Monday, April 20, 2015
Monday With Kaye: "Dandy Gilver and the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains" by Catriona McPherson
Mondays mean it is time
for “Monday With Kaye” and this week Kaye George reviews Dandy Gilver and the Proper Treatment of
Bloodstains. Apparently my preferred treatment of burning them out with a
flamethrower is not appropriate. Who knew?
Dandy Gilver and the Proper Treatment of
Bloodstains by Catriona McPherson
This mystery is amusing in a reserved, Scottish way. It's the
fifth in the Dandy Gilver series,
published in this country in 2012, but 2009 in Great Britain.
Dandy, an aristocrat from
a bygone age, 1926 according to the back cover text, is actually named
Dandelion Dahlia Gilver. Her family inhabits Gilverton, but that place isn't
seen in this novel. Instead, she spends her time at another aristocratic
mansion, as a lady's maid. She takes an undercover assignment for the mistress
of the house, Walburga Balfour, called Lollie. Lollie needs to stop her husband
from killing her, as she tells Dandy he's been threatening to do. Lollie is
doubting her sanity and needs confirmation, and her life saved.
She tells how her husband, Pip, has been whispering into her ear
snatches of a gruesome Robert Browning poem about strangling his mistress.
Dandy must embark on this adventure without her good friend, Alec, as she
immerses herself in the workings of a place with the incredible number of
twelve servants. When Pip himself turns up dead, most of the servants are
suspects, along with Lollie and some others.
A flavor of the times is helped along with the character of
Harry, the valet and the resident “Red.” Other eddies and whirlpools of
relationships lurk under the surface below stairs. But there are upstairs
suspects as well, and Dandy faces the potentially fatal problem of maintaining
her disguise in front of the servants, any of whom may have murdered their
master.
Reviewed by Kaye George, author
of Choke
for Suspense Magazine
Sunday, April 19, 2015
New issue of Crime Review
In our new edition of Crime Review (www.crimereview.co.uk) this week we have 16 reviews, together with Caro Ramsay in the Countdown interview hot seat: Crime Review can be followed on Twitter: @CrimeReviewUK Linda Wilson can be followed on Twitter: @CrimeReviewer Sharon Wheeler can be followed on Twitter: @lartonmedia This week’s reviews are: THE STRANGER by Harlan Coben, reviewed by Sharon Wheeler Adam Price and his family are living the American dream – until a stranger walks up to him and shares a secret from wife Corinne’s past. And then she disappears. THE SOUL OF DISCRETION by Susan Hill, reviewed by Sylvia Maughan Chief Superintendant Simon Serrailler is selected to go undercover to try to identify the members of a paedophile ring. His mission begins in a treatment centre for convicted offenders but takes on a more dangerous line when his prime target decides to escape. THE JACKDAW by Luke Delaney, reviewed by Linda Wilson A masked man abducts a wealthy banker and he gives ordinary people watching on the internet the choice of whether the victim lives or dies. Naturally, there’s not much sympathy and the verdict is death, sparking an instant internet sensation. THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL by Roberto Costantini, reviewed by Arnold Taylor A young Arab girl is murdered in Libya and there appears to be no discernible motive. Thirteen years later an almost identical murder takes place in Rome. Commissario Michele Balistreri knows that the two crimes are connected and that a solution to one will lead to a solution of the other. FORENSICS: THE ANATOMY OF CRIME by Val McDermid, reviewed by Linda Wilson Crime writer Val McDermid takes a fascinating look behind the scenes at the world of forensic science and how it has developed over time. THE CUNNING HOUSE by Richard Marggraf Turley, reviewed by John Cleal A raid by the Bow Street Runners on a notorious male brothel, an attack on the Duke of Cumberland at nearby St Jamesà Palace and the alleged suicide of a valet … What links the three events? Lawyer Wyre must find out. CLOSE TO HOME by Lisa Jackson, reviewed by Sylvia Wilson Sarah McAdams returns to her childhood home with the intention of restoring it to its former glory. Is the house haunted, or is it the over-active imagination of Sarah’s younger daughter? Then teenage girls start to disappear from the town. SOIL by Jamie Kornegay, reviewed by Chris Roberts A Mississippi man determined to become an agricultural pioneer loses his bearings and falls foul of a deluded deputy sheriff. ASHES TO ASHES by Margaret Duffy, reviewed by Sharon Wheeler Some dodgy goings-on at a Somerset crematorium bring trouble for crime-fighting husband and wife Patrick Gillard and Ingrid Langley. THE PROFESSIONALS by Owen Laukkanen, reviewed by Chris Roberts When four friends carrying out a kidnap operation run into trouble, agents Kirk Stevens and Carla Windermere are hot on their trail. A SCREAM IN SOHO by John G Brandon, reviewed by John Cleal Detective Inspector Patrick McCarthy is preparing for bed in his Soho flat when he hears a scream. Stumbling through the 1941 blackout, he discovers clear evidence of a murder – but no body. THE CONVERT’S SONG by Sebastian Rotella, reviewed by Chris Roberts Investigator Valentine Pescatore is arrested after a terrorist attack when police find he received a warning on his phone before the event. BETRAYED by Anna Smith, reviewed by John Cleal Investigative reporter Rosie Gilmour senses there is more to the fading story of a missing barmaid – and finds herself drawn into the brutal and violent world of Glasgow’s Ulster Volunteer Force. THE CRIME WRITER’S GUIDE TO POLICE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE by Michael O’Byrne, reviewed by Linda Wilson A guide to police practice and procedure for crime writers. THE MAN FROM BERLIN by Luke McCallin, reviewed by John Cleal German intelligence officer Gregor Reinhardt, a former Berlin detective, is assigned to investigate the killing of a German officer and a beautiful young Croat filmmaker against a background of internal rivalries, partizan attacks and growing anti-Nazi feeling. IMMORTAL REMAINS (audiobook) by Rook Hastings, reviewed by Linda Wilson When four girls from a posh school are killed in a series of seemingly unrelated accidents, Bethan and her friends believe there’s more to the deaths than meets the eye. Best wishes Sharon
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Free for Kindle for a Limited Time--- Adventures of Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles (Cash Laramie & Gideon Miles Series Book 1)
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Free for Kindle for a Limited Time: Adventures of Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles (Cash Laramie & Gideon Miles Series Book 1) - Kindle edition by Edward A. Grainger. Literatu...
Anne R. Allen's Blog: How to Guarantee Rejection: Top 10 Ways Writers S...
Anne R. Allen's Blog: How to Guarantee Rejection: Top 10 Ways Writers S...: by Anne R. Allen H aving a popular blog has helped me feel a lot of empathy with agents and publishers. That's because Ruth and I get...
Numbers #5, 4, and 3 are especially true here regarding book reviews.
Numbers #5, 4, and 3 are especially true here regarding book reviews.
Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers: BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR TERRY S...
Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers: BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR TERRY S...: Award-winning author Terry Shames writes the best-selling Samuel Craddock traditional mystery series. The fourth in the series, A Deadly ...
Lesa's Latest Contest--"City" mystery giveaway
This week, I'm giving away mysteries involving a "city"; Rhys Bowen's City
of Darkness and Light and Julia Dahl's Invisible City. Details on my blog at
http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com. Entries from the U.S. only,
please.
Lesa Holstine
Saturday, April 18, 2015
KRL This Week Update
Up this morning in Kings River Life Magazine a review &
giveaway of a mystery perfect for Earth Day, "Bittersweet" by Susan
Wittig Albert, along with a fun interview with Susan http://kingsriverlife.com/04/18/bittersweet-by-susan-wittig-albert/
Also up in our Earth Day issue where we are mostly reviewing
ebooks, check out this review & giveaway of 5 mystery ebooks-"Murder
in a Good Neighborhood" by K.K. Chalmers, "A Deadly Denial" by
Kathy Bennett Bennett, "The Hollow House" by Janis Patterson, "Halloween
Thirteen:" A Collection of Mysteriously Macabre Tales by Bobbi A. Chukran,
and "The Case of the Murderous Mermaid and Others" by Andrew MacRae
http://kingsriverlife.com/04/18/five-mystery-ebooks-for-earth-day/
Also up, a review & giveaway of 2 mystery/crime ebooks
by Nancy Cole Silverman http://kingsriverlife.com/04/18/two-mysterycrime-ebooks-by-nancy-cole-silverman/
We also have a very different sort of mystery short story by
Kaye George up this morning http://kingsriverlife.com/04/18/retransformation-a-mystery-short-story/
We have an article by Terry Ambrose about Smashwords: The
World's Largest Distributor of Self published ebooks, including a lot of
mysteries http://kingsriverlife.com/04/18/smashwords-worlds-largest-distributor-of-self-published-ebooks/
Also up this week, an article on Three Ecological Mysteries
in honor of Earth Day, one by Sara Paretsky, and one by T. Jefferson Parker,
and one by Donna Leon http://kingsriverlife.com/04/18/three-ecological-mysteries-to-celebrate-earth-day/
For our fantasy & vampire readers, we have a review
& giveaway of a Chicagoland Vampires e-novella by Chloe Neill, "Lucky
Break" http://kingsriverlife.com/04/18/lucky-break-an-e-novella-by-chloe-neill/
And over on KRL Lite, a review & giveaway of "Hit
and Run" by Maxine O' Callaghan, published by Brash Books
http://kingsriverlife.blogspot.com/2015/04/hit-and-run-by-maxine-o-callaghan.html
--
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/
mystery authors & bookstores! Ask me about it!
Mystery section in Kings River Life http://KingsRiverLife.com
Short Story Review: "Honey Trap: A Noah Milano Short Story" by Jochem Vandersteen
A woman who uses her feminine charms
in such a way to gain leverage/money/power, etc. is said to be using a “Honey
Trap.” The Russians were very well known for this with several cases eventually
making the news during the cold war. State secrets are not at stake in Honey
Trap: A Noah Milano Short Story, but secrets almost at the same level
are.
Blake Trainor had been working as a
chemist for years at one of the bigger companies in the perfume industry. Those
formulas are closely guarded propriety information. The fact that he was
recently divorced and lonely wasn’t such a secret. That made him the
target of an incredible hot young lady about a week ago as the story begins.
That meeting in a Hollywood club led
to Blake Trainor taking her home and having a very good time for the rest of the
evening. When he woke up the next day, the good time was long over, and it was
nightmare time. He awoke to find a note that the very sexy young woman was, in
fact, a minor. Pictures had been taken and unless he sent the formulas to a
certain email account the pictures would be given to the police.
Blake Trainor certainly doesn’t want
to give up the formulas. He also knows that going to prison is a really bad
idea especially for a guy like him. He does the one smart thing he can do and
hires security specialist Noah Milano to find the young lady, get the pictures,
and resolve the ugly mess.
What follows is a quickly moving
story of the hunt for the female blackmailer. A hunt that leads to quite a few
complications along the way in this highly entertaining short story. At 13
pages this read is much shorter than The
Death Business: A Noah Milano Novella or
Redemption:
A Noah Milano Novelette, but
provides a quick and excellent introduction to the Noah Milano character.
Honey Trap: A Noah Milano Short
Story
Jochem Vandersteen
Sons of Spade
August
2011
ASIN: B005G4PCO4
13
Pages (estimated)
$0.99
Material
was recently purchased to read and review using funds in my Amazon Associate
account.
Kevin
R. Tipple ©2015
Friday, April 17, 2015
Doctor Day
Blood work and all was okay today so they gave her the shot and sent us on our way. We do it all again on Tuesday.
The picture below is of Sandi as they were getting ready to do her premeds a couple of days ago.
The picture below is of Sandi as they were getting ready to do her premeds a couple of days ago.
FFB Review: "A JADE IN ARIES" (1970) by Tucker Coe-- Reviewed by Barry Ergang
Barry is back again this week for FFB. Make sure you
check out the full list of books over at Patti’s blog.
A JADE IN ARIES (1970) by Tucker Coe
Reviewed by Barry Ergang
When I was twelve years old I
read my first Perry Mason mystery, The
Case of the Vagabond Virgin, and I was hooked. I read a dozen more, one
right after another, until I was over-saturated with Erle Stanley Gardner’s
style and approach in this particular series. (He had a multitude of series,
and his style varied accordingly, as I learned over time.) Many years went by
before I picked up another Mason novel. As a result of that experience, I
generally made it a point to avoid consecutive readings of works by a given
author, lest I burn out on him or her. There were probably a few exceptions,
but I never binged on anyone else to the extent I did with Gardner.
I mention this because I read
the book under consideration here, which was written by Donald E. Westlake
under his Tucker Coe pen name, immediately after finishing Drowned Hopes.
The books are radically different in style and approach—A Jade in Aries is not remotely comical, whereas Drowned Hopes emphatically is—and each
is, in turn, very different from the novels he wrote under his Richard Stark
pen name.
A Jade in Aries
is the fourth in a five-book series narrated by former NYPD detective Mitchell
Tobin, a man disgraced and punishing himself for it by literally and
figuratively both digging a hole to retreat into and walling himself off from
society as much as possible. He does not have a private detective’s license,
but has occasionally undertaken investigations to supplement the money his wife
Kate earns from a part-time job.
This story begins when Tobin
is approached on Wednesday, January 7th, by a young gay man, Ronald
Cornell, owner of a men’s boutique. He insists that his partner—personal and
professional—Jamie Dearborn, was murdered, and that the police detective, Aldo
Manzoni, won’t do anything about it, having written it off as what he calls a
case of the “Changeable Sailor.” Disbelieving this, certain that Jamie’s killer
is someone he and others in his circle know, Cornell is determined to identify
him. He is seriously into astrology, and only needs Tobin’s help to find out
the exact dates and times of birth of the six men he’s narrowed his list of
suspects to. Tobin calls an old cop friend in Missing Persons, tells him what
he needs, and then tells Cornell to call the friend directly the following
Monday.
Over breakfast Tuesday
morning, Kate Tobin reads a newspaper story she shares with her husband, he
having told her about his meeting with Cornell. The story says Cornell is in
the hospital after an attempted suicide. Based on the alleged method and what
he observed about Cornell, Mitch Tobin refutes the story, sure that Cornell was
assaulted, but refuses to get involved. When Kate
subsequently—trying to wear
down his resistance—tells her husband that she visited Cornell in the hospital,
that he has made an extremely generous offer in exchange for Mitch’s help—and
they can certainly use the money—that the bigoted, homophobic Detective Manzoni
insists Cornell is emotionally unbalanced and should be institutionalized,
Tobin caves in and undertakes the investigation. The result is an absorbing
character-driven story as Tobin deals with a variety of personalities,
including the oppositional Manzoni, from the Cornell/Dearborn social circle to
solve Cornell’s assault and two murders.
Homophobes are unlikely to
read A Jade in Aries. More
enlightened readers will probably have to make, as I did, reactive adjustments concerning
the context of the time in which it was written, specifically with regard to
language and attitude. I was 23 when it was published and don’t recall gay being a synonym for homosexual back then. Thus, homosexual is the term used throughout,
unless someone disparagingly says queer
or faggot, as some characters do. One
who uses faggot a couple of times is
Tobin himself, which I found somewhat disconcerting since he’s sympathetic to
Cornell’s plight, and treats those in Cornell’s coterie the same way he’d treat
heterosexuals: with respect or contempt based on how they comported themselves
and responded to him.
In Chapter Eight, looking at
his fifteen-year-old son, Tobin briefly wonders whether the boy might become
homosexual, as if it were a matter of choice or upbringing: “I don’t know if I
can be proved right or wrong, but I hold to the belief that homosexuality
almost always shows a failure of some kind on the part of the parents. The
failure of the father to be a man, or of the mother to be a woman, or of both
to give their child security and love. Whatever the particular style of the
failure, I think it almost always lies in the parents when the son emerges to
adulthood as a homosexual.”
Reading that, I couldn’t help
but wonder if it was strictly Tobin the fictional character speaking, or if it
was Westlake the author using Tobin as a conduit for his own beliefs. If the
latter, I wonder if Westlake’s attitude changed during the decades prior to his
death as more became known about human sexuality.
I found A Jade in Aries engrossing, compelling, and hard to put down, even
though I wouldn’t necessarily call it a “great” mystery novel, and can
recommend it to those who don’t object to a major aspect of its subject matter.
© 2015 Barry Ergang
Derringer Award-winner Barry Ergang’s written work has
appeared in numerous publications, print and electronic. Some of it is
available at Amazon
and at Smashwords. His website is http://www.writetrack.yolasite.com/.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
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