Saturday, March 29, 2014

Reading right now:
            “Death on Blackheath” by Anne Perry. I still enjoy Anne Perry’s books especially the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novels. This is the 29th book in the Pitt series with Pitt now the commander of Special Branch (an intelligence service inside the UK which counters political violence and subversion and protects high profile politicians). When a lady’s maid disappears, Pitt is called in to investigate because she works for naval weapons expert Dudley Kynaston. Kynaston is the key to the UK’s new submarine program, but is he also the key to the disappearance and possible death of a lovely young woman?
On hold right now:
If you come in here, I'm "Justified."
            “Days of Wine and Roquefort” by Avery Aames. Avery Aames writes mysteries and screenplays. A combination of her love of cooking and writing has led to her Cheese Shop mystery series. “The Long Quiche Goodbye”, the first in the series, won an Agatha award. As this fifth in the series opens, Cheese Shop owner Charlotte Bessette pairs with a local winery which only ends in murder. If you read this series, you also get the recipes.
Other Mysterious Things Available:

            Elmore Leonard died in August, 2013.  His 46th and unfinished novel “Blue Dreams” is supposedly being finished by Peter Leonard, one of Leonard’s sons. Leonard will be remembered for his novels, his movies, and his great TV show “Justified.” “Justified” was based on two of Leonard’s novels “Pronto” and “Riding the Rap,” as well as a short story “Fire in the Hole.” The next and sixth season of “Justified” is supposed to be the last season so it is way past time for you to watch it (get it on Netflix!). Timothy Olyphant plays the main character, Raylan Givens. Givens is a deputy U.S. Marshal who is both tough and sexy. 

Monday, March 24, 2014

Reading right now:
            “The Mangle Street Murder” by M. R. C. Kasasian. Kasasian joins the ranks of English authors writing a Victorian crime series with a private detective duo. It’s 1882 and London’s most famous personal detective Sidney Grice is working with his ward March Middleton to uncover the truth behind a grisly murder. This is the first in a new series which I just started. So far I am enjoying the odd characters and interesting sense of humor. I understand that the second in the series is coming out sometime this year and is called “The Curse of the House of Foskett.”


On hold right now:
            “Blood of Alexander” by Tom Wilde. This debut novel from Wilde features a modern Indiana Jones who works for a foundation that steals back lost antiquities and returns them to their rightful owners. Jonathan Blake is our hero who is pitted against a ruthless cult in order to stop the cult’s apocalyptic plans for humanity. It sounds like this novel could be compared to Dan Brown’s books and maybe Steve Berry’s. It certainly sounds like a thriller that will take you around the world with political ramifications and lots of action.
Other Mysterious Things Available:

            Each month I’m faced with a huge number of mysteries coming out and am frustrated  by how little time I have to read. There is no way I can read everything even if I spent every minute reading. I just try to read what appeals to me and bemoan the fact that I don’t get around to more. I noticed that this month Benjamin Black is revisiting Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe character with “The Black-Eyed Blonde.” Cara Black’s 14th book in the French Private Investigator Aimee Leduc series came out this month (“Murder in Pigalle”). “Savage Girl” by Jean Zimmerman is only her second book of fiction, but sounds fascinating. “Savage Girl” is an eighteen-year-old who has been raised by wolves in Nevada, but in 1875 a wealthy Manhattan couple attempts to tame her and introduce her into society. As you can imagine this doesn’t work out well. Her friendships with men are not only scandalous but prove deadly when those men end up murdered. 

Monday, March 17, 2014

Reading right now:
            “Why Kings Confess” by C. S. Harris. This is the ninth book in the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series. I spend all year watching for a new book in this series to come out because I love these books and this author. The characters are memorable and have fascinating relationships, the murders usually involve political intrigue, the history is a meaningful part of the story, and an intriguing part of the story. Harris is an historical mystery author with a Ph.D. in European history and she makes the time she is writing about come alive which in this case is the Regency period (early 1800s in England). In “Why Kings Confess,” aristocratic investigator Sebastian St. Cyr gets caught up in the murder of a member of a secret delegation sent by Napoleon to negotiate for peace with Britain.
Readin' the green for St. Patrick's Day

On hold right now:
“Runner” by Lee Patrick.  This is the first in a new series introducing retired special forces Ranger Sam Dryden. The story starts with Dryden jogging in the small Southern California town where he lives, only to run into a terrified young girl who is trying to escape from a group of armed men who she says are part of a secret government group that has keep her prisoner for as long as she can remember. In trying to protect her, Dryden finds much more danger than he could have ever imagined.
Other Mysterious Things Available:

            St. Patrick’s Day! What a great day to read an Irish mystery. Tana French’s series featuring the Dublin Murder Squad is one of my favorites with the fifth book in the series coming out in September, 2014. Sheila Connolly writes the County Cork mystery series with “Buried in a Bog” being the first in the series. Benjamin Black is also a good choice with the Quirke series (“Christine Falls” was the first of six so far). Cora Harrison’s mystery series Burren is an excellent historical series with the 11th “Verdict of the Court” coming out in July. For some Irish American intrigue try Stephan Talty’s two mysteries “Black Irish” and his latest coming out in May “Hangman.” Rhys Bowen’s series about Irishwoman Molly Murphy who moved to American at the turn of the century (1900s) and wants to be a P.I. is another good choice. March 4, 2014 saw the addition of the 13th book in this historical mystery series called “City of Darkness and Light.” Erin Hart has five books available in her Nora Gavin series. These should keep you busy until next St. Patrick’s Day.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Reading right now:
            “Killer” by Jonathan Kellerman. I’m finally reading the latest from Jonathan Kellerman. I was slow to get to this one, so I’m sure everyone else has finished it already! I do love the Alex Delaware books and am enjoying this one. Los Angeles always plays a pivotal part in Kellerman’s books and recognizing the streets and areas in the books is really fun. Another element I enjoy in this series is the relationship between Delaware and his longtime friend Detective Milo Sturgis. So far the book’s unusual storyline is not disappointing (so much so that I wish I’d had more time the last couple of days so that I could have finished it). “Killer” is the 29th Alex Delaware book which started in 1985 with “When the Bough Breaks.”     
Is she the "Killer" or not? 
          
On hold right now:
            “Strange Bodies” by Marcel Theroux. Here’s a book that has been much talked about from National Book Award finalist Marcel Theroux. From everything I’ve heard it would also be a great book to present to your book club for discussion. I’ve seen it called a high-concept literary thriller, thought-provoking, a combination of comedy and horror, and at its center is the question of what makes us what we are. What would you do if a long dead friend arrived on your doorstep in another body, but with the same personality and memories and life experiences? I love the publisher’s statement about this intriguing book, “Strange Bodies takes the reader on a dizzying speculative journey that poses questions about identity, authenticity, and what it means to be truly human.” This sounds fascinating and I can’t wait for it to come in.
Other Mysterious Things Available:

            If you’re thinking of buying a tablet or already have an iPad (or whatever), don’t forget to take a look at your library’s website and see what your local library offers you for downloading free ebooks and audio books. Most libraries now allow you free access to Overdrive. Overdrive offers lots of highly desirable titles, as well as, tutorials which will help you learn how to download books into any device you own. It is fairly easy and they are constantly developing new ways to make it even easier to use.
A library at your fingertips.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Reading right now:
            “The Avalon Chanter” by Lillian Stewart Carl. Carl is an American writer whose stories often take place in the British Isles. “The Avalon Chanter” is the seventh book in the Jean Fairbairn and Alasdair Cameron mystery series. The pairing of ex-Scottish cop and American reporter is a perfect combination since the occupations lend themselves to fascinating story lines. Carl’s skillful storytelling intertwines mystery, history, and romance.
Life is boring without a good book.
On hold right now:
            “The Resistance Man” by Martin Walker. Captain Bruno Courreges is back in his seventh Bruno, Chief of Police mystery series. He still cooks, hunts, grows his own food, loves dogs, registers births and deaths, enforces parking regulations, and catches criminals. While the charm of the rural French countryside may deceive you into thinking nothing much happens, Bruno’s life is full of murder, politics, rivalries, burglary, and the first six books were full of so much charm and entertaining writing that if you have read them you will be as anxious for “The Resistance Man” to come out as I am.
Other Mysterious Things Available:
            “NYPD Blue” producer Steven Bochco has a new drama coming out this summer on TNT called “Murder in the First.” The first season will follow a single case across 12 episodes and center around San Francisco homicide detectives Terry English and Hildy Mulligan (Taye Diggs and Kathleen Robertson).

murder-in-the-first-tca-kathleen-robertson-taye-diggs-tnt.jpg

            Currently TNT has some great mysteries including “Rizzoli & Isles” which is a TV series based on Tess Gerritsen’s books and features police detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles (Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander). “Perception” recently started a new season and stars Eric McCormack as Dr. Daniel Pierce, a schizophrenic neuropsychiatrist who assists the FBI. “Perception” is uniquely entertaining.