The Tales of Elliot Caprice - A Super Series

 Ace Boon Coon

By Danny Gardner

The next of the Tales of Elliot Caprice series is the new book Ace Boon Coon. This is a detective novel that addresses issues of race and class by building these issues seamlessly into the dramatic plot. What results is a totally unique detective in Elliot Caprice, an intriguing read, and fascinating characters. This is a super sequel in a historical crime fiction series about a disgraced police officer caught in a world caught between black and white, where murder exposes a clash of greed and competing interests.

Set in 1950's rural Illinois, Elliot Caprice returns to help his uncle save the family farm as he struggles to keep it through a terrible drought. Elliot is pulled into more than he bargained for when a murder draws him back to Chicago. Twists keep Elliot investigating as he resolves to find answers, and to save those he cares for the most. Once Elliot Caprice is challenged, he doesn't back down. As one of the characters sums it up, “It's his backbone . . . Sometimes it gets to him.”

This author is a Chicago native and is extremely knowledgeable in history, philosophy, literature and much more. His extensive research is woven into the tapestry of this story. The city of Chicago in this historical perspective is a fascinating depiction, and appears almost as another character in the story. When Elliot Caprice's Uncle Buster says “I hate this city. She takes too much.” Elliot says “She ain't so bad, after she kills you once or twice.” It's a vivid depiction of this contentious city that these characters fight to survive in. Another aspect of the story that pulls the reader into the story is the colloquial language that is a unique linguistic flare of the era brought to life. It's a compelling cast of characters, with varied motives and ethnic backgrounds.

Author Danny Gardner has enjoyed careers as a Stand-Up Comedian, Actor, Director, Screenwriter and Author. He's a Pushcart Prize nominee and his flash fiction has been featured in Out of the Gutter and on Noir On The Air. He's a frequent reader at Noir at the Bar events nationwide. He blogs regularly at 7 Criminal Minds. He's a proud member of the Mystery Writers of America and the International Thriller Writers. Danny Gardner lives in Los Angeles by way of Chicago. His first book A Negro and an Ofay began his Tales of Elliot Caprice series, now followed by Ace Boon Coon. To learn more about Danny Gardner, check out bronzevillebooks.com on social media or his author page on Amazon or Goodreads, and to hear more from the author, listen on YouTube to  A Novel Talk with Danny Gardner.

Tainted Times 2 - Lies, Love, Limits of Justice

 

Tainted Times 2
By Valerie J. Brooks

Your heart will be racing as you turn the pages of this psychological noir thriller and follow the adventures of former criminal defense attorney Angeline Porter. After her self-defense killing of two leaders of an extortionist mob, the new leaders want her money and then they want her dead. Tainted Times 2 indeed. She's laying low in Kauai, but she's uneasy in her hide out. She doesn't want to hide, she wants to fight for justice. She yearns for a fulfilling life again, after the painful betrayal by her dead sister Sophie.

The sexy and cerebral Gerard, an undercover FBI agent and Sophie's former lover lures Angeline into being the bait in his continuing investigation. She debates the wisdom of working with him, but she's ready to immerse herself into the effort trapping the mob that's after her and ending their domination. Gerard surprises her with the secret she never suspected, that she has another sister who is very much alive and was raised by another family. Angeline's hopes are quickly dashed as she discovers that her newly discovered sister could be connected to the extortionists determined to kill Angeline herself.

Angeline detaches from suspicious activities in Kauai that entangle her and heads for the mainland and the even greater hazards ahead. There are many intriguing twists and turns to Angeline's fight for justice, and she is confronted with danger on all sides. Part of the answers to the mystery can only be found by delving into secrets of the past in her very own family. Secrets can be painful, and the consequences can sometimes be deadly. Angeline is going to have to rely on her wits and on skills she didn't even know she has.

The action is riveting, and this novel keeps the tension taut throughout with the complex characters and their unpredictable motives. The plot sparks with dynamite when Gerard and Angeline come back together on this mission. They share an undeniable attraction that's contaminated with impossible complications. The author tells the story through Angeline as the action happens and the reader is propelled into her dynamic reactions and thought process in real time.

The author, Valerie J. Brooks' first book in the Angeline Porter trilogy, Revenge in 3 Parts was a finalist for the Nancy Pearl Book Award. She received an Elizabeth George Foundation grant and the Monticello Award for Creative Writing. As a literary activist, she served as Associate Fiction Editor at Northwest Review for four years, was a Board of Directors member of Oregon Writers Colony and co-founded Willamette Writers Speakers Series. She's a proud member of Sisters in Crime, and you can find out more at her website valeriejbrooks.com. Valerie enjoys life in Oregon with a nearby large family and lives in the McKenzie River Valley with her husband Daniel Connors and their spirited Havanese pooch Stevie Nicks.

Edge of Redfish Lake - Suspenseful Thrills

 

Edge of Redfish Lake

By Conrad Jungmann Jr

Ripples from one of the lakes hidden away in the Pacific Northwest spread a legend about the redfish that returned to the lake to spawn every year on their brutal trip upstream. Stories have been told of numbers so massive a person could walk across the lake on the backs of the fish. A crimson, red blood glow described generations ago inspired many people through time.

Now it's 1988 and Seattle is on the brink of the Alaska fishing season start. There's much activity in this staging city for people heading up to work for the short summer. University graduate Julian Hopkins is on top of the world with a promised news reporter job starting after he returns with his hard earned paychecks from his last fishing summer. In another part of Seattle more sinister preparations for an Alaskan journey are underway, murder.

Alaskan fishing is not for those weak in determination. The author's description of this seasonal marathon is gripping in its physical strain, workers' interactions, and stunning wilderness beauty. This year there are also some ominous and terrifying events that leave many involved shaken to the core.

When Julian Hopkins returns from Alaska a possible serial killer is reported on the loose and Julian has an assignment on this big story. It turns out that this will be the story of his life, and in fact it may mean his life or death. Julian finds himself up against the honed, merciless wits of a twisted murderer.

This novel fascinates the reader on every page with the conniving depths and complex toying with evidence and clues to turn law enforcement in circles. Every page teases with the suspense of where the twisted trail will lead next and who is the next victim to wander into a waiting, deadly trap. Along with the mystery, this story wrestles with some important and enticing questions about the science of law enforcement, and the court system.

The author Conrad Jungmann Jr. writes this vivid and gripping story from a skilled perspective. He earned his Master’s in Journalism at the University of Missouri before embarking on a twenty-year career in journalism and digital marketing. He's never forgotten the Alaska adventures of his youth and this book is a thrilling way to share stories of that life. EDGE OF REDFISH LAKE is Conrad’s debut novel and feature screenplay. Conrad lives in Lynnwood, WA. with his wife and three children. He's an avid fisherman and outdoorsman.

Debriefing The Dead

 

Debriefing The Dead

By Kerry Blaisdell

Hyacinth Finch is having a tough day. She's found a mysterious rock that has mystic powers. She had no idea that Demons, and also the brutal Sicilian Mob are in deadly pursuit to steal it from her. After the bad guys murder Hyacinth and her sister, they carry away the rock in triumph and with horrific intentions. Now dead Hyacinth starts intense negotiations with Archangel Michael, who is Debriefing The Dead. She wants to get her life back, in order to protect her innocent 7 year old nephew from a life growing up in the Mob. But in order to agree, Michael wants an ominous task completed in return.

After Hyacinth is reunited with her nephew Geordi. She's determined to keep him safe, and at the same time she has to begin a dangerous search ordered by Michael. She must recapture the rock by a meaningful and unmovable deadline, or risk dire consequences for failure. Demons, and the Mob have hidden it, are guarding it, and are on to her. She has to keep her mission secret from everyone. She gets some surprising help. Her gratitude is tempered by her uncertainty about what honestly motivates the aid from her mysterious neighbor Jason, and Eric who is a dead man who is stuck wandering the world unable to find his way to the after life.

Yes, dead people populate the world. No, you can't see them, but other dead people can see them and talk with them. Now that she's formerly dead, Hyacinth enlists Eric's help. It does make things complicated with Jason and Geordi who think she may be turning crazy, talking to no one they can see. They travel to Turkey and begin a stealthy search to rescue a specific, powerful rock despite powerful demons, the Mob, the mystery of where the rock is hidden and what it will do. Still, there is some time for the very human celebration of life, humor, adventure, family, and even romantic attraction.

Award winning author Kerry Blaisdell has written a powerful urban fantasy. Debriefing The Dead is the first of her series. The story is full of action, yet the author finds time to create fascinating and colorful characters without slowing down the page turning pace. The descriptions are so visual and exciting. Find out more about the author at her website kerryblaisdell.com and tune into YouTube's A Novel Talk with Kerry Blaisdell to hear directly from the author.

The First To Lie - But Who Will Die?

 

The First To Lie
By Hank Phillippi Ryan

Come on undercover for an exciting investigation into a Pharmaceutical company's business behind the counter, along with the actions of the owning matriarchal family, and the motives of the next generation poised to inherit. On the surface all appears as expected with a family of privilege and with a well-known company. That's on the surface. When an investigative reporter dives in behind the pretense, she uncovers deception. But who was The First To Lie, and could that firt lie have led this reporter into a life life and death threatening story? When all is not as it seems, is it possible to find where the truth is buried?

“Without any sneaky fine print and knowing everything you know, if you could start your adult life over as someone else, would you do it?” Sometimes getting what you want can only be done disguised as someone else. But then, who else may know that and be working against you? This reporter is heartbroken by the stories she hears from some women who were betrayed. What actions will deep grief drive a person to? What actions will be considered by a person seeking revenge when they feel they've been wronged and their future has been stolen from them? Once a person will lie, what else will they be willing to do.

Bestselling and award winning author Hank Phillippi Ryan has created a thriller that never lets up until that final of several twists, as you turn the final pages. This skilled author artfully executes an intricate plot filled with intrigue, and with such style that it will keep you questioning and digging deeper for clues and revelations on every page. The characters caught up in all this turmoil are fascinating and their motives and personalities are revealed over time. This author guides you clearly through the cast, including those creating their own disguises.

Bestselling author of twelve thrillers, HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN has won five Agatha Awards in addition to Anthony, Macavity, Daphne du Maurier, and Mary Higgins Clark Awards. As on-air investigative reporter for Boston's WHDH-TV, she's won 36 Emmys and many more journalism honors, and her work has resulted in new laws, criminals sent to prison, homes saved from foreclosure, and millions of dollars in restitution for victims and consumers. A past president of National Sisters in Crime and founder of MWA University, Ryan lives in Boston with her husband, a nationally renowned civil rights and criminal defense attorney.

Find out more from Hank Phillippi Ryan when she appears on The Investigators Book Group in a live chat at 11:00 am on September 30th. Join The Investigators Book Group on Facebook and ask the author your own questions, or you can view the recorded event afterwards.

Purse-Stachio Makes A Splash

Savor Summer a little longer with this beach read mystery! Just $1.99 

Haunting At Spook Light Inn

Haunting At Spook Light Inn

By Alicia Dean

Camille left Miami for Devil's Promenade. Her visit to this small town in rural Oklahoma is a quest. She searches for a legendary light, one with haunting effects sparkling in the sky without explanation, or predictability. This phenomenon appears only to some, and over the span of time the story has grown. It has become an epic tale. What is it? Camille plans a brief investigation, resulting in a sensational write up disproving any paranormal activity, followed by a quick mailing of her book to her impatiently waiting editor. At least, that's her plan. That is until her curiosity leads her straight into an extrasensory mystery.

Camille had left home in a hurry. She knew little about the Spook Light Inn at the time she made a hasty reservation and prepaid for her stay. She's determined no one will discover her own hidden, personal reason for running away from home with the sudden excuse to write this story now. She intends to bury that pain deep, in a dark and secret place within. No one will know about it, except the ones who caused it. 

When she gets out of the car and looks at the unique and intriguing inn it's a chilling feeling, something quite unsettling that passes through her. She can't identify a specific cause for her hesitation, and she has no idea as she crosses the threshold that this will be a life altering assignment.

As Camille checks in she meets the unusual staff members who keep the Inn running. She also meets an apparition visible and sensed only by her. Camille wants to deny her senses and refuse to believe, and yet the ghostly woman is too persistent to be ignored. Camille senses that she's being driven toward an ominous conclusion.

There are few other guests, and yet when Camille wanders the rambling inn there are parts of it strictly forbidden to walk or visit. The owner of the inn, Declan Rush is surprisingly inhospitable and reclusive, and alluring. There is an attraction there. His personality mystifies Camille and so does the Haunting At Spook Light Inn.

Award winning author, Alicia Dean writes in a variety of genres, among them, paranormal, suspense, and romance. She loves creating spine-chilling stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats, and she sure does that well. Haunting At Spook Light Inn is part of A World of Gothic which is a Gothic Mystery Romance Series. It was Alicia Dean's vision to invite authors from around the world to share a Gothic mystery novella set in their own country. Find out more about the author at her website aliciadean.com, and tune into YouTube's A Novel Talk with Alicia Dean to hear directly from Alicia Dean.

This Is How I Lied

This Is How I Lied

By Heather Gudenkauf

Maggie Kennedy-O'Keefe is ready to take a break from her unmarked police patrol duties. She's eight months pregnant, but not interested in going on full leave quite yet. She's assigned a cold case to take a new look at with today's investigative tools, to find the person in their town who brutally killed a teenage girl. Maggie is familiar with the case. Her father had been the police chief until he retired, and he'd spent many years dedicated to working on this mystery. But that's not all. Maggie is familiar with the murder because Eve Knox, the murdered girl was her best friend. Fifteen year old Maggie had been the one to find her body.

This mysterious thriller will keep you guessing from beginning to the very end. Intriguing suspects are revealed and each of their intertwining stories include twists none of them knew about each other. Passions, ambitions, and regrets surface in everyone as Maggie moves forward through clues and evidence. In a new light, motives and secrets surface and there are discoveries. Is it true that people don't change, or does time change everything? Who is it that has got away with murder? And what everyone reveals when they confess that This Is How I Lied will lead to the most difficult decision of Maggie's life.

Maggie does not want to return to this agonizing time of her life, and yet she is somehow drawn to find this killer and close this case for her friend, in her memory. But it's the memories that now torture Maggie. She is determined to follow through and put all this to final rest, regardless of how close danger falls to her own family, and to herself.

Author Heather Gudenkauf has a true talent at suspenseful writing. The story weaves back and forth between Maggie's active investigation days, and the teenagers' lives. The reader is fully engaged in the evidence, the intense characters, and the terrifying choice Maggie is forced into.

Heather Gudenkauf is an Edgar Award nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She has spent her career after graduating from the University of Iowa with a degree in elementary education working with students of all ages. She continues to work in education as a Title I reading coordinator. She lives in Iowa with her family and a very spoiled German Shorthaired Pointer named Lolo. She enjoys spending free time with her family, reading, and hiking. 

Find out more from Heather Gudenkauf when she appears on The Investigators Book Group in a live chat at 11:00 am on August 26^th. Join The Investigators Book Group on Facebook and ask the author your own questions, or you can view the recorded event afterwards.

What Hidden Pictures Reveals

Hidden Pictures

By Johanna Flynn

Desperation and regret are a volatile basis for a friendship, or a relationship. Yet these powerful emotions draw together two unlikely souls who are each at very different, pivotal forks in the road of their lives. Gordon's ancestors illustrate a glowing history of celebrated life tales as one of the founding families of the town. Gordon owned a hardware store for many years, but when he lost it due to hard times he took a job with the conglomerate that took it over. He lives in the Victorian family home and is a bit of a recluse since his wife died years ago. Ahead of himself he views only a creeping journey toward imminent retirement. Literally running into Gordon's life and home is Olivia, a struggling high school student and nearby neighbor. The troubles in her life are overwhelming and force her into relentless situations where good choices are hard to find. She's isolated, lonely, and misunderstood.

Have you viewed the Hidden Pictures of your life? These are not the happy selfies, or beloved portraits, or happy times, or special places. These are the truths that are hidden away because they are so hard to face. Some are literally photos, and some are shots within a person's soul. This book is a view of a small community of people struggling with what they hide from others, and from themselves. Can facing these hard truths ultimately bring some happiness? And how can compassion soften that blow? As this awkward friendship has its starts and stops between Gordon and Olivia, it's revealed how very critical this time in their lives is for each of them.

Around them neighbors and coworkers are playing out the drama in their own lives, and keeping hidden what they want to be private. There are people in this community who have literally kept hidden real photographs that tell a hideous, true, criminal story. These gruesome photos are the evidence that can stop the malicious assaults that are occurring in their town. But who are the people who are hiding this evidence? It's not just the attacker. What are their motives? And will the photos and the truth be found before any other innocents are brutally hurt?

Hidden Pictures is an examination of how the generations can help each other. They can learn from each other. The author, Johanna Flynn, has crafted fascinating characters and their situations are all too realistic, and very human. We are what we have allowed ourselves to become. If we face what is hidden, could we be more? Maybe, with a little help from friends.

Author Johanna Flynn has spent many years working with adolescents and seniors in schools, clinics and community settings. She lives in Olympia, with her husband and dog. 

The Jossing Affair - Love In War Time

The Jossing Affair

By J L Oakley

A historical thriller about a time in Norway that tested every aspect and emotion of human nature, it's The Jossing Affair. Despite the dire circumstances of this time, the story of the World War II Nazi occupation of Norway. This fictional spy story is steeped in the true and fascinating historical facts of that period. The touching stories of these characters will hold you spellbound.

To be a Jossing, a patriot, could be a deadly cause in Norway at that time in history. The author skillfully paints the picture of what life was like at that time, not only the dangers but also glimpses into how human nature tries desperately to find optimism, and also to make life better. It's a portrait of the fight to breath freedom. One dedicated spy assigned on his mission is ever vigilant against the unexpected on his tasks. Despite his cautious nature, he surprises himself by falling in love with a beautiful German widow who has a mysterious tie to his past. Love during war time is its own minefield. Everyone has innocent secrets, but during war time keeping secrets becomes a necessity in order to survive and people live in distrust of each other. Love cannot bloom without trust. Can these characters truly let down their own barriers and trust each other enough to give their love a chance? And in a world where life is so cruelly snuffed out, do they want to let down their guard enough to care that much about another person again?

The courage of people during the cruelest of times is humbling. Hopeful optimism can come from unexpected moments of kindness. After struggling to go on and finding no help from the town's people, the widowed, single mother Anna is overcome by the kindness of a moment. “Anna's face crumpled. She turned her face away trying to get a grip on herself. Just one small gesture of friendliness . . . she cleared her throat, and brushed back a telltale tear.” The author is talented at showing such everyday gestures in a way that surfaces the touching emotion hidden below the surface.

Author Janet Oakley writes historical fiction that spans the mid-19^th century to WW II with inspiring characters standing up for what's right, and timeless examples of the courage of individuals in different periods and places. Her writing has been recognized with several prestigious awards. Visit her website at https://www.jloakleyauthor.com/ to see her many impressive books, including mystery novellas set in Hawaii. When not writing, she enjoys outdoor activities and demonstrates 19th-century folkways in schools and at San Juan Island National Park.

Katy's Song - A Love Story

Katy's Song

By Alison Reese

Sing a song of love with all your heart. Sing about what could be. But how do you keep a romantic melody playing if a sour note is hit? Katy's Song is a fun duet between two endearing characters. A duet differs from a harmony. The performers take turns performing a solo section each. In this case the primo is an adored and celebrated rock star. He feels trapped in the confines of a lifestyle that had long ago lost its luster. The secondo is a strong, Texas woman who has a cherished dream for her future and is struggling to find a way to make it happen. She's also struggling to see how her current boyfriend could possibly fit into her dream. Can these two distinct personalities find a way to harmonize together?

A chance meeting for the right two people, at just the right time is unpredictable. It becomes enchanting when it develops into a conversation, then an interest, and the possibility of a spark between them. It can happen anywhere. For Katy and Noe it's an online chat room where they meet. People are discussing a vegan lifestyle. The discussion turns from a group to just the two of them. They become intrigued with their perspectives on the topic, and with each other. Noe wants to convert to this new, healthier lifestyle and invites Katy to Seattle to help him. He hires her as his vegan consultant for a week.

Katy's flight to Seattle does not go as planned, and that's just the beginning of unexpected events. The people she meets in Washington are fascinating characters including a busy Ballard bar owner. And then there is Rebecca, who Noe describes as “a meddlesome person who also happens to be my best friend.” The adventures in Seattle are funny, and sweet, and sometimes amorous. But there is a force of nature that is acting against Katy and Noe, working to tear them apart. They are both unaware of it's persistence until finally they find themselves at a turning point. Is it possible for them to keep the music playing, together? Can they share a future dream?

Along with the memorable characters, the beautiful settings of Seattle and Fort Worth are shown in the pages so very well by the author. The contrasts of the two cities enhance the contrasts of Katy and Noe. Yet, there is also an underlying connection between the two locations, skillfully painted by the author. The descriptions of the vegan lifestyle are a highlight. As the characters learn more about being vegan, so does the reader. As is true with a loving relationship, there is more to vegan than seen on the surface. At the end of the book enjoy an added treat – vegan recipes to try yourself.

The author Alison Reese has created a captivating love story that delights. She is a graduate of Central Washington University and considers herself a hopeful romantic. Having lived in many places such as Utah, Alaska, Nevada, Texas, and Washington, she's gathered rich material over the years. She is vegan, and found the learning process quite fascinating. Now Katy's Song shares romance and the vegan lifestyle with readers too.

Loving the Enemy Brings Hope

Loving the Enemy

By Catherine Fransson

“Hang in there. We'll make it.” Author Catherine Fransson shares a touching memoir about a time in her life that so many people struggle through. It's a time as an adult, when you are juggling your own life responsibilities, and at the same time the need to care for people you once depended on for so much, your aging parents. Often at this stage a family relationship can be laced not only with concerning health problems, but also accumulated personality dysfunctions. Loving the Enemy provides touching insights from one family's story, and hope that a troubled starting point does not define how a journey together ends.

The author shares times overwhelmed with questions that won't go away, decisions that have to be faced, and especially emotions that surface, sometimes from unknown depths within. She offers sweet and telling meditations and faith as methods for carrying on. She brings special meaning to what so many mistakenly overlook as unimportant details. Most of all, there is a hope about how people continue to learn and gain perspective, all through life, all the way to the end of it. And while there may be times you cannot be happy, that sometimes you can be reconciled. Even then there can be memorable moments that at an earlier point in time may never have even been imaginable.

Who is prepared for endings? Even when expected, they rock your foundation. This memoir raises some very interesting philosophical points. Helping someone else toward their ending can also bubble up feelings about how everyone's time will come, even our own. What helps us through endings? Who helps us? Not just family, friends, and there's a gentle reminder in this memoir of the sweet care and understanding of so many of the health and assisted living workers who are an essential aid and comfort to so many.

The author, Catherine Frannson was ordained to the ministry at Seattle First Baptist Church in 2000. As staff pastor she also served as adjunct faculty teaching Pastoral Counseling Skills with a colleague at the School of Theology and ministry at Seattle University. She's had a lifelong faith and commitment to empower others. You can find her blogs at at www.spiritstones.net

The author lives in the Seattle area, in Edmonds and her parents lived in Everett. The history, sites, and lifestyle references of this area add to the nostalgia of the flashbacks to her family as she grew up. As an adult, she was surprised to learn things about her parents that she never knew. And she also learned about a courage within each of them, and within herself so they could all “hang in there. We'll make it,” as her father was reconciled to say. All the way to the end where there is meaning, if you make it meaningful. Reading this memoir may give you ideas of how you can brighten that time for yourself and others.

Defender of the Texas Frontier

Defender of the Texas Frontier

By David R. Gross

Looking for a book that emphasizes the story in the word history? A fascinating read that brings the personalities of the people who made history spring to life? Enjoy a novel about the American frontier in the state of Texas and learn about a larger than life leader named John Coffee Hays. This Defender of the Texas Frontier, and the brave men he led, played a major role in shaping the events of their times. This book is a description of these adventures. The historical details are intricately researched and presented in a very entertaining way. Almost all the characters in the book were real people and their true actions, sprinkled with an enjoyable and clever fictional literary license.

Readers are fortunate to witness the life and times of John Hays through the perspective of his fictional , close friend John Caperton. We begin with young John Hays as he fervently wishes to join the army in the state of Texas. He has to prove his value, as does his friend. It doesn't take long for them to show their great capacity for learning and open minds to new ways. It's fascinating to see the creative ways they learn how to survive in the elements and against their challenging combatants, first Native American tribes and later the Mexicans.

At the height of his effectiveness, John Hays commanded a skilled band of Texas Rangers. It was a group of men who remembered grievous, recent times at the Alamo, and the massacre  at Goliad. They were determined to defend their families and homes. They trained continually together and became feared by those who opposed them and called them Los Diablos Tejanos – The Texas Devils. Their leader, John Hays' reputation preceded him as he became known as Devil Jack.

In contrast to his disciplined army life and battles, there is also a tender description of his family life and wedding. This comprehensive story tells all of his life accomplishments , including a surprising turn after his time in the army.

Author David R. Gross is a retired Veterinarian, who also taught and did research at Texas A & M University; College of Veterinary Medicine for sixteen years . From his several , diverse books readers quickly realize his absolute love of telling a great story. You can find out more about the author and his other books and writings as well on his website - https://docdavesvoice.com/

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Recommended Reads: ‘Kat Out of the Bag’ a sophisticated page turner

Posted: April 26, 2020 226

Kat Out of the Bag—the In Purse-Suit Mystery Series by Wendy Kendall

I’m delighted to be guest columnist this week for the “Recommended Reads” column, because your regular columnist, Wendy Kendall, has published her first cozy mystery.  And it’s no wonder that Wild Rose Press published Kat Out of the Bag. This mystery is a sophisticated page-turner in the tradition of Laura Child’s novels and exudes the small-town charm of Louise Penney mysteries.

I’m a huge fan of gutsy female protagonists, and this is one of my favorites of the year. Meet auburn-haired Katherine “Kat” Watson, celebrated international purse designer with a handbag for every occasion. Kat reluctantly returns to her hometown of Bayside to host a gala for her Purse-onality Museum. The dignitaries of the town attend along with many former high school friends, including her best friend, Brenda Dirling, the mayor of Bayside.

The celebration should be an uplifting, major event for the town. Instead, Brenda Dirling ends up dead, the Chanel-style chain of her purse wrapped around her throat and caught at the top of the building’s waterwheel. Kat is not only devastated but full of guilt. Before the gala, she received a death threat and showed it to the mayor, who told her to report it to the police after the event. Kat decides to hunt down the person who murdered her friend. Everyone at the gala is suspect.

Police detective Jason Holmes, a former Afghan war veteran, and his K-9 Hobbes work the case while Kat follows her own leads. They are often at odds. They fight. Yet a tense, romantic relationship builds. When Kat finds an old love letter hiding in one of the museum’s vintage bags, she tracks its history and discovers who the killer is. But bringing this person to justice won’t be easy. Will Kat become the next victim? Will Watson and Holmes bag the criminal together?

Wendy Kendall has not only fashioned an expertly crafted plot, but also a protagonist for our age — and for history buffs. Before reading Kat Out of the Bag, I never thought about purses being so indelibly woven into the fabric of women and men’s history. Now I watch for any mention of them, how they’ve influenced history and how sought after they are by collectors. So you think guns are fascinating? Wait until you read about our favorite carryall. I can’t wait for the next in this series!

Wendy Kendall is an author, a co-host with Carl Lee on the podcast A Novel Talk, a project manager, and a volunteer at the Friends of the Edmonds Library. You can find out more about her at wendywrites.org. And you can hear from her on YouTube on A Novel Talk with Wendy Kendall.

— By Valerie J. Brooks

Valerie J. Brooks is an arts activist, fiction reviewer, lover of noir film and fiction, and author of Revenge in 3 Parts, a femmes-noir, psychological thriller. www.valeriejbrooks.com

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Lavender Blue Murder Hits The Spot

Lavender Blue Murder

By Laura Childs

Get ready mystery enthusiasts and amateur sleuths, because Laura Childs' latest Tea Shop Mystery starts off with a bang. It's a Lavender Blue Murder in the fields of the low country of South Carolina. When Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier Drayton Conneley attend an invitation only English shooting party, with all the trappings, they had no idea that anyone other than the birds were in danger. When shots ring out too close for comfort, the partiers scatter and run for safety. Theodosia ends up wandering into a lavender field, where she discovers their host, Reginald Doyle, bleeding to death. Now there is a party full of suspects, but who among them has a motive that would drive a person to carry out such a dire act?

This expertly crafted plot is a challenging puzzler. Theodosia is put to the test as she looks for clues, talks with witnesses, and analyzes suspects. The reader is immersed in the adventure from beginning to end. The descriptions of settings are vivid and detailed. Characters are unique and so interesting. Those who are recurring in the series are fresh and daring, yet they feel familiar like a favorite earl grey tea that has been blended with unexpected highlights that complement, delight, and yet taste new. Oh and there are some skiillfully planted surprises in store.

There's more than one reason to read to the end. Not only do you want to find out if you have named the right suspect as the killer. You want to try the tantalizing recipes from the Indigo Tea Shop that are printed in full at the back, along with Tea Time Tips, and for tea connoisseurs there are also Tea Resources.

Laura Childs is such an adventurous and prolific writer. She’s growing three different mystery series, that all have crowds of ardent fans. And this author is not slowing down anytime soon. The Tea Shop, Scrapbook, and Cackleberry Club, all three Mystery Series are each well-established and artfully crafted. And as if that’s not enough, she also writes the Afton Tangler Thrillers, authored as Gerry Schmitt. So sit back with a cup of your favorite tea blend because you’re in for a tea-rrific time with this mystery. And hear more from the author herself when co-hosts Carl Lee and Wendy Kendall share A Novel Talk with Laura Childs. Then, visit her website to see her many other mysteries at http://www.laurachilds.com/

Woman in the Woods
By Darcy Carson

Warrior woman Becca d’Firn is in desperate need of a wizard. She’s fought a losing battle against a deadly plague spreading through her home village. She needs reinforcements and better weaponry. She leaves so she can find the source of magic that can save the suffering villagers she vowed to defend when she became their head warrior and huntress. It is her duty. It is also a chance to save her own loved ones. She is the Woman in the Woods on a perilous quest. The man who she finds is not the wizard she expected.

Cress is a wizard living within a personal torment. His magic has been useless against a thousand year old spell that has trapped his beloved sister. He continues to stand by her. He continues to care for her. His life feels on hold until, suddenly from the woods emerges a strong and impatient woman. Becca. He is surprised at how he is attracted to her, and he is surprised at her determination to recruit him and his magic in a long journey for the sake of others.

Together Becca and Cress will face dangers both seen and unseen. The author skillfully creates a mystical and magical world where the characters’ innate strengths and talents are creatively and gravely tested. And then there are the dragons, as well as the dramatic, mysterious guardians. The plot is creative, compelling, and filled with unexpected developments. The characters leap from the pages with compassion and courage as they face fantastic challenges. The attraction between Cress and Becca sizzles and flames.

The challenges ahead are dire. Can Cress stop the deadly plague? Can Becca save them from other dangers? What will the dragons bring? What is it that the secretive guardians require? Can the challenges of the heart unite Becca and Cress, or tear them apart?

This award winning author will certainly excite your imagination. She is an historical and fantasy romance author with several books. Visit her website at darcycarsonbooks.com, to read more about her and her other books, and if you’d like to hear more from the author herself, please enjoy this interview by Wendy Kendall and Carl Lee – A Novel Talk with Darcy Carson.