The Anteater of Death
Betty Webb
Poisoned Pen, Dec 2008, $24.95
ISBN 9781590585603
In San Sebastian County, California, the Gunn Landing zookeeper Theodora “Teddy” Bentley is stunned to find a mangled human corpse in the anteater enclosure. Pregnant Lucy apparently ripped the skin off the bones of wealthy patron Grayson Harrill.
However the county police determine that Harrill was shot before being dumped in Lucy’s enclosure. Outraged that someone tried to disguise the homicide by using her purple tongued beloved Lucy as a killer, Teddy investigates knowing whoever murdered the victim knew his or her anteater.
This engaging amateur sleuth combines zoo insight with an eccentric support cast to include Lucy and a dedicated heroine. The story line is fast-paced from the moment that Teddy finds the body and never slows down. Although Lucy’s thoughts seem to cutesy even when she considers clawing someone, fans of Betty Webb will enjoy this fine whodunit as the zookeeper tries to uncover who framed her anteater.
Harriet Klausner
Monday, October 6, 2008
Greasing The Pinata-Tim Maleeny
Greasing The Pinata
Tim Maleeny
Poisoned Pen, Dec 2008,$24.95
ISBN: 9781590585672
On a father and son trip to Mexico, retired California state senator Jim Dobbins and drug-addict Danny disappear without a trace. Jim’s other adult child, his estranged daughter Rebecca, hires San Francisco private investigator Cape Weathers to bring them home.
Although he does not want the case as he is realistically uncomfortable because he does not know Mexico, Weathers heads south. In Mexico he learns quickly that the mutilated bodies of both were found in an alligator pond of a Puerto Vallarte golf course. With his associate Triad trained assassin Sally Mei helping him, Weathers starts to connect the dots between California and Mexico politicians, rival drug cartels, and a financial system that Wall St. and DC would envy; getting out alive is a different story.
The third Cape Weathers private investigative mystery (see STEALING THE DRAGON and BEATING THE BABUSHKA) is a fast-paced tale starring a terrific lead detective supported by a kick butt Asian partner battling against realistic killers. The political-drug dealing complex is brilliantly designed with violence being their cherry pie. However, the tale belongs to the two sleuths whose amusing war of words equalizes the inordinate death count.
Harriet Klausner
Tim Maleeny
Poisoned Pen, Dec 2008,$24.95
ISBN: 9781590585672
On a father and son trip to Mexico, retired California state senator Jim Dobbins and drug-addict Danny disappear without a trace. Jim’s other adult child, his estranged daughter Rebecca, hires San Francisco private investigator Cape Weathers to bring them home.
Although he does not want the case as he is realistically uncomfortable because he does not know Mexico, Weathers heads south. In Mexico he learns quickly that the mutilated bodies of both were found in an alligator pond of a Puerto Vallarte golf course. With his associate Triad trained assassin Sally Mei helping him, Weathers starts to connect the dots between California and Mexico politicians, rival drug cartels, and a financial system that Wall St. and DC would envy; getting out alive is a different story.
The third Cape Weathers private investigative mystery (see STEALING THE DRAGON and BEATING THE BABUSHKA) is a fast-paced tale starring a terrific lead detective supported by a kick butt Asian partner battling against realistic killers. The political-drug dealing complex is brilliantly designed with violence being their cherry pie. However, the tale belongs to the two sleuths whose amusing war of words equalizes the inordinate death count.
Harriet Klausner
Pawsitively Guilty-Cindy Keen Reynders
Pawsitively Guilty
Cindy Keen Reynders
Medallion, Dec 2008, $7.95
ISBN: 9781933836607
Owners of the Saucy Lucy Café, Lexie Lightfoot and her sister Lucy, who is married to the county sheriff, live in Moose Creek Junction, Wyoming. Crime, especially violent crime, is rare in the small-town. However, when the occasional murder occurs, somehow Lexie is in the middle. Of everything; Lucy goes along with her in order to keep her sibling out of trouble – an impossible task.
At the café, wealthy reclusive Eleni Andros uses the Heimlich Maneuver to save the life of Lexie choking on a carrot. Lexie is grateful to the heroine and Eleni begins to work at the café. However, one day dependable Eleni fails to show up or answer her phone. This is out of character for the reliable woman so the sisters go over to insure she is okay. No one greets them but Lexie’s dog leads them to a body buried in the rose garden. With the best detective on vacation and the cop assigned to investigate vanishing, Lexie takes over inquiring into who would kill a friend of hers.
The second Lexie-Lucy amateur sleuth (see THE SAUCY LUCY MURDERS) is a charming regional whodunit with plenty of humors and winks. Since Eleni was rich, Lexie begins with the greedy inheritance motive, but the horde of family members prove overwhelming to sort through while Lucy tries to persuade her to let the cops do their job. Lurch the dog provides comic relief with his flatulence emissions as Cindy Keen Reynders provides an enjoyable down home mystery inside a warm family drama.
Harriet Klausner
Cindy Keen Reynders
Medallion, Dec 2008, $7.95
ISBN: 9781933836607
Owners of the Saucy Lucy Café, Lexie Lightfoot and her sister Lucy, who is married to the county sheriff, live in Moose Creek Junction, Wyoming. Crime, especially violent crime, is rare in the small-town. However, when the occasional murder occurs, somehow Lexie is in the middle. Of everything; Lucy goes along with her in order to keep her sibling out of trouble – an impossible task.
At the café, wealthy reclusive Eleni Andros uses the Heimlich Maneuver to save the life of Lexie choking on a carrot. Lexie is grateful to the heroine and Eleni begins to work at the café. However, one day dependable Eleni fails to show up or answer her phone. This is out of character for the reliable woman so the sisters go over to insure she is okay. No one greets them but Lexie’s dog leads them to a body buried in the rose garden. With the best detective on vacation and the cop assigned to investigate vanishing, Lexie takes over inquiring into who would kill a friend of hers.
The second Lexie-Lucy amateur sleuth (see THE SAUCY LUCY MURDERS) is a charming regional whodunit with plenty of humors and winks. Since Eleni was rich, Lexie begins with the greedy inheritance motive, but the horde of family members prove overwhelming to sort through while Lucy tries to persuade her to let the cops do their job. Lurch the dog provides comic relief with his flatulence emissions as Cindy Keen Reynders provides an enjoyable down home mystery inside a warm family drama.
Harriet Klausner
Casting Spells-Barbara Bretton
Casting Spells
Barbara Bretton
Berkley, Nov 2008, $4.00
ISBN: 9780425223642
In Sugar Maple, Vermont, being the daughter of a sorcerer, Chloe Hobbs knows the rules that to inherit her magical power she must fall in love. However, half-breed Chloe, owner of Sticks and Strings knit shop in the northern side of the New England state, has vowed to never repeat her mom’s error of tragically falling in love with a mortal; only the paranormal hunks will do for her.
Boston Homicide Detective Luke MacKenzie is loaned to Vermont to investigate a murder in Sugar Maple when he and Chloe meet. They are attracted to one another, but he is a dreaded human. Still Chloe begins to fall in love, which means she needs to learn how to use her powers even as she must choose between Luke and her town.
Whimsical and satirical, CASTING SPELLS lives up to its title as Barbara Bretton casts a spell on readers with a charming urban fantasy romantic police procedural. The lead couple is a delightful pairing as Chloe’s brains says no, her heart says yes; Luke is confused with what he sees being done by the weird (to him) townsfolk, but is more bewildered by his feelings for the knit store owner. The whodunit is cleverly designed so that the audience will relish visiting northern Vermont in November while wanting sequels starring residents of the small New England town whose ancestors fled Salem.
Harriet Klausner
Barbara Bretton
Berkley, Nov 2008, $4.00
ISBN: 9780425223642
In Sugar Maple, Vermont, being the daughter of a sorcerer, Chloe Hobbs knows the rules that to inherit her magical power she must fall in love. However, half-breed Chloe, owner of Sticks and Strings knit shop in the northern side of the New England state, has vowed to never repeat her mom’s error of tragically falling in love with a mortal; only the paranormal hunks will do for her.
Boston Homicide Detective Luke MacKenzie is loaned to Vermont to investigate a murder in Sugar Maple when he and Chloe meet. They are attracted to one another, but he is a dreaded human. Still Chloe begins to fall in love, which means she needs to learn how to use her powers even as she must choose between Luke and her town.
Whimsical and satirical, CASTING SPELLS lives up to its title as Barbara Bretton casts a spell on readers with a charming urban fantasy romantic police procedural. The lead couple is a delightful pairing as Chloe’s brains says no, her heart says yes; Luke is confused with what he sees being done by the weird (to him) townsfolk, but is more bewildered by his feelings for the knit store owner. The whodunit is cleverly designed so that the audience will relish visiting northern Vermont in November while wanting sequels starring residents of the small New England town whose ancestors fled Salem.
Harriet Klausner
Witch High-Denise Little (editor)
Witch High
Denise Little (editor)
Daw, Oct 2008, $7.99
ISBN: 9780756405137
The premise of this well written fantasy anthology is looking into the lives of the students attending a very special school: Salem Township Public High School #4, better known by those familiar with the curriculum as Witch High. The back cover says it all as “Harry Potter and his friends would feel at home” at Witch High. The authors seem to have fun in spite of the somewhat limitations of topic, age and “locale”. The fourteen contributions are all well written with the student talent being magic rather than science or math. Whether it is the cheerleaders using magic to prevent their pyramid from tumbling (“A Perfect Ten” by Christina F. York), the irony of the “Late Bloomer” by Karen Fox who would rather die than attend the school or Josie supervising the school cafeteria (“You Got Served” by Esther M. Friesner), the compilation is a fun lighthearted look at high school through a magical Potter like lens.
Harriet Klausner
Denise Little (editor)
Daw, Oct 2008, $7.99
ISBN: 9780756405137
The premise of this well written fantasy anthology is looking into the lives of the students attending a very special school: Salem Township Public High School #4, better known by those familiar with the curriculum as Witch High. The back cover says it all as “Harry Potter and his friends would feel at home” at Witch High. The authors seem to have fun in spite of the somewhat limitations of topic, age and “locale”. The fourteen contributions are all well written with the student talent being magic rather than science or math. Whether it is the cheerleaders using magic to prevent their pyramid from tumbling (“A Perfect Ten” by Christina F. York), the irony of the “Late Bloomer” by Karen Fox who would rather die than attend the school or Josie supervising the school cafeteria (“You Got Served” by Esther M. Friesner), the compilation is a fun lighthearted look at high school through a magical Potter like lens.
Harriet Klausner
Sunday, October 5, 2008
A Single Thread-Marie Bostwick
A Single Thread
Marie Bostwick
Kensington, Nov 2008, $14.00
ISBN: 9780758222572
In Fort Worth, Texas, Evelyn Dixon thought her life was pretty good. That is until she figuratively receives two shotgun blasts into her gut. First her husband informs her he is leaving her; second she learns she has breast cancer.
Needing to get away, Evelyn moves to New Bern, Connecticut where she opens up a quilting store. As she begins to heal, Abigail Burgess, her niece Liza, and Margot Matthews enter her store. Each has issues with Abigail and Liza struggling with the sudden death of the latter’s mom and Margot looking for a job hopes quilting will bring her fresh contacts. These four begin to bond one stitch at a time.
Although the inspiring single thread that runs through this well written uplifting character study is not new as there are a bunch of examples out there, Marie Bostwick provides warn look at starting over while coping with at best a life changing emotional issue. The story line is driven by four women who each are coping with difficult poignant problems that lead to them finding a sisterly bond with one another; as the power of friendship helps each of them deal with the deck dealt them.
Harriet Klausner
Marie Bostwick
Kensington, Nov 2008, $14.00
ISBN: 9780758222572
In Fort Worth, Texas, Evelyn Dixon thought her life was pretty good. That is until she figuratively receives two shotgun blasts into her gut. First her husband informs her he is leaving her; second she learns she has breast cancer.
Needing to get away, Evelyn moves to New Bern, Connecticut where she opens up a quilting store. As she begins to heal, Abigail Burgess, her niece Liza, and Margot Matthews enter her store. Each has issues with Abigail and Liza struggling with the sudden death of the latter’s mom and Margot looking for a job hopes quilting will bring her fresh contacts. These four begin to bond one stitch at a time.
Although the inspiring single thread that runs through this well written uplifting character study is not new as there are a bunch of examples out there, Marie Bostwick provides warn look at starting over while coping with at best a life changing emotional issue. The story line is driven by four women who each are coping with difficult poignant problems that lead to them finding a sisterly bond with one another; as the power of friendship helps each of them deal with the deck dealt them.
Harriet Klausner
Time of My Life-Allison Winn Scotch
Time of My Life
Allison Winn Scotch
Shaye Areheart (Crown), Oct 7 2008, $23.00
ISBN: 9780307408570
In Westchester County, New York, anyone who knows Jillian Westfield will believe she lives the perfect life in her lovely upscale family home. Her husband Henry adores her and their infant daughter has a vocabulary of sixteen words. She seems to be the model of lifestyles described in the upbeat family living magazines she reads. However, Jillian is unhappy as she is already tired of cleaning up their daughter while her lawyer husband hides behind long office hours. Adding to her despondency is learning that her post graduate college lover, Jackson is getting married.
Following a deep, chi-clearing massage, Jill awakens not to her daughter’s cries, but somehow seven years ago when she worked in Manhattan advertising and dated Jack yet remembering her future. Each time she reaches a major decision point, she considers selecting the other opportunity she rejected the first time. As she redoes pivotal points even Jill wonders where her selections will leave her.
With nods to It’s A Wonderful Life and Peggy Sue Got Married, TIME OF MY LIFE is a poignant character driven drama as the heroine gets the chance to answer the what if fantasies people make about their past. Jillian carries the wonderful story line as she debates herself on whether to select the alternatives or follow the same path she already knows where it is going. Allison Winn Scotch provides a deep tale of second chances.
Harriet Klausner
Allison Winn Scotch
Shaye Areheart (Crown), Oct 7 2008, $23.00
ISBN: 9780307408570
In Westchester County, New York, anyone who knows Jillian Westfield will believe she lives the perfect life in her lovely upscale family home. Her husband Henry adores her and their infant daughter has a vocabulary of sixteen words. She seems to be the model of lifestyles described in the upbeat family living magazines she reads. However, Jillian is unhappy as she is already tired of cleaning up their daughter while her lawyer husband hides behind long office hours. Adding to her despondency is learning that her post graduate college lover, Jackson is getting married.
Following a deep, chi-clearing massage, Jill awakens not to her daughter’s cries, but somehow seven years ago when she worked in Manhattan advertising and dated Jack yet remembering her future. Each time she reaches a major decision point, she considers selecting the other opportunity she rejected the first time. As she redoes pivotal points even Jill wonders where her selections will leave her.
With nods to It’s A Wonderful Life and Peggy Sue Got Married, TIME OF MY LIFE is a poignant character driven drama as the heroine gets the chance to answer the what if fantasies people make about their past. Jillian carries the wonderful story line as she debates herself on whether to select the alternatives or follow the same path she already knows where it is going. Allison Winn Scotch provides a deep tale of second chances.
Harriet Klausner
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