Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Blood-Red Pencil: Writing The Truth by Maryann Miller
Blood-Red Pencil: Writing The Truth: Marketing experts have cautioned writers to be careful about being too political in writing blogs or in social media posts. The concern is t...
MAKE MINE MYSTERY: Who Are You Again? by Janis Patterson
MAKE MINE MYSTERY: Who Are You Again?: by Janis Patterson As someone once said, it’s always something. After decades - centuries - of respecting proper grammar, pronou...
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Beneath the Stains of Time: Up This Crooked Way (1946) by Hugh Holman
Beneath the Stains of Time: Up This Crooked Way (1946) by Hugh Holman: Hugh Holman was a Professor of English at the University of North Carolina and " a distinguished Southern US academic ," who c...
Do Some Damage: The Lockdown Anthology: To Benefit the BINC
Do Some Damage: The Lockdown Anthology: To Benefit the BINC: Lockdown: Stories of Crime, Terror, and Hope During a Pandemic launches today, and I'm excited to have a story in it. The book is a col...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: My Life in a Cat House by Gwen Cooper
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: My Life in a Cat House by Gwen Cooper: Reviewed by Jeanne Back in 2009, Gwen Cooper published book about her blind cat, Homer, who lived his life with zest despite hi...
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:
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
Monday, June 15, 2020
Our Anniversary
It was 35 years ago today when Sandi and I formally
tied the knot after five years of dating. She was and always will be my
everything. This is the third anniversary without her here. It is hard every single
day, but some days are really, really tough. This is one of those days.
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Saturday, June 13, 2020
Neighborhood Surveillance: Mobile Division Team Leader
Surveillance was conducted at approximately 8:20 PM for a twenty minute duration and no occurrences were detected or reported. Nobody was around. It was calm...some would say too calm.
KRL Update: KRL This Week for 6/13/2020
Up in KRL this morning a
review and giveaway of "A Body in a Bathhouse" by Brad Shreve along
with an interesting interview with Brad as we continue our coverage of LGBTQ+
mystery authors in honor of Pride
And reviews and
giveaways of a bunch of food mysteries for your Father's Day Feast! "A
Deadly Inside Scoop": An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery by Abby Collette,
"Pumpkin Spice Peril": A Cupcake Bakery Mystery by Jenn McKinlay, "The
Diva Spices it Up": A Domestic Diva Mystery by Krista Davis, "Sugar and
Vice": A Cookie House Mystery by Eve Calder, "Killer
Chardonnay": A Colorado Wine Mystery by Kate Lansing, and "Murder
with Clotted Cream": Daisy’s Tea Garden
Mystery by Karen Rose Smith. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to
win a copy of all 6 books (signed copies of "A Deadly Inside Scoop"
& "Pumpkin Spice Peril")
We also have a review
and giveaway of "Sprinkles of Suspicion" by Kim Davis along with a
Father's Day guest post and recipe
And reviews of
"Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears" and "Partners in
Crime" both on Acorn TV
For those who prefer to
listen to Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast directly on KRL here is our newest episode
featuring the first chapter of "Death Over Easy" by Maddie Day read
by local actor Julia Reimer
Also up during the week,
another special guest post, this one from author Kaye George about using real
people in fiction, and about her new book "Deadly Sweet Tooth"
And one by mystery author
Amy Reade about doing research for her books, and about her new book "Cape
Menace." You can also enter to win an ebook copy of the book
And one by author Kate
Fellowes about writing a mystery
Up on KRL News and
Reviews this week we have a review and ebook giveaway of "Topsail
Sundays" the second book in Kathi Daley's Island Reunion Trilogy
And a review and
giveaway of "The Study of Secrets" by Cynthia Kuhn,
published by Henery
Press
Happy reading,
Lorie
Scott's Take: Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods by Rick Riordan is a spin off book from the various Percy Jackson
series. In this book Percy Jackson explains the myths and the various Gods with
a sense of humor and commentary on how weird things can get in Greek Mythology.
Stories about fifteen Gods and various Titans
are covered with numerous beautiful illustrations depicting the various myths.
All twelve of the major Gods are covered as wells the three minor Gods that are
personal favorites of Percy.
Myths such as Zeus overthrowing the Titans, the abduction
of Persephone by Hades, baby Hermes stealing Apollo’s cattle, how spiders were
created according to the Greeks, various tales about Zeus and his inability to
keep it is his pants making everyone in Greek Mythology related to a certain
extent, and numerous other myths are covered. These tales are sure to be
entertaining as long as you have a sense of humor and understand Greek
Mythology is fun and strange.
If you are fan of the other books in
the Percy Jackson universe or the “Riordanverse” as some fans like to call the various
series created by Rick Riordan or are just looking for a good book to learn
more about Greek mythology, this book should entertain you. Percy Jackson’s
Greek Gods by Rick Riordan has plenty of humor, action, and does a
great job of explaining the myths. Especially if you like Percy Jackson and
miss him as he is retired these days, this book should work for you.
There is also a spinoff book from this
book that focuses on the Greek heroes and their myths called Percy
Jackson’s Greek Heroes.
This book is my personal library and was a gift from my late mother a number of years ago.
Scott A. Tipple © 2020
Friday, June 12, 2020
Bitter Tea and Mystery Review: The Accident by Chris Pavone
Bitter Tea and Mystery: The Accident: Chris Pavone: Having loved Chris Pavone's first novel, The Expats , I was eager to try another of his books. I soon purchased the second book he wrot...
Beneath the Stains of Time: Murder at Mt. Fuji (1982) by Shizuko Natsuki
Beneath the Stains of Time: Murder at Mt. Fuji (1982) by Shizuko Natsuki: If you're a regular reader of this blog, you may have noticed my affection for the Japanese detective story and have read some twenty...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Checked Out by Elizabeth Spann Craig
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Checked Out by Elizabeth Spann Craig: Reviewed by Jeanne Librarians end up doing a lot of things they don’t tell you about in library school. A former director’s ...
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