November 2023 MBR The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Murder Most Royal
S. J. Bennett
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063051201, $30.00, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Most-Royal-Majesty-Investigates/dp/0063051206

Synopsis: Queen Elizabeth II is looking forward to a traditional Christmas gathering with her family in Sandringham when a shocking discovery interrupts holiday plans. A severed hand has been found -- but even more unsettling, she recognizes the signet ring still attached to a finger. It belongs to a scion of the St Cyr family, her old friends from nearby Ladybridge Hall. Despite the personal connection, the Queen wants to leave the investigation to the police -- that is, until newspapers drag her name into the matter.

As reporters speculate about the proximity of the crime to the Crown and the police fail to investigate a suspicious accident on her doorstep, Elizabeth quietly begins to mull over the mystery herself. With help from her Assistant Private Secretary, Rozie Oshodi, she delves into the interlocking layers of fact and fiction surrounding the high-profile case. Someone in the quiet county of Norfolk seems to have a secret worth killing for, and the Queen is determined to find out who and what that is -- even if that means discovering that someone in her close circle is a murderer.

Critique: A cozy mystery with the amateur female sleuth being Elizabeth II, Queen of England! An original, well written, riveting and fun read from start to finish, "Murder Most Royal" (Her Majesty the Queen Investigates) is certain to be a wildly popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions of dedicated cozy mystery enthusiasts and Queen Elizabeth II fans that "Murder Most Royal" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99). Librarians should also note that "Murder Most Royal" is also available in a large print paperback edition (Harper Large Print, 9780063297708, $34.00) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212695459, $41.99, CD).

Editorial Note: S. J. Bennett (https://www.sjbennettbooks.com) gained her PhD in Italian Literature from the University of Cambridge and was a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Co before becoming a professional writer. She has published ten books for teenagers, winning the Times/Chicken House Competition for Threads in 2009 and the Romantic Novel of the Year award for Love Song in 2017.

Condor's Fury
Clive Cussler, author
Graham Brown, author
G. P. Putnam's Sons
c/o Penguin Group
www.penguin.com
Penguin Audio
https://www.penguinrandomhouseaudio.com
9780593543979, $29.95, HC, 432pp

https://www.amazon.com/Clive-Cussler-Condors-Fury-Files/dp/0593543971

Synopsis: On a NUMA training mission in the Caribbean, Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala catch a distress call from a nearby freighter. Leaping into action, they locate a damaged vessel and a dead captain clutching a shotgun.

While searching the freighter for clues, Kurt and Joe are ambushed by crew members who seem terrified and disoriented, almost brainwashed. The trawler they were hauling has vanished, taken (the men say) by baffling lights that circled the ship.

Kurt and Joe deduce that the men are suffering from Havana Syndrome, which deepens the mystery and raises the stakes. Soon, they're confronting Cuban mercenaries who plan to use magnificent modern airships to hijack a nuclear submarine -- culminating in a life-or-death showdown in the skies.

Critique: Begun by the legendary author and master of the action/adventure novel Clive Cussler, and posthumously completed for publication by accomplished novelist Graham Brown, "Condor's Fury" is a spellbinding and memorable read from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Suspense Thriller and Action/Adventure collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions of Clive Cussler fans that (with the assistance of Graham Brown) "Condor's Fury" is also readily available in a digital book format ($14.99). It should also be noted for librarians that there is a large print paperback edition (Random House Large Print, 9780593792520, $32.00) of "Condor's Fury" and that it is also available as a complete and unabridged audio book (Penguin Audio, 9780593787823, $45.00, CD).

Editorial Note #1: Clive Cussler was the author of more than eighty books in five bestselling series, including Dirk Pitt(R), NUMA Files(R), Oregon Files(R), Isaac Bell(R), and Sam and Remi Fargo(R). Cussler passed away in February 2020.

Editorial Note #2: Graham Brown is the author of Black Rain, Black Sun, and Clive Cussler's Dark Vector, and the coauthor with Cussler of Devil's Gate, The Storm, Zero Hour, Ghost Ship, The Pharaoh's Secret, Nighthawk, The Rising Sea, Sea of Greed, Journey of the Pharaohs, and Fast Ice.

Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal
Raquel V. Reyes
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105243, $30.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Barbacoa-Betrayal-Caribbean-Kitchen-Mystery/dp/1639105247

Synopsis: A surprise trip to Miriam's parents in Punta Cana, which should be filled with arroz con pollo and breezy days under the tamarind tree, quickly becomes a hunt for a possible property saboteur. But before Miriam can begin to uncover the person damaging the vacation rentals her parents manage, she's called away to Puerto Rico to film a Three Kings Day special. She's welcomed to the blue ballast-stone streets of Old San Juan by crime scene tape, and things only get worse from there.

An anonymous personal gift on Miriam's doorstep on New Year's Eve screams stalker, and the 400-year-old guesthouse creaks and moans like there is something trapped in its walls. Luckily, her BFF, Alma, and their mutual friend Jorge are in town to keep her distracted between filming cultural segments for the network. But private chef tables and spa days come to an abrupt halt when Jorge's telenovela heartthrob novio goes missing. And there is something worrisome about Alma's too-perfect boyfriend -- specifically, his duffle bag full of cash!

Will demon masks, African drumbeats, and dark alleys lead to Miriam's demise? Or will the mysterious events come together like the delicious layers of a pastelon?

Critique: Featuring all the elements needed for a memorable and fun cozy mystery read with an Hispanic flair, "Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal" is a riveting 'Caribbean Kitchen Mystery' from the talented novelist Raquel V. Reyes for her growing legions of fans. Original, carefully crafted, and with a genuine flair for the kind of narrative storytelling style that fully engages the rapt attention of the reader from start to finish, "Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal" is a prized and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of cozy cuisine mystery enthusiasts that "Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal" is also available in a digital book format ($18.99).

Editorial Note: Raquel V. Reyes (http://rvreyes.com) writes about Latina protagonists. Her Cuban American heritage, Miami, and Spanglish feature prominently in her work. "Mango, Mambo, and Murder" is the first in her Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series, and won a Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery. It also was nominated for an Agatha Award and optioned for film. Raquel's short stories appear in various anthologies, including The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2022.

New Leash on Life
Kathleen Y'Barbo
Barbour Publishing
www.barbourbooks.com
9781636096629, $14.99, PB, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/New-Leash-Life-Gone-Dogs/dp/163609662X

Synopsis: Air Force veteran Dr. Lane Bishop and Nora Hernandez's romance has cooled. He is busy working as a researcher at the vet school, and she's busy with her restaurant and opening an antique shop.

What Lane hasn't told her is his PTSD, which manifests mostly with nightmares, makes him believe he's damaged goods. But that is about to change when he meets a stray pup that acts a lot like a military working dog.

When a tornado hits Brenham, there is damage in the downtown area and a fire is ignited in Nora's new store. A Belgian Malinois dog is seen at the fire and later Lane sees him at a wedding venue where an explosion occurs.

Not long after, a second explosion rocks Brenham and sends Nora and Lane on a hunt for the person responsible. Will the pair find the guilty party before more damage is done to the city's landmarks? And will Lane find the words to tell Nora how much he loves her before it's too late?

Critique: A deftly crafted 'whodunnit' cozy mystery of suspense, romance, and a canine companion, "New Leash on Life" is the sixth title in the simply outstanding 'Gone to the Dogs' cozy mystery series. An original, riveting, and fun read for cozy mystery fans from start to finish, "New Leash on Life" is also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and unreservedly recommended as an enduringly popular addition to community/public library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note #1: Kathleen Y'Barbo (https://kathleenybarbo.com/books) is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee and the author of more than one hundred books. She is a member of the Texas Bar Association Paralegal Division, Texas A&M Association of Former Students and the Texas A&M Women Former Students (Aggie Women), Texas Historical Society, Novelists Inc., and American Christian Fiction Writers.

Editorial Note #2: The Gone to the Dogs series also includes: Off the Chain by Janice Thompson; Dog Days of Summer by Kathleen Y'Barbo; Barking Up the Wrong Tree by Janice Thompson; The Bark of Zorro by Kathleen Y'Barbo; Every Dog Has His Day by Janice Thompson.

The Christmas Appeal
Janice Hallett
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
9781668035887, $21.99, HC, 208pp

https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Appeal-Novella-Janice-Hallett/dp/166803588X

Synopsis: The Christmas season has arrived in Lower Lockwood, and the Fairway Players are busy rehearsing their festive holiday production of Jack and the Beanstalk to raise money for a new church roof. But despite the season, goodwill is distinctly lacking among the amateur theater enthusiasts with petty rivalries, a possibly asbestos-filled beanstalk, and some perennially absent players behind the scenes.

Of course, there's also the matter of the dead body on stage. Who could possibly have had the victim on their naughty list? To answer this question, lawyers Femi and Charlotte team-up to investigate Christmas letters, examine emails, and pore over police transcripts in order to identify both the victim and killer before the curtain closes on their holiday production -- for good!

Critique: A first class 'whodunnit' murder mystery laced with both humor and suspense, "The Christmas Appeal" by novelist Janice Hallertt is an inherently fun novella and highly recommended for both personal reading lists and community/public library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Janice Hallett (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janice_Hallett) is a former magazine editor, award-winning journalist, and government communications writer. She wrote articles and speeches for, among others, the Cabinet Office, Home Office, and Department for International Development. A playwright and screenwriter, she penned the feminist Shakespearean stage comedy NetherBard and co-wrote the feature film Retreat. She lives in London and is the author of The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, The Appeal, and The Twyford Code.

Incentive for Death
James Spoonhour
Oceanview Publishing
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608095766, $28.95, HC, 400pp

https://www.amazon.com/Incentive-Death-Novel-James-Spoonhour/dp/1608095762

Synopsis: On a beautiful spring morning in Washington, D.C., a high-profile attorney is found dead in his office. McDermott " Mac" Burke and Oliver Shaw, homicide investigators for the Metropolitan Police Department, are called to investigate. There appear to be no signs of foul play, but there is also no obvious sign of a natural cause of death.

The detectives are perplexed until the medical examiner notices a tiny pin prick on the lawyer's neck and theorizes that the man was injected with succinylcholine (aka " sux") which is a common horse tranquilizer that dissipates quickly in the body.

As Mac and Oliver begin to look further, they discover that the lawyer had sold his life insurance policy to a large viatical company. Then, they realize that more deaths under mysterious circumstances have occurred among those who' ve sold their policies to the same company.

Critique: "Incentive For Death" is all the more impressive when considering that it is author James Spoonhour's debut as a novelist. A riveting, original, and deftly crafted suspense thriller from start to finish, "Incentive For Death" is especially and unreservedly recommended reading for readers with an interest in crime thrillers and police procedural murder mysteries. Also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.49), "Incentive For Death" is a highly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: James Spoonhour (https://jamesspoonhour.com) is a lifelong reader turned mystery writer. A graduate of the University of Nebraska and Georgetown University, James has worked in Special Investigations for the Air Force and was once assigned to the Pentagon. He then practiced civil litigation and appellate law in Orlando, Florida, and was later a law professor at the Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans.

Remi Bone
William L. Myers, Jr.
Oceanview Publishing
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608095728, $27.95, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Remi-Bone-William-L-Myers/dp/160809572X

Synopsis: Remi Bone is a good guy. He's a hardworking mechanic, a single father raising his late wife's daughter, and now, he's dying of heart failure. But his daughter Kayla was just admitted to the college of her dreams. How will she afford college with two dead parents?

Before he dies, Remi decides to stockpile as much money as possible for Kayla's future. When a chance to participate in a lucrative gun-for-hire scheme arises, Remi, out of desperation, agrees to execute a hit on a shady Philadelphia drug dealer.

This becomes only the first of several murders Remi is hired for, and soon, Remi is the most sought-after hitman in town -- both by his clients and by the police. He leaves investigators little to work with, but ear witnesses identify him by the phrase he recites before each killing: "Tick tock says the clock, time's up..."

With the police catching on to the "Tick Tock Killer," Remi has to work quickly to earn enough money for Kayla's school -- all while ensuring he dies with a clean record. Tick tock.

Critique: "Remi Bone" is author William L. Myers, Jr.'s sixth novel and once again demonstrates his genuine flair for creating memorable characters and an original, compelling, compulsive page turner of a read from start to finish. A fun read from cover to cover, "Remi Bone" will have a special fascination for readers with an interest in organized crime, assassination, and suspense laden murder thrillers. Very highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Remi Bone" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.49).

Editorial Note: William L. Myers, Jr. is a Philadelphia trial lawyer and the author of the best-selling Philadelphia Legal Series, as well as the psychological thriller Backstory. He has tried cases up and down the East Coast and has argued before the United States Supreme Court. (https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/william-l-myers-jr)

The Adventures of Ellery Queen
Ellery Queen
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613164570, $25.95, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Ellery-American-Mystery-Classic/dp/1613164572

Synopsis: For Ellery Queen, there is no puzzle that reason cannot solve. In his time, he has faced down killers, thugs, and thieves, protected only by the might of his brain -- and the odd bit of timely intervention by his father, a burly New York police inspector. But when a university professor asks Queen to teach a class, the detective finds there are people whom reason cannot touch -- college students.

Queen's adventure on campus is only the first of this incomparable collection of short mysteries. In the tales that follow, he tangles with a violent book thief, an assassin of acrobats, and New York's only cleanly shaven bearded lady. And the only thing more dazzling than the mysterious murders he confronts are his brilliant solutions at the end.

Critique: Ellery Queen was a master of the short mystery, so closely associated with the form that the longest-running magazine for such tales bears his name; the excellent stories in this volume show why he continues to be considered one of the greatest American practitioners of the Golden Age whodunnit. "The Adventures of Ellery Queen" is once again brought back into print by American Mystery Classics for the benefit of a whole new generation of appreciative readers, as well as the legion of hard-core Ellery Queen detective mystery fans. While an absolutely recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Adventures of Ellery Queen" is also available in a paperback edition (9781613164587, $15.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).

Editorial Note: Ellery Queen was a pen name created and shared by two cousins, Frederic Dannay (1905-1982) and Manfred B. Lee (1905-1971), as well as the name of their most famous detective. Born in Brooklyn, they spent forty-two years writing the greatest puzzle-mysteries of their time, gaining the duo a reputation as the foremost American authors of the Golden Age "fair play" mystery genre. Eventually famous on television and radio, Queen's first appearance came in 1929 when the cousins won a mystery-writing contest with the book that would eventually be published as The Roman Hat Mystery. Besides co-writing the Queen novels, Dannay founded Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, one of the most influential crime publications of all time. Although Dannay outlived his cousin by nine years, he retired the fictional Queen upon Lee's death.

Between a Wok and a Dead Place
Leslie Budewitz
Seventh Street Books
https://www.seventhstreetbooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781645060611, $17.95, PB, 236pp

https://www.amazon.com/Between-Dead-Place-Leslie-Budewitz/dp/1645060616

Synopsis: Pepper Reece, owner of the Spice Shop in Seattle's Pike Place Market, loves a good festival, especially one serving up tasty treats. So what could be more fun than a food walk in the city's Chinatown - International District, celebrating the Year of the Rabbit?

But when her friend Roxanne stumbles across a man's body in the Gold Rush, a long-closed residential hotel, questions leap out. Who was he? What was he doing in the dust-encrusted herbal pharmacy in the hotel's basement? Why was the pharmacy closed up -- and why are the owners so reluctant to talk?

With each new discovery, Pepper finds herself asking new questions and facing more brick walls.

Then questions arise about Roxanne and her relationship to Pepper's boyfriend Nate, away fishing in Alaska. Between her worries and her struggle to hire staff at the Spice Shop, Pepper has her hands and her heart full. Still, she can't resist the lure of the Gold Rush and its tangled history of secrets and lies stretching back nearly a century.

But the killer is on her tail, driven by hidden demons and desires. As Pepper begins to expose the long-concealed truth, a bigger question emerges: Can she uncover the secrets of the Gold Rush Hotel without being pushed from the wok into the fire?

Critique: A deftly crafted cozy mystery from author Leslie Budewitz, "Between a Wok and a Dead Place" has more unexpected plot twists and turns than an Texas tornado and carries the reader along at swift and compulsive page turning speed. On original and fun read from start to finish, "Between a Wok and a Dead Place" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions of dedicated cozy mystery fans that "Between a Wok and a Dead Place" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Leslie Budewitz (https://www.lesliebudewitz.com) blends her passion for food, great mysteries, and the Northwest in two cozy mystery series, the Spice Shop Mysteries, set in Seattle's Pike Place Market, and the Food Lovers' Village Mysteries, set in NW Montana. She also writes moody suspense under the pen name Alicia Beckman. Leslie is the winner of three Agatha Awards - 2013 Best First Novel for DEATH AL DENTE, the first Food Lovers' Village mystery; 2011 Best Nonfiction, and 2018 Best Short Story, for "All God's Sparrows," her first historical fiction. She is a past president of Sisters in Crime and a former board member of Mystery Writers of America.

Baking Spirits Bright
Sarah Fox
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguin.com/berkley-overview
9780593546635, $8.99 PB, $8.99 Kindle, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Baking-Spirits-Bright-Confections-Mystery/dp/0593546636

Synopsis: Winter has arrived in Larch Haven, Vermont, bringing with it holiday cheer, lots of snow, and freezing temperatures. Becca Ransom is squeezing in time to skate on the frozen canals and drink hot chocolate by a roaring fire while also whipping up new creations for her family's chocolate shop and experimenting with holiday flavors like eggnog, gingerbread, and peppermint. At the same time, Becca is preparing for the Baking Spirits Bright holiday baking competition, a popular annual event. She's planning to enter an edible model of Larch Haven, with a mountain backdrop made of cake, gingerbread cottages, and chocolate gondolas on sugar-glass canals.

Professional bakers and a local food blogger are also participating in the event and they aren't about to go down without a fight. The competition quickly heats to a boiling point, with flaring tempers and mysterious happenings. When one of the entrants is found dead, stabbed with Becca's chocolate chipper, Becca tries to salvage the season by finding the killer. But the heat is on, and Becca is in danger of getting burned.

Critique: A cozy mystery lover's delight from start to finish, "Baking Spirits Bright" by Sarah Fox if a fun read complete with memorable characters, and original plot, and more entertaining story twists and turns than a Coney Island Roller Coaster. A part of author Sarah Fox's 'A True Confections Mystery' series, "Baking Spirits Bright" is an unreservedly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections and the personal reading lists of all dedicated cosy mystery fans.

Editorial Note: Sarah Fox (www.authorsarahfox.com) was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she developed a love for mysteries at a young age. When not writing novels or working as a legal writer, she is often reading her way through a stack of books or spending time outdoors with her English Springer Spaniel.

Sugar Plum Poisoned
Jenn McKinlay
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguin.com/berkley-overview
9780593549124, $8.99 PB, $8.99 Kindle, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Poisoned-Cupcake-Bakery-Mystery/dp/0593549120

Synopsis: When up-and-coming singing sensation Shelby Vaughn arrives in town for two weeks of concert dates, she hires her old friend Angie and the rest of the bakery crew to supply cupcakes for the VIP guest lounge every night.

After overhearing Shelby in a heated argument with her manager, Mel is concerned, but she and the crew decide to make the best of their time working with the star. Just as the bakers fall into the rhythm of the job, Shelby's manager is found dead, clutching a bit of fabric from a Santa suit and a cupcake.

With the bakery crew and Shelby's backup dancers all dressed in similar Santa costumes, it's impossible to say who is the killer. When all suspicions lead back to Shelby, Mel and Angie stand up for their friend, determined to prove her innocence before she's frosted for a crime she didn't commit.

Critique: As an novelist, Jenn McKinlay is a master of the cozy mystery genre as evidenced by her 'A Cupcake Bakery' mystery series and its latest addition, "Sugar Plum Poisoned". An original and fun read from first page to last, "Sugar Plum Poisoned" will prove to be an immediately welcome and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections and is a 'must' for the legions of cozy mystery fans -- especially during this holiday season of celebration and 'whodunnit' murder mysteries!

Editorial Note: Jenn McKinlay (https://www.jennmckinlay.com) is the author of several mystery and romance series. Her work has been translated into multiple languages in countries all over the world.

Murder Uncorked
Maddie Day
Kensington
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496742308, $27.00, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Uncorked-Cece-Barton-Mystery/dp/1496742303

Synopsis: As the manager of Vino y Vida Wine Bar in Colinas, Cecelia "Cece" Barton's first Alexander Valley harvest is a whirlwind of activity. Her twin sister, Allie Halstead, who owns a nearby Victorian bed & breakfast, is accustomed to the hustle and bustle of peak tourist season. But Cece barely has a moment to enjoy her new home in between worrying about her estranged college-age daughter, juggling her responsibilities at the bar, and navigating the sticky politics of the local wine association. Just when it seems things can't grow any more intense, Colinas is rocked by a murder within the wine community --- and Cece is identified as a possible suspect!

With her reputation and her livelihood on the line (and the Sonoma County deputy sheriff breathing down her neck) Cece has no choice but to open up her own murder investigation. Tensions are already high in the valley, as a massive wildfire creeps toward Colinas, threatening homes, vineyards, and the vital tourist trade. And now, with a murderer on the loose, and Cece's sleuthing exposing the valley's bitterest old rivalries and secret new alliances, Colinas feels ready to pop! But with Allie's help, Cece is determined to catch the killer and clear her name before everything she's worked so hard for goes up in flames!

Critique: A fun and riveting read from first page to last, "Murder Uncorked" showcases author Maddie Day's total mastery of the cozy mystery genre. Nicely crafted characters, entertaining plot twists, and a fascinating 'whodunnit' murder mystery, "Murder Uncorked" is an exceptional and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all cozy mystery fans that "Murder Uncorked" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.77) while librarians need to be aware that there is also a large print paperback edition (Thorndike Press, 9798885795609, $27.99) as well.

Editorial Note: Maddie Day (MaddieDayAuthor.com) is the Agatha Award-winning author of the Cozy Capers Book Club Mysteries, the Country Store Mysteries, the CeCe Barton Mysteries, and the Local Foods Mysteries, as well as other series and short crime fiction written under the name Edith Maxwell. A member of Mystery Writers of America and a proud lifetime member of Sisters in Crime, she is a regular contributor at Mystery Lovers' Kitchen and belongs to the Wicked Authors, a group of bestselling authors who blog at www.WickedAuthors.com.

St. Simons Island
Ronda Rich
Mercer University Press
www.mupress.org
9780881468960, $27.00, HC, 291pp

https://www.amazon.com/St-Simons-Island-Stella-Bankwell/dp/0881468967

Synopsis: Stella Bankwell has suddenly found herself in a 'heap of trouble' in the words of her mountain people. Ten years ago, the pretty, charming redhead was a sports marketing executive when she married unforeseen trouble-dashing Asher Bankwell who is descended from 150 years of old Atlanta money and prestige. Now, she is banished from Atlanta society, after her high falutin' lifestyle humiliatingly crashed publicly in front of Atlanta's snootiest at a blacktie gala.

After a brief runaway to her childhood mountain home to her Mama's consoling, she escapes for her beloved St. Simons Island where the sea and her best friend, Marlo, offer peace and calm. But there on the enchanting island, she also finds herself embroiled in a mystery that includes murder and money laundering.

With the help of her best friend, Chatty (Chatham Balsam Colquitt IV, the only good that came from her marriage to Asher), who follows her to his second home on adjoining Sea Island; former Governor McCager Burnett (Chatty's Sea Island neighbor); and handsome U.S. Marshal Jackson (Pepper) Culpepper, they set out to solve a mystery that, most surely, will send a deep rattling through the columned, brick mansions of Atlanta's exclusive Buckhead.

Stella was simply trying to escape her scandalous embarrassment and an unhappy marriage. Now, she's facing real trouble: Possible federal indictments that lead to a murder that leads to serious danger for Stella. It all turns out to be the beginning of Stella Bankwell, former Atlanta socialite, becoming Stella Bankwell, amateur sleuth!

Critique: An original, elegant, eloquent, deftly crafted, richly entertaining, and truly memorable mystery novel by author Ronda Rich, "St. Simons Island" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "St. Simons Island" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.00).

Editorial Note: Ronda Rich (https://www.rondarich.com) whose Georgia roots were planted around 1750, is the bestselling author of several books including What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should) and The Town That Came-a-Courtin', also a television movie. Her weekly syndicated column about Southern life appears in forty-seven newspapers across the Southeast.

Little Follies: A Mystery at the Millennium
Carolyn Korsmeyer
Black Rose Writing
www.blackrosewriting.com
9781685131050, $23.95, PB, 355pp

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Follies-Mystery-at-Millennium/dp/1685131050

Synopsis: A visit to Krakow intended to test a new relationship turns out to be fraught with danger when two Americans encounter a man pursuing a dark ambition in the waning months of the last millennium.

Adam Kasper is a historian delving into the archives of an old museum; traveling with him is Joan Templeton, a journalist. Although they have come to Poland together in hopes that their new romance might flourish, Adam's work is all-consuming, and Joan finds better company with Rudy Vander Lage, a lecturer at the university who is coping with widowhood. By chance, they cross paths with Pawel Radincki, a man of unstable mind who hopes to transform his life by means both criminal and occult.

Adam's obsession with his research leads him to commit a serious breach of academic protocol. Although their relationship is disintegrating, Joan decides to help him with a bold and risky plan, and she enlists the aid of Rudy. Neither realizes that the risks they take will stymie Pawel's plans and put Joan's life in danger. Theft, murder, and magic propel the plot, which reaches a climax at the turn of the millennium, when relationships are realigned and follies laid bare.

Critique: A skilled and riveting read from start to finish, "Little Follies: A Mystery at the Millennium" showcases author Carolyn Korsmeyer's genuine flair for originality and the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that will have special appeal for readers with an interest in international crime thrillers. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99), "Little Follies: A Mystery at the Millennium" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Carolyn Korsmeyer is both a novelist and a philosopher. She is especially interested in how the senses and emotions are engaged by works of art, themes prominent in three of her philosophy books: Things: In Touch with the Past, Savoring Disgust: The Foul and the Fair in Aesthetics, and Making Sense of Taste: Food and Philosophy. She is keen to explore the ways that fiction can revive lives from long ago by engaging the reader in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the past. Her first novel, Charlotte's Story, imagines the life that Charlotte Lucas (of Pride and Prejudice) might have had after her hasty marriage. Details about her work can be found at her website: www.carolynkorsmeyer.com.

The Hacker Trilogy
Deb Radcliff
https://debradcliff.com
Archway Publishing
www.archwaypublishing.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJNYJZLX

The Hacker Trilogy is a new series by author Deb Radcliff that will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in cybercrime novels replete with mystery, suspense and the unexpected.

The trilogy consists of:

"Breaking Backbones: Information is Power" (9781665701099, $33.95 HC, $14.99 PB, $2.99 Kindle, 196pp)

A hacker war seventeen years in the making erupts after GlobeCom takes over the world through human chip implants.

As dozens of hacker strike teams around the world attempt to relieve GlobeCom of its iron grip on humanity through a coordinated attack on its data centers, Cy is gravely injured and her husband is killed in the attack.

At his funeral, Cy learns the hacker clans are now going after her secret spouse, a chief security officer from GlobeCom's China hub who has been anonymously feeding the clans inside information to aid their cause. Without any idea the China hub's CSO is their secret source of information, the hackers leave in the middle of the night to intercept him at the DC hub. Cy realizes they are most likely walking into a turf war between global powers with deep resources and state-of-the-art weaponry.

With time running out, Cy must dispatch another team to rescue her secret husband and the clan members converging in DC before she loses nearly everyone she holds dear.

"Breaking Backbones: Information Should Be Free" (9781665727006, $35.95 HC, $18.99 PB, $2.99 Kindle, 280pp)

Cy is still healing from injuries that almost killed her during Operation Backbone when she is called back for a very personal reason. Her son Michael is in the clutches of Damian Strandeski, former chairman of the GlobeCom board and kingpin behind all criminal syndicates operating on the dark web.

Cy quickly deduces that her son is collateral damage in Damian's grab for the lead developer behind a new artificial intelligence named Telos, which is more powerful than GlobeCom was. As she heads to Europe on a rescue mission, Cy's eldest son Adam enlists their clan's rogue copy of Telos to aggressively search for Damian. Then the AI seems to take matters into its own hands...

As they execute their plan to save Michael and catch Damian, Cy and her team face unforeseen retaliation that endangers them all. Will they finally defeat Damian, or will he once again take control of the world through technology?

"Breaking Backbones: From Chaos to Order" (9781665747271, $43.99 HC, $20.99 PB, $2.99 Kindle, 290pp)

In this exciting conclusion to the Breaking Backbones Hacker Trilogy, Cy and Ying are locked in a lover's triangle while their respective governments try to exploit them for their access to a powerful new Artificial Intelligence (AI) named Telos.

From their hideout at the Russian River, Cy and her freedom hackers are using Telos to systematically dismantle Damian Strandeski's criminal empire and redistribute the criminal gains to victims, the needy, and important social causes, reigning in a new era of innovation and sustainable technology. Ying, meanwhile, is using a copy of Telos at an estate in France to get revenge against those who interned her family in the work camps. She is also using Telos to find her missing husband, reported dead four years earlier, but who Ying discovers is very much alive - and with another woman.

With larger forces coming after Telos, a cyberwar erupts, taking out power in America, France and China, and pushing Ying and Cy closer together, ultimately forcing them to make the most difficult decisions of their lives.

Critique: All three novels in this simply outstanding series raise a number of important questions around invasions of privacy in a global bid for power through the use of technology. All three of these impressively original, deftly crafted, memorably entertaining, and thought-provoking novels by author Deb Radcliff's are expressly and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community, and college/university library cybercrime, science fiction, and suspense thriller collections.

Editorial Note: Deb Radcliff (www.debradcliff.com) is the first investigative journalist to make cybercrime a beat. Since 1996, she has been embedded in the hacker and law enforcement communities learning their techniques, lifestyles, and philosophies that make them unique. Radcliff has won two Neal Awards for investigative reporting, and feels one of her crowning career moments was addressing engineering students and faculty at West Point Military Academy in 2001.

The Horror Film Killer
Michael J. Bowler
Independently Published
9781733329033, $18.99 Hardcover/$12.99 Paper/$3.49 ebook

https://books2read.com/u/b6WdvA

The Horror Film Killer is the second thriller in the Film Milieu series, and rests upon the premise that a student-made horror film is serving as the impetus for real-world murder scenarios. The kids are literally dying to finish their film even as the murderer is dying to enact and reflect the horrors in daily life. Michael J. Bowler's close inspection of how reality intrudes upon fantasy (or visa versa) creates a satisfying twist on the nature of both as the story opens with a murder scenario that quickly proves to be a film set. (Or, is it?)

From behind-the-scenes drama and the freeze frame of students caught in the headlights of death like deer to the underlying influences and tension of individual lives, Bowler creates satisfying contrasts via disparate forms of horror that include many interpersonal and psychological inspections along the way. Terror and fury assume the form of staccato scenes of action separated by a black and white blood-dripping knife, reading like the evolution of the horror movie the kids have honed and invited into their own lives. As the murders multiply, a cooperative film effort among best friends who are graduating seniors translates to a nightmare in which they are inadvertently providing the killer with inspirational scenarios for real-world events. And yet, the show must go on... partially because the killer has threatened to murder co-filmmaker Donovan's mother if the students pull the plug on their deadly production.

Bowler excels at intersecting horror with daily life challenges that test the aspirations, loves, and lives of all involved, including parents and investigators. His special brand of horror comes from events that can be predicted all to well - but not stopped. Strong characterization, unexpected twists and turns, and a tension that arises from creating scenes that inevitably lead to murder are exquisitely rendered and thought-provokingly absorbing. The result is a powerfully unique brand of murder thriller that will involve its audience (teens) in an uncommon quest to stop the impact of young filmmakers' own creative juices. Libraries and readers looking for young adult thriller/murder mysteries will find the elements of horror, intrigue, and interpersonal revelations just the right mix for an engrossingly unpredictable read.

They Know When the Killer Will Strike
Michael Bowler
Independently Published
9798988611004, $4.99 ebook, $12.99 paperback, $18.99 hardcover

https://books2read.com/u/mK7owL

They Know When the Killer Will Strike is the third book in the young adult thriller/mystery Film Milieu series, and is especially recommended for prior followers of the filmmaker murder stories. Here, seventeen-year-old Leo Cantrell (who knows when people will die) and eighteen-year-old Cassie Stewart (now working on her first Hollywood film) return to the limelight in a production that is steeped with a serial killer's threat and teens that are not only creative, but proactive. They may have a clue about when events will happen - but not how and why. That's part of the role Cassie's police officer dad and his detective girlfriend play as they join in to solve a deadly problem that threatens to expand into and change the lives of all involved. Leo's knowledge of the intended victims gives him a one-up in trying to help them form a strategy for defying their death dates, but it's a dangerous knowledge that turns on end when Leo's predictions prove only half effective. The self-defense strategies don't begin to solve the problem. It only provides the potential victims with a dubious edge.

Once again, Michael Bowler creates a scenario replete with action, teen involvement, filmmaking drama, and efforts to thwart a clever killer. His inclusion of a talent that still translates to questionable outcomes makes for an especially thought-provoking story filled with satisfying confrontations, twists and turns, and unexpected outcomes. The backdrop of studio productions, horror filmmaking, and student participation in film processes adds depth and interest to the story, elevating it beyond the usual murder mystery scenario and into realms of interpersonal relationships changed both by creative endeavors and problem-solving efforts. From impressive sets to extraordinary results, Bowler moves his story with thriller elements combined with insights into psyches and motives alike. Good dialogue cements the drama with clues to evolving interpersonal relationships:

"J.C. and I were just wandering around before, checking out all the sets. They're really realistic."

"Too realistic," J.C. mumbled, scowling into the classroom.

Stuart grinned. "Yeah, set designers are artists, that's for sure. Anything I can get for you guys?"

Leo glanced at J.C., who shook his head. "We're good, Stuart. Thanks for asking." The result will attract mature young adults just entering into adult murder mystery and thriller reading and libraries seeking titles that neatly segue into young adult themes with adult scenarios. These move teens into higher-level thinking and problem-solving scenarios more typical of adult than young adult writing.

Judge Not
Nikki Stern
Ruthenia Press
https://nikkistern.com/judge-not
9780999548790, $14.95

https://www.amazon.com/Judge-Not-Sam-Tate-Mystery/dp/0999548794

"Judge not, that ye not be judged..." is from the Bible. It's also the admonition that opens a new Sam Tate mystery. The story opens with the demise of Jack Frost, the first victim in a killing spree that places Sam Tate in the center of a perfect storm of controversy that will test her career and investigative savvy. At this point, it should be noted that no prior familiarity with Nikki Stern's other Sam Tate mysteries is required in order to appreciate the characters, intrigue, and atmosphere of Judge Not. The perfectly drawn sequence of events pulls newcomers just as readily as prior fans.

Jack Frost was no Everyman, but an experienced murder investigator who seemed the least likely to fall into a predator's trap. But, he made a rookie mistake ... and only one is needed to prove fatal. Lieutenant Sam Tate is no rookie, either. She's come up the ranks through a combination of perseverance and survival instincts, traits that served her well when a wedding event destroyed her family. Having weathered these experiences and become a savvy detective as an adult, she's now thirty-eight and feels as if her investigative career has morphed into a less exciting administrative one. Nothing could be further from the truth. The FBI invites her onto a task force seeking to stop the cop-killing serial killer known only as the Judge. Sam finds herself embroiled in a case only she can solve, even though she has to bend the truth in order to get at a larger truth.

As the case heats up, Sam confronts a wealth of false clues and a fair amount of misdirection. She jeopardizes her steady relationship. She second-guesses herself more than once. But she perseveres. Stern creates a satisfying mix of personal and professional drama as Sam navigates increasingly treacherous waters both physical and emotional to find a way to stop the Judge's escalating murder spree. Anyone can become a serial killer. Not everyone can engage with such a killer in a cat-and-mouse conversation that includes cop-killing discussions and accusations of being a coward. And not everyone can plow through a text conversation to take it to the next level of personal discovery. Sam Tate can. Sam has long been ready for change. Be careful what you wish for. It could be upheaval on a cataclysmic level.

The sense of intrigue combined with personal growth and revelations keeps the writing hot with potential and discovery, in turn captivating readers who look for more than a simple whodunit scenario in their genre reads. Libraries and readers seeking a captivating mystery which incorporates the high-octane drama of a thriller but keeps the investigation centered on both personal and professional challenges will find Judge Not thoroughly compelling.

Finding Fionn
M.J. Evans
Dancing Horse Press
www.dancinghorsepress.com
9781737361879, $12.95 Paper/$2.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Fionn-Inspired-Kidnapping-Racehorse/dp/1737361876

The intersection of fiction and nonfiction works especially well in Finding Fionn: A Mystery Inspired by the Kidnapping of the Irish Racehorse Shergar. Readers ages 13 and older will find that this comes to life because the setting is contemporary (1980s Ireland), the horse theme and kidnapping mystery are appealing, and the involvement of young jockey Patrick McCallin in regaining horse Fionn MacCool is especially compelling. If those familiar with Irish history and culture recognize the name Fionn MacCool, that's because he was a central figure in Irish classic mythology. Young adults need have no prior familiarity with Ireland, myths, or even horses to appreciate the mystery that evolves here, however, because M.J. Evans provides all the background needed to become thoroughly and immediately immersed in intrigue.

The Curragh, the most famous racetrack in Ireland and a training facility, opens the story through young wanna-be jockey Patrick McCallin's eyes. Despite his parents' objections, Patrick has horses in his dreams and covets a vocation they are opposed to because it's too dangerous. The danger that evolves in this story, however, comes from an unexpected direction when Fionn is horsenapped and Patrick unwittingly becomes the chief investigator working on his return. Evans creates a fine appreciation not just of horses, but Irish culture and young adult perceptions of opportunities, mysteries, and the horse-racing world. Think the intrigue of Dick Frances, but tailored to a much younger audience. Then add in a healthy dash of coming-of-age reflection as a young boy grows into his abilities while honing new knowledge of economic and political struggles in bigger-picture thinking. Evans also adds characters that hold their own conflicts over the kidnapping and ransom demands. Each harbors a different special interest and perspective that supplements the story to bring Patrick's efforts to full-bodied life. As Patrick uncovers some unusual co-conspirators who would seem to be on opposing sides but appear to be working together, he uncovers a plot that holds ramifications not just for Fionn's future, but his own ambitions and life trajectory.

Evans brings Ireland's politics and people to life, as well as its horse-racing community and influences. While an affection for horses lies at the heart of these events, also central to the plot is an evolving mystery that brings Patrick into adult concerns and situations he is forced to handle creatively and proactively. The fine juxtaposition of Irish history and culture, horse-racing community interactions, and bigger-picture world affairs combines well with an aspiring jockey's coming of age and the mystery that embraces all these elements, making Finding Fionn a top recommendation for collections catering to young adults who like horses and mysteries.

The Big Shakeup
Nancy Boyarsky
www.nancyboyarsky.com
Light Messages
9781611535310, $14.99 paper/$6.49 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Big-Shakeup-Nicole-Graves-Mysteries/dp/161153531X

P.I. Nicole Graves returns to solve another crime in The Big Shakeup. The story opens not with the usual bang of a body, but the gathering force and shaking of a major earthquake. California native Nicole is no stranger to quakes. But this is more than the usual small warning of the earth's instability, and Nicole finds that more continues to rock her world than the earth under her feet. She expects to find death in the destruction around her. What she doesn't expect to uncover is her boss dying of a gunshot wound which clearly preceded the quake.

Even though they've been at ongoing odds, Nicole never wished him dead. The police beg to differ, and so she finds herself in the unusual position of being both an investigator and a perp-at-large as Los Angeles emerges from a devastating earthquake. She must turn her attention to clearing her name if she's to remain free. Nancy Boyarsky creates a riveting, compelling mystery from the start which opens with the shake of Nicole's world on many levels and continues to follow her dual charge to both clear her name and navigate the destroyed world around her to uncover the truth from its ruins. Nicole is no stranger to being a "person of interest," but she has never before been so close to having her vocation and life shut down by being the sole suspect in her boss's murder.

Boyarsky creates a satisfying juxtaposition between Nicole's personal and professional ambitions, with the backdrop of a destroyed and recovering Los Angeles as realistic and engrossing as the personal dilemmas which force Nicole to consider the many other suspects and the motives of blackmail and revenge that might have played into her boss's demise. Her ongoing dilemma is compellingly revealed: "Now that she was supposed to be free to investigate her case, she still had to hide from everyone so the killer wouldn't find her. But how would she be able to clear herself when she couldn't appear in public? Where would she find the information she needed or the tools essential to her search?" As a suspected perp becomes the mouse in a clever killer's cat-and-mouse game, Boyarsky creates a delightful tension and strong character in Nicole's life and decisions, driving the mystery into unexpected directions from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and beyond. Libraries and readers seeking characters whose dilemmas are multifaceted and unpredictable will find The Big Shakeup thoroughly engrossing and hard to put down.

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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review