Reviewing: "Auraria Dead: A Maria Sebastian Mystery" by Melody Scott

Realtor Maria Sebastian had not wanted to take the trip north to Auraria, Georgia with her realtor partner Bonnie Keen but she had to do it. As it happened, both real estate agents had been independently working to sell the same 95 acre wooded tract in northern Georgia for different members in the same investor consortium. Her contact had not told her of the involvement of the other agent and Bonnie’s contact had apparently failed to tell Bonnie that Maria was working on the sale. Now, despite their thirty year age difference and the fact that neither wants to work together or even trust each other, they are forced to do so in order to salvage the sale. With a commission for both of them at stake, they simply have to work together. This mild November day finds them about to walk the property. 

Maria always walks the property she sells and the fact that Bonnie does not want to do so is not going to stop Maria from doing it. Bonnie ends up coming along and clearly is not happy about it. The heavily wooded site is a pretty one with plenty of hills, trees, plants and at least one apparently injured rabbit. Bonnie’s attempt to rescue the rabbit results in Bonnie needing a rescue herself and medical attention. Her actions also result in the discovery of a skeleton that may or may not be someone from Maria’s past.

In between trying to sell the parcel of land despite learning of more and more obstacles for the sale, going home to see her parents for Thanksgiving, and a host of other problems including resolving the identity of the skeleton, Maria maintains a romance with Mason. But, unlike her crazy cousin Emily who has now decided she wants to make clothes and have her own fashion line while telling Maria every thought that ever comes through her head, Maria’s very level headed boyfriend apparently has been keeping secrets from her. The fact that Mason is not the only one she loves that has been doing so does not make her life easier. When you can’t trust the ones you love—what do you do?

Secrets drive these romantic cozy mystery steadily forward the full 290 pages.  Filled with interesting characters, several different mystery storylines, a romantic angle that has its own mystery, and plenty of observations about real world behavior, this recent publication from Wolfmont Press is a good one. Not only does author Melody Scott bring the cast of characters alive, she throws in plenty of twists and turns to keep readers involved all the way to the end that many won’t see coming.

While being a realtor is a major part of the Maria Sebastian character, the read is not bogged down with real estate terms and technical jargon. What little is included is limited and easily explained for the reader. The focus is on the character relationships, the numerous mysteries, and her everyday real world life elements that most, if not all readers, will relate to easily and enjoy.

The result is a solid comfortable read with quite a few twists and turns and a heroine readers care about. Hopefully, “Auraria Dead: A Maria Sebastian Mystery” is the start of a new series. If so, it gets off with a great rock solid beginning. 

Auraria Dead: A Maria Sebastian Mystery

Melody Scott

http://melodyscott.com/index.html

Wolfmont Press

http://www.wolfmont.com

April 2011

ISBN# 978-1-60364-038-1

290 Pages(also available as an e-book)

$14.00

Material supplied by publisher in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2011

Review: "Murder To Mil-Spec" Edited by Tony Burton

This year's holiday anthology titled Murder to Mil-Spec, while aimed to benefit a different charity from the sale proceeds of the book, provides another good read of strong stories. As in other holiday anthologies published by Wolfmont Press, crime is at center stage. Unlike previous anthologies that restricted events to the holiday season, this time the stories can happen anytime and anywhere. The pursuit of justice is a frequent theme in these stories and can take many forms. Sometimes righting a wrong happens fairly swiftly while in other cases it may take years, even decades, for justice to finally be served.

After a brief forward by editor and publisher, Tony Burton, the anthology begins with “Meet Me by the Priest” by Terrie Farley Moran. The allies are on the outskirts of Berlin, Germany and Corporal Billy is back home in New York for a month leave. The habits of an old friend are going to get Corporal Billy into real trouble if he isn't very careful.

World War Two is also relevant in “Dart Champ” written by Dorothy B. Francis. In a departure from her very good ‘Key West Mystery’ series (“Killer In Control” comes out next June) Agnes Brown is on a mission to recover her very important ring. The ring, made to replicate her hard earned bronze star, is a family heirloom she wants back and Agnes is not about to wait for the local police to solve the case.

Lt. Rongo Layton should have died one way or another during the Korean War for the sins he committed. He didn't. Instead, he came home in one piece and continued to sin. Clooney plans to rectify that in “Tripwire” written by Big Jim Williams.

Elizabeth Zelvin is making quite a name for herself in crime/mystery fiction with her novels “Death Will Get You Sober” and “Death Will Help You Leave Him” along with numerous short story credits in anthologies and magazines. Her story “Choices” is proof that sometimes it is a good thing when the woman walks into your particular gin mill.

The only story to use the current war in Afghanistan as a backdrop is the “The Gift of Life” by Lina Zeldovich. A very moving story that is as much about the clash of cultures as it is about the core of humanity which links us all together.

It is back to World War Two with the next story, “Justice at Sea” by Charles Schaeffer. Aboard the USS Flagstaff there is a killer on board. While many don’t care, Johnny Shepherd intends to find out who murdered the Japanese prisoner of war.

It wasn't a murder but a rape that drives events forward in “Tourada A Corda” written by Howard B. Carron. Set in Terceira, Azores, the story features a case where a local girl has been assaulted. Since she is a friend of the family, the narrator intends to find out who did it and provide some justice.

Brendan Dubois comes next with the tale “One More Mission.” Back in the day, McIntosh Air Force Base was part of the Strategic Air Command and provided security for the nation and its people. Now days, the place is now McIntosh International Tradeport and nearly everything John Regan remembers is long gone. But, there is still a debt and it has to be repaid.

An airport is also part of the next story. When the airport is closed, the murder suspects are few in “Danger From Within” by Janis Patterson. Fans of the “locked room” type of mysteries will surely enjoy this very good tale where the suspects are few and motivated.

Pranks are a part of most annual games between strong rivals. Occasionally they go wrong. Not usually as wrong as it did here before the Army/Navy game in 1972. “An Officer and a Gentleman's Agreement” written by Barb Goffman shows the wait to right a wrong can be very long indeed.

They may be retired sitting on park benches but senior citizens Joe and Benny know something is off in “Warriors Know Their Duty” written by S. M. Harding. Will anyone listen and take them seriously?

Iraq finally makes an appearance at the end of the anthology with “Salome’s Gift” by Dianna Catt. Salome's big brother is fighting in Iraq and, while the news about his status is not good, his package home to her is very special. If only she can find the courage to open it.

The anthology closes with six pages of detailed author bios that include numerous titles of short stories and novels for yet more reading pleasure from these talented authors.

Unlike previous holiday anthologies from Wolfmont Press, these stories are not humorous and there is hardly a humorous line around in any of these very good tales. Instead, the tone of the anthology as a whole is somber. Respect for those who served honorably is present as is disdain for those who did not. Often the point of the story is to serve justice out to those who would be served in an effort to finally address events that happened long before. As such, flashbacks are present in most stories along with brief history lessons.

Murder To Mil-Spec is a good read featuring a lot of strong stories supporting a good cause. Thanks to medical advances military personnel are now surviving catastrophic injuries and come home to discover their homes need major modifications. Proceeds from the sales of this anthology will be donated to “Homes For Our Troops” charity found at http://www.homesforourtroops.org to assist returning military personnel with their needs.

Not only can you enjoy a really good book, but you can also help the men and women who need our help to fully come home.

Murder to Mil-Spec: A Crime Fiction Anthology to Benefit Homes For Our Troops

Tony Burton, Editor

Wolfmont Press

http://www.wolfmont.com

October 2010

ISBN#978-1-60364-028-2

Trade Paperback

224 Pages

$12.00

Material provide by editor/publisher Tony Burton in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2010

Friday's Forgotten Books--"Seven by Seven" edited by Tony Burton

For this week's Friday's Forgotten Books" hosted by Patti Abbott, I have selected an anthology edited by Tony Burton titled "Seven by Seven: Seven Deadly Tales Of The Seven Deadly Sins From Seven Deadly Authors." Published by Wolfmont Publishing several years ago, the book was very good and is still good now. With all the hype these days regarding how anthologies and collections fit perfectly into the increasingly short attention spans of The American People (I always wonder who The American People are because no matter the topic it usually doesn't seem to include me or anyone I know) this anthology seemed to be a good choice.

Other than cleaning up a typo here and there and blowing the dust off, the review below is as it was published back in 2006. For your reading pleasure.....


When this anthology was first proposed, I withdrew from submitting to it because I believed it was a topic done to death. As a reviewer, a month does not go by without an author querying me about reviewing his or her new book involving the seven deadly sins. Of course, there are the movies with too many to name here. There was also the Prime Time Live Special last fall on the subject and I believe Dateline did one as well early last spring. Still, I was interested in the general idea and interested to see how it would be executed.

After an interesting forward by G. Miki Hayden and an introduction by editor Charles A. “Tony” Burton that amazingly manages to never once mention Dante or for that matter Shakespeare, (both considered well known writers on the subject to put it mildly) the reader gets to the short stories and numerous black and white illustrations. The first sin to be considered is “Lust”.

The highlight of the section is the story titled "True Colors” by John M. Floyd. The backdrop of a workplace shooting is complicated when the investigating officers can’t understand the witness clearly. But, at least they do have a witness.

“Gluttony” follows next and is showcased by “Refrigerator Raid” penned by Kimberly Brown. Hunger can drive one to do stupid things as Bennie and Clive soon learn.

Most of the stories in this anthology aren’t funny and aren’t meant to be. This is not true in “Catnapping” written by John Floyd. It is the highlight of the “Sloth” section and provides an answer about how to solve the annoying problem of the wife’s cat. It might just be the solution for other things as well.

Seeking personal solutions is also a component of the highlight story of the “Greed” section. Written by Deborah Elliott-Upton, “Money For Nothing” immediately reminds one of the song. In this case, the chicks aren’t free and will cost big time.

Taking a different track on the same background idea is B. J. Bourg in his story “Shot of Anger” located in the middle of the “Wrath” section. Bourg’s story takes dead aim at unfaithfulness and manages to twist reader expectations right at the end.

Frank Zafiro in his story “Wish” details the hopes and dreams of one man. The highlight of the “Envy” section considers what all of us have contemplated more than once.

The final sin covered is “Pride” and the highlight story for this reader is “Montgomery’s Marvelous Time Machine” written by Kimberly Brown. As she does in each section, Kimberly Brown weaves a tale much different than expected in an anthology of this type and yet her tale always fits the theme very well. This particular story revolves around a device mentioned in the title and the consequences of using said device.

In addition to the authors mentioned above, authors Sunny Frazier, (who soon will have her own novel out from this publisher) and Gary Hoffman have stories in each section as well. Author Frank Zafiro also has a novel currently out from this publisher titled “Under a Raging Moon” which will be reviewed here and elsewhere in the near future.

The 49 tales in this book along with the numerous illustrations provide a quick fun read. The highlighted stories were my personal favorites and your results may vary.

Book Details

Seven by Seven: Seven Deadly Tales Of The Seven Deadly Sins From Seven Deadly Authors

Editor/Publisher Charles A. “Tony” Burton

Wolfmont Publishing

April 2006

ISBN# 0-9778-4020-4

Large Trade Paperback

As always, more next time and your comments, suggestions and thoughts are always welcome here or may be sent directly to me at kevinrtipple@verizon.net

The material was provided by the editor in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2006-2010