Elmore Leonard’s death on August 20, 2013, is a great loss to mystery lovers. His writing continued to get better as he got older and we all hoped he had many more novels in him. “Blue Dreams” is scheduled to come out in 2014. He started writing in 1949 when he got a job with an ad agency and wrote western stories on the side. He liked western movies and wanted his stories to become movies which happened when “3:10 to Yuma” was produced. In 1984, his novel “LaBrava” was presented the best novel of the year award by the Mystery Writers of America. By 1985, he was a bestselling novelist and suddenly touted as “the greatest living crime writer.” Many awards followed and many movies including “Jackie Brown” and “Out of Sight” (take a look at lists online of his influence in TV as well). It’s a great time to read or re-read one of his books as a tribute. Any of his books would be a good choice, but you can’t go wrong reading “Road Dogs” and/or “Get Shorty.”

Leonard was 87 when he died having been born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1925 and at his death considered Michigan home. He served in the military and went to college afterwards. He graduated from the University of Detroit majoring in English and Philosophy. He married in 1949 and raised five children.

Reading right now:

            Sophie Hannah’s “Kind of Cruel.” It’s bad enough that she can’t sleep, but when Amber Hewerdine talks about “Kind, cruel, kind of cruel” under hypnosis, she finds herself arrested for the brutal murder of a woman she’s never heard of in her life. This is an unusual puzzle and I can’t wait to find out what really happened. Hannah is an award winning British poet who also writes amazing mysteries.

 

On hold right now:

            “Family Business” by Michael Z. Lewin. Nominated for the Edgar award three times (and won twice), Lewin is an American mystery writer living in England whom I’ve missed and decided to start reading. His Lunghi family series starts with “Family Business,” continues with “Family Planning,” and “Family Way.” Lewin started this series in 1995 and the last one came out in 2011. The series is about several generations of the Lunghis family who run a detective agency in Bath, England.

Reading right now:

            David Wellington started his career online. He also got his Master’s degree in Library Science! He is well-known for his horror, but his latest is a thriller series. “Chimera” revolves around a vet who was in Afghanistan and is now called upon to defeat a group of men carrying a deadly virus and who display superhuman speed and strength.

On hold right now:

            Paul Doiron’s latest (“Massacre Pond”) is the fourth in his Mike Bowditch mystery series. The first book in the series was “The Poacher’s Son” which was a nominee for the Anthony Awards first novel category.

            Doiron is all about Maine! He publishes a magazine about Maine, he is a registered Maine Guide, and lives in coastal Maine. His main character, Mike Bowditch, is a Game Warden in (surprisingly) Maine. Bowditch’s latest case starts with the slaughter of five moose and escalates to the murder of the daughter of an animal rights activist.

“More wisdom is contained in the best

crime fiction than in philosophy.” --Wittgenstein

New (or sorta new) Mysterious things:

            I’ve been wondering lately if there are trends afoot on the mystery scene. At one time serial killers were all the rage and every mystery you picked up was a serial killer novel. Now it seems like everyone is solving murders: antique dealers, bookstore owners, housewives, doctors, lawyers, and even some cops. Mysteries are popular and authors are looking in every possible direction in order to find a new idea. More and more mysteries have a paranormal element. Dozens of authors from countries all over the world (Sweden, England, Ireland, etc.) are finding readers in the U.S.

If you are interested in the topic, “The Millennial Detective: Essays on Trends in Crime Fiction, Film, and Television. 1990-2010” by Malcah Effron might be of interest. The book is a collection of ten essays examining trends in crime fiction. If you are hardcore, you can also read Rebecca Martin’s “Crime and Detective Fiction” which examines the development of detective fiction. Coming out in October “Philosophies of Crime Fiction” by Josef Hoffmann is “a considered analysis of the philosophical ideas to be found in crime literature, both hidden and explicit. Josef Hoffmann ranges expertly across influences and inspirations in crime writing with a stellar cast including Conan Doyle, G K Chesterton, Dashiell Hammett, Albert Camus, Borges, Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler. Hoffmann examines why crime literature may provide stronger consolation for readers than philosophy. In so doing, he demonstrates the truth of Wittgenstein's claim that more wisdom is contained in the best crime fiction than in philosophy.” Or, even easier, just read some more mysteries and find out for yourself what is trending and why.

 

 

 

Reading right now:

            “If You Were Here” by Alafair Burke. Alafair Burke has been writing thrillers for about ten years and as the daughter of James Lee Burke seems to come by her talent naturally. “If You Were Here” revolves around Manhattan journalist McKenna Jordan whose friend Susan disappeared a decade earlier. Seeing a photo of a woman who looks like Susan sends McKenna on what turns out to be a dangerous search for her missing friend.

On hold right now:

            Faye Kellerman’s new book “Beast.” The latest installment in the series revolving around LAPD Detective Peter Decker. When reclusive elderly billionaire Hobart Penny is found dead in his apartment, the police think that his pet tiger killed him, but soon discover that the “Beast” is probably all too human.

New (or sorta new) Authors:

            It is difficult sometimes to start reading a new author. I know I’m so busy just trying to keep up with authors I already know and enjoy that it’s hard to commit to a new author. It’s worth it to try someone new once in a while to try to find someone new to love and look forward to.

            Daniel Friedman has only written one book in his new Buck Schatz series, but that book called “Don’t Ever Get Old” received a nomination for best first novel from the 2013 Edgar Awards. His second book in the series called “Don’t Ever Look Back” comes out in 2014. James Henry is the author of the Jack Frost series with two so far (“First Frost” and “Fatal Frost”) and the third coming out soon (“Morning Frost”). Jon McGoran’s “Drift” is his one and only book, but it is one that was called a compelling thriller.

Reading right now:

 

           “The Black Country” by Alex Grecian is a fine follow up to “The Yard.” In the second installment of this historical murder series, the new Murder Squad detectives are sent to a small mining village where a family has disappeared, an eyeball was found in a tree, the town is sinking, and half the town is ill.

On hold right now:

            “What’s a Witch to Do?” by Jennifer Harlow which is the first in a new series called Midnight Magic. Mona McGregor is the High Priestess of a large coven in Virginia when she finds out that someone is trying to kill her in order to take over her job. Mona is warned by a sexy werewolf named Adam Blue who protects her while they try to determine who is behind the plot.

Of Interest (New Books coming out in August):

            “Guilt Edged” by Judith Cutler which is the sixth book in the Lina Townend mystery series. Townend is an antique dealer who usually uncovers crimes committed by others in her business, but this time finds herself accused of theft.

            “You Make Me Feel So Dead” by Robert J. Randisi is the eighth book in the Rat Pack mystery series. These books transport you back to the day when Frank Sinatra and “the Rat Pack” ruled entertainment and Vegas.

            “Flashpoint” by Ed Gorman is the fourth in the Dev Conrad series. Conrad is a political consultant working on Senator Robert Logan’s election when one of the women working on the campaign is murdered.

Reading right now:

Donna Andrews’ “The Hen of the Baskervilles” is the latest in the Meg Langslow series. This is a fabulous cozy series. Meg is great and her family is funny and quirky. The latest revolves around the local county fair where politics, competition, and murder flourish. If you haven’t read this series and you want to start at the beginning find “Murder With Peacocks” and read right through all 15 books in this great series. Ms. Andrews is one of those authors I watch for and always look forward to her latest book. She never disappoints.

 

On hold right now:

“Fifth Grave Past the Light” by Darynda Jones. This is the fifth book in the paranormal mystery series which stars Charley Davidson. Charley’s job as the grim reaper is keeping her really busy when a serial killer becomes active in her neighborhood and Charlie finds out her sister is next on his list. Do not miss this series! It is funny and sexy and suspenseful.

Of Interest (New Books coming out in July):

“Unleashed” by David Rosenfelt is out this month. This is the 11^th great Andy Carpenter mystery. This is a great series full of laughs, dogs, and murder. What more could you ask for?

Vince Flynn died in June. It seems a good time to read his books and wait for “The Survivor” which comes out in October and is the 14^th book in his Mitch Rapp series.

Jeff Abbott’s “Downfall” is the third book in the Ex-CIA agent Sam Capra series. The first book was “Adrenaline” which came out in 2010 and may soon be a movie.

Reading right now:

            “The 9^th Girl” is the fourth book in Tami Hoag’s Kovac/Liska series. Kovac and Liska are two Minneapolis detectives trying to enjoy New Year’s Eve when a dead girl falls from the trunk of a car into oncoming traffic. The victim is the ninth unidentified female to die in the Minneapolis area that year. While they struggle to place a name to their victim, they are also trying to decide if all their victims are the work of one serial killer which they are calling Doc Holiday because the deaths happen around a holiday.

On hold right now:

            “Let It Burn” is the 10^th book in Steve Hamilton’s Alex McKnight series. Alex McKnight returns to Detroit to reconnect with a woman he cannot forget and ends up looking into an old case that he thought was long closed.

Of Interest (New Books coming out in July):

            John & Blaize Clement’s latest pet sitter cozy is out: “The Cat Sitter’s Cradle: A Dixie Hemingway Mystery. This is the eighth in what is an increasingly popular series.

            John Florio’s “Sugar Pop Moon: A Jersey Leo Novel” has been called riveting and gritty. It is both a mystery and a coming of age novel which takes place in both 1906 and 1930.

            The second in the Willie Black (crime reporter) series by Howard Owen called “The Philadelphia Quarry” just came out.

Reading right now:

            “Inferno” by Dan Brown. Robert Langdon is back. This time he wakes up in a Florence hospital with no memory of how he got there or what happened over the past two days. When someone shows up to kill him in the hospital, he goes on the run to try to solve the puzzle of who is trying to kill him and why.

               

On hold right now:

            “Death of a Robber Barron” by Charles O’Brien. This is the first in O’Brien’s new Gilded Age mystery series. In 1891 New York City, Mrs. Pamela Thompson becomes penniless when her husband invests in questionable copper stocks. Forced to take a job as a store detective, she finds that she is good at the job.

Of Interest (New Books coming out in July):

            “Care Homes are Murder” by Mike Befeler is the fifth book in his Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit series.

            “A Dangerous Fiction” by Barbara Rogan is the first in a new series which introduces Jo Donovan, a literary agent who also solves a few mysteries.

            John Dufresne’s “No Regrets, Coyote” revolves around Wylie “Coyote” Melville, a therapist and forensic consultant, who is called on to help solve the mystery surrounding the murder of five members of the Halliday family.

Other Mysteries of Interest:

            Before “Homeland,” Damian Lewis had a show called “Life.” The series was on for two seasons and is now available to stream on Netflix. Lewis plays Charlie Crews, a detective released from prison after serving 12 years for a crime he didn’t commit. The show (and the character of Charlie Crews) is quirky and fun. Well worth watching.