Sunday, December 28, 2025
SleuthSayers: 2025: Let's Not Do That Again
SleuthSayers: 2025: Let's Not Do That Again: I could say I'm sorry to see 2025 coming to a close, but I fear my nose would grow so long that it would punch a hole right through my...
Beneath the Stains of Time: People vs. Withers and Malone (1963) by Stuart Palmer and Craig Rice
Beneath the Stains of Time: People vs. Withers and Malone (1963) by Stuart Pal...: You know, I love a good detective trope as much as the next person and my enduring, tediously documented obsession with the locked room mys...
Guest Post: Bringing “Amanda Ross” to the Page by Tom Milani
Please
welcome back author Tom Milani to the blog today as he shares the backstory of
his short story, Amanda Ross, that appears today in the latest issue of Black Cat Weekly.
Bringing “Amanda Ross” to the Page
by Tom Milani
“Amanda Ross” had a difficult
birth. Originally titled “The Missing Person” and part of a dual-timeline
story, the Amanda Ross portion was the PI origin story for Erin Ferrigno, my
protagonist. The other portion, which became “Riley Walker,” was about Erin’s
first case as a PI. Too complicated by half, “The Missing Person” didn’t work.
I decided to separate the stories
and submitted a revised version of the Amanda story to my writers group. The
discussion was … lively and the ensuing criticism remarkably constructive.
Several people with IT experience pointed out flaws in Erin’s approach to
hacking into her client’s husband’s computer to access his day-trading account.
Other people pointed out that Erin solved her client’s problem without facing
any obstacles.
It was a lot to take in, and I put
the story aside for a while to work on “Riley Walker,” a missing-persons case
that, in many ways, was more straightforward to write. When I finally got back
to “Amanda Ross,” I knew I needed to add some obstacles, and I needed to know
more about day-trading. One of my neighbors has been day trading for years, and
over dinner he filled me in on the personalities of day traders, the computer
setups they used, and how margin accounts work. When our discussion strayed to
powers of attorney, my neighbor, who’d been a lawyer in the military, explained
the difference between a specific and a general power of attorney. That
difference became an unexpected key to the story.
One final piece remained. After I
pitched the story to Michael Bracken, he asked me to revise the ending,
pointing out where it fell short. One small revision later, and it was done.
I hope you enjoy meeting Erin
Ferrigno. Thanks to my writers group for their critiques, my neighbor for sharing
his knowledge and expertise, and Michael Bracken for seeing a flaw I had
missed.
“Amanda Ross” appears in Black Cat Weekly #226.
Tom Milani ©2025
Tom
Milani’s (www.tommilani.com) short
fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in several anthologies. “Barracuda
Backfire,” his novella, Book 4 of Michael Bracken’s Chop Shop series,
was nominated for a Derringer award. “Barstow,” which appeared in Mickey
Finn: 21st Century Noir vol. 5, was an “Other Distinguished Mystery and
Suspense of 2024” selection for The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2025.
Places That Are Gone, his debut novel, was released on May 13, 2025.
Saturday, December 27, 2025
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 72 Calls for Submissions in January 2026 - Paying Markets
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 72 Calls for Submissions in January 2026 - Paying ...: This January there are six dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every g...
Scott's Take: Godzilla vs the Marvel Universe by Ryan North, Gerry Duggan Gerry Duggan, John Romita Jr. (Illustrator), Giuseppe Camuncoli (Illustrator), and Leinil Yu (Cover Art)
Godzilla vs the Marvel Universe by Ryan North,
Gerry Duggan, John Romita Jr. (Illustrator), Giuseppe Camuncoli
(Illustrator), and Leinil Yu (Cover Art), collects a series of one shots (one
shots for those who don’t know are single issue stories that are supposed to be
self-contained). I read these through the Marvel Unlimited app. In these one shots, Godzilla crossovers and battles
various heroes in various times throughout the history of Marvel. So, you have the 90s X-men vs Godzilla, 80s
Spider-man vs Godzilla, Modern Thor vs Godzilla and more. This is just a fun
crossover with various heroes dealing with Godzilla.
They don’t seem to connect at all and
there are no shared creative teams or story. Most of the reads have good art
except for the John Romita Jr for the Fantastic Four. I think his art is
blocky. Most of these stories are action packed with humor. Some of which is
forced, such as Nick Lowe’s editorial jokes in the Spider-Man story. I think he
negatively impacted the story overall, but I also have a negative opinion of
him based on his public comments about Spider-Man fans. The only story I really
did not like was the Hulk vs Godzilla which goes downhill once he introduces some
vague villain from the Godzilla Universe. I’d never heard of the character and
the story made no sense.
Overall, I think this is a fun
collection that leans heavy into the Marvel Universe and not as much in the
Godzilla Universe.
By the way, there is another Godzilla
series that seems completely separate. Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe
has two issues so far at Marvel
Unlimited as that is all they have put up. The collected volume is supposed
to be released in March 2026. It seems to be completely separate and has all
the heroes teaming up to stop him.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4iHvXdn
Scott A. Tipple ©2025
Friday, December 26, 2025
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 64 Writing Contests in January 2026 - No entry fees
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 64 Writing Contests in January 2026 - No entry fees: This January there are more than five dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes rang...
In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange - Christmas Edition
In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange - Christmas Edition: The Swedish Crime Academy announced their picks for top crime books of the year from a record 213 entries. The best crime novel of the ye...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Dead of Winter: Beware the Krampus and Other Wicked Christmas Creatures by Sarah Clegg
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Dead of Winter: Beware the Krampus and Other ...: Reviewed by Jeanne While we tend to think of Christmas as all joy and light, there’s also a long tradition of Yuletide creatures and m...
Mystery Fanfare: BOXING DAY MYSTERIES
Mystery Fanfare: BOXING DAY MYSTERIES: Today is Boxing Day ( the Day after Christmas) . I've put together several lists that cover 1000+ mysteries that take place at Chri...
In Reference to Murder: Friday's "Forgotten" Books: Red Christmas
In Reference to Murder: Friday's "Forgotten" Books: Red Christmas: Most people know him as creator of the now-classic Yorkshire detective duo Andrew Dalziel and Peter Pascoe and for his Crime Writers' ...
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: RUNNING WITH THE BARONS
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: RUNNING WITH THE BARONS: Running with the Barons by Robert Silverberg (originally published as Streets of Sin by "Mark Ryan," 1959; reprinted as The Pas...
Thursday, December 25, 2025
Beneath the Stains of Time: Murder in Retrospect: The Best and Worst of 2025
Beneath the Stains of Time: Murder in Retrospect: The Best and Worst of 2025: So this has to be first "Murder in Retrospect" since 2019 not starting on somber or outright depressing note, because the first-...
Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS MYSTERY ROUND-UP!
Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS MYSTERY ROUND-UP!: If you read this blog, you know I post lists of crime fiction with all the holiday settings from New Year's Day through New Year's E...
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Defending The Crown-- 28th Annual Critters Readers Poll Opened -- Best Review Site
It has been quite a year. Somehow, despite the way
worse financial situation and my own worsening health, I am still here. The blog
is still here too. Despite the fact that I am way slower reading and reviewing
wise, the blog continues to soar and add thousands of page views each month. I am
sure that the majority of that is due to the fact that the blog remains popular
with guests who contribute the lion’s share of content these days. I again
thank them for their posts.
I very much thank you, the reader, for your support.
If not for you coming and reading the blog, it would not exist.
I have never understood why anyone would value what
I do here. People tell me I impact the mystery and crime fiction community. I
don't see how. Yet, folks keep telling me I have an impact, as they have again
in recent days. Maybe it was the way I was raised. The idea that something I do
has value, that I matter, is such a bizarre concept to me.
The 28th Annual Critters Readers' Poll has opened
and I put Kevin’s Corner in the running in the Review site category. If you think the blog is worthy, please vote
at https://critters.org/predpoll/reviewsite.shtml
After you vote, make sure you respond to the
confirmation email and register your vote so that it is counted.
While currently we are the only review site listed,
I expect that we will once again be going up against a number of review sites
that have teams of reviewers and are active in many genres across multiple
forms of media. Most of them host book giveaways and other events as well. This
site remains an underdog as always because we do not have all the bells and
whistles that other sites have to drive traffic to them.
If you think we are worthy of your vote, please go cast your vote today. Remember, you must respond to the confirmation email for your vote to count.
Thank you for your continuing support.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2025
Kaye George and Gerald Elias read ’TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (Misti Media)
Jay Hartman of Misti Media has announced that he has posted video
readings of ’TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS from Misti Media authors Kaye
George and Gerald Elias. As Jay points out, you can think of them as a Santa
Claus vs. Mrs. Claus kind of thing.
The videos are available on the Misti Media YouTube channel
at: https://www.youtube.com/@mistimediallc/videos
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
SleuthSayers: 2025 Year in Review: Editing
SleuthSayers: 2025 Year in Review: Editing: I’m splitting my 2025 Year in Review post into two parts. I’ll discuss writing and other things next post; this time I’m concentrating on ed...
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 12 (Warm) Writing Conferences and Workshops in January 2026
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 12 (Warm) Writing Conferences and Workshops in Jan...: This January there are a dozen writing conferences and workshops. Some conferences and workshops will be held online, but most will be held ...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Staff Christmas Picks
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Staff Christmas Picks: Everyone has their own favorite Christmas tales. Here are some of the ones we think make the holidays bright! Kristin: Sandra Boyn...
Monday, December 22, 2025
Mystery Fanfare: Christmas Specials: Death in Paradise and Return to Paradise Air Dates
Mystery Fanfare: Christmas Specials: Death in Paradise and Return t...: We finally got U.S. broadcast dates for the Death in Paradise and Return to Paradise Christmas specials. Both will air on BritBox. Be sur...
Beneath the Stains of Time: Inspector De Klerck and the Dead Philanthropist (2025) by P. Dieudonné
Beneath the Stains of Time: Inspector De Klerck and the Dead Philanthropist (2...: Earlier this month, E-Pulp released P. Dieudonné 's thirteenth novel in the Rotterdam police series, Rechercheur De Klerck en de dode w...
In Reference to Murder: Media Murder for Monday
In Reference to Murder: Media Murder for Monday: It's the start of a new week and that means it's time for a brand-new roundup of crime drama news: THE BIG SCREEN/MOVIES Sony Pictur...
Little Big Crimes: The God You Save May Be Your Own, by Michael Thomas Ford
Little Big Crimes: The God You Save May Be Your Own, by Michael Thoma...: "The God You Save May Be Your Own," by Michael Thomas Ford, in Black Cat Weekly, 224, 2025. Every December brings us a Christmas...
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: A Case of Mice and Murder: The Trials of Gabriel Ward by Sally Smith
.
Of Mice
and Murder (Raven Books, June 2025) has been getting raves from readers of
historical mysteries since it was released. Now it is popping up on favorites
of the year lists and I was determined to see what the buzz was about.
It is, as
everyone says, a wonderful story. Set in May 1901, the quirky Sir Gabriel Ward
KC, an outstanding addition to the pantheon of amateur sleuths, literally
stumbles across the body of Lord Norman Dunning, Lord Chief Justice of England,
as Ward was attempting to enter his legal office in the Inner Temple. Dunning was
in popular opinion amazingly average and the last person to be murdered. But
here he was, expired and not of natural causes.
By law the
Temple is not part of the City of London and London police are not allowed to
enter without invitation. The author goes into some detail about the history of
the Temple and provides a helpful map. To keep the police at bay for a few
days, Ward was given the task of investigating the death accompanied by a
police constable to take notes. Ward was on the verge of an important piece of
litigation that needed his full attention and he did not welcome this new and
strange assignment. Indeed, he did not welcome anything that disrupted his
long-established routine. His outstanding intellect was recognized by his
colleagues however and it was felt if anyone could find an answer to this
peculiar event, it would be Sir Gabriel.
The second
plot thread is just as perplexing. Years ago, legal publisher Herbert Moore
found a manuscript for a children’s book with no letter or explanation on his
doorstep. He examined it briefly and discarded it in the nearest bin, from
which his young daughter retrieved it and read it, enthralled. Moore decided to
publish it as a Christmas one-off and found himself with a runaway bestseller.
He had made some inquiries as to the author that came up empty and despite some
reservations continued to publish the book. Now a young woman has come forward
claiming authorship of the book and Moore hasn’t a legal leg to stand on. In
desperation he has turned to Ward for help.
Sally Smith
spent all her working life as a barrister and later King's Counsel in the Inner
Temple. Her deep knowledge of the history of the Temple and understanding of
its operations give the story a commanding sense of authenticity. The
references to new-fangled forensic tools such as fingerprints and the mentions
of the limitations placed on women’s lives sets the context equally well. Those
same limitations offer clues to the resolution. The dual mystery itself is nicely
constructed, and Sir Gabriel is a vivid personality with whom I can easily
identify.
Fortunately for
us all, there is no need to wait for the second book in the series; it is
available for purchase now. Library Journal starred review. Highly
recommended.
·
Publisher: Raven Books
·
Publication date: June 17, 2025
·
Language: English
·
Print length: 336 pages
·
ISBN-10: 1639736921
·
ISBN-13: 978-1639736928
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3MIybxm
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2025
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal
It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Gravetapping: My Favorite Books Published in 2025
Gravetapping: My Favorite Books Published in 2025: My Favorite Books Published in 2025 With the end of 2025 dangling on the horizon, it is time to look at the best of th...
Mystery Fanfare: WINTER SOLSTICE MYSTERIES
Mystery Fanfare: WINTER SOLSTICE MYSTERIES: I love the Winter Solstice. I love light, so I'm glad the days will now begin to lengthen. I put together a huge list of Christ...
Beneath the Stains of Time: There Came Both Mist and Snow (1940) by Michael Innes
Beneath the Stains of Time: There Came Both Mist and Snow (1940) by Michael Innes: Last year, I posted " The Naughty List: Top 12 Favorite Christmas Mystery Novels & Short Stories " ranging from a few celebrat...
The Rap Sheet: Revue of Reviewers: 12-20-25
Note: In absolutely stunning news, I made the review roundup list TWICE today. First for my review hee on my blog of The Curious Poisoning of Jewel Barnes by Terry Shames. Second for my guest post review at Lesa's Book Critiques (Lesa Holstine) of Crimson Thaw by Bruce Robert Coffin. Very cool!
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Oh William!: Elizabeth Strout
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Oh William!: Elizabeth Strout: I read this book in early October. I read Lucy by the Sea and Tell Me Everything , later books by Elizabeth Strout, in November. I have lo...
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: SMFS Spotlight: Bruce Robert Coffin
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: SMFS Spotlight: Bruce Robert Coffin: Short Mystery Fiction Society member Elena Smith has graciously offered to conduct interviews spotlighting members of the Society. Here is ...
KRL Update 12/20/2025
Up on KRL this week reviews and giveaways of some food and magic cozy mysteries for your holiday reading-"Murder by the Millions" by Daryl Wood Gerber, "At Death’s Dough" A Deep Dish Mystery by Mindy Quigley, "Death and Dinuguan" A Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery by Mia P. Manansala, and "Witch and Tell" A Witch Way Librarian Mystery by Angela M. Sanders https://kingsriverlife.com/12/20/food-magic-mysteries-for-your-holiday-reading/
And a review and giveaway of "The Black Wolf" by Louise Penny https://kingsriverlife.com/12/20/the-black-wolf-by-louise-penny/
And the latest Queer Mysteries Coming Attractions from Matt Lubbers-Moore https://kingsriverlife.com/12/20/queer-mystery-coming-attractions-a-new-year-of-reading-bravely/
And a Christmas mystery short story called "Brandt's Secret" written by J.R. Lindermuth https://kingsriverlife.com/12/20/christmas-mystery-short-story-brandts-secret/
For those who prefer to listen to Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast directly on KRL, here are the players for both of our Christmas episodes this year-the one featuring the Christmas mystery short story "Peppermint Barking" written by Jane Limprecht, read by local actors Sean Hopper and Cymone Sandoval-Hopper. And the one featuring the Christmas mystery short story "All is Bright" by Merrilee Robson, read by local actor Larry Mattox https://kingsriverlife.com/12/20/a-pair-of-christmas-mysteries-on-mysteryrats-maze-podcast/
We also have a fun short story by Elaine Faber that involves golf, a certain little wild animal, and a touch of a mystery https://kingsriverlife.com/12/20/mystery-short-story-the-slobaviakinsky-golf-course/
Happy Holidays!
Lorie
Black Beacon Books: Submissions
Black Beacon Books: Submissions: Submissions open for The Black Beacon Book of Horror 2 Period: 1st of November to 31st of December Publication: October 2026 Submissions ope...
Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS MYSTERY SHORT STORY ANTHOLOGIES AND NOVELLAS
Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS MYSTERY SHORT STORY ANTHOLOGIES AND NOVE...: Here's my list of Christmas Mystery Short Story Anthologies and Novellas . There may be some overlaps from my other lists, as well...
SleuthSayers: December Stories
SleuthSayers: December Stories: I've had two short stories published this month. I'm not saying that's either important or interesting, except that I needed ...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Short and Seasonal!
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Short and Seasonal!: With all the bustle of the holidays, it’s easy to get burned out. Reading can give one a chance to rest and recharge before tackling t...
Scott's Take: Marvel Tales by J. Michael Straczynski, Will Robson (Illustrator), Bernard Chang (Illustrator), Elena Casagrande (Illustrator), and Leinil Yu (Cover Art)
Marvel Tales by J. Michael Straczynski (usually referred to as JMS), Will Robson (Illustrator), Bernard Chang (Illustrator), Elena Casagrande (Illustrator), and Leinil Yu (Cover Art), is a series of one shots (stand-alone single issue stories) collected here that I read through Marvel Unlimited. Most of these are team ups or vs between two characters except for Spider-Man vs the Sinister Sixteen. Rocket Raccoon and Dr Doom team up, Captain America and Volstagg (Thor’s friend) team up, while there is Ghost Rider vs Galactus, Nick Fury takes on Fing Fang Foom (Space Dragon), and other interesting tales.
These are fun interesting stories. Some
of which are funny. I enjoyed all of them. My favorite was Rocket and Doom’s
team up but The Volstagg, Nick Fury ones made me see the characters in a new
light. The Spider-Man was the funniest. The plot in the Spider-man has various
heroes like Thor, Strange, more trying to share a nice dinner while villains
are eating in the same French Restaurant.
Each team up or vs are fun reads that
shake things up by putting characters together who usually don’t get to team up
except for Hulk and Strange. They team up a lot. I think this is a read worth
reading.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3XFHGzv
Scott A. Tipple ©2025
Friday, December 19, 2025
Mystery Fanfare: A Tell-Tale History of Von Stray’s Crimestalker Casebook by Andrew McAleer
Mystery Fanfare: A Tell-Tale History of Von Stray’s Crimestalker Ca...: Mystery magazine Crimestalker Casebook was founded in 1997, by Edgar winner John McAleer and best selling mystery author Andrew McAleer. ...
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: BLOOD RED
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: BLOOD RED: Blood Red by John Creasey (originally published as Red Eye for the Baron , under the pseudonym "Anthony Morton," 1958; publishe...
Friday's Forgotten Books: Dead Head by Dr. Allen Wyler
Long
before my health stuff started getting serious and Sandi’s cancer stuff hit, I
would read a medical thriller now and then. I was looking for something else on
my blog, found this, and thought I would share again. From the archive…
Following up
on his novel, Deadly Errors, the author has crafted yet another
superb and at times very disturbing medical thriller. For neurosurgeon Russell
Lawton, the conference where he has presented his paper on connecting a robotic
hand to the neurons in a monkey’s brain by way of on interface between the two
has been routine though the material isn’t. If it works, someday paralyzed
humans might be able to move their limbs by way of thinking it to happen. What
has been a concept deep in the realm of science fiction is gradually becoming
modern reality.
Stopped after
his speech by a beautiful woman masquerading as a reporter, he agrees to be
interviewed and follows her willingly outside of the Moscone Convention Center.
That will be the last willing thing he does as he is soon grabbed and removed
from the street by Islamic terrorists. Before long, he is in the air in a
private jet on his way back to his laboratory at the National Institutes of
Health.
With his
young daughter a hostage and faced with death, Dr. Russell Lawton has no choice
but to cooperate. The terrorists are demanding his help and they are proposing
something so unthinkable at every level that Dr. Russell Lawton is revolted to
the very core of his being. Beyond the incredible medical challenges, the very
idea they insist will be done raises huge moral and ethical challenges. And
yet, Dr. Lawton has no choice if he wishes to save his life, his daughter’s, as
well as other potential victims.
What follows
is an incredible read that propels the reader on an emotional roller coaster.
Dr. Allen Wyler again uses his extensive medical background to bring forth
insight into a complex medical problem. Those very detailed bits of medical
information are skillfully woven into the story and do nothing to slow it down.
At the same
time, unlike most thrillers, the main characters in this book soon to be
released are rich and detailed. Dr. Lawton’s emotional agony both in terms of
his daughter as well as what he has been asked to do come alive for the reader.
This is also true of other characters unwittingly drawn in such as FBI Special
Agent Sandra Phillips who is part of the secondary and independent storyline of
the kidnapping of Lawton’s daughter.
The result is
an excellent fast paced read full of medical information and surgical
procedures, action, and deep moral questions. This thriller with a currently
scheduled release date of February 6, 2007, written by Dr. Allen Wyler is not
easy to put down once finished and sure to leaven the reader with a lot of
imagery and questions about the possible medical breakthrough and its meaning.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4jeGaOL
Kevin R.
Tipple © 2007, 2010, 2025
Thursday, December 18, 2025
In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange
In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange: UK bookseller Waterstones has chosen as its 2025 Book of the Year the romantic-mystery, The Artist, by Lucy Steeds. Set in the 1920s in so...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: The Count of Monte Cristo, No Ordinary Bird
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Nevermore: The Count of Monte Cristo, No Ordinary...: Reported by Rita The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Thrown in prison for a crime he has not committed, Edmond Dantes is confin...
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Market Call Facebook -- One Eyed Press
Shotgun Honey is relaunching this and they want novellas 8k to 30K. More info at https://submissions.shotgunhoney.com/publication/one-eye-press/
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: More Stories from Christmas Stalkings
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: More Stories from Christmas...: Christmas Stalkings , published in 1991, was the second Christmas short story anthology edited by Charlotte MacLeod. As the subtitle ...
Jerry's House of Everything: ALMOST SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: MURDER PICTURE
Jerry's House of Everything: ALMOST SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: MURDER PICTURE: [Having nearly completed a lengthy post on George Harmon Coxe's "Flashgun" Casey story "Murder Picture" ( Black Mask...
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Clock House Murders (1991) by Yukito Ayatsuji
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Clock House Murders (1991) by Yukito Ayatsuji: Pushkin Vertigo has, as of 2025, published four novels in Yukito Ayatsuji's "Bizarre House Mysteries" series, translated by H...
SleuthSayers: Half-Topless?
SleuthSayers: Half-Topless?: It's wonderful when story ideas come to mind fully fleshed out so you can sit down and start writing. Or, if you don't have the time...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Twelve Jays of Christmas by Donna Andrews
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Twelve Jays of Christmas by Donna Andrews: Reviewed by Jeanne Decorative blacksmith Meg Lanslow’s Christmas plans have had a bit of a twist—Meg’s ankle, to be specific. She se...
Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS MYSTERY SHORT STORY ANTHOLOGIES AND NOVELLAS
Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS MYSTERY SHORT STORY ANTHOLOGIES AND NOVE...: Here's my list of Christmas Mystery Short Story Anthologies and Novellas . There may be some overlaps from my other lists, as well...
Monday, December 15, 2025
Jerry's House of Everything: BIT & PIECE -- INCOMING ONLY
Jerry's House of Everything: BIT & PIECE -- INCOMING ONLY: Despite all good intentions, I sometimes get behind in items I want to post on the blog. Rather than pt it off for another week here's ...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: The Satan Sampler: Victor Canning
Bitter Tea and Mystery: The Satan Sampler: Victor Canning: This is the 6th book in a loose series called the Birdcage books. They were published between 1971 and 1985. They all revolve around a cover...
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Softly Calls the Devil by Christopher Blake
Softly
Calls the Devil (Echo, November 2025) by Christopher Blake is the second
book about New Zealand cop Matt Buchanan. The first book was shortlisted for
the Best First and the Best Novel of the 2018 Ngaio Marsh awards.
Here Matt is
happier in his new job, an ostensible demotion from his high-powered Criminal
Investigation Bureau role to the rural community of Haast, where he is doing
routine small-town policing. After a year he’s settled in to the slower pace of
life and has grown to like the people of the area. Breaking up the intermittent
teenage party and warning the local pothead about his marijuana crop and
navigating the occasional traffic snafu is right up his alley these days.
Matt is good
friends with his predecessor Gus, who retired when Matt took over the job but
stayed in the area. Over a beer or two Gus tells Matt that he’s been looking
into an old case of murder-suicide that wasn’t what it seemed, and he wanted to
tell Matt about it some time. A day later Gus is found shot in the head. No
chance of a hunting accident. Matt had to wonder if Gus was killed because of
what he had learned about the old case. And just who heard Gus tell Matt he
wanted to hand off his research to him.
The murder
investigation was the province of the CIB and therefore out of Matt’s
jurisdiction but nothing kept him from looking at that old case, an especially
ugly story of a father killing his daughter and wife and then killing himself,
to try to find the new information that Gus had uncovered. It led him to a
forgotten commune and to an older gang, both of which had ties to some of the
present-day Haast locals.
Blake is a
serving police officer himself and he knows what he writes about, which gives
the story more than superficial realism. He runs the Behavioural Science unit
of the New Zealand Police in Wellington, see https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/new-zealand-cop-makes-stunning-killer-admission/news-story/d9aff330076fe36b13dcd1fa00ff9ff9.
I particularly like that Blake has made Matt a team player who follows the
rules and respects his management, who in turn appear to respect Matt. I am really
tired of the lone wolf cop.
What starts
out as a police procedural turns into so much more: a multi-faceted cold case, a
meditation on mid-life re-invention, a scenic tour around the Haast region of
the island, and a reminder that old sins can come to light long after the
evildoer thinks they are buried.
A complicated
and fascinating read. Highly recommended.
·
Publisher: Echo
·
Publication date: November 4, 2025
·
Language: English
·
Print length: 278 pages
·
ISBN-13: 978-1786585417
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4rP613P
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2025
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Little Big Crimes: Picture Palace Blues, by Colin Campbell
Little Big Crimes: Picture Palace Blues, by Colin Campbell: "Picture Palace Blues ," by Colin Campbell, in Celluloid Crimes, edited by Deborah Well, Level Short, 2025. I have a story in t...
Saturday, December 13, 2025
KRL Update 12/13/2025
Up on KRL this week reviews and giveaways of 3 more Christmas mysteries-"O, Deadly Night" A Year-Round Christmas Mystery by Vicki Delany, "The Snow Lies Deep" by Paula Munier, and "Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife" by Martin Edwards https://kingsriverlife.com/12/13/trio-of-christmas-mysteries-for-the-holidays/
And a review and giveaway of "Death Comes to Jane Austen Town" by Rosemary Stevens, along with an interesting interview with Rosemary https://kingsriverlife.com/12/13/death-comes-to-jane-austen-town-by-rosemary-stevens/
And a review and giveaway of "Road Trip With a Vampire" by Jenna Levine. It's a vampire rom-com with a touch of mystery https://kingsriverlife.com/12/13/road-trip-with-a-vampire-by-jenna-levine/
We also have a review of a new Acorn TV mystery show called "Murder Before Evensong" and a review of "The Madame Blanc Mysteries Christmas Special" that goes up on Acorn on December 15 and 20 https://kingsriverlife.com/12/13/murder-before-evensong-madame-blanc-christmas-special-on-acorntv/
Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and giveaway of "Hot To Talk To Your Dog About Murder" by Emily Soderberg https://www.krlnews.com/2025/12/how-to-talk-to-your-dog-about-murder-by.html
And a review and ebook giveaway of another Christmas mystery, "Yule Regret It" by Annie McEwen- https://www.krlnews.com/2025/12/yule-regret-it-by-annie-mcewan.html
And a review and giveaway of "Catering To The Dead" by Kim Davis, https://www.krlnews.com/2025/12/catering-to-dead-by-kim-davis.html
And a review and giveaway of "Bone Chilling" by Sara E Johnson https://www.krlnews.com/2025/12/bone-chilling-by-sara-e-johnson.html
Happy holidays!
Lorie
A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: How I Write by Caroline Clemmons
A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: How I Write by Caroline Clemmons: I often get questions from readers about where I get my ideas and how I write. My ideas come from everywhere. I have more ideas than I can...
Beneath the Stains of Time: An English Murder (1951) by Cyril Hare
Beneath the Stains of Time: An English Murder (1951) by Cyril Hare: An English Murder (1951) by " Cyril Hare ," penname of Alfred A.G. Clark, was adapted from a radio-play, "Murder at Warbeck ...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Death at a Castle Christmas by Veronica Bond
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Death at a Castle Christmas by Veronica Bond: Death at a Castle Christmas by Veronica Bond (Dinner and a Mystery, book 3) Reviewed by Jeanne Nora loves working at Castle Dark, an A...
Scott's Take: Red Hulk Vol. 1: Prisoner of War by Benjamin Percy and Geoff Shaw (Illustrator, Cover Art)
Red Hulk Vol. 1: Prisoner of War by Benjamin
Percy and Geoff Shaw (Illustrator, Cover Art) is a tie in series to One
World Under Doom. Doctor Doom has conquered the world and kidnapped
various people including military strategists like Thunderbolt Ross aka Red
Hulk. He is forcing these people into working in a think tank on how to
maintain Doctor Doom’s power. Of course, Red Hulk wants to escape. But, even if
he does. he is far from home in the country of Latveria and Doom owns America
now too.
The art is good and this is an action
packed series where the odds are against Red Hulk. Joining him on this journey
is Deathlok and Machine Man. A Deathlok is a zombie cyborg solider and there
have been a lot of them. I am not even sure which one this was. Machine Man is
an android. I have never cared about any of them before this read, but this was
still a fun read.
There will be a second collected book in
this series titled Red Hulk Vol. 2: Mission: Latveria. That will
be the last volume that Red Hulk will tie into the current Captain
America Series and probably be a part of the aftermath of One
World Under Doom.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3KkdXZO
I read this through Marvel Unlimited.
Scott A. Tipple ©2025
Friday, December 12, 2025
In Reference to Murder: Friday's "Forgotten" Books: Death of a Dutchman
In Reference to Murder: Friday's "Forgotten" Books: Death of a Dutchman: Magdalen Nabb was born in Lancashire in 1947 but lived in Florence, Italy, from 1975 until her death in 2007. She wrote both children's...
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: THE JOHNNY MAXWELL TRILOGY
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: THE JOHNNY MAXWELL TRILOGY: The Johnny Maxwell Trilogy by Terry Pratchett (omnibus of three novels published by The Science Fiction Book Club, 1996; contains Only Yo...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
