Michael Barson recently interviewed author Michael Brandman for Bookreporter.com. They talked about the Buddy Steel novels and Brandman’s Buddy Steel e-book short story, “Stealth”. You can find the interview here. https://bit.ly/2Cmu1Yf
Michael Brandman is the author of three Jesse Stone novels, each based on characters created by Robert B. Parker, all on the New York Times Best Sellers list.
With his longtime partner, Tom Selleck, he produced and co-wrote nine Jesse Stone movies and three Westerns.
His and Emanuel Azenberg’s production of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead won the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion Award for Best Picture.
He has produced more than forty motion pictures including films written by Arthur Miller, Stephen Sondheim, Neil Simon, David Mamet, Horton Foote, Wendy Wasserstein; David Hare, and Athol Fugard.
He is the father of two sons and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, the actress Joanna Miles.
Follow Buddy Steel on his most difficult and dangerous investigation yet as he stumbles upon corruption in his own backyard.
When San Remo County Acting Sheriff Buddy Steel is deputized by the California Coastal Commission to investigate a reclusive Russian billionaire who has repeatedly violated state law by obstructing public access to his vast beachfront property, he makes a shocking discovery. And learns that the politicos, some with a history of corruption, some just chicken, will not back up enforcement.
This makes Buddy, a former LAPD cop dragged home by his Sheriff father’s ALS diagnosis to “temporarily” head the department, dig in his heels and face down the Russian’s imported goon squad. It can and will get uglier.
At the same time a string of random murders in the county’s normally sleepy town of Freedom, a wealthy enclave up the coast from Los Angeles, places the Sheriff’s Department on high alert as it seeks to apprehend a serial killer whose crimes are so perfectly executed they leave no forensic evidence.
Buddy enlists an old adversary in his war with the Russian. She’s a legal shark from L.A., a savvy negotiator—and former lover. He needs to carry this fight to court. And he needs more backup—from the Sheriff’s Department staff, not the Sheriff, who resists being sidelined. Nor Freedom’s mayor, Buddy’s stepmother.
Unconventional and meticulously obtuse in his methodology, wild card cynic Buddy Steel barrels his way through the myriad obstacles that defy him. He may not want the job but his quest for serving the law is relentless.
Wild Card is the third in the Buddy Steel series by Hollywood ace Michael Brandman who, among his other credits, has both written New York Times bestsellers in the Robert B. Parker Jesse Stone series and brought Jesse to the screen in nine films starring Tom Selleck.
*****
Or, if you want to start at the beginning of the series, you can pre-order a copy of Missing Persons. The first book will be re-released in September. (It’s not that far away.)
Even in a town called Freedom, justice has its price
LAPD homicide detective Buddy Steel finds himself detoured from his own life when his ailing father, Sheriff Burton Steel, calls him home to Freedom to take over as deputy. Though relations between father and son have always been strained, Buddy reluctantly agrees to the arrangement.
When he begins investigating the possible disappearance of a famous local televangelist’s wife, he is met with outright antagonism. While the highly-secured husband insists that his wife is simply visiting a relative, the housekeeper who reported her missing fears she may have been murdered. And no one, from family members to ministry security and staff to the prosecutor’s office seems inclined to help Buddy in his investigation. In fact, many go out of their way to stop him.
But the more he pokes and prods, the more he realizes that the Bible-thumping family and their television empire may be an elaborate cover for a less-than-holy enterprise. But how far up does the corruption reach—and will Buddy pay the ultimate price for refusing to look the other way?
If you’re a dog person, you’re going to love the covers of Laurien Berenson’s Melanie Travis mysteries. If you’re a reader, you’ll enjoy her post about books. So, we’re lucky she was willing to talk about what she’s been reading during the pandemic. You can find Berenson’s books in the Web Store. https://bit.ly/30kLmJ1
Laurien Berenson is an Agatha and Macavity nominee, winner of the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and four-time winner of the Maxwell Award, presented by the Dog Writers Association of America. She and her husband live on a farm in Kentucky surrounded by dogs and horses. Readers can visit her website at: www.LaurienBerenson.com.
I’ve spent entirely too much time inside my house over the last few months. It’s reached the point where even my dog thinks I should be getting out more. Having now resigned myself to living in pants with elastic waistbands, I’ve decided to look on the bright side and celebrate all the extra time I’m able to spend reading.
Ever since I was a small child, I’ve been a voracious reader. My TBR pile regularly overflows its shelf and become a stack on the floor. To me, there’s almost nothing more exciting than opening a new book, starting a new story, and discovering where an author’s creativity is going to take me this time.
My favorite books are those that whisk me away from everyday life. Ones that offer an enthralling journey, or give me a glimpse into lives and places that are different than those I’ve experienced. Here are several books that accomplished that goal beautifully.
Murder in an Irish Pub
Carlene O’Connor’s Irish Village cozy series always make me laugh. Especially now, what a wonderful diversion that is. Shiobhan O’Sullivan is both witty and wise as she solves crime while deftly wrangling the lives of her five younger siblings. Set in Kilbane, Ireland, this book is steeped in Irish mysticism and folklore. O’Connor does a wonderful job of bringing the Irish countryside to brilliant, entertaining life. Bring on the next adventure! I’m already waiting for it.
I know next to nothing about the movie industry, and even less about Hollywood in 1938–but Renee Patrick’s vivid prose drew me in and immediately made me feel at home. I loved the cameo appearances by real people (most notably Marlene Dietrich and costume designer Edith Head.) When a nightclub pianist with friends in high places disappears, social secretary Lillian Frost is tasked with locating him. Instead she stumbles over his dead body. Rife with old Hollywood glamour, this book is bubbly and fun and better than an afternoon at the movies.
*****
Laurien Berenson’s books are available in the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/Game of Dog Bones, the most recent Melanie Travis Canine Mystery, was released at the end of June. Just look at that face!
Standard Poodle owner Melanie Travis is an excellent judge of dogs—and people. But what happens when an unnamed killer emerges at one of the fiercest all-breed competitions ever?
As Greenwich, Connecticut, slows down during a bitterly cold February, Melanie and her spunky Aunt Peg head to the city that never sleeps for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden. Aunt Peg can’t wait to demonstrate her judging chops on national TV, even after being hounded by frustrating mishaps—all seemingly orchestrated by Victor Durbin, an ousted Paugussett Poodle Club member with a bone to pick. But the bright lights of the show ring grow dim when Victor is found murdered, and she’s the one topping the suspect list . . .
Howloween Murder will be released August 25. Pre-orders always help the author, the bookstore, and you, so don’t hesitate to order the mystery now.
As the town of Greenwich, Connecticut, counts down to a spooky celebration on October 31st, a horrifying murder leaves Melanie Travis pawing for clues in a hair-raising game of trick-or-treat . . .
With just a few days left before Halloween, everyone at Howard Academy is anticipating the guaranteed sugar high they’ll experience from gorging on Harriet Bloom’s famous marshmallow puffs. The private school’s annual costume party revolves around the headmaster’s assistant and her seemingly supernatural batches of gooey goodies. So, it’s a shock when Harriet’s elderly neighbor is suddenly found dead with the beloved dessert in his hand. In a snap, police start questioning whether Harriet modified her top-secret recipe to include a hefty dose of lethal poison . . .
Melanie knows her tenured colleague would never intentionally serve cyanide-laced puffs to a defenseless old man. But as explosive neighborhood gossip reveals a potential culprit, it also brings her closer to sealing her own doom. Because on an evening ruled by masked revelers, bizarre getups, and hidden identities, Halloween might just be the perfect opportunity for a cold-hearted killer to get away with murder once again—this time sending a nosy, unsuspecting sleuth to an early grave!
Wait until you hear the conversation between author Jack Carr and Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen. He’s so enthusiastic about writing, and so grateful to, and enthusiastic about author Brad Thor. Carr’s third book, Savage Son, was released in April. Signed copies are still available through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2DWEvxX
Here’s the information about Savage Son.
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER
“A great book…it’s f*cking riveting!” —Joe Rogan
“A rare gut-punch writer, full of grit and insight, who we will be happily reading for years to come.” —Gregg Hurwitz, New York Times bestselling author of the Orphan X series
In this third high-octane thriller in the “seriously good” (Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author) Terminal List series, former Navy SEAL James Reece must infiltrate the Russian mafia and turn the hunters into the hunted.
Deep in the wilds of Siberia, a woman is on the run, pursued by a man harboring secrets—a man intent on killing her.
A traitorous CIA officer has found refuge with the Russian mafia with designs on ensuring a certain former Navy SEAL sniper is put in the ground.
Half a world away, James Reece is recovering from brain surgery in the Montana wilderness, slowly putting his life back together with the help of investigative journalist Katie Buranek and his longtime friend and SEAL teammate Raife Hastings. Unbeknownst to them, the Russian mafia has set their sights on Reece in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
In his most visceral and heart-pounding thriller yet, Jack Carr explores the darkest instincts of humanity through the eyes of a man who has seen both the best and the worst of it.
*****
But, Carr was also talking about Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath books. The Poisoned Pen will do the virtual release for Thor’s book, Near Dark, on Monday, July 20.
You might want to order a signed copy of Near Dark now while they’re available. https://bit.ly/3ha63On
Here’s the summary of Near Dark.
Scot Harvath returns in the newest thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor.
The world’s largest bounty has just been placed upon America’s top spy. His only hope for survival is to outwit, outrun, and outlast his enemies long enough to get to the truth.
But for Scot Harvath to accomplish his most dangerous mission ever—one that has already claimed the lives of the people closest to him, including his new wife—he’s going to need help—a lot of it.
Not knowing whom he can trust, Harvath finds an unlikely ally in Norwegian intelligence operative Sølvi Kolstad. Just as smart, just as deadly, and just as determined, she not only has the skills, but also the broken, troubled past to match Harvath’s own.
*****
I think you’ll enjoy this conversation with Jack Carr and Barbara Peters.
If you’d prefer to listen to the podcast, it’s available as well.
With the announcement that Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans are going to star in “The Gray Man” feature film for Netflix (https://bit.ly/3h7qOua), you might want to pick up a copy of Mark Greaney’s first book in the series, The Gray Man. The Deadline article says, “Fresh from a robust earnings report that saw it add 10 million subscribers during the pandemic, Netflix has just set its most financially ambitious feature film so far. Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans are set to star in The Gray Man, with Joe & Anthony Russo directing their first blockbuster since setting the all-time global box office record with Avengers: Endgame two years ago. The intention here is to create a new franchise with a James Bond-level of scale and a budget upwards of $200 million.”
Although the movie certainly won’t be the same as the book, why not start where it all began? Mark Greaney’s books, including The Gray Man, can be ordered through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2o92azg
Here’s the summary of The Gray Man.
THE FIRST GRAY MAN NOVEL FROM #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR MARK GREANEY
“Hard, fast, and unflinching—exactly what a thriller should be.”—Lee Child
To those who lurk in the shadows, he’s known as the Gray Man. He is a legend in the covert realm, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible and then fading away. And he always hits his target. Always.
But there are forces more lethal than Gentry in the world. Forces like money. And power. And there are men who hold these as the only currency worth fighting for. And in their eyes, Gentry has just outlived his usefulness.
But Court Gentry is going to prove that, for him, there’s no gray area between killing for a living and killing to stay alive…
Some readers may know Laura Bradford from her Amish Mystery series. However, she also writes women’s fiction, and her July 28 release, Piece by Piece, falls in that category. With the pandemic, publishers are releasing fewer print copies of books, so it’s even more important to pre-order a book if you really want to read it. You can order Bradford’s books, including Piece by Piece, through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2OzWj3C
Laura Bradford is the national bestselling author of more than 35 books, including her latest women’s fiction release, Piece by Piece. Her first women’s fiction novel, Portrait of a Sister, was a July 2018 Book Club Pick for Delilah of Delilah Radio and a Summer Book Club pick for Southern Lady Magazine.
“‹Laura also pens several mystery series including; An Amish Mystery series, the Emergency Dessert Squad Mysteries, the Tobi Tobias Mysteries, the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries (written as Elizabeth Lynn Casey), and a brand new cozy series that will debut with Penguin/Random House in Summer 2021. She is a former Agatha Award nominee, and the recipient of an RT Reviewer’s Choice Award in romance. Laura enjoys baking, spending time with her family, and being an advocate for those living with multiple sclerosis. Learn more at: https://www.laurabradford.com/
Prior to the start of the Pandemic, I’d settled into a nice reading routine that coincided with my time on the elliptical at the gym. Every four or five workouts, it was time for another book. Months (and years) of that routine meant I got caught up on beloved authors, and found (and devoured) new-to-me writers that were so good I went on to read my way through their backlist. It was a total win-win as far as routines went.
Then came March and New York’s shelter-in-place order, taking with it my daily workouts and all of those wonderful built-in hours with which I read. Suddenly that block of time I’d so carefully guarded just fell away. Now, I still do workouts (when I think about it), but without the gym, they’ve taken the form of long hikes through the woods, or huffing and puffing on a mat in front of my TV—neither of which lends itself to reading time. And after the workout? Well, then it’s time to write…or spend time with my daughter…or check in on one of my elderly relatives…or a million other things.
But here’s the thing. Reading is, and always has been, a trusted friend in my life—a guaranteed escape hatch when times are tough. Unfortunately, every time I tried to sit down and read those first few months, it was hard to focus, hard to set aside the real world and its uncertainty. Finally, out of sheer desperation, I grabbed one of my favorites from my re-read pile. Thankfully, that did the trick and soon, I was reaching into my To-Be-Read pile for another book, and another book, and another book.
Sure, the world is still upside down; still as scary as it was back in March. But now, thanks to the stories and worlds created by so many amazing authors, I’m able to lose myself in places where I can forget…and imagine…and hope…and breathe, even if only for a little while.
As for what I’ve been/am reading? Well, I’ll start with the re-read I pulled out of my favorites pile—the one that got me back on track in the reading department.
Good Luck With That by Kristan Higgins.
What can I say? I adore this book. In fact, the first time I read it (at the gym), I re-read it again as soon as I was done. I’m not sure I’ve ever done that with another book. But something about these characters—Emerson, Georgia, and Marley—speaks to me. It’s a story about learning to love who you are as you are, and to see yourself as worthy, and special, and important. These women leap off the page and I’m a better person for having met them.
My current read is Wendy Wax’s My Ex-Best Friend’s Wedding.
The story centers around a wedding dress that ties three women together—women who were once close, but, because of broken promises and unfilled dreams, are no longer in each other’s lives the way they once were, or should be…
I’m loving the set-up and the characters Wendy has created in this hard-to-put-down (yay!) book.
Next up? Outsider by Linda Castillo.
I am a huge, huge, HUGE fan of Linda’s Kate Burkholder series. Every year, I circle (in pen) her release date on my calendar and block off two or three days to read it—although, truth be told, I usually read it in one sitting. Of course, when I do, I realize I have to wait twelve months for another…
Anyway, this 12th installment of the series is waiting at the very top of my TBR pile, and from what I gather, Kate and the dashingly rugged (and dare I say, oh so delicious) John Tomasetti are going to go to the mat for an old academy classmate friend of Kate’s who is on the run from the cops. And, according to the blurb on the cover, “as Kate gets closer to the truth, a killer lies in wait. When violence strikes, she must confront a devastating truth that changes everything she thought she knew not only about friendship, but the institution to which she’s devoted her life.”
I get giddy just reading that, don’t you? So, yeah… I. Can’t. Wait. To. Read. This.
*****
Every time Laura Bradford writes a new Amish mystery, “I. Can’t. Wait. To. Read.” it. You may feel the same way about her new release, Piece by Piece.
A grieving mother learns to heal in Amish country, in this heartfelt, beautifully told novel from national bestselling author Laura Bradford.
Danielle Parker is a gold-medal mom—the kind who volunteers in her children’s classrooms, shuttles them between activities, throws legendary birthday parties, and has a remedy on hand for any emergency. Whatever her husband, Jeff, and their children need, Dani is there, always. Except for one day.
On that day—the day that Dani reluctantly takes some “me time” while her mom and Jeff drive the children to the park—the unthinkable happens. The car crash leaves no survivors. Somehow, Dani gets through the funerals and visits, accepting neighbors’ sympathy and dropped-off meals. All the while, guilt and grief make her wish the accident had claimed her life too. Then a call comes from Lydia Schlabach, an Amish woman Dani befriended in childhood. In addition to condolences, Lydia offers Dani something more: a place to escape to.
In Pennsylvania’s Amish country, Dani’s days take on a new rhythm, marked by the clip-clop of buggies and the bustle of chores. Lydia gives Dani space to mourn, to think, and to realize how long it’s been since she felt like a person in her own right. And with the help of friendships old and new, Dani learns about the ways life continues to surprise us—even after the deepest loss—with joy, love, and second chances. . . .
Praise for Portrait of a Sister
“Laura Bradford is a master storyteller; this book will stay with you for a long, long time.” —New York Times bestselling author Tasha Alexander
“A charming, well-told story of love and devotion between sisters.” —New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck
*****
The most recent in Laura Bradford’s Amish Mystery series, A Killer Carol, is available in the Web Store now.
Heavenly, PA has been transformed into a Christmas wonderland, and Claire is delighted to celebrate the season…but a fiendish killer has other plans in this all-new installment in the national bestselling series.
As the owner of Heavenly Treasures, the local gift shop, Claire is busier than ever helping her English customers (and even a few of her Amish friends, like Esther and Ben) find the perfect gift for the special people on their shopping list.
Claire makes sure she has time for her boyfriend, Detective Jakob Fisher. But the man, who was raised and then shunned by the Amish over his choice of career, has been unusually secretive lately. She tries not to worry, to trust their relationship, but trying and doing aren’t exactly matching up.
Before she can figure out what’s going on with Jakob, word comes that Ruth and Samuel Yoder are being questioned in the death of an elderly Amish couple, found murdered not long after the newlyweds were seen leaving the victims’ farm. Ruth, in turn, seeks Claire’s help in convincing the police that she and Samuel had nothing to do with what happened. But when Claire comes across a cryptic note tucked inside the wedding gift the victims had given the newlyweds no more than an hour before their murder, she finds herself in dire need of a little convincing as well.
Can Claire get to the bottom of things in time to ensure a merry Christmas for all?
Beatriz Williams, NYTimes bestselling author, recently took time to talk about writing, historical fiction, and her latest book with John Charles from The Poisoned Pen. Her Last Flight focuses on the birth of aviation. You can still order a signed copy through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2CvUkLg
Here is the summary of Her Last Flight.
One of Summer’s Most Anticipated Reads, according to Goodreads, SheReads, and Bookish
“I think Beatriz Williams is writing the best historical fiction out there. It’s lush with period detail but feels immediate.”—Elin Hilderbrand
The beloved author returns with a remarkable novel of both raw suspense and lyric beauty— the story of a lost pilot and a wartime photographer that will leave its mark on your soul.
In 1947, photographer and war correspondent Janey Everett arrives at a remote surfing village on the Hawaiian island of Kauai to research a planned biography of forgotten aviation pioneer Sam Mallory, who joined the loyalist forces in the Spanish Civil War and never returned. Obsessed with Sam’s fate, Janey has tracked down Irene Lindquist, the owner of a local island-hopping airline, whom she believes might actually be the legendary Irene Foster, Mallory’s onetime student and flying partner. Foster’s disappearance during a round-the-world flight in 1937 remains one of the world’s greatest unsolved mysteries.
At first, the flinty Mrs. Lindquist denies any connection to Foster. But Janey informs her that the wreck of Sam Mallory’s airplane has recently been discovered in a Spanish desert, and piece by piece, the details of Foster’s extraordinary life emerge: from the beginnings of her flying career in Southern California, to her complicated, passionate relationship with Mallory, to the collapse of her marriage to her aggressive career manager, the publishing scion George Morrow.
As Irene spins her tale to its searing conclusion, Janey’s past gathers its own power. The duel between the two women takes a heartstopping turn. To whom does Mallory rightfully belong? Can we ever come to terms with the loss of those we love, and the lives we might have lived?
*****
Enjoy Beatriz Williams’ passionate conversation about aviation, the background of Her Last Flight, and books in general.
Dianne Freeman’s third mystery featuring the Countess of Harleigh, A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder, will be released July 28. Pre-orders are always helpful to authors and booksellers. You should order your signed copy now while they’re available. Check it out, along with Freeman’s other books, in the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2C5HIKI
Dianne Freeman is the acclaimed author of the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. Her debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder, won both an Agatha Award and a Lefty Award and was nominated for the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award from Mystery Writers of America. She spent thirty years working in corporate accounting and finance and now writes full-time. Born and raised in Michigan, she and her husband split their time between Michigan and Arizona. Visit her at www.DiFreeman.com.
With her new book coming out, it was the perfect time to ask Dianne Freeman about her book “Distractions”. You can order any of them through the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
*****
February seems so long ago. My husband and I were enjoying an Arizona winter with friends and family visiting. The month ended with a trip to Boston for a wedding.
Then March arrived and with it the realization that the pandemic was here. No more visitors, events cancelled, the news on all day, and I was suffering from a reading block. I’ve never had this affliction before and it was horrible. I couldn’t focus no matter what book I picked up. Without reading, how could I escape? But there was one thin paperback calling to me from the bookshelf. I picked it up, opened it, and finished it in one sitting!
Thank you, Julie Mulhern and the Country Club Murders!
The book on my shelf was Send in The Clowns, number four in the series.
The story is set in 1974 Kansas City. The sleuth is Ellison Russell a single mother and part of the country club set. Ellison has a controlling mother, a sometimes-rebellious teenager, a housekeeper who doubles as a detective, and a bad habit of finding dead bodies. The series is witty and fun, but so much more than fluff. Start with any one that appeals to you, and I’m willing to bet you’ll read them all.
With my reading block broken, I was ready to tackle my growing TBR stack and I started with The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair.
The story takes place right after WWII. Two wonderful characters, and unlikely partners, Iris and Gwen are running a marriage bureau—a dating service for the marriage minded. Though the partners have different backgrounds, talents, and instincts, together their assessment of their clients is unerring. So, when one client is arrested for the murder of another, they believe the police must have it wrong. The two set about conducting their own investigation to save their client and their business. I came for the plot and stayed for the characters. I couldn’t put this one down.
I love a good PI story and I love Chicago. Tracy Clark serves up both with a confidence that brings the story to life. Cass Raines is a former homicide detective turned PI. Cass is so real she jumps off the page! Yes, the woman has a few flaws, but she also has a razor-sharp wit, determination, and a capacity for risk that leaves me breathless. I just finished Borrowed Time, but I’d recommend starting with the first in the series, Broken Places, and read all three.
*****
A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder is the forthcoming book, the third in Dianne Freeman’s Countess of Harleigh series.
In Dianne Freeman’s charming Victorian-era mystery series, Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, finds her sister’s wedding threatened by a vow of vengeance.
London is known for its bustle and intrigues, but the sedate English countryside can host—or hide—any number of secrets. Frances, the widowed Countess of Harleigh, needs a venue for her sister Lily’s imminent wedding, away from prying eyes. Risings, George Hazleton’s family estate in Hampshire, is a perfect choice, and soon Frances, her beloved George, and other guests have gathered to enjoy the usual country pursuits—shooting, horse riding, and romantic interludes in secluded gardens.
As Frances and George search for the culprit among the assembled family, friends, and servants, more victims fall prey to the mayhem. Mishaps become full-blooded murder, and it seems that no one is safe. And unless Frances can quickly flush out the culprit, the peal of wedding bells may give way to another funeral toll. . . .
*****
If you haven’t started the series yet, you can order the award-winning A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder.
In this exciting historical mystery debut set in Victorian England, a wealthy young widow encounters the pleasures—and scandalous pitfalls—of a London social season . . .
Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, enjoys more freedom as a widow than she did as a wife. With her young daughter in tow, Frances rents a home in Belgravia and prepares to welcome her sister, Lily, arriving from New York—for her first London season.
But no sooner has Frances begun her new life than the Metropolitan police receive an anonymous letter implicating Frances in her husband’s death. Frances assures Inspector Delaney of her innocence, but she’s also keen to keep him from learning the scandalous circumstances of Reggie’s demise. As fate would have it, her dashing new neighbor, George Hazelton, is one of only two other people aware of the full story.
While busy with social engagements on Lily’s behalf, and worrying if Reggie really was murdered, Frances rallies her wits, a circle of gossips, and the ever-chivalrous Mr. Hazelton to uncover the truth. A killer is in their midst and Frances must unmask the villain before Lily’s season—and their lives—come to a most unseemly end . . .
“This lighthearted debut tale of mystery, love, and a delightful sleuth will leave you wanting more—which is presumably just what Freeman had in mind.” —Kirkus Reviews
There can’t be a conversation with David Rosenfelt without talking about dogs and dog rescues. Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, kicks off the recent conversation about Rosenfelt’s latest Andy Carpenter mystery, Muzzled, by talking about dogs. And, you’ll be interested to know Rosenfelt’s books start with the dog, not the case itself. You can order a signed copy of Muzzled, or copies of Rosenfelt’s other books, through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2ZmRgd8
Here’s the summary of Muzzled.
In David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter mystery, Muzzled, Andy and his beloved golden retriever, Tara, are back on the case as a favor to a friend.
Andy Carpenter is a lawyer who would rather not practice law. He’d rather spend his time working with the Tara Foundation, his dog rescue organization, and being with his family and his two dogs, Tara and Sebastian. But when a friend asks him for a favor that involves both dogs and his lawyerly expertise, he can’t say no.
Andy’s friend Beth has found a stray that seems to have belonged to a murder victim–in fact, the man and two of his colleagues died in an explosion a few weeks ago. But when the murdered man contacts Beth, asking for his dog back, Andy knows there must be more to the story. The man claims his life is in danger, and that’s why he disappeared. As much as Andy doesn’t want to get involved–anything to avoid a new case–he can’t help but come to the rescue of a man who’d risk everything, even his life, to reunite with his dog.
Once again, David Rosenfelt delivers suspense and laughter in equal measure in another engaging mystery from “one of the most unforgettable voices in the genre.” (Associated Press)
Lynn Cahoon is such a prolific writer that I thought it was time I asked her to write a book “Distractions” piece and tell us what she’s been reading during the pandemic. She writes the Tourist Trap mysteries, the Cat Latimer ones, the Farm-to-Fork mysteries, and this coming January she launches a new series with One Poison Pie, a Kitchen Witch mystery. Cahoon’s most recent book is the eleventh Tourist Trap Mystery, Murder in Waiting, which just came out a couple weeks ago. You can find Lynn Cahoon’s books in the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2D72b0U Look for her book “Distractions” there as well. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
Lynn Cahoon is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Kitchen Witch Mysteries, the Cat Latimer Mystery series, the Tourist Trap Mysteries, and the Farm-to-Fork series. Originally from Idaho, she grew up living the small-town life she now loves to feature in her novels. A member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers, she lives with her husband and two fur babies in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi River. Visit her at https://LynnCahoon.com
*****
Before the world changed (pandemic) ““ I listened to a lot of audio books during my commute. My print reading was limited to travel time and weekends at the cabin. I read the In Death series over two years and had just finished the Jim Butcher Harry Dresden urban fantasy series. I was going to dig into a new audio series when I started working from home and not spending over an hour a day on weekdays commuting.
At home, I like to grab a print book and lose myself in my recliner. I have a lot of books I haven’t read sitting and waiting for me. (I can’t say no to a book’s possible adventure.)
I went digging through my large TBR library looking for one specific book (Find Her -Lisa Gardner) but it wasn’t there. Either the dogs ate it when they were in that puppy stage or I’d loaned it out without remembering.
Instead, I realized I had a bunch of books on my TBR pile that I’d never cracked the spine. I’m reading the Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham. I’d bought one (The Hexed) a few months ago and I realized I had several more in my pile to read. The series starts with Phantom Evil (I bought it since I didn’t have it.) After reading some from the middle, I wanted to know the beginning of the Krewe. Phantom Evil didn’t disappoint.
The right mix of mystery, romance, history, and paranormal all mixed into a New Orleans setting (one of my favorite cities to visit.) If you don’t know the Krewe, they’re an FBI unit with special talents. They can see ghosts. Some of them are tech wizards. Others, are crazy good at video, but they all have the same belief that there is more to the world than just what we can see. And there’s always a love story for one of the Krewe members. Now I’ll read the others I have and then start buying to fill in the holes.
As an author, I’m always looking for new ways to tell stories. All the Missing Girls (Megan Miranda) has been calling to me for a while now from the pile.
The cover is amazing. The story is told in bits and pieces, jumping from the current day to the past to times in between, keeping the reader questioning the narrator’s and her high school friends’ involvement in the disappearance of not one but two missing girls from the same small NC town some twenty years apart. I loved the first-person style of the author. It also got me thinking about the choices we make and when we decide we’re happy and what that means. The main character’s growth ARC is kind of crazy in this book.
Full disclosure, I’m a devoted King fan, especially when he writes fantasy or explores our extrasensory talents. I devoured The Institute (Stephen King).
King does this thing in the beginning of his books where he introduces one character, then leaves us questioning what’s going on and goes on to another. Finally, he brings them all together and you see why the structure was perfect. He writes strong kid characters and keeps a tight POV (point of view) for them. This book was just what I expected of King, a paranormal I couldn’t put down and reminded me of The Talisman. For King fans, it shouldn’t be passed by.
I could go on, but I’ve got a small window of time that I can pick up another book.
*****
Murder in Waiting is the most recent Tourist Trap Mystery.
At Coffee, Books, & More, Jill’s the boss. But as Amy’s maid-of-honor, she can barely keep up with marching orders–and now she’s in charge of organizing an epic bachelorette! Adding to Jill’s party-planning panic, the South Cove Heritage Society just unceremoniously dumped her historic landmark bid. While vying proposals rush in from a loaded land developer and a pushy travel guide company, Jill finds an unexpected ally in Heritage Society expert, Frank Gleason. But their happy union is cut short when Frank is mowed down in a suspicious hit-and-run. With Amy’s big day on the horizon, Jill vows to catch the killer before she has to catch a bouquet.
*****
Here’s a preview of Cahoon’s forthcoming Kitchen Witch mystery, One Poison Pie.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lynn Cahoon launches a sparkling new series featuring Mia Malone, a kitchen witch who’s starting over in her grandmother’s Idaho hometown of Magic Springs, where the use of magic is an open secret and murder is on the menu…
But her first catering job takes a distasteful turn when her client’s body is found, stabbed and stuffed under the head table. Mia’s shocked to learn that she’s a suspect–and even more so when she realizes she’s next on a killer’s list. With Christina, along with Mia’s meddling grandma, in the mix, she’ll have to find out which of the town’s eccentric residents has an appetite for murder…before this fresh start comes to a sticky end…
It’s not often that The Poisoned Pen highlights a true crime book. Patrick Millikin recently interviewed Mark Bowden, the journalist author of The Case of the Vanishing Blonde and Other True Crime Stories. You can pre-order a copy, and order copies of Bowden’s other books, through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2G31ggV
From Mark Bowden, a “master of narrative journalism” (New York Times), comes a true-crime collection both deeply chilling and impossible to put down.
Six captivating true-crime stories, spanning Mark Bowden’s long and illustrious career, cover a variety of crimes complicated by extraordinary circumstances. Winner of a lifetime achievement award from International Thriller Writers, Bowden revisits inThe Case of the Vanishing Blonde some of his most riveting stories and examines the effects of modern technology on the journalistic process.
From a story of a campus rape at the University of Pennsylvania in 1983 that unleashed a moral debate over the nature of consent when drinking and drugs are involved to three cold cases featuring the inimitable Long Island private detective Ken Brennan and a startling investigation that reveals a murderer within the LAPD’s ranks, shielded for twenty six years by officers keen to protect one of their own, these stories are the work of a masterful narrative journalist at work. Gripping true crime from a writer the Washington Post calls “an old pro.”
*****
You can watch the entire conversation between Mark Bowden and Patrick Millikin here.
