The Book Of Killowen-Erin Hart

The Book Of Killowen


Erin Hart

Scribner, Mar 5 2013, $26.00

ISBN: 9781451634846



Detectives Stella Cusack and Fergal Malloy lead the investigation into how a Gold Mercedes containing in its trunk the remains of a centuries-old corpse ended up in County Tipperary’s Killowen Bog. Keeper of Conservation, National Museum of Ireland brings in two experts, Irish archeologist Cormac Maguire and American pathologist Nora Gavin to extract the victim. As the pair works on the removal of the well preserved but murdered Killowen Man, they find another corpse wearing modern garb.



Cormac and Nora are interested in the top deceased who turns out to be a ninth century monk murdered allegedly for heretic scripting. Stella and Fergal are interested in the bottom deceased who turns out to be TV host Benedict Kavanagh, known for destroying his guests with his sharp wit. Both investigations intertwine; forcing the four investigators to cooperate; especially since the nearby landowners and an artist colony prefer to hide the motives of the two homicides more than millennia apart.



The latest Maguire-Gavin archeological mystery (see False Mermaid) is a great whodunit that hooks the audience from the moment the car is found in the bog. Fast-paced from the onset with its dual homicides, The Book Of Killowen will be shortlisted as one of the best mysteries of the year as Erin Hart provides a deep look at various motives to maintain secrets.



Harriet Klausner

Lucky Stiff-Annelise Ryan

Lucky Stiff


Annelise Ryan

Kensington, Mar 5 2013. $7.99

ISBN: 9780758272751



On Christmas Day in Sorenson, Wisconsin, medical examiner Mattie Winston and her boyfriend Police Detective Steve Hurley look at the remains of a burned house and the body inside. Mattie concludes the arson was used to conceal a homicide; as the victim died before the inferno began. The victim, paraplegic Jack Allen recently won a large casino jackpot. The pair agree that the obvious motive is greed especially since Jack’s safe was open and empty.



Mattie and Steve visit the North Woods Casino where Jack won big but ended up an unlucky stiff. They ask questions and realize many people knew of the winnings, which leads the deputy coroner and the cop to conclude several suspects besides the victim’s girlfriend and housekeeper had opportunity. However Mattie and Steve begin a second inquiry by heading into the cold water to examine the dead body of floater Donald Strommen who vanished a few weeks ago.



The latest Mattie Winston police procedural (see Working Stiff, Scared Stiff and Frozen Stiff) is an enjoyable mystery with two murders to solve. The madcap mayhem has been reduced in this exciting entry as the heroine seems to have moved on passed her nasty ex-husband although this time Steve’s past arises. Fans will appreciate this well-written Wisconsin whodunit as both cases prove difficult even with Mattie finding forensic evidence that leads to more questions than answers.



Harriet Klausner

Calvert the Raven in the Battle of Baltimore: Flying Through History-J. Scott Fuqua

Calvert the Raven in the Battle of Baltimore: Flying Through History


J. Scott Fuqua

Bancroft Press, Mar 4 2013, $7.99 (trade), $17.99 (hardcover)

ISBN: 9781610880787 (trade); 9781610880770 (hardcover)



At school in Baltimore, Daniel studies the boring War of 1812 musing how he will stay awake reading this ennui fight while also wondering why no cameras were invented to at least take still photos. His teacher writes “Terrible” on his report.



Calvert the raven shocks Daniel when he speaks to the lad saying he will prove firsthand that history is exciting. He takes the skeptical student back to 1814 Baltimore where the British army and navy attack Fort McHenry. Explaining to the stunned child that history is fluid as there is a distinct possibility that this time the Star-Spangled Banner may not wave comes morning.



The first Flying Through History tale is a superb historical (with speculative elements like time travel and anthropomorphism) as the illustrations enhance a deep look at the battle that led to the National Anthem. Elementary school students will want to sear back in time with Calvert as he makes his case that history is thrilling using “empirical experience”.



Harriet Klausner

Revenge On Route 66-Kris Neri

Revenge On Route 66


Kris Neri

Cherokee McGhee, Mar 15 2013, $17.95

www.Cherokee McGhee.com

ISBN: 9781937556020



Hollywood hunk Alec Grainger enjoys traveling Route 66. He currently is on the Mother Road with his son-in-law’s Uncle Philly and soon joined by his daughter Tracy Eaton and her husband Drew. One of their favorite haunts has been the Lunch Pail Café in Tecos, New Mexico, but the diner is locked up since the proprietor, Lucy Crier is locked away after murdering her former boyfriend. However, somehow witnesses claim to see Lucy on Route 66. Alec persuades his companions for them to look into the sighting of a jailed Lucy.



Soon after the inexplicable sighting as Lucy has an iron clad alibi, someone kills her ingratiating son Woody. As the traveling team investigate the Crier mysteries, the FBI inexplicably declare Tracy Eaton as a deadly Most Wanted fugitive; she can run on Route 66 but can’t hide from the Feds and other pursuers.



The latest Eaton family travelogue (see Revenge of the Gypsy Queen, Revenge For Old Time’s Sake and Dem Bones’ Revenge) is another is humorous yet graveyard serious amateur sleuth as this time the flaky free spirited heroine is on the lam from the Feds (and others). The storyline is fast-paced with Tracy, the original campy Revenge star, dodging capture while seeking to solve three mysteries as she would prefer not to become Lucy’s bunkmate. Fans will appreciate this tremendous trip down America’s Mother Road.



Harriet Klausner

Winning Back His Wife-Melissa McClone

Winning Back His Wife


Melissa McClone

Harlequin Romance, Mar 5 2013, $5.75

ISBN: 9780373178667



The Oregon Search and Rescue volunteers save an injured climber on Mount Hood, but for Dr. Cullen Gray there is no time for R&R at his nearby home in Hood Hamlet. His soon to be ex-wife volcanologist Sarah Purcell is in critical condition in a Seattle trauma center after a blast of steam led to her being hit by rocks and tossed a significant distance while on the rim at Mount Baker.



Panicked he rushes to her side though he swears he can live without her. Upon seeing her in a comatose state, Cullen changes his vow to never leaving her side if god gives them a second chance. When Sarah regains consciousness, she is shocked to see her husband at her side. Each thinks how they married after only knowing one another for two days, but both placed their respective work ahead of their relationship; leading to their agreeing to an amiable divorce. Now he refuses to go as Cullen plans on Winning Back His Wife.



This is a strong second chance at love contemporary as a trauma awakens two workaholic protagonists as to what they almost lost by ignoring their relationship; their vocation came before each other. Cullen and Sarah are fully developed as neither can conceal how they feel from one another or the audience, but work still intrudes on their working through their reconciliation in Melissa McClone’s super romance.



Harriet Klausner

Beguiling the Boss-Joan Hohl

Beguiling the Boss


Joan Hohl

Harlequin Desire, Mar 5 2013, $4.99

ISBN: 9780373732289



Affluent Jennifer Dunning does not need to work as her parents are wealthy and she is their only child. Still she earned an MBA and was personal assistant to the CEO of a large company. Tired of her incompetent boss, she quits her job; catching her father cheat with his best friend’s wife leads to her leaving Dallas.



Jennifer accepts an office position working for reclusive business wizard Marshall Grainger at his ranch. She is stunned by her attraction to her boss as she distrusts men since Mr. Football All-American almost raped her in college and affirmed by her dad’s philandering; in fact she never let any male stay with her overnight. Marshall explains other duties as assigned includes housekeeping and cooking, but is shocked by his desire for his new employee as he distrusts all women. He soon offers to change her job description to wife and mother as he deems her worthy, but he fails to add his heart into the mix.



This is an engaging warm ranch romance as the protagonists make a nice couple. Although the premise is not new, readers will enjoy this entertaining contemporary.



Harriet Klausner

Cover Me-Joanna Wayne, Rita Herron and Mallory Kane

Cover Me


Joanna Wayne, Rita Herron and Mallory Kane

Harlequin Intrigue, Mar 5 2013, $5.25

ISBN: 9780373696741



“Bayou Payback” by Joanna Wayne. Former NOPD narcotics officer Remy Comeaux returns to New Orleans, a place of tragedy since he lost his fiancée and reason for breathing Carlotta Worthington to Katrina. His quest is to end the corrupt reign of newly appointed Police Commissioner Lee Barnaby. However, Lee’s girlfriend Katrina survivor Nicole Smith reminds Remy of Carlotta.



“Bayou Jeopardy” by Rita Herron. Several years have passed since Katrina, but ex-city Police Detective Mack Rivet has just returned to New Orleans for the first since the flood killed his wife Lily and son Winston, and someone with influence had him arrested on phony charges. However he is unprepared for the shocker that his wife and a son he never met are alive. Mack considers three corrupt individuals (his father-in-law Melvin Landry, Mayor Barrow and lawyer Tate Manning) as the only suspects setting him up as each had much to gain with his removal from the scene.



“Bayou Justice” by Mallory Kane. Eight years ago, FBI agent Ray Storm went undercover in New Orleans to bring down corrupt politician Martin Hennessy for taking funds earmarked to fix the levees. Ray used Martin’s innocent sister Molly to get evidence against the Louisiana Disaster Avoidance Task Force Chief. However, Katrina destroyed the proof. Now Ray is back in town and needs the woman he used and abandoned to bring down her sibling, who is running for governor.



Eight years ago Katrina enabled the corrupt to win on the backs of desperate citizens and caring honest cops trying to help the people. Now these dedicated law enforcement officials are back in this exciting three tales of romantic suspense.



Harriet Klausner