Monday, March 10, 2025
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Denial: A Novel by Beverley McLachlin
From 2000 to
2017, Beverley McLachlin was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. She
is the first woman to hold that position and the longest-serving Chief Justice
in Canadian history. McLachlin is also the author of three legal thrillers
about Vancouver defense attorney Jilly Truitt and a memoir, Truth Be Told,
which won the prestigious Writers’ Trust Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political
Writing and the Ottawa Book Award for Nonfiction. In 2018, McLachlin became a
Companion of the Order of Canada, the highest honor within the Order.
In Denial (Simon &
Schuster, 2021) the second book about Jilly Truitt, Jilly has finally reached
the point in her legal practice that she does not have to take every case that
comes along to keep the lights on. She can pick and choose and she tends to take
only those cases that she knows she can win. So when Joseph Quentin asks her to
defend his wife Vera, who has been accused of killing her very ill mother,
Jilly’s instincts are to say no. Vera was alone in the house with her mother
the night she died and there doesn’t seem to be any question about who
administered the lethal dose of morphine. Quentin is a lawyer himself and well
known as a fixer of all kinds of problems. If he can’t persuade his wife to
take a plea deal, after two other lawyers have resigned in frustration, Jilly
doesn’t know that she can help, but Quentin pressures her and she agrees to
meet with Vera.
Vera
convinces Jilly that she did not kill her mother, despite all the evidence
against her, and Jilly agrees to take the case. The judge will not allow
further delays in the trial process and Jilly has only three weeks to prepare a
defense so she calls in an investigator and they go into overdrive. Jilly looks
at the victim’s will which seems straightforward until she learns that a lawyer
had visited her on her last day alive and no one knows why. Then she discovers a
few holes in the police investigation which introduce an element of doubt. It
was still a thin case and the prosecutor is a formidable courtroom presence who
plays every trick in the legal book.
The Canadian
court system is more similar to that of the U.S. than the English one so the
process described here is not as difficult to follow as some of the English
legal thrillers are. The forceful courtroom dialog could only be written by a
subject matter expert. Jilly is a likable and sharp-witted protagonist, and her
supportive staff make a good foil for her foibles. A human trafficking subplot
is worked smoothly and all too credibly into the larger story. Fans of legal
thrillers will want to add these books to their TBR lists.
·
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
(September 14, 2021)
·
Language: English
·
Paperback: 384 pages
·
ISBN-10: 1982104996
· ISBN-13: 978-1982104993
Amazon Associate
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3DukEFa
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2025
Aubrey Hamilton is a
former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at
night.
Sunday, March 09, 2025
Little Big Crimes: Fifteen Minutes From Fame, by Mark Thielman
Saturday, March 08, 2025
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Unbreakable Discussion on Impossible Alibis
KRL Update 3/8/2025
Up on KRL this week reviews and giveaways of 2 Irish mysteries perfect for your St. Patrick's Day reading-"Murder in an Irish Garden" by Carlene O'Connor & "Death of an Irish Druid" by Catie Murphy https://kingsriverlife.com/03/08/pair-of-irish-mysteries/
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Irish Milkshake Murder by O’Connor, Ehrhart, and Ireland
Scott's Take: Multiversus: Collision Detection by Bryan Miller, Matt Herms (illustrator)
Multiversus: Collision Detection
by Bryan Miller, Matt Herms (illustrator) is a book about the DC universe
crossing over with characters from Cartoon Network, Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo
and more. This is based on the failed video game, Multiversus, but still a fun
read. I read this through the DC Infinite App.
In this comic, Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman are
having strange dreams about various characters. Batman is dreaming of the
Rabbit. Rather quickly Batman figures out the Rabbit is Bugs Bunny. He is not
the only one to make it here to this universe. Thus, it’s up to the DC heroes
to figure out what is going on.
This is a humorous action-packed tale that is rather
light hearted for the most part. A lot of characters are thrown in throughout
the adventure. This read leads to characters interacting which would usually
not ever happen and leads to some rather good bits.
There are a total of six issues in this series.
There is a hint that there could be a sequel but since the video game failed, I
don’t think there will be one. Overall, I enjoyed this read and I still think
it is worth a read even though the game failed.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4ia0jo1
My reading copy came through the DC Infinite App.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2025
Friday, March 07, 2025
Jerry's House of Everything: NOT QUITE FORGOTTEN BOOK: FRANKENSTEIN; OR THE MODERN PROMETHEUS -- ALONG WITH A CONTEMPORARY REVIEW OR THE MO...
Thursday, March 06, 2025
Guesting On My Blog
As the blog soars over four and a half million page views, and since I have not
mentioned this in some time, I thought I would remind you that I welcome guest
posts here.
Guests are more
than welcome and very much appreciated. Unlike some folks and their places, I
don’t have a lot of forms to fill out or hoops to jump through as I have made
the process as easy as possible. Most questions you may have been already
answered below so please read the post before reaching out.
The open days are
currently Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. I usually run excerpts from
published or about to be published works on Sundays as excerpts seem to work
best on those days.
Topic--pretty much
anything goes. While my blog is mainly aimed towards items of interest for
readers and writers of mystery and crime fiction, I am open to pretty much
anything. I do ask that folks avoid the topics of religion and politics unless
either or both directly relate to the work being discussed or promoted.
Please Note --- I
am not going to run anything that advocates big pharma is hiding the cure for
cancer. Folks that come up with that stuff deserve a special place in hell.
Before contacting
me, please have an actual idea in mind. I absolutely do not assign topics. That
means I am NOT going to tell you what to write about. This is your opportunity
to write what you want to write about. You know your books, your expertise in
topics, etc. I do not. Your idea does not have to be set in stone. It does need
to have some detail. Have at least a couple of things that you know you want to
have in your piece and tell me that in your pitch.
Word Count:
Totally up to you. I do not set a maximum or a minimum word count.
When your piece is
ready, you send it to me by email and include a 100 word or fewer bio. Also
send any pics that you think should be included in the piece. While some guest
posts are super heavy in pictures, I think it works best to have two or so.
While I can and do lift author photos and book covers from Amazon and author
websites, it is easier if you just send it from the start as well as any other
pics you believe should be included.
This is, as
always, a nonpaying opportunity. Yes, I absolutely value your work. I also have
no income other than SSD (and that is just a few hundred each month) and am
supporting myself, my adult son, and this old house on what little I inherited
when my Mom passed. The bank account is steadily shrinking and I am doing the
best I can to hang in here as inflation, my worsening health, and other issues
are making it even harder.
While I have no
funds to pay you, I can promise to promote the heck out of your appearance. You
will be seen. I can’t promise a certain number of sales, but most guests do see
a spike in their sales. Guests who are on the blog on a semi regular basis do far
better than one off appearances, but everyone does see an impact.
Questions/ pitches
should be sent to me at Kevinrtipple AT Verizon.net
I hope you choose
to be a part of things here. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Kevin R. Tipple ©
2025
Wednesday, March 05, 2025
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: WANDERERS OF TIME
Short Story Wednesday Review: Shaken: Stories for Japan Editor Timothy Hallinan
From the massive
archive…
As noted on the cover, this book is A Collection of Original Fiction for Japan America Society of Southern California's 2011 Japan Relief Fund. The authors involved have banded together to create this e-book with all monies raised from sales given to the Japan Relief Fund to aid earthquake relief efforts. The need remains great in Japan and the aim of this book is to help in some small way while also providing reading pleasure. The book seems to be meeting both goals quite well based on the buzz it has generated.
After a brief message from Douglas G. Erber, President, Japan American Society of Southern California followed by a brief introduction to the book by Editor Timothy Hallinan it is on to the stories. While some are mystery stories and others are fiction, they are all stories of depth featuring complicated characters dealing with heavy burdens. These are not the shallow characters of the latest maga Hollywood style adventure. There are not any lightweight fluff stories in this book either. It becomes quickly evident to the most casual reader that this is a book of fiction with serious depth and meaning.
The book opens with “Matsushima Bay” written by Adrian McKinty. The author briefly chronicles a previous trip into the area, near the epicenter of the recent tragic earthquake and what the region means spiritually to so many. While it is a work of fiction, it reads as nonfiction in the style of a personal and heartfelt narrative.
Naomi Hirahara
comes next with “Chirigami” where a resident, Kenbo, of an apartment with very
thin walls located somewhere just outside of Tokyo has a new neighbor. All he
knows is that she is a woman and foreigner but she is not British or
American. Times have changed. Not only
does Kenbo have an unattached female neighbor, something unheard of before, but
the business he works in is slowly failing.
Thanks to his unknown neighbor, Kenbo’s relationship with others begins
to change.
“Gift of the
Sea” by Vicki Doudera tells the tale of a daughter of a woman who was destined
to die at sea. The sea was her end but it was also her mother’s beginning in
this touching story.
Japan isn’t the
only place to suffer major earthquakes that have been devastating. San
Francisco has seen its share and serves as setting for “Coolie” by Kelli
Stanley. The earthquake has struck, the heart of San Francisco is on fire and
Alfred and his rescuer must navigate through the chaos to Golden Gate
Park. Alfred is blinded so he must rely
on his rescuer to navigate as well as tell him of the dead horses, the rubble
marking collapsed buildings and homes and everything else in this hell on earth
this April 18, 1906.
Editor Timothy
Hallinan makes his appearance with the powerful story “The Silken Claw.” It is September 1926 on a movie set where
production of a Dr. Zo movie is underway. Shooting of a pivotal scene is
underway but the real drama is amongst the cast and crew.
Tom Hickey is 36 and a borderline diabetic in “The Enemy” by Ken Kuhlken. He owns a supper club and hates what he is doing and the madness of the world. That includes the shocking shooting death of his bartender who was robbed on the way to the bank. Since Tom Hickey also works as a private investigator he intends to find the shooter one way or another.
It has been four
long years and finally Eunice Toyama is back home in San Pedro. Internment has
changed her home town as well as Eunice. It is 1946, she is 19, and very ready
to do business and take care of debts that are due in “The Emperor’s Truck” by Wendy
Hornsby.
Unlike many of
the stories in this anthology that are set in the past, Cora Black chose
present day Tokyo for her setting with “Mosquito Incense.” Despite the initial modern day setting, the
past is the key point of the story where Tokyo in August means heat, humidity
and regret in large amounts in this tale rich with visual details and depth of
feeling.
“Dead Time” by
Dale Furutani powerfully tells the tale of a man in prison waiting to be
executed. Between 8 and 8:30 every day
the warden comes to collect the prisoners to be executed that day. In Japan the day of the execution is not
known to the condemned or the family so each day begins with the mounting
terror of not knowing if this is the day you die. Being forced to contemplate
death each day gives one time to think.
Reality is harsh
for Miki in “Miki’s 19th Birthday” by Stefan Hammond. Her daily reality is
living in a cardboard nest in a tunnel with several other refugees. She has
semi bonded with two other teen girls in the wake of the earthquake/tsunami. It’s
time to find another empty house and get clean--what they call a “shower invasion”--
as well as take whatever the trio wants. The problem is the place they picked
isn’t empty.
Brett Battles
turns in “The Assignment” a tale where Orlando is supposed to pick up a married
Japanese national at the airport in ‘Los Angeles. It is supposed to be a simple
pick up, escort Mrs. Tomita to a certain location, and drop her off job. But,
Mrs. Tomita is not everything she appears to be and has her own agenda.
Faith Hasegawa
and the narrator were best friends from Junior High until Faith died at 40 from
cancer. In “Faith’s Secret” by Dianne
Emley, the past is the theme in a tale that will strike a chord in many readers
that grew up in the seventies. Set in Los Angeles this tale about teen issues
works no matter where you grew up.
Working customer
service from a cubicle is no fun and it certainly isn’t in “Father Knows Best”
by Hank Phillipi Ryan. A difficult boss has to be dealt with and the options
are few.
Blending in the
local society is a frequent theme of the stories in this book regardless of
where they are set. This is certainly true in “Borrowed Scenery” by Rosemary
Harris. A fixture in the neighborhood block, Goria Madison always knew what was
going on. At least, she thought she did. The quiet neighbor next door is a
surprise.
With a name like
Cynthia Goldberg, people didn’t expect her to look the way she did. Thanks to her American Jew father and her
Japanese mother, her heritage is mixed and striking as she walks near the tidal
basin in March 1994. It is almost time
for the annual “Cherry Blossoms” in Washington D.C. The setting is more than symbolic in this
powerful tale by Debby Mack where the painful legacy of atomic warfare lives
on.
Jerri Westerson
pens a tale of forced marriage and much more in “The Noodle Girl.” Haruka has just turned 13 and has been told
she is to marry Masaru-Sama. She
unfortunately came to his attention because of her mom and their noodle/tea
cart. If the food had been bad, she
could have been safe from him. Mom is
thrilled with her prospects but Haruka is not.
It has been
twenty years since he was back to his village. Now the man has an 11 year old
daughter. Both the man and his daughter
are abducted in the chilling story “The Missing” by Jeffrey Siger. Captured by North Korean soldiers they must
do what they have to do to survive while keeping secret exactly who they are.
“Enforcer No. 3”
has been given his assignment in this hard hitting tale by Gary Phillips. Tokyo
may be having power problems, the city of Sendai may be heavily damaged, but
the Yakuza carry on with normal business. He has work to do with blade and
grenade.
Rebecca has her
hands full with three kids in “Dusty” by C. J. West. But instead of all three to see the temple at
Kamakura, Jessica plans instead to go to a friend’s home high in a local
apartment building. By doing so, she leaves her younger sister Lisa and baby
brother Stephen with Mom for the trip.
Within minutes of her leaving their car and joining up with her friend,
the ground starts shaking and seemingly won’t stop threatening everything and
everyone.
Watanabe Wataru was born into the right family at the right time. It may be the 11th century in “The Kamo Horse” by IJ Parker, but nobleman Wataru is doing very well. If he can win the great Kamo race, he can claim the prize of the Emperor’s new horse. The emperor has selected him to train and ride the horse in the great race but others think the horse is unlucky and dangerous. Wataru‘s future in the court hangs in the balance but not because of the obvious in this complex mystery tale that finishes the book.
At the very end of this enjoyable book, there is a small explanation about the Japan American Society of Southern California and their work. Throughout the book after each story and author bio, there are scattered haiku from the book titled Basho: The Complete Haiku translated by Jane Reichhold and published in 2008. Along with a brief note about the passages cited, there is a brief note about the illustrative work created by cover artist Gar Anthony Haywood.
The result is a complex and imaginative work that spans the wide gulf between American and Japan while telling tales that will resonate with many people. These are not fluff pieces dashed off to meet a word count or loosely address a theme. These characters are complex and deep and allow a glimpse into their lives for a few pages. This is a book of soul and complexity of depth that just happens to support a good cause.
Material
supplied by the editor in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple
© 2011, 2016, 2025
Tuesday, March 04, 2025
SleuthSayers: Once Bitten, Twice Shy
Beneath the Stains of Time: Check's in the Mail: "The Problem of the Pink Post Office" (1981) by Edward D. Hoch
Publication Day Review: If It Isn’t One Thing… A Posadas County Mystery by Steven F. Havill
If It Isn’t One Thing… A Posadas
County Mystery
by Steven F. Havill is the latest read in the excellent and long running series.
I have loved this series for decades now and a new read is always big time celebrated
in this house. This one is another mighty good book and strongly recommended.
In a more far less traveled part of
Posadas County, New Mexico, an 18-wheeler and a horse trailer have collided and
the crash is very bad. Trapped in the mangled wreckage is what remains of a
truck that was towing a horse trailer. In the crash, the horse was ejected and
has a severe gash down a rear leg. The horse is hurt, but alive. The same can
not be said for the driver of the truck who very clearly is dead. He was
crushed in the crash and it is going to take a long time and a lot of work.
The 18-wheeler was hauling a full load
of fire wood. That driver is clearly drunk as he wanders around the wreckage. A
scene made worse by the fac that the entire cargo of firewood is now dumped up
and down the highway.
Six miles north of the village of Posadas,
New Mexico, the only thing really out there is the local landfill which closed
hours ago. It is the middle of the night on a cold November night, so nobody
should really need to come through on that road. But, thanks to police scanners
and the local grapevine, folks are showing up in large numbers thereby making
things far more complicated than Posadas County Undersheriff Estelle
Reyes-Guzman expected.
So too is the backstory of what was
going on with the vehicles and their drivers in the days leading up to the
brutal and tragic collision. It wasn’t just the fact that one driver clearly
ran a stop sign. There were dominoes that fell in order leading up to the crash
which also soon caused a significant ripple effect beyond the fate of the two
drivers. As the soon to be retired Undersheriff discovers, death was a part of
things long before this grisly scene. The case will reach into the Dakotas, down
into Mexico, numerous places in-between, and tax her and her small department
in many ways.
This latest in the long running series
is another great read. As I have said, this series has been a favorite of mine
going back decades. As it was for my parents who were also major fans of it as
they eagerly read every installment long ago. At some point, I know it will
end, but I hold out hope that a series that has literally provided a
comfortable escape from the real world, will continue for more books. I need
them. We all need them.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3B6Mg20
My reading copy came by way of the publisher, Severn House, through NetGalley and with no expectation of a review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2025
Monday, March 03, 2025
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Butterfly Trap by Clea Simon
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Hang on St. Christopher by Adrian McKinty
What crime
fiction does have plenty of is jaded star detectives, burned-out and tired of
bureaucratic nonsense. McKinty doesn’t just breathe new life into this classic
trope, he plugs it into a 220-volt outlet and turns the power on high.
It’s 1992 and
the bloody Northern Ireland conflict known euphemistically as The Troubles continues,
perhaps with not quite as much fervor as in years past. But Duffy, a Catholic
and a policeman, doubly undesirable characteristics in Northern Ireland, still routinely
checks his vehicle for bombs and sets small traps in his house to learn if
someone has broken in. He has managed to move his wife and small daughter 20
miles across the Irish Sea to Scotland and relative safety. He works three days
every two weeks in the provincial police station in Carrickfergus, on the
eastern coast of Ireland a short ferry ride from his home in Scotland, working
traffic and administrative duties while he marks time to be eligible for full
pension. He knows his career is all but over, yet he can’t find another
interest like his fellow part-timer Sergeant John McCrabban has. McCrabban’s
invitations to Duffy to assist with his dairy farm are promptly declined.
His
replacement is on leave when a shooting is reported so the investigation falls
to Duffy. It looks like a carjacking but Duffy’s instincts say something else.
In no time at all, he’s up to his ears in organized crime (who else would have
the nerve to crash a wake for a mobster?) and IRA thugs.
The
hard-driving action is as relentless as Duffy’s pop culture quips. Strong plot,
elegant writing, subtly powerful setting, an incredibly good read. We’ll be
seeing this book mentioned often in the major award nominations for 2025.
Highly recommended.
·
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing, Inc.;
Unabridged edition (March 4, 2025)
·
Language: English
·
Hardcover: 310 pages
·
ISBN-13: 979-8212905022
Amazon Associate
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4i0nBMN
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2025
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
Sunday, March 02, 2025
Little Big Crimes: Splash, by Mat Coward
Smart Girls Read Romance: HELLO, MARCH - SPARE THE STORMS
Saturday, March 01, 2025
Review News: 2/24--3/1/2025
I’m not doing too hot (my usual issues) so it was another
light week from a reading perspective. This past week on the blog review wise….
Today, Scott
reviewed Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 1 by Ian
Flynn, Tracy Yardley, and Evan
https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2025/03/scotts-take-sonic-hedgehog-idw.html
Wednesday, I ran my
review of Black Cat Mystery Magazine: Issue One Edited by John Gregory
Betancourt and Carla Coupe
https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2025/02/short-story-wednesday-review-black-cat.html
Tuesday, I had my publication
day review of Battle Mountain: A Joe Pickett Novel by C. J. Box
https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2025/02/publication-day-review-battle-mountain.html
Monday, Aubrey was
back with her latest review as she covered The Banker: An Andy Roark
Mystery by Peter Colt
https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2025/02/aubrey-nye-hamilton-reviews-banker-andy.html
Stay up to date by following the blog and
get reviews, news, and other posts as they go live, by subscribing by way of
the Follow-It app over on the left side of this blog.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2025
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: February News from the Short Mystery Fiction Society
KRL Update 3/1/2025
Up on KRL this week we have a review and giveaway of "High Tea and Misdemeanors" by Laura Childs https://kingsriverlife.com/03/01/high-tea-and-misdemeanors-by-laura-childs/
And a review and giveaway of "Seams Like the Perfect Crime" by Lois Winston https://kingsriverlife.com/03/01/seams-like-the-perfect-crime-by-lois-winston/
And a review and ebook giveaway of "Goats Just Wanna Have Fun" by Janna Rollins along with an interesting interview with Janna https://kingsriverlife.com/03/01/goats-just-wanna-have-fun-by-janna-rollins/
We also have the latest Mystery Coming Attractions from Victoria Fair https://kingsriverlife.com/03/01/mystery-coming-attractions-march-2025/
Up on KRL News and Reviews this week, we have a review and ebook giveaway of "Curse Conundrum" by Hazel Smith https://www.krlnews.com/2025/02/curse-conundrum-by-hazel-smith.html
And a review and giveaway of "Vengeance in the Vines" by Rachele Baker https://www.krlnews.com/2025/02/vengeance-in-vines-by-rachele-baker.html
Happy reading,
Lorie
SleuthSayers: Breaches of Etiquette (Writingwise)
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: New Fiction for March!
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Six Degrees of Separation: From Prophet Song to Rachel's Holiday
Scott's Take: Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 1 by Ian Flynn, Tracy Yardley, and Evan Stanley
Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection,
Vol. 1 by Ian Flynn, Tracy Yardley, and Evan Stanley collects
the first twelve issues in the relaunch of the Sonic Universe since IDW now has
the rights to make Sonic comics. Each issue, until the big battle issues, is a
team up between Sonic and one hero. The final issues are a big team up issue as
Sonic and friends try to save the world again.
This action-packed adventure is set after a war
between Sonic and Eggman which has left Eggman presumed dead and a new leader
is controlling his robot army. Someone is seeking to replace Eggman as the
oppressor of this world. It is up to Sonic and friends to stop them.
This is an action and humor fest with interesting
art and engaging story moments. Sonic is clearly the main character, but the
side characters are fun too. The villain for this arc worked very well.
I have started reading the second volume of IDW
collection and I am enjoying that one too. It is a darker tale though and ties
in really well with the previous one.
I read this through hoopla which has the three IDW
collections which collect volumes 1-6 and apparently there are 18 volumes out
already so I have a ton to read assuming this team maintains the quality of these
stories. It is a good time to be a Sonic fan with the games, comics and movies
doing so well and being such high quality.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4i7g3aY
My reading copy came through the Hoopla App and the
Dallas Public Library System.
Scott A. Tipple ©2025
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