backdrop of the annual Appleby Fair.

Best wishes

Sharon and Linda

www.crimereview.co.uk

Aubrey Hamilton Reviews: An Innocent Client by Scott Pratt

Scott Pratt (1957-2018) was a journalist and lawyer who moved to writing legal thrillers and mysteries. He has two series, one with Billy Beckett, a sports agent. Readers who miss Myron Bolitar would likely enjoy these books. The other features Joe Dillard, a lawyer in east Tennessee, whose adventures are based on some of Pratt’s experiences as a practicing attorney.

The first Joe Dillard book is An Innocent Client (Onyx Books, 2008). Set in Jonesborough, Tennessee, criminal defense lawyer Joe Dillard is celebrating his 40^th birthday by seeing Johnny Wayne Neal, one of his clients, sentenced to life without parole. Dillard considers the man more than fortunate to escape the death penalty. He paid two other despicable men to brutally murder his wife in front of his 3-year-old son in order to cash in on several life insurance policies. Neal is quite justifiably despised by everyone in the criminal justice system, and Dillard comes in for some that hate by extension. Dillard is burned out on the practice of law and the kind of low-lifes he represents. He plans to change careers in a year as soon as his children are out of school. In the meantime he wants one client that he knows is innocent, just one.

Dillard gets his chance much quicker than he expected. As he leaves the courthouse, finally shed of Neal, he hears about a body in the local Budget Inn. The victim told the motel staff he was an evangelist attending a local revival. The initial outrage over the murder of a preacher rapidly fades when it’s learned he was at a local strip joint the night he died, where he spent the money he’d collected from the church congregation just a few hours previously. His harassment of the staff at the club was blatant; after multiple interviews of witnesses and collection of some circumstantial evidence, the waitress he’d pestered was arrested for the murder.

The owner of the club retains Dillard to defend the girl, who is so young and naïve Dillard doesn’t see how she could have committed such a violent act. He goes all out to obtain a verdict of not guilty while he copes with his failing mother and his drug-addled sister fresh out of prison.

Great characters, original plot, realistic dialogue. Recommended.

Publisher's Weekly Starred Review, Mystery Readers International finalist for "Best Debut Mystery," and Macavity Award Nominee for Best First Mystery Novel.

·         File Size: 463 KB

·         Print Length: 395 pages

·         Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited

·         Publisher: Phoenix Flying LLC (December 13, 2013)

·         Publication Date: December 13, 2013

·         Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC

·         Language: English

·         ASIN: B009WQ9YMS

Aubrey Hamilton ©2020

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

Beneath the Stains of Time: The Red Locked Room (2020) by Tetsuya Ayukawa

Beneath the Stains of Time: The Red Locked Room (2020) by Tetsuya Ayukawa: Tetsuya Ayukawa was a mystery writer who has been described as " the Japanese honkaku mystery story ," comparable to how Elle...

Unlawful Acts: Incident Report No. 89 for 5/31/2020

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Lesa's Book Critiques: Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander

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Unlawful Acts: Banjos, Art Theft, and Ulysses S. Grant – Small Crimes: Weekend Edition for 5/30/2020

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Beneath the Stains of Time: Dead Weight (1946) by Addison Simmons

Beneath the Stains of Time: Dead Weight (1946) by Addison Simmons: Addison Simmons was an American writers described by our resident genre-historian, Curt Evans , as " a prolific professional writer ...

KRL Update: KRL This Week for 5/30/2020

Up in KRL this morning a review and giveaway of "Murder in the Storybook Cottage" by Ellery Adams, along with an added special giveaway. We also have a fun guest post by Ellery about Fairy Tales, Tea, and Murder

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/30/murder-in-the-storybook-cottage-by-ellery-adams/

And reviews and giveaways of 3 pet mysteries-"Gone With The Whisker": A Bookmobile Cat Mystery by Laurie Cass, "Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua": A Haunted Craft Fair Mystery by Rose Pressey, and "The Girl with the Kitten Tattoo": A Cat Lady Mystery by Linda Reilly

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/30/pet-mysteries-for-your-summer-reading/

We also have we have a review of "Secrets of the Treasure King" by Terry Ambrose along with a giveaway of a $5 Amazon gift card. We also have an interesting interview with Terry 

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/30/secrets-of-the-treasure-king-by-terry-ambrose/

And another mystery podcast interview, this one with mystery author Eric Beetner about his podcast WriterTypes 

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/30/writer-types-mystery-podcast/

For those who prefer to listen to Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast directly on KRL, here is the player for the latest one featuring an excerpt from "The Wrong Girl" by Donis Casey, read by local actors Maxwell Debbas and Brianne Vogt Debbas 

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/30/mysteryrats-maze-podcast-the-wrong-girl/

Up during this week we had another special guest post, this one by mystery author C.L. Bauer about writing and her latest book "The Sweet Pea Secret" 

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/27/lily-takes-the-lead/

And one by mystery author Kathy Manos Penn sharing about the inspiration for the dog in her books, Dickens. You can also enter to win an ebook copy of her book "Bells, Tails, and Murder" 

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/27/the-inspiration-for-dickens-the-dog/

Up in KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and giveaway of "A Mew Beginning" by Kathi Daley 

https://www.krlnews.com/2020/05/a-mew-beginning-by-kathi-daley.html

Happy reading,

Lorie

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Sanditon by Jane Austen and Another Lady

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Sanditon by Jane Austen and Another Lady: Reviewed by Jeanne With the recent PBS airing of ”Sanditon” and a Book Bingo square I needed to fill, I decided to give Sanditon a ...

Scott's Take: Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt by Neil Kleid

Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt by Neil Kleid is an adaption in novel form of the comic of the same title. This novelization adapts the famous comic, keeping most of the plot, while attempting to update it for modern times. Kraven the Hunter (a longtime Spider-Man foe) has decided to launch a hunt of Spider-man for the last time. He will do whatever it takes to kill Spider-Man. This book takes place from multiple perspectives including two different villains and Spider-Man.  

Featuring sex, violence, lots of death, and plenty of humor this is an adult novel. This novel deals with concepts such as death, survivor’s guilt, honor, child abuse, dark secrets, and more. There is a huge horror element in this book as it depicts classic scenes found in the comic. This novel is not for children. This book would probably give them nightmares.

I highly recommend Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt by Neil Kleid for adult Spider-Man fans that are looking for a new spin on the classic tale.

My reading copy came from Central, aka Downtown Branch, of the Dallas Public Library System back before the libraries closed their doors in the middle of March due to the ongoing pandemic.

Scott A. Tipple © 2020

Writer Beware®: The Blog: Evaluating Publishing Contracts: Six Ways You May ...

Writer Beware®: The Blog: Evaluating Publishing Contracts: Six Ways You May ...: Posted by Victoria Strauss for Writer Beware® (A version of this post was originally published in 2014.) Several years ago, a now...

Lesa Holstine: The Blues Don't Care by Paul D. Marks

Lesa Holstine: The Blues Don't Care by Paul D. Marks

Bitter Tea and Mystery Review: Fearless Jones by Walter Mosley

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Fearless Jones: Walter Mosley: The star of this book (and the narrator) is Paris Minton, but there would not be much of a story without his friend Fearless Jones. They are...

Unlawful Acts: Otto Penzler, George Simenon, and Roxy Music – Small Crimes: Friday Reads for 5/29/2020

Unlawful Acts: Otto Penzler, George Simenon, and Roxy Music – Small Crimes: Friday Reads for 5/29/2020

Review: Evergreen: A Willie Black Mystery by Howard Owen

It is New Year’s Day in 2018 as Evergreen: A Willie Black Mystery by Howard Owen begins in a way that is very familiar to many of us of a certain age. Between his bladder and the cat sitting on his chest, sleeping much past eight in the morning is proving impossible. While hosting a party at your own place solves the transportation issue, there is one heck of a mess to clean up on the morning after. Cleaning up and thinking about having to go work at the paper later gets pushed aside when Richard Slade calls.

Richard Slade and Willie Black have a complicated history familiar to readers of the series. In the here and now, his mother, Philomena Slade, is in the hospital and is not doing so well. According to Richard Slade, she wants to tell him something important about Artie Lee.

Artie Lee was Willie Lee Black’s father and he died a little over a year after Willie was born.  Peggy never talks about him and Wille knows next to nothing except that he was African American. Back in 1960, African Americans and Caucasians could not legally marry. The simple act of dating was frowned upon by a significant portion of society. That belief that the races should not mingle extended to the child of such a union. That reality has been a major part of Willie Black’s entire life.

As it turns out, Philomena Slade has been quietly maintaining Artie’s grave in a local cemetery that has been nearly forgotten in the mists of time. All she wants is for Willie to maintain the grave site after she passes. A simple request that is far more complicated than it first appears. Now that he has been told of the grave site, something he has never known until now, all Willie wants is to learn all he can about his father and what happened that fateful night decades ago. That night and his death changed everything for everyone.

Willie Black digs into the past in a quest to find out what happened long ago. His mother, Peggy, refuses to talk about it so he has to talk to others who were around at the time and know what happened. Getting folks to talk is not easy and it soon becomes clear that what he thought he knew all these years was not true. History and race relations have always been a subtext if not a main theme of this series and such is the case here as Willie unearths hard truths that some would much prefer left buried in the past.

Evergreen: A Willie Black Mystery by Howard Owen is the latest published installment of a complex and very good series that began with Oregon Hill. This is not a static series. Characters age, people die by the hand of man or natural causes, and relationships evolve and change, so it is strongly recommended that readers start at the beginning and work their way forward. Additionally, this read contains frequent references to past events and are detailed enough to be considered spoilers. 

My review copy came by way of the Bachman Branch of the Dallas Public Library System shortly before the shutdown in mid-March due to the pandemic. Next in the series is Belle Isle which I have here in my print TBR pile after my ongoing reviews of this series came to the attention of the publisher.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2020

The Rap Sheet: Revue of Reviewers for 5/28/2020

The Rap Sheet: Revue of Reviewers for 5/28/2020

Unlawful Acts: Horror, the Blues, and Laird Barron – Small Crimes: Thursday Reads for 5/28/2020

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In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange for 5/28/2020

In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange for 5/28/2020

Review: The Case of the Nameless Diablo, Cowboy Crooner: A Nameless, Texas Mystery introducing Rory Rogers, P. I. by Bobbi A. Chukran

The Case of the Nameless Diablo, Cowboy Crooner: A Nameless, Texas Mystery introducing Rory Rogers, P. I. by Bobbi A. Chukran has a lot going on in this short story that is also a very good cozy style read.

Aurora “Rory” Rogers is in her 50s, widowed, and is the only private investigator for miles around Nameless, Texas. Hurricane Harvey has just stomped through kicking the heck out of the Texas coast and the effects are also felt 175 miles in land in Nameless where the normal heat and humidity of summer has been made worse by the massive rains. Rory is working in her office in a building that also houses her small apartment. Her place is across the street from the Sheriff’s Office and a block up from the train station and freight yard. She has a Mexican restaurant next door and a BBQ place nearby by.

For once she has some money in the bank, lunch was good, and she a new book to read. It should be a quiet relaxing afternoon with nothing on the agenda. That is until a man exits from his old pickup and comes into her office. Rory does not much care for walk-ins and for good reason.

He is a prospective client and comes by way of an attorney that she has worked for before. “Darlene” has been stolen from his truck. Darlene is a guitar that his grandfather made back in the 50s. It has been through some things in the decades since and generates a sound that can’t be duplicated. While it may not be worth a lot money wise, it means everything to him, and he wants Darlene back.

The theft may or may not have anything to do with a recent situation. All he knows is that he has a show coming up and he needs Darlene. Without getting his name, Rory takes the case and the hunt is on for the missing guitar.

A lot is going on in The Case of the Nameless Diablo, Cowboy Crooner: A Nameless, Texas Mystery introducing Rory Rogers, P. I. by Bobbi A. Chukran. A lot of backstory regarding Rory is weaved into the highly entertaining tale as the author avoids info dumping as well as slowing the pace of the read. A fun and fast paced mystery short story well worth your time.

I picked this up to read and possible review after the author announced its publication on the Short Mystery Fiction Society list. At that time in late April it was a free read.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2020