Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Jerry's House of Everything: SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: THE LOCKED TOMB MYSTERY
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Feuille D'Album by Katherine Mansfield
Short Story Wednesday Review: Forget Me Not by Stephen Ford (Thriller Magazine: June 2026 issue)
The plan was complicated and yet simple. Sir
Alistair Pembroke was willing to pay in the short story, Forget Me Not, by
Stephen Ford (Thriller Magazine: June 2026 issue). Sir Pembroke claims
to have heard of Mr. Frost and the services he can provide clients by way of discreet word of mouth. What he wants is
simple on the face of it--“’Find Your Item. Steal it back. Leave a gift.’”
The item to be retrieved is a certain book. The item
to be left behind is some sort of flower petal.
Nobody said a word about the dead body in the target
location. But, that is exactly what awaits Mr. Frost and his team at the home
of Jarvis Stowe somewhere in England. And a caravan of police vehicles is
closing in rapidly.
What follows is a story of twists, turns, and deceit
that has the roots in what was once called “The Cold War.” It is also a mighty
good read in an issue I enjoyed.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4futRwr
My digital reading copy came by way of my ninety-day free Kindle Unlimited trial.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Review: Wildwood: A Novel by Amy Pease
Wildwood: A Novel by Amy Pease is
the second book in the series that began with the very good Northwoods.
As the book begins, it is October in North Wisconsin and Eli North is in a far better
place mentally. He’s quit drinking, is in therapy for PTSD and other issues,
and is coping with everything better than he has been in some time. He’s still working for his mom, the
sheriff, who ordered him to take the day off. So, he started the day chopping
wood. Not only is it therapeutic for him, it is being proactive as winter is
coming.
His day off is soon out the window when
his mom calls him in. With only three members of the Sherman County Sherrif’s Department,
one of whom is the dispatcher, she did not really have a choice. Sheriff Marge
North might have dealt with the missing woman case on her own.
But, she got into the home, and judging
from the blood sprayed on the bedroom walls, probably Trinity Campanella is
dead. If so, they are looking for a body and a killer. There are other troubling
signs in the home as well.
So, she needs her son and fellow officer,
Eli North, and other outside resources. She had not reached out to the FBI and yet
they have shown up in form of FBI Agent Alyssa Mason. They dealt with her last
summer and now she is suddenly back in Shaky Lake, Wisconsin, and has arrived, unannounced,
at her crime scene. She has also brought an undercover DEA agent with her. For
good reasons too in an increasingly complicated case and a mighty good read.
While this could be read first, if one
so desired, I recommend reading the series in order to see how things are evolving
for the characters involved. Both books are very good and strongly recommended.
As I was with the first book, I am indebted
to a comment on Lesa Holstine’s What Are You Reading blog posts. I had no idea
this was even out until I saw the news there and requested the book via my
library. The read is also available by way of Kindle Unlimited (as is the
first) so I read it that way in a larger font than the hardback library book.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3TmDgyH
Amazon Associate Purchase Series Link: https://amzn.to/4pEdG4l
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Monday, July 27, 2026
In Reference to Murder: Media Murder for Monday
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 40 Writing Contests in August 2026 - No entry fees!
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: The Amateur: A Novel by Chris Bohjalian
The Amateur
(Doubleday, 4 August 2026) is the latest crackerjack thriller from critically
acclaimed author Chris Bohjalian. Set in the 1970s in the posh suburb of Tallmadge
in Westchester County, New York, where everyone who is anyone is a member of
the country club, the story is a memoir told by Mira Winston in later life and
with the benefit of considerable hindsight.
Mira fell in
love with the game of golf as a tween and became notably proficient, practicing
relentlessly and working with a coach to the point she’s won a few regional
tournaments. Now upon graduation from high school she’s been promised a place
on the golf team at Yale, where she expects to begin classes in a month. On an
ordinary summer day she’s at the club, driving golf balls into the practice net
one after another. The net breaks with the force of her swing and the sphere
weighing an ounce and a half becomes a lethal weapon as it strikes the temple
of one of the high school students working as a caddy that day.
At first the
practice net seemed to be faulty, and the manufacturer was the focus of
attention, then upon closer investigation Mira took the brunt of the blame, as
a secret affair with a married man 30 years older was made public and some of
her impulsive acts from the past were spun as indicators of instability and viciousness.
The entire town turned against her; she eventually was charged with involuntary
manslaughter. While she waited for trial, she was targeted in every way
possible by acquaintances and neighbors. The stress of false accusations and
societal disapproval hit the heretofore privileged teenager like an anvil
falling from the sky.
A strikingly
good book, with complex characterizations, a carefully layered plot, and a
flawless duplication of the 1970s social code. Mira was subjected to societal
censure that from the vantage point of 2026 belonged somewhere else and it is
agonizing to read. Along with toxic social issues, the mechanics surrounding
the failure of the net was examined from all aspects. Considering the damages
likely to be awarded the dead boy’s family in a civil lawsuit, the manufacturer,
the country club, and Mira’s family all pointed at each other. The real cause
of failure was a last-minute surprise I should have seen coming but of course I
didn’t.
Starred
reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and Booklist. A
riveting read, highly recommended!
·
Publisher: Doubleday
·
Publication date: August 4, 2026
·
Language: English
·
Print length: 336 pages
·
ISBN-10: 0385551290
·
ISBN-13: 978-0385551298
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4bdgShj
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2026
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
Sunday, July 26, 2026
Little Big Crimes: Noir Canal, by Manu Causse
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Murder on the Yellow Brick Road: Stuart M. Kaminsky
Review: Waves of Burden: A Novel by Curtis Ippolito
Waves
of Burden: A Novel by Curtis
Ippolito is an intense crime fiction read. Published by Rock and a Hard Place
Press, the read takes the usual crime fiction stereotype of the problematic
family member that is always in a jam and shakes it up a bit. It’s also good to have
friends you can call on for help.
Drew
Jones works hard for the money in San Diego, California. He is a contractor
with a baby on the way as the baby is due in less than three months. Drew needs
every penny he can earn as Gaby and he live on the edge as it is and their baby
is going to need things. As he finishes up a job one day, he gets a call from
his former foster brother, Jake. He hasn’t seen him in months and his older
brother is back in town.
They
get together, eat, hang out, Jake crashes at their place, and things are
seemingly okay. He has a tendency to bring trouble with him. It has been that
way since Drew was left to clean up the mess when they were kids and he is
still that way as he lives a nomadic lifestyle. But, this time seems a bit
different, at first.
That
was a mirage. It soon slowly becomes
clear that, Jake being Jake, has really screwed up things this time. Before
long, cops want to talk. If that was not enough, some very dangerous people
have started showing up and are making demands that must be met. Everything and
everyone Drew holds dear is under threat of prison or worse. With next to no
frame of reference for the mess they have been shoved into, Drew has to figure
out a way to save them all.
What
follows is a complicated crime fiction read full of rich characters, plenty of action,
and a world where almost nothing is clear. The author loves San Diego and that
is clear as the area is its own character from start to finish. What isn’t
clear is how Drew will save those he loves.
Amazon
Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4yxgEvk
My
PDF ARC came from the publisher shortly before publication day with no
expectation of a review.
Kevin
R. Tipple ©2026
Saturday, July 25, 2026
KRL Update
Up on KRL this week a review and giveaway of the latest Longmire mystery by Craig Johnson, "The Brothers McKay" https://kingsriverlife.com/07/25/the-brothers-mckay-by-craig-johnson/
We also have reviews and giveaways of 3 more fun mysteries for your summer reading-"Dead Men Don’t Play Fetch" by David Rosenfelt, "Sweet Spot" Ghostwriter Mystery by Kemper Donovan, & "I, Spy" by L.M. Kemp https://kingsriverlife.com/07/25/end-of-july-mystery-catchup/
And a review and giveaway of "Murder at Haddonford Manor” by Irina McGrath https://kingsriverlife.com/07/25/murder-at-haddonford-manor-by-irina-mcgrath/
And the latest Queer Mystery Coming Attractions from Matt Lubbers-Moore https://kingsriverlife.com/07/25/queer-mystery-coming-attractions-august-2026/
Up on KRL during the week we posted an excerpt from "The Girl on the Beach" by Carol Snow https://kingsriverlife.com/07/22/excerpt-from-the-girl-on-the-beach-by-carol-snow/
Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and giveaway of the latest Marlow Murder Club mystery, "The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts" by Robert Thorogood https://www.krlnews.com/2026/07/the-mysterious-affair-of-judith-potts.html
And a review and Kindle giveaway of "The Corpse at the Cottage" by Kathleen Bridge https://www.krlnews.com/2026/07/the-corpse-at-cottage-by-kathleen.html
And a review and giveaway of "The Taverna at the Edge of Night" by H.Y. Hanna https://www.krlnews.com/2026/07/the-taverna-at-edge-of-night-by-hy.html
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 19 Awesome Writing Conferences and Workshops in August 2026
Scott's Take: A Parade of Horribles (Dungeon Crawler Carl series) by Matt Dinniman
A Parade of Horribles by Matt
Dinniman is the eighth book in the Dungeon
Crawler Carl series.
I read this as an eBook so I did not have access to the short story. At the
time of writing this review at the end of May, the hardback version is still on
order at the Dallas Public Library System. I have a hold on one, whenever they
get them in, so that I can read the short story.
In this action-packed installment,
Princess Donut, Carl, and the remaining Crawlers, compete in various races and
must try to survive and win them. Then, once the races are done, the evil AI is
planning to have “A Parade of Horribles.” The AI is calling it a coming out
party for himself.
This one is heavy on the lore building
at the end. There is a lot of violence, but it is a lot less than one would
expect in this series. I also found the
races to be very different than what I was expecting. I was kind of
disappointed in that aspect of the read.
Carl and Donut get some more quality
character development but some of the gimmick jokes drag on longer than I think
they should have. Also, a lot of the plot points that have been running in the
background for more than one book are still not followed up on here. I kind of wish we would get a novel
focusing on the kinder facility or the human resistance on Earth against the
aliens. Instead of a few sentences here
and there. I feel like a lot happened in this book, but mostly towards the end.
I enjoyed this read, but maybe I was
overhyped for it. I thought this one was one of the weaker books. In the next
book, The Ascendery Games begin as the
Crawlers will attempt to escape various floors while trying to stop one of the
gods from becoming the King of The Gods.
There should be quite a lot going on as the large cast of the series has
been scattered to so many other places by this point. It is going to require
some very good scene switching to make it all work.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4dCSpDE
My reading copy came through the Libby App by way of the Dallas Public Library system. I have a hold on the hardback through the system. Sometimes the short stories are important, sometimes not, but either way I want to read it.
Scott A. Tipple ©2026
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