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Tracy Clark’s latest mystery, Edge, has just been nominated for a 2026 Lefty Award for Best Mystery. Thanks to critic Oline Cogdill for sharing her review from the South Florida Sun Sentinel. You can order a copy of the book through The Poisoned Pen Bookstore’s Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/4wj567h9

Book review: Tracy Clark delivers gripping police procedural with ‘Edge: A Detective Harriet Foster Thriller’

‘Edge: A Detective Harriet Foster Thriller’ by Tracy Clark; Thomas & Mercer; 332 pages; $16.99

“Edge” assumes various meanings in Tracy Clark’s superb fourth police procedural featuring Chicago police detective Harriet Foster.

Harriet is on the edge, worrying about her career as she is still a suspect in the murder of a corrupt cop who killed her police partner. She is forever on the edge, mourning the death of her intelligent son, a grief that will never go away. Chicago is on edge because of a new lethal designer drug whose victims have been those who are not drug addicts.

“Edge” also shows two families on edge. A cop must deal with the fact that his bright, seemingly innocent niece almost overdosed on Edge. The other is a longtime crime family who has ruled the South Side for generations, but is now fraying.

Clark pulls these plot tendrils into a cohesive story that delves deep into police investigations and the vagaries of Chicago.

On her day off, Harriet sees two teenagers who have overdosed in a locked city park. The boy has died; the girl is barely alive. Harriet reaches the ambulance in time to save 19-year-old college student Ella Byrne. Ella, who has never been in trouble before, is the niece of Harriet’s colleague, detective Matt Kelley.

Ella lives, but this is the start of a series of fatalities that will include a new mother and a group of blue-collar drinking buddies. Edge is being produced by the Gamons crime family, who have been losing their power. A drug that kills its customers isn’t good for business.

Harriet and the squad intensify their investigation into the origins of Edge, but they also must keep an eye on Matt, who tries to take over. Matt has been told that his involvement is a conflict of interest and that he cannot be objective. The detectives balance reigning in Matt with trying to stop Edge.

Clark delivers a gripping police procedural that is wide in scope but very centered on her core characters. The dynamic among the multiracial police squad and Harriet, who is Black, adds to the plot.

Chicago’s DNA permeates “Edge,” as Clark takes the reader to various neighborhoods, from the upscale to those in transition.

Crisp dialogue punctuates the story as Clark richly shows how people actually talk to each other, from the police colleagues to families in distress. Clark balances serious conversations with wry humor, which is how people often deal with stress.

Clark continues to shape Harriet, whose ongoing grief is a part of her soul. Her professionalism and intelligence further enhance “Edge.”

Barbara Peters was eager to welcome S.J. Rozan for a virtual event. Her latest Lydia Chin/Bill Smith book is a traditional mystery, First Do No Harm. Rozan provides the background of her crime novel set in a hospital. There are only a few signed copies left, so grab your copy now. https://tinyurl.com/4k2rsy8p

Here’s the description of First Do No Harm.

In the latest novel in S. J. Rozan’s groundbreaking mystery series, Lydia Chin and Bill Smith face a dangerous task: they must unlock a hospital’s many secrets in order to save an innocent man.

With River Valley Hospital in the midst of negotiations to avert a nurses’ strike, a wealthy benefactor is set to give a large donation to honor of the Chief of Emergency Medicine: Dr. Elliott Chin, the brother of private investigator Lydia Chin.

Before the donation can be finalized, a member of the nurses’ negotiating committee is found murdered. A morgue assistant is arrested and although he denies even knowing the victim his father and brother, both doctors at the hospital, are quick to urge him to take a plea. Another negotiating committee member abruptly resigns and a senior biomedical technician disappears. An officially off-limits section of the hospital basement turns out to be a hotbed of unauthorized—and in some cases criminal—activity.

Hired by the arrested man’s lawyer, Lydia Chin and her partner Bill Smith start to dig into the events and personnel at the hospital. Among the union disputes, blackmail, thefts, lies, and a detective who really, really doesn’t like them, one thing becomes clear: the dictum to “First Do No Harm” is not in effect at River Valley. As time runs short, Lydia and Bill face a complicated and dangerous task: they must unlock the hospital’s secrets to save an innocent man.

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S.J. Rozan’s comments are fascinating. You’ll want to watch the video.

It’s a little early to talk about Pendergast: The Beginning by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. But, Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen will be in New Zealand on the actual release date of Jan. 27, and Preston had planned to be there at the time. The two authors discussed their earlier appearance for the series, along with their book, Relic. There are signed copies of Pendergast: The Beginning available through the Webstore, https://tinyurl.com/4dk5v473. And, you’ll want to watch the video to learn what else is available, personalized, and what programs are coming up.

Pendergast: The Beginning is the origin story.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling duo Preston and Child comes the Agent Pendergast origin story—a golden opportunity for longtime fans and new readers to learn about Agent Pendergast’s strange and shocking first case.

It only took six months for the life of Special Agent Dwight Chambers to crumble around him. First, he lost his partner, and then, tragically, his wife. Returning to work at the New Orleans Field Office, Chambers is dismayed to find himself saddled with mentoring a brand new FBI agent—a certain A. X. L. Pendergast. As Chambers tries to pull himself together, his enigmatic and exasperating junior partner pulls an outrageous stunt that gets both of them suspended.

Pendergast welcomes the banishment, because it gives him the opportunity to investigate a peculiar murder in Mississippi that has captured his fancy. Chambers grudgingly goes along. What starts off as a whimsical quest swiftly turns into a terrifying pursuit, as Chambers and Pendergast uncover a string of grisly, ritualistic killings that defy any known serial killer profile.

Thanks in large part to Pendergast’s brilliance and unorthodox methods, they solve the case and find the killer… and that is when the true horror begins.

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Enjoy the conversation with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.

Fire Must Burn is Allison Montclair’s eighth Sparks and Bainbridge series. He discussed the book with The Poisoned Pen’s owner, Barbara Peters. There are a few signed copies still available in the Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/ycym6nwz

Here’s the description of Fire Must Burn.

The owners of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau are back, and more determined than ever to bring love matches to the residents of Post-WWII London . . . so something as trivial as being dragged into a spy mission isn’t going to stop them!

Sparks fly when an old friend comes to town . . .

London, 1947. After recent events have left the normally steadfast Iris Sparks thoroughly shaken, she’s looking forward to some peace. With The Right Sort doing well, she and business partner Gwen Bainbridge are due a holiday. Until Iris’s former boss enlists their help for a secret mission.

Iris, who left British intelligence after the war, is being recruited for her Cambridge connection to one Anthony Danforth. She hasn’t seen Tony in almost ten years, yet she and Gwen must manipulate him into hiring their marriage service.

Tony’s suspected of being a Soviet operative, and an undercover agent posing as his perfect match could discover the truth. Despite her reluctance at being dragged back into the world of espionage, Iris agrees. After all, Tony was once a very good friend. If he’s innocent, she’ll happily prove it. If not? Well, no one ever said being a spy was easy . . .

Those who enjoy reading Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher Mysteries and Dorothy Sayers will adore this warm and witty historical mystery!

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You can enjoy the conversation through the video.

Yes, Brad Meltzer does have input on the covers of his book. He and Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, discussed Meltzer’s books, his characters, and his career. His virtual appearance for the bookstore was the virtual release of his book. You can order signed copies of the book through the Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/5dn82752

Here’s the description of The Viper.

“A thrilling adventure, full of twists and turns, gripping from the first page to the last. Hugely enjoyable. The perfect book to meet Zig & Nola.” — Alex Michaelides, New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient

New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer is back with his thrilling Zig and Nola series, unraveling a shocking cold case with a personal—and deadly—twist.

Andrew Fechmeier is a master at hiding. He’d better be—he’s spent decades concealing a secret that could get him killed. So when he’s diagnosed with a terminal disease, he heads for the local funeral home carrying the blue suit he eventually wants to be buried in. But what no one knows is that Fechmeier secretly tucked something inside, turning the suit into a final, untraceable hiding spot.

It’s a perfect plan. Until Fetch is brutally murdered by a mysterious killer who will stop at nothing to find the priceless object hidden in the suit.

Wasting no time, the cunning but unconventional Roddy LaPointe opens an investigation into Fetch’s murder, recruiting help from his friend, the brilliant “Zig” Zigarowski. But it doesn’t take long for Zig to discover the real reason Roddy cares so much about this case: Fetch’s death is tied to Roddy’s mother, who was murdered decades earlier.

As the relentless killer closes in, Roddy’s twin sister—the enigmatic and volatile Nola Brown—starts investigating for herself, uncovering a sinister plot that reveals their mother’s dark history, the true identity of her killer, and the shocking secret behind her death.

Don’t turn your back on The Viper.

“The Viper is a pulse pounding adventure that takes you on a journey into the darkest recesses of the human heart.” — S.A. Cosby, New York Times bestselling author of All the Sinners Bleed and King of Ashes

“Expertly crafted and charged with tension, Meltzer delivers exactly what readers crave: a killer story from a true master of the craft. Smart, sharp, and undeniably gripping—this is Meltzer doing what he does best.” — Jack Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Red Sky Mourning

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Enjoy Barbara Peters’ discussion with Brad Meltzer.

The Poisoned Pen Bookstore is starting and ending years with Brad Meltzer and The Viper. Critic Oline Cogdill sends us out on a good note with her review of Meltzer’s new book. Signed copies are available through the Webstore, https://bit.ly/4jgDSi6. We’re kicking off 2026 with Meltzer’s virtual appearance at the Pen, Jan. 4 at 4:00 PM MST.

Thank you to Oline Cogdill for her review of The Viper. The review first appeared in the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Book review: Meltzer’s characters take the lead in ‘The Viper’

The Viper: A Zig & Nola Novel’ by Brad Meltzer. Morrow, 400 pages, $32 

Brad Meltzer’s adult novels are known for fast and furious plots that stay on a breathless course to the end, as does his first thriller in four years, “The Viper: A Zig & Nola Novel.”

Meltzer specializes in meticulous research and attention to obscure historical and government details, carefully woven together organically without missing a beat. While “The Viper” adheres to Meltzer’s trademark intense plotting and unusual characters, his 14th thriller may be his most conventional.

While snatches of history and governmental issues enter “The Viper,” Meltzer has made this novel more about the complicated pasts of his characters. “The Viper,” like many of Meltzer’s novels, is both global and personal in scope.

This is his third outing with Jim “Zig” Zigarowski, a mortician who specializes in handling soldiers, and Nola Brown, a military artist whose precise drawings on battlefields illustrate more than some photographs. The two are wary of each other. Nola, emotionless and prickly, doesn’t really like Zig, who is compassionate. Yet through the years they have been bound to each other, each having saved the other at various times from violence.

In “The Viper,” New Jersey cop Roddy LaPointe, who is Nola’s twin, drafts Zig into helping him investigate the recent murder of Andrew Fechmeier, who had only just returned to his home town after decades. Roddy believes Andrew’s murder is related to the death 26 years ago of his and Nola’s mother when they were 3 years old. Their mother’s death, Roddy believes, led to the subsequent deaths of her and Andrew’s classmates and friends.

Not caring about the past, even her own, Nola wants little to do with this investigation. But Zig and Roddy embark on an accelerated investigation, navigating a labyrinth of family bonds and secrets. Along the way, Meltzer will show secrets of the witness protection program, veterans’ mental health and a peek at Dover Air Force Base, which houses the mortuary that cares for the remains of fallen soldiers. Nola’s job as a military artist is real.

Meltzer’s depiction of these topics is fascinating and authentic. Meltzer is respected for the facts he has gleaned from interviews with high-level government sources, including U.S. presidents, though no top-level secrets are disclosed. For a bit of levity, Meltzer includes references to “The Breakfast Club” and “Mean Girls.”

In addition to his thrillers, the prolific Meltzer, who lives in Broward County, has written a series of children’s books based on the childhoods of famous people, nonfiction books and has been the host of two History Channel series. Hopefully, readers won’t have to wait another four years for Meltzer’s next thriller.

Critic Oline Cogdill reviews P.J. Nelson’s second Old Juniper BookBookshop Mystery, All My Bones. You can order a copy through The Poisoned Pen’s Webstore, https://bit.ly/3Nmsmpp

A VALENTINE TO READING

‘All My Bones: An Old Juniper Bookstore Mystery’ by P.J. Nelson; Minotaur; 352 pages; $28

The joys and frustrations of living in a small town, the value of friends and the challenges of rebuilding one’s life meld into a humorous and light but also poignant “All My Bones,” the second in P.J. Nelson’s Old Juniper Bookstore Mystery series.

Nelson adds a wide swath of humor and seriousness to the highly entertaining “All My Bones,” which also serves as a valentine to reading and book selling.

Madeline Brimley needed a new role after her long, fairly successful career as an actress in New York and Atlanta had pretty much its course. Acting had been all she wanted to do since majoring in theater at Florida State University— but now that’s part of her past.

She has found satisfaction both professionally and personally since she’s been running the Old Juniper Bookshop, which her late Aunt Rose left her. Bookstore business is going well, with sales on the rise, no mean feat in her hometown of Enigma, Georgia, population 1,251. She’s also reconnected with friends and has found a love interest.

Madeline has been sprucing up the Victorian that houses the bookstore, but her attempts to fix up the front yard have a different outcome. Madeline and friend Gloria Coleman find a human skull while digging, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation rules that a murder has occurred.

The body is that of Beatrice Glassie, known for being a troublemaker who’s been missing for months. It’s hard to find anyone in Enigma who liked Beatrice, let alone didn’t want to kill her. But when Gloria is arrested, Madeline and other friends start their own investigations to prove her innocence.

“All My Bones” moves at a brisk clip, helmed by the strong, intelligent Madeline.

Enigma, a terrific name for a small town populated by close friends and lifelong feuds will remind readers of Cabot Cove, the villages of “Midsomer Murders” and other small towns where many meet untimely deaths.

You may not want to live there, but you would buy a few books at Old Juniper while visiting.

Thanks to critic Oline Cogdill for sharing her review of James L’Etoile’s Illusion of Truth. You can order a copy of it through The Poisoned Pen’s Webstore, https://bit.ly/4qtiJDE. Cogdill’s review was originally published in the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Book review: Politics, revenge & the personal lives of detectives mix in superb ‘Illusion of Truth’

‘Illusion of Truth’ by James L’Etoile; Oceanview; $19.99; 392 pages

James L’Etoile’s authentic procedurals mix police work with politics, revenge and the personal lives of detectives.

The superb “Illusion of Truth,” L’Etoile’s third novel about detective Emily Hunter, moves at a brisk pace as it delves into various aspects of life in Sacramento, California.

On the personal side, Emily and police officer Brian Conner are in love, but their relationship stalls when she refuses to move in with him, as the commitment scares her. Their professional lives take a turn when a bomb goes off shortly after Brian and his partner arrive at a church, responding to a 911 call that’s later found to be fake. Both officers survive, but Brian is left with a traumatic brain injury. Unknown to Emily, Brian listed her as his next of kin and health care proxy. That’s a bigger commitment than moving in together, as now she is in charge of his future.

As Emily deals with Brian and her often-agitated mother, who is in a memory care center, she also is pulled into the investigation as more police officers are victims of bombings, lured to the scene by fake 911 calls. An ambitious politician uses the bombing to advance his anti-police agenda, hampering the investigation.

L’Etoile realistically shows how complicated police investigations can be. “Illusion of Truth” is filled with believable cops who are not perfect but devoted to the job. Conversation flows naturally as they use banter to relieve stress, even as they stay laser-focused.

L’Etoile keeps the labyrinthine plot tightly focused, while the police officers’ personal lives add a balance to the story. Emily’s strong personality and her respect for her colleagues work well. This is a series that keeps growing.

Are you ready to end the year or kick off 2026 with book selections? Deb Lewis has book picks for January. You can order books through the Webstore. https://store.poisonedpen.com/

Let’s start with Anatomy of An Alibi by Ashley Elston (follow up to #! NYT Bestseller First Lie Wins)

Two women. One dead husband. And only one alibi.

Eat Your Ice Cream by Ezekiel J. Emmanuel, M.D.

From one of America’s leading doctors, an authoritative, practical, and entertaining guide to living a full and healthy life.

Wreck Your Heart by Lori Rader-Day

From award-winning author Lori Rader-Day, Wreck Your Heart is an engaging, “wisecracking and wonderful” crime novel with a big heart, about a country and midwestern singer out to catch her big break before family—or murder—wrecks everything.

A Gift before Dying (debut) by Malcolm Kempt 

“Hypnotically good—instantly immersive, intense, and ultimately inspiring.”—Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series

In a hauntingly atmospheric novel set against the unforgiving landscape of the Arctic Circle, a disgraced police investigator discovers that his path to redemption is paved with ice—and blood.

Such Sheltered Lives by Alyssa Sheinmel

For fans of Nine Perfect Strangers and The Midnight Feast, a moody, atmospheric psychological suspense set in the secretive world of celebrity rehab centers, from New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Sheinmel.

Skylark by Paula McLean 

The New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife weaves a mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below—where a woman’s quest for artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation in the 1940s, revealing a story of courage and resistance that transcends time.

The Charmed Library by Jennifer Moorman

With her signature blend of magical and heartfelt storytelling, USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer Moorman returns with The Charmed Library, a love letter to libraries, favorite childhood stories, and readers who have fallen for fictional heroes.

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

“From the book’s chillingly creepy setting, which previously appeared in The Sun Down Motel (2020), to a nerve-jangling plot that effectively borrows from a mix of genres to the writing itself, which shimmers with a dazzlingly sharp sense of wit, everything about St. James’ latest is done to perfection.”-Booklist (starred review)

Simone St. James, the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel, returns with her scariest, most shocking novel yet in this pulse-pounding story about siblings who return to the house they fled 18 years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request: Come home.

Happy Holidays to those who celebrate, from The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Arizona. I hope you have enough books to celebrate ólabókaflóð, the “Christmas Book Flood,” Iceland’s tradition of exchanging books on Christmas Eve and spending the night reading. If not, maybe you can start stocking up for next year when the bookstore reopens. You can always access the Webstore. Happy Holidays!