A DOG AMONG DIPLOMATS by J. F. Englert (Dell)

Crime novels often require that the reader suspends disbelief for one reason or another. For instance, private investigators simply don't work on open murder investigations. Amateur sleuths rarely discover bodies. Animals don't talk.

Manhattan native Labrador Retriever Randolph doesn't talk. He communicates with his owner via Alpha-Bits cereal. He also reads and writes books, and he surfs the Web for clues to crime. In his second appearance, Randolph goes undercover at the U.N. as a therapy dog for a depressed diplomat. 

Beth says, "My dog is just as smart as Randolph, and I suspect that the cats alter the shopping lists. This is a fun read. I'm looking forward to another mystery with Randolph." 

GOODY GOODY GUNSHOTS by Sammi Carter (Berkley)

The fourth "candy shop mystery" set in the Colorado Rockies won't make you gain weight unless you indulge in the recipes at the end. In this outing, Divinity candy shop owner Abby Shaw witnesses a a man being gunned down, but there's no proof. Could a body that turns up days later possibly be related? Abby's got plenty to do running her store, training a new employee, and working with her nephew's basketball team, but she's always got time to ply her sleuthing skills. Interesting, well-drawn characters propel this well-paced story to the perfect ending.

--Beth Carroll

A New Reviewer is Heard…

We've all heard the phrase "so many books, so little time" often. I thought I'd have more time to read when I retired (I used to read about 250 mysteries a year), but I find I spend a lot of time now writing about books, talking about books, and getting ready to talk about books. Of course, I also spend considerable hours looking for books and other things I've misplaced. Recognizing my inability to keep up with all the reading I should do, I've begun asking friends to help out occasionally by sharing their thoughts.

Beth Carroll absolutely loves cozy mysteries. I've been loaning bags of them to her for years. She keeps a note in the bag explaining that "these books belong to Molly Weston" in case something happens and she doesn't get to return them. We laugh about that. Now, I've begun targeting new cozies that I think she'll like and she's agreed to let you know about them.

Welcome, Beth!

Harris & Kelner Updates

I just saw some great news on Publishers Lunch about two of my long-time mystery buddies:

"Charlaine Harris and Toni Kelner's Death's Excellent Vacation, an anthology crossing genres from the sci-fi/fantasy, mystery and paranormal genres, with each story revolving around death and a holiday, in the similar spirit of their earlier anthologies Many Bloody Returns (vampires and birthdays) and Wolfsbane & Mistletoe (werewolves and Christmas)…for publication in Spring 2010…"

and

"NYT bestselling author Charlaine Harris's Harper Connelly #4… for publication in Fall 2009."

It looks like the good times will keep rolling! Congratulations, gals!

SIBA Photos

I wasn't clever enough to get more photos placed where I wanted them in my SIBA report, so I'm sticking in a couple here.

On the left is Julia Spencer-Fleming; to the right is Charlaine Harris.

SIBA - Mobile, Alabama

I just got back from the Southeastern Independent Booksellers' Association (SIBA) meeting and trade show in Mobile, Alabama. It was a great show, as always, and I got to renew acquaintances with old friends and to meet a lot of new people.

On Friday, I gave a presentation to booksellers on marketing mysteries using lists from the library programs I've been doing over the years. We worked on ways to combine mysteries with mainstream titles and on planning tie-in events with outside agencies and businesses. 

After the marketing session, I moderated a thriller panel with four great authors, all of whom were new to me. What fun I had reading their books in preparation for the panel. It seems no matter how many books you read, you always miss somebody, and I had missed some good ones! The panelists were F. Paul Wilson, Erica Spindler, Kirk Curnutt, and Darden North. We had a good time, the authors related some great stories, and the folks in attendance asked insightful questions after the author presentations.

Wilson talked about his first book for young adults, Jack: Secret Histories. Repairman Jack adult fans will also grab this book because it tells the story of Jack as a teenager. He inscribed my copy, "Where it all begins."

Spindler's upcoming book, Breakneck, won't hit stores until January, but I can assure you it's a roller coaster ride from beginning to end! It's a totally current thriller dealing with computer hackers, identity theft, and ripping off the wrong person.

Breathing Out the Ghost, as you might expect from a college teacher was our literary thriller for the day. Curnutt explores the effects of  a missing child, not only upon his father, but the private detective hired to find the child. Not stopping there, he brings in other people who have suffered the same loss and parallels their stories.

Darden North, MD, writes what he knows: He's a practicing OB-GYN in Mississippi, and his third medical thriller, Fresh Frozen, explores new practices in fertility treatments. Because it's fiction, he takes the scenario a step further to include murder. 

We were all glad to see Julia Spencer-Fleming in the audience for our panel. She added some great marketing ideas for the booksellers.

I enjoyed seeing former mystery author, Susan McBride. Susan is now writing great books for the young adult market. Although she's as busy as ever, she still looks totally elegant! Her publisher, Random House, and Lily Pulitzer are sponsoring a great contest in conjunction with The Debs, which is in stores now. Details are in the back of the book and on Susan's website.

At the trade show on Sunday, one of the first familiar faces I saw was Charlaine Harris, who was totally excited about seven--count 'em--seven of her Sookie Stackhouse titles being on the NY Times Bestseller's List. Cathy Pickens was a blur at the elevator, but she took time to chat a moment about life and books. 

All in all, it was a great trip. I can't wait for next year's SIBA closer to home in Columbia, South Carolina.

THE CASE OF THE GREEDY LAWYERS by Carl Brookins (Nodin Press)

I'm a sucker for detectives who are throwbacks to the original hardboiled PIs—in fact, I stayed up late last night to watch a black and white Mike Hammer TV show. If the title of this one doesn't tip you off that this one would suit me, the cover artwork certainly would: a fedora-topped chisel-faced man, cigarette in mouth, stands in a dark alley.

Sean Sean narrates his story in the parlance of old, "You see, I'm a throwback. I'm passé, out of date, a lost cause. The world is no longer interested in me and my kind. I'm no longer needed. Or so they say." Thus, I was hooked on the first page.

Sean's cases are strictly contemporary, but his self-deprecating style reminds me of the 25¢ Pocket paperbacks I adored. The story is sound. The red herrings abound. But my favorite part of the book was the trip down memory lane.

Thank you, Carl Brookins, for taking me back!

PRODIGAL SON by Thomas B. Cavanagh (Thomas Dunne Books)

Now that retired police detective Mike Garrity's brain cancer is in remission, he realizes that he's got to get back in the work force. When he takes his teenaged daughter to the funeral of one of her classmates, the boy's father approaches him. "Victor didn't kill himself…He wouldn't. He didn't. I want you to find out what happened." Even without a PI license, Mike agrees to help the father.

Later that day, Mike meets Debbie Watson at his cancer support group. Debbie urges him to persue a job interview with a PI company. Surprisingly, the interview is quite short, culminating in "So, when can you start?" Mike's generous employment packages includes health insurance and a percentage of any work he brings to the company. When Debbie offers Mike another case, his new job looks even better.

As Mike starts working the two cases, he unravels more threads than he intended—and the threads lead to some very scary people. Add a Category 5 hurricane to the mix, and Mike is in 'way deeper than he ever invisioned. Fortunately, he gets support from a totally unexpected source. I look forward to more adventures with Mike Garrity!

STALKING SUSAN by Julie Kramer (Doubleday)

While investigative reporter Riley Spartz is recovering from heartbreak, her friend and police source hands her two homicide files which haunted him during his career. Garnett is retiring as a homicide detective. Both files concern young women named Susan who were murdered exactly one year apart.

Riley is desperate for a headline story—she's been on leave for three months— and she needs to be back on TV with a hard-hitting story. Unfortunately, her boss hands her some fluff pieces and gives them high priority, so Riley has to relegate the Susan files to the back burner. Just as the Susan stories begin to make sense, the fluff pieces take on a life of their own.

Stalking Susan is a great contemporary story about TV journalism told from an insiders' point of view. Kramer is a freelance TV news producer for NBC.

PAINT THE TOWN DEAD by Nancy Bell (Thomas Dunne Books)

I was a big fan of Bell's Biggie Weatherford series, mostly because I loved the voice. Now I'm a fan of the Judge Jackson Crain series mostly because I really like the characters and the way Bell includes the small Texas town as a character. Jackson, a widower with a teenaged daughter, is a close friend of Sheriff Gibs, who occasionally requests Jackson's sleuthing skills.

When a hotshot real estate tycoon is murdered, all eyes turn to his wife (whose money the deceased used to propel himself to wealth). Neither Jackson nor Gibbs is convinced of the widow's guilt, so Jackson probes deeper into the deceased former life—where he finds the glamorous evangelist, Sister McDermott.

While Jackson is busy solving the murder, life in Post Oak, Texas continues to evolve, introducing readers to delightful characters we'll want to get to know better.

THE GARDEN OF EVIL by David Hewson (Delacorte Press)

The back copy on the advanced reader's copy reeled me in: "Looming over the corpses is a haunting Caravaggio masterpiece…" What an opportunity for me—a modern thriller set in Rome with an opportunity to learn more about one of my favorite painters. 

A grisly murder scene leads Detective Nic Costa into a chase he'd much rather not make, one that leads to personal tragedy, to having to work outside police confines, and to confronting a society of wealthy aristocracy who have plunged into depravity. The Caravaggio painting is central to finding the answers to all Nic's questions. 

I found myself carrying this book with me from room to room until I'd finished!

SINGULARITY by Kahtryn Casey (St. Martin's Minotaur)

This debut thriller is everything I wanted: a protagonist I liked, a fast pace, and fair play from the author. Widowed mom Sarah Armstrong is a profiler for the Texas Rangers who faces antagonism from some local law enforcement officers and FBI personnel alike.

When a prominent businessman and his mistress are found murdered, Sarah suspects a serial killer, but the locals suspect the wife. Subsequent murders convince Sarah she's right, but there are enough differences that she can't convince her superiors. When Sarah becomes the target, her theory is proven—but is it too late?

I look forward to more from Casey, a former true crime writer.

Somebody Knows Your Mama (first printed in "Pomp and Circumstantial Evidence"

My husband and I made a two-week trip across the Deep South in May to visit daylily gardens and to attend the national daylily convention. As I planned our stops, I was reminded of an axiom familiar to everyone who grew up in the South (or probably in a small town anywhere else!): No matter where you go, somebody’s gonna know your mama!

Turns out, that is true in the world of mystery readers and writers, too. The first hint I got that I’d be in mystery company was when reading the list of gardens on the conference tour. One was in Alvin, Texas. A light bulb immediately flashed above my head—that’s the home of Bill Crider. If you’re not familiar with Bill’s Texas sagas (and he’s got several excellent series), you’re in for a reading good time. The garden was beautiful, but there wasn’t a mystery writer in sight. I was able though to get an opportunity to suggest his books to several gardeners.

Since our conference was held in Houston, I knew I’d absolutely have to make a pilgrimage to the bookstore Carolyn Hart used as a prototype for her wonderful Death on Demand series featuring Annie Darling. In fact, when I visited with Carolyn when she was in North Carolina in April, she reminded me to spend some time at Murder by the Book. Would you believe that Ben Rehder was speaking there the same night we were due to arrive in Houston? I had just finished reading and reviewing Holy Roller and was delighted to get the opportunity to meet him (and buy the early books in this hilarious down home series).

Ben Rehder was kind enough to pose for a photo with me.

I spent a couple of hours in the wonderful store, salivating over the huge selection of mysteries. Naturally I didn’t confine myself to buying just what was on my list. I knew they’d carry titles by Jimmie Ruth Evans aka Dean James. (He managed the store for many years.) I was right, and I thoroughly enjoyed Bring Your Own Poison, the latest entry in his Trailer Park series. I also bought several titles recommended by the knowledgeable staff. (I’m still working on reading that stack.) Noel just shook his head when I came out of the store. Could it be because I already had a huge tote bag stuffed with books to occupy me on the trip?

We really did have an unusually large number of books with us. I had offered to donate a mystery basket as an auction item for the conference. I arranged about twenty books, a cotton lap throw, assorted teas, and chocolate to tempt mystery readers— in a huge basket all tied up with crime scene tape. When Noel loaded the car, he awarded a spot in the back seat to the basket. (We had to put our bottled water in the trunk to assure the safety of the basket!)

As one always does at a national conference, we met people from all over the country. Often when I met someone, their name tag indicated they lived in a place where I knew a mystery writer or where a particular series is set. I didn’t find a soul who knew the writer in question, but I always assured them they would enjoy reading the author. Several actually took notes! When I saw someone from New Iberia, Louisiana, I merely said to her, “James Robichaux country.” She nodded her head enthusiastically.

When we rode by a Mississippi River levee, I was reminded of the wonderful mysteries set just after Hurricane Katrina. As we drove through Mississippi, Noel commented on the canals diverting water for barges for casinos. That reminded me of the library in Tunica where I gave a library talk on southern writers, “Sweet Tea and Murder.” One of the authors I featured was Charlaine Harris. Several of the ladies in the group said as one, “Tunica is her hometown!” Charlaine knows that wherever she goes, somebody’s gonna know her mama!

As we rode through Birmingham, Alabama, I craned my neck to see the statue of Vulcan that Anne George often mentioned in her Southern Sisters mysteries. I didn’t see him, but I relived many happy hours spent with the delightful Patricia Anne Hollowell and Mary Alice Crane. Going through Atlanta always recalls the work of Kathy Hogan Trocheck (and her new pseudonym, Mary Kay Andrews) and Patricia Sprinkle.

Surely the world of mystery is populated with folks I know and love—and I’d be proud to introduce them all to my mama!

MACAVITY NOMINEES

Mystery Readers International (Mystery Readers Journal) announces the Macavity Award nominations for works published in 2007. The awards will be presented during opening ceremonies at Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention (Baltimore, October 2008).

For more information on the Macavity Award, go to: http://www.mysteryreaders.org/macavity.html or contact: Janet Rudolph at janet@mysteryreaders.org

Best Mystery Novel
o Soul Patch by Reed Farrel Coleman (Bleak House)
o The Unquiet by John Connolly (Hodder & Stoughton*/Atria)
o Blood of Paradise by David Corbett (Ballantine Mortalis)
o Water Like a Stone by Deborah Crombie (HarperCollins)
o What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman (Morrow)

Best First Mystery
o In the Woods by Tana French (Hodder & Stoughton*/Viking)
o Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill (William Morrow)
o The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz (Simon & Schuster)
o Stealing the Dragon by Tim Maleeny (Midnight Ink)
o The Collaborator of Bethlehem by Matt Beynon Rees (Soho)

Best Mystery Short Story
o "A Rat's Tale" by Donna Andrews (EQMM, Sep-Oct 2007)
o "Please Watch Your Step" by Rhys Bowen (The Strand Magazine, Spring 2007)
o "The Missing Elevator Puzzle" by Jon L. Breen (EQMM, Feb 2007)
o "Brimstone P.I." by Beverle Graves Myers (AHMM, May 2007)
o "The Old Wife's Tale" by Gillian Roberts (EQMM, Mar-Apr 2007)

Best Mystery Non-Fiction
o Rough Guide to Crime Fiction by Barry Forshaw (Penguin Rough Guides)
o Chester Gould: A Daughter's Biography of the Creator of Dick Tracy by Jean Gould O'Connell (McFarland & Company)
o Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters, edited by Jon Lellenberg, Daniel Stashower & Charles Foley (HarperPress*/Penguin)
o Police Procedure and Investigation: A Guide for Writers by Lee Lofland (Howdunit Series, Writers Digest Books)
o The Essential Mystery Lists: For Readers, Collectors, and Librarians, compiled and edited by Roger Sobin (Poisoned Pen Press)

Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery
o Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen (Penguin)
o Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin (Putnam)
o The Snake Stone by Jason Goodwin (Faber & Faber*/ Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
o Consequences of Sin by Clare Langley-Hawthorne (Viking*/Penguin)
o The Gravediggers Daughter by Joyce Carol Oates (HarperCollins Ecco)

*UK publisher (first edition)

2008 NERO AWARD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

The "Nero" is an annual award presented to an author for literary excellence in the mystery genre. The award is presented at the Black Orchid Banquet, which is traditionally held on the first Saturday in December in New York City.

This year, the finalists are:

GLASS HOUSES Jane Haddam, St. Martins Minotaur

BURNT HOUSES Faye Kellerman, Harper

IN THIS RAIN S. J. Rozan, Delta

ANATOMY OF FEAR Jonathan Santlofer, Harper

IN SECRET SERVICE Mitch Silver, Pocket Star

MURDER IN MINIATURE by Margaret Grace (Berkley Prime Crime)

Crafters will enjoy this look at the world of miniature. Geraldine Porter is chairwoman of her local dollhouse and miniatures fair. As often happens with retirees, the date of the fair corresponds with a visit from her young granddaughter. As if the two weren't enough, her friend Linda, whose exhibit adjoins Geri's, disappears on the first day of the fair. Linda seems to carry around a trouble magnet, so no one is surprised that her adopted son and n'er-do-well ex-husband are both on the scene. As Geri tries to help her friend, her investigations are hampered by trying to keep her granddaughter safe, threats on her own life, and her nephew, who just happens to be investigating the murder which may be connected to Linda's disappearance.

I SHALL NOT WANT by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Thomas Dunne Books)

The continuing saga of Episcopal priest Clare Ferguson and Police Chief Russ Van Alstayne improves with every outing. That said, I encourage new readers to begin at the first of the series and enjoy the journey. I SHALL NOT WANT begins with a flashback of a rookie policewoman at a bloody shootout which ensnares the reader and holds on until the book is finished.

Clare has become involved with working with Latino migrant workers and the farmers to whom they are essential. Conflict arises with people who assert the migrants are taking work away from US citizens.

As always, Spencer-Fleming allows bad things to happen to good people and forces her protagonists to look at all sides of a situation. Again, thhe relationship between Clare and Russ colors the situations and the way they make decisions.

The publishers consider this a "breakout" novel. I agree.

Lunch with an Author - Sylva, NC

I just picked up this notice on the NC Writers' Network calendar. I wished I lived about 3 hours closer to the mountains!


New!!! LUNCH WITH AN AUTHOR: City Lights Bookstore hosts a lunchtime meet-the-author event with Vicki Lane, author of the mystery series featuring Elizabeth Goodweather on her Western North Carolina farm, most recently “In a Dark Season,” at 3 E. Jackson St., Sylva, noon. Call 828-586-9499.

DeKOK AND MURDER ON BLOOD MOUNTAIN by A. C. Baantjer (Speck Press)

When attending a funeral, Amsterdam Inspector DeKok sees a man at the cemetery who is supposed to have been dead for some time (it's not the guest of honor at the funeral!). Vledder, his young partner and friend thinks the gray sleuth is mistaken, but hearing reports of sightings of other presumed dead men, DeKok's certainty is confirmed. The subsequent investigation leads the two policemen to the notorious Bloedberg (Blood Mountain) area of Antwerp. Can it be that a religious order is connected to the reappearance of the dead?

Count me among the fans of the most widely read author in the Netherlands. Baantjer and DeKok are great!

HOLY MOLY by Ben Rehder (St. Martin's Minotaur)

Pick a controversial subject and Ben Rehder will lampoon it, all the while making those in each camp think he's making light of the other side. In his follow-up to Edgar finalist GUN SHY, Rehder takes on television evangelists, conservationists, and academia. The setting once again is Blanco County, Texas and the wild and wacky cast includes Game Warden John Marlin, Sheriff Bobby Garza, and everybody's favorite good ol' boys Red O'Brien and Billy Don Craddock.

The trouble begins when backhoe operator Hollis Farley unearths a dinosaur bone while excavating for construction of "Pastor Pete" Boothe's new megachurch on the banks of the Pedernales River. Murder, mayhem, and mirth leave just enough room for romance—John and Nicole Brooks are planning a wedding, and you'll never believe who else gets lucky.

I started this series late, but I can't wait to get to Texas next week and pick up the earlier books in the series. Y'all have fun now!

THE DIRTY SECRETS CLUB by Meg Gardiner (Dutton)

During a San Francisco earthquake two members of a secret club enact a stunt that becomes the beginning of disaster. Soon afterwards, police lieutenant Amy Tang calls forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett to a wreck to determine whether it was accident or suicide. Tang's concern is that similar events have ben recurring in 48-hour increments. The two women work frantically to determine who, why—and who's next. Jo's work is intensified when she becomes personally involved, both physically and emotionally.

Gardiner plays totally fair with the reader—the clues are there—but the twists are hidden. Fortunately, I began this one on Sunday afternoon, with plenty of time to reach the riveting climax before bedtime.

HOW TO WRITE KILLER HISTORICAL MYSTERIES by Kathy Lynn Emerson (Perseverance Press)

I knew Kathy was writing this book and I knew it would be good; but, I didn't know it would be THIS good! Kathy Emerson writes cracker-jack historical mysteries (two series), and she's sharing all her secrets in this short primer. Just glancing through the table of contents would help a novice writer avoid dangerous pitfalls—but the glancer would miss wonderful tidbits of information from some of the most widely-read historical mystery writers. Emerson doesn't limit her suggestions to her own; she's solicited input from writers, booksellers, reviewers, and readers. Her points are valid from multiple views.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who is considering writing mysteries (whether historical or not) or historicals (whether mysteries or not).

COUNT TO TEN by Karen Rose (Grand Central Publishing)

I don't usually review books by bestselling authors--I figure they're too easy to find, but Rose's publicist did a good job of follow-up with me, so I promised to read this one and give it a chance. Boy, I'm glad I did!

Arson investigator Lt. Reed Solliday isn't too happy with being teamed with brash, bossy Det. Mia Mitchell, but the rash of house fires has just accelerated into homicide. There's an obvious thread among the crimes, and Sully and Mia must define it before they can identify the perp. Even as the two make headway on their investigations (and their relationship) the crimes become more violent—and personal.

Rose really knows how to plot a page-turner! You'll find yourself looking over your shoulder as you read by the midnight oil.

THE MERCY OAK by Kathryn Wall (St. Martin's Minotaur)

I knew my cousin Ann Schafran was a big fan of Kathryn Wall, so I asked her to review this one for you. Here's her assessment:

Spring is my favorite time of the year. I love it because the long dark days of winter are gone, trees and flowers begin to bloom and leaf, and Kathryn Wall publishes another Bay Tanner mystery. Since reading her first book, I have become addicted. I love the thrill of the mystery and the way she weaves two or more into her books. I also lover Hilton Head Island, so I thoroughly enjoy reading about places I know and enjoy visiting.

In this outing, Bay is faced with a mystery that has touched very close to home—her very much loved housekeeper and her family are involved. While trying to find out what happened in a hit and run, Bay deals with an immigration problem, several holdups, the disappearance of her housekeeper and her family and even finds herself in danger along with her father’s longtime housekeeper Lavinia.

She has also found a stronger liking for Red, the deputy sheriff and the brother of her deceased husband. By the end of the book, all problems have been solved to the satisfaction of the reader; and, Bay, along with the Sheriff’s Department has solved the crimes.

EVEN CAT SITTERS GET THE BLUES by Blaize Clement (Thomas Dunne)

Don't let the turquoise cover with the cute cat picture scare you off reading this! Dixie Hemingway IS a pet sitter, and she does get around her barrier island home on a bicycle. BUT when the first sentence in a book is "Christmas was coming, and I had killed a man," you can put your money down that it's not going to be a light-weight cozy. It's a cozy, but it's got real murder, real drama, and an imaginative story line.

An ex-homicide cop, Dixie is burned out on dealing with dead bodies and crime, so she neglects to report the body of a dead man while she's out on her pet-sitting rounds. Naturally, she's seen and tied to the crime. Did I mention that the body was at the home of her newest client or that the client has a mystery of his own?

I look forward to my next visit to Florida to spend time with Dixie!

EASY INNOCENCE by Libby Fischer Hellmann (Bleak House)

There's a new female PI in Chicago! Suspended cop Georgia Davis isn't afraid of a challenge. When a mentally retarded man is about to be railroaded for the murder of a beautiful high school girl, Georgia signs on to help, even though his attorney is ready to accept a plea bargain. There's plenty rotten in the case—and it's not just the fish guts that make two cameo appearances. From dirty politics to lazy cops to teenage hazing, this case is bad from beginning to end. Georgia Davis, however, is one tough cookie, and she's not about to let a little personal danger (well, a lot of personal danger) deter her from following her leads. Welcome, Georgia Davis, to the world of crime fiction!

THE ANATONISTS by Hal McDonald (Harper)

McDonald pays homage to the great one and his chronicler in this tale of two medical students in Victorian London. Forced to apply to a "ressurectionist" for a body to complete their anatomy studies, Edward Montague (Watson) and Jean-Claude Legard (Holmes) find themselves compelled to solve a crime before they can perform an autopsy—and before their medical school is brought down for sanctioning grave-robbing. Sit back and enjoy the game!

McDonald is the winner of the truTV "Search for the Next Great Crime Writer" and a professor of English at Mars Hill College in North Carolina. I was delighted that McDonald bestowed encomium without writing a pastiche.

DEATH WILL GET YOU SOBER by Elizabeth Zelvin (Thomas Dunne)

You guessed it! The protagonist in this book is drying out in rehab. There's a lot of death going on--first Bruce stumbles on a body in the laundry room and then his new friend dies in front of him. And they're just the first two! Fortunately, Bruce has a strong support team--Jimmy, his best friend from childhood (also a recovering alcoholic) and Jimmy's girlfriend Barbara who's a counselor. There are plenty of deaths for the team to investigate, and Bruce quickly realizes that he will have to stay sober to keep hold of all the threads.

This first Zelvin outing is filled with compelling characters and a solid story line even if a bit overladen with twelve-step rules. I look forward to future adventures with Bruce, Jimmy, and Barbara.

SLEEPING DOGS by Ed Gorman (Thomas Dunne Books)

What could be more appropriate at this time than a political whodunnit? Dev Conrad is a political consultant who admires the policies of his candidate while abhorring the man. Dev was hired to run Sen. Warren Nichols' reelection campaign after the former manager's suicide. All of Dev's resources are called to the front when Warren collapses at a televised debate. Gorman skillfully weaves reality into his fast-paced story filled with warm fuzzy and truly sleezy characters. This one could be, almost literally, "ripped from the headlines."

SLEIGHT OF HAND by Robin Hathaway (Thomas Dunne Books)

This Agatha winner just gets better and better! In her third outing, Dr. Jo Banks interrupts a country bike ride to investigate a sound from her childhood: the hum of an old printing press. The printer is surprised by her visit and catches his hand in the press. He refuses to go to the hospital and insists that Jo treat him in his home. Guilt overwhelms her, so she also provides follow-up treatment. She soon becomes entangled with the printer, his child-like daughter, and the woman who mysteriously abandoned them.

The story is engrossing, the characters compelling, and the read delightful.

THE KILLING ROOM by Peter May (Thomas Dunne)

Autopsies are considered gruesome for most of us, but 18 bodies in a mass grave in Shanghai chill even the professionals—these bodies appear to have been autopsied while alive. The grisly murders appear tied to an unsolved case in Beijing, so the whole mess becomes the responsibility of Beijing Detective Li Yan. He calls for the help of his estranged lover, American pathologist Margaret Campbell and the hunt is on. If the case were not difficult enough, the young deputy head of Shanghai's serious crime squad sets her eyes on Li, Margaret is just back from burying her father, and Li's young niece is kidnapped.

This was my first Peter May read, but it certainly won't be my last! I enjoyed the portrayal of China and its customs and being with characters who, while flawed, are good people performing badly under pressure.

GUN SHY by Donna Ball (Signet)

If you like dogs, mysteries, and stories set in the North Carolina mountains, you'll like this one. Raine Stockton has many parts: kennel owner, consultant for the Forest Service, dog trainer for search and rescue operations, wife, and full-time dog lover. Her two-time marriage with Deputy Sheriff Buck is loose, but ardent during on-again times, and that relationship is one reason she is called into emergencies for search and rescue operations. She is now called to resuce a trapped and wild-with-terror dog who's ferociously barking in a remote and unused cabin. If she can't help this Labrador Retriever, he will need to be shot. He's frantic because the body of his murdered mistress is in the bedroom of the cabin and the dog has been in there for several days. Dog lovers will understand the depth of this dog's pain and suffering.

The plot in this mystery is good with a surprise ending that couldn't be imagined. The labyrinthine trail to owner's identity is interesting. While superbly trained, the dog is understandably gun shy. The cast of characters in this small town is interesting, the plot is good, and the descriptions of the mountains during peak leaf season is great. This is a quick, satisfying read-especially on a cold North Carolina day.

--Diane Esterly

FRIEND OF THE DEVIL by Peter Robinson (William Morrow)

Although DCI Alan Banks and DI Annie Cabbot are no longer a couple, they're still tied together through their work, even when Annie is out on loan to another area. Annie's challenge is the murder of a quadriplegic in a wheelchair. Banks is faced with the brutal rape and murder of a teenager. Normally these cases wouldn't overlap, based on type of crime and divergent locations; however, Robinson is a master at intertwining story lines, so even without the jacket copy, the reader knows to pay attention.

I particularly like the way Robinson uses different formats in his writing. No one can ever accuse him of writing the same book over and over. This one had me finding excuses to eat alone in order to read!

STATE OF THE ONION by Julie Hyzy (Berkley)

Ok, it IS another culinary mystery—but this one is something more. Olivia "Ollie" Paras is an assistant chef at the White House, and in the running for executive chef. Along with Ollie, the reader meets the president and first lady, members of the Secret Service, and international terrorists. The story is current, edgy, and laden with calories—the kitchen staff is preparing for a state dinner. Did I mention that Ollie's competition for the new position is a cooking show star? Onion is a worthy entry to the ranks of engrossing cozies.

CONSEQUENCES OF SIN by Clare Langley-Hawthorne (Penguin)

All modern women need to be reminded now and again of the women who came before us--those who lobbied for women's rights. Ursula Marlow is a daughter of privilege in 1910 London, but she's also Oxford educated and a member of the Women's Social and Political Union. When she gets a middle-of-the-night phone call from a WSPU friend, she knows it's trouble. Finding the naked body of one's lover in one's bed is indeed trouble. Ursula does the only thing she can think of that will help Freddie--she calls in her father's business advisor and King's Counsel Lord Oliver Wrotham. Just getting an attorney doesn't help Freddie because Ursula is the only one who believes her friend is innocent. Ursula's fight to free Freddie takes her on an arduous adventure which brings to light wrongs from long ago and twisted relationships that continue over time. Overlaying the contorted mystery is the enormous struggle for women's rights.

Readers who enjoyed Miriam Grace Monfredo's series tracing the US women's rights movement from the Senecca Falls conference will relish Langley-Hawthorne's work.

PEPPERMINT TWISTED by Sammi Carter (Berkley Prime Crime)

Of all people, I should know better than to judge a book by its cover. Sometimes, though, I have to be reminded. Seeing a wagon made of candy, filled with candy, and the words "recipes inclulded" on the front, I thought this one would be mostly fluff. Instead I found a solid cozy mystery that was well written and thoroughly enjoyable.

Anyone who's ever been involved with a volunteer event will empathize with Paradise, Colorado's local artist guild when wealthy Felicity Asbury manages to get herself named director of the annual arts festival, replacing a dedicated, well-organized volunteer. As expected, Felicity throws her weight around and chaos ensues, followed by murder. Candy shop owner Abby Shaw finds herself not only more involved with the festival than she'd planned, but also a prime murder suspect.

Bonus: The recipes appear to be simple and tasty.

MURDER IN GOTHAM by Isidore Haiblum

This fun, fast-paced PI mystery is a throwback to the hardboilded thrillers I devoured from the 1950s.Haiblum puts in his own twists--Weiss, his likeable PI is Jewish, and his characters' speech patterns are straight from Damon Runyon. The mystery is clever, the people likeable, and the chapter headings from "The Casebooks of Morris Weiss" are not to be skipped. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Gotham!

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES by Maggie Barbieri (St. Martin's Minataur)

For a small Catholic college English professor, Alison Bergon has a lot of murder and mayhem in her life. In her first outing(Murder 101), she was suspected of murder. This time, she finds a victim in her kitchen, another in her neighbor's yard, and there's a mob boss popping up all over the place. Her boyfriend is not-quite divorced; her best friend, the priest, is trying to fix her up with his brother; and her next-door neighbor had an affair with Alison's husband. Did I mention the elderly deli owner who's got a crush on her?

Barbieri is writing mysterious chick lit at its best. You'll see why I sat up 'way too late finishing this one.

DYING TO BE THIN by kathryn Lilley (Obsidian Mystery)

In the first "Fat City" mystery, young Kate Gallagher comes to Durham NC to change her life. She's just out of a job (even having won an award as a TV producer; she's without a boyfriend; and she's up 50 pounds. She's investing part of her severance pay into a live-in diet program, and she's convinced a local TV station to let her do an ongoing segment about her progress on the air. Her plans change almost as soon as she checks in--not only does she find the director's body, but she realizes that there are many inconsistencies within the program. I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced romp through the world of weight loss and local TV programming.

STRING OF LIES by Mary Ellen Hughes (Berkley Prime Crime)

The second in the "Craft Corner" mysteries was just as enjoyable as the first (Wreath of Deception). When local developer Parker Holt begins buying up small businesses on her street, craft store owner Jo McAllister has reason to be concerned. Her worries escalate when her dear friend and husband of her best friend is the prime suspect in Parker's murder. Once again Jo galvanizes her customer-friends in her beading class to ferret out clues which will clear Dan's name.

I like Jo and her friends.The mystery is reasonable, with fair clues, and the tips on beading add color to the pages. I'd recommend this series to any cozy-reading crafter.

SONNETS by Robert K. Brown (Brown Books Publishing Group)

A small college town newspaper holds a poetry contest. The first week's winner is a sonnet. Turns out the poem is the clue to a murder victim. Subsequent poems arrive at the paper entirely too fast. Folks in this Georgia town aren't ready for a serial murderer. A young English professor at the college has recently published a volume of—sonnets. Is he an expert in deciphering the clues or a suspect? Brown leads his reader on a gruesome chase that twists, turns, and cleverly misleads.

This first mystery is a real page-turner. I've recommended it every time I've spoken to a group.

Senior Sleuths Handout

I posted an invalid link to my "Senior Sleuths" handout for a library program. I'm sorry for the inconvenience it caused. I emailed the pdf file to everyone who let me know about the problem, but I hope others will still be interested. Anyway, I'm reposting a corrected link.
Download PDF here

LITTLE FAITH by Michael Simon (Penguin)

Austin, Texas had a lot happening in 1995. A former child star turned porn actress is murdered. A 13-year-old boy runs away from his foster home. The new governor is a man who helped bankrupt an oil CEO who is now forced to be just the husband of an ardent pro-lifer whose preacher said of her, "The church's resources come from God. But…Mrs. Wade signs his checks." And. The Austin Police Department has a huge banquet to announce promotions. Dan Reles knows he should be promoted to lieutenant, but as the only Jew on the force (and a loose cannon to boot), he's not surprised when he doesn't hear his name called. Dan doesn't have long to worry about his rank--especially when his home life changes quickly, he's assigned a new partner, and he's suspected of murder.

This is a fast-paced police procedural which exposes the bad side of several strata of society. Block out some time to finish this one.

THE ALEHOUSE MURDERS by Maureen Ash (Berkley)

I thought I was burned out on Templar Knight mysteries, but Ash proved me wrong. This book isn't about far-fetched conspiracies; rather, it's a good, old-fashioned mystery featuring Bascot de Marins, a Templar Knight who is recovering from wounds suffered during and escape from imprisonment by the Saracens. Just before a midsummer fair is to begin, an woman discovers four bodies in the alehouse. Lady Nicolaa de la Haye, wife of the sheriff and owner of Lincoln Castle charges de Marins with solving the crime. Before he can finish his initial inquiries, a priest is stabbed. Then, nearly every time new evidence is uncovered, a new murder complicates the puzzle.

The gentle history lessons about life in thirteenth century England are skillfully wrapped in an excellent mystery. I look forward to more from Maureen Ash!

CASHED IN by Jackie Chance (Berkley)

After becoming an instant Texas Hold 'Em winner, Belinda Cooley splurges on a gambling cruise for herself, her new man, her twin brother, and her parents. Her recent win in Vegas awarded her a free buy in for the "Sea Gambler's" tournament, but she'd have been much better off going to Disney! Things start to go wrong even before she gets to her cabin: Her lover is a no show, her girl crazy brother surrounds himself with sweet young things, and her mother starts talking (loudly!). When champion poker players start disappearing, things get crazy fast.

Chance does a good job of identifying the huge cast of characters so the reader doesn't spend much time thinking about who is who. Poker players and light cozy fans should have fun with this light-hearted series.

IN COLD PURSUIT by Sarah Andrews (St. Martin's)

Nobody every said I can't take a hint. My friend Diane Esterly has told me several times that Sarah Andrews is one of her favorite authors. When this new book arrived in my mailbox, I asked Diane to tell you about it. She was happy to comply. I know you'll enjoy what she says.

Andrews has written another mystery, but with a new sleuth. Valena Walker is an acquaintance of Em Hansen. I happen to an Em Hansen fan, but I found Valena to be a worthy successor. The setting of this mystery is Antarctica. My dislike of frigid weather, notwithstanding, I found myself fascinated by her account of this severe and strange land. As usual, the author has admirably combined education and entertainment. There is no mistaking her intent to teach. Her passion for geology and teaching is evident, and her research for this book is thorough. She combines science, suspense and female sleuthing easily and has a style that is compelling, even when your natural curiosity does not include either the setting or the content. I was fascinated by the information she conveyed about glaciology and geology and their relevance to current issues such as global warming, politics, overpopulation, and our consumeristic lifestyle which uses fossil fuels at an alarming rate despite scientific evidence that it is depleting the earth’s resources. Most fascinating was the amount and kind of information that can be gathered from this frigid land and her glaciers. Her main character again reveals the author’s interest in women who are struggling with their non-conformist lives at the fringe, their struggles to come to terms with themselves, and their innate strength and intelligence which eventually overcome their inner doubts.

Sarah Andrews is a woman of integrity and her books show her to be passionate about her interests and field of knowledge, geology. All of her books have this mark of integrity, but this latest one is most compelling. She describes “the last continent” as painfully, astonishingly, joyously, and severely beautiful. Her descriptions ring true and this book, like the author, is authentic and powerful.
--Diane Esterly

GUN SHY by Ben Rehder

I wouldn't have thought it could be done. Ben Rehder pokes fun at both sides of the gun control issue while spinning a first-rate crime story. The National Weapons Alliance is holding a rally at country crooner Mitch Campbell's Texas ranch this coming weekend. That is, if all the outside forces don't combine to make a hilarious mishmash of the event: Mitch Campbell isn't really Mitch Campbell. Dale Stubbs, director of the NWA, has something going on the side. There's a dead Mexican immigrant to explain. And then there's the team of good ol' boys who just want a little recognition. Blano County, Texas is the place you'll want to be this summer. I surely enjoyed my trip!

THE CHOCOLATE JEWEL CASE by Joanna Carl (Signet)

It's now a well-known fact: Chocolate is good for you. Personal study (I've read the entire series) has shown that reading Carl's delightful chocolate-themed mysteries provides everything necessary for a well-crafted cozy. Lee and Joe should be on their honeymoon at a cool resort; instead, they're in the middle of remodeling a house during a Michigan heat wave, hosting several house guests, and dealing with business crises. To add more tension to the situation, a man turns up claiming to be Joe's dad (presumed dead for 30 years), Lee and Joe are dinner guests where the entertainment is a major jewel robbery, and one of the house guests is a prime suspect for murder. The metaphor must be made--the "chocoholic mysteries" offer a delightful sampler of crime fiction at its best.

DIARY OF A SERIAL KILLER by Ed Gaffney (Dell)

Ed Gaffney always puts defense attorneys Zack Wilson and Terry Tallach in untenable positions--they just have a knack for having the wrong clients. Even Zack acknowledges it this time when he admits to Terry this one "might be something of a challenge." It is, in fact, a petition for a retrial of a convicted serial killer who's been requesting a retrial for nearly 20 years. A recent killing nearly identical to the earlier crimes has convinced a bar association committee that the request has merit. You don't need me to tell you that our intrepid team will take the case. The reader soon follows not only the defense team and the police, but also the killer as he stalks future victims. I don't usually like to see the killer's viewpoint nor attend the crime, but I was mesmerized. Put Ed Gaffney on your list of "must read" legal thrillers. I certainly have.

REDUCED CIRCUMSTANCES by Vincent H. O'Neil (Thomas Dunne Books)

Winning the St. Martin's Press/Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Contest may turn suspense and thriller readers away from O'Neil's works, but they'll be missing a bang-up read! O'Neil proves that gratuitous sex and foul language aren't essential to a compelling thriller. Frank Cole is facing bankruptcy after his high-tech business failed. He's living under the radar in Florida, working as a taxi dispatcher at night and a computer fact checker by day. When a young boy who flagged down a Midnight Taxi near a hotel drug bust disappears, things start happening fast and Frank's visitor list explodes—from a sexy teenage girl to a couple of thugs to a private investigator to the godfather of the Southern mafia. Cole is definitely a sleuth who uses his brain. I look forward to visiting the Florida Panhandle again--from the comfort of my easy chair.

THE CLIFF HOUSE STRANGLER by Shirley Tallman (St. Martin's Minotaur)

Sarah Woolson faces a severe challenge. 19th century San Francisco simply isn't ready to embrace a female attorney. Her brother faces a totally different challenge: The son of a well-to-do judge has to keep his occupation secret—he's an investigative journalist writing under a pseudonym. When Sarah attends a seancé to gather information for a story for Samuel, she gets more than either of them had planned. A murder at the spooky Cliff House not only brings clients to her law practice, but repercussions from the crime involve their family in political scandal. Tallman brings a different outlook to a familiar 19th century theme. I look forward to more visits with Sarah Woolson.

MURDER ON THE MENU by Miranda Bliss (Berkley)

The "cooking class" mysteries are fun, light, well-plotted reads for culinary lovers. Nose-to-the-grindstone Annie and drop-dead-gorgeous Eve make a great pair of amateur detectives as they join forces to help their former cooking school teacher make a go of his new restaurant. In this second outing, the two discover a body which the police assume is suicide. The friends, however, believe differently, and set out to prove it. Washington politics, tempting restaurant fare, and a well-plotted mystery make this paperback original essential in beach bags and travel carry-ons. There's an added bonus: recipes for a full-course gourmet meal are included at the back.

SAFE AND SOUND by J. D. Rhoades (St. Martin's Minotaur)

Bounty hunter Jack Keller is totally goal oriented. While this dedication makes him the best in the business, it frequently interferes with his personal relationships. A missing child—the daughter of an AWOL member of the Army's Delta Force—claims his focus as strongly as a bail jumper. The resulting chase leads him to the mountains of North Carolina and into combat with hit men worthy of 007. Body count is high, but psychological damage may be even higher, not only for Keller, but for those closest to him. If you think you're having a bad day, spending a few hours with Jack Keller will make you reconsider. Don't start this book at bedtime!

Culinary Mystery List

A discussion on Dorothy-L about culinary mysteries prompted me to offer to share the handout sheet I gave to folks who attended my "Cooking Up Murder" lecture at a local library. As promised, here's the link to the PDF. I hope you find some new authors.


Download PDF here

BRUSH WITH DEATH by Hailey Lind (Signet Mystery)

This delightful "Art Lover's Mystery" series will have a wide audience even beyond the art world. Annie Kincaid is a talented artist who's outside the realm of respectibility--partly because of her own talent and partly because her grandfather is a world famous forger. Annie's trying to stay on the straight and narrow, but her faux finishing business just doesn't bring in enough capital. When an opportunity for a profitable job arises, she has to take it, even if it is in a columbarium adjacent to a graveyard. Grave robbers, suspicious suicides, and a missing Old Master provide the framework for a crackerjack mystery. A hunky art thief, a drop-dead goodlooking security expert, and an unscrupulous developer add romance and suspense. Quirky sidekicks and genuinely likeable cameo characters "kick things up a notch." Finally, there's Annie, a hard worker who frequently finds herself between a rock and a hard place. BRUSH WITH DEATH not only escapes the dreaded third book curse, it is surely the best yet! Hailey Lind is a must read.

DEATH AT THE OLD HOTEL by Con Lehane (Thomas Dunne Books)

Serendipitity plays a big part in my life. On the same day I received an early copy of DEATH AT THE OLD HOTEL by Con Lehane, I got an email from Rene Martin at Quail Ridge Books asking if I'd like to introduce him when he came to the store. I'm so glad of this opportunity. Con will be at the store on Tuesday, June 19, at 7:00.

Con's protagonist is Brian McNulty, a bartender in NYC. The hotel where Brian works is old, and the workers are not adequately represented by their union. After a strike begins, murders ensue, a baby is kidnapped, mobsters intervene, and the IRA extends its reach.

Lehane knows his characters well, and so will his readers. This third book in the series will have you begging for more.

OLD WOUNDS by Vicki Lane (Dell Mystery)

Vicki Lane doesn't churn out four books a year; rather, she writes carefully worded Southern sagas that pull the reader into the lives of her characters in the manner of Lee Smith. In this outing, Elizabeth Goodweather is about to put widowhood in her past; she's ready to begin a new relationship. Her daughter Rosemary changes that when she is compelled to investigate the sudden disappearance of her childhood friend more than 20 years ago. Once again Lane explores the lives of people who keep their own council--Cherokee and Appalachian mountain folk. OLD WOUNDS is not just a cracking good mystery; it's a worthy piece of Southern literature. If you can't visit the North Carolina mountains in person, enjoy this literary journey.

FORESTS OF THE NIGHT by David Stuart Davies (Thomas Dunne Books)

When London policeman John Hawke volunteered for duty during World War II, he dreamed of serving his country. He never considered the possibility of being wounded during training, losing an eye, and, consequently losing his ability both to serve his country and to return to his profession. Chosing to make virtual lemonade from life's lemons, he sets up as a private investigator. A job investigating the disappearance of a young woman offers an opportunity to prove his skills in his chosen profession. A chance meeting with a runaway boy awakens him to his humanity. More Johnny Hawke, please!

THE STAR by David Skibbins (Thomas Dunne Books)

What's an aging hippie to do? After being underground since 1970, Warren Ritter is still trying to keep a low profile in Berkeley. But when the daughter he never knew he had until this year asks for help, he knows he has to be there for her. After all, her underlying problem, bipolar disorder, is his problem too. Fran's marriage to a police officer is going down the tubes, and Orrin is trying to get custody of six-month-old Justin. Warren pulls out all the stops in his efforts to help Fran—including allowing his therapist to drive his prized Aprilia motorcycle. When I saw "A Tarot Card Mystery" on the front cover, I was skeptical. Once I met Warren, I was in for the ride. Now I'm going back to the bookstore to find EIGHT OF SWORDS and HIGH PRIESTESS.

So many books, so little time!

THE BLIGHT WAY & AVALANCHE by Patrick McManus (Simon & Schuster)

Stuck in a doctor's waiting room about 20 years ago, I idly leafed through a "Field and Stream" magazine trying to find something to fill the time. An article's title struck me as vaguely funny, so I began reading. In that few moments, I was hooked. I wrote the name Patrick F. McManus in my Palm Pilot and began searching for anything he had written. I devoured every book of outdoor essays and read them aloud to anyone who would listen.

Later, I drove an hour to hear him speak at a booksigning. The store was packed. He was an hour late but nobody left. We knew, from reading his books, that he'd probably gotten lost.

When I learned he'd moved on to write mysteries, I immediately ordered them from Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh. Meeting Sheriff Bo Tully was much like being introduced to an old friend. Once again, I reveled in being in the wild Rocky Mountains with a competent yet self-deprecating guide. Even as I laughed aloud, I appreciated the strength of the story-telling and the skill of dropping clues and placing red herrings. Welcome to the mystery world, Mr. McManus!

TRIAL AND ERROR by Paul Levine (Bantam)

When a new Soloman and Lord novel appears in my mailbox, I clear my docket for the rest of the day. Their cases are always wacky, always clever, and always endearing. Steve Soloman will try almost anything to win acquital for his clients; Victoria Lord will follow the law to the letter. When they're together, pandemonium is always waiting in the wings. What elevates this series, for me, is the overriding love they both have for Steve's brilliant nephew who has autism. This time, Bobby brings the case to his uncle—somebody has freed the dolphins from Cetacean Park. Of course, it's not that easy, and there's much more to it than appears on the surface.

Drag out your hammock, pour yourself a cool one, and kick back and relax with Florida's most loveable law team.

JIGSAW by Jerry Kennealy (Thomas Dunne Books)

Imagine Drew Carey as the entertainment critic for a San Francisco newspaper. Give him a zany mother, a dashing father, and a set of emails from someone giving clues to Alfred Hitchcock movies. Then watch as the clues foretell the murder of an industry friend. Imagine Drew's, er— Carroll Quint's, consternation as he investigates, only to find indicators that point him to his mother as the killer, while the police think they point to him. JIGSAW is a wonderfully plotted, charming look at murder. I hope to see more of Quinn.

BEADS OF DOUBT by Barbara Burnett Smith & Karen MacInerney (Berkley Prime Crime)

Family name and old money don't necessarily isolate one from trouble. Just ask Kitzi Camden, former Texas state senator and daughter and granddaughter of Texas governors. On the first day of a huge weekend fundraiser that she will host at her 8000 square foot mansion, she learns her cousin is trying to evict her from the family home and that a body was found in a nearby dumpster. Throw in a handsome man, a terminally ill friend, and an aging mother, and Kitzi has just about all she can handle.

Barbara Burnett Smith was nominated for an Agatha for the first in this series, BEAD ON TROUBLE, as she was for her first cozy several years ago. Sadly, she was killed in an accident before finishing this entry. Kaaren MacInerney did a fine job of completing the manuscript.

Barbara's sister died with ovarian cancer months before Barbara's accident. BEADS OF DOUBT was an attempt to raise awareness of the disease and, at the same time, to pay tribute to her sister. I miss my email correspondence with Barbara and miss seeing her at conferences. Still, this book brought back warm memories of my friend.

Highly Recommended

THE FINISHING SCHOOL by Michele Martinez (William Morrow)
Federal prosecutor Melanie Vargas has a tough new case: Two dead teenaged girls in a Park Avenue penthouse. Melanie also has a tough home life. She's not quite divorced and her baby daughter is sick. This one is a nail biter--don't start it at bedtime!

PIECE OF MY HEART by Peter Robinson (William Morrow)
Robinson frequently pairs an old crime with a contemporary one. In this outing, a young woman is murdered at a 1969 rock music festival and DCI Alan Banks and DI Annie Cabbot investigate the murder of a freelance journalist who's writing a story about one of the bands that played the weekend of the festival. As always, Robinson ties the stories together beautifully, revealing that the 60's weren't all peace and flower power--and that the past is always with us.

THE SPELLMAN FILES by Lisa Lutz (Simon and Schuster)
This quirky novel isn't really a mystery, but it is about a family-run detective agency in San Francisco. Family members follow each other, pick locks on bedroom doors, and leave the house through windows, but they rally round when one of their own is in peril. If you'd be embarrassed by laughing aloud, don't read this in public.

MURDER AMONG THE OWLS by Bill Crider (St. Martin's Minotaur)

Don't you hate it when you have to start work before you even get there? Sheriff Dan Rhodes' day began when a cat slipped into his back door. When he tried to return it to his elderly neighbor, he found--well, you know what he found. Who on earth would want to kill a member of the Older Women's Literary Society? Rhodes soon found that like in academia, the battles in clubs are often extremely bitter because the stakes are so low. Rhodes learns a lot about his town and the people who populate it when he investigates this murder. Dan Rhodes is my number two favorite sheriff of all time--right behind Andy Taylor!

DAMSELS IN DISTRESS by Joan Hess (St. Martin's)

I've read all of the Claire Malloy series, and I honestly think this was the best. Claire is beset on both sides when a high school history teacher requires next year's students (including Caron, who's prone to speaking in capital letters) to participate in a renaissance fair and the fair's jester wants to stage performances in front of the bookstore. Somehow Claire can't get too enthusiastic about the sponsoring organization--Association for Renaissance Scholarship & Enlightenment (ARSE), but once compelled to comply, she realizes the acronym is extremely accurate. In such a setting, murder is inevitiable.

Satire drips from the pages like honey from a comb, reminding us that when we take ourselves too seriously we usually provide others a good laugh.

Mardi Gras Murder & Louisiana Too!

While the Eva Perry Library is closed for renovation, we've moved the monthly ""Molly on Mysteries" programs to the Apex Community Center. Last month's program was on mysteries set at Mardi Gras and/or in Louisiana. I didn't get the reading list done in time to take with me, so I'm posting it here. I hope you find some new authors to try.


Download PDF here

Virginia Festival of the Book

Whew--I've been too busy reading to post reviews! I was fortunate to be asked to moderate two panels (which totaled 10 great mystery writers) at the venerable Virginia festival. Fortunately, for the time involvement, I was familiar with all the works of the writers on the "Small Towns Are Murder" panel and several on the "Stop: You're Killing Me with Laughter" panel. Two members of the humor panel were brand new to me, and I was glad to find new authors to read even though I was forced to go into marathon reading mode. (Tough job, huh?)

The small town panel included Marcia Talley, Sharon Short, Heather Webber, Denise Swanson, and JB Stanley. I've known everybody but JB for several years--in fact all of them have visited me for mini NC tours--and JB's publicist has done a good job of ensuring that I knew her series.

The humor panel folks were Donna Andrews, Elaine Viets, JD "Dusty" Rhoades, Bob Morris, and Linwood Barclay. Even though Dusty is an NC neighbor, I hadn't seen his books, and I hadn't come across Linwood's either. Fortunately, both of them have very responsive publicists, and I was fully caught up on everyone's writing by the time of the conference last month.

I'll be sharing reviews of everybody's books in the coming days. Claim your easy chair now. You're in for some great reading.

RED CAT by Peter Spiegelman (Alfred A. Knopf)

Shamus-Award-winner Spiegelman brings back private detective John March in a gritty New York novel. Even though John's brother (who followed the family business path) still openly despises him, he needs him. David is being harassed by a young woman whom he met online and subsequently had a seedy affair. Soon after John takes the case, a body washes up in the East River and David becomes the chief suspect. Family secrets unfold about not only the victim, but about David, and even John. The stark white New York winter provides a fitting backdrop for red hot crime.

SNIPPED IN THE BUD by Kate Collins (Signet)

It seems that my favorite florist isn't everybody's favorite! When Abby Knight delivers a special order to an old law school professor with whom she's had a recent altercation, he is murdered—and she's the chief suspect. Somebody's seeing to that. Abby's troubles don't end with the police. Her air-headed cousin Jill has moved in temporarily, crowding Abby and her roommate beyond endurance. Plus, Jill's started a home fashion business, with her entire inventory in the apartment. When Abby has to go undercover to find other suspects, Jill proves her worth. SNIPPED has plenty of action, nice touches of romance, and enough red herrings to confuse us all. I enjoy this refreshing series.

BERMUDA SCHWARTZ by Bob Morris (St. Martin's Minotaur)

It's not just an invitation to a seventieth birthday party that draws Zack Chasteen to Bermuda. It's not even the opportunity to sell the birthday gal eight palm trees at an exhorbitant price. Mostly, it's the opportunity to drink rum on the island with Barbara Pickering. Zack ignores the old adage, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." Before he even unpacks his suitcase, he's discovered a body. Soon he's tangled up with not only a local treasure-finding legend but the local mafia. Bob Morris proves that writing about brutal murder can be done with a light hand. I'm going back and reading this series from the beginning!

"Baby, It's Cold Outside"

For once, the North Carolina weather cooperated with the topic for a program. Everybody was shivering as we came into the Eva Perry Library in Apex Sunday afternoon. It wasn't quite snowing, but the rain was COLD--especially since we'd been in the 70's four days earlier. I'm posting a pdf file of the handouts for the program here:


Cold.pdf


Free file hosting from File Den

THE CHEMISTRY OF DEATH by Simon Beckett (Delacorte Press)

Nobody in the rural English village asked David Hunter about his past. Most of him accepted him as their physician when the couldn't see his employer. When two young brothers discover a young woman's remains, Hunter is forced to reveal some of his former skills. He was, in fact, one of London's leaders in forensics. As more murder follow, Hunter is drawn more closely into the investigation, first as a suspect, later as a target. CHEMISTRY provides a chilling look at village life and a grisly look at human remains.

BONES TO PICK by Carolyn Haines (Kensington)

Sarah Booth Delaney's mama "raised her right," but she also taught her to think for herself. It's hard for Sarah Booth to conform to Southern Belle standards, but when a finishing school graduate is horribly murdered (Quentin McGee had just launched a scandalous tell-all book before her death), Sarah Booth has to resort to conservative clothing and panty hose. Sunflower County (Mississippi) Sheriff Coleman Peters is on leave, the acting sheriff arrests Quentin's lesbian lover for murder, and the suspect's brother hires Sarah Booth to prove her innocence. This is one of the Delta Darling's most dangerous cases, but, in my humble opinion, one of her most rewarding. Sarah Booth is my kind of gal!

METRO GIRL and MOTOR MOUTH by Janet Evanovich

Ms. E. certainly doesn't need any help from me, but I thought I'd mention her new series featuring Alexandra Barnaby. The debut, METRO GIRL, is out in paperback. Barney, as she's called, gets a frightening call from her brother BIlly which compels her to rush to Florida to come to his aid. Evanovich readers know there's nothing simple about any quest, and Barney is plunged into a side-splitting rampage that puts her life at risk in nearly every chapter. Hooker, a definitely dreamy racecar driver ensures there will be romantic tension on nearly every page. MOTOR MOUTH takes up where METRO left off, with Barney and Hooker trying desperately to help a friend while getting rid of an incriminating body. This new series is perfect for fending off the winter blahs.

GRAVE WRITER by Mark Arsenault (St. Martin's Press)

Billy Povich has lost a lot in his life: his wife (because of his gambling), his job as a journalist (he now writes obituaries), his money, and his home. He's gained a couple of people though—his disabled father and his 7-year-old son. Billy's consuming force in life is to kill the man he holds responsible for ending his ex-wife's life in an auto accident. Well, it's the consuming force until he is summoned to jury duty. Billy very quickly becomes involved in an incident that will not only change his focus but change his entire outlook on life. I look forward to watching Billy Povich, his crusty father, and his charming son Bo. (First in a new series.)

COPPER RIVER by William Kent Krueger (Artris)

Kruger's third Anthony winner, MERCY FALLS, left lawman Cork O'Conner painted into a really bad corner. Because I'd read it in advance form, I was left in trepidation until COPPER RIVER came out in hardcover. O'Conner had, if you will, jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. He is wounded, but the unwelcome guest with a cousin. Some people draw trouble like a dog draws fleas, so it's no surprise that Cork is quickly involved in another nasty scene. A young girl's body washes ashore, Cork's young cousin and his friends are in deadly peril, and professional hit men haven't given up on collecting their bounty for Cork's life. This is another stellar offering from one of my favorite writers.

FLESH AND BONE by Jefferson Bass (William Morrow)

Following the NY Times bestseller CARVED IN BONE, which was a great forensic mystery, Bass has produced one of the best forensic stories I've ever read. In this outing, Dr. Bill Brockton and his University of Tennessee's body farm are at the center of the crimes—in more ways than one. The crimes themselves will appease the most blood-thirsty reader, and the peril will stump the most avid suspense reader. I'm not going to give a hint of the story—you'll just have to take my word for it: This newe series is NOT TO BE MISSED!

Virginia Festival of the Book

I just got off the phone with the great folks at the Virginia Festival of the Book. I'm totally excited to announce that I'll be moderating the panel "Small Towns are Murder" during their "Crime Wave" session on Saturday, March 24, at 2:00. The panelists will be Sharon Short (MURDER UNFOLDS), J. B. Stanley (A FATAL APPRAISAL), Denise Swanson (MURDER OF A BOTOXED BLONDE), Marcia Talley (THROUGH THE DARKNESS), and Heather Webber (A HOE LOT OF TROUBLE). Needless to say, I'm really looking forward being with these great authors.

There will be a plethora of mystery authors at the Festival—Raymond Austin, John Billheimer, Ellen Crosby, John Lamb, Vicki Lane, Frankie Bailey), Louis Bayard, Cordelia Biddle, Dana Cameron, Jane Cleland, John Hart, David Rosenfelt, Kermit Roosevelt, Tess Gerritsen), Laura Lippman, Twist Phelan, George Pelaconos, Lee Child, and Willetta Heising. My only problem will be deciding whether to catch up with old friends or to try to meet new folks. I know, I know—that's not really a problem!

The Festival runs from Wednesday, March 21 through Sunday, March 28. Check it out—I've added a link. Oddly enough, I've put it in the "Links" box at right.

Upcoming Events

Feb. 5, 2007 - 7:00 Jefferson Bass at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh (919.828.1588).

Feb. 15, 2007 - 2:00 Molly will present "Old Murder" (antiques theme) at the Cary (NC) Public Library. PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE.

Feb. 18, 2007 - Molly presents "Also Known As" (authors with pseudonyms) at the Eva Pery Library in Apex, NC.

Feb. 22, 2007 - Tim Dorsey at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh (919.828.1588).

March 1, 2007 - Sarah Shaber Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh (919.828.1588).

SUN STORM by Asa Larsson (Delta)

I read this winner of Sweden's Best First crime Novel Award when it came out in English in hardcover. The book's beginning reminded me somewhat of THE DIVINCI CODE's: a man watches himself die in a place where murder has no place—this time in a church. Attorney Rebecka Martinsson doesn't want to return to her hometown, but it's her best friend's brother, the charismatic leader of the church, who was murdered. The story is one of contrasts in red and white, not only of blood and snow. Rebecka soon learns that little in her hometown is what it seems, and she must fight—not only for her friend, but for her life. A thoroughly compelling read from the land of snow and ice.

DEAD DAYS OF SUMMER by Carolyn Hart (Wm. Morrow)

It's always amazing to me that an author with a long-running series can keep making them fresh and better. This is the 17th in the Death on Demand series--and it's one of the best! While Annie and Laurel are planning a surprise blowout birthday party for Max, he takes on a new case. Even though he doesn't like the secrecy his new client imposes, he goes along with her. Bad move. When he disappears and a body turns up near his car, even friendship with the chief of police can't control the fallout: Max is suspected of murder. Annie has to uses all her resources, including faithful customers at her bookstore, to get Max back and clear his name. It's going to be a cold winter--warm up with DEAD DAYS OF SUMMER.

MRS. HUDSON AND THE MALABAR ROSE by Martin Davies (Berkley)

When someone messes around with Sherlock Holmes, they'd better do a good job for me to finish the book. Although Mrs. Hudson is the detective in this pastiche, the narrator is her young protege Flotsam, an effective "Watson." All of London is talking about two events: the unveiling of a gift to the nation, a rare jewel known as the Malabar Rose, and the debut performance of the Great Salmanazar, a reknown magician. When the Home Secretary requests Holmes to ensure the safety of the stone, the great detective naturally doesn't have time to investigate the disappearance of a young husband, so Mrs. Hudson takes on the case. Although I didn't like the portrayal of Holmes, and Mrs. Hudson seems a bit condescending, the puzzles are first-rate and worthy of Doyle himself.

DOLLED UP FOR MURDER by Deb Baker (Berkley)

Gretchen Birch's life is in a downward spin: she'll soon turn 30, her seven-year relationship with Steve is cooling rapidly, and she's just lost her job to downsizing. Now, her mother is missing in Arizona and Aunt Nina has been calling every hour on the hour urging her to come to Phoenix--in July. Seems a member of the local doll club has fallen to her death from a mountin behind Caroline Birch's home. Caroline is not only a doll collector, she runs a highly successful doll repair business. By the time Gretchen arrives in Phoenix, Caroline is not only missing but suspected of murder. Like any other hobby, doll collecting has its dark side. Nina's business of training purse dogs injects an element of humor to the stories and the facts about dolls elevate the book to educational. What more can one ask? Good humorous, educational mystery is enough for me!

THE DOCTOR ROCKS THE BOAT by Robin Hathaway (Thomas Dunne Books)

Hathaway won the Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Contest and the Agatha for the first book in this series and she hasn't slowed down yet. In this outing Dr. Fennimore succombs to spring fever and renews his membership in a rowing club on Philadelphia's Schuylkill River. The first person he sees at his old club is a medical school classmate who had to quit rowing because of a heart defect. Fennimore is dismayed to learn that his old friend is living his own thwarted ambitions in his son's success. A death on the river and a nearly successful attempt on Fennimore's life combined with an effort to pull down the historic boat houses for a new marina make for a very successful who-done-it. Enjoy your cruise!

WREATH OF DECEPTION by Mary Ellen Hughes (Berkley)

Jo McAllister hopes a new craft store will help change her life after the sudden death of her husband. A jewelry designer with a degree in art, she feels qualified to teach all manner of craft workshops, especially with the help of long-time friend Carrie who's a needlework whiz. After the highly successful grand opening, complete with clown and circus music, Jo's celebration pales when she discovers a body in the store room. The police, quite naturally, look at Jo as the most obvious suspect. Over the next several days, Jo, aided and abetted by her workshop students, realizes she'll have to find an alternate suspect on her own. Another death only ups the ante. I suspect this light cozy will make its way into many craft bags.

MURDER 101 by Maggie Barbieri (St. Martin's Minotaur)

After Professor Alison Bergeron's old Volvo is stolen, she's shocked to find two detectives in her English Department office days later. Her surprise is appropriate—the're from homicide; her car has been found, with a student's body in the trunk. Alison loses her suspect status when she becomes the target of kidnappers—twice. In a non-traditional-cozy way, Alison doesn't succumb to terror, she fights back. Barbieri inserts several twists that prevent die-hard mystery readers from knowing who-done-it until the very end. This excellent debut mystery should be in the running for several major awards.

THE CHOCOLATE BRIDAL BASH by Joanna Carl (Signet)

This great chocoholic series is always on my "must read" list. I've followed former Texas beauty queen Lee McKinney since her debut in THE CHOCOLATE CAT CAPER, and I've always found the books well written and well plotted. The only drawback to the series is the mouth-watering descriptions of chocolate delights made in the TenHuis Chocolade which often require copious intake of lesser treats! In this outing Lee is getting ready for her wedding—and trying her best to keep it small. While dealing with Aunt Nettie's plan for redecorating the house (it's to be a home wedding) and Joe's mom's determination for a blow-out reception, Lee is completely blindsided when she learns of an earlier family wedding. Her mother ran away on the night before she was to be married—and the groom was found dead—an apparent suicide. Once again, the crimes of the past lead to the present, and Lee is right in the middle of murder.

Cascade Mountain Railroad Mysteries by Anne Capeci (Peachtree)

When I was reviewing children's books I always looked for the most bang for the buck. This series for young readers fills the bill. The spot-on adventure series offers good mystery and excellent history without being "teachy." The first in the series, DANGER DYNAMITE, introduces a diverse group of children in a Cascade Mountain railroad village. Missing dynamite, school pranks, and an old wanted poster combine to set the stage for a well-crafted adventure. "Dynamite" was nominated for an Agatha award.

This excellent series also includes DAREDEVILS, GHOST TRAIN, and MISSING!

THE FIRST CUT by Dianne Emley (Ballentine)

In her first day back on the job after a brutal attack, Nan Vining learns that she'll be relegated to the burgulary division. Despite lingering post traumatic stress symptoms, Vining wants back in homicide. In an obvious example of be careful what you wish for, Nan is pressed into duty when the nude body of an LA police officer is found in Pasadena. Emley takes the reader on both sides of the crime—inside the horrific as well as through the police investigation. The characters are well drawn and the violence, though gruesome, is not gratuitous. Dianne Emley is a writer to watch!

ALL MORTAL FLESH by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Thomas Dunne Books)

Every good mystery has tension. When Spencer-Fleming introduced Clare Fergusson, priest, and Russ van Alstyne, sherrif, four books ago, the immediate attraction they had for each other was enormous. Both, however, were bound to a code that prohibited their acting on the attraction because Russ was married. Now, Russ's wife has kicked him out of the house—he's moved back in with his mother; Clare has determined not to see him again. Circumstances change. Linda van Alstyne is found brutally murdered by a neighbor; the spouse is the obvious suspect; and the state police officer in charge of the investigation is determined that Russ is indeed the killer. Loyalties are important in this riveting story which I couldn't stop until I finished. Spencer-Fleming has garnered a shelf full of awards in her short career. I'd suggest making room for more—ALL MORTAL FLESH is her best yet.

STRIPPED by Brian Freeman (St. Martin's Minotaur)

As detectives Jonathan Stride and Serena Dial investigate a rash of seemingly unrelated murders they realize that all the crimes have ties to the brutal murder of a Las Vegas headliner back in the days when the Ratpack ruled. The current murders are unique, clever, and professional, and they lead directly to the city's power brokers. This is definitely not a shining moment for tourism. STRIPPED is gritty, harsh, and spell-binding.

MURDER UNLEASED by Elaine Viets (New American Library)

I've been reading Elaine Viets since her first book came out, and the "dead end job" series is my favorite. Helen Hawthorne has settled into a series of truly awful jobs but she's tempered her life with truly caring friends and a new love interest. In this outing, the job isn't really so bad—she's working in the Pampered Pet Boutique—but the animal parents are frequently over the top. When she delivers one pampered pet to his owner, Helen finds the woman not dead drunk, but dead. In case murder isn't enough, the boutique's groomers are at war, Ft. Lauderdale's most valuable dog is pupnapped, and a hurricane is targeting the city. I always feel better after an afternoon with Helen—my problems pale!

SHOOTING GALLERY by Hailey Lind (Signet)

Annie Kincaid has set her path on the straight and narrow, but it's hard to make a living as a faux finisher in San Francisco—especially when she could be making big bucks forging Old Masters. She also finds it's hard to stay alive when you've got a trouble magnet in your pocket. Annie's visit to a gallery exhibition not only nets her a new client, but she discovers a body. Her landlord offers her an opportunity to restore a damaged Picasso, and a charming international art thief offers her an opportunity to clear a friend of a crime. Clearly, Annie is a gal to watch as she stumbles through live, one obstacle at a time. I'm not only ordering the debut in this series, but I'm putting Hailey Lind on my not-to-be-missed reading list.

SILENCE OF THE GRAVE by Arnaldur Indridason (Thomas Dunne Books)

Competition among Icelandic crime writers might be low, but when one wins the the coveted Golden Dagger award, that's a different story! SILENCE is just the second of the author's books translated into English. Detective Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson and his team have a relatively benign case: old bones have turned up during construction of a new Reykjavik housing development. Then Erlendur gets a frightening call from his pregnant daughter, begging for help before she is cut off. In his efforts to help her, his mind is split—wondering about the case, worrying about his daughter, and remembering things from his own past.

The beauty of this book is not so much the story, but the way it unfolds. Flashbacks are woven in so skillfully, the reader often is tricked into making false assumptions about which storyline is being told. Then, an "aha" moment occurs, and the path becomes clearer, only to have a new fog drop and confuse one again. Then, as the final pages are read, one can look back and see—everything was there all along! This book is worthy of its honor.

ESCAPE CLAUSE by James O. Born (Putnam)

Some people are always in the right place at the right time; others aren't. Florida lawman Bill Trasker is the latter. Just off a stressful case, he was standing in line at the bank with his 8-year-old daughter when a bank robbery ensued. To help him unwind, his boss sent him to do a review on an inmate homicide at a secluded prison. Bill's trouble magnet, however, continued working at high capacity. Murder, attempted murder (of Bill), kidnapping, and a prison break move Bill's temporary duty from simple to complex and dangerous. Those same complications make for a compelling, fast-paced thriller! James O. Born is now on my must-be-read list.

AS DEAD AS IT GETS by Cady Kalian (Forge)

I don't know much about Hollywood, but when I finished this book, I felt as if I did. Maggie Mars is a successful screenwriter, but it seems that in Hollywood, you're only as good as your next hit. She's working hard to write, serving on the board of her screenwriters' guild, and managing her life. When her mentor, Roger Urban, is found dead in women's sexy clothes, Maggie feels compelled to add another dimension to her life—amateur sleuth. This debut mystery is fast-paced and often funny; it also offers a look into the backstory of the entertainment industry. Cady Kalian is the pseudonym for Irma Kalish (award-winning TV writer) and Naomi Gurian (attorney and former executive director of the Writers Guild of America, west). Enjoy your brush with LaLa Land.

THE VIRGIN OF SMALL PLAINS by Nancy Pickard (Ballantine Books)

"The past is never dead. It's not even past." William Faulkner said that in REQUIEM FOR A NUN. A young woman whose body was found brutalized during a blizzard in Small Plains KS left an imprint on the town that is still alive 17 years later. Her gravestone has become a mecca for folks seeking healing and more recently, another body is discovered during another blizzard. Can this new body offer clues to the death of the first? Of course it can! This is a first-class mystery by award-winning Nancy Pickard! Nancy just picked up a Macavity and a Barry at Bouchercon—and she's nominated for an Anthony, but I haven't heard the results of that one yet. This suspense novel is great—with wonderful characters, flashbacks at just the right places, and a rewarding ending. I carried it around the house with me until I finished it.

Cool Mystery Website

Prolific Texas mystery writer Bill Crider has expanded his areas of expertise! He's got a great blogsite that's fun to read. Now, he's added interviews with other mystery authors at the Bouchercon mystery conference, this year in Madison WI. Check it out at http://billcrider.blogspot.com/-- you'll be glad you did!

FOOLISH UNDERTAKING by Mark de Castrique

Barry Clayton has come home to the NC mountains to help with his family's funeral business. An ex-cop, he doesn't expect to be knocked out there the night before a funeral. And he most definitely doesn't expect to have the body stolen. Maybe the fact that the deceased was a Montagnard hero who helped saved the lives of not only Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkins, but also a U.S. senator, a three-star general, and a Hollywood star would offer some clues to the who and why of the theft. Or maybe the current international picture could shed some light on the situation. Nevertheless, time is a big factor in the puzzle—and the players are all people with clout. Mark de Castrique is an author to watch.