Monday, July 19, 2021
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole: Reviewed by Christy When No One is Watching is Alyssa Cole’s “genre debut.” Typically a romance writer, Cole branches ...
THE STILETTO GANG: Celebrating the Agathas for Best First Novel
THE STILETTO GANG: Celebrating the Agathas for Best First Novel: by Paula Gail Benson For the past two years, the community that gathers for Malice Domestic has missed its annual reunion. From Wednesday th...
SleuthSayers: The Changing Landscape by Steve Liskow
SleuthSayers: The Changing Landscape: Fifteen years ago, I could send my stories to about thirty potential markets. A few were literary, some were supernatural or sci-fi, a couple were romance.
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Bloody Genius: A Virgil Flowers Novel by John Sandford
Mystery readers know John Sandford as the creator of the
memorable Prey series with Lucas Davenport, a Minneapolis police
detective, in the lead role in 31 books. Sandford is the pseudonym of John
Roswell Camp, an American author and journalist. Camp won the Pulitzer Prize in
journalism in 1986, and was one of four finalists for the prize in 1980. He
also won the Distinguished Writing Award of the American Society of Newspaper
Editors in 1985. In addition to his long-running Davenport series, he created a
spin-off with one of Davenport’s subordinates named Virgil Flowers, an
often-married smart aleck in the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Davenport and Flowers join forces in Sandford’s latest, Ocean Prey
(Putnam, 2021).
The twelfth book with Flowers as the primary detective is Bloody
Genius (Putnam, 2019). When a well-known doctor and researcher is found
bludgeoned to death in his library study carrel at the University of Minnesota,
the Minneapolis police turned out in full force. After two weeks and no
arrests, the victim’s wealthy sister called the governor, who believed his
elevation to the governorship from district attorney was due in part to
Flowers’ work in Deadline (Putnam, 2014), possibly my favorite of the
series, and the governor pulled strings to have Flowers assigned to the case.
The first hurdle for Flowers to overcome was the hostility of
the Minneapolis police, who deeply resented his presence, then he sorted
through the public feud the late doctor had had with the chair of another
department at the University. At one meeting, violence between the supporters
of the two had broken out and everyone present had to be evaluated as possible
suspects. The discovery of a small supply of cocaine in a secret compartment of
the doctor’s home office took the investigation in a completely different
direction. One lead after another appeared in a lengthy investigation full of
surprises. That Flowers’ long-time girlfriend was expecting the birth of their
twins any day made him extremely anxious to wrap the case up so he could go
home.
Intricately plotted with more suspects than I remember in
other books in the series. Indirect jabs at the U.S. health care system are
woven in, as medical malpractice suits are discussed and the cost of providing
home hospice care comes up a couple of times. Flowers is the most likable of
Sandford’s many characters and he continues to deliver equal parts of charm and
competence in this book. Starred reviews from Booklist and Library
Journal.
·
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons; First Edition (October 1,
2019)
·
Language: English
·
Hardcover: 384 pages
·
ISBN-10: 0525536612
·
ISBN-13: 978-0525536611
Aubrey Hamilton ©2021
Aubrey Hamilton is
a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries
at night.
Sunday, July 18, 2021
Beneath the Stains of Time: An Alibi Too Soon (1987) by Roger Ormerod
Beneath the Stains of Time: An Alibi Too Soon (1987) by Roger Ormerod: Together with Kip Chase , Douglas Clark , Charles Forsyte and Jack Vance , Roger Ormerod belonged to the Lost Generation of detective nove...
Saturday, July 17, 2021
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Aunty Lee’s Deadly Specials by Ovidia Yu
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Aunty Lee’s Deadly Specials by Ovidia Yu: Reviewed by Jeanne Rosie Lee, better known as Aunty Lee, runs her own restaurant in Singapore where she specializes in traditional Peranakan...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas: Reviewed by Ambrea Alas, Ambrea has not rejoined the BPL staff but we are delighted to share one of her reviews. Fingers crossed that ...
KRL This week Update for 7/17/21
Up in KRL this week we have reviews and giveaways of more fun food and craft mysteries for your summer reading-"Four Cuts Too Many": A Sarah Blair Mystery by Debra H. Goldstein, "Murder in a Scottish Garden": A Scottish Shire Mystery by Traci Hall, and "Murphy’s Slaw": An Alaskan Diner Mystery by Elizabeth Logan https://kingsriverlife.com/07/17/craft-food-mysteries-for-your-summer-reading/
And reviews of the latest seasons of 2 BritBoxTV shows, "Death in Paradise" and "New Tricks" https://kingsriverlife.com/07/17/a-pair-from-britbox-death-in-paradise-new-tricks/
We also have a review and giveaway of "Midnight Spells Murder" by Mary Angela along with an interesting interview with Mary https://kingsriverlife.com/07/17/midnight-spells-murder-by-mary-angela/
And a look at the Hannah Smith books by Randy Wayne White https://kingsriverlife.com/07/17/meet-randy-wayne-whites-hannah-smith/
For those who prefer to listen to Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast directly on KRL you can find the player here for the latest episode featuring the first chapter of "Haunting Dreams" by Jan Christensen read by local actor Ariel Linn https://kingsriverlife.com/07/17/new-mysteryrats-maze-podcast-featuring-haunting-dreams/
Up during the week we posted a Q & A with mystery author Joe Cosentino about his latest Nicky and Noah mystery to come out in audiobook, "Drama Luau." You can also enter for a chance to win a copy of one of the first three Nicky and Noah mystery audiobooks https://kingsriverlife.com/07/14/qa-with-joe-cosentino-author-of-drama-luau/
And another special midweek guest post went up, this one by mystery author Holly Danvers about how her book "Murder at the Lakeside Library" came to be https://kingsriverlife.com/07/14/from-mind-to-page/
Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and giveaway of "A Trail of Lies" by Kylie Logan https://www.krlnews.com/2021/07/a-trail-of-lies-by-kylie-logan.html
And a review and ebook giveaway of "Diamonds, Pies, and Dead Guys" by Jennifer Fischetto https://www.krlnews.com/2021/07/diamonds-pies-dead-guys-by-jennifer.html
And a review and giveaway of "The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit" by Krista Davis https://www.krlnews.com/2021/07/the-diva-serves-forbidden-fruit-by.html
Happy reading,
Lorie,_
Scott's Take: DCeased Dead Planet by Tom Taylor
DCeased Dead
Planet by
Tom Taylor is
set up five years after the events of the first book, DCeased.
The new Justice League has setup on a
new planet that they have named Earth-2 and things are as well as can be
expected after losing so many lives. The Super Sons (the sons of Batman and
Superman respectively) have become the new Batman and Superman. Cassie Sandsmark
(Wonder Woman's apprentice) has become the new Wonder Woman alongside surviving
heroes like Mera, Black Canary, Green Arrow, Black Lighting, Hawkgirl, and
more. They have no plans to return to the old Earth until a distress call from
Cyborg is heard on Earth-2. The new Justice League decides to return to the old
earth with the hope of saving their friend.
What they don't
know is Cyborg discovered that there was a way to turn the infected back to who
they were just before his head was ripped from his body by the infected Wonder
Woman (Diana). Now just a head, cries out for someone to answer his call. Of
course, the mission goes off the rails immediately.
Featuring the
remaining survivors who have created their own superhero team featuring John
Constantine, Detective Chimp (a sentient monkey who dresses like Sherlock
Holmes and solves crimes), Red Hood, Zatanna (a witch) and others have made a
relatively safe haven for the survivors on the old Earth. Once the Cyborg
situation is addressed, these heroes of old Earth will unite with the heroes of
Earth-2 to face the ongoing threat from the infected as well as other new dangers.
Tom Taylor has
created another excellent installment of this Elseworld series. The sons have clearly grown into their new
roles and are fun characters in their own right. This book is well written and
features beautiful artwork. Some characters are
given the spotlight more than others, but considering there are more than
twenty plus heroes, it is difficult for any writer to give everyone a spotlighted
situation. As a result, some characters like Hawkgirl and Black Lightning are unfortunately
reduced to background characters that do not even have dialogue.
A couple of plot
points are left dangling for the next installment which was annoying for this
reader. Currently, the next book has yet to be announced, but considering the
success of this series, it seems clear that there will be another installment.
Some readers will also be annoyed, as I was, by the plot induced stupidity that
requires intelligent characters to act in stupid ways. In this case, it was the
equivalent of going alone and unarmed to the long-abandoned warehouse at two in
the morning for a meeting that you have told no one about and left no record of
what you are doing behind.
Despite those
flaws, I highly enjoyed DCeased Dead Planet by Tom Taylor. While
not quite as good as the original book, it is still very good. If not already
clear, this is a series that builds on itself and should definitely be read in
order.
The books and my
reviews are:
DCeased
(February 2020)
DCceased
Unkillables
(March 2021)
DCeased Dead
Planet (You
are here and surrounded)
DCeased Dead
Planet
Tom Taylor
https://www.tomtaylormade.com/
DC Comics
https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/DCeased:_Dead_Planet_Vol_1
April 2021
ISBN#
978-1-77950-795-2
Hardback (also
available in eBook format)
208 Pages
My reading copy came from the Park Forest Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.
Scott Tipple ©2021
Friday, July 16, 2021
A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: ANGEL CREEK CHRISTMAS BRIDES 99¢ SALE!
A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: ANGEL CREEK CHRISTMAS BRIDES 99¢ SALE!: By Caroline Clemmons Wonderful news— A 99¢ Christmas in July sale! Are you enjoying the summer weather? I hope you’re taking advantage of ...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: A Killing Spring by Gail Bowen
Bitter Tea and Mystery: A Killing Spring: Gail Bowen: A Killing Spring is the 5th book in a mystery series about Joanne Kilbourn, a political analyst and university professor who gets involved ...
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