What's a Girl Gotta Do? by Sparkle Hayter

Open Road Integrated Media

 

A Robin Hudson Mystery

From the cover:

Meet Robin Hudson. Dumped by her husband, she’s been demoted to third-string reporter at New York’s All News Network. Her downstairs neighbor thinks she’s a hooker. Louise Bryant, her finicky cat, refuses to chow down on anything but stir-fry. Now Robin’s being blackmailed by a late-night caller who knows her childhood nickname and other personal stuff, like whom she gave her virginity to. What could be worse?

 

Being the prime suspect in the bludgeoning death of her mystery caller—that’s what. In life, he was a PI who had the skinny on everyone. Now, while Robin is undercover investigating a suspicious sperm bank, she must also find the killer and clear her name. In her downtime, she’s amusing herself with her hot new boy toy, who may not be Mr. Right but could be Mr. Close Enough. When someone else is murdered, Robin races to break the story before she makes headlines again—as the next victim.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book written by Canadian author Sparkle Hayter, a journalist who has worked for CNN and Global Television, amongst others.   The author's inside knowledge of television journalism adds to the plot and the telling of the story.  This knowledge creates an air of realism in an otherwise funny, quirky tale. 

 

Robin Hudson is a character that is hard not to like.  She doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut and manners and good housekeeping are simply foreign to her nature.  She is strong, salty, independent and just a little horny.  I love how the story is told in Robin's voice as it is always intriguing to be inside someone else's head. 

 

My one quibble with the book is near the start.  Robin describes and interacts with numerous characters and not all of these characters are essential to the story.  It is much like standing around the water cooler getting the skinny on your co-workers on a Monday morning.  This is a small quibble and will not deter me from reading the other five Robin Hudson novels.

 

Reading about the author has led me to a category of books I had not heard of before - Tart Noir.  This is a line of reading I intend to pursue and will make room for on my bookshelves right beside the Stephanie Plum novels. 

 

Russian Hill by Ty Hutchinson

The couple that slays together stays together.  At least that's the way it is for Jerry and Vicki Carlson,  a psychopath and a sociopath respectively.  The tie that binds them is simple - the thrill of the kill.

The Carlsons are involved in a game that requires travel to major cities to complete challenges.  Their current game is called "Chasing Chinatown" and it consists of five Attractions. When the story starts they have just completed Attraction number three and are eager to embark on number four.  The game is being played out in San Francisco and this particular variation of the Amazing Race always ends in murder.

FBI Agent Abby Kane has been enjoying her work on white collar crime cases, a break from serial killers and organized crime, her specialities.  When a hiker is found with an axe sticking out of her chest Abby somewhat reluctantly accepts the case.  Then when the local  precinct thinks they have a serial killer on their hands, they consult with Abby and she realizes there is a link to her murdered hiker and their cases.  She teams up with SFPD Detective Kyle Kang and the adventure begins.

The first part of the story seesaws back and forth between the viewpoint of the Carlsons and Abby. It is fascinating to read the thoughts of Jerry and Vicki as they methodically plan their moves as a team, play their creepy game and live a lavish and somewhat perverted lifestyle. 

 

At the other end of the seesaw is Abby, working diligently to track them down. She is a creative thinker who gives her grey cells a work out before acting. But that entails methodically going over her notes late into the night and sacrificing some of the wholesome family time and outings she so cherishes.

Together Kane and Kyle systematically follow-up on every possibility in their pursuit of the killers.  Just as the case appears to be wrapped up, the story smoothly steers us into the criminal underground world of San Fran's Chinatown. Kane and Kyle are both trained in martial arts and this helps to ratchet up the action scenes with the Chinese villains.  Abby relies mostly on her wits, but when she has to defend herself physically, her petite size is deceptive and she kicks butt with the best of them.

The plot has a number of twists with just enough evil and danger lurking around corners to create a nice tension. Some scenes are a bit graphic, but Hutchinson lightens the mood  by providing off duty moments for some of the characters and witty banter between Abby and Ken to achieve a nice balance.

An engaging, entertaining, and quick read that I read in one sitting on a rainy afternoon.  Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book.  Oh, and I love the cover art.

http://tyhutchinson.com/

Face Value by Michael A. Kahn

Poisoned Pen Press

The body of a young attorney is found in an alley beside a 10 floor parking garage.  The police rule the death a suicide, something not uncommon amongst those stressed out by the high demands of being a young law associate.  Stanley Plotkin, a mailroom employee from the same firm as the young attorney Sari Bashir, is convinced that Sari didn’t commit suicide but was murdered. 

Stanley approaches Rachel Gold, a lawyer he knows, to say that he has proof Sari was murdered. He points to a broken heel from a high heel shoe and a tube of lip balm found four spaces down from Ms. Bashir’s parking space. He also brings into play his knowledge of FACS, the Facial Action Coding System that correlates hundreds of facial muscle actions to specific emotions and mental states.

Stanley may have Asperger’s but his knowledge of FACS is nothing short of genius. This knowledge tells him that in the days preceding her death, Sari may have been preoccupied or agitated, but she was definitely not suicidal.  Rachel agrees to look into the matter and along with her team she investigates the top lawyers at Warner & Olsen, an investigation that leads to secrets, cover ups, questionable ethics and finances.

This is my idea of a cozy mystery.  A main character supported by a group of other characters, some zany and others either really smart or really lucky.  Stanley is an original character, so much so that I felt at times he overshadowed Rachel. There are no gory scenes and the plot moves along at a moderate pace with little gems of humour incorporated into some well written dialogue. 

The author is a lawyer and the legal and financial information is well presented in a readable and informative manner that doesn't detract from the story.  Kahn also provides Rachel the ingenious idea of creating a memorial video about the victim, enabling Stanley to design the questions to ask each suspect and see their responses without having any social interaction with them, since social interactions can be very difficult for someone with Asperger's.  As ingenious as the idea is, and as well as it works as a device for plot development, it doesn't always make for great reading.

I loved how Kahn has the ability to make the setting of St. Louis seem so familiar and the characters so comfortable to be around, like old friends.  Even though this is the ninth book in a series I can vouch for it being a stand alone since I haven't read any of the others and I didn't feel that it made a difference.

Overall I found this a fun, interesting and worthwhile read - just not a nail biter.

To read an excerpt go to:

 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/face-value-michael-kahn/1117166469?ean=9781464202803 

 

Author and publisher links:

 http://www.michaelakahn.com/

http://www.poisonedpenpress.com/michael-kahn/

Hangtown by Karen Sandler

Angry Robot Ltd.
Exhibit A Books

With her San Francisco apartment building going condo and her office space about to be razed, Janelle Watkins finds herself living in an old RV on a parcel of land she inherited from her father.  The arrangement provides for her basic needs and suits her budget while she tries to save enough money to move back to San Fran.  Sounds good, except for one little drawback, the location - Greenville - her hometown. The one place she doesn't want to be. 

Greenville is loaded with memories of her monster of a father. As well, her former SFPD partner and on again off again lover, Sheriff Ken Heinz, lives there with his teenage niece Cassie.  For reasons that Janelle doesn't quite fathom, Cassie has taken a liking to Janelle and keeps ending up on her doorstep.  This wouldn't be so bad except that it makes it difficult for Janelle to avoid Ken, even though she isn't entirely sure she wants to.  However, when Janelle and Cassie find a teenager hanging from a bridge and another one disappears, Janelle's involvement in the investigations makes it impossible for her to avoid the Sheriff professionally or personally.

There are a number of tangled threads in this web of a plot involving past indiscretions. As the cover says "no secret can ever stay buried.." and this is key to the plot and the characters, including Janelle and a very dark period in her life.  There is also the ongoing theme of children being abandoned, physically and/or emotionally, by less than adequate parents.  As we learn more about Janelle's past and her ongoing psychological issues, we are witness to her allowing her vulnerability to show on occasion. 

I love the character of Janelle.  She is so perfect in her imperfections.  She is physically and emotionally disabled and I appreciate how Sandler incorporates this into the storyline to reveal to the reader Janelle's feelings, thoughts and the stubborn reactions she has to ensure she doesn't fall victim to any sort of pity, kindness or affection.  The same sense of pride makes it difficult for her to have a relationship with Ken, or anyone.

The relationships between Janelle and Ken, Janelle and Cassie, and Janelle and Reverend Brown all make this an enjoyable read for me.  The small town, rural setting adds to the feeling of intimacy between the reader and the story.  It also makes the plot somewhat plausible because small towns can conceal big secrets.

A great read and I look forward to Janelle's next investigation.  I hope the demise of Exhibit A books doesn't get in the way. http://exhibitabooks.com/2014/06/20/news-about-exhibit-a/

To learn more about Janelle and Karen Sandler read my review of Clean Burn, the first Janelle Watkins investigation.

http://birch-bark.blogspot.ca/2013/08/clean-burn-by-karen-sandler.html






 

The Truth Will Out by Jane Issac

Legend Press

This book hooked  me right from the start.  Imagine two best friends skyping when one, Naomi, says to the other, Eva, that she thinks she hears an intruder in her place.  No sooner does Naomi say this than a mysterious figure attacks her from behind.  To her horror, Eva is a witness to what is happening to her friend until the intruder turns the screen off.  Frantic, she takes off in her car, panicking as she realizes that the intruder will be coming after her next. Eva thinks Naomi has been badly beaten as a warning that is related to their recent misadventure in France.  She doesn't know Naomi has been brutally murdered.

DCI Helen Lavery is assigned to the case.  A case that is not just about murder by a psychopath, but also involves organised crime, drug smuggling, and police corruption.  This is a psychological thriller and a police procedural at its best.  But what really holds the story together is the character of Helen Lavery.

DCI Lavery is reminiscent of Lynda La Plante's Anna Travis in her tenacity to get to the truth.  Also, like Travis, she had a father who was in the police force and that she looked up to and admired as an officer. Both Travis and Lavery are strong female characters, common in British mysteries. However, Lavery is original as she is older and widowed with two teenage sons and an ageing mother to look after.  She strives to balance work and home and is familiar with the politics of the glass ceiling.

 

There are moments in the story when dealing with police work seems a lot easier than being the mother of a teenage boy with raging hormones or a daughter handling the health issues of an ageing parent.  It is easy to relate to Helen - she makes mistakes at home and at work,  she enjoys her family and her job and is often caught between the conflicting demands of the two.  Lonely, and missing the closeness of being in a relationship, makes her a vulnerable, very believable and sympathetic character.

 

The story is told primarily from the viewpoints of Helen and Eva, shifting back and forth between the two as the plot unfolds.  Eva is also a well-developed character. At the start, I didn't particularly care for her, finding her immature and selfish.  But as the story progressed, I began to like her more and to appreciate her resourcefulness. A number of other characters are also well drawn and I especially liked Lavery's assistant, Sean Pemberton, whose loyalty to her rivals the loyalty of the long-suffering Detective Sergeant Lewis in the Inspector Morse series.

 

Even though this is a police procedural, Jane Isaac's strong characterizations make this a more enjoyable read than the typical heavy focus on hows and whys.  The crime scenes are intelligently described without relying on lurid details and the plot moves along at a quick, fluid pace.

 

A truly engrossing read.
 

http://www.legendtimesgroup.co.uk/legend-press

That Touch of Ink by Diane Vallere

Henery Press

 

This is one of those light reads great for the beach or a rainy day. 

Even for the fabulous Madison Night, interior designer, receiving a rare five thousand dollar bill in the mail is not your average day.  Convinced that this bill is somehow connected to her past and a former lover, she is intrigued and starts to look into what the bill is really all about.  Soon someone is murdered, Madison is in a car chase, guns appear, a mysterious neighbor moves in and Madison is running for her life. She is also running from some pretty hot men. She isn't sure about the men in her life -  does she actually love one of them, are they good for her and can she actually trust them or anybody else for that matter. Aw Madison, dilemma is thy middle name.

While she is dealing with murder, a counterfeit ring, and staying one step ahead of the law, she comes home to find her apartment has been painted in just the right shade of daisy yellow by persons unknown, deals with some kooky clients and hides out in a house she recently inherited that shows potential from an interior design point of view.

Though I am writing this a little tongue in cheek, I did have fun reading this book.  There are numerous Doris Day references scattered throughout the story (i.e. the title) that you are either going to love (like me) or find very kitschy, much like any Doris Day movie. But if you want a few laughs, a good story, and to learn a little about counterfeiting then read That Touch of Ink.  You won't be bored.

 

You can read an excerpt on the author's web page http://www.dianevallere.com/that-touch-of-ink.html

The Mangle Street Murders by M.R.C. Kasasian

Open Road Integrated Media

When in the late 1800s March Middleton is orphaned after her father's death, her godfather, Sydney Grice, offers her the opportunity to live with him in London.  March accepts and moves in.  Grice is a "personal" detective of renown and before she is barely moved in, March is involved in a case.  She is quick to pit herself against her uncle when he refuses to accept a case because the client doesn't have the means to pay him.  Convinced of the innocence of William Ashby, who stands accused of stabbing his wife to death, she insists on paying Grice's fee and being part of the investigation.

 

March is not your average Victorian lady.  She spent many years helping her father, who was an army doctor, so her upbringing was less than conventional.  She smokes and swigs gin and hangs out at a woman's private club.  She also follows Grice through the less genteel parts of London to examine dead bodies and blood spatter patterns, chase down clues and interview potential witnesses.  And all this before tea! The more Grice is convinced of Ashby's guilt, the more March is convinced of his innocence.  The sparring between the two main characters and the addition of some interesting secondary characters, keeps the story entertaining and moving along at a fair pace.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and would read another with these two characters.  Despite the numerous red herrings, I knew who the murderer was the instant the character was introduced.  The twists in the plot made me question myself once or twice, but it still was a little obvious to me.  There is a cameo appearance by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and I suppose it can be argued that the characters of Grice and March are a type of homage to Holmes and Watson.   I really think, however, that Grice and March stand on their own and to compare them to Holmes and Watson is to give them less than their due.  The author might disagree on this point.

The one thing I didn't like about the book was the references to letters about a relationship in March's past.  Yes, they show another side of her character and emphasize her strength as a woman, but in this case, less would have been more.

 

Overall - an entertaining read that will hold your attention, give you an occasional laugh and show you that those Victorian ladies weren't quite as delicate and gentle as you have been lead to believe.

Love Story, with Murders by Harry Bingham

Random House Publishing

Detective Fiona Griffiths takes us across Southern Wales in a bizarre search for body parts.  The parts start showing up in a freezer, a shed, a loft and are eventually identified as belonging to a young female university student who was reported missing five years prior to the first gruesome discovery. The young woman also worked as a waitress and dancer in the local Cardiff bars, like the one owned by Fiona’s father. Soon more body parts are discovered, but this time they belong to a young male metallurgist, who worked for a firm with links to the arms trade.

As Fiona works on the investigation she begins to believe there is a connection between the two murders.  Suffering from Cotard’s Syndrome, Fiona has developed her own peculiar investigative process that helps her relate to her victims and understand their lives. Bingham is clever in how he reveals the story behind the murders all the while using the investigation to reveal more about Fiona. How she struggles in her relationships with family, boyfriend and colleagues, to understand, analyze and respond to their emotional signals (think Sheldon in the Big Bang Theory), and how her reflections on these relationships as well as her self-reflection, are connected to the unravelling of the murders. Because I haven’t read the first book in this series, I may not have appreciated the aspect of Fiona’s personal growth as much as readers who have read Talking to the Dead.

Eventually, Fiona discovers the connection between the two victims and how that connects to the export of arms.  The development of this political aspect to the story brings her into contact with the UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation (UKTI DSO) that actually does exist and whose aim is to help UK companies to export arms.  Apparently, they aren’t too picky about where they export to, even though they are using tax dollars.  The selling and export of arms/technology is a key aspect of the plot.

 

I found this book to be a little over ambitious in the amount of ground the author wanted to cover.  There is a lot of information, the descriptions are very detailed and the plot itself is complicated. As a result, I didn’t find the writing to be as tight as it could have been.  The suspense is there, and it did hold my interest, but I was able to put the book down and return to it a day or two later.

 

Bingham’s characterizations are definitely his strong point.  I felt each character was distinct and that I knew each one well.  It is also clever how the title can refer to both the victims and Fiona herself. 

 

Definitely a worthwhile read.

Rosemary and Crime by Gail Oust

St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books

Piper Prescott is recently divorced and she has invested all her money from the divorce settlement into opening a spice shop in her adopted town of  Brandywine Creek, Georgia.  Key to the opening of the store is a cooking demonstration to be given by the local celebrity chef.  Unfortunately, hours before the opening, Piper finds chef Mario dead on the kitchen floor of his own restaurant.  To make matters worse, Piper has touched the murder weapon and other key evidence at the crime scene making her the prime suspect of Wyatt McBride, the newly appointed police chief.  So she teams up with her BFF Reba Mae, the local hairdresser, to solve the crime before McBride arrests her for murder. 

Naturally, the daring duo stumble onto their clues rather than actually discovering anything through the use of brilliant sleuthing techniques.  There is the usual slate of quirky secondary characters, family issues and a little bit of a tease in the romance department.  This is definitely your typical cosy mystery.

It always amazes me how a well-written cosy mystery can turn murder into a rollicking good read and Rosemary and Crime is no exception.  This was a quick and entertaining light read that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Perfect for the beach or a day when you are stuck in the house.

Lowcountry Bombshell by Susan M. Boyer

Henry Press
(The 2nd Liz Talbot Mystery)

                               
Imagine the spitting image of Marilyn Monroe showing up on your doorstep and asking you to save her from the same fate as the real Marilyn.  Would you open the door and say “Sure – come on in and we’ll work this out.”?  Well apparently you would if you are local Stella Maris PI, Liz Talbot.

Calista McQueen (the Marilyn double) is one of many zany characters in the book that keep you amused, puzzled and engaged. The story moves along quickly with enough twists and turns in the plot to keep you guessing.  A little romance between Liz and Nate, who is not only her business partner but also the brother of her ex, helps to turn up the heat for those who like it hot.   

My only complaint is that some of the details seem like filler to me.  The love scene between Liz and Nate is too long for this type of book and the story itself.  And knowing that Liz and Calista both order salad with grilled chicken and a glass of iced tea for lunch, does nothing to move the plot along or develop the characters.  Why bother to include such redundant details?  Beats me - you wouldn’t be missing anything if this information was left out.

 

That being said, Susan Boyer is a talented storyteller who moves the plot along at a quick pace maintaining a nice balance between tense atmosphere and lighter moments.   She also incorporates some interesting information about the real Marilyn into the story, a subject that is of particular interest to her.   Overall this is an entertaining light read well worth your time on a lazy Sunday afternoon. 

Click on Susan's name above to link to her blog or you can find her on Facebook.

Ill-Gotten Gains by Ilsa Evans

A Nell Forrest Mystery

Momentum Books

In the second Nell Forrest mystery, the sleepy town of Majic is gearing up to celebrate its 150^th anniversary and preparations are in full swing to re-enact the sunset ride that led to the founding of the town.  Nell and her youngest daughter Quinn go to the local cemetery to do some research for Quinn’s school project related to the town founder, Petar Majic.  While examining the Majic crypt, Quinn inadvertently knocks down a plaque only to reveal another plaque that has lain hidden for years.  The two take the broken plaque to the historical society for repair and to report the newly discovered plaque.  This simple act of conscience sets into play a series of events that will question the town’s past, threaten its present and change the course for the future.  Two members of the historical society are murdered and a prominent family has its very roots questioned.

Nell is also looking at her own past, present and towards the future but not by choice.  Her ex is demanding his half of their house and Nell is having trouble letting go of the home and all the family memories it holds. Her personal life is complicated by her daughters trying to figure out their own futures, unwanted pregnancies, and the murder investigation, leaving Nell little time to contemplate her own future. Once Nell, her family and friends start asking questions pertaining to the murders and the town's past, her life is threatened and she is put under police protection and the ever watchful eye of the charming Detective Sergeant Ashley Armistead. 

Again each chapter begins with a funny note to Nell as the author of the Middle-Aged Spread column and Nell’s thoughts frequently appear as headlines.  Ilsa Evans’ witty Australian humour is a significant part of the pleasure of reading this book but so too is the well thought out and informative plot.

As an Aussie might say - a rip snorter of a read.

Nefarious Doings by Ilsa Evans

Momentum Books

A small Australian town called Majic is the home of Nell Forrest.  Majic has a bookstore, an art gallery, a community center, police station, a few restaurants and a rather large Richard III society.  It sounds very much like most small towns - except of course for the murder, arson, death threats, disappearances and adultery - quite bucolic.

Nell writes a weekly column and occasionally helps out at the bookstore owned by her mom.  Her husband recently left her for a younger woman but she certainly isn’t lonely.  Her home is virtually central station with the comings and goings of her five daughters, her mother, her sister and their various friends it can hardly be described as deserted. Especially after, out of necessity, her mother moves in.

Her mother’s house is torched and after her mother is rescued and the fire is extinguished the body of a neighbour is uncovered in the garage.  Since the neighbour and her mother disliked each other intensely, her mother appears to be a likely suspect for murder.  So Nell, her sister and daughters join forces to prove grandma is innocent.  Their sleuthing is more comical than professional but somehow they touch a nerve because Nell receives a threatening voice mail and another innocent soul is found murdered.  The local detective Ashley Armistead warns Nell that she could be endangering herself by not leaving matters to the police, but of course she doesn’t listen and Armistead’s warning becomes reality. 

This is a light, comical and entertaining mystery.  I loved how each chapter started with an email or note to Nell from a reader of her Middle-aged Spread column.  Some of these notes are hysterical.  I also loved how the thoughts in Nell’s head often take the form of headlines - “Local woman helps police with their inquiries. Implicates elderly mother.” And her sarcasm is sharp and witty. 

Nefarious Doings is a fun and cozy read and I am looking forward to the next Nell Forrest book, Ill-gotten Gains from Ilsa Evans.

Clean Burn by Karen Sandler

Angry Robot Ltd./Exhibit A

Janelle Watkins isn’t your typical heroine.  Gimpy leg, arms full of burn marks – many self-imposed and others not – a woman who spends restless nights haunted by dark dreams, that’s Janelle.  At times, the dreams terrify and torment her to the point that she awakens screaming and shaking.  To keep her demons at bay, she creates an insular world to protect her vulnerabilities and to hide her madness from others. 

 

A former San Francisco PD  she once helped parents with the nightmare of missing kids; she has a photo gallery of happy children reunited with their parents adorning one office wall, a testament to her success.  After leaving the police department, she became a PI and set about tracking down wayward spouses.  However, when she is presented with two cases of missing children she allows herself to be pressured into investigating the disappearances.  The investigations take her back to her home town, Greenville, the place where her nightmares began.

 

Greenville is also where her former San Francisco PD partner and ex-lover, Ken Heinz, now resides. He is the Sheriff and when Janelle arrives in town he is working on some local arson cases.  There is still an attraction between them and things start to heat up when they eventually agree to help each other with their respective cases. 

 

The quick pace of Clean Burn gets you hooked.  But it is the unraveling of the plot and the flawed characters with their twisted minds that will reel you in.  I enjoy stories that allow you inside the mind of a psycho.  And believe me, Mama, the very first character you meet, is definitely a psycho.

 

Karen Sandler has written an essentially dark story about missing children, child abuse, arson, and broken families.  There are many characters that you can’t like and aren’t meant to like.  But she also illustrates the strengths, weaknesses and vulnerabilities of humans, and how we develop coping mechanisms, good or bad, in order to survive. Sandler also has a keen sense of humour that she allows to gently seep in here and there to lighten the mood. 

 

Do yourself a favor and read this book even if you have to read it by candlelight.  Just be careful you don’t get burned.

Here is a link to an article on the story behind Clean Burn.
http://upcoming4.me/news/book-news/story-behind-clean-burn-by-karen-sandler

 

 

Murder on Cue by Jane Dentinger

Open Road Media

When we first meet Jocelyn O’Roarke, she is being rudely awakened by her agent with a work proposal.  Hung over and still half asleep she accepts the offer from him to be the understudy of theatre star Harriet Weldon in a new play.  Weldon’s fame is due more to her prestigious publishing family and their money, than her less than sterling acting ability.  In fact Jocelyn describes Weldon at one point as a “tedious, artsy-fartsy actor(s)” and that pretty much sums her up.  But Jocelyn (Josh) is in no position to turn down a paying job that will guarantee her rent money for the next few months.

 

At one point Harriet suddenly becomes ill and Jocelyn steps in and proves herself to be better in the part than Harriet.  Other members of the troupe see how good the play could be with Josh instead of Harriet and tensions start to rise. Once Harriet returns Jocelyn resumes her minor part in the play but when the leading lady is suddenly murdered, Josh finds she has been cast in the role of leading suspect.

Jocelyn then must prove her innocence and the story evolves through her meetings and talks with other cast members or people from their past.  Detective Phillip Gerard is also in pursuit of the killer and ends up in pursuit of Jocelyn as well.  Their romantic attraction is cleverly understated and adds nicely to the story without taking center stage and overshadowing the main plot line.  You want to know where their relationship is going but you also want to know how Josh will get safely out of the situation.

The conversations Jocelyn has while trying to prove her innocence take you into the world of theatre – the gossip, the backstabbing, the alcohol, the drugs, broken relationships, and secret love affairs – all get honorable mentions as part of character and plot development.  Strewn throughout are a number of lines from famous plays which theatre lovers should enjoy.

 

This is a fun and entertaining read.  You may or may not figure out whodunit and there are enough red herrings thrown in to make you second guess yourself. Jane Dentinger writes with a sharp sense of humour that I really enjoyed and that adds to the character of Jocelyn in particular. 

This is a soft mystery and the first in a series of six theatrical mysteries starring Jocelyn O’Roarke.  Murder on Cue was originally released in 1983 and holds up well over time.  It still comes across as contemporary and is now available in ebook format. I received my copy through NetGalley.

Multiple Exposure - by Ellen Crosby

Book Review

Published by Scribner

Even though the basic story line isn’t particularly original – wife left to prove her husband isn’t guilty of the crimes for which he is accused and she has to fight off the bad guys – it does work.  The addition of a little art history and some history about Russia is smoothly incorporated into the story.  It works because the writing is fluid and the plot is well thought out.  Yes, you can figure out who the real perpetrator is and even predict some of the story line.  However, the main character, Sophie Medina a photojournalist, is what holds the story together. 

Sophie is a strong, independent, likeable woman who is also a believable character. She has no super powers, no eccentricities and no comic sidekicks.  Just the firm belief that her husband is innocent and they will reunite. 

She returns to Washington, D.C. to be near family and friends and to start her life over.  But since her husband’s enemies are convinced that she knows where he is they watch her every move. She is soon running from them in an effort to save her life.

Multiple Exposure is the first in a new series by author Ellen Crosby and I am looking forward to reading the next installment.

The Mayor of Hollywood by MB Brophy

Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Members' Titles

Lucy Cassidy was a teenage Hollywood star, famous for her work on Malibu Cove, think 90210 and Orange County. Despite the fact that she and her manager mother had a contentious relationship, her money was well managed leaving Lucy financially comfortable and able to pursue other interests when she was of independent age.

 

Studying history becomes Lucy's passion and she earns a doctorate degree in history and continues to do some occasional movie work.  When the body of a Hollywood agent, who has a link to a dark secret in Lucy's past, is found murdered beside the body of a reporter on the same site as a famous old Hollywood murder case, Lucy’s life takes a turn for the worse.  She now has a stalker to deal with, who not only attempts to terrorize her, but also puts both of her careers in jeopardy. She and her boyfriend, detective Mark Adamson, must find the connection between the two murders and the identity of the stalker before it is too late.

 

By linking a 1930 murder to a current day murder, the author explores some of the problems and dangers in the Hollywood of wannabees and successful stars.  The hazards related to the “director’s couch”, prescription and non-prescription drugs, eating disorders, power and greed, and the power of the press, are part of the stories past and present. 

 

If you aren’t a big Hollywood junkie, you should find some of the historical tidbits about Hollywood in the 30’s and how one can become the Mayor of Hollywood, an honorary position, interesting.  My guess is there is nothing new here for hard core junkies, but I found I learned a few things about Hollywood that were interesting and sometimes amusing.

 

All in all MB Brophy has created a solid and enjoyable read with likeable characters and enough twists and turns in the plot to keep the reader interested and surprised. 

Secret Bond by Gemma Halliday and Jennifer Fischetto

Jamie Bond Mysteries book #2
Gemma Halliday Publishing

Book Review

Fans of Stephanie Plum – meet Jamie Bond, a young, female, private investigator who took over her dad’s business after he was shot while working a case. Normally, the investigations are of the domestic type – cheating spouses – but something unusual has turned up. The gun that shot her father is identified as the murder weapon in a seemingly unrelated case. Stranger still, her dad doesn’t want to talk about it.


Naturally, despite many warnings, Jamie is hell bent and determined to find out who owns the gun and who shot her father. She tries to investigate on the quiet but the cold case soon becomes scorching hot and too dangerous to handle alone. She confides in her team, who are busy working on a domestic case at a nudist camp, and soon everyone is involved. Her relationships with family, friends, employees and new acquaintances, including a potential relationship with the hot DA, all add unique and fun dimensions to the story without detracting from the main plot. Gemma Halliday keeps the mystery going full throttle with fun and romance thrown in.


I approached this book with the idea that it would be the light reading many of us look forward to enjoying in the summer. It turned out to be more than that and I couldn't put it down.  I look forward to reading the first book in the series and hope there will be more.

 

 

Anonymous Sources by Mary Louise Kelly

Book Review

A fast paced thriller that takes you from Harvard University, to Cambridge University, London and to Washington D.C.  Alexandra James is a young Boston reporter for the New England Chronicle, who is assigned to cover the death of the son of a prominent, powerful man from Washington.  Her instincts tell her that the pursuit of this story might result in her byline on a front page scoop.

She chases leads that bring her to Cambridge, England.  Alex soon begins to realize that the death of Thom Carlyle, her original story, is just the tip of the iceberg. Through persistent investigative reporting, she unwittingly discovers a nuclear terrorist network and begins to realize that the murder of Thom Carlyle might actually have been a cover-up for a Washington conspiracy.  Spies, assassins and terrorists are soon on her trail and they are as intent on finding Alex as she is at finding answers. 

The author has created a great character in Alexandra James.  Alex is presented to us initially as    the fearless nothing left to lose type.  Through great storytelling we are witness to Alex’s vulnerabilities and how they have shaped her.  The cross that she has to bear is in the end what gives her the strength to survive.

I am looking forward to more books by Mary Louise Keller.  I hope they will include Alexandra James as a character because there is more to her story and I want to hear it.

Invitation to Die – by Helen Smith

Book Review

What a wonderful setting for a murder mystery – a murder at a Romance Writers of Great Britain conference.  A cast of eccentric writers as the main characters and suspects, a British hotel as the setting, and a young female as the happenstance sleuth.  Throw in a hint of romance and some humour and you have the recipe for a classic great read.  One would think. 

 

I only started to like this book about half way through.  The way the characters are introduced at the start of the book just doesn’t work for me.  The introduction of each character, one at a time, bringing them all together at the conference didn’t work.  This is a method that I find works well in a movie or television show but not as well in writing.  It leaves me with a kind of stop, go, stop, go feeling.  You are just getting into one character and that character’s story when you are abruptly brought to the next character.  As the old saying goes, it is a bit like eating Chinese food, one minute you are full and then a half hour later you are starving. 

Once past the rather lengthy intros, the story line and cast of characters keeps you amused.  Since this is a about a conference for authors and bloggers, there are some discussions around the ethics of writing, issues of race and the writing method. 

If you like the Mrs. Pollifax stories by Dorothy Gilman or enjoy Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple,  you will probably like this book.  I prefer my murder mysteries to be a little less sedate and a little more intense.

The Girl in the Green Raincoat

I just finished reading the “Girl in the Green Raincoat” by Laura Lippman and I’m still having trouble deciding if this is a book I would recommend or not.  In the interest of full disclosure, I am very partial to women sleuths and the Tess Monaghan series is one of my favorites.  Tess is a strong woman whose vulnerabilities can be apparent to the reader if not to her.  The other regular characters in the series add their individual dashes of flavor. 

In this particular novella Tess is near the end of an unplanned pregnancy and confined to bed rest.  With a lot of time on her hands, she begins watching the parade of people who use the park across from her house and becomes intrigued by a woman in a green raincoat who regularly walks her dog.  When the woman suddenly stops appearing Tess is convinced something bad has happened to her.  Tess wants to discover what - but in order to do so she must rely on her friends to do her legwork.  This is a frustrating position for a strong (and headstrong) independent woman to find herself in. 

The basic plot is similar to a number of movies and these are referenced throughout the story.  I enjoyed how Tess navigates her feelings, trying to remain tough, controlling her anger with her situation all the while becoming more and more vulnerable to her unacknowledged maternal instincts that are slowly entering her psyche. 

Probably because this novella was originally written to be serialized in the New York Times, each chapter is almost a story by itself.  Each story within the story focuses on some aspect of marriage, love or family that we can easily relate to. However, I found this diluted the tension and apprehension of the main plot.   

Some of the plot was a bit too obvious in that we all know when reading a mystery that inevitably the wrong person will walk through the door when the door is left unlocked. 

Because the story is short, about 160 pages, and each chapter almost stands alone, this is a good book to read in a waiting room, commuting to work or on a plane.  All in all, this book is like eating a light snack when you really crave a meal.  You are left hungry and wanting more.  Not necessarily a bad thing.