T. Jefferson Parker recently appeared at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore to discuss his latest book, Wild Instinct. You can order signed copies of the book through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/43vpj3M. You can also view the conversation Parker had with the bookstore’s owner Barbara Peters.
Now, critic Oline Cogdill shared her review of Wild Instinct. It first appeared in the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Thank you, Oline.
Book review: Man, nature and murder collide in new series ‘Wild Instinct’
‘Wild Instinct’ by T. Jefferson Parker; Minotaur; 336 pages; $29
Edgar Award winner T. Jefferson Parker’s hard-hitting novels combine smart police procedurals with characters who are battling criminals as much as their own demons. While that combination is a well-known trope in mysteries, Parker makes each novel fresh and energetic. And California is a well-known terrain for mysteries, but Parker generally explores the state’s Orange County and its environs, sometimes dipping down to Mexico.
The sharply plotted “Wild Instinct” launches a new series about former Marine Lew Gale, who is now an Orange County sheriff’s detective. His skills as an expert sniper in Afghanistan and his background as a hunter often are called on. Lew doesn’t want his latest assignment — hunting down a mountain lion that may have killed prominent real-estate developer Bennet Tarlow, whose body was found on land his family had donated for a vast wilderness park.
Lew uses his instincts about the wild to let the lion escape, believing it’s too old to have killed. He’s right. Bennet was shot. Lew and his new partner, Daniela Mendez, now have a different investigation.
Bennet “was a social creature,” frequently photographed in glossy magazines; a bachelor who dated a lot; a man who seemingly had many friends. But “a guy with that much money and power” has to have enemies, reflects Daniela.
Lew has a history with the Tarlow family. He had worked part time for them years prior and had a favorable impression of them. Bennet “was a nice guy,” Lew remembers.
The investigation leads back to the Tarlows’ recent land plans. Lew’s views about the family are tainted when it’s learned a huge development is being planned on land connected to the Indigenous Acjachemen tribe, from which Lew is descended.
Ancestral land being co-opted by developers has become a common theme, but Parker handles it with aplomb, bringing a sophisticated approach to “Wild Instinct” that readers have come to expect from him. Lew and Daniela emerge immediately as three-dimensional characters. And the Southern California atmosphere seeps through each aspect of the book, from the outdoors to neighborhoods and inside homes.
Parker has another solid series with “Wild Instinct.”
Lev AC Rosen brings back Evander Mills in the fourth crime novel to feature him, Mirage City. Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, hosted Rosen for the virtual event. There are still a few signed copies of Mirage City available in the Webstore. https://bit.ly/47XodyX
Here’s the description of Mirage City.
Lev AC Rosen delivers a new and captivating 1950s mystery in this dazzling, award-winning series
Private Investigator Evander “Andy” Mills’ next case takes him out of his comfort zone in San Francisco—and much to his dismay, back home to Los Angeles. After a secretive queer rights organization called the Mattachine Society enlists Andy to find some missing members, he must dodge not only motorcycle gangs and mysterious forces, but his own mother, too.
Avoiding her proves to be a challenge when the case leads Andy to the psychiatric clinic she works at. Worlds collide, buried secrets are dug up, and Andy realizes he’s going to have to make some hard choices. With secrets, drugs, and doctors swirling around him, time is running out for Andy to locate the missing and get them to safety. And for him to make it back to San Francisco in one piece.
LEV AC ROSEN writes books for people of all ages, including the Evander Mills series, which began with the Macavity Award-winning Lavender House and continues with The Bell in the Fog and Rough Pages. His most recent young adult novels are Emmett, Lion’s Legacy, and Camp. Rosen’s books have been nominated for Anthony and Lambda Awards and have been selected for best-of lists from the Today show, Amazon, Library Journal, Buzzfeed, Autostraddle, Forbes, and many others. He lives in NYC with his husband and a very small cat.
Enjoy the discussion of San Francisco and Rosen’s writing.
Jen Johans welcomed film critic Sheila O’Malley for a virtual event to discuss her first book, Frankenstein: Written and Directed by Guillermo del Toro. Copies can be ordered through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/3XttyZU
Here’s the description of Frankenstein: Written and Directed by Guillermo del Toro.
Explore the enchanting artistry and visionary storytelling behind Frankenstein, directed by Guillermo del Toro, where stunning visuals and insightful commentary reveal the creative process and craftsmanship that bring Mary Shelley’s gothic masterpiece to life like never before.
Dive into the mesmerizing world of the highly anticipated film Frankenstein, directed by Guillermo del Toro, with the exclusive Art and Making of Frankenstein. This stunning volume offers an extensive behind-the-scenes look at the creative genius of del Toro and his collaborators—including his all-star cast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz and more—and showcases breathtaking concept art, an array of period-specific props, locations, costumes, and deep insights into the filmmaking process. Discover the visionary interpretations of classic characters, the meticulous craftsmanship that brings them to life, and the rich thematic layers that define this reimagining of Mary Shelley’s timeless tale. Combining in-depth commentary with unparalleled set access, this insightful book will provide a deeper understanding of Del Toro’s legendary creative process. Exclusive interviews with the director, cast, and production crew are paired with candid set photos, exclusive storyboards, costumes, and concept artwork. This book is a must-have for fans of del Toro, film enthusiasts, and art lovers alike. Immerse yourself in the darkly enchanting universe of Frankenstein and witness the magic of storytelling through the lens of one of cinema’s most imaginative directors. The book will also contain del Toro’s own developmental sketches of the monster from his legendary notebooks and over twelve unique ephemera items inserted by hand into each book.
GOTHIC CLASSIC: The story that birthed an entire genre, Frankenstein is the quintessential gothic masterpiece. Now, experience as never before through the unique vision of Director Guillermo del Toro, who has dreamt his whole life of making this film.
VISIONARY DIRECTOR: Known as the master of monsters, Guillermo del Toro’s unique blend of beauty and horror make a perfect marriage with the tale of Victor Frankenstein’s tragic, thrilling and human Monster.
BREATHTAKING VISUALS: This deluxe coffee table book will feature exclusive storyboards, concept art, behind-the-scenes photography, and film stills to go along with interviews and insights from the creative teams.
Sheila O’Malley is a film critic and culture writer. She has been reviewing films for Rogerebert.com since 2013, and has also written for Film Comment, The New York Times, Sight & Sound, and the Criterion Collection. She’s a member of the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Society of Film Critics.
Guillermo del Toro is the acclaimed director of The Shape of Water, Pan’s Labyrinth, Pinocchio, and Crimson Peak. His Strain novels are international best sellers. His films have won numerous awards, including Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director for The Shape of Water.
Patrick Millikin welcomed Eli Frankel to The Poisoned Pen to discuss Sisters in Death: The Black Dahlia, the Prairie Heiress, and Their Hunter. He talked about his own interest in The Black Dahlia case. There are signed copies of the book available in the Webstore. https://bit.ly/3LH02NJ
Here’s the description of Sisters in Death.
Instant USA Today Bestseller
Who killed the Black Dahlia? In this eye-opening shocker, an award-winning producer, true-crime researcher, and Hollywood insider finally solves the greatest – and most gruesome – murder mystery of the twentieth century just before its 80th anniversary.
In January 1947, the bisected body of Elizabeth Short, completely drained of blood, was discovered in an undeveloped lot in Los Angeles. Its gruesome mutilations led to a firestorm of publicity, city-wide panic, and an unprecedented number of investigative paths led by the LAPD—all dead ends. The Black Dahlia murder remained an unsolved mystery for over seventy years.
Six years earlier and sixteen hundred miles away, another woman’s life had ended in a similarly horrific manner. Leila Welsh was an ambitious, educated, popular, and socially connected beauty. Though raised modestly on a prairie farm, she was heiress to her Kansas City family’s status and wealth. On a winter morning in 1941, Leila’s butchered body was found in her bedroom bearing the marks of unspeakable trauma.
One victim faded into obscurity. The other became notorious. Both had in common a killer whose sadistic mind was a labyrinth of dark secrets.
Eli Frankel reveals for the first time a key fact about the Black Dahlia crime scene, never before shared with the public, that leads inexorably to the stunning identification of a criminal who was at the same time amateurish and fiendish, skilled and lucky, sophisticated and brutish. Drawing on newly discovered documents, law enforcement files, interviews with the last surviving participants, the victims’ own letters, trial transcripts, military records, and more, this epic true-crime saga puts together the missing pieces of a legendary puzzle.
In Sisters in Death, the Black Dahlia cold case is finally closed.
Eli Frankel has served as a production company owner, Emmy-nominated executive producer, network executive, showrunner, editor, camera operator, writer, and director of multiple series for broadcast television, cable television, and streaming networks. He created and executive produced MGM/Epix’s award winning Manson Family documentary series “Helter Skelter,” NBCU’s “Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian,” and Netflix’s “Skin Decision” and has worked on series including “Survivor,” “Amazing Race,” “Big Brother,” and many more. A former CBS executive and graduate of the University of Southern California’s distinguished School of Cinema/Television film production program, he wrote, directed, and co-produced the feature film 21, which was selected for the Independent Feature Film Market at the New York Film Festival and won the best picture award at the Rhode Island International Film Festival. As an avid true crime researcher and writer, he devoted more than five years to solving the mystery of who killed the Black Dahlia. He lives in Los Angeles and can be reached at eli-frankel.com.
True crime fans will want to watch this conversation.
Thank you to critic Oline Cogdill for sharing her review of The Tutor by Courtney Psak. You can order a copy of Psak’s thriller through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/47Jweaw
Cogdill’s review was first published in the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Book review: Looks can be deceiving in Palm Beach-based ‘The Tutor’
‘The Tutor’ by Courtney Psak; Hodder & Stoughton; 304 pages; $17.99
Normally, a mystery that appears to be filled with stereotypical characters and a predictable plot isn’t off to a good start. But, as mystery readers know, looks can be deceiving.
Or in the case of Courtney Psak’s “The Tutor,” the anticipated can quickly spin into the unexpected.
Psak delivers a surprising plot filled with characters who emerge as believable set against the background of Palm Beach.
Rose Grant is the unassuming young widow with a smart 15-year-old son, James. They both miss Ian, who was a good husband and caring father. His death left them both adrift, with Rose losing herself in her artwork. Enter Grant Caldwell, the rich, pampered scion of a family with deep roots in Palm Beach and New York City. Grant and Rose marry quickly, and he seems to be a good fit for Rose and James. Isabel, the titular tutor, is hired to help James and quickly bonds with the teenager.
But Grant’s mother, Evelyn, is against the marriage and appears to hate Rose, though she’s nice to James. Evelyn seems to make it her mission to make Rose uncomfortable enough to want to divorce Grant. In the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, Evelyn convinces Grant, Rose and James to move from their Central Park apartment to her large home in Palm Beach. When the plot takes a fatal twist, it is surprising but not unexpected.
Psak, who lives in Palm Beach, shows characters who would be at ease shopping on Worth Avenue and would disapprove of Rose and her background. Each of the characters have deep secrets, and Psak keeps their twists fueling “The Tutor.”
Readers will find many teachable moments in “The Tutor.”
Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, recently welcomed T. Jefferson Parker to the bookstore as he introduces a new character in Wild Instinct. There are signed copies of the book in the Webstore, https://bit.ly/4r2h2OT.
Here’s the description of Wild Instinct.
A gripping high-stakes thriller by three-time Edgar Award winner and New York Times bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker (“A marvel…hits the high-water mark for crime fiction every time out.” —Gregg Hurwitz)
The hunt for the truth is the deadliest game.
Former Marine sniper Lew Gale, now a detective with the Orange County California Sheriff’s Department, is assigned to track and shoot a mountain lion that has killed a man in the rugged country east of Laguna Beach, California. The victim is Bennet Tarlow, a rich developer and man-about-town in upscale coastal Orange County.
The investigation takes a chilling turn when Lew and his new partner, Daniela Mendez, discover that Bennet was dead long before the lion got to him. And while he might have been the first to die, he certainly will not be the last.
T. Jefferson Parker is the author of numerous novels and short stories, the winner of three Edgar Awards (for Silent Joe, California Girl, and the short story “Skinhead Central”), and the recipient of a Los Angeles Times Book Prize for best mystery (Silent Joe). Before becoming a full-time novelist, he was an award-winning reporter. He lives in Fallbrook, California.
Parker discusses writing about the military in his conversation with Barbara Peters. Enjoy the discussion.
It’s that time of year that you should do your gift-giving shopping so books arrive in time for your holidays. Have you thought about signed books from The Poisoned Pen Bookstore? Order them now so they can get in the mail to you. Order through the Webstore, https://store.poisonedpen.com/
Check out these Hot New Signed Books, featured at the Webstore.
Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, welcomed Vanessa Lillie back to the bookstore along with debut author Eliana Ramage. Lillie’s new book is The Bone Thief. Ramage’s debut novel is To the Moon and Back. There are signed copies of both books available in the Webstore. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
Here’s the description of The Bone Thief.
The Bone Thief
Vanessa Lillie Publisher: Penguin Publishing GroupFiction / Indigenous – General (see also Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island or Nativ / Mystery & Detective / Thrillers – Suspense #774 in bestsellers
Description
Bio
Details
Reviews
“The Bone Thief is a riveting mystery with a plot that seamlessly blends history with fiction. And Syd Walker is an unforgettable protagonist.” —Liz Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The God of the Woods
When a Native teenager vanishes from her small town—a place with dark ties to an elite historical society—archaeologist Syd Walker is called to investigate…from bestselling author Vanessa Lillie.
In the hours before dawn at a local summer camp, Bureau of Indian Affairs archaeologist Syd Walker receives an alarming call: newly discovered skeletal remains have been stolen. Not only have bones gone missing, but a Native teen girl has disappeared near the camp, and law enforcement dismisses her family’s fears.
As Syd investigates both crimes, she’s drawn into a world of privileged campers and their wealthy parents—most of them members of the Founders Society, an exclusive club whose members trace their lineage to the first colonists and claim ancestral rights to the land, despite fierce objections from the local tribal community. And it’s not the first time something—or someone—has gone missing from the camp.
The deeper Syd digs, the more she realizes these aren’t isolated incidents. A pattern of disappearances stretches back generations, all leading to the Founders Society’s doorstep. But exposing the truth means confronting not just the town’s most powerful families, but also a legacy of violence that refuses to stay buried.
From the national bestselling author of Blood Sisters (a Washington Post Best Mystery of the Year and Target Book Club pick) comes a new Syd Walker novel that proves the sins of the past are destined to repeat until the truth is finally unearthed.
Vanessa Lillie is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation and the author of the USA Today bestselling Blood Sisters and suspense novels Little Voices and For the Best, and coauthor of the Widows series. Vanessa hosts an Instagram Live show with crime fiction authors and was a columnist for the Providence Journal. Originally from northeast Oklahoma, she lives on Narragansett land in Rhode Island and is proudly Two Spirit.
Check out the description of To the Moon and Back.
A REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK: “A breathtaking debut about family, identity, and love across generations.” —REESE WITHERSPOON
“Eliana Ramage will break your heart and take you to the stars. From painfully accurate depictions of adolescence to effortless jumps through time and space—I loved it all.” —KILEY REID
In this dazzlingly powerful story of family, ambition and belonging, one young woman’s obsessive quest to become the first Cherokee astronaut irrevocably alters the fates of the people she loves most.
Steph Harper is on the run. She has been all her life, ever since her mother drove five-year-old Steph and her younger sister through the night to Cherokee Nation, a place they had never been, but where she hoped they might finally belong. In response to the turmoil, Steph sets her sights as far away from Oklahoma as she can get, vowing that she will let nothing get in the way of pursuing the rigorous physical and academic training she knows she will need to be accepted by NASA, and ultimately, to go to the moon.
Spanning three decades and several continents, To the Moon and Back encompasses Steph’s turbulent journey, along with the multifaceted and intertwined lives of the three women closest to her: her sister Kayla, an artist who goes on to become an Indigenous social media influencer, and whose determination to appear good takes her life to unexpected places; Steph’s college girlfriend Della Owens, who strives to reclaim her identity as an adult after being removed from her Cherokee family through a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act; and Hannah, Steph and Kayla’s mother, who has held up her family’s tribal history as a beacon of inspiration to her children, all the while keeping her own past a secret.
In Steph’s certainty that only her ambition can save her, she will stretch her bonds with each of these women to the point of breaking, at once betraying their love and generosity, and forcing them to reconsider their own deepest desires in her shadow. Told through an intricately woven tapestry of narrative, To the Moon and Back is an astounding and expansive novel of mothers and daughters, love and sacrifice, alienation and heartbreak, terror and wonder. At its core, it is the story of the extraordinary lengths to which one woman will go to find space for herself.
Eliana Ramage holds an MFA in fiction from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She has received residencies and fellowships from the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center, Lambda Literary, Tin House, and Vermont Studio Center. A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, she lives in Nashville with her family. To the Moon and Back is her first novel.
Enjoy the conversation with Vanessa Lillie and Eliana Ramage.
John Charles from The Poisoned Pen introduce author Andrea Catalano for a virtual event. Catalano’s debut novel is The First Witch of Boston. You can order a copy of this historical novel through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/47UXlzQ
Here’s the description of The First Witch of Boston.
A gripping and intimate novel based on the true story of Margaret Jones, the first woman to be found guilty of witchcraft in seventeenth-century Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1646. Thomas and Margaret Jones arrive from England to build a life in the New World. Though of differing temperaments, cautious Thomas and fiery Margaret, a healer, are bound by a love that has lasted decades. With a child on the way, their new beginning promises only blessings.
But in this austere Puritan community, comely faces hide malicious intent. Wrong moves or words are met with suspicion, and Margaret’s bold and unguarded nature draws scorn. Soon, Margaret is mistrusted as more cunning woman than kind caregiver. And when personal tragedies, religious hysteria, and wariness of the unknown turn most against her, even the devotion Margaret and her husband share is at risk.
Inspired by actual diary entries and court records, The First Witch of Boston is at once the riveting story of a woman unjustly accused and a love story set amid the political and social turmoil of both Old and New England. Harrowing, and with a deep understanding of the human heart, history is brilliantly imagined.
Andrea Catalano is a historical novelist who holds a master of philosophy in historical studies degree from University of Cambridge, UK. Originally from the Boston area, she currently lives in Texas with her husband, children, two fluffy cats, and many, many books. Find her online at www.andreacatalanoauthor.com.
Enjoy Andrea Catalano’s conversation with John Charles.
Perfect timing for Oline Cogdill’s review of The Tin Men by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille. I summarized Alex DeMille’s appearance at The Poisoned Pen yesterday. Signed books are going fast, so order them while there are still some available. https://bit.ly/4i6h841
Thank you, Oline, for sharing your review from the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Book review: ‘The Tin Men’ is a fitting tribute to late co-author & a new chapter for his son
‘The Tin Men’ by Nelson and Alex DeMille; Simon & Schuster; 384 pages; $29
Despite the highly entertaining plot and the rip-roaring action, “The Tin Men,” by the father-and-son duo of Nelson and Alex DeMille, comes with sadness. During the writing of this military thriller, Nelson DeMille passed away on Sept. 17, 2024, at age 81, leaving his son to finish the manuscript they had been working on.
As is fitting, Alex DeMille leads off “The Tin Men” recounting how he worked with his father on their series about Army criminal investigators Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor and how this third novel was concluded.
“The Tin Men” is a fitting tribute to Nelson DeMille’s rich career, which was filled with gripping bestsellers that captivated even those readers not always drawn to thrillers. “The Tin Men” moves briskly and is seamlessly punctuated by believable characters and elaborate-but-realistic military craft, while showing how artificial intelligence can be useful or manipulated to be diabolical.
The intelligent, unrelenting team of Scott and Maggie often are called to take on the tough assignments. The two arrive in the Mojave Desert to investigate the malfunction of D-17s — killer robots called “tin men.” During military testing, “tin men” killed an Army computer scientist. The robots’ speed and capabilities outmatch those of the human soldiers, putting an Army ranger regiment in danger. Scott and Maggie need to find out who is manipulating the robots’ software.
The authors keep the action on full speed as Scott and Maggie go through numerous physical and emotional trials. The DeMilles are careful to keep the story believable — the duo knows how to make smart, quick decisions.
“The Tin Men” is an apt legacy for the late Nelson DeMille and a new path for Alex DeMille.
