PoisonedBlogger

Readers and even a few authors showed up for tea with Kristan Higgins, and discussion of her new book, On Second Thought.

Before photos, here’s the summary of On Second Thought, from the Web Store.

“Following in the footsteps of her critically acclaimed novel If You Only Knew, multi-bestselling author Kristan Higgins returns with a pitch-perfect look at the affection—and the acrimony—that binds sisters together 

Ainsley O’Leary is so ready to get married—she’s even found the engagement ring her boyfriend has stashed away. What she doesn’t anticipate is for Eric to blindside her with a tactless breakup he chronicles in a blog…which (of course) goes viral. Devastated and humiliated, Ainsley turns to her half sister, Kate, who’s already struggling after the sudden loss of her new husband.

Kate has always been so poised, so self-assured, but Nathan’s death shatters everything she thought she knew—including her husband—and she learns that sometimes the people who step up aren’t the ones you expect. With seven years and a murky blended-family dynamic between them, Ainsley and Kate have never been overly close, but their shared sorrow dovetails their faltering worlds into one.

Despite the lifetime of history between them, the sisters must learn to put their differences aside and open their hearts to the inevitable imperfection of family—and the possibility of one day finding love again.”

Now, photos from the tea and program.

If you would like a copy of Kristan Higgins’ On Second Thought, check the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2kwkrWP

It was Julia Spencer-Fleming’s debut mystery in the Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series that was actually the inspiration for this February feature.

If you haven’t read that award-winning book, you missed one of the outstanding debuts in the last twenty years. Here’s what the Web Store has on it.

“It’s a cold, snowy December in the upstate New York town of Millers Kill, and newly ordained Clare Fergusson is on thin ice as the first female priest of its small Episcopal church. The ancient regime running the parish covertly demands that she prove herself as a leader. However, her blunt manner, honed by years as an army pilot, is meeting with a chilly reception from some members of her congregation and Chief of Police Russ Van Alystyne, in particular, doesn’t know what to make of her, or how to address “a lady priest” for that matter.

The last thing she needs is trouble, but that is exactly what she finds. When a newborn baby is abandoned on the church stairs and a young mother is brutally murdered, Clare has to pick her way through the secrets and silence that shadow that town like the ever-present Adirondack mountains. As the days dwindle down and the attraction between the avowed priest and the married police chief grows, Clare will need all her faith, tenacity, and courage to stand fast against a killer’s icy heart.

In the Bleak Midwinter is one of the most outstanding Malice Domestic winners the contest has seen. The compelling atmosphere-the kind of very cold and snowy winter that is typical of upstate New York-will make you reach for another sweater. The characters are fully and believably drawn and you will feel like they are your old friends and find yourself rooting for them every step of the way.”

Julia Spencer-Fleming was the first author I asked to suggest titles for winter reading. Thank you, Julia, for inspiring this month’s feature, and thank you for participating.

*****

It’s fifteen below and the snow is up to your windowsill. The car sounds like a dying walrus when you try to crank the engine, and the only time you feel truly warm is when you wrap up in a blanket and stand over the furnace vent. When winter hits hard, you have two options when cracking open a book. You can opt to escape with fiction where characters frolic on sandy white beaches and fall in love beneath swaying palm trees, or you can meet your enemy head-on with a mystery where the only thing deadlier than the bad guys is the weather. Here are a few of my favorite winter reads.

THE COLD TRUTH by Jonathan Stone.

Part twisty psychological thriller, part police procedural, this 1999 book takes a young detective trainee from New York City and thrusts her into the brutal winter of the remote Adirondacks, where she learns the ropes from a legendary lawman faced with one last cold case on the eve of his retirement. Don’t read anything else about it ““ this is a novel that works best if you come to it cold, as it were.

TAMARACK COUNTY by William Kent Krueger.

Few writers do winter as well as Kent Krueger, who revisits the season regularly in his series set in northern Minnesota. In the thirteenth Cork O’Conner novel, the wife of a prominent local judge goes missing in a blizzard, setting off a series of increasingly violent events that force the ex-sheriff to revisit his investigation of a crime from twenty years before. The isolation and claustrophobia of the heavy snow mirrors that of the characters trapped by their own pasts.

ARCTIC RISING by Tobias S. Buckell.

This genre-blending science fiction mystery begins with a bang as Anika Duncan, a pilot for the United Nations Polar Guard, is framed for a crime she didn’t commit. She goes on the lam in a melting, ice-free Arctic where nations, corporations and individuals will stop at nothing to gain control of its resources. Exhilarating as well as chilling, and an excellent introduction for mystery readers who might be sci-fi- curious.

CHANCE OF A GHOST By E.J. Copperman.

Winter is way off-season for innkeeper Alison Kerby, who runs a New Jersey Shore guesthouse that happens to have some permanent ghostly residents. In fact, a blizzard is on the door in the fourth book in the Haunted Guesthouse series. But snowdrifts, a bum car heater and drafts coming through the windowsills won’t stop Alison and her whacky crew from helping a deceased actor figure out who helped him shuffle off this mortal coil. The perfect read for when you want to be really cozy.

Finally, for those of you who love nonfiction: ENDURANCE: SHACKLETON’S INCREDIBLE VOYAGE by Alfred Lansing (1999).

There are hundreds of accounts of various expeditions mounted during the great age of polar exploration, but Lansing's meticulously-researched look at Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated 1914 Antartica venture remains one of the best. Shackleton and his men kept diaries, took photographs and otherwise documented their year-long ordeal as they waited, walked, drifted and rowed their way out of the ice. Read this one with a warm drink close at hand as you marvel at the greatest mystery ““ human endurance.

*****

Thank you, Julia, for finding time to work on this project. Julia Spencer-Fleming’s website is at  https://www.juliaspencerfleming.com/

I would suggest if you’re looking for Stone’s The Cold Truth that you check with your local library. If you’re looking for any of the other titles, please check the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/

Betty Webb, author of Desert Vengeance (Poisoned Pen Press), recently discussed her new book and her character, Lena Jones, for Crimespree Magazine. Check out her article, “When Characters Overrule Their Author.” https://bit.ly/2kJN1VL

Then, if you’re intrigued by Lena, you can buy a signed copy of Desert Vengeance through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2kPm4Qa

Can a Japanese thriller do what Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo did? Will Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama become a best seller in the United States?

It was a best seller in Japan, and made into a movie. Last year, it was a best seller in Great Britain. Check out Motoko Rich’s article “A Japanese Crime Thriller in Which Crime Is the Least of It”, from The New York Times. https://nyti.ms/2k0Xh8e

And, if you’re interested, you can buy a copy through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2kzMH9j

“A sad tale’s best for winter.” That’s what William Shakespeare wrote in “The Winter’s Tale.” It’s perfect for “In the Bleak Midwinter”. It’s also a perfect quote for books by today’s crime fiction author, Larry D. Sweazy. His Marjorie Trumaine mysteries set in North Dakota are dark. His latest mystery, Where I Can See You, features a sheriff’s deputy haunted by his own past.

Here’s the description from the Web Store.

“Haunted by the disappearance of his mother when he was eight years old, detective Hud Matthews begins his own investigation to find out what really happened so many years before. When a rare murder occurs in the lakeside community, Hud’s veteran skills are called upon to capture the killer. Pulled deep into the threads of the community with ties to the past, Hud quickly becomes a target, not only of the killer, but of those who wish the past to be left alone. As Hud gets closer to discovering the truth about the crimes, he has to face a choice of enforcing the law, or stepping outside of it to make sure that his version of justice is served.”

Sweazy is a fellow Indiana resident. He said yes when I asked if he would tell us about his reading “In the Bleak Midwinter”. Thank you, Larry.

*****

One my favorite crime novels is Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell.

On the surface it’s not your typical genre novel, and that’s why I like it so much. It’s not a genre novel, but it is definitely a crime novel. Winter’s Bone is short (224 pages), sparse, and one of the most beautifully written novels I’ve read in the last ten years. Set in the poverty-stricken Ozarks, 17 year old Ree Dolly is forced to take care of herself, her two younger brothers, and her emotionally disabled mother. Her father, a meth addict and dealer, has put their house up for bond and has disappeared. Faced with losing everything, Ree goes searching for her father, and finds far more than she bargained for. The crimes are human crimes, deep and emotional, and much like True Grit (I think Ree Dolly and Mattie Ross are literary cousins), Winter’s Bone is a coming-of- age story that lives in your mind and soul long after you’ve set the book down.

A non-fiction title that I have been singing the praises since it was published is H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald.

Set in England, after naturalist Macdonald’s father dies, she grieves by turning falconry, capturing and training a goshawk she names Mabel. Moody, poetic, and moving prose jumps off the page unexpectedly. Like Winter’s Bone, this is a quest novel, a novel about healing and hope, and the difficulties of hanging on to it. Part memoir, part academic study, and training novel, I go back this book over and over just to spend time with the characters and the writing.

Finally, since winter is gloomy and bleak, a little fun should be had, too. I really enjoyed The Last Four Days of Paddy Buckley by Jeremy Massey.

Set in Dublin, Ireland this quirky crime novel is a not-so- subtle excursion into black humor, though-provoking emotion, and laugh-out-loud adventure. This is a comedy, love story, and crime novel all rolled into one. Paddy Buckley works at the local funeral home and after he accidently runs over kills the brother of the local crime boss, hilarity ensures. A bookseller (from Faulkner’s in New Orleans) put this book in my hand and assured me that I would love it. She was right.

*****

Thank you, Larry. Check the Web Store for all of these books, and for Larry D. Sweazy’s crime novels and westerns. https://store.poisonedpen.com

And, check out Sweazy’s website at https://larrydsweazy.com

We can’t tell you the ending to Sarah Pinborough’s Behind Her Eyes.

But, Pinborough will be talking about her book at The Poisoned Pen on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 2 PM. Here’s the summary of the book from the Web Store.

“Why is everyone talking about the ending of Sarah Pinborough’s Behind Her Eyes ?

Louise is a single mom, a secretary, stuck in a modern-day rut. On a rare night out, she meets a man in a bar and sparks fly. Though he leaves after they kiss, she’s thrilled she finally connected with someone.

When Louise arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David. The man from the bar. The very married man from the bar… who says the kiss was a terrible mistake, but who still can’t keep his eyes off Louise.

And then Louise bumps into Adele, who’s new to town and in need of a friend. But she also just happens to be married to David. And if you think you know where this story is going, think again, because Behind Her Eyes is like no other book you’ve read before.

David and Adele look like the picture-perfect husband and wife. But then why is David so controlling? And why is Adele so scared of him?

As Louise is drawn into David and Adele’s orbit, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong. But Louise can’t guess how wrong – and how far a person might go to protect their marriage’s secrets.

In Behind Her Eyes, Sarah Pinborough has written a novel that takes the modern day love triangle and not only turns it on its head, but completely reinvents it in a way that will leave readers reeling.”

But, we didn’t tell you the ending. You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens. You can order a signed copy through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2l5y1SC

Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, hosted two authors the other evening. April Smith is the author of Home Sweet Home.

That book is the Hot Book of the Week. Here’s the summary, from the Web Store.

“From the widely praised author of the FBI Special Agent Ana Grey series and A Star for Mrs. Blake, this riveting epic drama follows the Kusek family from New York City to America’s heartland, where they are caught up in the panic of McCarthyism, a smear campaign, a sensational trial, and, ultimately, murder.

Calvin Kusek, a WWII pilot and attorney, and his wife, Betsy, escape the 1950s conformity of New York City to relocate to a close-knit town in South Dakota. They settle on a ranch and Betsy becomes a visiting nurse, befriending a quirky assortment of rural characters. Their children, Jo and her brother Lance, grow up caring for animals and riding rodeo. Life isn’t easy, but it is full and rewarding. When a seat in the State Assembly becomes available, Cal jumps at the chance to repay the community and serves three popular terms.
Things change when Cal runs for the U.S. Senate. The FBI investigates Betsy, and a youthful dalliance with the Communist Party surfaces to haunt the Kuseks. Mass hysteria takes over, inflamed by Cal’s political enemies. Driven by fear and hate, their neighbors turn, condemning them as enemies and spies. The American Dream falls apart overnight as the Kuseks try to protect their children from the nightmare that follows. The family is vindicated in a successful libel lawsuit, but the story doesn’t end there: years later, Lance Kusek and his wife and son are brutally attacked, and the mystery then unfolds as to who committed this coldblooded murder, and are they related to the stunning events of decades earlier?”

There are a few photos.

Michael Gamble not only discussed his mystery, Murder By Tango, but also demonstrated the tango with his wife as his partner.

If you would like to hear the authors, watch the program, and see the tango demonstration, you can watch the program on Livestream. https://livestream.com/poisonedpen/events/6962856

And, you can order the books through the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com

If you’re a fan of The Poisoned Pen, it won’t come as a surprise that Phoenix New Times included it in the article “13 Best Bookstores in Metro Phoenix”.  But, you might like to read the article, updated from the original, written in September 2015. https://bit.ly/2k3GGmI

I am not a fan of winter. Perhaps, it’s because when I think of winter, I think of Christina Rossetti’s poem, “In the Bleak Midwinter”.  The first stanza reads,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.”

So, I turned to some authors to make suggestions as to what we could read on cold winter days (or warm ones if you’re in Arizona). Would these authors suggest books about warmth or cold?

Vicki Delany understands cold weather. She lives in Price Edward County, Ontario, Canada. She’s also the President of Crime Writers of Canada. One of her mystery series, the Year-Round Christmas books, is set in a community that always celebrates Christmas. Her Constable Molly Smith mysteries, including the most recent, Unreasonable Doubt, are set in British Columbia.

Betty Webb is going to be at The Poisoned Pen on Saturday, February 4 at 2 PM. She’ll be talking about, and signing, her latest Lena Jones mystery, Desert Vengeance. I’ve mentioned before, it always feels funny to interview a journalist. But, I’ve known Betty Webb for a few years, so she was kind enough to answer questions.

Betty, would you introduce yourself to readers?

I was a journalist for 20 years, interviewing astronauts who walked on the moon, Nobel Prize-winners, and U.S. presidents. After such a deadline-intensive life, I decided to relax by writing mystery novels. Boy, was I wrong! Being an author is the opposite of “relaxing,” but I’ve learned a lot of fun facts that I didn’t know before ““ such as how long it takes a dead body to develop rigor mortis.

Lena Jones has an interesting background, or maybe non-background. Would you tell us about her?

At the age of four, Lena was found lying in a Phoenix street with a bullet in her head. The bullet erased all her memories, so she no longer knew her name or who her parents were. When no one claimed her she was turned over to the foster care system, where in one home she was raped by her foster father. She survived her horrible childhood, became a police officer, and eventually became a private investigator. Now, while tracking down murderers, she is also trying to find her birth parents.

Without spoilers, tell us about Desert Vengeance.

“Desert Vengeance” begins the day “Papa Brian,” the foster father who raped Lena when she was nine years old, is released from prison. In the prison parking lot, Lena is waiting for him with a knife. Days later, after the rapist and his wife are found murdered, Lena becomes the most likely suspect. But there are others who wanted the man dead. Chief among them are four women whose children disappeared from the area before “Papa Brian” went to prison.

Your Gunn Zoo mysteries are so different from the Lena Jones ones. How did you start writing the Gunn Zoo ones?

After I retired from the newspaper, I needed something to get me out of the house so I could have a more or less normal life. Since I’ve always loved animals, I decided to do volunteer work at the Phoenix Zoo. In my years working there, I learned so much about exotic animals that I wanted to share their lives and personalities with other animal-lovers, so I started writing about them ““ basically just for fun. The first was “The Anteater of Death,” about a wonderful giant anteater named Lucy who stole my heart. Little did I know that my “just for fun” books would become as successful as the Lena Jones books.

I could go on about some of your Desert books. I’m fascinated by the history behind Desert Run and Desert Wind. What’s your favorite book you’ve written, and why?

That’s like asking a mother which of her children she loves the most! I love the first book, “Desert Noir” because it started my career as a mystery novelist, but I also love the next book, “Desert Wives,” because it revealed the problem Arizona was having with a real-life polygamy cult. The publicity generated by “Desert Wives” was enormous ““ especially when the New York Times gave the book a rave review. Because of all that publicity, the book’s self-described “prophet” Warren Jeffs is now serving 25 years to life in prison for child rape. Yes, I love “Desert Run” and “Desert Wind,” too ““ as well as the other Lena books, but I love them all for different reasons.

Which book did you enjoy researching the most?

For the sheer fun of it I have to admit I loved researching “The Puffin of Death” the most because it took me to beautiful Iceland! Some people left their heart in San Francisco, but I left mine in Vik, Iceland, where much of the story takes place. However, the John Wayne research I did on “Desert Wind” really opened my eyes about the Nevada A-bomb testing during the “˜50s. I even took a trip to the A-bomb museum in Las Vegas.

Why did you want to write crime novels?

While I was still working for the newspaper they made me their book reviewer, and I started receiving around 100 books per week ““ no exaggeration! I could pick the books I wanted to review, and after a few months, I noticed that at least half of them were mysteries. That started me thinking, “Hey, I wonder if I could write a mystery.” So I wrote “Desert Noir.” Looking back, I see that my first five novels were all written while I was still at the paper ““ I’d get up at 4 in the morning, write until 8 a.m., then go to the newsroom, where I’d write all day. Then I’d come home and write some more. Of all literature genres (or non-genres) I find mysteries most often meet my desire for justice, because in mystery novels, the killer is caught and punished, therefore justice and balance are restored to the world. In real life, that doesn’t always happen.

What authors influenced you?

J.A. Jance, Tony Hillerman, Peter Robinson, Kate Atkinson, and writers of that ilk. I like writers who delve deeply into their characters while paying close attention to their physical environment.

Other than your own, name a couple books you would never part with.

David Morrell’s trilogy about English writer/opium addict Thomas De Quincey ““ “Murder As a Fine Art,” “Inspector of the Dead,” and “Ruler of the Night.” Morrell autographed them for me at a signing, and you’d have to shoot me dead to get them away from me.

As a journalist and reviewer, you’re well-read. What author would you like to recommend who you think has been underappreciated?

I know this will come out of left field but a mystery novelist I think is sorely unappreciated is Christopher Fowler, who writes the wild and wacky Peculiar Crimes Unit mysteries. They star two old coots (one who is obviously suffering from dementia) who solve “impossible” crimes in contemporary London. The books are both funny and compassionate, and unlike anything else I have read. Start off with “Full Dark House,” move on to “The Water Room,” and then read your way through them. Delightful! Now for “non-genre” novels, I’ve recently fallen in love with “Good Morning, Midnight” by Lily Brooks-Dalton, a novel that flips back and forth from the POV of a female astronaut coming back to Earth after a mission to Jupiter, and a lonely, elderly scientist stranded in the Arctic. This book that really makes you think. Another unsung writer I adore is Emily St. John Mandel, a genre-jumping Canadian author who wrote “Station Eleven,” “The Singer’s Gun,” and several other fine, fine novels.

Betty Webb’s website can be found at https://www.bettywebb-mystery.com. On Saturday, Feb. 4, she can be found at The Poisoned Pen at 2 PM. And, her books can be found at the Web Store, https://bit.ly/2jocmok