Penelope Crumb-Shawn K. Stout

Penelope Crumb


Shawn K. Stout

Philomel, Aug 2 2012,

ISBN: 9780399257285



In art class, fourth-grader Penelope learns the worst news she ever head as she finds out that she has a humongous shnoz. Upset when she goes home she talks with her medical illustrator mom, who informs her she has been cursed by the “Crumb nose” of “Graveyard Dead” dad and her still breathing (albeit using up a lot of oxygen) paternal Grandpa Felix, who Penelope thought was with her father. Also Penelope is confused as to how she failed to recognize her snout as even her older brother Terrence the Terrible noticed the family icon.



Curious about her paternal grandfather who disappeared when her dad became ill, Penelope wants to compare noses with him. A school assignment on family trees is the final impetus for Penelope to locate Grandpa Felix.



With a nod to famous noses like that of Jimmy Durante and the Ricci character in the film Penelope, this fabulous upper elementary school amateur sleuth investigative thriller is a fun tale as Shawn K. Stout treats his youthful audience with respect never dumbing down the drama. The heroine is a wonderful individual who still grieves her dad’s death and is an expert on reading nonverbal cues especially from adults ready to pounce. Valeria Docampo enhances the engaging storyline with b&w images of Penelope and her protuberance as fans will root for the spunky protagonist who noses her way to solving the case and somewhat her grief.



Harriet Klausner

The Other Woman's House-Sophie Hannah

The Other Woman's House


Sophie Hannah

Penguin, Jun 26 2012, $15.00

ISBN: 9780143121510



In 2010 thirtyish bookkeeper Connie Bowskill goes on line to look at a house for sale in Cambridge that haunts her soul though she has no proof of what she thinks is going on there. As she virtually tours 11 Bentley Grove, she finds something even more horrifying when she sees a woman lying perfectly still in a pool of blood. Shocked she calls her husband Kit to take a look; but by the time he gets to the computer, the corpse and blood are gone. Connie ignores her husband’s plea to write it off as her imagination going wild; instead she informs the police.



Detective Sergeant Sam Kombothekra leads the investigation on which another on line witness affirms Connie’s assertion. When Detective Sergeant Charlotte “Charlie” Zailer and Detective Constable Simon Waterhouse return from their honeymoon, they join the official inquiry. At the same time, Connie fears her adoring husband is behaving amoral and perhaps illegally at 11 Bentley Grove.



The latest Zailer and Waterhouse police procedural (see Hurting Distance and Cradle in the Grave), is an entertaining mystery with a Hitchcockian Suspicion feel to the storyline. The main plot is an exciting psychological drama but at times overwhelmed by a myriad of twisting turgid subplots (past and present) in which several never tie back to the main theme. Though confusing, fans will want to know the truth of what happened in The Other Woman's House.



Harriet Klausner

Sour Lake Or, The Beast-Bruce McCandless

Sour Lake Or, The Beast


Bruce McCandless

Ninth Planet Press, Dec 1 2011, $9.99

ISBN: 9780615544861



In 1911, East Texans live in fear as a monster is viciously ripping people apart while draining the victims of their blood. Ochiltree County Sheriff Reeves Duncan knows he must end this reign of terror, but realizes all the advantages belong to the unknown malevolence who owns the night in this depressed area called Big Thicket for an obvious reason.



While the good citizens of Acheson and other towns blame Sheriff Duncan in spite of his almost two decades of dedicated law enforcement, he puts together a posse of undesirables and second class misfits (as the good citizens refuse to help). The team of unacceptable pariahs methodically searches the slough of Big Thicket seeking to end the gruesome beast’s horror unaware that this monster has quisling allies and that there is an even greater danger to mankind.



This is an exhilarating gory early twentieth century horror thriller in which the taut storyline is enhanced with short backstories re the posse and the victims. Fast-paced with a sense of doom on every page, fans will appreciate this dark tale as 1911 East Texas comes to depressing light through grisly deaths and the eyes of a team suffering from PTSD with every mutilated body they find.



Harriet Klausner

The Sundered-Ruthanne Reid

The Sundered


Ruthanne Reid

4th Floor Publication, Jun 22 2012, $14.99

www.4thFloorPublication.com

ISBN: 9780985260002



The world is a terrible place to die. The darkened water is deadly if touched; and much of the planet is inundated by it except for a few small islands with those diminishing every day. There is no place to grow food so what you have must last. Finally there are the watery Sundered slaves, who most feel are needed to survive but are limited by how easily they die in this dismal realm.



Harry knows the final pandemic flood is coming soon; extinction is humanity’s near future. Still he leads a team to include a highly intelligent Tier 1 Sundered seeking to save the planet before the orb becomes totally under water. The only chance is to find the long lost legendary Hope of Humanity; an artifact that enabled humans to obtain the top rung of the food chain and allegedly can cure the planet. Harry has a nightmarish choice between saving the Sundered and humanity dying rather quickly; and committing genocide by eradicating the Sundered so humanity can linger a little longer before expiring.



This is a superb cautionary environmental science fiction thriller in which earth takes center stage as the planet is changing by becoming uninhabitable for humanity who has abused it and is increasingly home to the Sundered. The fast-paced storyline grips the audience from the moment Harry explains the survivor rules and continues to hold readers spellbound as he takes us on a tour of a radically modified deadly for humans but thriving for Sundered earth.



Harriet Klausner

Sin’s Dark Caress-Tracey O'Hara

Sin’s Dark Caress


Tracey O'Hara

Harper Voyager, Jul 31 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780061783159



The three NYPD cops at the murder scene are not feeling very well as the homeless victim was ripped open like a can of corn to remove the baby inside of her. This is the second horrific homicide in two weeks. Detective McManus asked magic expert Dr. Bianca Sin the Forensic witch to look at a symbol. When she does, Bianca becomes sick as she realizes the Dark Brethren seal is on the alley wall.



She calls shapeshifter Oberon DuPrie with the news the worst that could happen has begun. He and the team race to the murder scene. War is coming in which the paranormal species and the humans will take enormous losses, but must unite or face even worse as evil is on the march. Bianca understands this as she opens her locket to meet her familiar Kedrax the dragon who warns her dark magic plans to enable the Dark Brethren to cross over.



The latest Dark Brethren urban fantasy (see Death’s Sweet Embrace and Night's Cold Kiss) costars a nasty malevolent being who uses magic to impregnate chosen “fallen” women and then guts them to take the baby from them; this evil has great plans to bring hell on earth. Bianca, Oberon and the crew investigate in hopes of preventing the pandemic threat from happening. Their inquiry allows the audience to learn more about the secretive witch clans and to a lesser degree vampires and shapeshifters. This is a winner in the O’Hara mythos as time is running out on earth.



Harriet Klausner

The Dirty Streets of Heaven-Tad Williams

The Dirty Streets of Heaven


Tad Williams

Daw, Sep 4 2012, $25.95

ISBN: 9780756407681



Though ostensibly Bobby Dollar is an angel, he understands sin first hand from his travails on that wicked oasis planet earth as he has tasted most if not all of the seven deadly sins. Bobby is a defense attorney advocating for the placement of souls as Heaven and Hell debate the merits and demerits of a lesser being in judgment. He trusts neither side as Heaven works in mysterious ways with hidden agendas and hell is like a dog catcher. A newcomer sent from Heaven makes Bobby feel as if the rookie is from internal affairs with his unrelenting questions. In fact the only person he believes tells him the truth is the Countess of Cold Hands and he is unsure whether lust is filtering her responses.



However, recently things have gone terribly wrong when souls vanish prior to their judgment. Hell lies and Heaven obfuscates as the advocate tries to learn the truth. At the same time a monstrous Babylonian demonic avenger stalks Bobby with plans to dine in his soul.



This is a wonderful fantasy in which heaven and hell are not good and bad but filled with gray matter. Bobby is terrific as he recognizes that both sides in the eternal war are collectors with Hell more open with their BHAG than Heaven is. With an exciting investigation and an end of days feel to the storyline, The Dirty Streets of Heaven is a serious version of Albert Brooks’ Defending Your Life but with the Rip Torn advocate telling the tale of life in the afterlife bureaucratic judicial system at a time when all hell (or heaven) breaks out.



Harriet Klausner

Pleasures of a Tempted Lady-Jennifer Haymore

Pleasures of a Tempted Lady


Jennifer Haymore

Forever, Jul 31 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780446573160



On the Irish Sea the crew of the Freedom captained by Commander William Langley search for smugglers when they spot a drifting vessel. They rescue an unconscious woman with a frightened boy not older than six. However, Will is stunned as the female is his lost beloved Meg Donovan, who disappeared at sea eight years ago while the child is named Jake.



When she finally awakens, Meg explains that she escaped from the Defiant taking Jake with her when her friend the captain’s wife recently died. She knows ruthless Jacob Caversham will come after them as he cannot accept such an affront especially in front of his vicious crew; as Jake is his son. Will vows to keep his beloved safe, but Meg refuses to allow either of the two males she cherishes to come to harm from vicious Caversham.



The third Donovan sister historical romance (see A Season Of Seduction) is an entertaining tale as Meg this time unlike in Confessions of an Improper Bride actually comes back from the dead. Although the premise for why she failed to attempt to escape much earlier seems too altruistically unlikely, fans will relish her return even if it means she is now her twin “Serena” and “Serena” is “Meg”.



Harriet Klausner