S&S Shuts Down Tyrus Books, Relocates Howard Books

S&S Shuts Down Tyrus Books, Relocates Howard Books

Killing Cynicism for Lunch (Ben Leroy's Most Excellent Offer)

Killing Cynicism for Lunch (Ben Leroy's Most Excellent Offer)

Review: "The Fourth Victim" by Tony Spinosa (Reed Farrel Coleman)

It is early January 2005 as The Fourth Victim, a sequel to Hose Monkey, begins. It has been a few months since those events and ex NYPD detectives Joe Serpe and Bob Healy are both still working in the home heating oil business in the New York City area. Their plan is to take some of the profits each week and set that aside. Hopefully, in two years they will have enough to get out of the oil business they both pretty much hate for various reasons and buy a bar because Healy believes that is

what cops do best if they aren’t doing security work. The plan is working, but the execution murders of delivery drivers are a huge concern and a direct threat.

This is especially the murder of the fourth victim, Rusty Monaco, that hits home in a number of ways. Like Joe and Bob, Rusty was a retired NYPD detective. He was a racist and obnoxious jerk on the NYPD and his two years in the oil business haven’t made him any better at being a decent human being. But, when it counted back when they were police, he stepped up.  Joe Serpe can never repay the debt he owes Rusty Monaco. That guilt is a powerful motivator for Joe and before long Joe and Bob are working a murder case with tentacles far beyond the oil heating business.

Tony Spinosa, better known as Reed Farrel Coleman,  has penned an excellent sequel to the powerful Hose Monkey. Along with a complex mystery, the author sprinkles in details and depth for all the characters major and minor, and plenty of setting descriptions to bring The Fourth Victim alive for readers. Since some secondary storylines from the earlier book continue here and other aspects are discussed it is best to read this two book set in order starting with Hose Monkey.

If you like gritty crime mystery novels you won’t be disappointed. Highly recommend both books. 

The Fourth Victim

Tony Spinosa (Reed Farrel Coleman)

http://www.reedcoleman.com

Bleak House Books (now Tyrus Books)

http://www.tyrusbooks.com

October 2008

ISBN# 978-1606480090

Hardback (also available in paperback and e-book)

240 Pages

$24.95

I received an ARC for this title back in June of 2008 from Publisher Benjamin Leroy for my use in an objective review. Back then Ben ran Bleak House Books which later became Tyrus Books. 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2015

Only 99 Cents for THE DEPUTY by Victor Gischler AND LOTS MORE

I very much enjoyed THE DEPUTY by Victor Gischler way back in July 2010 when I reviewed it here. For today and I don't know how much longer a digital copy is only 99 cents if you use the code DHS25 at Tyrus Books.

UPDATE--- More info from Ben Leroy as posted on Facebook:

Everything we've ever published by Reed Farrel Coleman is being featured as part of our March Madness sale today. $.99 ebooks when you use discount code "DHS25" The sale also includes Craig McDonald's EL GAVILAN and Victor Gischler's THE DEPUTY.

THIRTEEN books for you. If you wanted all of them, you could make that happen for less than $13. Who loves you? I love you.

http://www.adamsmediastore.com/tyrus-books

Interesting Reading Elsewhere--Benjamin Leroy

Ben has yet another excellent piece over at the "Hey, There's A Dead Guy In the Living Room" blog. Titled "That Was Me, I Did That (that's a lie)" he covers the most recent case of plagiarism that broke loose the last couple of days. You can read it here and you should.

Interesting Reading Elsewhere---Benjamin LeRoy

I have suggested to you before that you should be reading him. You should also be buying the books that come out from his company, Tyrus Books. But, that is a separate issue. He is still writing a column for "Hey, There's A Dead Guy in the Living Room" (another blog you should be reading daily) and this week Ben addressed queries. More importantly what not to do in "Top Five Things Not to Put in your Query because Kristin Asked" which you can read here.

Read it. It is worth it. As always.

Interesting Reading Elsewhere--Benjamin Leroy

In case you are not aware, Ben writes a column over at Jeff Cohen's Hey, There's A Dead Guy In The Living Room blog. The blog is always worth reading, but espcially when Ben weighs in on a topic.

Earlier this week he opined on the publishing process and more in his piece "Q&A Day In The Living Room." Ben answers questions about what he looks for in a submission and a lot more. It is well worth your time and can be found here.

Interesting Reading Elsewhere---Benjamin Leroy

If you don't know, Ben is the boss over at Tyrus Books.  A publisher that can be counted on every single time to release good stuff.  These days he is also contributing blog posts to the blog Hey, There's A Dead Guy In the Living Room. A blog you should be reading whether you are a mystery reader, a writer, or a two headed monster like me who does both.

Today, Ben is talking about publishing and how it is NOT a zero sum game. The post is well worth your time at http://heydeadguy.typepad.com/heydeadguy/2012/09/one-more-time-about-community.html


Kevin

Reviewing: "Delta Blues" edited by Carolyn Haines

As editor Carolyn Haines notes in the forward to Delta Blues, “Writing short fiction is some of the hardest work around, and many of these contributors took time out from writing novels to do a story for Delta Blues. Their take on crime and the blues fills a wide road, but each twist and turn is executed with skill.” (Page 14) Variety in styles is very obvious here with nineteen contributors all generating stories involving the Mississippi Delta region and the blues. This is not one of those cookie cutter anthologies where all the stories read the same and only the names and places change. This is an anthology with real depth and meat to it.

With nineteen authors and 400 pages of text (including ten pages of author and editor biographies) it isn't possible to go into detail on each and every story. Therefore, what follows below are my personal favorites from this outstanding anthology. Your personal choices may, and in all likelihood will, vary tremendously.

James Lee Burke is one of my all-time favorite authors both as a writer and a reader. His ability to create powerful imagery is something I aspire to do as a writer. “Big Midnight Special” is his contribution here and touches on themes familiar to his readers. A long term convict, Arlen, is serving prison time and about to get crosswise with a powerful con by the name of Jody. Principal is a powerful motivator and it cuts both ways.

Not everything that walks in the night is of animal or human origin. In “Crossroads Bargain” by Charlaine Harris, blues guitarist Ernest Washington has trouble on many fronts. Saved from white men looking to have some fun and maybe even kill him, Ernest is at crossroads literally and metaphorically with everything in his life at stake.

Changing directions in life is also a key part of “Run Don't Run” written by Mary Saums. After barely surviving being shot in Chicago, Crosby takes stock of what is, and more importantly is not, in his life. Ultimately, he decides to go back home to Mississippi and go to work for the local Sheriff’s department. Crosby is not the only one that decides to go to Mississippi as somebody he occasionally arrested in Chicago has also come down. He's bringing a bag of trouble with him and things are not going to be easy.

Author of the very good John Deal series set in Miami and Key West, Les Standiford contributes the tale titled “Life and Casualty.” A late night drive, fog, and a hitchhiker are just some of the elements that mark the beginning of a very strange night for Del.

At 400 pages of intros, stories and extensively detailed author biographies, this is a read that features real depth and broadness to the work. Much like the Mississippi Delta itself, time has little meaning with this book as this rich anthology slowly moves forward. This is not a light hearted work. Instead the overall tone is somber, powerful and deep with the pain of financial insecurity, racism, and isolationism along with the steady sway of the blues told by characters that feel it for every second of life as the generations before them have. The stories will touch readers in many ways.

As noted on the back cover of the book, a dollar from each sale will be donated to the Rock River Foundation to aid in their efforts supporting the arts and literary in the Delta. For more information of the group and their work go to http://www.rrfoundation.org
 

ARC supplied by Tyrus Books in exchange for my objective review. Material quoted has been verified in the hardback publication.

Delta Blues

Edited by Carolyn Haines

http://www.carolynhaines.com

Tyrus Books

http://www.tyrusbooks.com

2010

ISBN#978-1-935562-07-8

Hardback (also available in print and e-book)

400 Pages

$27.95

Kevin R. Tipple © 2010