New Books
"Is it a gesture of good will or a sinister trap that lures Rupert St. Vincent and his family to magnificent estate? How desperate is Joyce Lambert, a destitute young widow whose only recourse is to marry a man she despises? What unexpected circumstance stirs old loyalties in Theodora Darrell, and unfaithful wife about to run away with her lover? In this collection of short stories, the answers are as unexpected as they are satisfying. The Queen of Crime takes bizarre romantic entanglements, supernatural visitations, and classic murder to inventive new heights."
"After the events in Gathering Prey, Lucas Davenport finds himself in a very unusual situation—no longer employed by the Minnesota BCA. His friend the governor is just cranking up a presidential campaign, though, and he invites Lucas to come along as part of his campaign staff. “Should be fun!” he says, and it kind of is—until they find they have a shadow: an armed man intent on killing the governor . . . and anyone who gets in the way."
"‘I should like to go to France,’ said Ma.
‘God Almighty,’ Pop said. ‘What for?’
‘For a holiday of course,’ Ma said. ‘I think it would do us all good to get some sun.’
And so at the end of a rainy English August the Larkins – all ten of them, including little Oscar, the family’s new addition – bundle into the old Rolls and cross the Channel to escape the hostile elements.
But far from being the balmy, sunny and perfect spot Ma Larkin hoped for, France proves less than welcoming to an eccentric English family. The tea’s weak, the furniture breakable and the hotel manager is almost as hostile as the wind and the rain they’ve brought with them! And when the manager learns that Ma and Pop are unmarried yet sharing a room under his roof, the trouble really begins…"
"Dix Steele is back in town, and 'town' is post-war LA. His best friend Brub is on the force of the LAPD, and as the two meet in country clubs and beach bars, they discuss the latest case: a strangler is preying on young women in the dark. Dix listens with interest as Brub describes their top suspect, as yet unnamed. Dix loves the dark and women in equal measure, so he knows enough to watch his step, though when he meets the luscious Laurel Gray, something begins to crack. The American Dream is showing its seamy underside."
Just Finished
"The Book of the Lion is the 13th book in the Henry Gamadge mystery series by Elizabeth Daly. I've read a few of the books so far and this is one of the best. As I grow used to Henry Gamadge, I'm liking the stories more and more. In some ways the American bibliophile (hired to look at and verify old books and documents) and a criminologist.
This story, like the others, is light and easy to read but also an excellent mystery. Henry is asked to take a look at correspondence of a poet / playwright who had been murdered a few years back. (The story is set in May 1947. The client has heard that there is a market for such correspondence (maybe up to $1,000) and he asks for Gamadge's opinion. Before he can do this, the widow sells the letters to a rich investor. The whole thing intrigues Gamadge and he begins his own investigation into the previous murder and of the lives of those involved.
As he delves in, he discovers that the poet may have had a somewhat shady past. Back in the 20's he was part of a group of writers who lived in Paris and may have been involved in forgeries. This is where the title comes in. The Book of the Lion is purportedly a lost manuscript from Gregory Chaucer.
As Gamadge continues his investigation, we are introduced to a number of interesting characters; both suspects and Henry's friends and helpers. He seems to have a cadre of friends who assist him in parts of his investigation. There is a lightness to the story, even with the previous murder and some threats to Gamadge and others. He is a great personality, reminds me of Peter Wimsey. There is enough exploration of the art of bibliophiles that adds to the interest. It all resolves very nicely, but is still satisfying. I enjoyed very much and will continue to explore this classic mystery series. (4 stars)"
"Dean Koontz has been hit or miss with me over the years. Some books I've quite enjoyed; Odd Thomas, Phantoms, Watchers, etc but others have been forgettable. Intensity, originally published in 1995 leans towards the forgettable. The premise is that a serial killer invades the home of the Templeton family. Laura Templeton is home for a long weekend from university and she is accompanied her best friend Chyna Shepherd, herself a child of a troubled upbringing.
The worst happens and for various reasons (amongst them being an attempt to save her friend), Chyna finds herself hiding in the killers motor home and on the way to a potentially catastrophic ending. Chyna and the nameless / faceless killer travel to Oregon to his hidden home, patrolled by trained Dobermans, along the way, he kills others. Chyna is discovered in his home as she sneaks in and tries to save Ariel, another girl held hostage by the killer. Chyna is also taken prisoner and then begins the great escape effort.
In many ways it's all paint by numbers. The killings are more intimated at as are the killer's motives. Who is the girl in his basement? Every thing is vaguely glossed over. And what the heck is that mysterious elk that appears at the killer's home that the Dobermans either can't sense or maybe even fear? The ending is much better than the beginning and middle, there is more tension and the very end is pleasingly satisfying. But all in all, I think this is a thriller where Koontz is going through the motions somewhat. If you like all of his work, it's worth reading, but he has done better in my mind. (3 stars)"
"Baptism in Blood is the 14th book in the Gregor Demarkian mystery series by Jane Haddam. I haven't followed this series in any particular order and for some of the character development it might have been a somewhat better idea (I refer to the development of the relationship between Gregor and Bennis Hannaford), but the books for the most part stand well on their own.
In this story, the Armenian - American, ex-FBI profiler, now consultant, Gregor Demarkian is asked by an old friend to come to North Carolina to help investigate the murder of a baby. Gregor is having some personal issues; he also thinks his friend Tibor, the priest is having troubles coping. But he still is persuaded to go to North Carolina to assist the local sheriff.
Gregor finds himself in the Bible belt, a small community that is just recovering from a hurricane, and a community that is also dealing with another community living on the grounds of a local mansion, a group of women, escaping from their own issues. They are accused of Satanic worship, they are lesbians. It's a fascinating dichotomy, especially in light of the daily issues I'm reading these days; anti-abortion, LGBTQ rights at risk, etc. Trump even makes his presence in this story, albeit only as a brief mention. (You can't escape the man!!) (Just kidding)
A young woman is accused of murdering her baby and is in jail. She accuses members of the lesbian community of practicing Satanic rituals and killing her baby. This is the situation wherein Gregor finds himself. Gregor is also somewhat adrift at sea; dealing with issues of his own past. He is having difficulties coping with the death of his wife, even thought it happened quite a long time in his past. And he is coping with is feelings for Bennis, the fantasy writer who lives back in his Armenian community in Philadelphia.
So that is the scenario. As Gregor and the local sheriff gather information, there are other murders which add to the urgency. Protests from the religious community against the lesbians, etc. The story is peopled with many fascinating characters, all with their own unique personalities and issues. It's a most enjoyable story, more than a mystery. The Demarkian series is a favorite of mine and the stories never disappoint. And Gregor is an interesting 'detective', his description as the Armenian - American Hercule Poirot is very apt. Excellent as always (4 stars)"
Currently Reading
I've begun picking from my June Freebie list as I've completed the last couple of books. I chose 10 freebies for June.
"The story that inspired the Alfred Hitchcock film masterpiece! Cornell Woolrich. His name represents steamy, suspenseful fiction, chilling encounters on the dark and sultry landscape of urban America in the 1930s and 1940s. Here, in this special collection, are his classic thrillers, including 'Rear Window', the story of Hal Jeffries who, trapped in his apartment because of a broken leg, takes to watching his neighbors through his rear window, and becomes certain that one of those neighbors is a murderer. Also included are such haunting, heart-stopping tales as those involving a man who finds his wife buried alive; a girl trapped with a deranged murderer who likes to knife his victims while dancing; and a woman seizing her chance to escape a sadistic husband, only to find her dream go terrifyingly wrong.
Contains:
Introduction
Rear Window (a.k.a It Had To Be Murder)
Post-Mortem
Three O'Clock
Change Of Murder
Momentum"
"Detective Anna Travis is working on a murder case that has created a media frenzy. The victim, Louise Pennel, a 24-year-old girl, was last seen in a London night club. Her body was found dumped by the River Thames. Anna must summon all her strength and guile to hunt down this sadistic killer."
"As any herpetologist will tell you, the fer-de-lance is among the most dreaded snakes known to man. When someone makes a present of one to Nero Wolfe, Archie Goodwin knows he's getting dreadfully close to solving the devilishly clever murders of an immigrant and a college president. As for Wolfe, he's playing snake charmer in a case with more twists than an anaconda -- whistling a seductive tune he hopes will catch a killer who's still got poison in his heart."
My Ongoing Look at the Mystery Genre - American Cops Part 1
Because this has been a pretty long post already, I'll limit myself to the first series on my list of American cop series (or equivalent coppish forces).
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| Nevada Barr |
"Since I discovered the Anna Pigeon series a few years back, I've tried to read one or two every year or so. Hard Truth by Nevada Barr is the 13th book in the series and the 12th I've read so far. Anna Pigeon is a US Park Ranger and each book is generally set in a different US National Park, where Anna has found herself transferred for one reason or another.
In Hard Truth, Anna, newly married, has been transferred to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, filling the position of district ranger. This will mean a year away from her husband who stays back at Natchez, Mississippi. She has arrived at this position as the park has conducted a search for 3 lost girls, all belonging to a religious commune that resides just outside the park proper.
The story starts with Heath and her aunt Gwen Littleton who are camping in the park. Heath is an ex-mountain climber who was paralyzed in a fall and is still adjusting to her new life as a paraplegic and not going about the process too smoothly. The two discover two of the lost girls, both traumatized, both suffering injuries and dehydration. This brings Anna into the situation as well. The story now moves between the two women, Heath coping with her new limited body and trying to help one of the young girls, Beth, or as she calls her, the limpet. Anna, while working to learn the job in her new area and also to learn more about the other rangers who work there also works to discover where the other lost girl might be and who might have been involved in kidnapping them. The two girls, themselves, still traumatized, offer not too many clues as to what happened to them.
It's is at times a slow-paced story but still very interesting as Anna tries to sort things out in her mind and to find clues to what might have happened. We get a decent view of the park as well. The story gets darker and grittier as it moves along and the pace picks up rapidly as everything starts to fall together. There are many suspects that Anna must try to sort through and in the end must try to close out the case all the while trying to keep herself, the girls, Heath, and others alive from a dangerous, psychotic killer. As in most of her stories, Nevada Barr doesn't disappoint. (4 stars)"
"In Ill Wind, Barr's powerful new novel, Park Ranger Anna Pigeon confronts death among the ruins. Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park is noted for its well-preserved cliff dwellings, the sole legacy of the Anasazi civilization, which vanished without any other trace in the twelfth century. Separated from friends and family and haunted by personal demons, Anna finds solace in these quiet ruins, their pinon-scented turrets and towers backlit by the fading blue of distant mountain ranges. But the rugged beauty of the park and the mystery of the Anasazi are cruelly overshadowed by danger and death. An unusually high number of medical rescues and the unexpected death of an asthmatic child are followed by the sudden demise of a fellow ranger who is found neatly curled up in one of the ancient kivas, his hat and shoes at his side. Anna had thought she'd found a friend in this man, had seen him as a kindred spirit, but his death transforms him into an enigma. Puzzled and more deeply wounded than she'd ever dare admit, Anna immerses herself in the ensuing investigation. As she sifts through shifting loyalties and struggles to honor the past, she must face forces both seen and unseen which threaten her career - and her very life. (4 stars)"
"As part of the army battling the Jackknife fire in northern California's Lassen Volcanic National Park, Anna, in her capacity as spike camp medic and security officer, tends the injuries and the frayed nerves of the firefighters. When the National Weather Service predicts a cold front followed by snow, promising to all but extinguish the fire, the camp is demobilized, but a last-minute rescue of a firefighter with a broken leg detains Anna and the San Juan crew. Driven on by the erratic thunderstorm of the front, wind shears in the steep canyon, creating the deadly weather conditions for a firestorm. As the ravine explodes in flames propelled by the racing winds, the crew tries desperately to outrun the blaze, ultimately seeking refuge in their individual silver fire shelters wryly referred to as shake 'n' bakes. When the fire finally passes, Anna emerges from her shelter to check on the fate of her companions. The sound of each exhausted voice, the sight of each bruised and blackened figure, is cause for celebration - until one member of the crew is found inside his shelter with a knife in his back. With darkness comes snow, making immediate rescue impossible, and Anna must tend to the physical and emotional wounds of the crew while seeking the identity of the murderer in their midst. (4 stars)"
"Deep South is the 8th book in the Anna Pigeon mystery series by Nevada Barr. I have read 10 or so books in the series and I have to say this is one of the better ones.
Anna Pigeon is a Park Ranger for the US National Park Service. Each story highlights a different national park around the US. In this story, Anna decides to bite the bullet and apply for a promotion and gets the job as District Ranger on the Natchez Trace in Mississippi. With some trepidation she moves to this new job; it being a new area for her and she feeling somewhat nervous about becoming a boss and dealing with the the administrative aspect of the job and of having to lead Rangers instead of just being one.
She gets off to a somewhat rocky start as her two subordinates feel some resentment in being bossed by a woman and leave her to her own devices in the first two incidents. Anna gets involved in a ruckus at the campground where she is housed, two cars of teenagers causing problems with the campers. During this Anna discovers a young girl, drunk an abandoned. It turns out another girl is missing and she is found later, nearby and unfortunately, murdered. The body has been covered by a white hood with eye holes cut out and a noose placed around her neck. During the upcoming investigation, Anna and her two rangers and the local sheriff must keep racial implications in the back of the mind.
In its way, it's one of the more straight-forward mysteries of this series. As incident after incident crops up, Anna deals with it and continues with the investigation. She is threatened by an alligator (maybe left at her place on purpose), she deals with feelings for this new sheriff, she deals with the obstructionism of her deputy rangers and all the time she learns of her new district and continues to investigate.
It's an excellent mystery, lots of tension and sufficient action to satisfy you. Anna must deal with being somewhat of a stranger in a strange land, being a woman, white and a Northerner in this area of the US. The story works on many levels. My one minor complaint is that I find it somewhat difficult to believe that she would gain such familiarity with the areas so quickly, since she only just arrived there. But it's a minor complaint as the story is totally engrossing. And, you'll understand this when you read it. Give you doggie a hug. Excellent story! (4 stars)"
The complete list of books in the series can be found at this link.
So there you go. I hope you find some interesting ideas here. Have a great Friday.
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