CMLD Kids/Teens Book Reviews: Death Spiral: A Faith Flores Science Mystery by Janie Chodosh

CMLD Kids/Teens Book Reviews: Death Spiral: A Faith Flores Science Mystery by Janie Chodosh

Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Blonde's Requiem -- James Hadley Chase

Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Blonde's Requiem -- James Hadley Chase: Stark House has been doing a good many double-deckers of novels by James Hadley Chase, and I thought I'd mention a couple of them here. ...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Beekeeper’s Apprentice: or, On the Segregation...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Beekeeper’s Apprentice: or, On the Segregation...: Reviewed by Kristin When I think of Sherlock Holmes, I picture a pipe-smoking figure in a deerstalker hat with a magnifying gla...

Mystery Fanfare: Presidential Mysteries: Presidents Day

Mystery Fanfare: Presidential Mysteries: Presidents Day: Tomorrow is Presidents Day . I usually post my Presidential Crime Fiction list with "Hail to the Chief!"... can't do t...

New issue of Crime Review 2/2

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 Lesley Thomson in the Countdown hot seat:
http://crimereview.co.uk/page.php/interview/4469

We’re on Twitter at:
Crime Review: @CrimeReviewUK
Linda Wilson: @CrimeReviewer
Sharon Wheeler: @lartonmedia

This week’s reviews are:

ALL OF A WINTER’S NIGHT by Phil Rickman, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Exorcist Merrily Watkins knows that Aidan Lloyd’s funeral was too
perfunctory and too impersonal. But what she doesn’t know is how to put
things right to enable the dead man to sleep easily in his grave.

BLOOD FOR BLOOD by JM Smyth, reviewed by John Cleal
Criminal brain Red Dock steals a policeman’s daughter to begin a carefully
planned, brutal and barbaric revenge on the family who put him and his twin
brother into care.

MY SISTER’S BONES by Nuala Ellwood, reviewed by John Barnbrook
Kate Rafter is a successful war correspondent who returns to her childhood
home in Herne Bay. Something had gone wrong in her past and her helpful
brother-in-law seems to be the most likely person to help

THE KINGDOM by Fuminori Nakamura, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Yurika poses as a prostitute to obtain compromising photographs of men.
Life gets complicated when one of her targets turns out to be a powerful
man who knows what she has been doing.

HAUNT ME by Liz Kessler, reviewed by Linda Wilson
When Erin and her family move into a new house, she’s not expecting to find
someone already living in her bedroom, especially not the ghost of its
former occupant.

THE PASSENGER by FR Tallis, reviewed by Arnold Taylor
It is 1941 and the Battle of the Atlantic is at its height. U-Boat U330
receives a heavily encoded message to pick up two prisoners from a ship
just off the coast of Iceland. They carry out the order and, in doing so,
put the submarine in grave danger.

GATHERING PREY by John Sandford, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Lucas Davenport gets a call for help via his daughter Letty from a
traveller whose friend has gone missing. What he uncovers takes him on a
wild ride across northern central USA.

THE WRONG SIDE OF GOODBYE by Michael Connelly, reviewed by Linda Wilson
A reclusive billionaire hires Harry Bosch to find a missing woman. But
there are plenty of people who don’t want her to be found.

 LADY COP MAKES TROUBLE by Amy Stewart, reviewed by John Cleal
Constance Kopp, America’s first female deputy sheriff, discovers her
position may be in jeopardy because of the law. When a German conman
escapes her custody, she must find him to save the job she loves.

CRUEL MERCY by David Mark, reviewed by Chris Roberts
DS Aector McAvoy is visiting New York to trace a traveller, his wife’s
brother Valentine Teague. Two members of a rival clan, the Heldens, have
been shot and unless Valentine is cleared a long-standing feud may be
reawakened.

RAGDOLL by Daniel Cole, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
Detective Sergeant Fawkes is called to a horrific crime scene where there
is only one body, but clearly six victims.

THW HEIRS OF OWAIN GLYNDWR by Peter Murphy, reviewed by Jim Beaman
A group of Welsh activists are on trial for plotting to plant a bomb in
Caernarfon Castle during the investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969.

BELOVED POISON by ES Thomson, reviewed by John Cleal
St Saviour’s Infirmary in London awaits demolition. Apothecary Jem
Flockhart uncovers six tiny coffins and her search for their meaning
reveals a long forgotten past and sparks a series of murders.

THE GIRL BEFORE by JP Delaney, reviewed by Kati Barr-Taylor
Like Emma had before, Jane can’t turn down the offer of the minimalistic
house, despite the rules that go with renting it. But who was Emma, and how
did she die?

NO PLACE LIKE HOME by Kerry Wilkinson, reviewed by Linda Wilson
Craig Macklin’s parents owe money and the interest is mounting at a rate
they can’t keep pace with, but when Craig tries to help out, he finds that
paying the money back isn’t easy.

THE DEVIL’S FEAST by MJ Carter, reviewed by John Cleal
Afghan war hero Captain William Avery, a reluctant sleuth, investigates a
horrible death at the Reform, London’s grandest gentleman’s club – a death
the club is desperate to keep quiet.

THE HANGING TREE by Ben Aaronovitch, reviewed by Anthea Hawdon
Life was always going to get complicated for Peter Grant when Lady Ty's
teenage daughter is involved with a drug overdose at a party, but matters
quickly become more complicated with the involvement of a magical book and
the Faceless Man.

ATHENIAN BLUES by Pol Koutsakis, reviewed by Chris Roberts
Contract killer Stratos Gazis is contacted by the beautiful actress Aliki:
her husband beats her, and she wants him dead. Stratos decides to do a
little investigating before he accepts the job.

THE OTHER SON by Alexander Soderberg, reviewed by Ewa Sherman
Sophie Brinkmann is an ordinary nurse who regrets falling in love with the
major crime lord Hector Guzman. But following a vicious attack he is left
in coma and she has to take control of his empire, as both his friends and
enemies won’t leave her in peace.

BIRTHRIGHT by David Hingley, reviewed by John Cleal
Widowed Mercia Blakewood must gamble everything she loves to save her
family and inheritance. Her quest takes her to the New World at a time of
historic change.

Best wishes

Sharon

KRL This Week Update for 2/18/17

Up in KRL this morning a review & giveaway of "Abstract Aliases" by Ritter Ames http://kingsriverlife.com/02/18/abstract-aliases-by-ritter-ames/

Also a review & giveaway of "Blown Away" by Clover Tate

http://kingsriverlife.com/02/18/blown-away-by-clover-tate/

And a review of the audiobook version of The Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection by Barbara Venkataraman, along with a giveaway of the ebook version of the collection http://kingsriverlife.com/02/18/jamie-quinn-mystery-collection-by-barbara-venkataraman/

We also have something a bit different this week, a review & giveaway of the true crime book, "California's Deadliest Women" by David Kulczyk along with an interesting interview with David http://kingsriverlife.com/02/18/californias-deadliest-women-by-david-kulczyk/

And we have a review & giveaway of "Whale of a Crime" by Karen MacInerney http://kingsriverlife.com/02/18/whale-of-a-crime-by-karen-macinerney/

And a review of Barry Lancet's Jim Brodie thrillers http://kingsriverlife.com/02/18/barry-lancets-jim-brodie-quite-a-balancing-act/

And a short story with just a bit of a mystery twist to it, written by Selika Sweet http://kingsriverlife.com/02/18/she-always-stopped-short-story/

Happy reading, Lorie

Writer Beware: Red Flag Alert: Loiacono Literary Agency, Swetky Literary Agency, Warner Literary Group

Writer Beware: Red Flag Alert: Loiacono Literary Agency, Swetky Literary Agency, Warner Literary Group

Grandbaby Visit!

Yesterday Karl and Amy brought Jacob Ryan over for a visit. While this was his second visit, this was the first time we were able to hold him. Pictures below....

 

Lesa's Latest Contest-- 1920s mysteries set in England

This week, I'm giving away 2 mysteries set in the 1920s in England. Someone is going to win Carola Dunn's Requiem for a Mezzo & someone else will win Frances Brody's Murder on a Summer's Day. Details on my blog at http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com. Entries from the U.S. only, please.

Lesa Holstine 

lesa.holstine@gmail.com 

http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com

Gravetapping: Mystery Scene Issue No. 148

Gravetapping: Mystery Scene Issue No. 148: The latest issue of Mystery Scene Magazine —No. 148—is at a newsstand near you. It is MS ’s special Holiday Issue and it is packed, as us...

FFB Review: Joe Posner’s Pipe Dreams by Joe Posner

This week FFB is supposed to consist of reviews of books with difficult children or "children gone wrong." Well, nothing came to mind. At least, nothing came to mind that I thought really worked for the topic. My mental state is not very good these days so my lack of insight says loads about me and not the topic. So, I went in a different direction. Back in September of 2010 I first reviewed Joe Posner’s Pipe Dreams. For FFB this week hosted by Patti Abbott I blew the dust off the review below and have chosen to run it again. Hope your Friday is good one…

I never did watch much of classic TV shows like Night Gallery or The Twilight Zone. Part of that was because my folks had pretty strict rules about what we kids could watch. The other part was that I never was into the creepy stuff. That is pretty ironic as a lot of my fiction is either rejected or accepted by editors with the stated reason alluding to the TZ qualities of the story.

Though I never saw very much of The Twilight Zone, the classic lead-in is legendary and one I am familiar with. Unlike me, Joe Posner watched a lot of the show in the late 50’s and 60’s. Not only did he watch a lot of the show but his own father as he notes in the introduction to Joe Posner’s Pipe Dreams knew Rod Serling. Through his Dad, Joe got to know Rod Serling a little bit and he even gave him some writing advice which he credits to his own successful and prolific career. Unfortunately, Joe never tells readers what that advice was.

By the 70’s, Joe was at USC and watching Rod Serling’s Night Gallery in his dorm with his buddies. It isn’t surprising then that life at USC in the 70’s plays such a prominent role in a number of stories in this self published collection along with obvious influences from The Twilight Zone series.

“Concrete Love Song” opens the collection with Chad Hunter having a very bad day. A nightmare is followed not even getting to eat his normal breakfast as his wife has left him according to her note. She took the car which means Chad is late for work and that causes yet more problems. The fact that the small portable cement mixer outside the building is talking to him does not help matters.

Communication is also a major part of the next story titled “Ray of Hope” where the communication comes from beyond the grave. 

“Pipe Dream” provides part of the title for the collection as well as good tale where Stony Parker decides to smoke a small piece of meteor fragment just to see what happens. After all, if pot is good, just imagine what an outer space rock would be like. A man simply can’t waste his smoking talents or what falls from the sky above.

People often claim credit for things they never created once the famous creator is dead and can’t prove otherwise. Such is the idea of “Sparrow’s Revenge” which has a fitting twist that would make Rod Serling proud considering the number of folks who have claimed their own involvement in his projects over the years.

Guest author Miriam Trimpe comes next with “The Ultimate Field Trip.” UFO’s are making landings and sometimes they pick up passengers though getting folks back home could be a problem.

“Mother Knows Best” follows next where Debbie Carpenter, who works at the San Diego Zoo, is in for a bit of a shock. Suddenly, the animals can talk to her and they aren’t happy. 

While “Pipe Dream” has a definite ending, one knows there has to be more to the story. There is in “The Triangle of Time” that serves as a sequel of sorts featuring the continuing exploits of USC stoner, Stony Parker.

Make sure you have batteries, aluminum foil, and a roll of black electrical tape. After all, one never knows when a flying saucer will crash and the alien on board will need your help as the alien does in “Charlie’s Gift.”

The concluding story, “The Steve Machine” tells the tale of how far a famous actor and his doctor will go to keep the actor’s brain alive.

At 112 pages, this collection is a fast, enjoyable read that plays homage to Rod Serling and his work in a variety of ways. The read has a pulpy, campy feel to it indicative of simpler times and greater possibilities. A fun book, not to be taken seriously and an excellent way to spend a couple of hours in sheer escape where nothing is ordinary.

Joe Posner’s Pipe Dreams

Joe Posner

CreateSpace (Amazon)

https://www.createspace.com/

June 16, 2010

ISBN# 1-45361-821-X

Trade Paperback

112 Pages

$14.95

Material supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2010, 2017

In Reference To Murder: Media Murder for Monday 2/13/17

In Reference To Murder: Media Murder for Monday 2/13/17

TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Announcing LONE STAR LISTENS: TEXAS AUTHORS ON WRI...

TEXAS BOOK LOVER: Announcing LONE STAR LISTENS: TEXAS AUTHORS ON WRI...: Lone Star Listens compilation available Aug. 1, for readers, fans, and writers everywhere The present generation of Texas authors  is t...

Oncology Visit

Finally home as they were running way behind due to a mandatory staff meeting that went way over their planned time. Sandi's blood work was good enough that the decision was made to pretty much leave things alone right now. A couple of drug doses have been bumped up a little bit, but they were minor tweaks.

They want to give her further time to recover from all the radiation she has had, including the various scans, so the next Pet Scan is moved back at least a month. Resumption of chemo is therefore also on hold for now. We go back in a month.

Cancer Doc Tomorrow

Sandi has an appointment for blood work and a doctor visit tomorrow. Please keep a good thought in mind for her.

Market Call: The Eyes of Texas

Market Call: The Eyes of Texas

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: Eisenhower, Eating Local, Evicted, How ...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: Eisenhower, Eating Local, Evicted, How ...: Reported by Kristin Nevermore appreciates history, although not all history books are appreciated.   Three Days in January: Dwight E...

Rough Days

My Mom passed a month ago today just a few days after she had a final and catastrophic stroke. It was five years ago Monday that we laid my Dad to rest and my Mom never recovered. While the stroke and other medical factors are listed on her death certificate, grief killed her. It became worse and worse despite all of our efforts to help her.

It is not a unique observation that clearing a dwelling piece by piece after the death of a loved one is a brutal process. It is made much worse in this case as Mom never wanted to give up anything of Dad's. I understood that. But, it makes things really hard.

Then there are the things that just make me wonder. Why she felt the need to save all the mail going back decades is beyond me. Not just tax statements and medical as well as utility bills for themselves. They saved mail of my grandparents going back years before their deaths.There are also tons of things addressed to all that should have gone into the trash the day the carrier delivered them.

My parents were both very private people and never told me things I should have known. I am gradually finding out those things as I slowly work through the boxes of mail one piece at a time. Often upsetting news is unearthed as I dig through box after box. While it is all still very confused and muddled, it has become clear that both of my parents were suffering from many more medical issues than I was aware of and that included the start of some form of dementia years ago. I don't know if they knew it or were just coping with what was happening as best as they could.

I missed the signs until the last few years, but I had no idea just how bad things truly were all this time. In a real sense, I failed them. But, at the same time, neither one of my parents tolerated any suggestion by me that anything should ever be done differently than the way they chose to do things.  Even if I had known, I know it would not have changed much of anything. I knew Mom was having issues and I, and a number of others, tried to change the course of things with no sucess at all.

Instead, she doubled down and refused to do anything, but mourn. That grief was more powerful than anything anyone else had in the arsenal. Grief won and we all lost.

Crafty Lady Sandi: Life in the New Year

Crafty Lady Sandi: Life in the New Year: Hi! Crafters! Sorry the last blog was the 15th. I had set the blog up ahead of time; so, that is why there was blogs. Hopefully, it...

Guest Reviewer John Stickney Reviews The Origins of Benjamin Hackett by Gerald M. O'Connor

Having recently reviewed THE LAST COLLAR by Lawrence Kelter and Frank Zafiro, John is back today with another review.

The Origins of Benjamin Hackett by Gerald M. O'Connor  Down and Out Books

In The Origins of Benjamin Hackett by Gerald M. O’Connor we explore the Irish city of Cork, it’s denizens and characters, and its lively language.   Told through the eyes of Benjamin Hackett our narrator is on a journey of discovery a common enough story for many young men turning 18 years of age.  Here’s the difference, on this his 18^th birthday in 1996, a hungover Benjamin learns from his parents that he was, in fact, adopted.  Off he goes with, accompanied by his best mate JJ, to find out the truth of who and why.  In the course of this five-day journey we encounter the Catholic Church of Ireland and all of its institutional secrecy, the sport of Hurling (as foreign to some as Quidditch once was), gangsters, arch rivals, distant women and the most dangerous thing of all, family.

This is author O’Connor’s debut novel, it is remarkable that his voice is so developed, there is a lushness apparent in both language and dialogue, and an equally well-tuned sense of humor.  The ending leaves us with the hope of more, these characters, and especially our narrator deserve an on-going series.  Funny, engaging and well-paced, it is a diversion worth your time.  Highly recommended.

I received an advanced reading copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.  

John Stickney ©2017

John Stickney is a writer formerly from Cleveland, Ohio now residing in North Carolina.  His fiction has appeared in Thuglit, Demolition, Needle, among others.