January 2024 MBR The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Man Who Forgot to Remember
Bill Garwin
Independently Published
9798863987361, $9.89 Paper/$4.99 Kindle, 348pp

https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Forgot-Remember/dp/B0CL5TJ4G4

A mnemonist never forgets anything. This talent can be both a blessing and a curse. In The Man Who Forgot to Remember, it's both, because Jules Bronsky has forgotten a detail that is key to saving his life.

His infallible memory can be damaged if it was created under stressful conditions. And nothing is more stressful than dying. Determined to repair his broken memory and save his life, Bronsky taps attorney Atticus Wright to join him on a road trip of revelation and discovery.

Bill Garwin creates an intriguing story whose tension and attraction rest as much upon reflections about memory as it does upon the influences of Mob bosses, money launderers, encrypted messages, and magicians. Thriller readers used to formula stories that are predictable will find quite the opposite here, where the characters move from individual dilemmas to bigger-picture realizations. These involve the FBI and special interests that would use Jules's memory and its impairment for their own purposes. The reflections during the chases and discoveries that follow are nicely rendered and thought-provoking as these disparate personalities intersect and interact.

As new opportunities, revised leverages, and startling discoveries permeate and elevate the dilemma of a broken perfect memory, readers along for the wild ride will find the story's revelations intriguing and thoroughly engrossing. The juxtaposition of the disparate personalities of Jules, Atticus, and Skye Duffy, who are on a road trip of unprecedented wonder and danger, create a story that is action-packed, unexpectedly humorous at just the right moments, and filled with insights and thought-provoking revelations.

Libraries and readers seeking a vivid tale that draws on many different levels of action and insight will find The Man Who Forgot to Remember just the ticket for a suspenseful, enlightening experience.

The Great Gimmelmans
Lee Matthew Goldberg
Level Best Books
https://www.levelbestbooks.us
9781685124212, $18.95, PB, 392pp

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Gimmelmans-Lee-Matthew-Goldberg/dp/1685124216

Synopsis: Middle child Aaron Gimmelman watches as his family goes from a mild-mannered reform Jewish clan to having over a million dollars of stolen money stuffed in their RV's cabinets while being pursued by the FBI and loan sharks. But it wasn't always like that. His father Barry made a killing as a stockbroker, his mother Judith loved her collection of expensive hats, his older sister Steph was obsessed with pop stars, and little sister Jenny loved her stuffed possum, Seymour.

After losing all their money in the Crash of 1987, the family starts stealing from convenience stores, but when they hit a bank, they realize the talent they possess. The money starts rolling in and brings the family closer together, whereas back at home, no one had any time for bonding due to their busy schedules. But Barry's desire for more, more, more will take its toll on the Gimmelmans, and Aaron is forced into an impossible choice: turn against his father, or let his family fall apart.

From Jersey, down to an Orthodox Jewish community in Florida where they hide out, and up to California, the Gimmelmans family goes on a madcap ride through the 1980s. Filled with greed and love and the meaning of religion and tradition until the walls of the RV and the feds start closing in.

Critique: A fascinating, deftly crafted, and fun read from start to finish, "The Great Gimmelmans" fully showcases author Lee Matthew Goldberg's genuinely impressive flair for originality, humor, action, and the creation of a cast of memorable characters. Of great interest to fans of unusual family life, and criminal suspense thrillers, "The Great Gimmelmans" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Great Gimmelmans" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $0.99).

Editorial Note: Lee Matthew Goldberg (http://www.leematthewgoldberg.com) is the author of fourteen novels. He was nominated for an Anthony Award and the Prix du Polar. After graduating with an MFA from the New School, he's been published in multiple languages and his writing has also appeared as a contributor in CrimeReads, Pipeline Artists, LitHub, Electric Literature, The Los Angeles Review of Books, The Millions, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, LitReactor, Mystery Tribune, Monkeybicycle, Fiction Writers Review, Cagibi, Necessary Fiction, the anthology Dirty Boulevard, The Montreal Review, The Adirondack Review, The New Plains Review, Maudlin House and others.

Buried Silence: Under the Big Sky
Susan Hemphill
Independently Published
9780997277722, $29.99, HC, 424pp

https://www.amazon.com/Buried-Silence-Under-Big-Sky/dp/0997277726

Synopsis: When the bustle of city life inevitably bored the most powerful captains of industry, the self-proclaimed Big Men of the Big Sky swapped their suits for cowboy boots and drug their trophy wives along with them. Nestled in a gated community at the base of mountains larger than the egos of their husbands, the transplanted women kept themselves busy with over-the-top parties, scandalous rendezvous and not-so-secret affairs.

The picturesque paradise of the Antelope Club quickly turns into a crime scene when an explosion levels the home of one of the Club's key executives. Nothing is as it seems, and it becomes evident this was no random hit; with connections to Wall Street and beyond, a complicated algorithm of lies, secret societies, and catastrophic consequences arises out of the rubble.

Who blew up a house with a woman inside? -- The Yellowstone River runs deep in the Big Sky country of Montana, but so does deception.

Critique: A deftly crafted and original romance/mystery suspense thriller, "Buried Silence" is all the more impressive when considering that it is author Susan Hemphill's debut as a novelist. "Buried Silence" is a fun read from start to finish -- and one that will hold a special interest for fans of novels about the ultra rich when it comes to life, death, and love. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Crime Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Buried Silence" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9780997277715, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).

Editorial Note: Susan Hemphill holds a BS degree in Telecommunications and Film from San Diego State University. She has written for the Contra Costa Times and has worked in both corporate and syndicated television and radio as a producer, writer, reporter and on-air personality. She has been featured in Time Magazine, Business Week, and Family Circle in addition to frequently appearing in the business sections of San Francisco Bay Area newspapers.

The Pegasus Directive
Ian A. O'Connor
Pegasus Publishing & Entertainment Group
9781737422921, $27.95, HC, 274pp

https://www.amazon.com/PEGASUS-DIRECTIVE-Secret-Kennedy-Assassination/dp/1737422921

Synopsis: Year after year, the world's three most frequently asked questions continue to be:

1. Who killed President John F. Kennedy?
2. Why was he killed?
3. How was it accomplished?

The answers came in May 1972 from a Soviet spymaster seeking sanctuary at the Canadian Embassy in Rome. He told the ambassador at the time he wished to defect to the United States in exchange for perishable information he deemed critical to America's continued well-being. There was just one caveat: He would only surrender to an American agent he knew solely by the code name Pegasus. What he revealed to Pegasus in trade for asylum was deemed so explosive by President Nixon, that it has remained among the world's most closely guarded secrets -- until now.

Critique: "The Pegasus Directive" by Ian A. O'Connor is an international thriller that was scheduled for release in 2023 to coincide with the 60th anniversary year of President John F. Kennedy's assassination. A vividly detailed and inherently fascinating read from start to finish, "The Pegasus Directive" will have a very special attraction to readers with an interest in military, espionage, and JFK assassination conspiracy thrillers. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Pegasus Directive" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781737422945, $15.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Ian A. O'Connor (www.ianaoconnor.com) is also the author of "Point Option" which is a military themed thriller that was the 2022 winner of the prestigious Silver Falchion Award for the year's "Best Thriller". The award was presented to Ian at the 15th Annual Nashville Writers Conference. O'Connor is a member of the Air Commando Association, an associate member of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, and Mystery Writers of America.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Agatha Christie
A Signet Classic
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguin.com/berkley-overview
9781398611665, $9.99, PB, 384pp

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Roger-Ackroyd-Hercule-Poirot/dp/0593639588

Synopsis: In the small English village of King's Abbot, a widow's suicide has stirred up dreadful rumors of blackmail and deception. Most shocking of all is the subsequent murder of her lover Roger Ackroyd, stabbed to death in his own study by an unknown assailant. There are suspects and motives aplenty, and rumors that his neighbor, the recently retired detective Hercule Poirot, doesn't have a clue who did the dastardly deed.

Critique: "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" was the first published (1926) mystery novel of the legendary mystery writer Agatha Christie and introduced the character of Hercule Poirot. Once again brought back into print for a new generation of appreciative readers, this Signet Classic paperback edition with its informative Introduction by Ruth Ware is unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Mystery/Suspense collections -- and is an absolute 'must' for the legions of Agatha Christie (and Hercule Poirot!) fans.

Editorial Note #1: Born in Torquay in 1890, Agatha Christie began writing during the First World War and wrote over 100 novels, plays and short story collections. She was still writing to great acclaim until her death, and her books have now sold over a billion copies in English and another billion in over 100 foreign languages. Yet Agatha Christie was always a very private person, and though Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple became household names, the Queen of Crime was a complete enigma to all but her closest friends.

Editorial Note #2: Ruth Ware (https://ruthware.com) is an international number one bestseller. Her thrillers In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, The Lying Game, The Death of Mrs Westaway, The Turn of the Key, One by One, The It Girl and Zero Days have appeared on bestseller lists around the world, including the Sunday Times and New York Times, and have sold more than six million copies. Her books have been optioned for both film and TV, and she is published in more than 40 languages.

Murder at the Matterhorn
T. A. Williams
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781804832677, $41.00, PB, Large Print, 336pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-at-the-matterhorn-t-a-williams/1144007310

Synopsis: An old friend in need...

Despite being retired from the police, Dan Armstrong is always on hand to help with solving a crime. So, when he's contacted by an old colleague in need of help, Dan readily agrees. The only problem Dan can see is the location -- an isolated mountain-top campsite of UFO enthusiasts.

An unexplained death...

But these are no ordinary star watchers, and when Dan arrives one member of the group is already dead. Some of the group suspect alien abduction, but Dan is sure the killer is much closer to home. An out of this world case? Dan doesn't believe in aliens, but faced with black hole of secrecy from the group of suspects, he and Oscar have their work cut out to catch the murderer...before they strike again.

It's another 'whodunnit' murder mystery for Dan and Oscar to solve!

Critique: Of special appeal to readers with an interest in international crime fiction in a cozy mystery format, this large print trade paperback edition of novelist T. A. Williams "Murder at the Matterhorn" is particularly and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections and the personal reading lists of all dedicated 'whodunnit' mystery buffs.

Editorial Note: There is an extensive on-ling listing of novels by T. A. Williams at https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/t-a-williams

Arsenic at Ascot
Kelly Oliver
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781804831878, $41.00, PB, Large Print, 410pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arsenic-at-ascot-kelly-oliver/1143980413

Synopsis: London, 1918 Fiona Figg finds herself back in Old Blighty saddled with shuffling papers for the war office. Then a mysterious card arrives, inviting her to a fancy house party at Mentmore Castle.

This year's Ascot-themed do will play host to a stable of animal defense advocates, and Fiona is tasked with infiltrating the activists and uncovering possible anti-war activity. Disguised as the Lady Tabitha Kenworthy, Fiona is more than ready for the "mane" event, but the odds are against her when both her arch nemesis, dark-horse Fredrick Fredricks, and would-be fiance Lieutenant Archie Somersby arrive unexpectedly and "stirrup" her plans.

When a horse doctor thuds to the floor in the next guest room, Fiona finds herself investigating a mysterious poisoning with some very hairy clues. Can Fiona overcome the hurdles and solve both cases, or will she be pipped to the post and put out to pasture by the killer?

Critique: A fun read from start to finish, "Arsenic at Ascot" is a part of novelist Kelly Oliver's Fiona Figg & Kitty Lang Mystery Series and has everything the dedicated cozy mystery readers want -- an intrepid female sleuth trying her best to find out 'whodunnit' in a murder mystery with more unexpected and deftly crafted plot twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster. This large print trade paperback edition of Kelly Oliver's "Arsenic at Ascot" from Boldwood Books will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for both personal and community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Kelly Oliver (https://kellyoliverbooks.com) is a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University, and the author of fifteen non-fiction books and over 100 articles on issues such as the refugee crisis, campus rape, women and the media, animals, and the environment.

The Juliet Code
Pepper Basham
Barbour Publishing
www.barbourbooks.com
Oasis Audio
www.oasisaudio.com
9781636096940, $15.99, PB, 315pp

https://www.amazon.com/Juliet-Code-Freddie-Grace-Mystery/dp/1636096948

Synopsis: Frederick and Grace Percy finally make it to Italy to enjoy a delayed honeymoon and explore the beauties of the historic city of Venice. To their surprise, their friend, Detective Jack Miracle, is also in the city, investigating a series of art heists starting at the house of eccentric millionaire, Laraby Covington.

Drawn into a world of boat races, mysterious houses, and parties of the rich and unusual in Venice, Frederick and Grace learn of the existence of the Juliet paintings, (Renaissance paintings feature Shakespeare's tragic heroine) rumored to hold a secret code to an underground vault of similarly treasured artwork assumed lost over the centuries.

As Freddie and Grace are pulled deeper into the mystery and their beloved Detective Jack disappears, can they use their wits and work as a team to find the thieves and Jack before it's too late?

Critique: A fun and original read from start to finish, "The Juliet Code" by Pepper Basham is the sequel to "The Mistletoe Countess" and "The Cairo Curse" in her 'Freddie and Grace Mystery' series. Of particular int4erest to fans of Christian mystery and romance, "The Juliet Code" is a firmly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Juliet Code" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99). Librarians should note that "The Juliet Code" is additionally available in a large print hardcover edition (Thorndike Press, 9798885797139, $31.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Oasis Audio, 9781685924829, $31.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Pepper Basham (www.pepperdbasham.com ) is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell's Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family.

Murder Checks Out
Victoria Gilbert
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105205, $30.99, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Checks-Ridge-Library-Mystery/dp/1639105204

Synopsis: Returning to her role as an amateur detective is the last thing library director Amy Muir wants. She's already buried under an avalanche of responsibilities, including sharing the directorship of the local public library, parenting her holiday-obsessed five-year-old twins, and helping her choreographer husband, Richard, present The Nutcracker as part of the town's festivities. With her frosty mother-in-law, Fiona, visiting for the holidays, Amy definitely has enough on her Christmas cookie plate.

But when the chair of the festival committee is found as dead as Dickens's proverbial doornail at the town's ice rink, Amy is determined to uncover the real perpetrator to protect her brother-in-law, Ethan Payne, who was placed at the scene. The clock is ticking down as Sheriff Brad Tucker is equally sure that Ethan is guilty.

It's beginning to look a lot like the murderer hasn't wrapped up his killing spree, and now, it might just be "lights out" on the holiday festivities -- and on Amy's life!

Critique: A cozy mystery at its very best, "Murder Checks Out" is a part of author Victoria Gilbert's 'A Blue Ridge Library Mystery' series and once again features librarian Amy Muir as she finds she must become an amateur female sleuth needing to find out 'whodunnit' in a very cleverly written murder mystery. An unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated cozy mystery fans that "Murder Checks Out" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99) from Crooked Lane Books.

Editorial Note: Victoria Gilbert (https://victoriagilbertmysteries.com)turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian. Now retired after over 30 years in the library field, she's worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and university library director. Victoria writes the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, the Booklover's B&B Mystery series, and the Hunter and Clewe traditional mystery series for Crooked Lane Books. She is also a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime.

Trotting into Trouble
Amber Camp
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105182, $30.99, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Trotting-Trouble-Horse-Rescue-Mystery/dp/1639105182

Synopsis: It's business as usual when horse rescue owner Mallory Martin gets a call from Sheriff Grady Sullivan that a loose horse has been found in a popular hunting area. While trying to catch the horse, Mallory stumbles upon the body of his unfortunate rider, Hillspring's star basketball coach, Douglas Griggs. All signs point to a tragic hunting accident.

Despite her better instincts, Mallory finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation when the coach's widow begs her to look into the case. Mrs. Griggs believes the sheriff is ignoring any evidence that doesn't point to an accident.

But Mallory's troubles are only beginning. As she juggles a blossoming romance, tensions with her best friend Lanie, and responsibilities at the rescue, she discovers that Coach Griggs's enemies had ample motive to murder him. And now, Mallory may be in the killer's sights.

Critique: "Trotting Into Trouble" is one of novelist Amber Camp's new cozy mystery 'A Horse Rescue Mystery' series and fully showcases the author's genuine flair for originality and the creation of a simply riveting plot with many an expected twist and turn. A throughly fun read that will have a very special interest for fans of cozy animal mysteries featuring amateur female sleuths trying to find out 'whodunnit'. While especially and particularly recommended for community library Contempoary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for cozy mystery fans that "Trotting Into Trouble" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).

Editorial Note: Amber Camp (https://www.ambercampauthor.com) writes cozy mysteries that reflect her love of animals and quirky small towns. A lifelong lover of books, she started writing her own stories as a teenager and found she loves to write as much as she loves to read. Amber is also a member of Sisters in Crime.

Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal
Raquel V. Reyers, author
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: Of particular appeal and interest to fans of cozy culinary mysteries, and featuring a Hispanic amateur woman sleuth, "Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal" by novelist Raquel V. Reyes is a stellar pick for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the growing legions of cozy mystery fans that "Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).

Editorial Note: Raquel V. Reyes (http://rvreyes.com) writes Latina protagonists. Her Cuban American heritage, Miami, and Spanglish feature prominently in her work. Mango, Mambo, and Murder, the first in the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series, won a Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery. It 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.

Shot With Crimson
Nicola Upson
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781639102662, $31.99, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Shot-Crimson-Josephine-Tey-Mystery/dp/1639102663

Synopsis: September 1939, and the worries of war follow Josephine Tey to Hollywood, where a different sort of battle is raging on the set of Hitchcock's Rebecca.

Then a shocking act of violence reawakens the shadows of the past, with consequences on both sides of the Atlantic, and Josephine and DCI Archie Penrose find themselves on a trail leading back to the house that inspired a young Daphne du Maurier -- a trail that echoes Rebecca's timeless themes of obsession, jealousy, and murder.

Critique: The eleventh 'Josephine Trey' mystery novel series by Nicola Upson, "Shot With Crimson" will prove to be of immense interest for readers with an interest in historical and compelling murder mysteries starring amateur female sleuths. A fun, original, deftly crafted, and compelling read from start to finish, "Shot With Crimson" is unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense & Cozy Mystery collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Shot With Crimson" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212880664, $39.95, CD).

Editorial Note: Nicola Upson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicola_Upson) was born in Suffolk and read English at Downing College, Cambridge. She has worked in theatre and as a freelance journalist, and is the author of two non-fiction works and the recipient of an Escalator Award from the Arts Council England.

The Lace Widow
Mollie Ann Gox
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105281, $29.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lace-Widow-Eliza-Hamilton-Mystery/dp/163910528X

Synopsis: New York, 1804. America's beloved Alexander Hamilton lies dead after a duel with Aaron Burr. Meanwhile, Eliza Hamilton's eighteen-year-old son, Alexander Jr., was seen fighting with a man in a tavern the night before his father's duel and quickly comes under suspicion for murder when the man turns up dead.

Eliza searches for ways to clear her son's name, even as she is grieving, but as she combs through her late husband's papers, she finds evidence of a plot to steal money from the government during his tenure as secretary of state. Hamilton was accused of stealing that money, and it was a scandal that almost broke the family -- but is Eliza now holding proof of Alexander's innocence?

Deep in debt and despair, with eight children to support, Eliza turns to selling her handmade lace and finds herself drawn into a mysterious network of widow lacemakers who are intimately connected to New York's high-society families. They know their dead husbands' secrets -- and soon, Eliza begins to piece together the truth.

There's a dark plot connected with the duel, as one by one, witnesses to the bout are being killed. Now, Eliza must not only clear her husband's and son's names but keep herself out of the killer's sights.

Critique: A first class and deftly crafted historical cozy mystery, "The Lace Widow" by Mollie Ann Cox will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in 'whodunnit' murder mysteries featuring an armature female sleuth. Offering a fun read with many an unexpected plot twist and turn, "The Lace Widow" is a welcome and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Historical Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated cozy mystery fans that "The Lace Widow" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note: Mollie Ann Cox (https://molliecoxbryan.com) is the author of several popular mystery series, also writing under the pen name Maggie Blackburn. Her books have been selected as finalists for an Agatha Award and a Daphne du Maurier Award and as a Top 10 Beach Reads by Woman's World. The Lace Widow is the first time she's combined her passion for history and mystery.

The Problem of the Wire Cage
John Dickson Carr
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613164860, $25.95, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Problem-Wire-Cage-Mystery-American/dp/1613164866

Synopsis: John Dickson Carr is famous for his puzzling "impossible crime" plots, in which corpses are discovered in scenarios that seem to lack any logical explanation, concealing clues as to how the murder was committed and how the body arrived in its current setting.

Among all of Carr's ingenious crime scenes, "The Problem of the Wire Cage" is one of his best known murder mysteries. A dead man is found strangled in the middle of a clay tennis court, just after a storm. In the damp dirt, there is one set of footsteps (his own) leading back to the grass; the court is otherwise untouched. There are no trees above from which the body may have fallen and no other visible means by which it may have been transported to its final resting place.

Before being able to determine the perpetrator of the strangulation, the local authorities are first confronted by the utter implausibility of the location -- two interlocking questions puzzling enough to stump even the most seasoned inspector.

The bafflement is reaching a harried volley by the time amateur sleuth Dr. Gideon Fell gets involved, but he soon shows that the knotted plot is no match for his deductive powers. Before he can serve up a dazzling explanation of whodunnit, though, Fell will have to sort through a confounding set of clues in search of a diabolical killer and a bizarre murder method.

Critique: Reissued for the first time this century, "The Problem of the Wire Cage" is a formerly time-lost treasure of a mystery novel. An atmospheric and amusing Golden Age mystery with a memorable puzzle at its center, "The Problem of the Wire Cage" will be of particular interest to a new general of fans of traditional 'whodunnit' detective stories replete with plot twists and conundrums. It is certain create new and appreciative fans of John Dickson Carr and is also a great entry point into his series of beloved Gideon Fell mysteries. Highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Problem of the Wire Cage" is also available in a paperback edition (9781613164877, $15.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.95).

Editorial Note #1: John Dickson Carr (November 30, 1906 - February 27, 1977) was arguably 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.

Editorial Note #2: Rian Johnson is an American film director, writer, and producer. His mystery film Knives Out (2019), starring Daniel Craig as private detective Benoit Blanc, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and its sequel Glass Onion (2022) was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. Johnson has also created the television crime drama Poker Face for the streaming service Peacock.

The Great Mistake
Mary Roberts Rinehart
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613164600, $15.95, PB, 450pp

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Mistake-American-Mystery-Classic/dp/1613164602

Synopsis: In an elaborate house known as the Cloisters, Maud Wainwright rules supreme. The queen of society in the small town of Beverly, she has a table long enough to seat one hundred, and she keeps an iron grip on the guest list. Her right-hand woman is Pat Abbott, a local girl who is beautiful, innocent, and kind. Pat has no idea how cutthroat high society can be, but she's about to get a deadly first lesson.

Pat has fallen head over heels in love with Maud's son, Tony, a clever young rake with a single flaw: his vicious, gold-digging wife. At the same time that she is dangerously infatuated with a married man, Pat's world is turned upside down by a series of attacks on the estate - and a truly shocking murder. To save Tony and Maud, Pat must find the killer. But the list of suspects is as long as one of Maud's guest lists: When a woman has room at her table for one hundred friends, she'll have more than her share of enemies.

Critique: Mary Roberts Rinehart was America's answer to Agatha Christie. She had an impressive gift for atmospheric writing, period detail, and characters caught in an intriguing murder plot. Originally published in 1940 and brought back as a time-lost treasure for a new generation of appreciated mystery fans by American Mystery Classics, this paperback edition of "The Great Mistake" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876-1958) was the most beloved and best-selling mystery writer in America in the first half of the twentieth century. Born in Pittsburgh to the owner of a sewing machine factory, she wrote fiction in her spare time until a stock market crash sent her and her husband into debt, forcing her to lean on her writing to pay the bills. Her first two novels, The Circular Staircase (1908) and The Man in Lower Ten (1909), established her as a bright young talent, and it wasn't long before she was a regular on bestseller lists.Among her dozens of novels were The Amazing Adventures of Letitia Carberry (1911) and The Bat (1932), which was among the inspirations for Bob Kane's Batman.

Twilight Falls
Juneau Black
Vintage Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
www.randomhouse.com
9780593470510, $16.00, PB, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Twilight-Falls-Shady-Hollow-Mystery/dp/0593470516

Synopsis: It's spring in Shady Hollow, and romance is in the air. Even reporter Vera Vixen is caught up in the season as her relationship with new police chief Orville Braun blossoms. But true love is not always smooth sailing, as two of the hollow's young residents come to find. Jonah Atwater and Stasia von Beaverpelt find themselves battling their families in order to be together. And when Jonah's father, Shelby, goes over the top of Twilight Falls, all signs point to Stasia being the murderer.

The evidence against Stasia appears overwhelming, and Orville arrests her. It looks like the case is closed, but Vera isn't so sure. There are almost too many clues indicating Stasia is the killer, leading her to suspect someone is setting Stasia up. Besides, what about the mysterious ghostly creature skulking around town at night? Maybe he or she was involved? As Vera investigates further, her sleuthing puts her in direct opposition to Orville, and soon she's stirred up a hornet's nest of trouble!

Critique: "Twilight Falls" by Juneau Black is the fourth book in the author's 'Shady Hollow Mystery' series sees and features Vera again becoming embroiled, this time in a case involving star-crossed lovers whose affair may have turned deadly. Cozy animal mystery at its very best, "Shady Hollow" is a fun read from start to finish and will have immense and entertaining appeal for fans of amateur women sleuths having to find the 'whodunnit' solution to a deftly crafted murder mystery. Highly recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Shady Hollow" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Juneau Black (http://www.juneaublack.com) is the pen name of authors Jocelyn Cole and Sharon Nagel. They share a love of excellent bookshops, fine cheeses, and good murders (in fictional form only). Though they are two separate people, if you ask either of them a question about their childhood, you are likely to get the same answer. This can be a little unnerving for any number of reasons.

Death by Demo
Callie Carpenter
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105625, $29.99, HC, 229pp

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Demo-Home-Renovation-Mystery/dp/163910562X

Synopsis: Jaime and Henry were the perfect couple with the perfect life; together, they ran one of the most successful construction and interior design companies in all of Charlotte, North Carolina. But when Jaime catches her charismatic husband in an affair, she realizes her husband is not the man she thought she married. The divorce is equally gutting (due to an ironclad prenuptial agreement), Jaime receives only one thing: a historical house in disrepair. Knowing that any renovation she attempts will be tedious and costly, Jaime starts to believe that things can't get much worse -- until she finds a dead body in the house.

The body is found behind a recently renovated wall -- and this leaves Jaime with more questions than answers. Who killed this person and why? Could it have been the previous owners, someone who snuck in while nobody was looking, or Henry? Furious that the house is now a crime scene, which further delays all renovations, Jaime decides to investigate the murder herself, DIY-style. Together with the new resident cat she calls Demo and the handsome and friendly hardware store owner who happens to be her neighbor, Jaime is ready to use all the tools in her toolbox to catch the killer.

Jaime needs to renovate this house if she wants to move forward with her life, but will this murder investigation leave her in ruins -- or worse?

Critique: Original, clever, entertaining, "Death by Demo" introduces us to Home Renovation Mystery'. This is the first of a new cozy mystery series by Callie Carpenter who provides her readers with a fun read -- and one that will have them looking eagerly toward her next title in this simply outstanding series with a them home demolition and renovation as the background for an amateur female sleuth trying to solve a complicated 'whodunnit' murder mystery. A fun and original read from cover to cover, "Death by Demo" is certain to be a welcome and popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of the now legions of dedicated cozy mystery fans that "Death by Demo" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note: Callie Carpenter grew up with an architect father who was more than happy to share his love of woodworking with his daughter. She has a (mostly unused) bachelor of science degree in geology, one husband, and two cats. When Callie isn't writing, she's working at her day job, reading, yanking weeds out of her garden, or planning her next home renovation project.

Murder of an Amish Bridegroom
Patricia Johns
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105328, $29.99, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Amish-Bridegroom-Seamstress-Mystery/dp/1639105328

Synopsis: Petunia Yoder is Blueberry, Pennsylvania's youngest old maid, at twenty-two years of age, and completely unmarriageable. But she's determined to celebrate her friends' weddings with joy and a full heart. Unfortunately, Petunia's best friend, Eden Beiler, is playing a dangerous game with a man who is ruining her reputation.

Ike Smoker is the community's iceman (the one who cuts, stores, and sells the ice) and when Petunia discovers him dead with an ice pick in his chest, Eden is found on the scene with blood on her hands. Homicide detective Asher Nate is new to the area, and he has a challenge on his hands. The Amish community sticks close together, and he doesn't understand the subtleties and nuances of the clues he uncovers. He needs an Amish interpreter, and he asks Petunia if she'll help. In a bid to keep her best friend out of prison, she agrees.

The community is filled with people who had good reason to hate Ike Smoker, especially as Petunia and Asher begin to uncover his secrets. Was someone trying to protect their family's reputation? Or to exact revenge for a sin buried deep in the past?

There's a litany of damning clues that litters the ground -- and if Petunia and Asher can't come up with the truth, they could end up as the next ones on the killer's list!

Critique: The newest volume in author Patricia Jones' An Amish Seamstress Mystery series of cozy mysteries featuring an amateur female sleuth trying to help the authorities solve a murder mystery and clear a friend, "Murder of an Amish Bridegroom" enriches the story line into a fun read from start to finish with elements peculiar and special to the Amish/Mennonit community. Solidly entertaining from first page to last, "Murder of an amish Bridgegroom" will prove an enduringly welcome and popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated cozy mystery fans that "Murder of an Amish Bridegroom" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note: Patricia Johns (https://patriciajohns.com) was born in Alberta, Canada, and moved with her family all over the country, as well as some parts of the US. She attended college at the University of Toronto, where she obtained her Hon. BA in English literature. She began pursuing her writing career then while working part-time jobs in Toronto. She met her husband when she was twenty-five and got married shortly afterward. They moved together to Alberta, Canada, and their son was born a few years later.

The Ice Cream Man
Big Boy Pete, author
Stark House Press
www.starkhousepress.com
9798886010282, $15.95, PB, 258pp

https://www.amazon.com/Ice-Cream-Man-Big-Pete/dp/B0BWL6FQ6B

Synopsis: Kala, the 17-year-old daughter of Max's housekeeper, is now living with Max and his wife Jade since the return of her war-damaged father. Max and Jade live in a mansion, and Kala quickly becomes aware that she is becoming part of an uneasy triangle between Max and his barren and needy wife. Kala is also more than curious about the forbidden Garden behind Max's home. Surely Max couldn't have amassed his fortune with just his ice cream business alone.

Kala soon figures that the Garden is a front for something illegal. And as she gently weaves her way into becoming Jade's replacement and Max's confidant, Kala realizes she is being groomed as Max's business partner. Then she meets Eddie, a renegade CIA operative attempting to penetrate Max's cartel while posing as road manager for touring musicians. While war is being waged in nearby Vietnam, it's Eddie's job to guide English singer Duke DeLuxe around the various US Air Force bases and clubs in Thailand.

Each of them has their own agenda here in the land of smiles. But what will triumph -- business, or pleasure?

Critique: Impressively original, deftly crafted, immensely compelling, and thoroughly entertaining read from start to finish, "The Ice Cream Man" will hold a very special interest and appeal for dedicated fans of crime thriller fiction. While available and highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense/Crime Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists that "The Ice Cream Man" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99) as well.

Editorial Note: Peter Miller is better known as Big Boy Pete, a pioneer of psychedelic rock and roll music. He toured extensively with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones during the Sixties, and took his English band to play for the GIs throughout Southeast Asia from 1969-72 (providing the basis for The Ice Cream Man). Miller has written three screenplays and over 500 songs, including some that have charted, and has also written and published a 500-page training manual for Recording Engineers and Music Producers that is being used in 175 countries. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Miller_(musician))

A Bean to Die For
Tara Lush
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105458, $29.99, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Bean-Die-Coffee-Lovers-Mystery/dp/163910545X

Synopsis: Lana Lewis is brewing up new concoctions at Perkatory, a popular cafe in Devil's Beach, when she decides she wants to try her hand at growing her own coffee. She secures a gardening plot in the community garden, thanks to her father and the garden's owner, Darla. Darla's list of rules is long, but that doesn't stop someone from leaving Jack Daggett's body amongst the gardening plots.

Jack, an environmental activist, had been banned from the garden previously, because of his many fights with Darla about organic produce. Lana promises her boyfriend, police chief Noah, that she's going to stay out of this case, having been too involved in previous cases. But when she learns that Jack died from an accidental overdose, and Darla is the top suspect because of her shady past, Lana can't help but poke around in an attempt to clear Darla's name.

As Lana dives deeper into the case, she learns that Jack had more enemies than she realized. When Darla turns up dead, Lana has to turn up the heat on her investigation. With Lana on the case, it won't be long before someone spills the beans to crack this case wide open. But will she able to find the killer before they strike again?

Critique: "A Bean to Die For" is a part of author Tara Lush's 'A Coffee Lover's Mystery' series and will have a very special appeal for cozy mystery fans. Original, impressively well written, featuring a memorable amateur female sleuth, and a 'whodunnit' murder mystery with more unexpected turns and twists than an Oklahoma twister, "A Beat to Die For" is readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99) and will prove to be a welcome addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Tara Lush (https://taralush.com) is a Rita Award finalist, an Amtrak writing fellow, and a George C. Polk Award winning journalist. For the past decade, she's been a reporter with the Associated Press, covering crime, alligators, natural disasters, and politics. She also writes contemporary romance set in tropical locations.

Deadly to the Core
Joyce Tremel
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105434, $29.99, HC, 231pp

https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Core-Cider-House-Mystery/dp/1639105433

Synopsis: After losing her husband in a terrible car crash, thirty-five-year-old Kate is left to pick up the pieces of her life alone. Although she has physically recovered, she worries her spirit never will. But when she learns that she has inherited a fruit orchard in a small town just outside Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from her great uncle Stan, she takes this as an opportunity ripe for the picking. Kate knew immediately what to do with it: open a cider house. Her hopeful plans fall far from the tree when she finds the body of the orchard manager, Carl Randolph, leaving her to figure out who is at the core of this murder.

She had been in correspondence with Carl, who had agreed with her brilliant idea of opening a cider house. But not everyone is so quick to buy what she was selling - Uncle Stan's lawyer, Robert Larabee, paints a less rosy financial outlook of the orchard's past, present, and future.

Kate discovers that Carl had large, unexplained deposits to his bank account and it becomes clear that either he was blackmailing someone, or someone was paying him to keep quiet. Meanwhile, Kate and her neighbors receive offers to buy their property from a mysterious buyer. And there's more than meets the eye with the neighboring orchard owner, Daniel Martinez, although Kate can't quite put her finger on if it's sweet or sour.

Will she be able to pick out the bad apple among the bunch before it's too late?

Critique: A 'Cider House Mystery' from the imagination and impressive storytelling abilities of novelist Joyce Tremel, "Deadly to the Core" is an original and deftly scripted cozy mystery that has all the trimmings -- an amateur female sleuth finding herself caught up in a dangerous 'whodunnit' murder mystery. A fun read from start to finish, "Deadly to the Core" is a culinary mystery that will prove to be an immediately welcome and enduringly popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note: Joyce Tremel (http://www.joycetremel.com) was a police secretary for ten years and more than once envisioned the demise of certain co-workers, but settled on writing as a way to keep herself out of jail. In addition to the Cider House mysteries, she wrote the Brewing Trouble mysteries.

The Sign of Four Spirits
Vicki Delany
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105397, $29.99, HC, 279pp

https://www.amazon.com/Spirits-Sherlock-Holmes-Bookshop-Mystery/dp/1639105395

Synopsis: When a psychic fair arrives in West London, Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, wants nothing to do with it. But somehow, at the urging of Donald Morris, an enthusiastic Sherlockian, she finds herself talked into attending a seance, along with baker and best friend Jayne Wilson, store assistant, Ashleigh, and former pop star Bunny Leigh.

But to her surprise, Gemma finds herself banned from the seance and shown the door. Curious, she listens in from outside the room. The medium informs a disappointed Donald that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will not be able to make it tonight. Then, Gemma hears a voice cut off, a cry for help, a scream. Gemma bursts into the library to see that someone has collapsed on the table -- dead. The windows are all locked, and Gemma was guarding the only door. Someone in this room is a murderer. But who?

The game is once again afoot for Gemma Doyle, as she hunts a killer. But, this time, is the killer of flesh and blood or had the medium summoned doom from beyond the veil?

Critique: Simply stated, as a novelist, Vicki Delany is a master of the mystery genre in general, and the cozy mystery format in particular. Here newest title, "The Sign of Four Spirits" is a part of her outstanding 'A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery' series and will prove to be a welcome and enduringly popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should also be noted for personal reading lists of the growing legions of cozy mystery fans that "The Sign of Four Spirits" is a fun read that is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note: Vicki Delany (http://vickidelany.com) is the Canadian author of more than thirty novels/novellas in several of mystery's subgenres. Born in Manitoba and raised in Ontario, she is the former president of the Crime Writers of Canada, a member of Capital Crime Writers, and a member of Sisters in Crime.

Hammers and Homicide
Paula Charles
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105991, $29.99, HC, 280pp

https://www.amazon.com/Hammers-Homicide-Hometown-Hardware-Mystery/dp/1639105999

Synopsis: Recent sexagenarian widow Dawna Carpenter thought running her own hardware store after the death of her husband was hard enough. With her adult daughter, April, moving back into town, and Darlene, the annoying boutique owner next door to her shop poking around, Dawna has her hands full. But when she finds a dead man in the bathroom of her store, with a framing hammer by his side, she's in way over her head.

The victim, Warren Highcastle, was a land developer who was looking to purchase the old theater in town to build a new hotel. Dawna and April, worried about the implications of the crime scene at the hardware store, put themselves on the case. They soon learn that Warren had made quite a few enemies in his short amount of time in town. As the suspect list starts growing, so too do the threats against Dawna and April. Can Dawna and April nail the killer before they strike again?

Critique: A deftly crafted and fun read from first page to last, "Hammers and Homicide" by novelist Paula Charles is part of her 'A Hometown Hardware Mystery' series and a true delight for all dedicated cozy mystery fans. While very highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated 'whodunit' mystery buffs that "Hammers and Homicide" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note: Paula Charles (https://www.paulacharles.com) is a member of Sisters in Crime. There is an extensive listing of her novels at https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/166419153-paula-charles

Death at a Scottish Wedding
Lucy Connelly
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105410, $29.99, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Scottish-Wedding-Isle-Mystery/dp/1639105417

Synopsis: Finally feeling like Sea Isle, Scotland is becoming her new home, American doctor Emilia McRoy is delighted when she is invited to a wedding at Morrigan's Castle. Her friends have warned her that it's a three-day party and it's bound to get wild, not to mention the impending snowstorm. Constable Ewan Campbell, owner of the castle, ensures their safety with the blizzard. What he didn't ensure, is that all of his guests would survive the night alive. When Emilia explores the impressive castle, she finds a dead man in one of the turrets.

The snowstorm hits and the local police can't reach the castle until it lets up. With no one able to leave, the family insists they carry on with the wedding, which makes Emilia's job as the coroner a bit easier (the suspects are in one place) and complicated because the killer has Emilia in his sights. The fact no one claims to know the victim isn't helping. Why would someone no one knows be murdered at a castle in the middle of nowhere?

It's up to Emilia to uncover the mystery who the victim is, so the killer doesn't get away Scot free.

Critique: A compulsively entertaining read from start to finish, "Death at a Scottish Wedding" has all the elements dear to the hearts of dedicated cozy mystery fans -- an amateur female sleuth compelled by circumstance to identify and bring to justice a killer -- before she herself can become a victim. A simply riveting read, "Death at a Scottish Wedding" is author Lucy Konnelly's second novel in her 'A Scottish Isle Mystery' series and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Death at a Scottish Wedding" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note: Lucy Connelly (https://www.lucyconnelly.com) has a master's degree in humanities and enjoys learning all the things. And she's been published under many other pen names.

City of Betrayal
Victoria Thompson
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780593440605, $28.00, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/City-Betrayal-Counterfeit-Lady-Novel/dp/0593440609

Synopsis: A year has passed since Elizabeth Bates ran her last con. Life has been simpler, although not nearly as exciting, but she has thrown herself into working to get the 19th Amendment ratified by thirty-six states to become the law of the land. Since every other Southern state has already rejected the amendment, it seems unlikely Tennessee will be an exception -- but it is their only hope, so the suffragists descend on Tennessee for the final battle.

Elizabeth's ability to interact with difficult men and to persuasively explain all the advantages of allowing women to vote (all skills she perfected as a grifter) have made her a valuable member of the team. But she would never have expected the lengths to which some would go to keep the vote out of women's hands. She'll need to devise the perfect con or the suffragists' life's work could all be for nothing.

Critique: An unusual and inherently fascinating take on the cozy mystery genre, "City of Betrayal" by Victoria Thompson is part of the author's 'A Counterfeit Lady' series of novels. Of immense interest to fans of historical mysteries starring female sleuths, "City of Betrayal" is an original and fun read from start to finish. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format, "City of Betrayal" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Victoria Thompson (https://victoriathompson.com) writes the Edgar and Agatha Award nominated Gaslight Mystery Series, set in turn-of-the-century New York City and featuring midwife Sarah Brandt, and the Sue Grafton Award nominated Counterfeit Lady Series set in early twentieth century New York City and featuring con artist Elizabeth Miles. Victoria also teaches in the Seton Hill University master's program in writing popular fiction.

Coaching Fire
Victoria Laurie
Kensington Cozies
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496742469, $27.00, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Coaching-Fire-Gilley-Coach-Mystery/dp/149674246X

Synopsis: Gilley's whirlwind romance with creative director Stuart Jacobs began in Paris, where Stuart was sourcing fabric for the world-renowned Texas Rose Festival, which he is heading up for the first time. The festival is nothing short of spectacular, bringing in half a million people (and their wallets) to see the artistic displays, and exquisite gowns and jewels worn by the Rose Queen and her court. Stuart and his crew seem to have it all under control. But the night Cat arrives in Texas, someone is shot dead in cold blood, and a member of Stuart's staff is named the prime suspect!

The Rose Festival is too important to the city's economy to cancel, so while Stuart scrambles to prevent the festival from derailing, Cat and Gilley launch their own investigation into the murder. With a parade of potential suspects to parse, and an even longer list of motives, they bring in East Hampton Police Detective Steve Shepherd to help. As rumors of arson, burglary, and professional sabotage swirl around the already fraught festival planning, Cat and her team immerse themselves in the cutthroat pageantry to identify the killer, who has already picked their next victim!

Critique: "Coaching Fire" by Victoria Laurie has everything a cozy mystery fan could want in the form an amateur female sleuth having to solve a perplexing 'whodunnit' murder mystery at the risk of her life and the lives of her friends. With more unexpected plot twists and turns than Kansas tornado, "Coaching Fire" is a fun read from start to finish and one that is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated cozy mystery fans that "Coaching Fire" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.77).

Editorial Note: Victoria Laurie (www.VictoriaLaurie.com) identifies herself as a real-life psychic and is the author of the Psychic Eye Mysteries, the Ghost Hunter Mysteries, and the Life Coach Mysteries.

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