Laurie R. King, author of the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes mysteries, and Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen Bookstore, are good friends who have traveled together frequently. And, Peters brought up various books from her “Laurie R. King collection in her library” in their recent book chat.
One of King’s books, Dreaming Spies, is set in Japan.
King and Peters spend quite a bit of time reminiscing about their trip to Japan. And, then they talked about the trip that led to Laurie R. King’s forthcoming book, Riviera Gold. The book will be released June 9, and King and Peters will have another book chat for that book’s release. Watch for future details of the June virtual event.
Then, they talked about Mary Russell’s War, and a contest Laurie R. King is holding.
Look for copies of Laurie R. King’s books in the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2yDn27l And, check out Laurie R. King’s website with her newsletters and “Fun Stuff”, https://laurierking.com/
Enjoy the chat between Laurie R. King and Barbara Peters.
Clea Simon has been doing a little heavier reading than some of us, as you’ll discover when you read her book “Distractions” piece. A former journalist and music critic, Clea Simon wrote three nonfiction books, including the Boston Globe bestseller The Feline Mystique (St. Martin’s), before turning to a life of crime (fiction). Her more than two dozen mysteries usually involve cats or rock and roll, or some combination thereof. A native of New York, she moved to Massachusetts to attend Harvard and now lives nearby in Somerville. She is the author of the Dulcie Schwartz, Theda Krakow and Pru Marlowe pet noir series, as well as the Blackie and Care series, and now the Witch Cats of Cambridge mysteries. Look for Simon’s books in the Web Store, along with the books she’s suggesting. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
*****
Thanks for having me, Lesa. What a strange time we’re living in. But even if we’re stuck in our homes for the foreseeable future, we can still escape through books. For me, that escape has meant focusing on comfort reads ““ re-visiting the adventures I know well ““ and catching up on old friends. The theme of protagonists dealing with hardship seems to resonate right now. So while others may lean toward cozies, I’m finding myself going for more adventurous (if still familiar) fare. The first book I found myself reaching for, once my reading time was my own, was Mary Stewart’s “The Crystal Cave.”
Her retelling of the Arthurian saga from the point of view of a Welsh wizard named Myrddin ““ or “Merlin,” as he comes to be known ““ just hits all the right notes of hero-overcoming-adversity, gallantry, and magic. Stewart is the master of adventure. While this trilogy lacks her usual swashbuckling romance she offers a fully realized portrait of a young hero discovering his own powers and also his way in a treacherous world. What could be better? (I’m not sure if I’ll re-read the rest of the series ““ “The Hollow Hills” and “The Last Enchantment,” however. Might be too sad!)
The book I was reading as this all came down was very different, but utterly absorbing: Hilary Mantel’s “The Mirror and the Light.”
I’ve long been a huge Hilary Mantel fan, though I prefer her big, dense novels (“Beyond Black” and “A Place of Greater Safety”) to her spare, arch books (like “Every Day is Mother’s Day”). I considered myself incredibly lucky , then, to be asked to review “The Mirror and the Light,” which came out in March, for the Boston Globe. The only problem? There were no advance reading copies ““ the uncorrected manuscripts that usually give critics a head start. Instead, we were given finished copies. But since this was considered a “big book,” meaning editors wanted their reviews to run on or just before publication date, that meant less than a week to read and formulate a review”“ and the novel ran more than 750 pages.
Noted passages for a book review
Reader, I did it. From the moment of waking to the time I dropped off, for five days, I lived and breathed “The Mirror and the Light.” I must say, I loved every minute of it. This book ““ the conclusion of her epic Thomas Cromwell trilogy ““is vibrant and evocative, and Mantel’s writing just grabs you. Although Cromwell lived in the 16th Century (he was, for a time, Henry VIII’s chief adviser), this first-person retelling of events from Anne Boleyn’s beheading on reads like a contemporary political thriller, with characters walking the tightrope between favor and disaster. That said, it is also filled with the kind of references that I adore chasing down. (I lost more than an hour researching a reference to “the Mouldwarp King,” one day.) Now my husband is reading my copy, and I’m debating whether to give the massive tome a leisurely re-read or to go back to “A Place of Greater Safety,” my favorite of her books. (That one re-visits the impetuous group of young lawyers who kick off the French Revolution…)
Of course, I may just return to a newer favorite ““ C.S. Harris’s Sebastian St. Cyr series. The 19th Century Viscount’s latest outing, “Who Speaks for the Damned,” is just out, and I am waiting with bated breath.
I think scary times are best enjoyed centuries later, and I’m dying to see how Sebastian solves the murder of a transported nobleman. Yes, I think it’s time for a Regency resurgency.
*****
Clea Simon is the author of 26 mysteries, most recently “An Incantation of Cats” (Polis). So, let’s talk about An Incantation of Cats, which can be purchased through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2WEzn72
The new novel in Clea Simon’s spellbinding Witch Cats of Cambridge series! When two new clients seek Becca’s professional services, the fledgling witch detective is overjoyed. Finally, she can use her skills to help her magical community. But as the young witch finds the new cases intertwining, things grow more complicated. Becca’s three cats ““ the ones with the real power ““ can smell something is wrong with these clients. But not even Clara, the calico, knows what to do when a man ends up dead and a powerful and poisonous root appears ““ and disappears ““ in the case. To make matters worse, Clara and her littermates are feuding ““ and she can’t tell them about an unsettling interaction she’s had with one of the client’s sisters. Is it possible that some humans may have the same powers as the magical felines? What does that mean for Clara’s beloved Becca ““ and for the potent poison that has already taken one person’s life? In this second Witch Cats of Cambridge mystery, Clara and her sisters must learn to work together if they are to save the person they all love.
Amanda Quick (Jayne Ann Krentz) will talk about her latest novel, Close Up, in a virtual event on Saturday, May 9 at 2 PM MST (5 PM EDT). Watch the event in real time via Facebook Live or check it out anytime afterwards on FB or Youtube. You can order a signed copy of Close Up, or copies of Quick’s other books through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/3cbWXP5
Because Quick’s latest book features a photographer in 1930s Hollywood, she recently wrote an article, “Shooting the Front Page Photo in the 1930s” for CrimeReads. Check it out here. https://bit.ly/3dmtqlZ
Here’s the story of Close Up.
Welcome to Burning Cove, California where 1930s Hollywood glamour conceals a ruthless killer…
Vivian Brazier never thought life as an art photographer would include nightly wake-up calls to snap photos of grisly crime scenes or headshots for aspiring male actors. Although she is set on a career of transforming photography into a new art form, she knows her current work is what’s paying the bills.
After shooting crime scene photos of a famous actress, the latest victim of the murderer the press has dubbed the “Dagger Killer,” Vivian notices eerie similarities to the crime scenes of previous victims—details that only another photographer would have noticed—details that put Vivian at the top of the killer’s target list.
Nick Sundridge has always been able to “see” things that others don’t, coping with disturbing dreams and visions. His talent, or as he puts it—his curse—along with his dark past makes him a recluse, but a brilliant investigator. As the only one with the ability to help, Nick is sent to protect Vivian. Together, they discover the Dagger Killer has ties to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood royalty and high society. It is a cutthroat world of allure and deception that Vivian and Nick must traverse—all in order to uncover the killer who will stop at nothing to add them to their gallery of murders.
Maybe you know Jenn McKinlay as the author of the Cupcake Bakery mysteries, including the newly released Pumpkin Spice Peril. The eleventh book in her Library Lover’s Mystery series, One for the Books, is scheduled for a September release. Buried to the Brim, her sixth Hat Shop Mystery, came out in January. You may want to watch for her July release, a romantic comedy, Paris is Always a Good Idea. All of those books are available through the Poisoned Pen Web Store, along with Jenn’s other titles. https://bit.ly/2v0jw8V
Former librarian Jenn McKinlay is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Bluff Point Romances, including Every Dog Has His Day, Barking Up the Wrong Tree, and About a Dog, as well as the Library Lover’s Mysteries, the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries, and the Hat Shop Mysteries. Jenn lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with kids, pets, and her husband’s guitars. She’s one of the writers who blogs at https://www.jungleredwriters.com/, and her website is https://www.jennmckinlay.com/
Although Jenn McKinlay has a busy writing and family life, she still made time to write a book “Distractions” piece. (Jenn probably doesn’t need distractions.) You can find the books she suggests in the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
*****
I don’t know about you, but quarantine in the frat house in which I reside, is getting pretty old. I am the lone female (if you don’t count one of the dogs and two of the cats) in a house full of dude. This means the volume knobs on the guitars, video games, and televisions are high, the seat is frequently left up, and no one picks up anything. Ever. It just stays where they leave it, be it dirty socks, a basketball, or the plate or glass they were just using. I don’t think I ever noticed this until we were forced to cohabit 24/7.
While having a minor hissy fit the other morning, I yelled at one of them, “Put your dirty dishes in the dishwasher. We don’t have house elves!” The Hooligan clapped a hand over his heart and gasped, “You gave them clothes?”
Yeah, it’s hard to stay mad when you’re laughing. Still, I was forced to raise my game and recently dusted off the ping pong table. Now we’ve turned ping pong into a blood sport with our highly competitive matches to determine who’s cooking dinner, because Mama is over it!
Thankfully, I’ve had a nice stash of books to read over quarantine, which has likely saved lives. Her are three of my favorites:
Hid from Our Eyes by Julia Spencer-Fleming: This is the ninth book in the Claire Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne series but it can easily be read as a stand alone. Set across three different time lines with three identical murders, it is a compulsive read. The stakes are high and I was equally invested in each of the story lines. Per usual, this author wraps up the murder with a stunning twist, and leaves the reader wanting more. I can’t wait for book ten.
A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Colette: This is a delightful cozy mystery that I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek at. Colette pens a mystery that is witty and wonderful, with old enemies and new beginnings all woven around a small ice cream shop with a story that is just delicious. Her amateur sleuth, Bronwyn Crewse, is feisty and fun and I enjoyed every minute I spent with her.
Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson: As a knitter, this book delighted me on so many levels. Reading a women’s fiction romance set around saving a neighborhood yarn shop felt very on point for the times we’re living in and, yet, this book was so hopeful and lovely. I found myself rooting for Jesse and Kerry and their mission to save their beloved Mama Joy’s yarn shop, Strong Knits, after her unexpected passing. It’s a touching story that will lift you up and make you smile.
I don’t want you to miss Jenn’s own books with her trademark humor. Find them in the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2v0jw8V
The latest Cupcake Bakery mystery, Pumpkin Spice Peril, came out at the end of April.
In the twelfth Cupcake Bakery Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay, the Fairy Tale Cupcake crew follows the clever crumb trail of a killer who’s anything but cookie-cutter.
Life is all sugar and spice for the Fairy Tale Cupcake bakers–Melanie Cooper is engaged to the delectable Joe DeLaura, Angie Harper and her husband Tate are savoring married life, and the bakery is bustling with happy customers. Until one of their most valued cupcake connoisseurs ends up dead.
Local glass artist and cupcake lover Rene Fischer-Klein has always suffered from a wide variety of health issues. In an effort to cheer her up, her doting husband, Peter, brings her a four-pack of her favorite cupcakes every week. But when the police discover that Rene has been poisoned, there’s no sugarcoating the fact that the last things she ate were the bakery’s signature pumpkin spice cupcakes! With their lives and bakery at stake, it’s up to Mel and Angie to find out who poisoned their artist friend and why, before their future is frosted for good.
*****
If you didn’t catch it in hardcover, Library Lover’s Mystery #10, Word to the Wise, is released in paperback at the end of June.
When Grady’s dead body is found outside the library and all the clues point to Sully, Lindsey knows it’s up to her to find the real culprit and clear Sully’s name. But becoming a thorn in the killer’s side is not without its consequences, and the closer Lindsey gets to the truth, the more determined the murderer is to make her just a footnote.
*****
And, if you’re a fan of contemporary romantic comedies, you’ll want to watch for Jenn McKinlay’s Paris is Always a Good Idea, due out in July.
A thirty-year-old woman retraces her gap year through Ireland, France, and Italy to find love—and herself—in this hilarious and heartfelt novel.
It’s been seven years since Chelsea Martin embarked on her yearlong postcollege European adventure. Since then, she’s lost her mother to cancer and watched her sister marry twice, while Chelsea’s thrown herself into work, becoming one of the most talented fundraisers for the American Cancer Coalition, and with the exception of one annoyingly competent coworker, Jason Knightley, her status as most successful moneymaker is unquestioned.
When her introverted mathematician father announces he’s getting remarried, Chelsea is forced to acknowledge that her life stopped after her mother died and that the last time she can remember being happy, in love, or enjoying her life was on her year abroad. Inspired to retrace her steps—to find Colin in Ireland, Jean Claude in France, and Marcelino in Italy—Chelsea hopes that one of these three men who stole her heart so many years ago can help her find it again.
From the start of her journey nothing goes as planned, but as Chelsea reconnects with her old self, she also finds love in the very last place she expected.
Congratulations to all the Agatha Award winners. The 2020 Awards were given out last week, honoring books published in 2019. Fans registered for Malice Domestic voted on the books despite the cancellation of the conference, due to Covid-19. You can order the books through the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
Best Contemporary Novel
The Long Call by Ann Cleeves
Best First Novel
One Night Gone by Tara Laskowski
Best Historical Novel
Charity’s Burden by Edith Maxwell
Best Non-Fiction
The Mutual Admiration Society: How Dorothy L. Sayers and Her Oxford Circle Remade the World for Women by Mo Moulton
Best Children’s/Young Adult
The Last Crystal by Frances Schoonmaker
Best Short Story
“The Last Word” by Shawn Reilly Simmons, from Malice Domestic 14: Mystery Most Edible
As Reece Hirsch, author of the Lisa Tanchik novels says, “It’s not easy launching a book during the pandemic.” His new book, Dark Tomorrow, comes out on May 12. You can find his books in the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2WoNux4
Reece Hirsch is the author of six thrillers that draw upon his background as a privacy attorney. His first book, The Insider, was a finalist for the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel. His other works include Black Nowhere, the first book featuring FBI special agent Lisa Tanchik, and three books, The Adversary, Intrusion, and Surveillance, featuring former Department of Justice cybercrimes prosecutor Chris Bruen. Hirsch is a partner at the San Francisco office of an international law firm and cochair of its privacy and cybersecurity practice. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation (www.vadfoundation.org). Hirsch lives in the Bay Area with his wife. Find out more at www.reecehirsch.com.
I’m sure it’s never easy being an author, so I appreciate all the authors who have taken time to suggest other writers’ books for “Distractions”. You can find Reece Hirsch’s “Distractions” in the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
*****
During the COVID-19 pandemic I feel like a cat following a laser pointer, watching the infection and death rates rises, searching for ever-elusive toilet paper and paper towels, and tuning in to the latest alarming press conference. But during this upsetting, 24-hour news cycle crisis, becoming immersed in a good book can provide solace, a way to stop twitching and reset your mind. Sometimes it’s a matter of finding amusement and escapism. Sometimes a book can offer a deeper, more human understanding of the current predicament.
So these are my pandemic reads:
Slow Horses by Mick Herron.
The first book in Herron’s Slough House series is a good choice for these times because it is an espionage novel that manages to find dark humor in the treacherous world of MI5. Slough House is a backwater outpost in London where MI5 spooks are sent when they have disgraced themselves in some fashion. It’s an Island of Misfit Toys where these remaindered agents mark time, waiting for an opportunity to redeem themselves. When a young man is abducted and his kidnappers threaten to broadcast his beheading online, River Cartwright, Jackson Lamb and their team are being set up as scapegoats. But, as in any good spy novel, all is not as it seems. Herron is a witty stylist and he puts a fresh spin on espionage fiction. One of the main pleasures of this book is watching Herron’s “slow horses” coming back to life as they get back in the game.
November Road by Lou Berney.
Lou Berney’s November Road is an excellent pandemic read because it is a supremely well-crafted immersion in another time of crisis in American history ““ the days following the assassination of JFK. Frank Guidry, who is affiliated with New Orleans mob boss Carlos Marcello, knows a little too much about the assassination and is marked to join a mounting pile of dead bodies as the mob ties up loose ends. Guidry goes on the run and strikes up an unlikely relationship with a housewife who is also on the run with her two daughters. Berney delivers a tense cat-and-mouse cross-country pursuit, a note-perfect evocation of a very different time, and surprises, not the least of which is a cameo from a drunken Ray Bolger.
Station Eleven by Hilary St. John Mandel.
There are pleasures in escapism, but sometimes you want a book that speaks directly to the anxieties of our time. For me, that book is Station Eleven. Mandel’s novel takes place during the outbreak of a devastating flu pandemic, and then leaps to twenty years later, following the Traveling Symphony, a small troupe of actors and musicians as they move from settlement to settlement in a post-apocalyptic America. We’ve all seen this sort of story told before, but Mandel’s book is unexpectedly poignant and profound because it dwells on the little things that keep us human during the most difficult of times ““ and one of those is storytelling. And that, for me, makes it a perfect pandemic read.
*****
As I said, Reece Hirsch’s latest Lisa Tanchik novel, Dark Tomorrow, is released on May 12. You can pre-order it through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2WoNux4
FBI special agent and cybercrime specialist Lisa Tanchik faces a deadly threat in this white-knuckle thriller.
FBI special agent Lisa Tanchik is skilled at handling cyber threats, having recently taken down a Dark Web black market worth billions. But ruthless hacker NatalyaX always seems to be a step ahead.
The government calls on Tanchik’s expertise when an email attachment causes a fatal seizure at US Cyber Command. But before she can get her feet under her, the entire East Coast goes dark. A sinister plan is unfolding before her eyes—and no one knows who’s behind it.
Tanchik plunges into chaos to hunt down the true source of the attacks. Close dealings with shadowy figures both online and off expose her to extraordinary danger as the country teeters on the brink of catastrophe.
A soldier on the front line of a cyberwar, Tanchik must nullify the threat before it deals a death blow to America’s institutions—and puts millions of lives in jeopardy.
Mary Kay Andrews. Jeffery Deaver. Walter Mosley. Michael Connelly. Just a few of the authors scheduled to appear in The Poisoned Pen’s latest virtual events. But, check back on the website regularly, https://poisonedpen.com/. There could be changes to dates and times, or additions of other authors. And, the best way to get a signed copy of a book is to pre-order it through the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
Check out our Virtual Events!
Christopher MooreMary Kay AndrewsJordan FarmerBrian PanowichAmanda QuickJeffery DeaverScott TurowWalter MosleyHilary DavidsonKate WhiteLiv ConstantineIvy PochadaRobin BurcellMichael Connelly
Marcia Clark’s Final Judgment is the Hot Book of the Week at The Poisoned Pen. You can order her books, including a signed copy of Final Judgment, through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/3f9KOMz
Here’s the description of Final Judgment.
A murder investigation draws firebrand attorney Samantha Brinkman into her boyfriend’s past in this novel of high-risk suspense by bestselling author Marcia Clark.
When it comes to relationships and self-preservation, defense attorney Samantha Brinkman has always been cut and run. But it’s different with her new lover, Niko, an ambitious and globally famous entrepreneur. Sam is putting her faith in him. She has to. He’s also her new client—a suspect in the murder of an investor whose shady dealings turned Niko’s good life upside down.
He had the motive: revenge. As did many others who banked a fortune on the wrong man. That’s a point in Niko’s favor. So is his alibi for the day of the slaying. Until that alibi mysteriously disappears. As Sam’s feverish search for another viable killer begins, the investigation only leads deeper into Niko’s past and its secrets.
From the darkest suspicions to final judgment, fighting for Niko is Sam’s job. To do it, she must risk everything on a man who could make all her worst fears come true.
*****
What’s almost as good as reading a new book by an author? How about watching that author speak about her books and writing? Check out the virtual book event as Marcia Clark talks with Poisoned Pen bookstore owner Barbara Peters.
Sometimes, I feel a little guilty asking authors to write a piece for “Distractions”. So many of them are busy writing. But, once I see what they wrote, and the books they suggested, I don’t feel bad. Krista Davis has a busy schedule, and a new book out, The Diva Spices It Up. But, she took time to suggest a book. You can find Davis’ books, and the books she suggests, in the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
Krista Davis is the New York Times bestselling and four-time Agatha Award-nominated author of the Domestic Diva Mysteries, the Pen & Ink Mysteries, and the Paws & Claws Mysteries. She lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with two cats and a brood of dogs. Her friends and family complain about being guinea pigs for her recipes, but she notices they keep coming back for more. Please visit her at KristaDavis.com.
Thank you, Krista.
*****
Diving into a book to escape it all is such a perfect diversion. I have a book coming out and two to write, so I feel a little bit guilty for turning my attention away from the work at hand but I sneak a read now and then anyway.
Around the holidays I took a very big step. They call it “ditching the Dish” or “cutting the cord.” I finally joined the ranks of people who watch streaming shows on TV. I’m crazy for BritBox and Acorn. If you’re wondering why I’m talking about TV instead of books, it’s because I was introduced to some books I had overlooked. I love Agatha Raisin! One of my friends had told me she didn’t care for Agatha Raisin because she found her too acerbic, so I had avoided reading the books (this friend is usually very book-reliable and belongs to two book clubs). I’ll admit that Agatha can be sharp and somewhat narrow in her views, but M.C. Beaton does a lovely job of righting Agatha’s perceptions and behavior. I started with the first in the series, The Quiche of Death.
It differs slightly from the show but is a delightful mystery full of interesting characters. The stunning Cotswalds of England make a perfect location for cozy mysteries. I’m sorry to say that M.C. Beaton passed away a few months ago, but she wrote thirty-one books in this addictive series, surely enough to entertain even the fastest reader for a good while.
Occasionally I feel compelled to read something that is outside of the cozy mystery subgenre. I have always read the entire spectrum of mysteries, so I chose Then She Was Gone. For those interested in domestic noir, the plot is definitely compelling. I had to find out what had happened. An engaging book but dark.
Laura Childs’s latest book, Lavender Blue Murder, is a perfect cozy escape. Set in charming Charleston with an authentic Southern atmosphere, it moves at a good pace with twists, turns, and clever surprises. Never a dull moment! I found myself thinking I really should bake some scones and whip cream.
And finally, many of you have heard by now that our dear friend, author Sheila Connolly, passed away. I have started reading her last book, Fatal Roots. The protagonist is part American and I like the notion that I am with Sheila again, on an adventure with her as I read. For those who did not know Sheila, the book is set in Ireland and no one could reveal it to us better than Sheila, who wrote of it so lovingly.
*****
Thank you, Krista, for the “Distractions”, and your comments about Sheila Connolly.
The thirteenth book in Krista Davis’ Domestic Diva series, The Diva Spices It Up, has just been released. You can order this book, and Davis’ other ones, through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/35lLvhk
She’s a young Martha Stewart…in Old Town Virginia! New York Times bestselling author Krista Davis delights with the 13th in her enormously popular and completely charming Domestic Diva Mystery series. When a celebrity ghostwriter dies on the job, it’s up to Sophie Winston, Old Town, Virginia’s favorite entertaining expert and sporadic sleuth, to whip up an impromptu investigation…
Sophie never considered ghostwriting as a side gig, until former actress and aspiring lifestyle guru, Tilly Stratford, trophy wife of Wesley Winthrope, needs someone to write her celebrity cookbook. Sophie agrees, hoping she’ll earn enough bread on this assignment to finish her bathroom renovations. But as it turns out, Sophie isn’t the first foodie to get a taste for recipe ghostwriting, and if the marginalia are any indication, this project could be a killer…
Wesley claims professional ghostwriter, Abby Bergeron, suddenly abandoned Tilly’s cookbook with no warning. But Sophie quickly discovers that Abby may be more ghost than writer now…and her disappearance was no accident. So Sophie cracks open a fresh investigation but sifting the seasoned murderer from this sampling of salty suspects won’t be easy. Will Sophie savor another case closed or will the culprit simply melt away?
