Reading right now:

            “The Edge of Dreams” by Rhys Bowen. The fourteenth book in the Molly Murphy series centers on Molly’s husband Daniel who is a captain in the New York City police force and his most recent case. The murderer sends notes to Daniel after each of his murders and then he goes after Molly and her young son. This book came out in March so I’m a little behind in reading it, but I have to catch up fast as Bowen has several books coming out this year. Her fifteenth book in this series comes out in November and is called “Away in the Manger.” Additionally, her ninth book in the Royal Spyness series will come out in August (“Malice at the Palace”). Both of these series are historical mystery series. Bowen’s Agatha win this week for Best Historical Novel (“Queen of Hearts”) is one of many Awards she has won over the years.

On hold right now:

            “What You See” by Hank Phillippi Ryan. After this week’s win of the Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel from 2014 for Ryan’s third Jane Ryland book, the fourth is being much anticipated. In that forthcoming book, newspaper reporter Jane Ryland gets involved in the abduction of a flower girl from a family wedding. Will this fourth book in the series be as terrific as the ones that came before and win awards next year? That is the question as we all line up to read the latest Ryan book which won’t be out until October. Ryan herself is an on-air investigative reporter and winner of both Edgar and Agatha Awards for her crime fiction.

           

Other mysterious things:

            This week the Agatha Award Winners were announced for the best traditional mysteries published in the U.S. in 2014:

Best Contemporary Novel Truth Be Told by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Best Historical Novel Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen

Best First Novel Well Read, Then Dead by Terrie Farley Moran

Sara Paretsky was presented with Malice Domestic's Lifetime Achievement Award for her many contributions to the mystery fiction genre.

Reading right now:

            “Memory Man” by David Baldacci. In Baldacci’s 30^th novel, he introduces a fresh and fascinating new character named Amos Decker which looks like it will be a new series. Decker started out as a professional football player whose career was ended in a terrible accident so he joins the police and ends up being a police detective. His accident left him changed so that his memory is amazing. One night he returns home from work to find his wife, daughter, and brother-in-law murdered which propels him into a downhill slide into unemployment and homelessness. Years later someone walks in and announces that he murdered Decker's family. When Decker talks to him, he realizes that the man can't be the killer, but what is his motivation? This is a fast moving thriller which keeps you glued to the book until you finish (and then you are sad you read so fast). I really enjoyed the new character and the timely subject matter.

On hold right now:

            “Gathering Prey” by John Sandford. This is the 25^th book in the Lucas Davenport series which started in 1989 with “Rules of Prey.” When someone starts killing off panhandlers, Davenport’s adopted daughter, Letty, gets a call from a friend who thinks she knows the killer. Lucas Davenport has become an iconic detective, a must read for anyone who loves mysteries.

Other mysterious things:

            The Mystery Writers of America announced the 2015 Edgar Allan Poe Awards on April 29 in New York City. The Edgar winner for best novel of the year is “Mr. Mercedes” by Stephen King. The best first novel by an American author is “Dry Bones in the Valley” by Tom Bouman. The best true crime novel is “Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood” by William J. Mann. 

Reading right now:

            “A June of Ordinary Murders” by Conor Brady. This book came out in 2012 and is the first book in a new series which I hadn’t gotten around to reading until now. I have almost finished the book and found it plodding and repetitive in the beginning, but it really heats up as it goes along and the characters and setting is amazing. Joe Swallow is the main character in this Irish Victorian historical mystery. In 1887 crimes fit into two categories some are considered “special” which means political and all the rest fall in the “ordinary” category. In the middle of the celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, Detective Sergeant Joe Swallow finds himself investigating the mutilated bodies of a man and a child who were found in Phoenix Park and whose murders are just the beginning. “The Eloquence of the Dead” is the second book in this interesting new series and is available now.

On hold right now:

            “The Well” by Catherine Chanter. In this complicated debut thriller, Ruth Ardingly’s life is shattered by the murder of her grandson. After he is drowned in one of the few ponds left in a drought stricken British countryside, Ruth searches for the truth.

Other mysterious things:

            Other debut novels recently out or coming out soon include the following: “The Evidence Room” by Cameron Harvey which is a police procedural set in Florida and comes out in June. In February, Judith Janeway introduced the Valentine Hill mystery series with “The Magician’s Daughter.” In the first book in this new series, Valentine Hill is a magician who goes undercover to help solve the murder of her FBI friend. Janeway introduced the Alison Weaver mystery series in 2014 with “Odds of Dying.” She hasn’t followed up on that series so it will be interesting to see how she continues what are now two series. Alex Gilly’s debut novel “Devil’s Harbor” comes out in June and features a pair of Marine Interdiction Agents for Customs and Border Protection who hunt for drug smugglers, human traffickers, and other criminals in the waters off Southern California. “The Devil’s Making” by Sean Haldane comes out in the U.S. in May. In Victorian Colonial North America, English policeman Chad Hobbes must solve the murder of American alienist Dr. McCrory who seemed to be keeping a lot of secrets. Duncan Jepson’s new Alex Soong series comes out in June in the U.S. In “Emperors Once More” Soong is a Hong Kong detective who catches the killing of two Chinese Methodist ministers on the eve of a crisis summit for world economic leaders.

Reading right now:

            “The Stranger” by Harlan Coben. After being told a devastating secret about his wife from a stranger, Adam Price’s perfect life is shattered and his wife disappears. Trying to find her leads to others whose lives have been damaged by secrets that an unknown adversary knows and sometimes tells. I enjoyed this interesting novel about secrets told and secrets kept, but perhaps not as much as I have enjoyed Coben’s other books. No matter what Coben is always worth reading.

On hold right now:

“Sing a Worried Song” by William Deverall. This is the sixth book in the Arthur Beauchamp legal series set in Vancouver. Deverall is a trail lawyer, journalist, and created the CBC television series “Street Legal.” His new novel in this series starts with a 1987 trial where Beauchamp prosecuted a young man who supposedly murdered a clown and moves forward to the present when Beauchamp comes out of retirement to defend a local character who is arrested for marijuana trafficking. Unfortunately for Beauchamp, at the same time, the convicted clown killer he put away is out on parole and out to get him.

Other Mysterious Things:

A number of great historical mysteries were released this month. Starting with “The Masque of a Murderer” by Susanna Calkins. This is the third in the Lucy Campion mystery series set in London in 1667 revolving around a Printer’s apprentice. Alex Grecian’s “The Devil’s Workshop” is the third book in the Murder Squad series which takes place in 1890s London. Available in the U.S. is Conor Brady’s “A June of Ordinary Murders” which is the first book in the Joe Swallow series set in Dublin in 1887. Bruce Holsinger’s “The Invention of Fire” is the second book in the John Gower series set in 14^th century London. The tenth book in the Bernie Gunther series by Philip Kerr is set in 1942 and called “The Lady from Zagreb.” 

Reading right now:

            “Someone is Watching” by Joy Fielding. Fielding has written at least 25 books and so many of her thrillers are all about women in jeopardy. While working on a case, PI Bailey Carpenter is attacked, raped, and nearly killed. After she returns home from the hospital, she is unable to cope with anything and finds herself staying at home and looking out the window. One day she notices that someone is looking back and starts to wonder if he was her assailant. Turning to the only person who supports her (her niece Jade), the two hatch a plot to find out the truth.

           

On hold right now:

            I am waiting anxiously for several books coming out soon from some of my favorite authors: “Memory Man” which is the beginning of a new series by David Baldacci, the 25^th book in the Lucas Davenport series by John Sandford comes out soon (“Gathering Prey”), “The Forgotten Room” which is the fourth book in the Dr. Jeremy Logan series by Lincoln Child, and finally a debut novel by Rocco Schiavone called “Black Run.” I cannot wait.

Other Mysterious Things:

            I have already mentioned that the Edgar Allan Poe Awards will be presented April 29, 2015. A few days later on May 2, the Agatha Awards will be presented. The nominees are:

Best Contemporary Novel:
The Good, The Bad and The Emus by Donna Andrews
A Demon Summer by G.M. Malliet
Truth Be Told by Hank Phillippi Ryan
The Long Way Home by Louise Penny
Designated Daughters by Margaret Maron 

Best Historical Novel:
Hunting Shadows by Charles Todd
An Unwilling Accomplice by Charles Todd
Wouldn't it Be Deadly by D.E. Ireland
Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen
Murder in Murray Hill by Victoria Thompson

Best First Novel:
Circle of Influence by Annette Dashofy
Tagged for Death by Sherry Harris
Finding Sky by Susan O'Brien
Well Read, Then Dead by Terrie Farley Moran
Murder Strikes a Pose by Tracy Weber

Reading right now:

            “Falling in Love” by Donna Leon. This is the 24^th in the Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery series. Opera singer Flavia Petrelli was featured in the very first book in this series and is now back and asking Brunetti to protect her from a dangerous stalker. Leon is an American living in Italy which makes her very assessable to American readers. Brunetti is a wonderful character and the books are full of humor. It’s difficult to maintain a series throughout the years, but Leon has continued to keep her series fresh and bringing back a character from her first novel is an idea that really works in “Falling in Love.”

On hold right now:

            “Duet in Beirut” by Mishka Ben-David. Ex-spy Mishka Ben-David brings a reality and emotional energy to his debut novel. It’s taken two years for this book to be translated into English and become available in the U.S. (April 14). It centers around a government-sanctioned hit on the Hezbollah leader who planned a failed car-bombing in Jerusalem.

Other Mysterious Things:

A fascinating number of mysteries are available that take place in other countries. These exotic locales can add a whole new dimension to our mystery reading. Books coming out in April include: “Game of Mirrors” by Andrea Camilleri (Italy), “The Arc of the Swallow” by S. J. Gazan (Scandinavia), “Viper” by Maurizio de Giovanni (Italy), “Cry Wolf” by Michael Gregorio (Italy), “Reykjavik Nights” by Arnaldur Indridason (Iceland), Stuart M. Kaminsky’s “Black Knight in Red Square” (Moscow), “Black Run” by Antonio Manzini (Italy), Liza Marklund’s “Borderline” (Sweden), Margaret Mazzantini’s “Rising Sea” (Italy), “Blood on the Snow” by Jo Nesbo (Norway), “The Sympathizer” by Viet Thanh Nguyen (debut novel, Vietnam War), Jan-Phillipp Sendker’s “Whispering Shadows” (a German living in Hong Kong helps a Chinese homicide detective investigate the murder of an American businessman), “Fallout” by Paul Thomas (Aukland), “The Children Return” by Martin Walker (France), and “You Will Never Find Me” by Robert Wilson (Madrid).

Reading right now:

            “Prudence” by Gail Carriger. You may wonder why I’m including a steampunk novel in my mystery blot, but since these books appeal to me I think that many of you may find them as fun to read as I do. “Prudence” is the first in a new series called the Custard Protocol series. While this book is a fantasy, it has many elements of mystery and suspense and could also appeal as a spy novel. Prudence is a rare creature who can steal the shape of vampires, werewolves, and other shapeshifters for a brief time. As an English representative, she travels to India in her dirigible to negotiate the importation of a new type of tea. Along the way, she uncovers a kidnapping, new types of shapeshifters, and stops a war. Carriger also wrote the very enjoyable Parasol Protectorate series. Carriger books feature strong, independent women with an interest in science. 

On hold right now:

            “Eighth Grave After Dark” by Darynda Jones. Coming out in May, this is the eighth book in the Charley Davidson series. This sexy paranormal series features PI and Grim Reaper Charley Davidson who now has to worry about solving the murder of a nun, twelve hellhounds who are out to destroy her, and why her demon husband is acting more strangely than ever. This action packed series is both funny and hot.

Other Mysterious Things:

There are a growing number of paranormal mysteries available. They include everything from ghosts, to zombies, werewolves, vampires, fairies, and much more. Jim Butcher’s 15 books in the Dresden Files series set the standard for the paranormal private investigator starting with “Storm Front” in 2000. His is a great series. Andrew Klavan’s new book “Werewolf Cop” is the first in the Zach Adams series about a cop who is turned into a beast, but continues to try to fight bad guys including the evil within him. Nicholas Kaufmann’s Dying is my Business series includes two books so far and are about a man who can’t be killed who is trying to fight evil. Children’s author Stefan Petrucha has written two adult books featuring recently dead Hessius Mann who is now working as a private investigator. Kevin J. Anderson’s zombie private investigator books gives the phrase cold case a new meaning. Carrie Patel’s new Buried Life series starts off when Inspector Liesl Malone investigates the murder of a renowned historian in the underground city of Recoletta.

 

Victoria Laurie’s books are cozies with a paranormal edge. She has two adult series right now: the Psychic eye series and the Ghost Hunter series. Both are well worth reading. The Psychic Eye series started with “Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye” and the 13^th book comes out in July. The Ghost Hunter series now has nine books available. Madelyn Alt is the author of the Bewitching mystery series where witches try to help solve mysteries. Dawn Eastman’s psychic ex-cop series adds a third book in April. This isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned paranormal mysteries and it won’t be the last! I find that once in a while a ghost, zombie, or werewolf adds some spice to the mystery genre.