Saturday, September 26, 2015

Reading right now:


            “In Bitter Chill” by Sarah Ward. Like many crime novels, Ward’s debut is all about secrets and lies in a small town. After two children (Rachel Jones and Sophie Jenkins) were kidnapped in 1978, Sophie is never seen again. Over thirty years later, Sophie’s Mother is found dead which brings the old kidnapping back into the limelight. Two local detectives are assigned the job of reopening the case to see if modern police methods can bring to light any new leads. When a teacher from Rachel’s past is also found dead, the door opens to the past letting in new dangers and fear. 
                       
On hold right now:

            “Dark Reservations” by John Fortunato. This debut novel won the Tony Hillerman Prize before it was even published. It’s gotten rave reviews and centers on Joe Evers who is a Special Agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the Southwest Navajo territory. Evers is mourning his wife’s death and bungled his last investigation, but he is given another chance. Teamed up with Navajo Tribal Officer Randal Bluehorse, they are charged with investigating the case of Congressman Arden Edgerton who disappeared 20 years ago, but whose bullet riddled car has recently reappeared on the reservation. 


Other mysterious things:


            Debut novels are full of possibility. Each time I pick one up, I’m hoping to find another David Baldacci. Hoping to find an author that I will love and want to read for the next 20 or 30 years or even longer. Each month new authors debut into the mystery genre field, each hoping to be around for a very long time. In October, Annie Dalton adds “The White Shepherd” to the list of hopefuls. Dalton’s serial killer novel is set in Oxford and while it isn’t her first book (since she is known for Young Adult novels), it is the first in the new Anna Hopkins’ dogwalking mystery series. Nonfiction author Meera Lester is branching out into the cozy mystery field with “A Beeline to Murder.” After an injury sidelines her career as a police officer, Abby Mackenzie decides to become a farmer. After finding a local pastry chef dead, Abby is recruited by the dead man’s brother to try to find out if what the police are calling a suicide is really a murder. Ava Marsh’s “Untouchable” features a high-class escort named Stella who investigates a fellow call girl’s death when the police aren’t interested. In Robert L. Palmer’s “The Survivors,” Psychologist Cal Henderson faces the horror of his childhood by trying to prove that his mother didn’t murder his father and two brothers and wound his childhood friend 25 years ago. Lisa Sandlin’s “The Do-Right” is her first full length novel and features Delpha Wade who went to prison for killing one of the men who raped her. After her release in 1973, she takes a job in Beaumont, Texas, as a secretary in a detective agency which is just the start to a new life—a life full of danger, excitement, and friendship. “We Dream of Water” by Srdjan Smajic takes place after Katrina destroys Jimmy Petrovich’s life until Jimmy’s given new hope when writer Ron Dan offers Jimmy a job. Jimmy’s new job is to find out all the secrets of a legendary saxophone player so that Ron Dan can expose all those secrets. Edgar Award winner for best first novel “Murder at the Brightwell” by Ashley Weaver is an historical mystery set in 1930s London, 


Saturday, September 19, 2015

Reading right now:

            “The Murderer’s Daughter” by Jonathan Kellerman. Best known for his fantastic Alex Delaware mystery series, Kellerman’s new standalone novel starts slowly but is now building.  Unfortunately I’ve had to read half the novel to get to the more exciting parts of the book. The main character psychologist Grace Blades is an interesting character with a sad and horrifying past. So far the book doesn’t read like a thriller, but I’ve heard that the end is shocking. I think that it is worth reading, but certainly not one of my favorite reads this year. 
           
On hold right now:

            “Cross Justice” by James Patterson. Coming in November is the 23rd Alex Cross novel. In this novel, Alex returns to his hometown to help his cousin who has been accused of a crime.
                       
Other mysterious things:


            Most mystery novels delve into the mind of the killer and what drives someone to kill and there are some mystery authors that have incorporated psychologists, psychiatrists, or therapists into the novel. Somehow this seems like a natural pairing and often works really well--consider two of the most famous modern authors who have incorporated this mention…Jonathan Kellerman and James Patterson. Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware books are some of the most famous psychologist/psychiatrist/therapist mystery novels, but there are many others including Nicci French’s psychotherapist Frieda Klein mystery novels. French has written five novels in that series and the last one just came out in July (“Blue Monday” was the first in the series). Anne Holt’s Vik and Stubo series has Johanne Vik who is an Oslo University psychology professor (which started with “Punishment” or “What is Mine”). Alex Kava’s Maggie O’Dell is an FBI Criminal Profiler in Nebraska (first book in that series was “A Perfect Evil”). One can’t not mention Alex Cross a psychiatrist and the main character in 23 James Patterson books. Stephen White’s Alan Gregory is a clinical psychologist in Colorado (the first book in this series was “Privileged Information”). Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs is a psychologist in 1920s and 1930s London (the series started with “Maisie Dobbs”). Meg Gardiner’s books about forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett started with “The Dirty Secrets Club.” D. J. Donaldson’s criminal psychologist Kit Franklyn’s novels are set in New Orleans and started with “Cajun Nights.” Shirley Wells’ first book in the forensic psychologist Jill Kennedy series was “Into the Shadows.” 

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Reading right now:

            “Is Fat Bob Dead Yet?” by Stephen Dobyns. This is a stand alone novel unless Dobyns decides to write more and make it a series.   It’s a comic mystery romp – think Coen Brothers writing a mystery novel.
           
On hold right now:

            “A Ghostly Demise” by Tonya Kappes. This is the third in the Southern ghost series where undertaker Emma Lee must find the killer of the town drunk to get his ghost off her back.
           
Other mysterious things:

            Comedy doesn’t seem to go well with mystery novels, yet there are many terrific mystery authors writing comic mysteries. If you want some fun with your mystery try Donna Andrews, Harlan Coben (Myron Bolitar series), Blaize Clement, Diane Mott Davidson, Janet Evanovich, Jasper Fforde, Joanne Fluke, Chris Grabenstein, Sue Ann Jaffarian, Lisa Lutz, David Rosenfelt, and Stephanie Bond. Several recently released funny mystery novels to look for include “Unleashed” by Eileen Brady whose hero is Veterinarian Kate Turner. Christopher Moore’s “Secondhand Souls” came out in August. Denise Swanson’s latest is “Murder of an Open Book.” Gloria Ferris’ most recent book “Shroud of Roses” is the second in her funny series. Tod Goldberg’s “Gangsterland” has a mobster hiding in Las Vegas after a hit job goes wrong. Philip Reed’s “Off and Running” is a funny kidnapping story. The first in a new historical series by Maia Chance just came out called “Come Hell or Highball.” And finally another funny historical mystery set in 1914 called “Girl with a Gun” by Amy Stewart. If you are looking for a funny mystery, you can’t go wrong with these and you may find it is just the start of a whole new area of reading pleasure.


Book cover picture of Davidson, Diane Mott. STICKS AND SCONES. New York: Bantam, (2001.)