High Stakes in Dead If You Don't by Peter James

Dead If You Don't

By Peter James

The most recent book in the DS Roy Grace series, the Detective Superintendent is thrown into the midst of the kidnapping of a teenager, but this turns very complex in the investigation. All is not as it seemed at the start of the case. In the meantime, the parents are faced with the dilemma whether to follow the kidnapper’s instructions precisely because their son is Dead If You Don’t. Or maybe it’s actually better not to do what the bad guy says. How are they to know?

This prolific writer never disappoints. His thrillers are not only action packed, but they are thought provoking. Life and death questions are forced upon the characters, and require fast answers. What is the right response? That’s a debatable question, often best seen only in hindsight. The immediacy of the writing style communicates the importance of each decision and each undertaking. And at the heart of the story is the depth of emotions portrayed by the diverse characters.

Kipp Brown is a successful business man and addicted gambler experiencing the worst of luck. His bank account is depleted just as his teenage son is kidnapped and a high ransom is demanded. How can Kipp pay? This is truly high stakes because his son is Dead If You Don’t. When the Detective Superintendent takes the reins of the case he’s surprised at the direction the evidence takes him and his officers. He is coordinating and working with a fascinating team of officers and others including a creative and reliable Pathologist. The perspective of each is compelling. In the other camp, motivations of those who plan the kidnapping are poignant and disturbing. And as is so often the case plans often go astray.

In addition to this exciting thriller, also try the audio book of his new standalone novel Absolute Proof – read by Hugh Bonneville of Downton Abbey fame. Investigative reporter Ross Hunter nearly didn’t answer the phone call that would change his life – and possibly the world – forever.

Peter James is a celebrated, highly-award winning author on both sides of the Atlantic with over nineteen million books sold worldwide. A British mystery/thriller author who’s an international bestseller and a regular on the New York Times bestseller lists.  He’s been nominated for or awarded almost every mystery/thriller award including the CWA Diamond Dagger award, the Barry Award, and first time ever recipient of the Rheinbach Glass Dagger Award for excellence in crime fiction in 2017. Three of his novels have been turned into films and several more have been adapted for the stage.

And if you want to hear more from the author listen on YouTube to – Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Peter James

Read! Recommend! Raffle! Results!

The Edmonds Library in partnership with the Friends of the Edmonds Library and Symetra held a community reading recommendation event. Readers who submitted book recommendations had a chance in the raffle for prizes. Thank you so much to the Edmonds Library Staff who made participation so easy and also launched the event. The winners were:




Age
5-12 winner is Sophia
13 - 18 winner is Sofia
19 - 49 winner is Justin
50+ winner is Ruby

And the winners are also all of us who can now share these book recommendations. Please go to this link to see all the book recommendations now posted on the Friends of the Edmonds Library website -
http://edmondslibraryfriends.org/read-recommend-raffle-2/

Which one will be your next read?

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Wonderful Children's Book About Alzheimer's by Susan McCormick

Granny Can’t Remember Me

By Susan McCormick
Illustrated by Timur Deberdeev

When Alzheimer’s disease and dementia affects members of a family, so much about it can be difficult for adults to understand, and accept. Imagine how confusing it can feel to the young children in those families? Now there’s a book by Susan McCormick for young children aged three to eight that helps when they discover that Granny Can’t Remember Me.

The book tackles this topic in a soothing, fun, and helpful way and in a language that engages children. It’s very clever that the story is told by the character of Joey who is a six-year-old boy. His voice sounds so true to this age range, giving readers someone they can relate to. Joey is very matter of fact about his visits with his granny, and he finds joy in the things that she does remember. In some of his descriptions of their visits there is a wonderful injection of humor which is very clever in that he pokes fun at the situation, not the people. He doesn’t dwell on what Granny can’t remember, but accepts her happily as she is. In the end Joey relates the wonderful surprise to the reader about how he definitely knows that although Granny Can’t Remember Me, “But Granny loves me. And I love Granny.”

The text of this book is readable by the older children in this age group who have started to read. But that doesn’t diminish also encouragement to read this book to the children out loud. It’s an engaging, short story that provides an opportunity to surface some questions and discussion about their specific situation that children would like to voice and talk about, but may not feel prompted to otherwise. The illustrations throughout the book are delightful, warm, and page turning.

The author, Susan McCormick is a doctor who lives in Seattle. She graduated from Smith College and George Washington University Medical School. She is married and has two boys. She also learned a lot about families living with Alzheimer’s when it occurred in her family. The multi-talented illustrator, Timur Deberdeev lives in Uzbekistan.

And for more information, please check susanmccormickbooks.com.

Solemn Graves History With Mystery

Solemn Graves

A Billy Boyle World War II Mystery
By James R. Benn

Solemn Graves is the newest of the outstanding Billy Boyle World War II mystery series, set within the Allied High Command in Europe. The focus on the characters’ stories is surrounded with a brilliantly researched, historic time and place. It’s illustrated against a background of military protocol, weapons and culture. The action scenes are vivid and exciting, and skillfully written to convey the essence of this action even to readers who haven’t felt anything like World War II.

This time US Army detective Billy Boyle is called to investigate a mysterious murder in a Normandy farmhouse, threatening Allied operations just a month after D-Day. The investigation is top secret to protect the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, which are also known as the Ghost Army. The activities of the Ghost Army are meant to cause the enemy to think they’re facing larger formations than they really are. That misdirection is meant to change the enemy’s actions and decisions based on misleading information, almost like red herrings are meant to mislead mystery readers. In this book you get two for one fiction, a mystery and a history.

Thoughtful writing describes the investigative drive pulsing through Billy Boyle. Reading through this acclaimed series from its first book, this character learns and grows into his responsibilities. As he now comes into this Normandy murder scene, he positions himself. “I stood back, studying the scene, trying not to draw conclusions and let the room talk to me. It was one of the things my dad had taught me, or tried to, back in Boston. He was a homicide detective, and as soon as I got my badge as a rookie cop, he dragged me along to watch and study him at work . . . so here I was, carrying on the family business in Normandy, wearing khaki, instead of home in Boston, wearing blue.” Stakes are as high as ever this time, unmasking the murderer while safeguarding the secret of the Ghost Army is critical, if that secret is discovered it could turn the tide of war decisively against the Allies.

Author James Benn turned to writing full time in 2011, after over thirty-five years employed in the Library and Information Technology fields. With that background, it’s no wonder that his research is so thorough and interesting. He’s a graduate of the University of Connecticut, receiving his MLS degree from Southern Connecticut State University. When speaking about his Billy Boyle series he emphasizes that it “has brought me an immense amount of joy. I’ve gotten to meet people in person and online from all over the country (and the rest of the world) and hear their reactions, feedback, and most importantly, their own stories.”

And if you want to hear more from the author listen on YouTube to – Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with James R. Benn

Racing To Read Run Dog Run

Run Dog Run

By Kathleen Kaska

Kate Carraway is devastated when a poacher shooting incident causes her eviction from Africa and her beloved elephant research project. She ends up traveling to a friend’s ranch in Texas. Kate and her husband look forward to a restful visit with their friends to revitalize and make future plans. But planning is put on hold when a mystery surfaces surrounding a prominent neighbor rancher. Kate is drawn into investigating possible racing greyhound abuse, and finds murder added to the stakes after she finds a body. Danger pushes the animals to Run Dog Run by Kathleen Kaska, while the sleuth Kate Caraway also races to find the killer, before she becomes the next victim.

Vivid, passionate writing draws you into this action packed puzzler. The plot immediately tugs at the heart when Kate’s goddaughter asks for her help solving a mystery about possible racing greyhound dog abuse. It’s the determination to protect these beautiful animals that cannot defend themselves against this killer that drives the suspense. Unfortunately for these characters “good judgment was often lost in a moment of passion.” It’s these moments that can result in either tragic mistake or heartfelt sacrifice. And after scratching the surface of this case, Kate finds there’s even bigger issues buried below.

This killer is ruthless, but is pitted against a skilled sleuth. Character Kate Carraway best describes the key to the chase. “She was used to seeing the kill in a killer’s eyes as with the predators on the African plains. It was impossible to hide. Her binoculars would be focused on the eyes of the big cats – lions and cheetahs motionless in the grass, leopards crouched in trees. Their prey would see it too – an instinctual fear would shoot through the air like a bolt of electricity. It was survival in its most raw form. Prey who misread the signals did not survive . . . . A killer could lie, deceive, and even charm victims, but could never hide that look in the eyes.”

Best known for her Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Mystery Series, Kathleen Kaska is also author of the Sydney Lockhart series which are wonderful, historical mysteries; each of these is set in a different, incredible, grand hotel. Kathleen Kaska has also published trivia books on today’s favorite mystery writers, teaches workshops, and is a contributing writer to multiple magazines. Her Alfred Hitchcock and Sherlock Holmes trivia books were finalists for the 2013 EPIC award in nonfiction. She’s also marketing director for Cave Art Press. Her 5-Minute Writings Tips blog posts are published in book form - Do You Have a Catharsis Handy: Five-Minute Writing Tips? When not writing, Kathleen spends much of her time traveling the country’s back roads and byways; bird-watching; and looking for new locales for her mysteries.

And if you want to hear more from the author listen on YouTube to – Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Kathleen Kaska

Forgotten Rage Jumps Off The Page

Forgotten Rage

By Melodie Hernandez

Here’s a thought provoking thriller about how people react to the events and influences in their lives, even years later. It shows how the impact of incidents on people can vary depending on their age and circumstances. As people carry on, and try to forget elements of their past, author Melodie Hernandez analyzes in her exciting thriller the terrifying ways that Forgotten Rage can surface. This dynamic, fictional story about hunting a serial killer in Seattle highlights the stories of the victims, along with presenting a chilling view into the thoughts and motivations of the villain.

Luz Santos is a Seattle Police Department Detective assigned to a homicide case. She soon determines that this killer is actively and fearlessly determined to continue on a murderous spree. The clock is fast ticking between brutal murders, and the Detective is pressed to catch this killer before more people are murdered. But the number of victims continues to rise, and there are ominous signs that the killer’s targets are getting closer to Luz herself, and people she cares about most. The media is keeping the investigation in the headlines, and the Mayor’s office is especially concerned, making resolution of this case a priority.

One of the suspects presents an intriguing controversy for the young Detective. Luz determines his innocence, but despite her own internal resistance, she can’t stop herself from falling in love with him. Can she truly see him clearly, or is her judgment clouded? Luz also has her own personal history, which seeps to the surface at times and influences her actions and decisions. Her coworkers, supervisor, and family help, and sometimes complicate her work on the case. In this fast paced mystery, the action never lags.

Author Melodie Hernandez has created a tenacious, smart, and driven police detective. In fact all her characters make fascinating reading. Most insightful are the scenes written from the killer’s point of view, giving a glimpse into the thoughts and motivations of a serial killer. These scenes are compelling and stunning reading.  You’ll find clues in the story, and create theories along with the police so you can try to solve the case yourself.

This is the first book in the Forgotten series by author Melodie Hernandez. She began writing at a young age and has written two novels, a few short stories, and is a published poet. She’s an avid reader and writes mostly crime fiction. Remember to get your copy of Forgotten Rage.

Solar Reboot Sparks A Sci Fi Adventure

Solar Reboot

By Matthew D. Hunt

Alex Robinson, Park Ranger, has spent his adult life preparing for the unexpected. But the unexpected can hit at most inconvenient times. After traveling across the country from Seattle to New York City with his pre-teen daughter to her out-of-state swim meet, he hears on the radio – “scientists at NASA are now reporting that the solar flare is much larger than they had anticipated . . .” and then the largest solar flare in history hits. And so this Science Fiction adventure begins.

Stuck on the other side of the country from his wife Cameron, with planes falling from the skies, electricity grid nonexistent and the population’s palpable fear, Alex must find a way to reunite the family in Seattle. And so his dangerous journey across the country begins, amidst his own fears whether he has what it takes if confronted and if necessary to lie, or to steal, or even to kill in order to keep his daughter safe in this changed world. As the story unfolds, they are faced with unpredictable crisis situations that will test them both.

In the meantime, conditions are not any better in the Seattle area. Cameron decides to retreat to the family rustic cabin that was built within a mountain community. There she will face the uncertainties of nature, and the sometimes dark side of human nature. There is a mystery uncovered that demands to be solved, and no one has a clue what they’ve let themselves in for.

There are no guarantees of safety or survival in this dramatically charged new world. It’s a thought provoking book asking questions about trust, loyalty, family, and what is truly important to a life. At the same time, humor is infused throughout for a fun read filled with a very intriguing assortment of characters.

Solar Reboot is Matthew D. Hunt’s debut novel. Matthew D. Hunt is proof that it's never too late to follow your dreams. As he reached middle age, he was inspired by film icons Richard Hatch and Tony Todd to rework his entire life and pursue a career as an independent film producer/writer where he rapidly became known for his unique ability to guide the creative process. Now with numerous projects under his belt such as "5th Passenger", "Junkie", and "Nobility" to name a few, he’s also made his novel debut with Solar Reboot.

This book has won a bronze IPPY award for Science Fiction, Gold Medal Winner of the 2018 Global Ebook award, and most recently is a finalist in the 2018 Washington State Book Awards.

And if you want to hear more from the author listen on YouTube to Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Matthew D. Hunt

Death by Opera, Author Erica Miner

Death by Opera

By Erica Miner

Opera is filled with passion, and what better setting for secrecy and murder. What could possibly go wrong behind the curtain, in those dark corners, hidden hallways, stairwells, scenery and props when larger than life egos fuel rivalries? The machinations of Death by Opera are skillfully conducted in a masterful story authored by Erica Miner. Memorable characters vividly come to life on this novel stage and engage the reader in a puzzling mystery to solve.

This is the second book in a captivating series. Having survived her entanglement in a murder plot at the Metropolitan Opera, violinist Julia Kogan finds herself once more in operatic turmoil at the Santa Fe Opera. Against the breathtaking backdrop of mystical New Mexico and the elegant contemporary outdoor Santa Fe Opera Theatre, chaos ensues, as murderous activities plague the performers on stage and off.

The reader is mesmerized by the chance idea that life imitates art imitates life. If all the world’s a stage, and we merely players, then how will this macabre overture turn the story, through its acts and arias? And how does it all end? This mystery is a fascinating glimpse into a world that few have the privilege to be a part of, and then it includes the intrigue of a life and death mystery to solve. And there is a fun dynamic to the book, including the operatic quotes starting each chapter.

This author’s many years as a violinist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and her enchanting imagination combine to indulge the reader in a vibrant show that’s rich in history and chills. Erica Minor retired from the Met and moved to the West Coast where she studied screenwriting and won awards in several competitions including with the Writer’s Digest. Her first novel in this series, Murder in the Pit is also a celebrated mystery.

Your idea of opera may be a staged drama set to music; a story told of a guy who gets stabbed in the back, and instead of dying, he sings. If so, you’ll want to join these characters backstage in Death by Opera to see for yourself how a murderer is discovered, and if that murderer can be stopped in time, before the fat lady sings.

Living in a Foreign Language

Living in a Foreign Language

By Michael Tucker

                Indulge in the full sensory story of American ex-Pats who impulsively buy a rustico, a cottage home in Northern Italy, and literally move into la bella vita. In this full bodied memoir, the author vividly shares the warmth, fun, humor, romance and the spirited aspects of this joyful, life adventure, especially the amazing meals. These meals are daily opportunities to treat the taste buds, as well as appreciate the fine art behind the cooking, and linger over the loving company of friends and family. After years living the fast paced lifestyles of New York and California, wedded actors Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry decided that “spring was about change, and so were we.” And so they began Living in a Foreign Language.

                It’s true that they could not speak Italian when they decided to move there, but as they began to learn the language, they also learned that people communicate in many ways. It’s refreshing to read how their forays into daily, Italian life show the bright and positive parts of human nature. And the cooking, have I mentioned the cooking! This author is an epic epicure. His tenderly detailed descriptions of collaborative meal preparations, along with the lingering scenes savoring the results of their labors, matched with the chosen wines virtually delight all the senses.

                The heartfelt picture the author paints of this beautiful country and people creates an insatiable longing for all they discovered, and an aspiration to take time to sculpt aspects of this bravissimo life into wherever you call home. This memoir is above all a love story. A love for the vitality of life, for bold changes that bring exciting results, and a love between two people that overflows to everyone around them. “To have the partner of a lifetime – for a lifetime – is rare stuff. We’d be fools not to indulge it to the limit. What extraordinary freedom it is not to care about up or down, rich or poor, East Coast, West Coast, as long as we’re in the taxi together.”

                Michael Tucker’s writing is delightful, conversational, beautifully descriptive, and almost lyrical as it wanders through Italian countryside and cities with great humor and affection. He makes the effort to really bring to life the people, situations and scenes for his readers’ enjoyment. A veteran stage, film, and television actor, perhaps best known for his role on the long-running television series L.A. Law, this is his second book. As you read, you’ll wish it never ends. He’s found another calling as an author. Bravo!

Maya Mallick Exciting Mystery Series by Bharti Kirchner

Season of Sacrifice

By Bharti Kirchner

                Maya Mallick is the Private Investigator of the Detectives Unlimited of Kolkata, Seattle branch. She is energetic, smart, tough and feisty as she solves mysteries. Unlike the classic PI stories where the investigator is mostly a loner seeming to have no interest other than in his cases, this contemporary PI enjoys interesting friends and is enamored with nature, gardening, health foods, and a certain police detective when she’s not busy tracking down leads on her cases. But then, this story is action packed and doesn’t leave a lot of extra time for added qualities of life.

                During a morning stroll near Greenlake, Maya is shocked when in front of a gathered crowd two young women shrouded in white set themselves on fire. Just before the blaze ignites she’s horrified to recognize one of the women, and she is a friend of hers. One of the bystanders, who says he is also a friend of the victims, hires Maya to uncover the shocking truth. Neither of them realizes then that they have put in motion factors that will soon risk Maya’s life as well. Maya’s investigation takes her to intriguing corners of the city and across cultural bounds. Secrets are an integral component of mysteries. As the mysterious guru advises Maya about the people she talks to – they believe that their “Secrets are like jewels. You must protect them.” But Maya is determined to reveal them and catch a killer.

                Bharti Kirchner is the author of eleven books, seven novels, four cookbooks, and countless short pieces published in magazines and newspapers. Her talent and skill in cooking is scattered through her mystery novel and adds precious luster to the story. Also the culture of India is such a charming dimension to the book. Much of this cultural reference is through the delightful character Uma who is Maya’s mother. The writing is truly engaging.

                Besides her mystery novel Season of Sacrifice Bharti Kirchner also published her Promised Tulips short story in Seattle Noir which is an anthology of mystery short stories. She’s won numerous awards and honors associated with her writing and her cooking. Before becoming an author, Bharti worked as a systems engineer for IBM and as a systems manager for Bank of America in San Francisco. She’s also worked as a computer systems consultant in Europe and other continents. She’s also a frequent speaker at writers’ conferences, book festivals, and universities.

                And if you want to hear more from the author listen on YouTube to Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Bharti Kirchner

A Spark of Death

A Spark of Death

By Bernadette Pajer

                The hunt for a killer in this mystery is electric. Take a trip back in history to a vividly described Seattle of the early 1900’s. Here’s an opportunity for you to join University of Washington Professor Benjamin Bradshaw as he discovers clues and analyzes motives and opportunity in order to try to take himself off the police’s suspects list.

                No worries if you’re not a scientist, because at the hands of this skilled author Professor Bradshaw is gifted at illuminating the dynamics of the scientific principles. During the investigation the Professor schools you through the evidence in a most entertaining way. Of course, finding a killer involves analysis of more than facts and evidence, and in this book you get to know fascinating characters that may have had motive and opportunity. The author has a true talent for weaving motive into the characters. As the story is told, the characters’ lives with the troubled palpitations that they carry within their hearts are revealed. What’s fascinating is that with the burdens so many carry who among them became overcome and lashed out. The Professor’s personal life also brings an interesting dimension to the story and provides insights into the place and times.

                This book is the first in a four book mystery series. This fictional has a foundation in true history and is so very well researched. For example, in this first book the characters are preparing for an historic event for the University. It turns out that Seattle was planning for President William McKinley to visit in May 1901. The setting descriptions and the everyday activities ring true and you’ll enjoy absorbing this detail. The early days of the turn of the 20th century, is a wondrous time when the race was on to discover and invent—everything, including electricity and the Tesla coil.

                The author, Bernadette Pajer, loves the Pacific Northwest. She spent her childhood in Seattle, and studied pre-Engineering at the University of Washington.

                And if you want to hear more from the author listen on YouTube to Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Bernadette Pajer

Remarkable Read About The Salish Sea

The Salish Sea

By Audrey DeLella Benedict & Joseph K. Gaydos

                What a wonderful celebration of the history, biology, beauty and vibrancy of The Salish Sea. This book makes a dynamic impact immediately with its incredible photography that is generously featured on every page of the book. Caught in the moment are the precious scenery and animals of this inland sea off the coast of Washington and British Columbia. Mixed saltwater and freshwater, it includes the Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Strait of Georgia. The endearing and insightful photography is mesmerizing. The remarkable images are from many contributing professional and amateur photographers. As stated by the authors, “their photographs reveal a profound sense of place and present the intricate beauty of the Salish Sea in a way that will inspire the next generation of conservation stewards.”

                Not to be outdone, authors skillfully weave the many ribbons of the story that is this Jewel of the Pacific Northwest. They share its history in the most interesting way, including spinning the tales of its biological creation, European explorers, and native peoples. They move onto descriptions of the environment, plants, and animals both above and below the surface of the water. They include some thoughtful quotes for the chapters including, “I arise in the morning torn between the desire to save the world and a desire to savor the world. That makes it hard to plan the day.” – E. B. White

                Even readers who live right in this region, or visit it frequently, are sure to learn so much in this book, and at the same time be entertained and delighted. Both authors are actively involved with the SeaDoc Society. Audrey DeLella Benedict, a writer and naturalist, is a member of the board. Joseph K. Gaydos, a licensed veterinarian with a PhD in wildlife health, is Chief Scientist for this marine science and conservation program focused on the Salish Sea as a whole. Founded in 2001, SeaDoc is part of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at the University of California at Davis School, of Veterinary Medicine. Based on Orcas Island, the SeaDoc organization works on both sides of the international border to conduct and support research in many areas, and makes scientific findings available to the public and resource managers who will help shape the future of the Salish Sea. To find out more about SeaDoc, visit seadocsociety.org

Deborah Knott is the Bootlegger's Daughter by Margaret Maron

Bootlegger’s Daughter

By Margaret Maron

                A cold case has haunted the tobacco country of Colleton County, North Carolina in this novel about the Bootlegger’s Daughter that is the first in the Deborah Knott series by Margaret Maron. Eighteen years ago a mother and baby daughter disappeared. Found three days later, the baby survived but her mother was already dead. This unsolved murder became a local legend that haunted residents, including baby Gayle as she grew up. Now an adult, Gayle has hired attorney Deborah Knott to investigate so her mother can finally rest in peace with her killer finally caught, and Gayle hopes she can find some kind of peace in that closure as well.

                In the midst of all her work, Deborah presses for her passion for fair court sentencing that represents her commitment, that “punishment is supposed to deter a person from doing it again, not crush his spirit.” A particularly ruthless decree in a court case that Deborah watched while she waited for her client’s case to start next, that was the spark that began the fire of her own campaign for District Judge. The excitement of the primaries and then the election pulses through the pages. Campaigning with her family’s long history is sometimes an asset, and sometimes a liability. She is, after all, the strong-willed daughter of Kezzie Knott – notorious bootlegger, ex-con, and political string-puller. As this investigation continues, and as the campaign trail heats up, Deborah finds herself fully immersed in intrigue, debate, and the dangers of posing a threat to a murderer.

                Margaret Maron writes with an insider’s knowledge, in her Deborah Knott series, of the legacy of Southern culture – the land, the history, the issues of race, family secrets and often-troubled inheritance. The characters she creates are touching and compelling. Amidst some thoughtful, dire, and action packed issues handled in her books, there’s also some playfulness and even wistfulness in some of the characters.

                Born and raised in North Carolina, author Margaret Maron is a highly-regarded and awarded mystery writer.  She’s won the Agatha Award for her urban New York series featuring police detective Sigrid Harald, and the Edgar Award for Best Novel for Bootlegger’s Daughter. She’s also won the renowned Anthony and also the Macavity Awards.  Enjoy her 34 novels and two collections of short stories. A long-standing member of the Mystery Writers of America, she’s also held office as President of the Sisters in Crime organization. Her book, Bootlegger’s Daughter, was chosen as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers.

                And if you want to hear more from the author listen on YouTube to Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Margaret Maron

Renee Patrick's Design For Dying

Design For Dying

By Renee Patrick

                Lights, camera, mystery! Travel to the golden age of vintage Hollywood and see if you can find the killer as you gather clues along with partnered amateur sleuths Lillian Frost and Edith Head. That’s right, in this novel it’s 1937 Los Angeles and Edith Head has yet to gain fame and any of her eight Academy Awards. Right now she’s starting at the bottom, working the wardrobes for movie stars. She’s also helping to discover and analyze some curious Hollywood secrets.

                Murder strikes one of the many young women who have come to Hollywood on the promise of a screen test and the hope of a leading role. Who would have the motive, means, and opportunity to kill this intriguing young woman, a gem named Ruby? You’ll learn much about this beautiful victim through her friends, including Lillian Frost. Lillian was also an aspiring actress, who is working in a department store. She jumps into the investigation after handsome Detective Morrow initially pulls her aside as one of the suspects. As you gather clues with Lillian, you’re taken on a fun hunt through scenes of the entertainment industry as it’s gathering its momentum as a business of dreams. Early in this journey our young amateur sleuth meets and becomes friends with hard working Edith Head. During the hunt there are wonderful, cameo appearances by fictionalized, real name actors and celebrities that will delight you.

                The authors are a surprise too. Yes it is collaboration, written by husband and wife team Rosemarie and Vince Keenan. They’ve done an incredible amount of research about classic Hollywood and they weave this information into the story so dynamically that the background and details add dimension into this story. Some of the elements you’ll enjoy include the irresistible humor, and the alluring glamour. And at the heart is an exciting mystery to solve. After all, as one of Barbara Stanwyck’s lines in the movie Baby Face in 1933 – “What chance has a woman got?”

                There’s already a wonderful sequel available titled Dangerous To Know. In this novel you’ll meet again some recurring characters, and be introduced to new ones and more fun celebrity cameos. A third book is in the works now.

                And if you want to hear more from the authors listen on YouTube to Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Renee Patrick

Murder As A Fine Art, A Masterpiece Read

    

              Murder As A Fine Art
               By David Morrell

                It’s London in 1854 and a killer has murdered a family of five people with the threat of more killings to come. It seems to be the work of a monster, yet in the result are the machinations of a person who strives to craft his brutality into a composition of scene, design, light, sentient sentiment. It’s almost artistry in the mind of the killer. Is this an original? Or is the killer copying the serial killings that terrorized London 40 years earlier? If a copy, there are more to come, and the residents are becoming stirred into a frenzy again as history seems to be repeating itself.

                To catch this cunning executioner, it will take a smart and unorthodox group of investigators who can imagine themselves into the mind of a serial killer. By 1854 a detective bureau was created to supplement the overtaxed police in London’s fast growing population. It included eight plainclothes officers who investigated in disguise, and this case was assigned to two of these men who were extolled for their extraordinary attention to detail and analytical skills, while being held under morbid suspicion by many of the population who feared their prying eyes.

                The detectives match their wits, and the tools of the infancy of forensic science, against evil. They add to their arsenal an unlikely father and daughter. He is known as the Opium Eater, and the books he writes and publishes are known as “novels of sensation”. One is a disturbing essay dramatizing the infamous Ratcliffe Highway killings of 1811. What’s described is eerily similar to these recent murders. His daughter is his companion and helper, and she is a remarkably un-Victorian woman. Her theories and observations on the case are insightful.

                The author, David Morrell is such a gifted writer. The scenes and the characters leap to life from the page to the reader’s imagination. He’s been called the Father of modern action novels. Back in 1972, he wrote a book with an unusual and iconic hero. That book was First Blood, and the iconic hero, a returned Vietnam veteran with PTSD, was Rambo. After writing the ground-breaking story of one of the best-known and most iconic anti-heroes, he has followed that with so many action and historical mystery and thriller best-sellers.

                He’s been a finalist for the Edgar, Anthony, Thriller and Arthur Ellis awards, and won the Nero and Macavity awards, as well as being a three-time recipient of the esteemed Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association. The Bouchercon Conference gave him its Lifetime Achievement Award among many recognitions. He’s also a gifted teacher of writing, with a Ph.D in American Literature, and he co-founded the renowned International Thriller Writers organization with author Gayle Lynds.

                And if you want to hear more from the author listen on YouTube to Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with David Morrell

Savor The Elusive Elixir by Gigi Pandian

The Elusive Elixir 

By Gigi Pandian

                Centuries-old protagonist Zoe Faust, the accidental alchemist, is traveling between Portland, Oregon and Paris, France, in search of an Elusive Elixir that can help her friend and sidekick, Dorian the three-foot tall gargoyle chef. He is facing a dire dilemma as he is slowly turning into stone. As you can imagine, Dorian has to keep a low profile around Portland to avoid scaring the residents, although his innate talents and humor are truly a delight. Only Zoe can unravel the alchemical secrets that may save him. During her distraught search, she is also confronted by a cold case murder from one of her previous lives that she’s compelled to solve. As you can deduce, this inventive author has raveled some supernatural and paranormal elements around an irresistible mystery.

                As Zoe explains, “Alchemy is a personal transformation. Its core principle is transforming the impure into the pure, be it lead into gold or a dying body into a thriving one.” She is dedicated with a deep passion to her science. She’s also a loyal friend and struggles with her extraordinarily lengthy life in the social ties she makes. In this book she revels in the joys of romance, while still shuddering as she contemplates the secrets she’s keeping from him. The reader is treated to almost the feeling of time travel as Zoe recalls adventures of her previous lives. The author writes in such gorgeous details, different eras are magically brought to life.

                Gigi Pandian is a USA Today bestselling author with three books in the Accidental Alchemist series. She’s received the Left Coast Crime’s Lefty and Rose awards, as well as short listed for the Macavity and Agatha Awards. She spent much of her childhood travelling the world with her cultural anthropologist parents, undoubtedly enriching her writing by bringing depth to her settings and brilliance to her characters. She is also an enthusiastic, almost vegan health food dynamo. She treats her readers to delicious, easy-to-make recipes in her books as well.

                This is truly an original mystery, laced with supernatural components, and a modern twist on an ancient science. Will that Elusive Elixir be found in time to save Dorian from a horrific nightmare, trapped alive within stone? Will the cold case murder be solved to Zoe’s satisfaction, before she is herself accused of the murder from her past life? And can romance thrive through it all? You’ll enjoy reading about it all.

                And if you want to hear more from the author listen on YouTube to Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Gigi Pandian

A Work Of Love by Connie Connally

The Songs We Hide

By Connie Hampton Connally

               

                What we play for the world are the songs that the world wants to hear from us. The music that shapes the soul and reveals who we really are, those are The Songs We Hide, lovingly written about by Connie Hampton Connally.

                Evoking stunning emotions, this author conducts a magnum opus of incredibly beautiful historical fiction. Her writing brings to life the people of stark, brutal, 1951 Hungary. Katalin and Peter are young adults and upon their shoulders they bear the brunt of post World War II, where survival is made so much more difficult by the brutal regime suffocating freedoms. As Katalin realizes, “during the war she had held out hope, because some day the war would end. Now the war was over, but what was there to hope for?”

                Katalin was singing a wonderful duet with vibrant Robert, ‘Caro Mio Ben’, ‘My Dear Beloved’.  Now the same notes pained her to the core, as a loving single mother of her one year old daughter, whose father had suddenly disappeared. The government and secret police made terrifying disappearances common place. Robert hadn’t even known he was going to be a father, and she had no idea which one of the too many horrifying places he was held. That’s if he was still alive.

                Peter’s family had been rocked by the travesties of war, and then “The Collective” had confiscated what little their hard work had been able to achieve. They lived under the constant threat not only of starvation, but of their family’s separation and loneliness. Peter and his brothers had lost their mother, and their weary father had to try and carry on with his broken heart. Peter shyly sings his songs quietly to the beloved horse who works with them on what’s left of their beloved family farm. But they can’t make a living any longer on the farm alone. Peter must go to work in the city, where he meets Katalin who is waiting, for her beloved Robert. The lives of Katalin, Peter, and the people around them in this story will deepen the reverberating drum beat of your heart.

                The author, Connie Hampton Connally, became interested in Hungary’s turbulent history from her love of music. Through music she was inspired by the story of Zoltán Kodály, a twentieth-century Hungarian composer who spread music in his nation despite totalitarianism and two world wars. This author writes such memorable turns to a phrase, and such noteworthy descriptions that range the full spectrum of human emotions from despair through hope. In The Songs We Hide she’s composed a stirring tribute to the incredible strength of people, in a brutal time in Hungarian history, and the desperate need to create hope. As the crescendo builds, the reader will wonder, and hope – Can people withstand, can they be stronger than the hatred and betrayal surrounding them?

Matching Wits With the Devil of Delphi

Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis Mystery Series

By Jeffrey Siger

                “The shooter was a pro. . . . You were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and only by the grace of God didn’t end up with a bullet in your brain.” All is not sunshine and beauty in the Greek Isles and in present-day Athens. Central Police Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis and his team are kept busy, especially in this seventh book in the series as they match wits to solve the mystery driven by the Devil of Delphi, and those who have made a deal with the devil.

                The legitimate world market is threatened with a flood of counterfeit, sometimes deadly alcohol. When some consumers suffer fatal consequences because of poisons included in the “bomba”, it catches police attention. When a member of one of Greece’s richest and most feared families is dramatically shot dead, political pressure is sudden, intense and vicious that the police solve the case. Chief Inspector is under the gun in this exciting police procedural. They are up against a fearless crime syndicate that’s driven by an unquestioned ruler. Her followers call her Teacher, and she is now the one who enforces the cardinal principle of those who had enslaved her in her younger life:  Do as I say or die.

                 This author, Jeffrey Siger, writes incredibly interesting and complex characters. You learn so much about the incidents in their lives that shape their actions and the impacts those actions have on so many others.  He shows how his villainous characters live their lives through their own sort of moral code that they’ve twisted from their personal histories. Their correlating actions show the reader a darker side. One of the assassins, known by his chosen name of Kharon, demonstrates his penchant for the way he takes out his targets. He “preferred the up close, personal approach to ending a life, one that allowed him the opportunity of affording a potential victim a reasoned means for survival.” Just as interesting are the personalities and motivations of the Chief and his team’s members.

                Jeffrey Siger is a Pittsburgh native and former Wall Street lawyer and name partner in his own New York City law firm to write mystery thrillers that tell more than just a fast-paced story. His novels explore serious societal issues confronting modern day Greece, and still touching on the country’s ancient roots and gloriously picturesque setting. I recommend the series; the ninth is now available, An Aegean April.

                And if you want to hear more from the author listen on YouTube to Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Jeffrey Siger

Now You Know - Fast Falls the Night by Julia Keller

  Prosecutor Bell Elkins soon realizes that her Appalachian hometown is facing a tragically fatal challenge fighting a single day’s record number of heroin overdoses from a batch tainted with a lethal tranquilizer as Fast Falls the Night. This is the most recent in the enthralling mystery series by Pulitzer Prize winner and author Julia Keller.

                The first overdose murder comes right after midnight, followed by many more before the full day ends. The Police and Prosecutor work desperately to track down who is selling the bad batch of drugs. It’s most disturbing that this novel is based on a real life event. The author tells this story through the perspectives of the different victims and also other people in the small town of Acker’s Gap in West Virginia. The reader then gets an understanding of what brings people to the brink of tragedy, and also the impacts that one person’s actions can have on so many different people.

                While Bell Elkins is feverishly working with the police, she’s also facing some dark family issues surprisingly uncovered, that is undeniably life altering. It’s one thing to deal professionally with unspoken tragic events that affect others, but how will Bell deal with it when she’s confronted with buried emotions and acts within her own personal history?

                The author, Julia Keller, spent twelve years as a reporter and editor for the Chicago Tribune. It was during that time that she won the Pulitzer for Journalism. As the Chicago Tribune described – “. . . for a gripping, meticulously reconstructed account of a deadly 10-second tornado that ripped through Utica, Illinois.” What struck me immediately by these articles she wrote in 2004 was how she puts the reader so completely into the setting and scene of the storm, through every sense including desperation/fear, but the focus was how she made the stories about the people – their stories and the impact on their lives. It’s so much like her writing in her books. So often in mysteries it’s the acts that are the focus, but she puts the characters in the forefront. In Fast Falls the Night each chapter heading is a character, and each is written from their different points of view. The reader really gets to walk a few steps in these characters shoes, and that elicits a glimmer of understanding.

                And if you want to hear more from the author listen to Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Julia Keller

The New Noir

Dead Soon Enough

By Steph Cha

                The Juniper Song book series is written with a contemporary twist that adds dimension to the shadows inherent in a noir mystery story, while still paying homage to the great authors who created a masterful body of works in the genre’s beginnings. This newest book has a case that is a fast paced read. You’ll be intrigued as Private Investigator Juniper Song finds a victim could be found Dead Soon Enough.

                Steph Cha writes what she describes as Korean-American feminist noir. I’d add that her Private Investigator novels are mystery filled with thrills. These situations and characters appeal to a broad audience regardless of gender or background. Her books are spiced with thought provoking references to Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe, and then transcend that epic to make this urban noir her own. Treat yourself to a real action packed PI series with titles Follow Her Home, Beware Beware, and Dead Soon Enough.

                In this third book of the series the case concerns the mystery of a woman’s disappearance and the experiences of the Armenian-American community in Los Angeles. The search for the missing woman uncovers her activist embroiled efforts in an ugly and public battle over the erection of an Armenian genocide memorial. While handling the sinister side of Los Angeles, other issues with the client bring up questions surrounding surrogate pregnancy. The investigation also tests Juniper Song’s satisfaction with her noir lifestyle.

                This author creates a cast of characters who are all intriguing and fascinating. You really don’t know what they will do next, and the emotions that drive them are described intently and bring a meaningful dimension to the story. We all have beliefs and causes and people that we believe in, and this book explores what people will do for those. What extremes will their actions reach? In the work of this author, she writes so sincerely about raw, human emotion that will have you on the edge of your chair. That creates a fun adventure to read and also presents memorable and haunting ideas.

                And if you want to hear more from the author listen to Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Steph Cha

Author K. J. Howe and The Freedom Broker

The Freedom Broker

By K. J. Howe

                Thea Paris is The Freedom Broker in K.J. Howe’s new kidnap-and-ransom thriller novel. Ripped from the headlines, this evil crime of kidnapping has become a dark, international financial exploitation. The protagonist in this fast-paced, forceful novel is one of the good guys who fight for captured victims. In addition to incredible actions scenes, and tense strategic maneuvering, this novel reveals the physical and mental injuries inflicted on kidnapping on the victim, as well as their family and friends. The story emphasizes the harrowing fears of death, of suffering, of helplessness, and even more deeply engrained intangibles.

                Jump straight into action right from page one, as Thea Paris and her team are dropped into Nigeria at night on a clandestine mission to free kidnapped petroleum engineer worker in a camp where he is held captive for a three million dollar ransom. As is noted, danger is everywhere on these missions, “If the mission failed, no one would retrieve her body. She’d be left to rot in the jungle unidentified and forgotten.” High stakes for all involved. And this is just the beginning of this story.

                Thea Paris vowed to become The Freedom Broker after her brother, twelve years old at the time, had been kidnapped and returned many months later. The impact of this abduction left lasting scars on her brother Nikos and his family and friends. The tragedy altered lives, just look at how it impacted Thea’s choice in her adult lifetime work.

                Now Thea and her family have no idea what lies ahead. Ironically Thea can’t stop the dramatic kidnapping of her father, Christos Paris on the verge of his sixtieth birthday. Now the time is ticking to try to find him and to try and save him, if he isn’t already dead. The author creates a suspect rich story for the reader to ponder.

                Author K. J. Howe is a three time Daphne du Maurier writing award winner and is the Executive Director of ThrillerFest, the annual conference of International Thriller Writers. She enjoys travel very much, and treats her readers to some incredible and exotic destinations as settings in her book. She became fascinated by the kidnap-and-ransom world after meeting Peter Moore, a British computer consultant who became the longest-held hostage in Iraq and the only person to survive of the five men who were taken on that day. Reading through the acknowledgements for her book you’ll see how very well researched this fictional thriller is.

                Join Thea Paris and her team as they fight in dire situations to save kidnap victims from dangerous, diabolical schemers. It’s a glimpse into what can happen in our real world.

And watch for Thea Paris' next adventure in Skyjack available April 10th.

And to hear more from the author, catch Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with K. J. Howe

               

Keenan Powell's Deadly Solution Is A Hit

Deadly Solution
A Maeve Malloy Mystery

By Keenan Powell

               

                                The reading jury has spoken resoundingly in favor of Legal Thriller Deadly Solution and its Alaskan Attorney Maeve Malloy. Author Keenan Powell has created a stunning force in her Maeve Malloy character. Danger is ever present as Malloy uncovers powerful players’ secrets and the sinister someone who’s executing a Deadly Solution.

                It’s bigger than life when you head to Alaska, especially the mystery around the Deadly Solution by Keenan Powell. This is no small snowball scuffle, these characters are fighting for survival in an avalanche of troubles, and at the bottom of it all is murder. As in so many cities across America, Anchorage tries to help homeless people and to stop homelessness. Now it seems that someone has found a deadly solution.

                From the very beginning, this legal thriller finds both the accused and his lawyer, struggling through fierce personal storms. Perhaps that’s a reflection of the Alaskan backdrop, where the environment is extreme and inhabitants are wild.

                Lawyer and client will need to find a way to pull together. While fighting her demons, skilled attorney Maeve Malloy is analyzing and uncovering surprising motives and hidden agendas. Danger is ever present as she approaches the secrets of powerful players.

                Working as Private Investigator on Maeve’s cases is tall, intense Tom Sinclair who follows through on clues and uncovers witnesses from surprising and also unsavory places. He’s been behind her every step, both before and after her controversial decision to leave the public defender’s office, and as she set up her own practice. During the course of this investigation, even his loyalty is tested. Will it break?

                And after the mystery investigation, look forward to compelling courtroom scenes. Author Keenan Powell has created a stunning, powerful force in her Maeve Malloy character. Maeve scouts a trail through the justice system for clients and readers who yearn for truth. “The truth is what people believe it to be. The justice system doesn’t deal in truths, it deals in evidence. The truth doesn’t always leave evidence behind.” Maeve knows she has to “prove it,” and that will be the challenge of her lifetime.

                The author writes persuasively and from different perspectives about timely social topics, giving the reader a thought-provoking thriller that lingers long after the last page is turned. Keenan Powell is a practicing attorney in Anchorage, Alaska. She also has stories published in these anthologies:  Mystery Most Historical; Busted! Arresting Stories from the Beat; and Snowbound. The reading jury has spoken resoundingly in favor of Deadly Solution and Maeve Malloy – we can’t wait to read her next case.