February 2024 MBR The Mystery/Suspense Shelf part 4 of 4

The Mystery/Suspense Shelf part 4 of 4

A Pie to Die For
Gretchen Rue
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639106257, $29.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Pie-Die-Lucky-Mysteries/dp/1639106251

Synopsis: Este March runs the family-owned Lucky Pie Diner on Split Pine Is=
land in Northern Michigan. The pies at Lucky Pie aren't just good, they're =
magical, made from a family recipe that grants certain customers their grea=
test hopes and dreams when they eat the pie. The remote island is closed to=
 outsiders over the winter months, but on the last day of the season, the u=
npopular new produce vendor, Jeff, turns up dead on his boat, and Split Pin=
e Island's peace goes up in smoke.

Tom Cunningham, the local sheriff, casts suspicion onto Este, who may have =
been the last person to see Jeff alive. Not to mention several people witne=
ssed her getting into an argument with the rude vendor in some of his final=
 hours. Este decides to clear her name and her diner's reputation by launch=
ing her own investigation, which means she must turn suspicion on her frien=
ds and neighbors, because only a local could have murdered the victim.

As Este investigates, she uncovers a deeper web of secrets, finding that ma=
ny of the locals had reason to either frame her, or kill the victim. The cl=
ock is ticking to figure out the killer, and the clues in the case are flak=
ier than an apple pie. Este will have to uncover the killer before her futu=
re crumbles.

Critique: A classic cozy mystery from Gretchen Rue, "A Pie to Die For" is t=
he first volume of the author's new 'A Lucky Pie Mystery' series from Crook=
ed Lane Books. Once again we find a young woman compelled to become amateur=
 detective in her attempt to clear herself from a murder mystery by finding=
 out 'whodunnit'. A fresh and fun read from cover to cover, "A Pie to Die F=
or" will prove an instantly popular pick for personal reading lists and com=
munity library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be note=
d that "A Pie to Die For" is also readily available in a digital book forma=
t (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note: Gretchen Rue (https://www.sierradean.com/gretchenrue) is a =
secondary pen-name from author Sierra Dean. She is a cozy mystery author, w=
hose works include The Witches' Brew series and now the Lucky Pie series fr=
om Crooked Lane Books as well.

A Killer Romance
Maggie Blackburn
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639106356, $29.99, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Romance-Beach-Reads-Mystery/dp/1639106359

Synopsis: When the Beach Reads bookshop hosts a Valentine's Day event, "Rom=
ance by the Sea," bookseller Summer Merriweather has no idea that the guest=
 author is under investigation for her own husband's murder. When that same=
 author is found dead at the local bed and breakfast, nobody assumes it's n=
atural causes -- because there were plenty of people who wanted her dead!

As Summer searches for the truth about the author's stranger-than-fiction l=
ife, Summer finds suspicious indications of shady behavior in the author's =
belongings. But the casual sleuthing is quickly derailed when Summer's frie=
nd Glads gets hauled in for the murder, and they launch a full-blown invest=
igation to clear her name.

As Summer and company pick through the scant clues to solve the case, they =
may find more treachery and heartbreak than they bargained for.

Critique: "A Killer Romance" is the third title in author Maggie Blackburn'=
s 'A Beach Reads Mystery' series (following "Once Upon a Seaside Murder" an=
d "Little Bookshop of Murder") and once again an amateur female sleuth is c=
alled upon to find out 'whodunnit' assisted by her equally amateur friends =
-- include one who is accused by the authorities of the crime. A wonderfull=
y original and deftly crafted read from first page to last, "A Killer Roman=
ce" is an ideal pick for community library collections and readily availabl=
e for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note: Maggie Blackburn (https://cozymystery.com/authors/maggie-bl=
ackburn) is the author of the Cora Crafts mysteries and the Cumberland Cree=
k mysteries under another pen name. Her books have been selected as finalis=
ts for an Agatha Award and a Daphne du Maurier Award and as Top 10 Beach Re=
ads by Woman's World. There is a complete listing of her books online at ht=
tps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19744185.Maggie_Blackburn

Once Upon a Murder
Samantha Larsen
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639106219, $29.99, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Murder-Librarian-Mystery/dp/1639106219

Synopsis: 1784 England. Officially hired as the librarian for the Duchess o=
f Beaufort, Miss Tiffany Woodall is through with masquerades and murders fo=
r good. That is, until she stumbles upon the frozen dead body of former foo=
tman Mr. Bernard Coram. The speed with which her peaceful new life is upend=
ed is one for the record books: the justice of the peace immediately declar=
es her the primary suspect in the murder.

As Tiffany hunts for the truth to clear her name, she learns that Bernard g=
ot into a fight over a woman at the local pub the night of his death - but =
he was also overheard blackmailing Samir. The justice of the peace arrests =
Samir, and Tiffany realizes that her life may have more in common with a tr=
agic play than a light-hearted romance.

With her love locked up in jail and her own reputation on the line, Tiffany=
 must attempt to solve the murder before the book closes on her or Samir's =
life.

Critique: A fascinating and fun read from cover to cover, "Once Upon A Murd=
er" by novelist Samantha Larsen will be of very special interest to fans of=
 historical 'whodunnit' mysteries solved by amateur female sleuths. While e=
specially and unreservedly recommended for community library Historical Fic=
tion and Cozy Mystery collections, it should be noted for personal reading =
lists that "Once Upon A Murder" is also available in a digital book format =
(Kindle, $19.99).

Editorial Note: Samantha Larsen has degrees from Brigham Young University, =
the University of Reading (Berkshire, England), and the University of North=
 Texas. She met her husband in a turkey sandwich line. She spends most of h=
er time reading, eating popcorn, drinking tea, and chasing her kids. She pu=
blishes historical romances under Samantha Hastings. Learn more at She also=
 publishes historical romances under Samantha Hastings (www.SamanthaHasting=
s.com).

Coded to Kill
Marschall Runge, MD
Post Hill Press
www.posthillpress.com
9781637589250, $30.00 Hardcover/$18.99 Paper/$7.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Coded-Kill-Marschall-Runge-M-D/dp/1637589255

Coded to Kill represents a play on medical terminology suitable for its sub=
ject as a medical/techno-thriller, inviting readers to enter a world steepe=
d in ethical questions of medical breakthroughs and their ultimate costs.

At the heart of this story is Drexel Hospital's revolutionary new Electroni=
c Health Records system, which sports the real-time medical records of ever=
y American for instant access through any medical system. Sounds good. But =
even the best of intentions can go awry. Hugh Torrence views the new system=
 as an unprecedented opportunity for profit and power. Until patients begin=
 mysteriously dying. As computer techies, physicians, and prominent adminis=
trators in positions of power vie for control of the new system and answers=
 about its underlying puzzles, readers enjoy a compelling novel of espionag=
e, intrigue, and unexpected ethical conundrums as an ideal medical scenario=
 falls apart.

From chief technicians who can't seem to press the 'reset' button fast enou=
gh to investigators who are certain that someone is harming patients on pur=
pose, the fast-paced action and swirl of competing special interests create=
s a compelling story packed with high-octane action. Its unexpected twists =
and turns keep readers guessing about perps, purposes, and outcomes. Marsch=
all Runge's familiarity with the medical system and its administration lend=
s a realistic atmosphere to a story peppered with red flags of warning as t=
he characters confront IT, medical issues, and their personal ability to ma=
ke problems vanish. At the heart of this adventure lie social and ethical c=
onundrums that will lead readers to think about the ultimate impact of impe=
rfect 'perfect' systems, and the process of managing and accessing patient =
care in a high-tech world.

Libraries and readers looking for medical thrillers with the atmosphere of =
a good Robin Cook production, the tension and feel of Michael Crichton's un=
expected twists, and the ethical dilemmas of Patricia Cornwell's medical my=
steries will find Coded to Kill a powerful juxtaposition of medical and per=
sonal ethics. Coded to Kill should ideally find its way onto the shelves of=
 any library and reader serious about acquiring and imbibing the finest of =
medical thrillers.

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Midwest Book Review