It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder
Jeff Markowitz
Five Star, Oct 16 2009, $25.95
ISBN: 9781594147296
Jersey Knews Magazine reporter Cassie O'Malley has been totally unproductive since her former mentor and boss Morris sold the tabloid to Jack Cambrian. Her new employer is tired of her attitude and lack of articles so he warns her to change her attitude and produce some articles. He assigns her to the Mall of Jersey to cover the Christmas shopping. Totally bored, Cassie watches Santa with the kids, but has no articles worth writing.
Security guard Oliver Berryhill finds loan shark Big Mack dead in the men’s room. He claims he killed the man during a knife fight when he confronted the loan shark over stolen merchandise. Police Detective Eddie "Eggs" Bebedict thinks the guard is lying; as the knife lacked fingerprints while Big Mack’s only surviving son Little Mack vows to kill Berryhill. Meanwhile a pawnbroker related to the case unbeknownst to the cop and the reporter also is found dead.
This is an engaging investigative tale starring a strong cast and climaxing with a great twist. Cassie and Eggs make an interesting combination while the support cast adds eccentricity and crime to the mix. Humor is found in nearby Woodbine where accidents also occur. Still fans will celebrate Cassie’s Christmas caper (see WHO IS KILLING DOAH’S DEER for her first case).
Harriet Klausner
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Locked In-Marcia Muller
Locked In
Marcia Muller
Grand Central, Oct 2009, $24.99
ISBN: 9780446581059
In San Francisco private investigator Sharon McCone is returning to her office late at night when she interrupts a burglary in progress. The thief shoots her.
When she regains consciousness, McCone finds herself totally paralyzed in a bed at San Francisco General where she realizes she can only move her eyelids by blinking. The staff at her workplace McCone Investigations worries about their boss who is diagnosed with Locked-In Syndrome and taken to specialized Brandt Neurological Institute. Her crew and her spouse Hy Ripinsky look at the recent caseload and communicate with McCone through her use of her eyelids answering yes and no questions even as she is about to undergo emergency surgery.
Although the ending is fully expected, this is one of the best McCone thrillers that Marcia Muller has ever written as the sleuth is LOCKED IN her body while trying to help her spouse and her employees solve the cases she was working on which includes the assault. The story line is fast-paced and filled with action, which affirms Marcia Muller’s skills as much occurs in the hospital room with the paralyzed heroine. Fans will be spellbound by a frustrated McCone who can only blink her way to help solving the mysteries.
Harriet Klausner
Marcia Muller
Grand Central, Oct 2009, $24.99
ISBN: 9780446581059
In San Francisco private investigator Sharon McCone is returning to her office late at night when she interrupts a burglary in progress. The thief shoots her.
When she regains consciousness, McCone finds herself totally paralyzed in a bed at San Francisco General where she realizes she can only move her eyelids by blinking. The staff at her workplace McCone Investigations worries about their boss who is diagnosed with Locked-In Syndrome and taken to specialized Brandt Neurological Institute. Her crew and her spouse Hy Ripinsky look at the recent caseload and communicate with McCone through her use of her eyelids answering yes and no questions even as she is about to undergo emergency surgery.
Although the ending is fully expected, this is one of the best McCone thrillers that Marcia Muller has ever written as the sleuth is LOCKED IN her body while trying to help her spouse and her employees solve the cases she was working on which includes the assault. The story line is fast-paced and filled with action, which affirms Marcia Muller’s skills as much occurs in the hospital room with the paralyzed heroine. Fans will be spellbound by a frustrated McCone who can only blink her way to help solving the mysteries.
Harriet Klausner
A Catered Birthday Party-Isis Crawford
A Catered Birthday Party
Isis Crawford
Kensington, Dec 2009, $22.00
ISBN: 9780758221940
Annabel and Richard Colbert are the richest couple in town thanks to the hot seller of theirt toy company’s Puggables based on their pet Trudy. Annabel is throwing a birthday party for Trudy and she hires the catering service of A Little Taste of Heaven run by sisters Bernie and Libby Simmons. Annabel toasts the attendees saying she knows no one there is her friend, but instead are leeches before dinking the wine. She starts choking claming she has been poisoned; before falling into a coma she begs the siblings to find her killer and bring that rat to justice. Two days later she is dead.
As soon as the body is released for burial, her husband Richard has her cremated and demands the sisters drop the idea of investigating Annabel’s death. Everyone at the gala depended on Annabel but also loathed her as she screwed all of them at one time or another thus everyone has a motive to kill her. With help from their father, a retired police chief, Bernie and Libby uncover the identity of the culprit, but lack solid proof.
The rich and powerful cast of suspects are amusing and lampooned as unlikable amoral A-holes. Isis Crawford delightfully mocks the affluent inside of a fascinating amateur sleuth mystery. Readers will root for the sisters to bake a perfect case so the killer receives his or hers just desserts. Unlike the odious affluent characters, the siblings are nice and caring as they are always there for one another and their family. With an amusing satirical spin, A CATERED BIRTHDAY PARTY is a delightful Creative Culinary mystery.
Harriet Klausner
Isis Crawford
Kensington, Dec 2009, $22.00
ISBN: 9780758221940
Annabel and Richard Colbert are the richest couple in town thanks to the hot seller of theirt toy company’s Puggables based on their pet Trudy. Annabel is throwing a birthday party for Trudy and she hires the catering service of A Little Taste of Heaven run by sisters Bernie and Libby Simmons. Annabel toasts the attendees saying she knows no one there is her friend, but instead are leeches before dinking the wine. She starts choking claming she has been poisoned; before falling into a coma she begs the siblings to find her killer and bring that rat to justice. Two days later she is dead.
As soon as the body is released for burial, her husband Richard has her cremated and demands the sisters drop the idea of investigating Annabel’s death. Everyone at the gala depended on Annabel but also loathed her as she screwed all of them at one time or another thus everyone has a motive to kill her. With help from their father, a retired police chief, Bernie and Libby uncover the identity of the culprit, but lack solid proof.
The rich and powerful cast of suspects are amusing and lampooned as unlikable amoral A-holes. Isis Crawford delightfully mocks the affluent inside of a fascinating amateur sleuth mystery. Readers will root for the sisters to bake a perfect case so the killer receives his or hers just desserts. Unlike the odious affluent characters, the siblings are nice and caring as they are always there for one another and their family. With an amusing satirical spin, A CATERED BIRTHDAY PARTY is a delightful Creative Culinary mystery.
Harriet Klausner
Immortal-V.K. Forrest
Immortal
V.K. Forrest
Kensington, Dec 2009, $15.00
ISBN: 9780758217189
The Kahill Sept was cursed by God because they refused to give up their pagan ways, rejecting the message of Christianity given to them by St.Patrick. They said they will never give up teirpaganism and their lust for power and blood. God gave them what they deserved turning them into vampires who have a continuous life cycle. They die of old age only to return as fourteen years old three days later. When they came to the New World they were given a chance to repent and if they chose God and help guard humanity He would lift the curse.
Now they live in Clare Point, Delaware where they watch over God’s children; killing those monsters whom the authorities cannot touch. The human teen tourist Colin Meding is drained dry of blood by a female vampire after they had sex. Fin Kahill is spending the summer as a deputy and watching over his twin Regan, a recovering addict. He is trying to also solve the vampire murder while enjoying his relationship with visting tourist Elena Ruffino who with her family is in town on a vacationt. She is interested in Fin like he is with her. As more murders occur, Fin gets closer to uncovering the identity of the serial killer but also fears what he is learning about his beloved Italian soulmate.
This saga is one of the best vampire series on the market as V.K. Forrest consistently provides super tales. The UNDYING Kahill clan repents their sins and God gives them a chance for ETERNAL redemption, but they must obey his commandments including thou shall not drink human blood. Someone is obviously breaking that commandment. Still the Kahill clan has hope; something none of their species typically have. Ironically as Fin dreams of dying and moving on to heaven, he also finds love on earth. With a terrific police procedural supernatural hunt and a wonderful apparently bittersweet romance, fans will want to rush into the IMMORTAL romantic fantasy realm of this terrific author.
Harriet Klausner
V.K. Forrest
Kensington, Dec 2009, $15.00
ISBN: 9780758217189
The Kahill Sept was cursed by God because they refused to give up their pagan ways, rejecting the message of Christianity given to them by St.Patrick. They said they will never give up teirpaganism and their lust for power and blood. God gave them what they deserved turning them into vampires who have a continuous life cycle. They die of old age only to return as fourteen years old three days later. When they came to the New World they were given a chance to repent and if they chose God and help guard humanity He would lift the curse.
Now they live in Clare Point, Delaware where they watch over God’s children; killing those monsters whom the authorities cannot touch. The human teen tourist Colin Meding is drained dry of blood by a female vampire after they had sex. Fin Kahill is spending the summer as a deputy and watching over his twin Regan, a recovering addict. He is trying to also solve the vampire murder while enjoying his relationship with visting tourist Elena Ruffino who with her family is in town on a vacationt. She is interested in Fin like he is with her. As more murders occur, Fin gets closer to uncovering the identity of the serial killer but also fears what he is learning about his beloved Italian soulmate.
This saga is one of the best vampire series on the market as V.K. Forrest consistently provides super tales. The UNDYING Kahill clan repents their sins and God gives them a chance for ETERNAL redemption, but they must obey his commandments including thou shall not drink human blood. Someone is obviously breaking that commandment. Still the Kahill clan has hope; something none of their species typically have. Ironically as Fin dreams of dying and moving on to heaven, he also finds love on earth. With a terrific police procedural supernatural hunt and a wonderful apparently bittersweet romance, fans will want to rush into the IMMORTAL romantic fantasy realm of this terrific author.
Harriet Klausner
Unseen Academicals-Terry Pratchett
Unseen Academicals
Terry Pratchett
Harper, Oct 6 2009, $25.99
ISBN: 9780061161704
Ankh-Morpork’s clever ruler Lord Ventinari informs Ankh-Morpork’s Unseen University Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully he could lose a humongous grant if they fail to field a sports team playing football; some sort of hybrid of soccer and rugby. The wizard faculty and administration are in a frenzied state as none of the practitioners understand the rudiments of the game so they struggle to become adept rather quickly; depending ironically on the mundane support staff.
As they put together a squad around a good kicker who apparently is not part of UU, but part of the streets of UU, Ventinari plans to take advantage of the competition to further his ambitions as sponsors expect much more than a front row seat. Part of his tasking of the wizards is to remove the violence out of the sport as the two best teams in the city, the Dimmers and the Dollies, break a lot of bones and not just on the playing field or limited to the players.
The latest Discworld satire lampoons team sports, fans and academics as UU always put learning and eating way above athletics, but now must dropkick athletics way above learning; eating remains at the top thanks to the cook. Fans will enjoy this amusing look at football and universities with side mockings of racism, sexism and fanatics as learning gets benched for a Top Ten team of headbangers.
Harriet Klausner
Terry Pratchett
Harper, Oct 6 2009, $25.99
ISBN: 9780061161704
Ankh-Morpork’s clever ruler Lord Ventinari informs Ankh-Morpork’s Unseen University Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully he could lose a humongous grant if they fail to field a sports team playing football; some sort of hybrid of soccer and rugby. The wizard faculty and administration are in a frenzied state as none of the practitioners understand the rudiments of the game so they struggle to become adept rather quickly; depending ironically on the mundane support staff.
As they put together a squad around a good kicker who apparently is not part of UU, but part of the streets of UU, Ventinari plans to take advantage of the competition to further his ambitions as sponsors expect much more than a front row seat. Part of his tasking of the wizards is to remove the violence out of the sport as the two best teams in the city, the Dimmers and the Dollies, break a lot of bones and not just on the playing field or limited to the players.
The latest Discworld satire lampoons team sports, fans and academics as UU always put learning and eating way above athletics, but now must dropkick athletics way above learning; eating remains at the top thanks to the cook. Fans will enjoy this amusing look at football and universities with side mockings of racism, sexism and fanatics as learning gets benched for a Top Ten team of headbangers.
Harriet Klausner
Frostbite-David Wellington
Frostbite
David Wellington
Three Rivers (Crown), Oct 6 2009, $14.00
ISBN: 9780307460837
Cheyenne “Chey” Clark is camping in the Northwest Territories of the Canadian Arctic as she was hired by developers to lure a reticent hermit from his oil rich land where hunters wait to finish the job. After a dangerous night caused by melting ice flooding, she hears a howl that she assumes is a timber wolf. The feral wolf hunts her and when the moon is full traps and bites her.
When Chey awakens she finds herself in the cabin of Monty Powell suffering no physical injuries; in fact she is feeling healthier than she can ever recall. Unsure why, she knows her host is her target. However, as she feels an urge to run the tundra, Chey remains somewhat ignorant as to her condition and just who Monty is. He seeks vengeance from those who murdered his father twenty years ago and their allies; which means slicing off the head of his potential life mate whom he has made like him.
Switching from Vengeful Vampire blood to vengeful werewolf blood, David Wellington provides horror fans with an exhilarating Arctic horror thriller with the usual brilliant final twist. The story line is fast-paced with the focus on the family, as vengeance is in the Canadian air. Fans will enjoy the aptly titled FROSTBITE while wondering will he chop off her head or not and if not will she choose him or her employers?
Harriet Klausner
David Wellington
Three Rivers (Crown), Oct 6 2009, $14.00
ISBN: 9780307460837
Cheyenne “Chey” Clark is camping in the Northwest Territories of the Canadian Arctic as she was hired by developers to lure a reticent hermit from his oil rich land where hunters wait to finish the job. After a dangerous night caused by melting ice flooding, she hears a howl that she assumes is a timber wolf. The feral wolf hunts her and when the moon is full traps and bites her.
When Chey awakens she finds herself in the cabin of Monty Powell suffering no physical injuries; in fact she is feeling healthier than she can ever recall. Unsure why, she knows her host is her target. However, as she feels an urge to run the tundra, Chey remains somewhat ignorant as to her condition and just who Monty is. He seeks vengeance from those who murdered his father twenty years ago and their allies; which means slicing off the head of his potential life mate whom he has made like him.
Switching from Vengeful Vampire blood to vengeful werewolf blood, David Wellington provides horror fans with an exhilarating Arctic horror thriller with the usual brilliant final twist. The story line is fast-paced with the focus on the family, as vengeance is in the Canadian air. Fans will enjoy the aptly titled FROSTBITE while wondering will he chop off her head or not and if not will she choose him or her employers?
Harriet Klausner
23 Hours-David Wellington
23 Hours
David Wellington
Three Rivers (Crown), Jun 2009, $14.00
ISBN: 9780307452771
Former cop turned vampire slayer and convict Laura Caxton are incarcerated at the Marcy State Correctional Institution in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. The maximum security prison is double the intend population with over 1300 of the worst dregs of humanity residing there. Laura is unconcerned as she eats soup in the cafeteria because she expects attacks and deaths, but not hers.
However, when she anticipated corpses she thought she would be the cause. Instead the prison has a special guest, the oldest known vampire Justinia Malvern who dines on the local population with plans to have Laura as her just dessert within 23 hours of the hunter’s arrival. Each human Justina drains she also converts.
This is a terrific violent Vengeful Vampire thriller (see Vampire Zero, 13 Bullets and 99 Coffins) with a fascinating final twist that will stun fans. The story line is fast-paced and filled with plenty of blood and gore as expected by those who read this series. They also expect a High Midnight showdown, which they get. Laura’s killing sprees is a trademark of the saga but the tale avoids the overall feel of repetition due to her diabolically brilliant opponent.
Harriet Klausner
David Wellington
Three Rivers (Crown), Jun 2009, $14.00
ISBN: 9780307452771
Former cop turned vampire slayer and convict Laura Caxton are incarcerated at the Marcy State Correctional Institution in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. The maximum security prison is double the intend population with over 1300 of the worst dregs of humanity residing there. Laura is unconcerned as she eats soup in the cafeteria because she expects attacks and deaths, but not hers.
However, when she anticipated corpses she thought she would be the cause. Instead the prison has a special guest, the oldest known vampire Justinia Malvern who dines on the local population with plans to have Laura as her just dessert within 23 hours of the hunter’s arrival. Each human Justina drains she also converts.
This is a terrific violent Vengeful Vampire thriller (see Vampire Zero, 13 Bullets and 99 Coffins) with a fascinating final twist that will stun fans. The story line is fast-paced and filled with plenty of blood and gore as expected by those who read this series. They also expect a High Midnight showdown, which they get. Laura’s killing sprees is a trademark of the saga but the tale avoids the overall feel of repetition due to her diabolically brilliant opponent.
Harriet Klausner
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