April 2023 MBR The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Murder Lost And Found
Debbie Young
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781804831168, $41.00, PB, Large Print, 332pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-lost-and-found-debbie-young/1139124458

Synopsis: Sophie Sayers is ready for a glorious summer, but when a dead body is found in the village school's lost property cupboard the summer holidays take an unexpected turn. Even more shocking is when the body goes missing. Without a body, the police refuse to investigate. That's just not good enough. Sophie is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. She needs to find out who has died and nab the culprit if she's going to save the village school from the threat of closure!

Critique: Fun, original, and a pure delight for all cozy mystery fans, "Murder Lost And Found" by novelist Debbie Young has more unexpected plot twists and turns than a Disneyland roller-coaster. This large print paperback edition of "Murder Lost And Found" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Murder Lost And Found" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).

Editorial Note: Debbie Young (https://authordebbieyoung.com) writes warm, witty, feel-good contemporary fiction full of English humor and inspired by life in the Cotswold village which has been her home for over 30 years. Originally self-published, in 2022 she won a 13-book contract with the multiple-award-winning Boldwood Books for her novels, and a 7-book audio contract with Saga Egmont, along with a German rights deal with DP Verlag.

A Date To Die For
E. V. Hunter
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781804835678, $41.00, PB, Large Print, 388pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-date-to-die-for-evie-hunter/1142784173

Synopsis: When the unlikely duo of investigative journalist, Alexi Ellis falls victim to cutbacks, she and Cosmo, her anti-social feral cat, head for beautiful Hopgood Hall, where they plan to lick their wounds in the boutique hotel run by her old friends, Cheryl and Drew Hopgood.

But when she arrives Alexi discovers Cheryl and Drew both distraught. Their close friend, Natalie Parker, who recently settled in the area, has gone missing. Alexi's sure the woman has just taken a trip somewhere, but she still has a nose for a story and agrees to look into it.

So too does ex-Met Police detective turned private eye, Jack Maddox. Natalie Parker had been using his sister's online dating agency and Jack needs to find her before his sister's business is ruined. Reluctantly, Alexi, Jack (and Cosmo!) join forces to find out what happened to Natalie. But soon they discover secrets that someone desperately wants to make sure are never revealed!

Critique: As a novelist, E. V. Hunter is a master of the cozy mystery format and this large print paperback edition of "A Date To Die For" is one of her best! While unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated cozy mystery fans that "A Date To Die For' is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).

The Bark of Zorro
Kathleen Y'Barbo
Barbour Publishing
P.O. Box 719, 1810 Barbour Drive, Uhrichsville, OH 44683
www.barbourbooks.com
9781636095172, $14.99, PB, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Bark-Zorro-Gone-Dogs/dp/1636095178

Synopsis: Strange happenings are afoot in Brenham, Texas, as dogs start showing up at the Lone Star Veterinary Clinic with a Z spray painted on them. The cops blame pranksters, while pet owners are blaming each other. Receptionist Cassidy Carter uses her social media expertise to try to get the culprit caught on camera, but Texas game warden, Justin Cameron, thinks online media attention is the last thing this case needs. It's bad enough he's currently being followed around by reality TV cameras. When Cassidy's post goes viral, more dogs are found painted and her new home gets marked with a big Z too. How could her good intentions have backfired so badly?

Critique: Featuring everything a cozy animal mystery fan would want in a fun and delightful story, "The Bark of Zorro" by novelist Kathleen Y'Barbo is a the fourth book in the author's 'Gone to the Dogs' mystery series. Original, delightful, and an ideal recreational read, "The Bark of Zorro" will prove to be an immediately welcome and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated cozy mystery readers that "The Bark of Zorro" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99). "The Bark of Zorro" will also be available in a large print hardcover edition (Center Point, 9781638087212, $38.95, 500pp).

Editorial Note: Kathleen Y'Barbo (www.kathleenybarbo.com) is the author of more than one hundred books. A tenth-generation Texan and certified paralegal, she is a member of the Texas Bar Association Paralegal Division, Texas A&M Association of Former Student and the Texas A&M Women Former Students (Aggie Women), Texas Historical Society, Novelists Inc., and American Christian Fiction Writers.

The Secret of Chimneys
Agatha Christie, author
Alice H. Murray, annotator
End Game Press
PO Box 206, Nesbit, MS, 38651
https://www.endgamepress.com
9781637970584, $18.99, PB, 300pp

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Chimneys-Alice-H-Murray/dp/1637970587

Synopsis: Originally published in the 1920s, this new edition of "The Secret of Chimneys" by that legendary mystery novelist Agatha Christie, is informatively annotated edition by Alice H. Murray for a new generation of appreciative readers.

The story whisks the reader off on a mental trip to faraway places (Rhodesia, the French coast, London, the English countryside) on a rollercoaster ride to determine whodunnit and why. The story isn't just a murder mystery; it involves romance, royalty, political intrigue, imposters, and a stolen diamond. Adding to the enjoyment of this new paperback edition from End Game Press is enlightening bonus material about people, places, and things appearing in "The Secret of Chimneys".

Critique: An absolutely 'must read' for the legions of Agatha Christie fans, "The Secret of Chimneys" features political intrigue spiced with high stakes murder, blackmail, and crime. This outstanding new edition of "The Secret of Chimneys" is unreservedly recommended as a welcome and enduringly appreciated addition to personal, community, and academic library Mystery/Suspense collections in general, and Agatha Christie reading lists in particular.

Editorial Note #1: Agatha Christie ( 15 September 1890 - 12 January 1976) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End since 1952. She is known worldwide as a major writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction". (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_Christie)

Editorial Note #2: Alice H. Murray (https://authoralicehmurray.wixsite.com/website) has always been enthusiastic about great writing, and are privileged to have turned their passion into a thriving career as a professional Writer. Alice has two books set for release from End Game Press in April 2023 and April 2024 respectively. She regularly contributes articles to GO! Magazine and pens devotionals for traditional publications such as The Upper Room and various online sites. She's also had pieces published in Chicken Soup for the Soul and the Short and Sweet series. Her wondering mind compels her to write a weekly blog post, WONDER-ing Woman, on topics of current interest peppered with remarks from her distinctive sense of humor.

A Killing of Innocents
Deborah Crombie
https://www.deborahcrombie.com
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9780062993397, $30.00, HC, 368pp

https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Innocents-Duncan-Kincaid-Novels/dp/0062993399

Synopsis: On a rainy November evening, trainee doctor Sasha Johnson hurries through the evening crowd in London's historic Russell Square. Out of the darkness, someone jostles her as they brush past. A moment later, Sasha stumbles, then collapses. When Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his sergeant, Doug Cullen, are called to the scene, they discover that she's been stabbed.

Kincaid immediately calls in his detective wife, Gemma James, who has recently been assigned to a task force on knife crimes which are on the rise. Along with her partner, detective sergeant Melody Talbot, Gemma aids the investigation. But Sasha Johnson doesn't fit the profile of the task force's typical knife crime victim. Single, successful, career-driven, she has no history of abusive relationships or any connection to gangs. Sasha had her secrets, though, and some of them lead the detectives uncomfortably close to home.

As the team unravels the victim's tangled connections, another murder raises the stakes. Kincaid, Gemma, and their colleagues must put even friendships on the line to find the killer stalking the dark streets of Bloomsbury.

Critique: With a very special appeal to fans of polic procedurals and traditional detective 'whodunnit' murder mysteries, and women sleuths, "A Killing Of Innocents" by veteran author Deborah Crombie is a highly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of the growing legions of Deborah Crombie fans that "A Killing Of Innocents" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99). Librarians should also note that "A Killing Of Innocents" has a large print edition (9780063117754, $34.00) and is also available as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212204842, $41.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Deborah Crombie (https://www.deborahcrombie.com) wrote "A Share in Death", published in 1993 and short-listed for both Agatha and Macavity awards for Best First Novel and was awarded the Macavity. Crombie's fifth novel, "Dreaming of the Bones", was a New York Times Notable Book in 1997, was named by the Independent Mystery Booksellers as one of the 100 Best Crime Novels of the Century, was an Edgar nominee for Best Novel, and won the Macavity award for Best Novel. Subsequent novels have been published to critical acclaim and in a dozen languages. Crombie's 18th novel featuring Metropolitan Police detectives Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Inspector Gemma James is "A Bitter Feast".

Diamondback Revenge
Cindy Keen Reynders
Camel Press
www.camelpress.com
9781684920556, $16.95, PB, 254pp

https://www.amazon.com/Diamondback-Revenge-Reese-Golden-Mysteries/dp/1684920558

Synopsis: It's a sweltering Wyoming summer and the typically clear blue skies are clogged with smoke drifting from encroaching wildfires. Life goes on, however, and private investigator Reese Golden remains dedicated to resolving crimes in her hometown of Meadowlark Valley.

Currently, she seeks a local shop owner's stolen rattlesnake taxidermy display. During her investigation, fraught with twists and turns, she exposes intrigue involving local artist Bella Northwood's drowning, and the brutal assault of the shop owner, who happens to be Bella's father.

Danger complicates Reese's objectives as she and Police detective Jeremy Savage team up to retrieve the stolen display and to document the events leading up to Bella's accident.

Nothing is as it seems, nevertheless, Reese is determined to uncover the facts. It is important to her to see that justice is served, and she refuses to allow any guilty parties to go free.

After interviewing residents and availing herself of local resources, Reese's intuition kicks in, which leads her one of Wyoming's wilderness areas with its panoramic mountain views as she encounters intrigue and danger complicating her objectives as she and police detective Jeremy Savage pursue justice.

Critique: The second title in novelist Cindy Keen Reynders 'Reese Golden Mysterious' series, "Diamondback Revenge" is another deftly crafted story that will have immense appeal for fans of the cozy mystery genre. With an original and entertaining plot with more twists and turns than a Disneyland roller-coaster, "Diamondback Revenge" is unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that "Diamondback Revenge" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).

Editorial Note: Cindy (www.cindykeenreynders.com) is the author of The Saucy Lucy Murders, Paws-itively Guilty and A Killer Slice. Solstice Publishing recently released her paranormal romance The Seven-Year Witch, A Witch at Midnight and Witch Tease. She has a blog and can be followed on Facebook.

Her Sister's Death
K. L.Murphy
CamCat Books
www.camcatpublishing.com
9780744307399, $25.99, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Her-Sisters-Death-K-Murphy/dp/0744307392

Synopsis: When her sister is found dead in a Baltimore hotel room, reporter Val Ritter's world is turned upside down. An empty pill bottle at the scene leads the police to believe the cause of death is suicide. With little more than her own conviction, Val teams up with Terry Martin, a retired detective who has his own personal interest in the case, to prove that something more sinister is possible.

In 1921, Bridget Wallace, a guest on the brink of womanhood, is getting ready to marry an eligible older man. But what seems like a comfortable match soon takes a dark turn. Does the illustrious history of the stately Franklin hotel hide another, lesser known history of death?

Critique: An original and deftly crafted novel that will have a special appeal to readers with an interest in historical and supernatural mysteries starring an intrepid, amateur, and determined female sleuth, "Her Sister's Death" by K. L. Murphy is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Her Sister's Death" is also available in a paperback edition (9780744307405, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Editorial Note: K. L. Murphy (https://freshfiction.com/author.php?id=41480) is the author of the Detective Cancini Mystery Series: A Guilty Mind, Stay of Execution, and The Last Sin. Her short stories are featured in the anthologies Deadly Southern Charm ("Burn") and Murder by the Glass ("EverUs"). She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, James River Writers, and Historical Writers of America.

No Life for a Lady
Hannah Dolby
Head of Zeus
https://headofzeus.com/home
9781804544365, $27.99, HC, 400pp

https://www.amazon.com/No-Life-Lady-Hannah-Dolby/dp/1804544361

At 28, Violet's father is beginning to worry she will never find a husband. But every suitor he presents, Violet finds a new and inventive means of rebuffing. Because Violet does not want to marry! She wants to work, and make her own way in the world. But more than anything, she wants to find her mother Lily, who disappeared from Hastings Pier 10 years earlier.

Finding the missing is no job for a lady, but when Violet hires a seaside detective to help, she sets off a chain of events that will put more than just her reputation at risk. Can Violet solve the mystery of Lily Hamilton's vanishing before it's too late?

Critique: Set in 1896, novelist Hannah Dolby's "No Life for a Lady" has everything a cozy mystery fan could want -- humor, a 'whodunit' to solve, and an amateur woman sleuth to do the solving. With many a quick and unexpected plot twist and turn, "No Life for a Lady" is a fun read from cover to cover. While unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "No Life for a Lady" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781804544372, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).

Editorial Note: Hannah Dolby trained as a journalist in Hastings and has worked in PR for many years, promoting museums, galleries, palaces, gardens and even Dolly the sheep. She completed the Curtis Brown selective three-month novel writing course, and she won runner-up in the Comedy Women in Print Awards for this novel with the prize of a place on an MA in Comedy Writing at the University of Falmouth. You can follow her on Twitter @LadyDolby (https://pocketmags.com/us/writing-magazine/april-2023/articles/1277163/hannah-dolby)

Dead Man Inside
Vincent Starrett
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613163917, $25.95, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Man-Inside-Vincent-Starrett/dp/1613163916

Synopsis: A strange sight greets Chicago haberdashery clerk Rufus Ker as he prepares to begin his workday by unlocking the door to Bluefield, Inc. A sign is attached to the glass. It reads: DEAD MAN INSIDE! I AM DEAD. THIS STORE WILL NOT OPEN TO-DAY.

Once inside, Rufus is relieved to discover the shop is still in one piece and assumes the sign to be a prank. But no one is laughing when Rufus realizes the dummy in the window is no dummy at all. It's the body of his boss, Amos Bluefield, and unfortunately this is only the beginning...

Scientist, explorer, and former intelligence officer Walter Ghost has come to Chicago to research some history, but after a stint in the hospital due to appendicitis, he quickly finds himself investigating a string of puzzling murders. Ghost is certainly no stranger to playing detective, but if he's not careful, he's about to get more familiar with the hospital.

Critique: Originally published in 1931 and brought back into print as a treasured time-lost classic for the appreciative benefit of a new generation of cozy mystery fans, Of special note is an informative background introduction by Otto Penzler. "Dead Man Inside" by the late author and journalist Vincent Starrett will prove an immediately welcome and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of time-lost mystery fans that "Dead Man Inside" is also available in a paperback edition (9781613163948, $16.95) and in a digital book format ($1.99).

Editorial Note #1: Vincent Starrett (October 26, 1886 - January 5, 1974) was a Chicago journalist who became one of the world's foremost experts on Sherlock Holmes. A books columnist for the Chicago Tribune, he also wrote biographies of authors such as Robert Louis Stevenson and Ambrose Bierce, various books on books and book collecting, plus Sherlockian pastiches and numerous short stories and novels. A founding member of the Baker Street Irregulars, he is perhaps known best today for The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, an imaginative biography of the great detective. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Starrett)

Editorial Note #2: Otto Penzler (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Penzler) is the creator of American Mystery Classics as well as the founder of the Mysterious Press (1975); Mysterious Press.com (2011), an electronic-book publishing company; and New York City's Mysterious Bookshop (1979). He has won a Raven, the Ellery Queen Award, two Edgars (for the Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection, 1977, and The Lineup, 2010), and lifetime achievement awards from Noircon and The Strand Magazine. He has edited more than 70 anthologies and written extensively about mystery fiction.

The Red Widow Murders
John Dickson Carr
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613163900, $25.95, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Red-Widow-Murders-Merrivale-Mystery/dp/1613163908

Synopsis: They say that Lord Mantling's mansion is haunted -- at least, one room of it is. Known as the Red Widow's Chamber, the now-sealed quarters once housed the wife of a guillotine operator in the French Revolution, and, since her passing, have been host to a century of unsolved horrors, including the death of a man in 1802, the death of a child in 1895, and a number of mysterious mortalities in the years in between.

Now, in 1935, eight men and women join at the manor for a sinister experiment to determine the truth behind the haunting once and for all: they each draw a card, and whoever pulls the Ace of Spades must spend a night in that terrifying room. But the challenge turns fatal when the man selected for the task is found poisoned the next morning when the doors are opened. The locked room was guarded all night, so nobody could have entered or escaped; what's more, the deadly toxin could only have entered through a break in the skin, but no wounds were discovered on the body.

Is this evidence, at last, of a nefarious spirit at work, or of a diabolical and ingenious killer? Only Sir Henry Merrivale, called in to take note of the night's proceedings, will be able to examine the clues and deduce the truth.

Critique: A classic 'locked room' mystery by the legendary mystery writer John Dickson Carr, "The Red Widow" (originally published in 1935) has been brought back as a time lost classic for the benefit of a whole new generation of appreciated mystery fans. While enhanced for the reader with an informative introduction by Tom Mead, and an unreservedly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs that "The Red Widow" is also available in a paperback edition (9781613163955, $15.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note #1: John Dickson Carr (November 30, 1906 - February 27, 1977) was one of the greatest writers of the American Golden Age mystery, and one of the only American authors to be included in England's legendary Detection Club. Though he was born and died in the United States, Carr began his writing career while living in England, where he remained for nearly twenty years. Under his own name and various pseudonyms, he wrote more than seventy novels and numerous short stories, and is best known today for his locked-room mysteries. His beloved series character, Dr. Gideon Fell, was based on author G. K. Chesterton and appeared in twenty-four novels. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dickson_Carr)

Editorial Note #2: Tom Mead (https://tommeadauthor.com) is a UK-based author specializing in crime fiction. His stories have appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Litro Online, Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine, Lighthouse, Mystery Scene and Mystery Weekly (among others). Several of his pieces have also been anthologized, most recently "Heatwave" in The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2021 (ed. Lee Child).

Just One More
Annette Lyon
Scarlet / Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613163757, $26.95, HC, 312pp

https://www.amazon.com/Just-One-More-Annette-Lyon/dp/1613163754

Synopsis: Becca's life is turned upside down when she finds Jenn dead in the bathtub. Soon she begins to unspool the secrets Jenn kept in life, including a troubled marriage to Rick and two dead wives in his past. The more Becca learns, the more determined she becomes to get justice for Jenn, even if the clues surrounding her death aren't quite adding up.

Over a year before her death, Jenn had begun to notice her husband acting strangely. Using her skills as a librarian, she dug down into Rick's past -- and falls down a rabbit hole far deeper and darker than she bargained for. She's already beaten the odds by living longer than his other dead wives. But now she fears her time is up.

Critique: Original, compelling, deftly scripted, and with more unexpected plot twists and turns than a Coney Island roller- coaster, "Just One More" is author Annette Lyon's impressive debut as a mystery writer. While unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of anyone with an interest in a riveting suspense thriller of a read that includes marriage, friendship, and motherhood, along with classic 'whodunnit' elements that "Just One More" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.49).

Editorial Note: Annette Lyon (https://annettelyon.wordpress.com) is the author of dozens of titles ranging from historical women's fiction to nonfiction to romance. Her fiction has won nine Best of State medals in Utah, a Whitney Award, and others.

48 Clues into the Disappearance of My Sister
Joyce Carol Oates
Mysterious Press
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613163818, $26.95, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/48-Clues-into-Disappearance-Sister/dp/1613163819

Synopsis: Marguerite, a beautiful woman, has disappeared from her small town in Upstate New York. But is foul play involved? Or did she merely take an opportunity to get away for fun, or finally make the decision to leave behind her claustrophobic life of limited opportunities?

Her younger sister Gigi wonders if the flimsy silk Dior dress, so casually abandoned on the floor, is a clue to Marguerite's having seemingly vanished. The police examine the footprints made by her Ferragamo boots leaving the house, ending abruptly, and puzzle over how that can help lead to her. Gigi, not so pretty as her sister, slowly reveals her hatred for the perfect, much-loved, Marguerite.

Bit by bit, like ripping the petals off a flower blossom, revelations about both sisters are uncovered. Subtly, but with the unbearable suspense at which Joyce Carol Oates excels, clues mount up to bring to light the fate of the missing beauty.

Critique: Masquerading as a cozy mystery, "48 Clues into the Disappearance of My Sister" is yet another literary masterpiece by famed author Joyce Carol Oates. A deftly crafted suspense thriller of a read, "48 Clues into the Disappearance of My Sister" will have a very special appeal to those who have an interest in amateur sleuths caught up in 'whodunnit' murder mysteries. While highly recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the legions of Joyce Carol Oates fans that "48 Clues into the Disappearance of My Sister" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).

Editorial Note: Joyce Carol Oates (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Carol_Oates) is the author of more than 70 books, including novels, short story collections, poetry volumes, plays, essays, and criticism, including the national bestsellers We Were the Mulvaneys and Blonde. Among her many honors are the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in Short Fiction and the National Book Award. Oates is the Roger S. Berlind Distinguished Professor of the Humanities at Princeton University, and has been a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters since 1978.

The Alarm of the Black Cat
Dolores Kitchens
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613163924, $15.95, PB, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Alarm-Black-Cat-Dolores-Hitchens/dp/1613163924

Synopsis: A strange encounter with a little girl named Claudia and a dead toad sparks elderly detective fiction fan Rachel Murdock's obsessive curiosity, and she winds up renting the house next door just to see how things play out. But soon after she and her cat Samantha move in, Rachel realizes they've landed right in the middle of a deadly love triangle that's created animosity among the three families who now surround her.

When Rachel finds Claudia's great-grandmother dead in her basement, she reaches out to a friend in the LAPD to solve the crime. They soon learn the three households have been torn apart by one husband's infidelity and a complicated will that could lead to a fortune. In a house plagued by forbidden love, regret, and greed, Rachel will have to trust her intuition, as well as Samantha's instincts, to survive -- and keep Claudia out of the hands of a killer whose work has just begun!

Critique: Originally published in 1942, "The Alarm of the Black Cat" by Dolores Kitchens (December 25, 1907 - August 1, 1973) is an early form of what is know today as a 'Cosy Mystery' featuring an amateur female sleuth and a 'whodunnit' mystery. A 'time lost' treasure of a read, and now brought back into print for a new generation of appreciative and dedicated detective mystery fans, "The Alarm of the Black Cat" is highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Dolores Hitchens (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolores_Hitchens) was an American mystery novelist who wrote prolifically from 1938 until her death in 1973. She also wrote as D. B. Olsen (a version of her first married name) and under the pseudonyms Dolan Birkley and Noel Burke.

Philanthropists: Inspector Mislan and the Executioners
Rozlan Mohd Noor
Arcade Crime
c/o Arcade Publishing
www.arcadepub.com
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781956763355, $26.99, HC, 264pp

https://www.amazon.com/Philanthropists-Inspector-Mislan-Executioners-5/dp/195676335X

Synopsis: Eight months after the assassination attempt that nearly ended his life, Inspector Mislan Latif is back on twenty-four-hour duty with his assistant, Detective Sergeant Johan Kamaruddin, when the call comes in: double murder in a house in the police district of Sentul.

The two dark-skinned men were killed identically, execution-style. In the master bedroom of the rental, in plain sight on the bed, is almost three pounds of drugs, while no identifying documents, wallets, phones, and the like are to be found. No shots were heard, or the neighbors won't admit to hearing them, but someone called the killings in to notify the police. In the area, drugs are rampant and also foreign nationals, legal and illegal. If the vics were foreign, without papers, where do they start?

Just as Mislan and Jo begin to dig into the case, they face an unprecedented hurdle. COVID-19 is spreading in the country at an alarming rate, prompting a nationwide Movement Control Order. Pursuing their leads in spite of the new restrictions, the investigators come into contact with members of the underworld and the refugee community, before realizing that the real culprits may be closer than they think.

Critique: Of special appeal to readers with an interest in Police Procedural and International Murder Mysteries, "Philanthropist" (the fifth title in novelist Rozlan Mohd Noor's 'Inspector Mislan and the Executioners' series, is an original and deftly crafted thriller of a read from beginning to end, and an unreservedly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated crime novel enthusiasts that "Philanthropist" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note: Rozlan Mohd Noor served for eleven years as a crime investigator in the CID of the Royal Malaysia Police and a court prosecutor before joining the private sector. 21 Immortals, his first Inspector Mislan novel, was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writer's Best First Book Award and longlisted for the International DUBLIN Literary Award. He has published four more Inspector Mislan novels. (www.goodreads.com/author/show/15075758.Rozlan_Mohd_Noor)

Retribution
Robert McCaw
Oceanview Publishing
1620 Main Street, Suite 11, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608095568, $27.95, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Retribution-Koa-Kane-Hawaiian-Mystery/dp/1608095568

Synopsis: In the back alley of a bar on Hawaii Island, a young man is found stabbed to death. When Hilo Chief Detective Koa Kane begins investigating the crime, the murder weapon is recovered only a few feet away from the body. Crime scene technicians find fingerprints on the knife -- and they are a perfect match for Koa's younger brother, Ikaika.

As the brothers scramble to prove Ikaika's innocence, another crime sends shockwaves through the Hilo police force. A sniper tries to take out Makanui, Koa's closest colleague. As Koa tries to figure out whether these crimes are linked, the sinister force continues their killing spree, threatening Koa and his loved ones at every turn.

Could Koa be the real target? If so, who is behind this trail of retribution? With his own secret criminal past, Koa confronts an all-out offensive against those closest to him and his police force to which he has devoted his life. As the bodies pile up, Koa finds himself the ultimate target of a ruthless adversary and must risk it all to survive.

Critique:"Retribution" (the fifth novel in author Robert McCaw's 'Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery' series) will have a very special appeal to fans of police procedurals and contemporary murder mysteries set in the Hawaiian Islands. Along with the previous four volumes (Death of a Messenger; Off the Grid; Fire and Vengeance; Treachery Times Two), "Retribution" can be read as a 'stand alone' murder mystery without reference to the other superbly crafted titles in this simply outstanding series from Oceanview Publishing. While unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated murder mystery enthusiasts that "Retribution" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.49).

Editorial Note: Robert McCaw (https://robertbmccaw.com) grew up in a military family, traveling the world. He is a graduate of Georgetown University, served as a U.S. Army lieutenant, and earned a law degree from the University of Virginia. Having lived on the Big Island of Hawaii, McCaw's writing is imbued by his more than 20-year love affair with this Pacific paradise.

An American in Scotland
Lucy Connelly
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639103508, $26.99, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/American-Scotland-Scottish-Isle-Mystery/dp/1639103503

Synopsis: Sea Isle was supposed to be the fresh start Dr. Emilia McRoy dreamed of. Far from the busy emergency room across the Atlantic in Seattle, she hoped to settle down and begin this new chapter as a small-town doctor to the quirky residents who immediately welcomed her. When she stumbles across a dead body, she starts to think that she may not be as Scot free of the drama and intrigue as she initially thought.

Emilia soon learns she has bigger issues at hand. It starts with realizing she'll work closely with the less than helpful local constable, Laird Ewan Campbell. Her luck continues when she discovers that part of her new responsibilities includes being the coroner for the very body she found. Finally, when the body goes missing before she can even begin the autopsy, Emilia must convince the townspeople that a crime did, in fact, occur.

The deeper she digs into the picturesque town, the more suspicious she becomes. And then there are her sleep issues. It may be due to the ever-growing list of suspects, a number of threatening letters, or the surprise visitor who breaks into her house at night. But she's never backed down before, and she doesn't intend to start now.

Someone doesn't want this doctor to treat the ailments of Sea Isle, but Emilia McRoy is determined to find the murderer before they kilt again.

Critique: "An American in Scotland" by Lucy Connelly is a cozy mystery lover's delight from first page to last. An original and fun 'whodunnit', "An American in Scotland" is a certain and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the legions of cozy mystery fans that "An American in Scotland" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666630268, $22.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Lucy Connelly (https://www.lucyconnelly.com) travels around the world, usually with her bossy dog in tow. She is always up for adventure and is constantly on the lookout for killer inspiration -- as in who will be the next killer in her books? She has a master's degree in humanities and enjoys learning all the things.

A Wealth of Deception
Trish Esden
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639102549, $29.99, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Deception-Scandal-Mountain-Antiques-Mystery/dp/163910254X

Synopsis: When Vermont antique and art dealer Edie Brown discovers an unsettlingly dark collage by the famed reclusive "outsider" artist known only as Vespa, she opens a Pandora's Box of deception and danger.

Edie teams up with Uncle Tuck and Kala to investigate the background of the collage but only uncover secrets that are more disturbing than the artwork itself. As Edie tracks down the validity of the piece, she stumbles into an art underground where some people are willing to kill to keep their schemes a secret.

Critique: An amateur sleuth, a small town, a 'whodunnit' murder to solve, "A Wealth of Deception" by Trish Esden has all the elements that make an expertly crafted Cosy Mystery -- including a population of memorable characters, and a plot with more unexpected twists and turns that a Disneyland roller-coaster. Very strongly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Wealth of Deception" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666630633, $22.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Trish Esden (https://trishesden.com) loves museums, gardens, wilderness, dogs and birds, in various order depending on the day. She lives in Northern Vermont where she deals antiques with her husband, a profession she's been involved with since her teens. Don't ask what her favorite type of antique is. She loves hunting down old bottles and rusty barn junk as much as she enjoys fine art and furnishings.

You Should Have Known
Rebecca A. Keller
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639102600, $29.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/You-Should-Have-Known-Novel/dp/1639102604

Synopsis: When retired nurse Frannie Greene moves into a senior living apartment, she finds a compelling friendship with her new neighbor Katherine, only to discover that Katherine is married to the judge who Frannie believes is implicated in the death of her beloved granddaughter.

Observing the medication cart sparks Frannie's darkest imagination, and her desire for revenge combines with her medical expertise. In one dreadful, impulsive moment, she tampers with the medicine. However, the next day, someone is dead, and Frannie realizes the gravity of what she's done.

The police get involved, and suspicions gather around someone Frannie knows to be innocent. Wracked with remorse, Frannie's anxiety becomes unbearable. As she works to make it right, Frannie discovers that things are more complicated than they seem.

She's spent years aching for accountability from people in power. Is she the one who now needs to be held culpable? What really happened that night?

Critique: All the more impressive when considering that "You Should Have Known" is author Rebecca A. Keller's debut as a novelist, this deftly crafted thriller of a read that will have a very special appeal to fans riveting psychological suspense fiction. While highly recommended, especially for community library Crime Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "You Should Have Known Better" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).

Editorial Note: Rebecca A. Keller (https://www.rebeccaakeller.com) is an award-winning writer, an internationally exhibited artist, a college professor, a Fulbright Artist/Scholar, and recipient of grants from National Endowment for the Arts, Illinois Arts Council, and College Art Association.

A Most Intriguing Lady
Sarah Ferguson
Avon Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9780063216822, $30.00, HC, 368pp

https://www.amazon.com/Most-Intriguing-Lady-Novel/dp/0063216825

Synopsis: Victorian London was notorious for its pickpockets. While in the country houses of the English elite, gentleman burglars, art thieves and con men preyed on the rich and titled. Wealthy victims (with their pride and reputation at stake) would never go to the police. What they needed was a society insider, one of their own, a person of discretion and finely tuned powers of observation, adept at navigating intrigue.

That person was Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott, the youngest child of Queen Victoria's close friends the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch. Bookish, fiercely intelligent, and a keen observer, Mary has deliberately cultivated a mousey persona that allows her to remain overlooked and significantly underestimated by all. It's the perfect cover for a sleuth, a role she stumbles into when trying to assist a close friend during a house party hosted by her parents at their stately Scottish home, Drumlanrig Castle.

It is at this party where Lady Mary also meets Colonel Walter Trefusis, a distinguished and extremely handsome war veteran. Tortured by memories of combat, Walter, like Mary, lives a double life, with a desk job in Whitehall providing a front for his role in the British Intelligence Service. The two form an unlikely alliance to solve a series of audacious crimes - - and indulge in a highly charged on-off romance!

Critique: The stuff of which BBC movies and television series are made, "A Most Intriguing Lady" by Sarah Ferguson (the Duchess of York) is a fun read from start to finish. An original historical mystery featuring one remarkable woman's ability to be both the perfect lady and a perfectly talented detective (all while finding love as well), "A Most Intriguing Lady" will have a very special appeal for readers with an interest in Victorian Era female sleuths. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Most Intriguing Lady" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798200974849, $41.99).

Editorial Note: Sarah Ferguson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah,_Duchess_of_York) is the Duchess of York, and former daughter-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II. She is also a bestselling memoirist and children's book author, film producer, and has been a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers and Wedgewood china. These days she campaigns for her Children in Crisis international charity and works on historical documentaries and films that draw on her deep interest in Victorian history. The proud mother of two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and grandmother of two beautiful grandchildren, she lives in Windsor with nine frisky Norfolk terriers.

Vanishing at Castle Moreau
Jaime Jo Wright
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton Road, Ada, MI 49301
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764241291, $29.99, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Vanishing-at-Castle-Moreau/dp/076424129X

Synopsis: In 1865, orphaned Daisy Francois takes a position as housemaid at a midwestern Wisconsin castle and finds that the reclusive and eccentric Gothic authoress inside hides more than the harrowing tales in her novels. With women disappearing from the area and a legend that seems to parallel these eerie circumstances, Daisy is thrust into a web that may threaten to steal her sanity, if not her life.

In the present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired by the grandson of American aristocratic family the Tremblays to help his matriarchal grandmother face her hoarding in the dilapidated Castle Moreau. But when Cleo uncovers more than just the woman's stashes of collectibles, a century-old mystery of disappearance, insanity, and the dust of the old castle's curse threaten to rise again, and this time, leave no one alive to tell the sordid tale.

Critique: With her latest novel, "The Vanishing at Castle Moreau", author Jaime Jo Wright draws her readers into a seamlessly woven dual-time tale of suspense, mystery, romance, and redemption. A unique and inherently fascinating read from first page to last, "The Vanishing at Castle Moreau" will have a particular appeal for readers who enjoy 'family friendly' stories of suspense, romance and mystery. While especially recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Vanishing at Castle Moreau" is also available in a paperback edition (9780764238345, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).

Editorial Note: Jaime Jo Wright (jaimewrightbooks.com) is the author of seven novels, including Christy Award winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She's also the Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of two novellas.

Death of a Traitor
M. C. Beaton
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9781538746769, $27.00, HC, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Traitor-Hamish-Macbeth-Mystery/dp/153874676X

Synopsis: Kate Hibbert is all too eager to lend a hand to her neighbors. Although she has been a resident of the sleepy village of Lochdubh for only a year, in that time Kate has alienated one too many of its residents with her interfering (and not entirely well-intentioned) ways. When Kate's neighbor sees her lugging a heavy suitcase to the bus stop, he hopes that the prying woman is leaving for good. But two weeks later, Kate's cousin arrives in town with the news that Kate has gone missing -- and she demands that the local police step in.

Sergeant Hamish Macbeth is called in to investigate the disappearance, and soon he is befuddled by a storm of lies, intrigue, scandal, and the sneaking suspicion that Kate was someone much more sinister than she claimed. Torn between loyalty to Lochdubh and his job, Hamish begins threading his way through a maze of deceit, quickly finding himself on the trail of a ruthless, treacherous murderer. If he catches the killer, peace can return to the village. If he fails, he will lose everything: his job, his home, and the life he so loves in Lochdubh.

Critique: The 35th novel in the late author M. C. Beaton's 'Hamish MacBeth Murder Mystery' series, "Death of a Traitor" has everything a mystery buff could hopeful -- a fun read populated with interesting characters, more plot twists and turns than a Disneyland roller-coaster ride, and a very clever finale. Along with an informative Foreword by R. W. Green, this is M. C. Beaton at her best! While highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the legions of M. C. Beaton fans that "Death of a Traitor" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Grand Central Publishing, 9781549116124, $40.00, CD).

Editorial Note: M. C. Beaton (10 June 1936 - 30/31 December 2019), hailed as the "Queen of Crime" by the Globe and Mail, was the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Agatha Raisin novels - the basis for the hit series on Acorn TV and public television - as well as the Hamish Macbeth series. Born in Scotland, Beaton started her career writing historical romances under several pseudonyms as well as her maiden name, Marion Chesney. Her books have sold more than twenty-two million copies worldwide.

Editorial Note #2: R. W. Green (https://www.thebooksinorder.com/r-w-green-books-in-order) is a long-time friend of M. C. Beaton, and has written numerous works of fiction and non-fiction.

Not the Ones Dead
Dana Stabenow
www.stabenow.com
Head of Zeus
https://headofzeus.com/home
9781804540169, $29.99, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Ones-Dead-Kate-Shugak-Investigation/dp/1804540161

Synopsis: A mid-air collision in the Alaskan wilderness between two small aircraft leaves ten people dead. Was it a bird strike, pilot error... or premeditated murder?

Then an eleventh body is found in the wreckage: a man shot gangland style, twice in the chest and once in the head.

In an investigation that reaches to the highest levels of government, justice may not be served, but Kate Shugak is determined that the truth will out, even at the risk of her life and the lives of those she loves most.

Critique: Of special and particular appeal to readers with an interest in Private Investigator murder mysteries featuring women sleuths, "Not the Ones Dead" is a fun and fascinating read with more plot twists and turns than a Disneyland roller- coaster. While unreservedly recommended for inclusion to community library Mystery/Suspense collections it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs that "Not the Ones Dead" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note: Dana Stabenow (www.stabenow.com) is the author of the successful Kate Shugak series, with her novel "A Cold Day for Murder", received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America.

Good Dog, Bad Cop
David Rosenfelt
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250828965, $27.99, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Dog-Bad-Team-Novels/dp/1250828961

Synopsis: The K Team enjoys investigating cold cases for the Paterson Police Department. Corey Douglas, his K-9 partner Simon Garfunkel, Laurie Collins, and Marcus Clark even get to choose which cases they'd like to pursue. When Corey sees the latest list of possibilities, there's no question which one to look into next.

Corey's former mentor, Jimmy Dietrich, had his whole identity wrapped up in being a cop. When Jimmy retired three years ago, his marriage quickly deteriorated and he tried (and failed) to get back on the force. Jimmy was left to try to adjust to life as a civilian.

Not long after, two bodies were pulled from the Passaic River. A local woman, Susan Avery, and Jimmy Dietrich. With no true evidence available, the deaths went unsolved and the case declared cold. This didn't stop the whispers: an affair gone wrong -- of a murder-suicide committed by Jimmy.

Corey never believed it. With this case, the K Team has the opportunity to find the real murderer, and clear Jimmy's name. Bestselling author David Rosenfelt returns in Good Dog, Bad Cop, where there's little to go on, but that won't stop Paterson, New Jersey's favorite private investigators from sniffing out the truth.

Critique: Another finely fashioned novel by David Rosenfelt, "Good Dog, Bad Cop" will be of particular interest to fans of Cozy Animal 'whodunnit' murder mysteries. While unreservedly recommended as a high priority addition to community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated Private Investigator fiction fans that "Good Dog, Bad Cop" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Macmillan Audio, 9781250880895, $29.99, CD).

Editorial Note: David Rosenfelt (https://davidrosenfelt.com) is the Edgar-nominated and Shamus Award-winning author of more than twenty Andy Carpenter novels, including One Dog Night, Collared, and Deck the Hounds; its spinoff series, The K-Team; the Doug Brock thriller series, which starts with Fade to Black; and stand-alone thrillers including Heart of a Killer and On Borrowed Time.

The Last Remains
Elly Griffiths
Mariner Books
www.marinerbooks.com
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9780358726487, $30.00, HC, 368pp

https://www.amazon.com/Last-Remains-Mystery-Galloway-Mysteries/dp/0358726484

Synopsis: When builders discover a human skeleton during a renovation of a cafe, they call in archeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway, who is preoccupied with the threatened closure of her department and by her ever-complicated relationship with DCI Nelson. The bones turn out to be modern -- the remains of Emily Pickering, a young archaeology student who went missing in 2002. Suspicion soon falls on Emily's Cambridge tutor and also on another archeology enthusiast who was part of the group gathered the weekend before she disappeared -- Ruth's friend Cathbad.

As they investigate, Nelson and his team uncover a tangled web of relationships within the archeology group and look for a link between them and the cafe where Emily's bones were found. Then, just when the team seem to be making progress, Cathbad disappears. The trail leads Ruth a to the Neolithic flint mines in Grimes Graves. The race is on, first to find Cathbad and then to exonerate him, but will Ruth and Nelson uncover the truth in time to save their friend?

Critique: With the publication of "The Last Remains", novelist Elly Griffiths includes everything a cozy mystery fan requires -- a woman sleuth and a deftly crafted 'whodunnit' murder mystery to solve. Of special appeal to readers with an interest in polic procedurals and international crime, "The Last Remains" is highly recommended as a popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections and is readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format ($15.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212217187, $41.99, CD). Librarians should note for their collections that there is also a large print edition of "The Last Remains" (9780063297678, $34.00, 448pp).

Editorial Note: Elly Griffiths (https://ellygriffiths.co.uk) is the author of the Ruth Galloway and Brighton mystery series, as well as the standalone novels The Stranger Diaries, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel, and The Postscript Murders. She is the recipient of the CWA Dagger in the Library Award and the Mary Higgins Clark Award.

Extreme Vetting
Roxana Arama
www.roxanaarama.com
Ooligan Press
https://www.ooliganpress.com
9781947845381, $18.00, PB, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Vetting-Roxana-Arama/dp/1947845381

Synopsis: Seattle, Washington, 2019. Attorney and single mom Laura Holban is an immigrant herself, guiding clients through a Kafkaesque system of ever-changing federal immigration rules, where overworked judges make life-shattering decisions in minutes. Laura's newest client is Emilio Ramirez, who was arrested in front of his sons at their high school and thrown in detention.

When Laura files for Emilio's asylum, the world turns upside down. False criminal charges prevent his release, someone is following his family, and an ICE prosecutor threatens to revoke Laura's US citizenship. None of it makes sense -- until she uncovers a deadly conspiracy involving ICE, stolen data, and human trafficking.

Now the man at the center of it all is coming after Laura and Emilio, who must find a way to survive -- and keep their families safe!

Critique: A riveting thriller of suspense, politics, and one of the major social issues of our day, "Extreme Vetting" by author Roxana Arama is all the more impressive when considering that it is her debut as a novelist. "Extreme Vetting" is a deftly crafted novel that is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Extreme Vetting" (the stuff of which movies are made!) is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.49).

Editorial Note: Roxana Arama (www.roxanaarama.com) is a Romanian American author with a master of fine arts in creative writing from Goddard College. She studied computer science in Bucharest, Romania, and moved to the United States to work in software development. Her short stories and essays have been published in several literary magazines.

The Cannastar Factor
Stephen Steele
www.stephensteelebooks.com
Speaking Volumes
https://speakingvolumes.us/about
9781645404255, $17.95, PB, 378pp

https://www.amazon.com/Cannastar-Factor-Trouble-Miracles/dp/1645404250

Synopsis: Alex Farmer, M.D. is a former drug addict trying to put his tortured life behind him. Cyd Seeley is a brilliant botanist and rancher in dire financial straits. Inadvertently, they are thrown together when a mutual friend is murdered after developing an inexpensive, organically grown cure for viral diseases.

The miracle plant is called Cannastar and it cures all manner of viruses from Coronavirus and cancer, to HIV and herpes. Cannastar costs next to nothing to grow, returns the hopelessly ill to good health, and threatens to bankrupt the pharmaceutical industry. Big Pharma will stop at nothing to keep it off the market.

Aided by faithful Native Americans from the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana and the Navajo Nation in Arizona, Cyd and Alex fight to grow Cannastar and bring it to a desperate world. Their harrowing and perilous journey ranges from the Rocky Mountain wilderness, to the political corruption of Washington D.C., to the jungles of Mexico, to the deserts of the Southwest.

Critique: "The Cannastar Factor" by Stephen Steele was originally published under the title "A Cure to Die For". This newly and extensively rewritten, revised, expanded and updated edition is now part of a 3-book series entitled "The Trouble with Miracles". Filled with mystery and suspense, "The Cannastar Factor" is part adventure and part love story; a timely thriller that unfolds with endless surprises and heartwarming relationships; and an epic novel about the resolute passions of two people who stand against a broken world. With a special appeal for fans of mystery, suspense, medical thrillers with more plot twists and turns than a Disneyland roller-coaster, "The Cannastar Factor" is unreservedly recommended for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Cannastar Factor' is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).

Editorial Note: Stephen Steele (www.stephensteelebooks.com) is a graduate of the University of North Texas with degrees in English Literature and Marketing. He is also the author of the adventure thriller series "The Trouble with Miracles" and be visited on Facebook and Twitter.

Musky Run
Jeff Nania
Feet Wet Writing
https://www.feetwetwriting.com
9781960681003, $17.99, PB, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Musky-Run-Northern-Cabrelli-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0BWVC5LWD

Synopsis: Olympic medalist Anna MacDonald comes home to Namekagon County to emcee the Great Wilderness Race as predators stalk the Northwoods. While occasional interactions with potentially dangerous animals are old hat for most residents, this changes when unpredictable behavior patterns make it unclear who is the hunter and who is the hunted. Sheriff John Cabrelli and the new Musky Falls chief of police work swiftly to keep the community calm as they try to piece together the clues before it is too late.

Critique: Following the novels "Figure Eight", "Spider Lake", and "Bough Cutter", this newly published edition of "Musky Run" is the fourth book in the award-winning Northern Lakes Mystery series by Jeff Nania. With a special interest for fans of crime fiction and police procedurals, "Musky Run" is an original, compelling and memorable read from cover to cover. While highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of mystery buffs that "Musky Run" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note: Jeff Nania (https://www.feetwetwriting.com) draws upon careers in law enforcement, conservation, and his passion for our natural resources to weave together his award-winning Northern Lakes Mysteries.

Aria for Murder
Erica Miner
Level Best Books
https://www.levelbestbooks.us
9781685121983, $16.95, PB, 254pp

https://www.amazon.com/Aria-Murder-Julia-Kogan-Mystery/dp/1685121985

Synopsis: Excitement mounts as the moment arrives for brilliant young violinist Julia Kogan's debut in the orchestra of the world-renowned Metropolitan Opera. But the high-stakes milieu of this musical mecca is rocked to its core when, during an on-stage murder scene, Julia's mentor, a famous conductor, is assassinated on the podium.

Thrust into the investigation when her closest colleague in the orchestra is named chief suspect, Julia teams up with opera-loving NYPD detective Larry Somers to solve the murder. In the process, they are shocked to discover the venerable opera house is rife with a web of secrets, intrigue, and lethal rivalries. But all bets are off when Julia suddenly finds herself the real killer's prime target!

Critique: A cosy mystery at its very best, "Aria for Murder" is the first of novelist Erica Miner's 'A Julia Kogan Opera Mystery' trilogy from Level Best Books. A fun read from cover to cover, "Aria for Murder" deftly combines the elements of a traditional 'whodunnit' detective mystery with a memorable crafted amateur female sleuth. The stuff of which Hallmark TV mystery movies are made, "Aria for Murder" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Aria for Murder" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).

Editorial Note: Formerly a Metropolitan Opera Orchestra violinist for 21 years, Erica Miner now enjoys a multi-faceted career as an award-winning author, lecturer, screenwriter, and arts journalist. Erica's passion for Bringing Murder and Music together is embodied in her 3-part Opera Mystery novel series, now being re-published by Level Best Books, starting with "Aria for Murder" (which draws on Erica's own real-life experiences working at the New York Metropolitan Opera). Erica has given workshops for Sisters in Crime; Los Angles Creative Writing Conference; EPIC Group Writers; Write on the Sound; Fields End Writer's Community; Savvy Authors; and numerous libraries on the west coast.

Spider: Every Marriage Has A Secret
Azma Dar
Datura Books
9781915523006, $17.99, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Spider-Every-marriage-has-secret/dp/1915523001

Synopsis: Sophie is an aspiring British Pakistani actress whose only claim to fame (despite her vast and unscrupulous ambitions) is the unplanned on-camera birth of her son, a clip which has become something of a cult favourite on the Indian B movie scene. Her husband, Tariq, is a pillar of Bradford's Muslim community and her perfect match, until his sudden disappearance under mysterious circumstances. When a body is found, presumed to be his, but disfigured in a way that makes identification difficult, Sophie is distraught.

Tariq was her 'third time lucky husband'. Her first, Amir, came out of a childhood sweetheart relationship that couldn't last, and her rebound marriage to doting Faraz, a recent immigrant to the UK and obsessed with the Royal Family, was even shorter lived. Is Sophie just luckless or is there more to her than meets the eye? And maybe, just maybe, one of her exes has something to do with Tariq's untimely death. Might one of them be responsible for the threatening letters? Sophie herself is guilty of something, but is murder part of her ambition?

Critique: A riveting and carefully crafted read from first to last, "Spider" showcases author Azma Dar's impressive narrative driven storytelling skills. Original, engaging, entertaining, and memorable, "Spider" is a fascinating novel that will prove to be an enduringly popular community library acquisition. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Spider" is also available from Datura Books in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).

Editorial Note: Azma Dar is an author and playwright. She has written three full-length theatre productions, several short plays, a radio play for BBC Asian Network and has a forthcoming play entitled NOOR at Southwark Playhouse in November 2022. Her debut novel, The Secret Arts, was published by Dean Street Press in 2015.

Operation DFC
Janelle Taylor, author
Ashley Fontainne, author
Independently Published
9798366913607, $20.99, HC, 362pp

https://www.amazon.com/Operation-DFC-Janelle-Taylor/dp/B0BQHR2D4J

Synopsis: Operation DFC involves an elite team ready to act on recent intel that over a thousand men and/or their remains are still behind enemy lines. Bangkok is the last stopping point before slipping into Vietnam and extracting as many American prisoners as possible.

For one particular operative, this is personal because from 1971 to 1973, he was a POW; now, ten years later, he works for the CIA under the fake identity of John Sims, Field Expert for Crop World, an international firm run by the agency.

While "John Sims" is in his hotel room, the unthinkable happens. Bangkok may end up being his greatest challenge as his courage, patriotism, and honor are on the line, and he finds himself in the toughest physical and mental battle of his life -- wondering if Operation DFC will be his first and last covert mission.

Critique: An riveting novel that will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in Cold War era clandestine black ops. Original, clever, deftly crafted, and with more unexpected plot twists and turns than a Coney Island roller-coaster, "Operation DFC" by co-authors Janelle Taylor and Ashley Fontainne is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Operation DFC" is also available in a paperback edition (9798366909396, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).

Cyberwars: David Knight Goes To Moscow
Avraham Shama
https://www.avrahamshama.com
3rd Coast Books
https://www.3rdcoastbooks.com
9781946743572, $17.95, PB, 281pp

https://www.amazon.com/CYBERWARS-David-Knight-Goes-Moscow/dp/1946743577

Synopsis: In 1999, David Knight is sent to Moscow by the CIA to gather information that could help the U.S. decide how much aid to extend to Russia. He accidentally learns that Russia's newly-elected president, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, is investing heavily in developing new cyberweapons to invade the U.S. and other countries, like Ukraine -- as would become evident in 2022.

This discovery drives the new and young CIA consultant and professor mad. He feels a sudden surge of patriotism, which motivates him to take unfamiliar risks and convince his handler to respond to Putin's planned aggression.

This experience also helps the Anglo David Knight redeem himself from past failures and develop a loving relationship with Toni Chavez -- a newly-minted Latina professor of political science.

Critique: A deftly crafted and simply riveting read with more unexpected plot twists and turns than a Disneyland roller- coaster, "Cyberwars: David Knight Goes To Moscow" by Avraham Shama will have a very special appeal to fans of technothriller and espionage stories. While available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99), "Cyberwars: David Knight Goes To Moscow" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Avraham Shama (https://www.avrahamshama.com) is an award-winning writer, professor, and consultant. He specializes in the Russian economy and in the spread of new technologies. Shama has published extensively in these areas. He holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science and an M.B.A. from the Hebrew University, and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University, the Kellogg School of Management.

Infinity
Catherine Coulter, Editor
Suspense Publishing
B0BLR9KYD2, $9.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Suspense-Anthology-Catherine-Coulter-ebook/dp/B0BLR9K YD2

Infinity: A Suspense Magazine Anthology features a host of notable writers, ranging from Susan Wingate and Tosca Lee to E.J. Howe, and provides an adventure-oriented thriller collection that excels in the unexpected. Thriller readers usually don't receive laugh-out-loud moments. Nor does the genre typically embrace a broad spectrum of age ranges in its protagonists, or perspectives laced with the bite of irony and unusually poetic inspections. All these facets and more support a diverse selection that travels time, space, and the suspense genre to pick out those gems that truly stand out from the crowd.

Take J.T. Ellison's "Louche 49," for one example. 1985 Paris comes to life through the eyes of assassin Annalise, whose latest "easy" assignment has gone very, very wrong. The outcome of her failure is outlined from the start: "The woman with the blue suede shoes will sit at table ten. If she orders the tartare, the job is done. If she orders the sole, something went wrong. Do not order the sole. Those were the final words before the call had been terminated and she was sure she'd never, ever have to debase herself by admitting defeat. Do not fail. She has no idea that, were she to order the sole, it will come with a lethal dose of poison in the tender white flesh. The patrons of the restaurant will assume she's choked on a sliver of bone, the waiter who deboned the fish tableside summarily dismissed, and the body taken to a field near the Bois de Boulogne for a discreet burial." A lie will buy her time while she seeks to fulfill her mission. The progression from Paris to modern-day Nashville represents a sea change in perspective as readers seamlessly shift into another reality which holds unexpected consequences and insights.

Another satisfying twist of tale lies in Kelley Armstrong's "The Joy of Wrong Numbers." Here, a grandma recovering from a heart attack in a hospital stumbles upon the joy of wrong numbers when a mishap results in the unexpected.

Armstrong's ability to inject fun into a thought-provoking story is only one of the attractors, here: "How does one go from "Whoops, wrong number" to a recipe exchange? Well, first, one needs to be my grandmother." One accident can lead to a lifestyle change. In Gran's case, it certainly does, as daughter Lily finds that the wrong number pursuit may result in the right thing for her.

Each story is unique. In a genre replete with formula writing and often-predictable results, it's refreshing to find a gem of unpredictability and diversity. Such is Infinity.

Libraries looking for short story thriller collections that stand out from the ordinary with writers who each craft very different visions of suspense, horror, and the intersection of thriller and life endeavors will find much to relish in Infinity, which should be held up as an example of truly creative thriller writing.

Salt Island
Lisa Towles
Indies United Publishing
www.indiesunited.net
9781644565889, Kindle $3.99, PB $16.99, HC $26.99, Audiobook $15.99

https://www.amazon.com/Salt-Island-Investigations-Thriller-Book-ebook/dp/B0BW4QLC2R

Salt Island is the second book in the E&A Investigation Series. It follows former CIA operative-turned-private-P.I. Mari Ellwyn's investigation into a CEO's blackmailing and the witness determined to bring his corrupt ways to public and legal attention. Mari's new business partner, Derek Abernathy, is thrown into her complex world as unexplained deaths take an even more dangerous turn for them both, placing them in the crosshairs of a conflict that evolves beyond a singular case to embrace many facets of wrongdoing and threat.

On its surface, Salt Island may be labeled a work of suspense and intrigue. Scratch that appearance to find it's fraught with layers of satisfying complexity that drags moral and ethical conundrums into the fray. The peace before a storm is captured in a surprising prologue that opens not with adversity, but the image of a surreal place of safety powered by a gently rocking boat. This peace is suddenly shaken by a body in the water that changes everything.

The first-person narrator's father was a spy before he went missing, and so the corpse introduces both a mystery and a flashback to possibilities the protagonist would rather not think about. Especially since this former officer of the law should not have been in the area in the first place.

The situation is further complicated by the question of whether her boat and discovery lie in US waters and jurisdiction. With this, Lisa Towles takes off on a globe-hopping journey of discovery which probes international waters and past and present events alike.

Old friends, new news, assertions and rebuttals in the legal arena, and deadly purposes evolve in the course of Ellwyn and Abernathy's venture into unknown waters and unfamiliar territory. From chemical dumping and toxic relationships to family secrets and discoveries that rock Mari's personal life as well as her professional acuity, readers are treated to changing subplots and revelations that lend a dance of danger to the story.

Towles is especially adept at entwining personal and political circumstances in such a way that readers are kept guessing about outcomes. Who is the perp and who the good guy, and what entangled relationships keep circling back to a missing father's own agenda? Thriller readers thus receive a far more complex story that many; yet it's one which is firmly planted in the personalities and lives of not just perps, but their pursuers.

Another plus is that each partner is charged with reconsidering not just their involvements and own lives, but each other. Salt Island is a gripping suspense story that reveals many unexpected connections, yet takes the time to inject a sense of place into the sense of purpose, creating a "you are here" experience no matter where the partners are in the world: "We sat there for thirty minutes, sheltered by the wind in the protected chess park of Santa Monica Pier on a grungy table eating the most delicious Mexican food from my favorite taqueria, while I told him the story - at least part of the story..."

Salt Island both enhances and expands Ellwyn's world from her prior appearance in Hot House, standing nicely alone as a riveting work of espionage, wrongdoing, and discovery. It will attract and grab the attentions of those interested in stories as much about uncovering personal secrets as in crime-busting efforts.

Libraries seeking exceptional thriller reads powered by the passion and purpose of unexpected revelations that continue to the story's concluding lines will find Salt Island more than worthy of acquisition.

Star Tangled Murder
Nancy J. Cohen
https://nancyjcohen.com
Orange Grove Press
9781952886256, $14.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Star-Tangled-Murder-Hair-Mysteries/dp/1952886252

Star Tangled Murder is the eighteenth book in the Bad Hair Days cozy mystery series -- but that doesn't mean that newcomers need pursue the other 17 books in order to start with and thoroughly enjoy this latest addition.

The 4th of July holiday has led hairdresser Marla Vail and her detective husband Dalton to visit a historical village in Florida, where they plan on steeping themselves in American history ... until a simulated battle becomes too real. A body is left on the battlegrounds, raising the investigative hackles of husband and wife. What ensues is a romp through American and Seminole Indian history in a probe that takes place on domestic soil, but ventures into foreign territory with another hair-raising tale. How many modern folk die via tomahawk? Which cast member in this insidious play took the next step into becoming a murderer, changing the plot of an entire village's holiday celebration? With a hairdresser's precision for employing effective cuts, Marla joins her husband in the probe, only to find that they are not confronting one suspect, but the murky undercurrents and secrets of an entire village.

Forced to assess intention from strangers in a world she barely knows, Marla's investigative eye for trouble uncovers too many possibilities in even the most casual of encounters: "Was Uriah passing on a friendly warning, or did this threat come from him directly? She couldn't ascertain his purpose and tossed out another query to test him."

As astute as the methodology is between husband and wife, which contrast according to their skill sets, is the character-building and community-revealing force Nancy J. Cohen employs. History and mystery entangle in unusual manners as the story unfolds, revealing a series of lies and possibilities that become even more convoluted and puzzling as Marla and Dalton delve deeper.

As the history and more murders evolve, the duo finds themselves ever more twisted in a mystery that leads Marla to consider when to obey her more savvy husband's detective edicts and instincts and when to embark on her own course of action. The result is delightful in its progressive unfolding of facts and fancies, cemented by characters that encounter a strange twist on American history and pursue these links to their surprising conclusions.

Libraries seeking cozy mysteries replete in psychological strength and American history drama will find Star Tangled Murder a compelling portrait of a historical reenactment gone awry.

Velma Gone Awry
Matt Cost
Encircle Publications
www.encirclepub.com
9781645994176, $27.99 Hardcover/$17.99 Paper/$6.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Velma-Gone-Awry-Brooklyn-Mystery/dp/1645994171

Velma Gone Awry is a mystery set in Brooklyn during the Roaring 20s. It follows a middle-aged Hungarian P.I., 8 Ballo, who enjoys a relatively simple and satisfying life until he's hired to locate the missing daughter of Fritz Hartmann, a wealthy German businessman. His efforts force him out of his comfort zone as 8 delves into the life of Velma, a twenty-five-year-old woman who at first seems more than capable of taking care of herself.

Velma considered herself a flapper. The fact that she's been missing three days and there's no ransom demand is puzzling, indicating to 8 that there may be more at stake than a simple abduction for money scenario. As 8 moves in and out of her life and his own fugue states, readers learn that both characters are not what they initially seem. Each harbors dreams and takes actions that are not always supportive to their goals. Velma's mystery has awakened in 8 a renewed passion: "It must be Velma who'd thrown him back into disturbing fantasies of being a hero. Once again, in real life this time, he'd been tasked with saving the girl. He didn't mean to fail."

Readers won't anticipate the blend of historical and social inspection of the times that permeates Velma Gone Awry, but this strength is just one of the pleasing surprises of the vivid story. As 8 moves into impossible, challenging scenarios, his feelings about his moves translate to themes embedded in the overall story: "He didn't realize where he was going until he was almost there." The fact that readers, too, won't realize the outcome until they are nearly there makes Velma Gone Awry a powerful tale of intrigue, redemption, and discovery that comes full circle from Velma's circumstances to her family's history.

Libraries looking for full-bodied mysteries that display equally captivating elements of historical and social intrigue will find Velma Gone Awry just the ticket for a more literary and complex inspection than a simple whodunit alone.

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Midwest Book Review