Kevin's Corner

Monday, January 20, 2025

Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: The Mailman by Andrew Welsh-Huggins

Andrew Welsh-Huggins is an accomplished author of 11 books who has been nominated for the Shamus, Derringer, and International Thriller Writers-awards. Welsh-Huggins is also the editor of Columbus Noir (Akashic Books, 2020), and his short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Mystery Weekly, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and Mystery Tribune, among others. He’s written eight mysteries about Andy Hayes, a former Ohio State University quarterback turned private investigator. His nonfiction book No Winners Here Tonight (Ohio University Press, 2009) is the definitive history of the death penalty in Ohio. Hatred at Home: al-Qaida on Trial in the American Midwest (Swallow Press, 2011) documents a lengthy government investigation into terrorism that started in Columbus, Ohio.

The Mailman (Mysterious Press, January 28, 2025) launches a new thriller series with an original main character who takes the post office’s motto on the indefatigability of a mail carrier a step or two further. It wasn’t snow or rain that was interfering with independent courier Mercury Carter’s attempt to make a delivery to Rachel Stanfield, it was the full-blown home invasion that was in progress when he arrived. He makes short work of the thugs at the door of the Stanfield house; the remaining toughs flee this unexpected interference, taking Rachel with them. Carter follows them from Indianapolis into Illinois and points south, intent on completing the hand-off he was hired for. Each stop along the way involves a confrontation in which the kidnappers come off second best but not convincingly enough to make them leave Rachel behind.

Carter’s background as a postal inspection agent is a novel way to establish plausible law enforcement experience as well as knowledge of the mechanics of package delivery. Carter demonstrates creativity in problem solving. For instance when he needs a different vehicle because his is familiar to the kidnappers, he takes advantage of the labor shortage everywhere and signs on as pizza delivery guy just to access a different car for a short time. The pizza shop owner’s frustration when she realized her new driver lasted about an hour was palpable, understandable, and funny. All in all, Mercury Carter is an excellent contribution to the crime fiction hero pantheon. I am looking forward to the next installment of Carter’s adventures. Recommended.

Library Journal starred review and Library Journal Mystery Pick of the Month.

· Publisher: ‎Mysterious Press (January 28, 2025)

· Language: ‎English

· Hardcover: ‎360 pages

· ISBN-10: ‎1613166109

· ISBN-13: ‎+978-1613166109

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3CgNwjN

Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.

Sunday, January 19, 2025

Lesa's Book Critiques: Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten

Kathleen Marple Kalb's Blog: So You Wrote the Book, Now What?: Rules for a Reason

The Rap Sheet: Revue of Reviewers: 1-19-25

Sandi's Birthday

If things had gone right, like they should have, Sandi would be 65 today. Here she is doing what she loved--crocheting and sitting outside.

Saturday, January 18, 2025

Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of January 19, 2025

Lesa's Book Critiques: Kevin’s Corner Annex – Forgotten in Death by J.D. Robb

KRL Update 1/18/2025

Up on KRL this week another fun mystery catchup! We have reviews and giveaways of "The Case of the Missing Maid" by Rob Osler, "Dominoes, Danzón, and Death" A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery, Book Four by Raquel V. Reyes, "Blame the Beignets" by Ginger Bolton, and "Death at an Irish Wedding" An Irish Castle Mystery by Ellie Brannigan https://kingsriverlife.com/01/18/even-more-mysteries-for-january/

And a review and giveaway of "Summit's Edge" by Sara Driscoll https://kingsriverlife.com/01/18/summits-edge-by-sara-driscoll/

And a review and giveaway of "Perfect Storm" by Paige Shelton https://kingsriverlife.com/01/18/perfect-storm-by-paige-shelton/

We also have the latest Queer Mystery Coming Attractions from Matt Lubbers-Moore https://kingsriverlife.com/01/18/queer-mystery-coming-attractions-february-2025/

And another true crime story from Sarah Peterson-Camacho https://kingsriverlife.com/01/18/i-grabbed-my-little-gun-a-husbands-murder-a-widows-revenge-part-1/

Up during the week we posted another midweek special guest post, this one by author Julia Bryan Thomas about the inspiration for her new book "The Kennedy Girl" https://kingsriverlife.com/01/15/inspiration-for-the-kennedy-girl/

Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review of "The Case of the Beguiling Broach" by Terry Ambrose, along with an ebook giveaway of this book or any other of Terry's mystery novels-winner's choice https://www.krlnews.com/2025/01/the-case-of-beguiling-brooch-by-terry.html

And week a review and ebook giveaway of "Cruel and Bitter Things" by Joseph Souza https://www.krlnews.com/2025/01/cruel-and-bitter-things-by-joseph-souza.html

And a review and ebook giveaway of the fantasy novel "Of Steel and Scale" by Keri Arthur https://www.krlnews.com/2025/01/of-steel-and-scale-by-keri-arthur.html

Happy Reading,

Lorie

The Hard Word: TOP 5 SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS OF 2024

SleuthSayers: Writing, Reading, and Readings

SleuthSayers: Writing, Reading, and Readings: Wondering what that title means? Well, the first two words are things I like to do. The third, I'm not so sure about. I feel guilty s...

Scott's Take: What If… Marc Spector Was A Host To Venom? by Mike Chen

What If… Marc Spector Was A Host To Venom? by Mike Chen is the third What If… book. It is way different than What If… Loki Was Worthy? A Loki And Valkyrie Story (did not review) and What if… Wanda Maximoff And Peter Parker were Siblings? A Scarlet Witch And Spider-Man Story, but still worth reading.

In this tale, a Moon Knight from somewhere in the multiverse and is the host of Venom arrives and attacks the Moon Knight of the Earth that this tale is primarily told on. The Venom hosting Moon Knight takes over the body of the Moon Knight of that Earth and forces the consciousness of Steven, Jake, Knoshu to flee to the previous Venom hosting body. The Moon Knight of the Earth that was attacked, is now controlled by Venom, while the previous hosting Moon Knight attempts to free him. It is a complicated setup.

While this is going on, America aka The Watcher, from the previous books continues to watch the events unfold in this book. Also, the big bad villain of the previous 2 books and caused those events, is finally revealed here.

This results in a read where more than five narrators are in the book and switching back and forth. This is a more complicated read than most in the series to date. Moon Knight and Venom are represented heavily through here. One can tell that the author is a big fan of Moon Knight. I feel like Venom gets a bit of a short stick, but is still important. What Venom wants is hard to explain without ruining the novel.

What If… Marc Spector Was A Host To Venom? is a fairly dark action packed read that has some scenes ripped straight from some comics I have read that were recreated here. This is a lot of allusions to previous Moon Knight stories and some to Venom. Having characters having conversations in their head while talking to people outside of their head at the same time is a difficult thing to balance and the author does a good job. One really needs to focus during the read since there is so much going on.

One plot point for this read was not handled well and made some plot holes. Severe Spinal Degradation is referenced for one of the characters, but has no impact on the physical capabilities of the character. The Spinal Degradation is supposed to be bad enough to cause the loss of height for one character, but has not slowed them down prior to this read or in this novel. Clearly, this should affect the character far more than simply causing a loss in height, and yet, there is no explanation of why it has not done other typical things.

The ending could have been handled better. It is a set up for book 4 as nothing is fully finished here. The reveal of the big bad was also a little lame in my opinion because I do like the character they are using. This character is heavily exposed right now in numerous games and other venues for a movie coming out next in the Avengers series.

I also found America’s parts pointless so far. She spends most of the novel saying she needs to do something to stop the big bad, but does nothing until the end of the third novel. She says she is now going to act, but one must wait for book 4 for her to do anything.

While I enjoyed it, I don’t think this book would be a good place for non Moon Knight fans to start since it is very complicated.

There will be a fourth book in this series that will bring in the X-Men. Some details are revealed here at the end of this book, but as those are spoilers, I am not going to reveal that limited information here. While we do not yet know what the What If… question will be, or the identity of the author, the book is scheduled to come out in the fall of 2025.

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/49EBFs4

My hardback reading copy came by way of the Audelia Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.

Friday, January 17, 2025

Friday Evening Humor

Lesa's Book Critiques: Glen Davis’ Favorites of 2024

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year’s by Liz Ireland

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year’s by ...: Reviewed by Jeanne April Claus is trying to stay calm, but when your husband is out making stops all over the world in an aging sleigh...

Mystery Fanfare: AUTHORS FOR LA

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Happiness Is A Book: Friday’s Forgotten Book: The Clock That Wouldn’t Stop by E. X. Ferrars

Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: GODS' MAN

Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: GODS' MAN: Gods' Man: A Novel in Woodcuts by Lynd Ward (1929) Here's a novel you don't have to read. Except for the five chapter titl...

Patricia Abbott: FFB: NORWOOD, Charles Portis

In Reference To Murder: Mystery Melange 1/17/2025

2024 Critter's Poll Results: Kevin's Corner wins "Best Review Site"

After finishing in first place for three years in a row, I took made the decision two years ago to not enter Kevin’s Corner. The reaction to not entering the blog was massive in public and private. People were very upset with me. I heard from many folks who were most displeased with the fact that I was not entering the blog in the annual poll.

I was very surprised. I have a hard time conceiving of the idea that anything I do, especially with the blog, really impacts other folks. Apparently, there is a huge impact even if I don’t really see it happening.

So, I entered again last year and, somehow, won.

That meant that this blog had finished first 4 out of 5 years. Stunning, but true.

So, when the contest rolled around again, I thought enough was enough. I eventually decided that I would enter one more time.

Again this year, we were the only place reviewing mysteries and crime fiction. We were also the only site that was not one of the big guns with book giveaways, special events, and the like. Unlike when I first started entering in the early 2000s when there were over 100 review sites running, this year there were only 4. 2 of the sites are mega deals that handle science fiction and fantasy. Another site seems to do romances of various types.

Then there is this place.

Somehow, we won again.

I am honored and stunned. 5 out of 6 years and back to back after the break year.

On behalf of myself, Scott, Aubrey, and numerous other folks who have been a part of things here for another year, Thank You. If it was not for all the guests who contribute to this blog every month, this award and the recognition, does not happen.

A massive and heartfelt thank you goes to you, the readers, who come by here and read this blog. If it was not for your support over these years, this never would have happened one more time. I’m grateful.

Thank You. It truly means a lot.

Kevin

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Thursday Evening Humor

Lesa's Book Critiques: What Are You Reading?

Trace Evidence: An Accidental Series (by Michael Bracken)

Beneath the Stains of Time: The Case of the Second Chance (1946) by Christopher Bush

Beneath the Stains of Time: The Case of the Second Chance (1946) by Christophe...: Christopher Bush 's The Case of the Second Chance (1946), 31st entry in the Ludovic Travers series, is best described as an "in-be...

Jerry's House of Everything: THE ADVENTURES OF HERCULE POIROT: THE CASE OF THE CARELESS VICTIM (FEBRUARY 2, 1945)

Jerry's House of Everything: THE ADVENTURES OF HERCULE POIROT: THE CASE OF THE...: Although Agatha's Christie's Belgian detective and his little grey cells are familiar staples with today's television and movie ...

Lesa's Book Critiques: Tomato Sandwiches are Eaten Over the Sink by Sean Dietrich

The Rap Sheet: Distractions for Disorderly Times

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: Black Cake, Masters of Bow Street, Profiles in Ignorance, Framed

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: Black Cake, Masters of Bow Street, Prof...: Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson caught the attention of one of our Nevermore readers. This debut novel tells the story of a Caribbea...

SleuthSayers: Inner Spark, Outer Spark

SleuthSayers: Inner Spark, Outer Spark: I have two new stories in anthologies and they make a nice contrast in answering the age-old question: Where do you get your ideas? For in...

A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: Series Rock by Caroline Clemmons

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George Kelly: WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #208: NEGLECTED VISIONS Edited by Barry N. Malzberg, Martin Harry Greenberg, and Joseph D. Olander

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: "Die Like a Dog" by Rex Stout

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: "Die Like a Dog" by Rex Stout: I am continuing my reread of Rex Stout's novellas. "Die Like a Dog" is a 66-page novella in the Nero Wolfe series. It is one...

Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: THE EMERALD BUDDHA

Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: THE EMERALD BUDDHA: "The Emerald Buddha" by "Murray Leinster" (Will F. Jenkins) (first published in Short Stories , February 10, 1930; repr...

Patricia Abbott: Short Story Wednesday:Hinges, Graham Swift

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Short Story Wednesday Review: Beat To A Pulp: Hardboiled Three Edited by David Cranmer & Else Wright

“’Just the luck of the draw,” Caleb would say, “sometimes you pull aces and sometimes two’s, and one times you pull an ace when what you really need is that two to make a straight.’” (Page 85, “The Blow Jobs” by Josh Stallings)

That attitude towards life very well sums up the situation for all the characters in Beat to a Pulp: Hardboiled 3. The characters in these nine pieces are folks that almost always have losing hands. Sometimes they know it from the get go and other times they figure it out at just about the same second their light goes out. The nine works here pull no punches and one would not expect anything different in this series from publisher Beat To A Pulp. If you want sweetness and light and happy endings you should be reading elsewhere. Reality sucks and this is it.

“One Ashore In Singapore” by Andrew Nettle stars the book off with a man named “Chance” who is to be the courier for a very important package. He is supposed to bring it back to a restaurant named the “Jade Dragon” located in the small city of Yass which in turned is located a little north of Canberra, Australia’s capital city. The package isn’t ready yet according to Mr. Tan and it will be ready when it is. In the meantime Chance must wait for developments.

Doe is also a courier and sometimes more in “Doe In Headlights” by Patti Abbott. Doe has been sent out to an isolated cabin by her boss Feck. She does whatever he says and gets paid for it. At least there is variety in the work instead of just being a waitress in a bunch of crummy places. Now she is out in the woods 150 miles northwest of Detroit and waiting for the call and instructions. She is really good at waiting.

1915 in West Virginia is the setting with Jace Russell, Danville Fuller, and John Torrio gathered together to restore a little order their regarding local beer sales. They are not the only ones involved in “Gunpoint” by Fred Blosser where scores and a business dispute will be settled one way or another.

Senior Editor Emily Eldridge at Bridal Beauty Magazine has a problem. Based on the threats she is getting in “Fair Warning” by Hilary Davidson somebody thinks she is dating her husband. She swears she isn’t, but has her boyfriend Jason told her everything? And if he isn’t the issue, what does she do?

According to his drunkard father, Matt, had no follow through on anything. There might be some truth to that, but in “The Follow-Through” by Chris F. Holm Matt might just be ready to do that while settling the past as well.

The size XXL granny panties have a lot of meaning in the story titled “Granny Panties” by Sophie Littlefield. That meaning can be transferred to others in this very short two page tale.

Keith Rawson comes next with “There You Are” featuring a guy doing what he has to do to survive. At least Arizona has a lot of desert to bury bodies in. But, the soil is hard to dig through thanks to the rocks, clay, and tangled roots.

Life was rough from the get go for twins Caleb and Seth in “The Blow Jobs” by Josh Stallings. As they grew older the scams and the stakes got bigger until everything is now on the line because the latest deal went way too far.

Last up is a play titled “The Speed Date” by Kieran Shea. Secrets are important in Washington, DC whether they be on a national security level or a personal relationship level. Those who observe Peter and Claire at the Mexican restaurant would have no idea how important this speed date truly is for both of them.

Three pages of short author bios which include other titles they are involved with bring the book to a close.

As one would expect from this series as well as this publisher, these are not tales designed to make you think happy thoughts about others. No, these tales are often about the unfairness of the life you were born into or the despair you created for yourself on this mortal coil through a series of bad choices. The results are nine good pieces that contain mystery, lots of violence and action, and the occasional obscenity as the works describe a hard reality.

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3CgFuY0

Material supplied by publisher and editor David Cranmer for my objective review.

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Lesa's Book Critiques: The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime by Vicki Delany

SleuthSayers: My Favorite Read of 2024

SleuthSayers: My Favorite Read of 2024: I have become an audiobook devotee. When I first started listening to books about fifteen years ago, I did it only when driving. Listening a...

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Goals, 2025

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Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker: Reviewed by Jeanne Mara is an aimless twenty-something whose extended family tries to seem supportive but she knows she’s a disappointme...

Monday, January 13, 2025

Lesa's Book Critiques: The Lost House by Melissa Larsen

Beneath the Stains of Time: Stuff of Legends: C.M.B. vol. 3-4 by Motohiro Katou

Beneath the Stains of Time: Stuff of Legends: C.M.B. vol. 3-4 by Motohiro Katou: Yes, I know, I know. The plan was to have gotten well on the way towards Q.E.D. vol. 50 and the crossover with C.M.B. out of the way, whic...

Mystery Fanfare: THE LEFTY AWARD NOMINEES: 2025 Left Coast Crime

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In Reference To Murder: Media Murder for Monday 1/13/2025

Markets and Jobs for Writers 1/13/2025

Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Pro Bono by Thomas Perry

Thomas Perry is a well-known source of topnotch contemporary suspense and thrillers. He’s received the Edgar Award once and the Barry Award twice and been shortlisted for major awards too many times to count. His latest stand-alone thriller is a fascinating deep dive into banking and investment crime.

Pro Bono (Mysterious Press, 14 January 2025) introduces Charlie Warren, a lawyer and CPA who specializes in finding money hidden from his clients. He fell into this niche early, as his widowed mother was robbed by an opportunistic second husband while Charlie was in college and Charlie tried unsuccessfully to trace the money Mack Stone took. Now Vesper Ellis retains him for assistance, as she thinks something is wrong with her investment accounts. Withdrawals have been made in her dead husband’s name and balances are not what they should be. Charlie agrees with her assessment; he narrows the inconsistencies to two investment firms and files the papers to ask for a legal accounting of the monetary discrepancies, thereby alerting the senior managers of the stockbrokerages of likely problems. Shortly after the asset management companies acknowledge the requests, Vesper turns up missing and a pair of thugs try hard to keep Charlie from his meeting with one firm’s lawyers.

Charlie has considerable presence of mind when the goons attack, more than I expect most lawyers might have. He also shows himself willing to cut corners in the manner of his illustrious predecessor Perry Mason. He is definitely the lawyer to call in case of trouble.

The story falls naturally into three parts, each showcases a different approach to appropriating money from someone else. I found the tutorials on financial crime absorbing and educational but I think some bits, particularly where the investment company culprits fall out, as thieves inevitably will, could have been tightened up to good effect. The transition from one story line to the next is a little awkward but not enough to disrupt the flow. This thriller could easily be two short stories and one novella with the same main character.

Overall, I loved this book. A well told story with an ingenious plot and original characters. Charlie Warren has series potential but I see the title is listed as a stand-alone. Recommended, especially for fans of legal thrillers and financial mysteries.

Publisher: Mysterious Press (January 14, 2025)
Language: ‎English
Hardcover: ‎360 pages
ISBN-10: ‎1613166168
ISBN-13: ‎978-1613166161

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4gNdmuQ

Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Sunday Evening Humor

Kathleen Marple Kalb's Blog: So You Wrote the Book, Now What?: Time to Fly?

Lesa's Book Critiques: Lights! Camera! Mayhem! by Jodi Taylor

Dru's Book Musings: New Releases ~ Week of January 12, 2025

Little Big Crimes: "Shots," by Claire Booth

Little Big Crimes: "Shots," by Claire Booth: "Shots," by Claire Booth, in Lost and Loaded: A Gun's Tale, edited by Colin Conway, Original Ink Press, 2024. I have a stor...

Review: Encore in Death: In Death Series by J.D. Robb

It should have been a great evening at the home of power couple Eliza Lane and Brant Fitzhugh. Eliza Lane is about to go on stage again in, Upstage, the vehicle that started her stardom back in September 2036. Twenty five years later, she and her husband of nine years are celebrating the revival of Upstage and her powerful role in the upcoming production.

Not that her husband is any slouch. Brant Fitzhugh is a powerhouse in his own right and is about to go overseas on a major production. The movie is going to be a global blockbuster for his new production company and he is going to be the headliner in it.

The future is incredibly bright and they are going to take it all. Until they don’t.

Brant dies during the party in front of hundreds of horrified guests and in the arms of his devasted wife. Now the penthouse on the Upper West Side is a crime scene and Dallas has an obvious murder on her hands. Red patches on his face, dilated pupils, and the blue tint on the finger tips indicate that yet another has been killed by cyanide. Most likely by way of the drink that he consumed just seconds before he collapsed.

A drink that had been meant for his wife. It was her favorite kind of drink and one she was known for. Instead, he drank it, as she performed a song, and died. Was she the real target?

Lieutenant Eve Dallas, Detective Peabody, and others have to answer that question and many others in Encore in Death by J. D. Robb. Billed as the 56th book in the long running series, it is an enjoyable and fast read. It was also a pleasant change from the last several books as this time there were no kids involved in the crime or the aftermath.

As always, head hopping is present. Clearly not a bug, this a feature of this author’s writing style in the series. A distracting feature that one that soon fades away as the story unfolds.

It maybe a little over fifteen years in the future where guns are not celebrated as they are outlawed. Still, folks get murdered because people are still messed up. Thankfully Dallas, Peabody, and others are on the case standing for the dead and seeking justice.

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4cOddEB

My eBook reading copy came by way of the Libby/OverDrive App and the Dallas Public Library System.

Saturday, January 11, 2025

Lesa's Book Critiques: Irish Soda Bread Murder by Carlene O’Connor, et Al

KRL Update 1/11/2025

Up on KRL this week a review and giveaway of "Deadly Crush" by Maddie Day / Edith Maxwell along with a fun New Year's guest post from Maddie https://kingsriverlife.com/01/11/deadly-crush-by-maddie-day/

And a review and giveaway of the latest Longmire mystery by Craig Johnson "Tooth and Claw" https://kingsriverlife.com/01/11/tooth-and-claw-a-longmire-story-by-craig-johnson/

As we play catch up in the New Year, up on KRL this week we have reviews and giveaways of 5 more fun cozy mysteries-"The Little Lost Library" A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Book by Ellery Adams, "A New Lease on Death" Supernatural Mysteries #1 by Olivia Blacke, "Death by Caramel Macchiato" by Alex Erickson, The Herringbone Harbor Mystery by Sally Goldenbaum, and "Shear Terror" A Sewing Studio Mystery by Dorothy Howell https://kingsriverlife.com/01/11/new-year-mystery-catch-up/

And a review and giveaway of a fun new food mystery, "Knife Skills For Beginners" by Orlando Murrin, along with an interesting interview with Orlando https://kingsriverlife.com/01/11/knife-skills-for-beginners-by-orlando-murrin/

Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and giveaway of "Good Lieutenant" by E.j. Copperman https://www.krlnews.com/2025/01/good-lieutenant-by-ej-copperman.html

And a review and giveaway of "When the Carnival Came" by Kathleen Bailey https://www.krlnews.com/2025/01/when-carnival-came-by-kathleen-bailey.html

And a review and ebook giveaway of "Buried in Books" by Hazel Smith https://www.krlnews.com/2025/01/buried-in-books-by-hazel-smith.html

Happy reading,

Lorie

SleuthSayers: The Holmes-Inspired Bank Heist, on Baker Street

SleuthSayers: The Holmes-Inspired Bank Heist, on Baker Street: January is a time for new inspiration, and for many of us, inspiration came from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Many of us read his Sherlock Holmes...

Bitter Tea and Mystery: Books Read in December 2024, Plus Stats for the Year

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Scott's Take: Absolute Power by Mark Waid (Author), Dan Mora (Illustrator)

Absolute Power by Mark Waid (Author), Dan Mora (Illustrator) is the latest big event in the DC Universe. I read this in the DC infinite app since the trade is not out yet. I have only read some of the tie ins because I am on the lower tier subscription so they have not unlocked all of them yet. For some reason, someone at DC thought it would be a good idea to only allow people to read some of the tie ins and just wait for the rest even though the main series is over.

In this action-packed event, the heroes of the world are depowered by a Trinity of Evil composed of Failsafe (evil Batman robot), Brainaic Queen, and Amanda Waller. This book takes storylines from Batman, Superman, Titans, Green Arrow and more to make this event. The world is turned against them as the civilian population falls for fake footage showing the heroes massacring civilians across the world. Because of the fake footage some heroes, such as Animal Man and his young daughter, are outright attacked by angry mobs.

Around the same time, the heroes are also attacked by numerous Amazos (robots who have power stealing abilities) that take their powers away from them. Despite the wide variety of powers in the DC universe, the Amazos can copy everyone, including the Spectre who is powered by the wrath of God. (I know that makes little sense, but just go with it.) The surviving heroes including a critically injured Superman retreat to the Fortress of Solitude to plan their next move. Things only go worse from there for the heroes.

This is a good story for people who like action sequences and pretty art. It’s rushed since a lot of the important bits are done in the tie ins between issues. A lot of the tie in stuff I read made me feel that the material was important enough to include in the main title.

The heroes become a resistance movement against Waller. There is a ton of heroes involved in this tale. Some heroes get the shaft because there is pretty much everyone in it.

Also, this is a nitpick, but how Wonder Woman’s team is attacked in the main series vs her own tie in series is depicted differently. There are major differences. I liked both action scenes for different reasons, but they are different and the battles are different. For example, in the main series Wonder Woman team is watching the tv while Waller rants vs in her tie in, everyone is playing cards together. Obviously, her team loses in both, so the main takeaway is they got their butts kicked. But this continuity problem is not just in the setup, but the actual fights as well.

Absolute Power has huge ramifications for the DC universe as things are not the same afterwards.

This book helps set up the ongoing DC All In relaunch as the Justice League finally returns in their own storyline. The first issues are out now for that with the trade to follow later this year. The DC universe is going “all in” with every major book being relaunched with a new status quo and a fresh start. All books are supposed to be new reader friendly. One of the biggest affected is the main Superman title.

Currently, The DC Infinite app is giving the first issues of each relaunch early to all subscribers. Several new series spin out from Absolute Power by Mark Waid (Author), Dan Mora (Illustrator) besides the Justice League one, are a new Black Lightning title, Justice Society title, and a new Question title. I have enjoyed several of these new reads as well. The DC Universe is significantly shaken up with these new parameters and every writer involved is finding new venues to explore and entertain.

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/49UU8Rf

As noted, I read this material, before the scheduled February release, by way of the DC Unlimited app.

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