Reading right now:

            “The Red Room” by Ridley Pearson. This is Pearson’s third Risk Agent novel which revolves around a hostage rescue and insurance risk firm called Rutherford Risk. Grace Chu, a forensic expert, and John Knox, a specialist in combat and surveillance, once more work together this time to sell rare artwork in Istanbul. If this book is like the others in the series, it’s full of action and adventure. Pearson writes books for adults and young adults with around 48 novels to his credit so far. He is an over-achiever who likes to climb trees, play in a rock bank, and snowboard.

On hold right now:

            “The Kraken Project” by Douglas Preston. This is the fourth Wyman Ford novel. I didn’t enjoy “Tyrannosaur Canyon” which was the first in the series. I usually like Michael Crichton-type books which revolve around science and technology out of control. I’m hoping that “The Kraken Project” is more to my taste than the others have been. Preston writes one of my favorite series with Lincoln Child (the FBI Agent Pendergast series). Preston’s website says that he counts in his ancestry the poet Emily Dickinson and an infamous murderer and opium addict Amasa Greenough. Good to have inspirational relatives.

Other Mysterious Things:

            On this the last day of June, I can’t believe how many great books have come out that I haven’t had time to read yet. There is a wealth of terrific books coming out all the time and unfortunately only so much time for me to read (especially when I’m being interrupted by good TV shows like “Game of Thrones”). “The Bones Beneath” by Mark Billingham is the 12^th book in the Tom Thorne series. Patricia Hall’s “Blood Brothers” is the fourth in the series about photographer Kate O’Donnell. Jennifer Murphy’s first novel “I Love You More” is rumored to be a riveting novel of revenge. Chevy Stevens’ “That Night” revolves around two eighteen-year-olds who are wrongly convicted of murder and when released seventeen years later try to pick up their lives only to find that the shadow of the past threatens their future. So many good books, so little time to read them all.

Reading right now:

            “Shock Wave” by Andrew Vachss. This hard-boiled thriller continues Vachss’ Aftershock series where a former mercenary and his wife decide to retire and settle down in an lovely seaside Pacific Northwest town only to find that the town has many dark, hidden corners. Well-known for his 18-part PI Burke series, Vachss is a busy man. He’s an attorney, runs an organization to protect children from abuse, is a dog lover, and a prolific author. 

Some coastal towns have birds, others have dark secrets.

On hold right now:

             “The Farm” by Tom Rob Smith. Smith started his writing career with the amazing MGB agent Leo Demidvo trilogy. His first book was the critically acclaimed “Child 44” which won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel, the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award, and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. If you haven’t read this series, you should and you should do so before the movie comes out some time this year (with Tom Hardy and Gary Oldman). His new book “The Farm” is a complicated thriller that has gotten critical acclaim and sounds like a great choice for a book club selection. It revolves around a man who gets two phone calls: one from his Father saying his mother has gone crazy and another from his Mother who says his Father is caught up in an evil conspiracy to cover up a series of terrible crimes. Who does he believe? I can’t wait to read it and find out. 

Other Mysterious Things:

            I hate to look too far ahead, but July is going to see some amazing books come out. Donna Andrews has a new book in her hilarious Meg Lanslow series coming out called “The Good, the Bad, and the Emus.” The fourth Quinn Colson novel by Ace Atkins called “The Forsaken” will appear. The sixth book in the fantastic Kate Burkholder series comes out called “The Dead Will Tell” by Linda Castillo. James Lee Burke has “Wayfaring Stranger” and is his new standalone novel. “Grave Doubts” by Elizabeth Corley is her fifth Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Fenwick mystery. Stephanie Kegan wrote one book in 1990 and is finally coming out with her second book “The Myth of Solid Ground.” D. A. Mishani’s “A Possibility of Violence” is the second in his Avraham Avrahm mystery series. “Helsinki Dead” is James Thompson’s new book and his fifth Inspector Vaara novel.

Reading right now:

            “Sixth Grave on the Edge” by Darynda Jones. This sexy, funny paranormal features PI Charley Davidson who just happens to be the grim reaper. Charley loves coffee and Reyes Farrow (the son of Satan). When Reyes asks her to marry him, she starts snooping into his past with the help of her friend in the FBI. While this alone could get her into trouble, she takes on more danger by getting involved with a women in witness protection (she’s hiding from a local drug load). On the side, she is trying to fix up her best friend with her Uncle. She’s one busy woman.

On hold right now:

            “The Arsonist” by Sue Miller. Coming out this month is the latest best-selling book by Boston resident Sue Miller. Her first book “The Good Mother” was made into a feature film. She has been nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award and one of her books was an Oprah pick. This new novel centers around a small New England town where an arsonist is setting fires to the homes of the summer people.

Other Mysterious Things:

            Mary Stewart died on May 9 at her home on the west coast of Scotland at the age of 97. Her first novel came out in 1954 and she wrote until 1997. She was best known for what became a new genre called romantic thrillers which I found in my local library when I was very young. She was one of the authors that got me started reading mysteries. I loved so many of her books especially “The Moonspinners” and “This Rough Magic.” Her books brought a new heroine into fiction. Her heroines were educated, fighters, with a strong moral sense. She was also well known for her four part series on Merlin which started with “The Crystal Cave” in 1970. While she never wanted to be famous, her books sold 5 million copies and she was one of the authors that helped change the face of fiction for women.

Reading right now:

            “Skin Game” by Jim Butcher. This paranormal thriller series may not be a traditional mystery series, but it is highly entertaining and filled with terrific characters. This is Harry Dresden’s fifteenth appearance in what has been a wild ride. While Harry may have started out as a mild manned Wizard PI, he’s now Winter Knight to the Queen of Air and Darkness (Mab). In this latest edition of Harry’s exploits, he’s stuck making a deal with Mab for his life. He has to break into a high security vault to recover the Holy Grail from Hades, Lord of the Underworld. Fulfilling his promise to Mab involves working with friends and enemies alike and may just get him killed (again).

On hold right now:

            “The Devil’s Workshop” by Alex Grecian. This is the third book in the Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad historical mystery series. A prison break sends four or maybe five? murderers back out into the streets of 1890 London. Some of the escaped prisoners are men that the Murder Squad already put away and one of them may well be Jack the Ripper. One escaped prisoner proceeds to seek revenge on a Murder Squad member and his family. The book is said to be full of secret societies, underground tunnels, chase scenes, blood and gore. I can’t wait to read this one!

Other Mysterious Things:

            There are many books being made into movies this year. It may be time to read a few of them (even if they are not mysteries) before they come out:

Reading right now:

            “The Axe Factor” by Colin Cotterill. Born in London, Colin Cotterill now lives in Thailand. In 2006, his novel “Thirty-Three Teeth” won a Dilys Award. “The Axe Factor” is the third novel in the Jimm Juree mystery series. Jimm Juree is a former crime reporter who is stuck with her eccentric family managing a run-down beach resort. Jimm keeps her sanity writing online assignments and thinking about her dream screenplay. When Dr. Somluk (who champions the rights of rural mothers) goes missing, Jimm takes on the story only to find the plot to be much thicker than she ever imagined. Cotterill is well known for his Dr. Siri Paiboun series, but this series is very good being both funny and quirky (and sometimes bloody). 

On hold right now:

            “Windigo Island” by William Kent Krueger. This book doesn’t come out until August, but I can’t wait for the fourteenth book in the Cork O’Connor series which started with “Iron Lake” in 1998. Cork O’Connor is a former sheriff turned private investigator in Minnesota. Krueger has won numerous awards for his mysteries including this year’s Dilys award for “Ordinary Grace” which was a standalone novel that came out last year.

 

Mysteries come in many shapes

Other Mysterious Things:

            The Dilys Awards are presented each year by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association. While William Kent Krueger recently won for “Ordinary Grace,” other nominees included “Seven for a Secret” by Lyndsay Faye, “The Black Country” by Alex Grecian, “Spider Woman’s Daughter” by Anne Hillerman, “Pagan Spring” by G. M. Malliet, and “The Land of Dreams” by Vidar Sundstol. Alex Grecian has followed up “The Black Country” with his third book in the murder squad series “The Devil’s Workshop” which just came out in May. Tony Hillerman’s daughter Anne’s book was a continuation of his Leaphorn and Chee series which he wrote until his death in 2008. “Pagan Spring” was the third book in Malliet’s Max Tudor series and the fourth book is expected to arrive in October (called “Demon Summer”). Another October release is expected for Vidar Sundstol’s next book “Only the Dead.”