Mystery
Aug 15, 2010Serving as a dramatic backdrop to many historical mysteries, war often plays a major role in sleuths' development. For example, Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs, Charles Todd's Ian Rutledge, and Rennie Airth's John Madden all served in World War I and seek to rebuild their postwar lives while solving crimes. In Suzanne Arruda's post–World War I series set in colonial 1920s Kenya (The Crocodile's Last Embrace), ex–ambulance driver Jade del Cameron faces prejudice against women who want more in life than marriage and motherhood. Colin Cotterill's Laotian coroner Dr. Siri (Love Songs from a Shallow Grave) seeks justice in a country left wounded by a more recent conflict, the Vietnam War.
Arruda, Suzanne. The Crocodile's Last Embrace: A Jade del Cameron Mystery. Obsidian Mysteries: NAL. Sept. 2010. 380p. ISBN 978-0-451-23117-8. pap. $15. M
In her sixth adventure (after The Leopard's Prey), photojournalist Jade del Cameron has returned to her Kenyan home after a European trip, haunted by her memories of serving as an ambulance driver during World War I. Because of her indecision about marriage, Sam Featherstone has gone back to the States, leaving Jade unsettled. And then someone begins a campaign to undercut Jade's self-assurance and drive her into madness. Could it be the evil Lilith, archcriminal and mother of Jade's dead fiancé? Jade's adventures will leave readers breathless as she battles her inner demons and the villain determined to harm those she holds dear. VERDICT Arruda sets her historical series in post–World War I Africa, with the trappings of dangerous intrigue and the very real tension between native Africans and European settlers. The hallmark of this series is intense suspense and strong, assertive women, be they good or bad, and Arruda's latest is no exception. Do not miss this one. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 4/1/10.]
Cotterill, Colin. Love Songs from a Shallow Grave: A Dr. Siri Investigation Set in Laos. Soho Crime. Aug. 2010. 326p. ISBN 978-1-56947-627-7. $25. M
In 1978 Laos, three young women are murdered within a few days of each other. Their bodies are found with a fencing sword thrust through their hearts. Dr. Siri and the police begin to investigate, but as an arrest is made, Siri disappears in Cambodia while on a diplomatic mission. VERDICT In his seventh installment (after The Merry Misogynist) Cotterill vividly depicts a Southeast Asia still traumatized by the Vietnam War—the horrors perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge, the shocking poverty, the rampant corruption, and the steadfast spirit of the people, And Dr. Siri is a one-of-a-kind protagonist rivaled only by Eliot Pattison's Shan Tao Yung. Highly recommended for series fans and readers who enjoy international mysteries. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 4/1/10.]
de Castrique, Mark. Fatal Undertaking: A Buryin' Barry Mystery. Poisoned Pen. Oct. 2010. 232p. ISBN 978-1-59058-801-7. $24.95; pap. ISBN 978-1-59058-803-1. $14.95. M
When the son of Gainesboro's (NC) wealthiest man is murdered in a coffin donated by funeral director Barry Clayton (Final Undertaking) to the Jaycees' Halloween fund-raiser, Barry investigates the crime in his other job as deputy sheriff. Complicating the situation is the arrival of Barry's ex-wife, an unstoppable investigative reporter. VERDICT De Castrique writes complicated mysteries that lead his sleuth on journeys of self-discovery while unwrapping the motivations behind murder. Here the focus is on how greed warps the human spirit. De Castrique's unassuming but commanding prose style is comparable to James Lee Burke and Margaret Maron. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 5/1/05.]
Gordon-Smith, Dolores. A Hundred Thousand Dragons: A Jack Haldean Mystery. Severn House. Aug. 2010. c.230p. ISBN 978-0-7278-6910-4. $28.95. M
In 1920s London, writer-sleuth Jack Haldean's (As If By Magic) past comes calling when an archaeologist and Middle East expert he knew during World War I is murdered. Facing an episode from his past that humiliated and almost ruined him, Jack returns to Arabia to confront the demons he thought he had escaped. VERDICT Part traditional British mystery and part Indiana Jones adventure, this is filled with action as Jack attempts to save himself and those he cares about most.
Gruley, Bryan. The Hanging Tree: A Starvation Lake Mystery. Touchstone: S. & S. Aug. 2010. c.314p. ISBN 978-1-4165-6364-8. pap. $15. M
Found hanging from a tree just outside of Starvation Lake, MI, Gracie McBride is assumed by local residents to have committed suicide. Her cousin, reporter Gus Carpenter, promises his mother to look into the motivation for Gracie's death. VERDICT In this follow-up to Gruley's acclaimed debut, Starvation Lake, the author tells more of Gus's story and reveals many secrets about the local people. Slow moving at times, with much detail about hockey and many flashbacks, this might appeal to readers who enjoy Joseph Heywood and Mary Logue.
Hornsby, Wendy. The Paramour's Daughter: A Maggie MacGowen Mystery. Perseverance: John Daniel. Sept. 2010. c.276p. ISBN 978-1-56474-496-8. pap. $14.95. M
Filmmaker Maggie MacGowen is accosted by a frantic woman who claims to be her birth mother. Next day the woman is dead, and it turns out the extended family Maggie never knew existed wants Maggie to carry her mother's ashes back to France. Danger lurks in every shadow as the relatives have hidden agendas regarding Maggie's inheritance. VERDICT In her seventh series entry (after In the Guise of Mercy), Hornsby deftly uses a patina of the gothic to add suspense to her engaging tale. The bad guys are a bit clichéd, but anyone seeking a perfect summer read can pick this one up with confidence. For readers of Nora Roberts and Mary Higgins Clark.
Larsen, K.J. Liar, Liar: A Cat DeLuca Mystery. Poisoned Pen. Sept. 2010. 237p. ISBN 978-1-59058-725-6. $24.95; pap. ISBN 978-1-59058-727-0. $14.95. M
Getting the goods on straying husbands is what Cat DeLuca, owner of Chicago's Pants on Fire Detective Agency: We Catch Liars and Cheats, does for a living. In her new case, Cat tails Chance Savino around town, but strange things start to happen—exploding cars and a murder or two. Then her cop family, led by her micromanaging mother, gets into the act. That's when the real fun begins. VERDICT Packed with action and wonderfully funny characters, this series debut is a masterstroke of hilarity. Cat De Luca is smart and charming in a scorned-woman-turned-to-avenging-all-cheated-upon-women way and is sure to appeal to fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum.
Royal, Priscilla. Valley of Dry Bones: A Medieval Mystery. Poisoned Pen. Nov. 2010. c.231p. ISBN 978-1-59058-763-8. $24.95; pap. ISBN 978-1-59058-765-2. $14.95. M
In the summer of 1274, Tyndal Priory is a proposed stop for King Edward's queen as she makes a pilgrimage through England. Her emissaries arrive to make sure Tyndal has suitable accommodations, but it is not long before one of them, Baron Otes, is murdered. There are many at the priory who have reason to want him harmed. VERDICT Royal gets better with each book. Her seventh series title (after Chambers of Death) has Prioress Eleanor honing her skills and her knowledge of political maneuvering. This is a series not to be missed by readers who yearn for one more medieval mysteries from Ellis Peters.
Rozan, S.J. On the Line: A Bill Smith/Lydia Chin Novel. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Oct. 2010. 309p. ISBN 978-0-312-54449-2. $24.99. M
A phone call informs Bill Smith that he has 12 hours to find his partner, Lydia Chin (The Shanghai Moon), who has been kidnapped and hidden somewhere in Manhattan. Smith must follow the clues provided, and there may be no contact with the police. Of course things go wrong from the get-go. VERDICT Rozan, winner of a host of crime fiction awards, comes up with new twists on the literary form and manages to kick it up a notch or two every time. This one is like a video game in which every location is full of lurking danger, technology is used to find information, and failure is possible at each turn. If you long for heart-stopping action and the most original characters outside of P.J. Tracy's Monkeewrench Gang, look no further. [Library marketing.]
Westerson, Jeri. The Demon's Parchment: A Medieval Noir. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Oct. 2010. 307p. ISBN 978-0-312-62104-9. $25.99. M
Crispin Guest has lost everything because he backed the wrong man to be the next king of England and now makes ends meet by serving as a tracker, a man who finds things for people. In his third outing (after Veil of Lies and Serpent in the Thorns), Crispin is hired by two sheriffs to identify the killer who is leaving the bodies of young boys on the banks of the Thames. At the same time he is asked to locate some important documents owned by a Jewish physician tending to the queen. VERDICT Westerson skillfully lulls her sleuth and the reader into a sense of "I know what is going on," then zings them with the truth. Absolutely first-class; highly recommended for fans of medieval mysteries.
Mysteries in Brief
Madsen, Diane Gilbert. Hunting For Hemingway: A DD McGil Literati Mystery. Midnight Ink. Sept. 2010. c.276p. ISBN 978-0-7387-1953-5. pap. $14.95. M
DD McGil (A Cadger's Curse) is up to her eyes in trouble when an ex-boyfriend, who is about to auction off Ernest Hemingway manuscripts lost in 1922, is murdered—and DD is the prime suspect. VERDICT Chick lit meets the English Department of a Chicago community college with humorous results. Breezy and fast paced, this will appeal to fans of chick lit cozies and mysteries set in academia.
Meier, Leslie. Wicked Witch Murder: A Lucy Stone Mystery. Kensington. Sept. 2010. c.298p. ISBN 978-0-7582-2929-8. $24. M
Tinker's Cove, ME, has become a hotbed for a witch's coven. Lucy Stone (Mother's Day Murder) finds the burned body of a man with ties to that group, and the town threatens to go on a literal witch hunt. VERDICT The warm, small-town ambiance and the persevering Lucy Stone make this a winner for cozy fans.
O'Donohue, Clare. The Double Cross: A Someday Quilts Mystery. Plume: Penguin Group (USA). Sept. 2010. c.289p. ISBN 978-0-452-29642-8. pap. $14. M
The Someday Quilt ladies go to upstate New York to take part in a quilting workshop but instead find murder. VERDICT With delightful protagonists Nell Fitzgerald and her grandmother, a good mystery, and and quilting instructions, this third series title (after A Drunkard's Path and A Lover's Knot) will appeal to fans of Maggie Sefton and Debbie Macomber.
Peffer, Randall. Listen to the Dead: A Cape Islands Mystery. Tyrus. Aug. 2010. c.353p. ISBN 978-1-935562-19-1. $24.95. M
A human body is found on Bird Island off the coast of Cape Cod. It is soon determined that the woman had been beaten and buried alive a few years ago. As Detective Colón investigates, she hears the voices of the dead. VERDICT Fueled by sex, drugs, long-suppressed memories, and the practice of Santeria, this fast-paced fifth entry in Peffer's series (after Bangkok Dragons, Cape Cod Tears)is unusual and intriguing.
Ross, Barbara. The Death of an Ambitious Woman: A Chief Ruth Murphy Mystery. Five Star: Gale Cengage. Aug. 2010. c.235p. ISBN 978-1-59414-898-9. $25.95. M
Acting Chief of Police Ruth Murphy is suspicious about the fatal car crash of a successful businesswoman and mother who was speaking to her son on her cell phone moments before her death. As the investigation moves forward, Murphy draws criticism from the city council and flack from her nemesis, the prosecutor. Time is running out, and Murphy must take risks to trap a deadly killer. VERDICT While not as complex as J.A. Jance's books, this debut mystery is just as satisfying.
Smallman, Phyllis. A Brewski for the Old Man: A Sherri Travis Mystery. McArthur, dist. by HarperCollins. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-1-55278-836-3. pap. $19.95. M
When the man who tried to rape Sherri Travis when she was 13 shows up in town with the mother of teenage friend, she must stand up to an abuser with clout—he has ties to the local cops. VERDICT This third series title (after Sex in a Sidecar and Margarita Nights) offers a good story and interesting characters.
Stuart, Sebastian. To the Manor Dead: A Janet's Planet Mystery. Midnight Ink. Oct. 2010. c.230p. ISBN 978-0-7387-2293-1. pap. $14.95. M
Fleeing her life as a psychotherapist in New York City, Janet Petrocelli moves to Sawyersville on the Hudson River and runs a collectibles/resale shop. But an agreement to sell some high-end items for a wealthy client goes sour when the woman is murdered.VERDICT The small-town atmosphere and eccentric characters make for a humorous, light read. The author is the partner of novelist Stephen McCauley.
Additional Mysteries
Benn, James R. Rag and Bone: A Billy Boyle World War II Mystery. Soho, dist. by Consortium. Sept. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-1-56947-849-3. $25. M
The fifth book (after Evil for Evil) in Benn's well-received historical series finds military investigator Billy Boyle in London in 1943. A Soviet NKVD (secret police) official has been found murdered in a style eerily reminiscent of the 1940 Katyn Forest massacre of captive Polish Army officers, and the crime threatens to disrupt diplomatic relations between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. General Eisenhower has ordered Boyle, his nephew and a former Boston police detective now assigned to his staff, to solve it. Who's to blame? A vengeful Polish officer in exile? London's criminal underworld, still thriving despite the war? Or agents of more sinister forces? Both allies and enemies have secrets to protect, and Boyle, scion of a proud family of Irish cops, finds the convolutions of wartime murder and morality as challenging as anything his father encountered on the streets of Southie. VERDICT Mystery fans will enjoy Boyle's investigative adventures, and readers of World War II historical fiction will savor the gritty glimpse of life in battered wartime London. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 4/1/10.]—Bradley A. Scott, Texas A&M Univ., Corpus Christi
Black, Cara. Murder in Passy. Soho Crime. Mar. 2011. c.288p. ISBN 978-1-56947-882-0. $25. M
Proprietor of a computer security business in Paris and protagonist of Black's atmospheric series (yes, you can feel the Seine-soaked cobblestones through your feet as your read), smart, tough, and utterly likable Aimée Leduc admits to a penchant for bad boys. Aside from her partner, René, the one male constant in her life is her godfather, Morbier, commissaire of police. So when Morbier asks her to check in on his lady friend, Xavierre, who's planning her daughter's wedding and who's seemed distant lately, Aimée agrees. No, Xavierre is not very obliging when Aimée crashes a prewedding party at her elegant Passy mansion. Then Xavierre ends up strangled with her own scarf—and Morbier, implicated in her death, winds up in jail. Aimée immediately starts digging and discovers that Basque-born Xavierre's long-ago connection to the separatist group ETA has returned to haunt her and that a radical ETA offshoot called Euskadi Action has serious plans about some French Basque prisoners and an upcoming referendum. Soon, Aimée needs to rescue not only Morbier but a kidnapped Spanish princess. Verdict Another fun, absorbing, well-plotted Aimée Leduc mystery, more brisk in the telling than ever; your passport to Paris next spring.—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal
Corby, Gary. The Pericles Commission. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Oct. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-312-59902-7. $24.99. M
Nicolaos is minding his own business in ancient Athens when a body falls from the Areopagus above. Pericles, a rising politician, arrives moments later, and together they identify the corpse as that of Ephialtes, leader of the democratic movement and Pericles's friend. After a brief conversation, Pericles determines that Nicolaos is a man of keen insight and commissions him to investigate the highly volatile murder. Corby uses the early chapters to explain for the modern reader everything from Athenian politics and the place of women to monetary matters and clothing. Once the story gets rolling, though, it moves along at a good clip, even borrowing some tropes from the noir subgenre—a beating for the hero, a femme fatale, and plenty of shifty characters. As he explains in his author's note, Corby draws the murder and many of his characters from historical documents, lending that much more believability to the story. Verdict This series opener will appeal to historical mystery fans and readers who enjoy Lindsey Davis and Kelli Stanley.—Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Lib., Wisconsin Rapids
Davis, Lindsey. Nemesis. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Sept. 2010. c.352p. ISBN 978-0-312-59542-5. $24.99. M
Witty, wisecracking Roman informer Marcus Didius Falco is back (after the best-selling Alexandria), and his story just got darker: this book opens with the death of Falco's newborn son and Falco's father. Sure, Pa was a reprobate, and he left Falco a hefty inheritance. But with that inheritance comes the headache of managing it, which means (among other things) sorting out a contract regarding 111 statues Pa was jobbing for the new amphitheater. Inconveniently, the art dealer from whom Pa purchased the statues has vanished, as has his wife; seems they'd had words with the Claudii, a notorious family of freed slaves living beyond the law in the fly-infested Pontine Marshes. Meanwhile, Falco's buddy Petronius Longus is investigating a nasty murder, which sends them both into the marshlands, where they are one-upped by the Claudii and then removed from the case. Who's protecting the Claudii back in Rome, and why are Chief Spy Anacrites's two ugly bodyguards dogging Falco? Verdict Another well-plotted Falco mystery, more emotionally complex than others, but it may unsettle some fans; yes, it's darker, and our boys push the envelope in their search for justice. Still important for lovers of historical mystery.—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal
Heffernan, William. The Dead Detective. Akashic. Oct. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-1-936070-61-9. $24.95. M
Harry Doyle is called the Dead Detective because at age ten he was murdered by his mother, only to be revived. Now he's a Tampa homicide detective reputed to hear messages from the victims of the crimes he's investigating. His current case involves the death of a drop-dead gorgeous child molester, whose body is found in a nature preserve, her throat slashed and the word "evil" carved into her forehead. A Mardi Gras mask attached to her face is the final indignity. Before everything can be wrapped up, Harry and members of an investigative team unearth a host of suspects, psychological profiles, and forensics details; every eye is steely, every jaw is clenched, and every detail is in its rightful place just as in the best TV dramas. It all goes down a treat, and leaves not a trace behind. VERDICT In his first new novel in seven years, Edgar Award winner Heffernan (Tarnished Blue) delivers a readable, tidy police procedural that echoes any number of popular television series, from The Mentalist to Criminal Minds, whose many fans will find this series debut enjoyable, if not familiar.—Bob Lunn, Kansas City, MO
Indridason, Arnaldur. Hypothermia: A Reykjavík Thriller. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Sept. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-312-56991-4. $24.99. M
Icelandic author Indridason's sixth series entry (after The Draining Lake) is a departure from the previous books: Inspector Erlendur unofficially investigates the suicide of a young woman at her summer cottage. Erlendur is determined to re-create her experiences and find out what could have driven her to take her life. At the same time, he reopens the cases of two young people who went missing decades earlier. Because the father of the missing young man is dying, Erlendur hopes to bring him closure before it is too late. Through these investigations Erlendur may be able finally to come to terms with the tragedy in his past. VERDICT Though not a typical police procedural in which Erlendur solves a crime with his team, this is highly recommended for fans of Indridason's previous mysteries and for lovers of Scandinavian crime fiction. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 4/1/10.]—Jean King, West Hempstead P.L., NY
Jaffarian, Sue Ann. Murder in Vein: A Fang-in- Cheek Mystery. Midnight Ink. Sept. 2010. c.336p.
ISBN 978-0-7387-2311-2. pap. $14.95. M
In this vampire series debut by the author of the popular "Odelia Grey Mysteries," L.A. waitress Madison Rose is abducted one night after work and trussed up like a turkey to be handed over to a mad serial killer who is draining the blood of young women. Rescued by a strange vampire couple who kill her captor, Madison helps the vampires search for the real killer. While Jaffarian introduces an interesting cast of characters and an appealing heroine, several unexpected flashback scenes somewhat jar the story line's otherwise smooth delivery. This reviewer also felt somewhat misled by the jokey subtitle—the book features neither a dry humorous slant akin to Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series nor the quirky humor of Kimberly Raye's "Dead End Dating" mysteries. As a straight vampire mystery, however, it will no doubt appeal to many paranormal mystery fans. VERDICT Despite its flaws, this is recommended for its likable characters and intriguing plot. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 4/1/10.]—Crystal Renfro, Georgia Inst. of Technology Lib., Atlanta
Neville, Stuart. Collusion. Soho Crime. Oct. 2010. c.384p. ISBN 978-1-56947-855-4. $25. M
Former IRA gunman Gerry Fegan returns in Neville's follow-up to The Ghosts of Belfast. After (spoiler alert!) the massacre at Bull O'Kane's farmhouse, O'Kane is alive but desperate to kill Fegan, the only man to ever beat him. Fegan himself has left Northern Ireland, but a strange connection to six-year-old Ellen McKenna keeps him tied to the events of that night. When Ellen and her mother are threatened by O'Kane in an attempt to draw Fegan out, he returns to Northern Ireland to right the wrong that put them in danger. Ellen's father, policeman Jack Lennon, who has never been a part of her life, is also desperate to keep his daughter safe, and the two men search for Ellen and her mother amidst the collusion of Loyalists and Republicans, Irish and English, and killers and cops. Verdict Neville's sophomore effort is just as well written and just as violent as his debut, winner of the LA Times book prize for best crime fiction 2009. Neville creates sympathy for his characters in the midst of violence and betrayal and reveals Northern Ireland as a country still under the effects of decades of terror. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 5/1/10.]—Lisa Hanson O'Hara, Univ of Manitoba Libs., Winnepeg
Quinn, Spencer. To Fetch a Thief: A Chet and Bernie Mystery. Atria: S. & S. Sept. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-1-4391-5707-7. $25. M
In Quinn's third series entry (after Dog On It and Thereby Hangs a Tail), the man-and-canine duo take Bernie's son to a traveling circus, where they discover that the main act, Peanut the elephant, has vanished along with his trainer. Bernie investigates at the urging of his son and then finds a client in Popo, the clown. The police believe that the trainer took the elephant and joined an animal rights group, but Bernie disagrees. Even when the trainer turns up dead, having been bitten by a puff adder, the police would rather take the easy way out. But Chet, a dog who flunked out of the police academy, and Bernie doggedly continue on the trail of the pachyderm kidnappers. VERDICT Dog lovers and fans of humorous mysteries will enjoy this. There is humor and action, followed by more humor and suspense. Highly recommended. [Quinn is the pen name of thriller author Peter Abrahams, and more adventurous readers may want to try his darker books of psychological suspense.—Ed.]—Susan Hayes, Chattahoochee Valley Libs., Columbus, GA
Russell, Sheldon. This Insane Train: A Hook Runyon Mystery. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Nov. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-312-56671-5. $25.99. M
In this second outing (after The Yard Dog) for Russell's one-armed railroad security agent (or yard dog), Hook Runyon must provide security for a trainload of mental patients who are being moved from California to Oklahoma after a tragic and mysterious fire at their asylum. Runyon hires a crew of recent World War II veterans–turned–hoboes to help with the transfer. There is also an attractive and dedicated nurse, dangerous patients, and staff members with secrets. As this strange group travels through a Western desert summer, a series of accidents suggests someone doesn't want the train to reach its destination. Verdict Russell's book is full of well-drawn characters, especially the homeless veterans who have returned to take up the wandering ways they'd lived during the Depression. Readers who enjoy exploring out-of-the-way corners of history will like the details about railroads and care of the mentally ill in 1940s that the author has used to help set the stage. For fans of historical mysteries.—Dan Forrest, Western Kentucky Univ., Bowling Green
| Author Information |
| Jo Ann Vicarel, a branch manager and head of Reader’s Advisory Team Services, Cleveland Heights–University Heights P.L., OH, has reviewed for LJ since 1982 and wrote the Mystery column from 1985 to 1987 |
