July 2023 MBR The Mystery/Suspense Shelf part 2 of 4

The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality
Kate Khavari
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639102785, $27.99, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Botanists-Flowers-Fatality-Saffron-Everleigh/dp/1639102787

Synopsis: 1920s London isn't the ideal place for a brilliant woman with lofty ambitions. But research assistant Saffron Everleigh is determined to beat the odds in a male-dominated field at the University College of London. Saffron embarks on her first research study alongside the insufferably charming Dr. Michael Lee, traveling the countryside with him in response to reports of poisonings. But when Detective Inspector Green is given a case with a set of unusual clues, he asks for Saffron's assistance.

The victims, all women, received bouquets filled with poisonous flowers. Digging deeper, Saffron discovers that the bouquets may be more than just unpleasant flowers -- there may be a hidden message within them, revealed through the use of the old Victorian practice of floriography. A dire message, indeed, as each woman who received the flowers has turned up dead.

Alongside Dr. Lee and her best friend, Elizabeth, Saffron trails a group of suspects through a dark jazz club, a lavish country estate, and a glittering theatre, delving deeper into a part of society she thought she'd left behind forever.

Will Saffron be able to catch the killer before they send their next bouquet, or will she find herself with fatal flowers of her own in Kate Khavari's second intoxicating installment.

Critique: An inherently fascinating and deftly crafted Saffron Everleigh mystery by talented novelist Kate Khavari, "A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality" will have a special appeal to readers with an interest in historical mysteries and amateur female sleuths. An ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated cozy mystery fans that 'A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666634006, $22.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Kate Khavari (https://www.kkhavari.com) is the author of fiction ranging from historical mysteries to high fantasy epics. She has her parents to thank for her fascination for historical mysteries, as she spent the majority of her childhood memorizing Sherlock Holmes's and Poirot's greatest quips. A former teacher, Kate has a deep appreciation for research and creativity, not to mention the multitasking ability she now relies on as an author and stay at home mother to her toddler son. She lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas with her husband, son, and a lovely garden that contains absolutely no poisonous plants.

Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River
Emily J. Edwards
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639102686, $26.99, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Viviana-Valentine-River-Friday-Mystery/dp/163910268X

Synopsis: 1950, New York. Once again, Viviana Valentine (Girl Friday turned partner to New York's top investigator, Tommy Fortuna) finds herself drawn into a sordid new case when Buster Beacon, a wealthy man of science, beckons them to a party at his mansion north of the city. There, Buster entertains blue-blooded friends as well as investors keen to make a dollar on the many advancements made in his home laboratory, but he's been hearing strange noises in the night coming from his expansive estate, and he doesn't know who to trust.

Once Viviana and Tommy arrive, the party is snowed in. And suddenly, there is a dead body and nowhere to hide. Who killed the disguised federal agent in their midst? And how have details from the top-secret lab become public? Once chomping at the bit to be brought into this mysterious life, Viviana wonders if she's ready for the risks that come with the territory - risks that rise treacherously high as the killer targets the next victim.

Critique: Set in the gritty, noir world of 1950 New York City, the latest addition to author Emily J. Edwards's 'A Girl Friday' mystery series, "Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River" packs all the elements cozy mystery fans have come to expect in the form of 'an irresistibly clever protagonist, a posh cast of heroes and villains, and a murder case that could defy even the most seasoned investigator'. A fun read with a narrative driven, plot twisting, and inherently fascinating mystery that plays fair with the reader, "Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River" is a highly regarded and highly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that "Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99), as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666633337, $22.99, CD) -- and it will be also become available in a paperback edition in October 2023 (9781639105175, $19.99).

Editorial Note: Emily J. Edwards (https://www.msemilyedwards.com) earned her degree in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College and took the long road to becoming an author, working for over a decade as a wine and spirits journalist, radio producer, and podcaster.

The Long Way Back
Nicole Baart
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9781982115104, $17.99, PB, 384pp

https://www.amazon.com/Long-Way-Back-Novel/dp/1982115106

Synopsis: Mother and daughter Charlie and Eva never sought social media fame, but when a stunning photo of Eva went viral, fame found them. Now, after more than two years documenting life on the road in their vintage Airstream trailer, the duo has temporarily settled on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Eva is happily finishing her senior year of high school and applying to college, but Charlie longs for the adventures they left behind.

When Eva goes missing less than a week before her graduation, it's Charlie who is immediately suspected of foul play -- not just by their fans, but also by the police and the FBI. As a fight about one more road trip comes to light, and the truth about their relationship is questioned, Charlie realizes the rosy facade they portrayed online hid a complicated and potentially dangerous reality. Now, to clear her name and find out what has happened to her daughter, she'll have to confront her own role in Eva's disappearance -- and whether she knows her daughter at all.

Critique: An original novel in which author Nicole Baart deftly blends family life fiction with elements of a suspenseful mystery thriller, "The Long Way Back" is well crafted and absorbing read from beginning to end. While unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Fiction and Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Long Way Back" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781797160092, $38.95, CD).

Editorial Note: Nicole Baart (www.NicoleBaart.com) is the author of ten novels, including Everything We Didn't Say. She is also the cofounder of a nonprofit and mother of five, who lives in Iowa with her family.

Relentless Melt
Jeremy P. Bushnell
Melville House
46 John Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
https://www.mhpbooks.com
9781685890322, $18.99, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Relentless-Melt-Jeremy-P-Bushnell/dp/1685890326

Synopsis: The year is 1909, and Artie Quick (an ambitious, unorthodox and inquisitive young Bostonian) wants to learn about crime. By day she holds down a job as a salesgirl in women's accessories at Filene's; by night she disguises herself as a man to pursue studies in Criminal Investigation at the YMCA's Evening Institute for Younger Men.

Eager to put theory into practice, Artie sets out in search of something to investigate. She's joined by her pal Theodore, an upper-crust young bachelor whose interest in Boston's occult counterculture has drawn him into the study of magic. Together, their journey into mystery begins on Boston Common (where the tramps and the groundskeepers swap rumors about unearthly screams and other unsettling anomalies) but soon Artie and Theodore uncover a series of violent abductions that take them on an adventure from the highest corridors of power to the depths of an abandoned mass transit tunnel, its excavation suspiciously never completed.

Will Theodore ever manage to pull off a successful spell? Is Artie really wearing that men's suit just for disguise or is there something more to it? And what chance do two mixed-up young people stand up against the greatest horror Boston has ever known, an ancient, deranged evil that feeds on society's most vulnerable?

Critique: With a particular appeal to readers with an interest in historical fantasy, cozy mystery, and women sleuths in a male dominated society, "Relentless Melt" by Jeremy P Bushnell is original, entertaining, and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Relentless Melt" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.00).

Editorial Note: Jeremy P. Bushnell (http://jeremypbushnell.com) is the author of two earlier novels with Melville House: The Weirdness and The Insides. He teaches writing at Northeastern University in Boston. He is also the cofounder of Nonmachinable, a distributor of optically interesting zines and artists' books.

What the Neighbors Saw
Melissa Adelman
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250876560, $28.00, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/What-Neighbors-Saw-Melissa-Adelman/dp/1250876567

Synopsis: When Alexis and her husband Sam buy a neglected Cape Cod house in an exclusive DC suburb, they are ecstatic. Sam is on the cusp of making partner at his law firm, Alexis is pregnant with their second child, and their glamorous neighbors welcome the couple with open arms. Things are looking up, and Alexis believes she can finally leave her troubled past behind.

But the neighborhood's picture-perfect image is shattered when their neighbor Teddy (a handsome, successful father of three) is found dead on the steep banks of the Potomac River. The community is shaken, and as the police struggle to identify and apprehend the killer, tension in the neighborhood mounts and long-buried secrets start to emerge.

In the midst of the turmoil, Alexis takes comfort in her budding friendship with Teddy's beautiful and charismatic widow, Blair. But as the women grow closer, the neighborhood only becomes more divided. And when the unthinkable truth behind Teddy's murder is finally uncovered, both Blair and Alexis must reexamine their friendship and decide how far they are willing to go to preserve the lives they have so carefully constructed.

Critique: All the more impressive when considering that "What the Neighbors Saw" is author Melissa Adelman's debut as a published novelist, this deftly crafted murder mystery is a simply riveting read from first page to last. Certain to be of special and particular interest to readers with an interest in 'whodunnit' thrillers, "What the Neighbors Saw" is unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "What the Neighbors Saw" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and will leave mystery buffs looking eagerly toward her next deftly scripted novel.

Editorial Note: Melissa Adelman (https://us.macmillan.com/author/melissaadelman) was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, a first-generation American with parents from Haiti and Chile. When she is not traveling the world for her job as an international development economist, her favorite place to be is at home, an old house full of surprises just outside D.C. Melissa lives with her husband, two energetic little boys, and a long-suffering shih tzu. She holds a Ph.D. and B.A. in economics from Harvard University.

Flop Dead Gorgeous
David Rosenfelt
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250828903, $28.00, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Flop-Dead-Gorgeous-Carpenter-Mystery/dp/1250828902

Synopsis: Retired lawyer Andy Carpenter remembers every dog that's come through the Tara Foundation's doors, but the most well-known alum of the dog rescue organization that Andy founded in Paterson, New Jersey, may be Mamie. Adopted by famous actress Jenny Nichols (Andy's high school girlfriend) the miniature French poodle is now practically a starlet in her own right.

Andy doesn't hold it against his friend. In fact, he and his wife, Laurie, have dinner with Jenny while she's in town filming her next big hit. But after an eventful meal, there's a plot twist the next morning that none of them see coming: Jenny's costar is found dead, a knife in his back. It's not long before Jenny is arrested for the murder and finds herself in need of Andy's legal services.

While Mamie becomes reacquainted with Tara, Andy's golden retriever, Andy digs into the lives of the rich and famous to prove his old friend innocent of murder.

Critique: The latest Andy Carpenter cozy mystery by novelist David Rosenfelt, "Flop Dead Gorgeous" is a fun read and a 'must' for all dedicated mystery buffs who appreciate a deftly scripted 'whodunnit' story with many an unexpected plot twist and turn. A thoroughly entertaining read by an author with a full mastery of the genre, "Flop Dead Gorgeous" is a top pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the growing legions of David Rosenfelt fans that "Flop Dead Gorgeous" is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Macmillan Audio, 9781250325303, $29.99, CD).

Editorial Note: David Rosenfelt (https://davidrosenfelt.com), was the former marketing president for Tri-Star Pictures before becoming a writer of novels and screenplays. "Open And Shut" was his first novel; "First Degree," his second novel, was named a best book of 2003 by Publishers Weekly.

The Chateau
Jaclyn Goldis
Emily Bestler Books
https://www.emilybestlerbooks.com
c/o Simon and Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781668013014, $27.99, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Chateau-Novel-Jaclyn-Goldis/dp/1668013010

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Chateau" by novelist Jaclyn Goldis we are welcomed to picturesque Provence, where the Lady of the Chateau, Seraphine Demargelasse, has opened its elegant doors to her granddaughter Darcy and her three friends.

Twenty years earlier, the four girlfriends studied abroad together in France and visited the old woman on the weekends, creating the group's deep bond. But why this sudden invitation?

Amid winery tours, market visits, and fancy dinners overlooking olive groves and lavender fields, it becomes clear that each woman has a hidden reason for returning to the estate after all these years. Then, following a wild evening's celebration, Seraphine is found brutally murdered.

At the same time a sinister Instagram account pops up, exposing snapshots from the friends' intimate moments at the chateau, while threatening to reveal more. Can they discover who is behind this lethal act of violence before it is too late for them to avoid suffering a similar fate?

Critique: An impressively original and plot twisting novel of 'sex, lies and secrets', Jaclyn Goldis' latest novel, "The Chateau" will be of particular appeal to readers with an interest in psychological suspense thrillers. While also readily available for personal reading lists in a paperback edition (9781668013021, $17.00), a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781797156125, $39.99, CD), "The Chateau" is especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Jaclyn Goldis (https://www.jaclyngoldis.com) is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and NYU Law. She practiced trust and estate law at a large Chicago firm for seven years before leaving her job to travel the world and write novels.

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 -- 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: Another simply riveting novel by an impressively talented author with complete mastery of the suspense/thriller genre, "Retribution" by author Robert McCaw is the fifth in his Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery Series. While highly recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the growing legions of Robert McCaw fans that "Retribution" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

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.

The Man in the Corduroy Suit
James Wolff
https://jameswolffauthor.com
Bitter Lemon Press
www.bitterlemonpress.com
9781913394844, $15.95, PB, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Man-Corduroy-Suit-Discipline-Files/dp/1913394840

Synopsis: Leonard Flood is ordered to investigate -- and quickly. Notorious for his sharp elbows and blunt manner, Leonard's only objective is to get the job done, whatever the cost. When Leonard discovers that he is also a suspect in the investigation and that Willa's story is less a story of betrayal than one of friendship and a deep sense of duty, he must decide whether to hand her to her masters or to help her to escape.

Critique: "The Man in the Corduroy Suit" is the third title in novelist James Wolf's espionage trilogy "The Discipline Files", which also includes "Beside the Syrian Sea", and "How to Betray Your Country". James Wolff 's experience as a British intelligence officer for over ten years before leaving to write spy fiction brings a special authenticity to his action/adventure espionage thrillers. Against the backdrop of increasing Russian spying and interference (including assassination) in the UK, "The Man in the Corduroy Suit" is a deftly scripted novel that explores themes of loyalty and betrayal in modern intelligence work, threatened from the inside by whistle-blowers, serial leakers and Robin Hood hackers.

A taut and timely thriller about the thin line between following your conscience and following orders, "The Man in the Corduroy Suit" is a riveting read and highly recommended for community library Spy Fiction collections. It should be noted for the growing legions of James Wolff fans that "The Man in the Corduroy Suit" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: James Wolff (https://jameswolffauthor.com) grew up in the Middle East and was a British intelligence officer for over ten years before leaving to write spy novels. He currently resides in London, England.

Player's Vendetta
John Lantigua
Arte Publico Press
4902 Gulf Freeway, Bldg 19, Rm 100, Houston, TX 77204-2004
www.artepublicopress.com
9781558859609, $18.95, PB, 160pp

https://www.amazon.com/Players-Vendetta-Willie-Cuesta-Mystery/dp/1558859608

Synopsis: Willie Cuesta (a former Miami Police Department detective-turned-private investigator), is swinging in his hammock, estimating the number of mango daquiris he can squeeze from a ripe piece of fruit about to fall from his tree. He's also waiting for a prospective client who refused to discuss her case over the phone.

Ellie Hernandez hasn't seen her fiance, Roberto "Bobby" Player, in ten days, and she wants Willie to find him. Bobby has been obsessed with the suspicious death of his parents more than thirty-five years ago in Cuba, and he recently went to the island to find their killers. Only six years old when they were murdered, he was living in the United States, where they were supposed to join him. He was one of the "Peter Pan" kids smuggled out when Fidel Castro took over.

Willie learns the Players controlled one of the most successful casinos on the island and a large sum of money (half a million dollars) disappeared with their deaths. His investigation reveals an assortment of suspicious characters who were in Havana when the Players were killed, including a former Cuban spy now living in Little Havana, Mafia gangsters involved in gambling institutions and even an undercover US intelligence agent. Were they murdered by the Cuban government for being involved in the counter-revolution underground movement? Did the Mafia kill them to steal their fortune? Or did anti-communist Cubans believe they were traitors and execute them?

Rumors and questions abound, but when men in rubber masks firing machine guns turn up, Willie knows someone is trying to keep a long-buried secret under wraps!

Critique: Original, riveting, and with more plot twists and turns than a Disneyland roller coaster, "Player's Vendetta" by the gifted novelist and storyteller John Lantigua is a terrific and fast-paced read from cover to cover. Of special appeal and interest to P.I. mystery buffs and Hispanic American novels, "Player's Vendetta" is the third title in the Willie Cuesta mystery series and a highly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Player's Vendetta" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.49).

Editorial Note: John Lantigua (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lantigua) is an award-winning journalist and novelist. His novels include The Ultimate Havana (Arte Publico Press, 2022), Remember My Face (Arte Publico Press, 2020), On Hallowed Ground (Arte Publico, 2011) and The Lady from Buenos Aires (Arte Publico Press, 2007). His novel, Heat Lightning (Putnam, 1987), was a finalist for the Edgar Awards Best First Novel. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his journalistic writings, including two Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards (2004, 2006) and the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting (1999).

A Crime of Secrets
Ann Aptaker
Bywater Books
P.O. Box 3671, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-3671
www.bywaterbooks.com
9781612942698, $18.95, PB, 242pp

https://www.amazon.com/Crime-Secrets-Donner-Longstreet-Mystery/dp/1612942695

Synopsis: A city on the cusp of a new century, New York City in 1899 is a city growing taller, faster, a city of new inventions, new ideas -- and old dangers on its shadowy streets where crime, misery, and murder lurk.

When Pauline Godfrey, a young woman embodying the coming modern age, is viciously murdered, her throat cut, private inquiry agents Finola "Fin" Donner and Devorah Longstreet must navigate a world of violence and passion, lust and betrayal, where duty is twisted into bitter obedience and love is soiled.

Fin, a tough survivor of the dockside slums, and her beloved companion, the elegant, intellectual socialite Devorah, probe deep into the festering secrets of a family, the rot and corruption of the police department, and the sinister world of the city's thieves, whores, and thugs to find the killer.

Critique: A carefully crafted historical mystery, "A Crime of Secrets" by novelist Ann Aptaker will have a very special appeal to the LGBTQ community, as well as fans of women sleuths having to deal with finding out 'whodunnit' in a dangerous and devious underworld of passion, corruption -- and murder. "A Crime of Secrets" is very confidently recommended as a popular pick for community library Historical Mystery/Suspense collections and for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs.

Editorial Note: Native New Yorker Ann Aptaker (http://www.annaptaker.com) is the author of the Cantor Gold Crime series and has been the recipient of Lambda Literary and Golden Crown Literary Society Awards. Her short stories have appeared in two editions of the crime anthology Fedora, Switchblade Magazine's "Stiletto Heeled" issue, and the Mickey Finn crime anthology. Culminating a career as a curator for museums and galleries and a professor of Art History, Ann is currently an art writer for various New York clients.

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