Kaye Barley on Tana French's THE SECRET PLACE

I've been swamped lately, so I asked my friend Kaye Barley to review Tana French's fifth novel featuring The Dublin Murder Squad. Kaye was happy to oblige, so hop on over to her Meanderings and Muses website. Happy reading!

Molly on Mysteries • Page Walker Cultural Arts Center • Cary NC

I'm delighted to announce the schedule for my Molly on Mystery talks at the Page-Walker Cultural Arts Center in Cary! Each month I talk about 15-20 authors and their works  and give you reasons why I think you'll like them as much as I do. We always have handouts, so you don't have to do much work (remembering IS work for me!). I usually bring a bunch of books to share, hoping that folks will bring them back to pass them along to others in the group.

We meet on Thursdays at 2:00. Dates for the coming season are as follows:

• September 18
• October 16 
• Guest Authors: Brynn Bonner, Margaret Maron, & Sarah Shaber
• Latest books from each author will be available for sale and signing.
• November 20
• December 18
• January 15
• February 19
• March 19
• April 16
• May 21  7 NOTE CHANGE IN DATE
• Guest Authors: Ann Cleeves, Hannah Dennison, Marcia Talley & Elaine Viets
• Books from each author will be available for sale and signing.

I'm working to get authors at some of the programs, but it's too early to release that information. (They've still got to arrange flight schedules!)

If you'd like to be on the list for reminders about the programs, please email Kris Carmichael at the Page-Walker. You can find the link on the Town of Cary's website.

Louise Penny - World Tour Kickoff at McIntyre's

The multi-award-winning author's kickoff for The Long Way Home: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel will be at McIntyre's Books in Fearrington Village in Pittsboro on August 27, at 6:30. This is a ticketed event – please call McIntyre’s for details at 919.542.3030.

Mystery Authors Coming to Quail Ridge Books

Quail Ridge Books is in the Ridgewood Shopping Center in Raleigh (along with Whole Foods). 

As with any events, if you're driving a distance, call the store to confirm 919.828.1588.

Friday, July 18, 7:30 pm
Author of Poacher's Son 
PAUL DOIRON, Bone Orchard
“Excellent . . . a murder case with some truly wicked twists.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Sunday, August 3, 3:00 am
Author of The Philadelphia Quarry, 
HOWARD OWEN, Parker Field
In this third Willie Black novel our flawed, ink-stained hero is back, a reporter who seems to do his best work when he’s chasing a story nobody else wants.

Thursday, August 14, 7:30 pm
MARGARET MARON, Designated Daughters
The continuing adventures of Deborah Knott and and her husband, Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant
There will be an encore lunch-time event on Tuesday, Sept 9

Tuesday, August 26, 7:30 pm
ACE ATKINS, The Forsaken: A Quinn Colson mystery
 A retired U.S. Army Ranger who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, returned to his hometown as newly elected Sheriff.  An intriguing and appealing heroe, who “has a quick wit, a strong sense of honor, and radiates sex appeal”

Friday, September 19, 7:30 pm
PETER LOVESEY, The Stone Wife
The latest in the Peter Diamond series.  "A perfectly realized murder mystery." ~ Wall Street Journal

Thursday, September 25, 7:30 pm
SARAH SHABER, Louise's Blunder
The 4th Louise Pearlie mystery

THE OTHER WOMAN - ebook on Sale

Just in this morning: Hank Phillippi Ryan's The Other Woman ebook is on sale for a very limited time.

Check out your favorite ebook vendor, but remember most independent booksellers offer Kobo.

LOUISE'S WAR - 1st in Series

For all you folks who absolutely must read from the beginning of the series, Sarah Shaber's Louise's War is now available in e-book for just $3.99 from the publisher just in time to read the first three entries in the Louise Perlie series before the fourth, Louise's Blunder hits the shelves. This World War II series is definitely not to be missed.

Shamus Award Nominations

Thanks to the fabulous Janet Rudolph for sending the listing of the Private Eye Writers of America's Shamus Award Finalists 2014 Private Eye Writers of America. Janet's great blog always contains the latest information.

TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2014

Shamus Award Finalists 2014: Private Eye Writers of America

PRIVATE EYE WRITERS OF AMERICA SHAMUS AWARD FINALISTS 2014 for works published in 2013. Winners will be announced at the PWA Banquet at Bouchercon in Long Beach, California on Friday, November 14. Congratulations to all!

BEST HARDCOVER P.I. NOVEL
Little Elvises by Timothy Hallinan
The Mojito Coast by Richard Helms
W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton
The Good Cop by Brad Parks
Nemesis by Bill Pronzini

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
A Good Death by Christopher R. Cox
Montana by Gwen Florio
Blood Orange by Karen Keskinen
Bear is Broken by Lachlan Smith
Loyalty by Ingrid Thoft

BEST ORIGINAL PAPERBACK P.I. NOVEL
Seduction of the Innocents by Max Allan Collins
Into the Dark by Alison Gaylin
Purgatory Key by Darrell James
Heart of Ice by P.J. Parrish
The Honky Tonk Big Hoss Boogie by Robert J. Randisi

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY
“So Long, Chief” by Max Allan Collins and Mickey Spillane in The Strand Magazine
"The Ace I" by Jack Fredrickson in EQMM
“What We Do” by Mick Herron in EQMM
“Extra Fries” by Michael Z. Lewin in EQMM
“The Lethal Leeteg” by Hayford Peirce in EQMM

BEST INDIE P.I. NOVEL
Murder Take Three by April Kelly and Marsha Lyons
A Small Sacrifice by Dana King
No Pat Hands by J.J. Lamb
State vs. Lassiter by Paul Levine
Don’t Dare a Dame by M. Ruth Myers

- See more at: http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/#sthash.gL1H913D.dpuf

Molly on Mysteries at Cameron Village Library

Thanks to Barbara McGeachy, I'll present a "Molly on Mysteries" program at the Cameron Village Library on Thursday, June 19 at 2:00. I've been giving these programs, first at the Eva Perry Library in Apex, then at the Cary Library, and, most recently, at the Page-Walker Cultural Arts Center in Cary. We're unable to continue at the Page-Walker in the summer months because they need the space for kids camps.

For the uninitiated, I used to have a theme for each program, but since I've gotten lazier in my old age, I just talk about books and authors I've read since the last program. Giving these programs gives me validation for lying back in my recliner and reading all afternoon (or all day?). I just have to get ready to talk about mysteries…

If you'll scroll down a couple of posts, you'll see the terrific line-up of guest authors I'll bring to several venues in the Triangle area. (I didn't think you'd bother to scroll down, so I'm copying the schedule here!)

Mystery Writers Tour

Get ready for fun! We've got a great group coming to the Triangle area in June: Maggie Barbieri, Hannah Dennison, and Kate Carlisle. We'll be having panels, book sales, signings, and conversations. All events are free and open to the public.

Saturday, June 7, 2:00
McIntyre's Books, Fearrington Village

Sunday, June 8, 3:00
Halle Cultural Arts Center, Apex

Sunday, June 8, 7:00
SearStone, Cary (Reservations are requested 866.261.1814)

Monday, June 9, 2:00
North Regional Library, Raleigh

Monday, June 9, 7:00
Page Walker Cultural Arts Center, Cary

Tuesday, June 10, 10:30
West Regional Library, Cary

Tuesday, June 10, 2:00
Cameron Village Library, Raleigh

Y'all come!

Please plan to join me at one or more of these events. Everything is free and open to the public—and sometimes I give away books!

The photo below is from the Malice Domestic panel I moderated. We had a lot of fun with "Grits and Graveyards"!

Bouchercon 2014 Anthony Nominees

So many great books nominated. So many of the authors are friends. How on earth will I cast my vote?!!?!?!?!

Check out this list and decide what you'd do.

· 2014 · Long Beach, CA BEST NOVEL   Suspect - Robert Crais [Putnam]   A Cold and Lonely Place - Sara J. Henry [Crown]   Ordinary Grace - William Kent Krueger [Atria]   The Wrong Girl - Hank Phillippi Ryan [Forge]   Through the Evil Days - Julia Spencer-Fleming [Minotaur] BEST FIRST NOVEL   Yesterday’s Echo - Matt Coyle [Oceanview]   Ghostman - Roger Hobbs [Alfred A. Knopf]   Rage Against the Dying - Becky Masterman [Minotaur]   Reconstructing Amelia - Kimberly McCreight [HarperCollins]   The Hard Bounce - Todd Robinson [Tyrus] BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL   The Big Reap- Chris F. Holm [Angry Robot]   Purgatory Key - Darrell James [Midnight Ink]   Joyland - Stephen King [Hard Case Crime]   The Wicked Girls - Alex Marwood [Penguin]   As She Left It - Catriona McPherson [Midnight Ink] BEST SHORT STORY   "Dead End" - Craig Faustus Buck [Untreed Reads]   "The Caxton Private Lending Library & Book Depository" - John Connolly, Bibliomysteries [Mysterious Bookshop]   "Annie and the Grateful Dead" - Denise Dietz, The Sound and the Furry: Stories To Benefit the International Fund for Animal Welfare [Amazon Digital]   "Incident on the 405" - Travis Richardson, Criminal Element's Malfeasance Occasional: Girl Trouble [Macmillan]   "The Care and Feeding of Houseplants" - Art Taylor, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, March/April 2013 BEST CRITICAL OR NONFICTION WORK   Mastermind: How To Think Like Sherlock Holmes - Maria Konnikova [Viking Adult]   The Secret Rescue: An Untold Story of American Nurses and Medics Behind Nazi Lines - Cate Lineberry [Little, Brown]   All the Wild Children - Josh Stallings [Snubnose Press]   The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot To Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War - Daniel Stashower [Minotaur]   Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives: Stories from the Trailblazers of Domestic Suspense - Sarah Weinman, ed. [Penguin] BEST CHILDREN'S OR YOUNG ADULT NOVEL   The Testing - Joelle Charbonneau [Houghton Mifflin]   Escape Theory - Margaux Froley [Soho Teen]   Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library - Chris Grabenstein [Random House Children’s Books]   Dancer, Daughter, Traitor, Spy - Elizabeth Kiem [Soho Teen]   The Code Busters Club: Mystery of the Pirate’s Treasure - Penny Warner [Egmont USA] BEST TV EPISODE TELEPLAY, FIRST AIRED IN 2013   The Blacklist - Pilot by Jon Bokenkamp - Sept. 2013 [Davis Entertainment, NBC]   Breaking Bad - "Felina" by Vince Gilligan - Sept. 2013 [AMC]   The Fall - "Dark Descent" by Allan Cubitt - May 2013 [Netflix Original]   The Following - Pilot by Kevin Williamson - Jan. 2013 [Warner Bros. Television, FOX]   Justified - "Hole in the Wall" by Graham Yost - Jan. 2013 [Warner Bros. Television, FOX] BEST AUDIO BOOK   Hour of the Rat - Lisa Brackmann - Tracy Sallows, narrator [Audible]   Man in the Empty Suit - Sean Ferrell - Mauro Hantman, narrator [AudioGO]   The Cuckoo’s Calling - Robert Galbraith - Robert Glenister, narrator [Hachette Audio]   Crescendo - Deborah J Ledford - Christina Cox, narrator [Audible]   Death and the Lit Chick - G.M. Malliet - Davina Porter, narrator [Dreamscape Media]

Mystery Writers Tour

Get ready for fun! We've got a great group coming to the Triangle area in June: Maggie Barbieri, Hannah Dennison, and Kate Carlisle. We'll be having panels, book sales, signings, and conversations. All events are free and open to the public.

Saturday, June 7, 2:00
McIntyre's Books, Fearrington Village

Sunday, June 8, 3:00
Halle Cultural Arts Center, Apex

Sunday, June 8, 7:00
SearStone, Cary (Reservations are requested 866.261.1814)

Monday, June 9, 2:00
North Regional Library, Raleigh

Monday, June 9, 7:00
Page Walker Cultural Arts Center, Cary

Tuesday, June 10, 10:30
West Regional Library, Cary

Tuesday, June 10, 2:00
Cameron Village Library, Raleigh

Y'all come!

Mary Stewart Obituary

A pioneer in writing "anti-namby-pamby" women characters, Mary Stewart has died at age 97. Her obituary was in the May 15 edition of The Guardian.

Crime Fiction Authors - Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh NC

Friday, April 25, 7:30
Stuart Woods, Carnal Curiosity

Wednesday, May 14, 7:30
Jeffrey Deaver, The Skin Collector

Friday, May 23, 7:30
David Downing, Jack of Spies

Wednesday, May 28, 7:30
Craig Johnson, Any Other Name

Sunday, June 22, 3:00
Ruth Moose, Doing It at the Dixie Dew

Sunday, August 3, 3:00
Howard Owen, Parker Field

Thursday, August 14, 7:30 & Tuesday, September 9, Lunchtime
Margaret Maron, Designated Daughters

Gamache Reread Campaign

Minotaur Books is thrilled to announce the Gamache Reread Campaign, which starts April 21, 2014 with Louise Penny’s first novel, STILL LIFE!

This is a virtual, online club to re-read the Gamache series.  Each of the 9 books in the series will be discussed for two weeks, culminating in to the publication of Louise Penny’s latest novel, THE LONG WAY HOME, which is on sale August 26.

Elaine Viets' CATNAPPED Trailer

I just got my review copy of  Catnapped! by Elaine Viets. She's got a really great book trailer that will make it hard to wait for the May 1 release date! Helen Hawthorne and husband/PI partner Phil Sagemont work together for great reading fun.

Agatha Award Nominees

Best Contemporary Novel

Pagan Spring, by G.M. Malliet

How the Light Gets In, by Louise Penny

Clammed Up, by Barbara Ross

The Wrong Girl, by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Through the Evil Days, by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Best Historical Novel

Heirs and Graces, by Rhys Bowen

Death in the Time of Ice, by Kaye George

A Friendly Game of Murder, by J.J. Murphy

Murder in Chelsea, by Victoria Thompson

A Question of Honor, by Charles Todd

Best First Novel

Death Al Dente, by Leslie Budewitz

You Cannoli Die Once, by Shelley Costa

Board Stiff, by Kendel Lynn

Kneading to Die, by Liz Mugavero

Front Page Fatality, by LynDee Walker

Best Nonfiction

Georgette Heyer, by Jennifer Kloester

Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, by Maria Konnikova

Not Everyone’s Cup of Tea: An Interesting & Entertaining History of Malice Domestic's

First 25 Years, by Verena Rose and Rita Owen, Editors

The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War,

by Daniel Stashower

Best Short Story

“Evil Little Girl”, by Barb Goffman, Don’t Get Mad, Get Even

“Nightmare”, by Barb Goffman, Don’t Get Mad, Get Even

“The Hindi Houdini”, by Gigi Pandian, Fish Nets

“Bread Baby”, by Barbara Ross, Best New England Crime Stories 2014: Stone Cold

“The Care and Feeding of House Plants”, by Art Taylor, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

Note: All five short stories nominated for the Agatha can be read online.

Best Children’s/Young Adult Novel

The Testing, by Joelle Charbonneau

Traitor in the Shipyard: A Caroline Mystery, by Kathleen Ernst

Andi Unexpected, by Amanda Flower

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, by Chris Grabenstein

Code Busters Club: Mystery of the Pirate’s Treasure, by Penny Warner

The Rainy Day Killer by Michael J. McCann (Plaid Raccoon Press)

In the fourth novel in the Donaghue and Stainer series, homicide detectives Hank Donaghue and Karen Stainer are hunting a serial killer who kidnaps, repeatedly rapes, murders, and mutilates his victims—in several states—he changes locations when the local cops get close.  After stalking his victims, he dresses like a gentleman and offers the protection of his umbrella on rainy days.  The press has named him the Rainy Day Killer (RDK).  

After his first victim in Glendale MD is found, RDK begins to communicate with Donaghue, the lead investigator, through phone calls, packages containing the victim’s body parts, and DVDs of the body.  So far, RDK has managed to clean his victims, removing all trace evidence, and dumping the bodies in public areas without his face being seen.  The FBI and a state task force are brought in to help with the investigation. To add to the political landscape, the position of captain for the homicide unit is up for grabs. A temporary captain has been assigned; she is inexperienced and out to make a name for herself by putting everyone else down.

As the killer gets bolder, friction within the homicide unit, FBI, and state task force collide. To further complicate things, Karen Stainer is finally marring her FBI boyfriend, Sandy Alexander, at Sandy’s ancestral home in Virginia. Karen’s blue-collar relatives and Sandy’s old Virginia society family make an interesting wedding party.  

I enjoyed this book very much. The characters were true to form, the suspense is real, and the murders are very dark. I will think twice about trusting a stranger, especially on a rainy day. 

—Helen Jones

FTC Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher

Left Coast Crime Award Winners

Thanks too Lucinda Surber and Stan Ulrich of the great mystery website Stop, You're Killing Me for
posting the winners at the recent Left Coast Crime Conference (which they chaired this year!). I use this site so very often. Take a look at it—you'll be totally impressed!

If you look on their book giveaway page, you can enter for a cool Calamari Crime book bag and a book. Hurry. The contest ends on April 8, 2014.

Happy reading!

Molly

2014 DILYS AWARD PRESENTED
The Independent Mystery Booksellers Association presented the 2014 Dilys Award on March 20th at the 2014 Left Coast Crime mystery convention in Monterey, California. Our congratulations to the winner (listed first) and all of the nominees.

*	Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger [review]
°	Seven for a Secret by Lyndsay Faye
°	The Black Country by Alex Grecian
°	Spider Woman's Daughter by Anne Hillerman [review]
°	Pagan Spring by G.M. Malliet
°	The Land of Dreams by Vidar Sundstol

Previous Dilys Awards

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2014 LEFT COAST CRIME AWARDS PRESENTED
The Left Coast Crime awards, voted on by the Left Coast Crime attendees, were presented on March 22, 2014, at the Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey, California. As co-chairs of the Awards Committee, we were thrilled to present certificates to the nominees and awards to the winners. Our congratulations to the winners (listed first in each category) and to all of the nominees.

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
*	The Good Cop by Brad Parks [review]
°	The Hen of the Baskervilles by Donna Andrews [review]
°	The Fame Thief by Timothy Hallinan [review]
°	The Last Word by Lisa Lutz
°	Dying for a Daiquiri by Cindy Sample [review]

Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award (best historical mystery, covering events before 1960)
*	Dandy Gilver and a Bothersome Number of Corpses by Catriona McPherson
°	Heirs and Graces by Rhys Bowen
°	His Majesty's Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal
°	Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrell
°	Covenant with Hell by Priscilla Royal
°	Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear

The Squid (best mystery set within the United States)
*	Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger [review]
°	W Is for Wasted by Sue Grafton
°	Purgatory Key by Darrell James
°	The Wrong Girl by Hank Phillippi Ryan [review]
°	A Killing at Cotton Hill by Terry Shames [review]

The Calamari (best mystery set anywhere else in the world)
*	How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny [review]
°	Murder Below Montparnasse by Cara Black
°	Hour of the Rat by Lisa Brackmann [review]
°	As She Left It by Catriona McPherson
°	Mykonos After Midnight by Jeffrey Siger

Vintage Crime Fiction in e-Books

I got an email announcing the official launch of Chalk Line Books, a publisher specializing in republishing vintage crime fiction classics as ebooks. 

They have begun with the e-publication of two of the greatest crime fiction authors, Jim Thompson with Sharecropper Hell and David Goodis with The Secret Squad.  They'll be adding more authors such as Charles Williams, Ed McBain, Peter Rabe, and many others to their roster soon.  

SHORE EXCURSION free March 17-19…

AMAZING GIVEAWAY March 17, 18, 19, 2014 to Amazon Prime members, FREE Kindle Select download of SHORE EXCURSION by Marie Moore! Just for YOU and YOUR FRIENDS! Enjoy!


Click to order your FREE copy on giveaway days only!

This is the first in a really good series for armchair (and real) world travelers! Marie Moore was a travel agent for many years and has walked the walk so she can do the talk!

Pack your virtual bag and get ready for a great trip!

Brynn Bonner Book Launch

Join Brynn Bonner at Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh when she launches the second in her Family History Mystery series, Death in Reel Time. The program will begin at 7:30, Wednesday, March 13.