A New Book Arrives!! And I Continue my Ongoing Look at the Mystery Genre - American PI's Pt 2

I've had 3 books on order for the past month. One arrived today!! Yay!! So I'll update that and then get back into my look at the Mystery genre with the 2nd part of my look at series involving American private investigators.

Just Purchased

1. Isaac Asimov - More Tales of the Black Widowers (#2 / 1976). I mentioned this series in my first post about the Black Widowers. I have read one book already and this is the 2nd in the series. They seem difficult to find.










"The second novel of six that describe mysteries solved by the Black Widowers, based on a literary dining club he belonged to known as the Trap Door Spiders. It collects twelve stories by Asimov, nine reprinted from mystery or science fiction magazines and three previously unpublished, together with a general introduction, and an afterword following each story by the author. Each story involves the club members' knowledge of trivia.

Contents
1   When No Man Pursueth
2   Quicker Than the Eye
3   The Iron Gem
4   The Three Numbers
5   Nothing Like Murder
6   No Smoking
7   Season's Greetings
8   The One and Only East
9   Earthset and Evening Star
10  Friday the Thirteenth
11  The Unabridged
12  The Ultimate Crime"

My Ongoing Look at the Mystery Genre - American PI's Part Deux
In my first post on this sub-genre, I highlighted Isaac Asimov's Black Widowers, David Baldacci's King & Maxwell and Nero Blanc's Crossword Mysteries. 

Lilian Jackson Braun

1. Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who... Mysteries. American writer Braun lived from 1913 - 2011. She was most famous for her light-hearted cozy mystery series featuring newspaper James Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum who somehow help him solving mysteries. From 1966 - 2007, she wrote 29 novels and a number of short stories. I've read the first two so far and have the next 3 on my shelves. I'll highlight those three. If you want light, fun mysteries, you should give this series a try.

a. The Cat Who Turned On and Off (#3 / 1968).












"The team of Koko, the brilliant Siamese cat, and Qwilleran, the reporter with the perceptive moustache, is back in action -- with an adorable female Siamese, Yum Yum, added to the household.When Qwilleran decides to do a feature series on Junktown, he gets more than he bargained for. Not the dope den he anticipated, Junktown is a haven for antique dealers and collectors -- as strange a lot as the crafty reporter has ever encountered. When a mysterious fall ends the career -- and the life -- of one of Junktown's leading citizens, Qwilleran is convinced it was no accident. But, as usual, it takes Koko to prove he's right."

b. The Cat Who Saw Red (#4 / 1986).  

"Something is amiss at Maus Haus. Not just the mystery of an unsolved "suicide" which hangs over the old mansion, but something ominous in the present-day residence. When Qwilleran moves in to work on his new gastronomical assignment, strange things begin to happen. First it's a scream in the night, then a vanishing houseboy. But when his old girlfriend disappears, something has to be done. Qwilleran, Koko and Yum Yum set out to solve the mystery--and find a murderer!"

c. The Cat Who Played Brahms (#5 / 1987). 

"Is it summertime blues or a career crisis? Newspaper reporter Jim Qwilleran is unsure but hoping a few days in the country will help him sort out life. With cats Koko and Yum Yum, he heads for a cabin owned by a longtime family friend, Aunt Fanny. From the moment he arrives, things turn strange. Eerie footsteps cross the roof at midnight, local townsfolk become oddly secretive. While fishing, Jim hooks on to a murder mystery. He enters into a game of cat and mouse with a killer, while Koko develops an uncanny fondness for classical music."

I rated the first two books as follows -
- The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (4 stars)
- The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern (4 stars)

The complete series can be found at this link. 

Jan Burke

2. Jan Burke - Irene Kelly. Jan Burke was born in Texas in 1953 but has lived in California for most of her life. She is noted for a favorite series of mine, featuring intrepid crime reporter Irene Kelly. Irene lives with her police detective husband, Frank Harriman, who features in Irene's stories and also is the main character in others. Burke has written 11 books in this series from 1993 - 2011. I've read 5 of the series so far and have two more on my book shelves. I'll highlight my favorite and also the two I have yet to read. It's a gritty tensely written series of books,

a.  Liar (#6 / 1998).












"Investigative reporting has its hazards, but trouble hits home for Irene Kelly when her estranged aunt is murdered--and Irene becomes the leading suspect. With the police hot on her trail, Irene sets out to find cousin Travis, her dead aunt's son, convinced he's the next target. But when Irene finds Travis, a camper-driving children's storyteller with suspiciously deep pockets, things blow up--literally. It takes several brushes with death, staying one step ahead of the law, and a few not-so-sweet reunions for Irene to untangle a complex web of family secrets and long-held grudges, and discover just who is killing off the Kelly clan--and why." (5 stars)

b. Kidnapped (#10 / 2006).



"Reporter Irene Kelly and her husband, Detective Frank Harriman, are back in this New York Times bestseller, in which they work to untangle the threads of a past crime and a haunting disappearance while trying to survive the present."

c. Bloodlines (#9 / 2005). 












"Sweeping across decades, Burke masterfully unearths a cold case that is far from closed while introducing an intrepid novice reporter, Irene Kelly, learning the ropes from her mentor, Conn O'Connor. From the late fifties, when a bloodstained car is buried on a farm and a wealthy family disappears at sea . . . to the seventies, when Irene makes shocking connections and brashly tracks a killer from the past . . . to today, when new threats and deadly surprises are closing in on the veteran journalist and her husband, Frank Harriman, Bloodlines follows a fascinating labyrinth of lives, loves, sins, and secrets -- with the irrepressible Irene Kelly at its core." 

The remaining books, including my rating where appropriate are -
- Goodnight, Irene (1993) (3 stars)
- Sweet Dreams, Irene (1994) (2 stars)
- Dear Irene (1995)
- Remember Me, Irene (199)6
- Hocus (1997) (4 stars)
- Bones (2000) (4 stars)
- Flight (2001) (from Frank Harriman's POV) (4 stars)
- Disturbance (2011)

Jim Butcher

3. Jim Butcher - Harry Dresden. Butcher was born in 1971 in Missouri. He's best known for his fantasy / detective series featuring private investigator / magician, Harry Dresden. Dresden helps the police solve mysteries which have a supernatural aspect. The stories are peopled with wizards, elves and other supernatural beings. It's a fantastic series and was made into a brief TV series as well. This was also excellent. Since 2000, he has written 15 books in the series. I've read 3 books so far and have another 5 books in the series. I'll highlight the first 3 books

a. Storm Front (#1 / 2000).












"Lost items found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Reasonable rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment. Harry Dresden is the best and technically the 'only' at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal capabilities, they come to him for answers. For the 'everyday' world is actually full of strange and magical things - and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a - well, whatever. The first six Dresden files novels will be published over three months - a great introduction to Harry Dresden, a modern-day wizard who manages to get into some seriously tricky situations."

b. Fool Room (#2 / 2001).  

"Excellent, well-paced, at times intense, fantasy story. Jim Butcher is a great tale-spinner. I like Dresden, and really like Murphy (not enough of her this time). I enjoyed the explanation of the various types of were-wolves and found some of them heroic. The baddies were suitably bad and there was enough doubt spread so that the explanation of who indeed were the villains came as somewhat of a surprise. Totally enjoyable story. (4 stars)

c. Grave Peril (#3 / 2001).

"The Dresden Files are always a rollicking good fantasy adventure. I like Dresden, his spiritual guide/ assistant, Bob and I have a thing for policewoman, Karrin Murphy, although her part in this story was a bit minimized. I also like Michael, the sword carrying Hand of God who helps Dresden so much in this story. Basically in this story, Dresden and Michael are running around Chicago battling angry ghosts and trying to find out who is responsible for stirring them up and causing disturbances in the border between Earth and the Nevernever. The story is filled with action; vampires, sorcerors and Dresden's sexy stepmother, evil Lea (yum) who wants to make Dresden subservient to her. The story is fast-paced, entertaining and just fun to read. (4 stars)"

The remaining books, including those I've read or have on my shelf (*), are -
- Summer Knight (2002) *
- Death Masks (2003)
- Blood Rites (2004)
- Dead Beat (2006)
- Proven Guilty (2007) *
- White Night (2008) *
- Small Favor (2009) (3 stars)
- Turn Coat (2010) *
- Changes (2011)
- Ghost Story (2012)
- Cold Days (2013)
- Skin Game (2015) 

Well, there you go. Now to get back to The Good Doctor. Enjoy your week! 

A Weekend Reading Update

I'm currently relaxing and watching the Scotties Women's Curling Championships. Saskatchewan (Go Saskatchewan!!!) vs Alberta. The winner goes on to the final and the loser has to play Ontario to see who else is in the final. It's been a nice week of curling.

I've finished 3 books since my last update. One was a freebie, since I'd finished my 2nd 10 books this week. I've started two new books as well. I won't post an entry on my look at the Mystery genre this entry. I'll get back to that next one.

Just Finished

1. Wycliffe and the Guild of Nine by W.J. Burley (Wycliffe #22). Such an excellent series.











"Wycliffe and the Guild of Nine is the last Wycliffe mystery published from W.J. Burley's work. He died without completing his last work. As all of the books in this series I've read so far, this last one was excellent.

Wycliffe is assigned to investigate the murder of Francine Lemarque, one of a group of artisans who make up the Guild of Nine. Francine appeared originally in The Quiet Virgin, one of Burley's earlier Wycliffe mysteries. In that story, Francine murdered her father. She has obviously served her sentence and now lives in the family home and works with her brother for Frances Bacon Archer, the creator of the Guild. Francine has inherited a large amount of money and wants to buy into the Guild and become one of the directors. She is in the process of arranging this with Archer's wife, Dutch born Lina, when she is found dead.

Returning to Mulfra (west of St Ives) with his investigation team will bring back many memories for Wycliffe. At the same time, he is considering retiring as he has just received a new supervisor and in his crusty way isn't sure he wants to work for her.

I do love the process followed in these mysteries. While Wycliffe often relies on his wits in solving the crimes he investigates, we do also get to see how his team works; from the Forensics to the Coroner, to his investigators, even down to the administrative process. I liked his DS Lucy Lane, who is his sounding board in this story, but even the smallest of his team can play a role.

As Wycliffe investigates, he must deal with further deaths in the colony and adds a sense of urgency to the investigation. Is there one murderer? Or more? Are the deaths related to Francine's investigation into the dealings of the colony or maybe into her 'love' life, such as it is or isn't or maybe even into her past life and murder of her father.

The story moves along nicely and thoughtfully. There are a few red herrings along the way but the story is enjoyable and a pleasure to read. It's unfortunate that this is the last Wycliffe mystery but I'm lucky that I haven't been reading in order so I still get to enjoy this series. (4 stars)"

2. Blood from a Stone by Donna Leon (Inspector Brunetti #14). One of my favorite series.











"I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love the Inspector Brunetti mystery series, set in Venice, by Donna Leon. Blood from a Stone is no exception. It contains the best features of all of the books I've read in the series, great food, a loving family, Brunetti's fantastic assistants and political intrigue.

The basic story is the murder of an African refugee by unknown assailants while he sells fake purses along with other refugees in Venice. The murder is witnessed by a group of American tourists and they provide the initial information to Brunetti. Brunetti and his capable assistant, Vianelli, begin to investigate this mysterious group and discover the dead man has a cache of diamonds. Brunetti's boss, Patta, tells him to cease his investigation and all of the files are taken by the Ministry of the Interior. However, neither Brunetti and Vianelli, along with Patta's assistant, Signora Elettra (a favorite character of mine) follow the instructions but continue the investigation surreptitiously.

Why did this man have the diamonds, what were they for, and why are the Interior Ministry and Foreign Ministry involved. Brunetti and his team must tread carefully as they seem to be under threat from these mysterious government sources.

It's a fascinating story with many sub-plots. As always there is the wonderful family dynamic. In this story, daughter Chiara surprises both Guido and his wife, Paola, when she talks about the murdered African and complaining about her father's lateness for dinner, saying ' Yes but it's only a vu cumpra (Italian for the African refugees)'. Paola is shocked and this is an ongoing sub-theme in the story.

The story is complex and rich, filled with fascinating characters. I can't say enough about this excellent series. If you try it, I'm sure you'll fall in love with Venice, the wonderful food and the great characters.. Oh, yes, and the mysteries themselves. (4 stars)"

and my Freebie...

3. Last Laugh for the Baron by Anthony Morton (AKA John Creasey) (The Baron #42).











"John Creasey was a thriller writer who wrote over 200 books during his lifetime. He wrote under a number of pseudonyms; J.J. Marric, Anthony Morton, Gordon Ashe, etc. I've enjoyed his Inspector Gideon books (as Marric) very much. I have read one of his Dr. Palfrey books (as Creasey) as well. This was my first attempt at The Baron series. I've had two of the books in the series for a number of years and thought it about time to finally try one.

Last Laugh for the Baron is the 42 book in this series. As I said, Creasey was prolific. The Baron, John Mannering, is an ex-jewel thief, cat burglar, etc. In this book, he's retired from his life and runs an antique store in London. While he is away on business, a strange event occurs. His manager, John Larraby, receives a very strange phone call and sends one of his clerks to investigate. At the same time, a young lady, Belle Danizon, arrives at the shop demanding to speak to Mannering. When Mannering is caught up with via a phone call, she leaves him with a strange message.

So there you go, that's the start of this story. As it progresses, we follow a series of jewel robberies from rich families of London, with their adult children suspected of involvement, a threat to the career of Mannering's friend, Inspector Bristow and murders and threats to Mannering's wife. The central villain is a mysterious man who seems to have power over the young people.

Mannering must rekindle his skills as The Baron in fighting the stranger, a man called Yenn, and utilize all of the friendships at his disposal to try and solve what is going on and to save himself and these same friends. It's all a bit of a wild ride, reminding me of The Avengers TV show from the '60s. In fact, The Baron was also turned into a TV series (I've got to find an episode or two) starring Steve Forrest as The Baron.

Suspend disbelief, get a bowl of popcorn and just enjoy a light, entertaining, pulp action / mystery. Don't expect any grand motives or such, just entertainment. Now to find a few more of the series. (3 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Tango Briefing by Adam Hall (Quiller #5).












"At the Tango briefing Quiller got his orders. Orders that sent him on a bizarre undercover operation, a double-suicide mission in the Sahara. His assignment: find and destroy a mysterious downed aircraft before the world learns of its existence, before its cargo is disclosed, and before enemy agents destroy the plane and possibly Quiller along with it!"

2. Death in Holy Orders by P.D. James (Adam Dalgliesh #11).












"The bulk of the novel takes place at St. Anselm's, an embattled, isolated theological college on England's windswept East Anglian coast. When the body of seminarian Ronald Treeves is literally unearthed from a suffocating pile of sand, a coroner's jury turns in a verdict of accidental death. Arms manufacturer Sir Alred Treeves, Ronald's adoptive father, questions the verdict and arranges to have Dalgliesh re-investigate the boy's death.

Dalgliesh arrives at St. Anselm's at a particularly troubled moment. A longtime employee of the college has just died of an apparent heart attack, and a number of outside visitors have arrived to spend a restful rural weekend. Among the guests are a pair of visiting academics, a policeman on the verge of a breakdown, and Archdeacon Matthew Crampton, an ambitious cleric with a guilty secret and a vested interest in closing down the college. Crampton has had a history of hostile encounters, both with fellow guests and with various members of the seminary staff. On the morning after his arrival, his body is found, savagely beaten, in the sanctified precincts of St. Anselm's Church.

As Dalgliesh soon learns, a great many of the weekend visitors had motives for murdering the archdeacon. Surrounding himself with a picked crew of Scotland Yard regulars, Dalgliesh spearheads a wide-ranging investigation that illuminates the events behind Crampton's death by first exposing the buried secrets of several interconnected lives. In the end, Dalgliesh -- poet, sleuth, and solitary widower -- successfully identifies a resourceful killer and opens himself up to the possibility of romantic and spiritual renewal."

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

A Few New Books and My Ongoing Look at the Mystery Genre - American PI's

Jo and I are relaxing and just about to watch the first game of the Jeopardy Team tournament. Sounds like it'll be an interesting show. While I'm doing that I'll update a couple of books I purchased yesterday at my local used book store, while I was there to drop off a few books. I'll also start my look at American mysteries, featuring PI series.

Newly Purchased

1. The Next Accident by Lisa Gardner (Quincey & Rainey #3) - I just finished the 2nd book in this series and enjoyed it very much. I was pleased to see the third book at Nearly New Books.










"FBI Agent Pierce Quincy is haunted by his daughter's death in a drunk-driving accident. Pierce knew about his daughter's problem with alcohol, and about her loneliness. And so, he is sure, did the man who killed her. Rainie Conner is an ex-cop with a past overshadowed by violence. She was once involved with Pierce in a harrowing case that brought them together personally and professionally. Then, he came to her rescue. Now it is time for her to help him. This killer is different. He has an insatiable hunger for revenge - and for fear. He isn't satisfied with taking his victims' lives - he wants to get inside their minds and strip them of every defense. And his target is Quincy's surviving daughter. Rainie believes that the only way to stop him is to put herself directly into the killer's murderous path and herself become - the next accident."

2. Night Rounds by Helene Tursten (Inspector Huss #2). I readily admit that I didn't enjoy the first book in the series but I've been wondering if it might have been the translation. So when I saw the 2nd book, I figured it might be worth the try.









"Irene Huss is a former Ju-Jitsu champion, a mother of twin teenage girls, the wife of a successful chef, and a Detective Inspector with the Violent Crimes Unit in Goteborg, Sweden. And now she’s back with a gripping follow-up to Detective Inspector Huss.

One nurse lies dead and another vanishes after their hospital is hit by a blackout. The only witness claims to have seen Nurse Tekla doing her rounds, but Nurse Tekla died sixty years ago. Detective Inspector Irene Huss of the Violent Crimes Unit has the challenge of disentangling wandering ghosts and complex human relationships to get to the bottom of this intriguing case."

3. Crimes of Winter by Philippe Georget (Inspector Sebag #3). I've read the 2nd book in this mystery series set in southern France and I've now got the first book. I was pleased to see that they had the 3rd and final book. And it was an excellent copy.









"This winter is going to be a rough one for Inspector Gilles Sebag, for he has discovered a terrible truth: Claire has been cheating on him. Bouncing between depression, whisky, and insomnia, he buries himself in work in an attempt to forget.

But his investigations lead him inexorably to bigger tragedies--a woman murdered in a hotel, a depressed man who throws himself from the roof of his building, another who threatens to blow up the neighborhood--all of them involving betrayals of some sort. Perpignan seems to be suffering from a veritable epidemic of crimes of passion. Adultery is everywhere! And each betrayal leads to another dramatic crime.

Sebag has an uncanny ability to slip into the skin of his suspects and solve apparently unsolvable crimes. Though professionally charmed, he is unlucky in love. He is a perfect protagonist for the town of Perpignan, sleepy and leisurely on the surface, seething with vice and violence underneath."

4. Murders in Volume 2 by Elizabeth Daly (Henry Gamadge #3). I've read a few of Daly's Henry Gamadge books. This series belongs under the Golden Age of mystery category, along with Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, etc.









"New York at its most charming? (New York Times) is the setting for Volume 2, first published in 1941. One hundred years earlier, a beautiful guest had disappeared from the wealthy Vauregard household, along with the second volume in a set of the collected works of Byron. Improbably enough, both guest and book seem to have reappeared, with neither having aged a day. The elderly Mr. Vauregard is inclined to believe the young woman's story of having vacationed on an astral plane. But his dubious niece calls in Henry Gamadge, gentleman-sleuth, expert in rare books, and sufficiently well-bred it is hoped to avoid distressing the Vauregard sensibilities. As Gamadge soon discovers, delicate sensibilities abound chez Vauregard, where the household includes an aging actress with ties to a spiritualist sect and a shy beauty with a shady (if crippled) fiance. As always in this delightful series, Gamadge comes up trumps, but only after careful study of the other players  cards."

My Ongoing Look at the Mystery Genre - American PI's

Isaac Asimov

1. Isaac Asimov - The Black Widowers. Isaac Asimov lived from 1920 - 1992. I first read his science fiction series; Foundation and Empire and then gradually began to try others; the Robots of Dawn series, Fantastic Voyage, etc. Even then I could see his love for mystery. The Robot series involved robot detectives and the short story collection, I, Robot, while focused on the laws of robotics, also involved mysteries or problems to be solved. Recently I discovered his Black Widowers series. I've managed to read one of the collections so far and have another on order. The series consists of six books, although they seem to be a bit difficult to find.

a. Banquets of the Black Widowers (#4 / 1984).









"I've read many of Isaac Asimov's science fiction books; the Foundation and Empire trilogy, the robot books, Fantastic Voyage, etc. He was such a good story teller. It's been many years since I last read one of his books and recently I discovered this mystery series; the Black Widowers and I bought one of them; Banquets of the Black Widowers.

The Black Widowers are a group of six gentlemen who meet on a monthly basis for a dinner and drinks and then to interrogate a visitor about a mystery in their life. They are ably assisted by their waiter, Henry, maybe the smartest member of the group.
 
The collection of short stories are gentle and cozy. They follow the same formula for the most part. In each one, one of the members is the host of a visitor; they chat and have dinner and then while they relax over drinks afterward, they interrogate the visitor. Even their interrogation starts off in a similar fashion; first the member must justify their lives and then they tell a story that has troubled them while the members try to offer a solution that might help the person.
 
There is no violent crime just incidents in their lives that they need help either remembering or rationalizing. The six widowers are middle-aged or older, curmudgeonly and interesting. Their waiter Henry serves and observes and is the voice of final solution, deferred to by the others. I enjoyed this collection very much and will search for the others. Excellent concept. (3 stars)"

The remaining books in the series are -
- Tales of the Black Widowers (1974)
- More Tales of the Black Widowers (1976) (on order)
- Casebook of the Black Widowers (1980)
- Puzzles of the Black Widowers (1990)
- The Return of the Black Widowers (2003)

David Baldacci

2. David Baldacci - King & Maxwell. Baldacci was born in 1960 in Richmond Virginia. He's developed a number of series; the Camel Club (I've read one and thought it was ok), Amos Decker, Will Robie, etc. The one I'm focusing on is King & Maxwell, a series that deals with two former Secret Service agents who become PI's. It was also an entertaining TV series starring Jon Tenney and Rebecca Romijn in the lead roles. I've read the first two books in this six book series and have a couple of more waiting my attention.

a. Split Second (#1 / 2003).












"This is the first King and Maxwell mystery/ thriller, the story where Michelle Maxwell, a Secret Service agent, whose charge, a presidential candidate, is kidnapped from under her nose, meets Sean King a former Secret Service agent, whose candidate was assassinate while under his protection. Both cases seem to be related. It's an action-filled thriller, with many deaths and explosions. King is now a lawyer, who finds his relatively sedate new life turned upside down. There are many suspects in this mystery; although over all, it's probably not that complex. There were some things I found irritating; why, oh why do they always go off by themselves when anybody on their own seems to get killed!! Or just when things get ticklish, someone's cell phone falls off that person's belt and is lost!! But these were relatively minor matters, it was a nice intro to the two intrepid agents. I wonder what the future will hold for them. (3 stars)"

b. Hour Game (#2 / 2004).











"Baldacci throws everything, including the kitchen sink, at you in this action-packed thriller, the 2nd in the King and Maxwell series. A killer stalks Wrightsburg Virginia, imitating infamous serial killers with each murder. Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, two ex-Secret Service agents, working now as Private Detectives in the area are called in to help with the investigation by the local police chief. As well, they are working a separate case for a lawyer, defending a break and entering suspect. Are the two situations related? Before they get to the crux of solving this case there will be many murders, almost daily, their lives will be threatened. But they plug on, working to solve the case. It's an easy, exciting read. I wish Maxwell was more than just the physical presence in the partnership, but that's a minor complaint. You have to suspend disbelief somewhat, but that was easy to do. I enjoyed the writing, the pacing and the steady throbbing action. Looking forward to getting into the 3rd book, Simple Genius. (3 stars)"

The remaining books in the series are (asterisked where I have it) -
- Simple Genius (2007) *
- First Family (2009)
- The Sixth Man (2011)
- King and Maxwell (2013) *

Nero Blanc

3. Nero Blanc - Crossword Murders. Nero Blanc is pseudonym for husband and wife team, Cordelia Biddle and Steve Zettler. The Crossword mysteries all have one linking feature, crosswords. The stories definitely fall in the cozy mystery category, along the line of Lilian Jackson Braun's Cat Who... mysteries. Between 1999 and 2006, the team have written 12 books in the series. I've read 2 so far and have two more on my book shelf.

a. The Crossword Murder (#1 / 1999).












"The Crossword Murder is the first book in the Crossword Mysteries series by husband  wife team Cordelia Biddles & Steve Zettler, who write under the pseudonym Nero Blanc. I've had it for awhile and am glad that I finally read it.

PI Rosco Polycrates of Newcastle, Mass, is hired by the mother of Thompson Briephs to look into his death, as she thinks he was murdered. Briephs works as the crossword puzzle editor for the local paper and also leads a seamy life. As is quickly shown, he is being  blackmailed for something and this blackmailer might have been the murderer.

Polycrates, an ex-police investigator, looks into the death and trying to get a handle on this crossword business, asks for assistance from the editor of a rival paper, Annabella Graham. Together they continue the investigation, working through clues from a series of unpublished puzzles left by Briephs. Someone doesn't like their investigation and there are threats to Graham's life.
There is a developing relationship between Polycrates and Graham, one that they both resist, as she is married.

The investigation is interesting, the puzzle aspect a unique mystery technique. I liked both characters and how the story developed. It's definitely a cozy style mystery, reminding me somewhat of Lilian Jackson Braun's 'Cat Who... ' mysteries. Most enjoyable and a fun read. I'll keep on with this series. (3 stars)"

b. Wrapped Up in Crosswords (#9 / 2004).









"Wrapped Up In Crosswords is the ninth book in the Crossword mysteries by husband and wife team who go under the pseudonym of Nero Blanc. I've read one book in the series so far and found it light and a nice cozy mystery. This one was for the main part Christmas fluff, more concerned with the Xmas Secret Santa and with the various owners dogs discussing the bad qualities of buying birds for pets. Yes, the dogs talk.

As a minor side issue, three convicts have escaped from the State Pen and they look like the 3 main male characters in this story, Roscoe, Lt Al and Coroner Abe. So there you have the story in its simplest form. It was light and lightly humorous, a nice little Xmas fix. (2.5 stars)"

The remaining books in the series are (asterisk where I have it) -
- Two Down (2000) *
- The Crossword Connection (2001)
- A Crossworder's Holiday (2002)
- A Crossword to Die for (2002)
- Corpus de Crossword (2003) *
- A Crossworder's Gift (2003)
- Anatomy of a Crossword (2004)
- Another Word for Murder (2005)
- A Crossworder's Delight (2005)
- Death on the Diagonal (2006)

So there you go folks. The start of a new sub-genre, the American PI. I hope you see a series you might like to try. Enjoy the rest of your week.

A Week Starting Reading Update and My Ongoing Look at the Mystery Genre - American Standalones

Well, it's the start of a new week. In BC, we have a provincial holiday, imaginatively known as Family Days. If you're single or are married without children, you don't get the day off.. Even if you're retired. OK, I'm just kidding. The Americans are celebrating President's Day. I just noticed that the current one finally wished everyone a Happy Day, after first spending the morning tweeting about conspiracies, yada yada... Ah well, I'm happily up north. :0) Oh, if you want to have a little fun, check out this link.... (Notes from the National Emergency)

So this weekend, I finished one more book and have started one more. I'll update those and continue with my ongoing look at the Mystery genre. Today I'm heading for the US of A, starting with three authors I've either tried or want to, who have written standalone mysteries.

Just Finished

1. The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner (Quincey #2).









"The Third Victim is the 2nd book in the FBI profiler Pierce Quincey thriller series by Lisa Gardner. I have read the first book, The Perfect Husband, and while I enjoyed it, it wasn't my favorite thriller of all time. I much preferred The Third Victim.

Considering what has been going on in the US currently with regard to mass shootings, this book, originally published in 2001, dealt with a school shooting. In Bakersville, Oregon, police officer Rainie Quinn is called to a shooting in the local K - 8 school. On the way, her boss advises her that she is the primary on the situation. When she arrives, she finds that the crime scene has already been compromised by EMT paramedics and also by her boss, Shep O'Grady. Surprisingly, it turns out that O'Grady's 13-year old son, Dan,  is holding his father at gunpoint. Two young girls have been murdered as well as a young teacher.

FBI profiler, Quincey, who is avoiding a family situation, heads to Bakersville to offer his particular assistance (he being an expert in mass shootings). Also, the Oregon state police send Abe Sanders down to work the case as well. This is the basis of the story. The police work through the case to gather evidence. Shep, even though technically off the case, wants to prove his son's innocence. The O'Grady family must deal with the tragedy, their emotions (already frazzled with a family situation), try to keep younger daughter, Becky safe and secure as well. Rainie, Quincey and Sanders work together, sometimes difficultly, gathering evidence to prove and / or disprove Danny's guilt. And in the mix is the mysterious man who stays in the shadows and may have been involved in the murder.

There are varied suspects and various threats that keep this story humming along nicely. The relationships between the police investigators develop nicely and sometimes antagonistically. I like Quincey very much; smart, dedicated and with his own familial issues. Rainie is an interesting character with a shrouded past and Sanders is sometimes a stick in the mud but his character does flesh out nicely as the story progresses. The tension builds to an excellent climax and resolution. Very good story and one that makes me want to keep reading this series. (4 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Wycliffe and the Guild of Nine by W.J. Burley (Wycliffe #22).












"A murder at an artists' colony - but not everyone wants Chief Superintendent Wycliffe to investigate . . .

The artists' colony is at the site of a disused mine working on the moor west of St Ives, and it's run by Archer and his wife Lina, according to astrological principles. The newest member of the colony is Francine, a beautiful if fey young woman with a legacy to invest. Archer isn't keen - not least because she is a Scorpio - but Lina takes a more pragmatic view.

Then Francine is found dead, killed by a deliberately blocked gas-heater flue.

Wycliffe investigates - and soon discovers that several members of the colony have very good reasons for not wanting the police poking into their affairs . ."

My Ongoing Look at the Mystery Genre - American Standalones

Matthew Pearl

1. Matthew Pearl. Pearl is a writer of historical thrillers. Since 2003 he has written five books. I've yet to try his work but I have the first two books awaiting a look-see.

a. The Dante Club (2003).












"In 1865 Boston, the literary geniuses of the Dante Club—poets and Harvard professors Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, and James Russell Lowell, along with publisher J. T. Fields—are finishing America's first translation of The Divine Comedy and preparing to unveil Dante's remarkable visions to the New World. The powerful Boston Brahmins at Harvard College are fighting to keep Dante in obscurity, believing that the infiltration of foreign superstitions into American minds will prove as corrupting as the immigrants arriving at Boston Harbor.

The members of the Dante Club fight to keep a sacred literary cause alive, but their plans fall apart when a series of murders erupts through Boston and Cambridge. Only this small group of scholars realizes that the gruesome killings are modeled on the descriptions of Hell's punishments from Dante's Inferno. With the lives of the Boston elite and Dante's literary future in America at stake, the Dante Club members must find the killer before the authorities discover their secret.

Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes and an outcast police officer named Nicholas Rey, the first black member of the Boston police department, must place their careers on the line to end the terror. Together, they discover that the source of the murders lies closer to home than they ever could have imagined.

The Dante Club is a magnificent blend of fact and fiction, a brilliantly realized paean to Dante's continued grip on our imagination, and a captivating thriller that will surprise readers from beginning to end."

b. The Poe Shadow (2006). 












"Through the eyes of a Baltimore lawyer named Quentin Clark, Pearl opens a new window on the truth behind Poe’s demise, literary history’s most persistent enigma.

“I present to you . . . the truth about this man’s death and my life.”

Baltimore, 1849. The body of Edgar Allan Poe has been buried in an unmarked grave. The public, the press, and even Poe’s own family and friends accept the conclusion that Poe was a second-rate writer who met a disgraceful end as a drunkard. Everyone, in fact, seems to believe this except a young Baltimore lawyer named Quentin Clark, an ardent admirer who puts his own career and reputation at risk in a passionate crusade to salvage Poe’s.

As Quentin explores the puzzling circumstances of Poe’s demise, he discovers that the writer’s last days are riddled with unanswered questions the police are possibly willfully ignoring. Just when Poe’s death seems destined to remain a mystery, and forever sealing his ignominy, inspiration strikes Quentin–in the form of Poe’s own stories. The young attorney realizes that he must find the one person who can solve the strange case of Poe’s death: the real-life model for Poe’s brilliant fictional detective character, C. Auguste Dupin, the hero of ingenious tales of crime and detection.

In short order, Quentin finds himself enmeshed in sinister machinations involving political agents, a female assassin, the corrupt Baltimore slave trade, and the lost secrets of Poe’s final hours. With his own future hanging in the balance, Quentin Clark must turn master investigator himself to unchain his now imperiled fate from that of Poe’s."

Pearl's other books are -
- The Last Dickens (2009)
- The Technologists (2012)
- The Last Bookaneer (2015)

Hillary Waugh

2. Hillary Waugh (1920 - 2008). Waugh was a pioneering American mystery writer. He's written a number of series and also 20+ standalones. I've read two of his standalones, his first (1952) and his final (1988). I'd say that they were both among my favorite mystery novels.

a. Last Seen Wearing (1952).












"This was my first experience with Hillary Waugh and I enjoyed it very much. Old school police drama, it features a small police force in Massachusetts investigating the disappearance of a young woman, a student at a boarding school, who disappears without any explanation. The story focuses on the Chief of Police, Frank Ford, a grizzled, experienced cop and one of his detectives, Cameron, as they methodically search for clues to Lowell Mitchell's disappearance. 

It's not an exciting, gruesome mystery in any way, but the relationship between Ford and Cameron is great, both characters are interesting, the story flows nicely as the two work through each avenue of investigation. The story was written in 1952, and has a feel for many detective movies I've seen from that time. It was a refreshing story and excellent read. Highly recommend to anyone and I will definitely find more Hillary Waugh books to read. (4 stars)"

b. A Death in Town (1988).











"Excellent, excellent! This is the second mystery I've read by Hillary Waugh and I loved both of them. Such a unique way of presenting a mystery. The first was Last Seen Wearing, which I enjoyed very much. 

This was no different. Basically the plot revolves around the murder and rape of a young teenage girl in a small town in Connecticut. The way this is presented is via a series of interviews of the town citizens, from the family of the murdered girl through various others. As well, there are records of meetings of the police board and the town council. He portrays small town attitudes and how they change as the investigation drags on. 

Racism and other attitudes of intolerance begin to come to the fore; innocents are accused and their lives turned upside down. And the ending is so surprising and almost had me out of breath. I found this to be one of those books I couldn't put down. As it developed, I had to read a few more pages, then a few more, until I had to get to the end. I can't recommend more. (5 stars)"

The complete list of Waugh's series and novels is at this link.

Jake Tapper

3. Jake Tapper. Tapper is an American journalist, cartoonist and author. He has written non-fiction novels and in 2018 published a historical political thriller.

a. The Hellfire Club.












"The Hellfire Club by CNN anchor Jake Tapper was one of a number of political - type books, both non-fiction and fiction, that my wife bought me for our anniversary. The Hellfire Club falls into the latter category, a historical political thriller set in the 1950's.

New Congressman, Charlie Marder, a WWII veteran and also a published novelist, is placed in a vacant seat by his congressional leadership from New York. The previous congressman had died and the spot needed to be filled. Charlie and his wife move to Washington and Charlie begins his new career.

This is during the time of the McCarthy hearings and Charlie soon finds himself in a new life style, often hard drinking and with lots of political intrigue. The story starts with Charlie returning from a party with a strange woman in his car, an accident, the woman found dead, help from a political lobbyist to hide the incident (of course, Charlie remembers none of what happened), and the follow-on events.

The story jumps back a few months to go through the events that lead up to this accident. It's not necessarily a fun time for Charlie and his wife, Margaret. Their time together shrinks, eve though Margaret is newly pregnant. She heads off to a biological research activity, he heads to other political activities, finds himself often caught in the middle of competing desires.

It's an interesting story, lots of intrigue, some gun fights, some sex, some research into this Hellfire Club and other neat political activities. You'll meet historical people, like McCarthy, Eisenhower, the Kennedys, etc and get a peek at actual events the color the story. Tapper writes well and creates interesting characters and a fast-paced, page-turning political thriller. It reminded me of movies like The Rocketeer and those old serials that used to start off a movie, a great adventure with lots of action and twists and turns. Very entertaining (4 stars)"

Well, there you go, some Family Day / President's Day mysteries for your perusal. Next entry on this topic will move into the realm of American detectives. Enjoy the rest of your day!