Fiction Review

Once in a while, the publisher Penguin Random House sends a video that you might find interesting. Maureen Callahan is the author of a true crime book, American Predator. You can reserve a copy through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2YirB1u

Callahan talks about her book as part of the series, “Inside the Book/Meet the Author.”

Here’s what it says on The Poisoned Pen’s website about American Predator.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A Washington Post “10 Books To Read in July”
A Los Angeles Times “Seven Highly Anticipated Books for Summer Reading”
A USA Today “20 of the Season’s Hottest New Books”
A New York Post “25 Best Beach Reads of 2019 You Need to Pre-Order Now” 

“Maureen Callahan’s deft reporting and stylish writing have created one of the all-time-great serial-killer books: sensitive, chilling, and completely impossible to put down.” –Ada Calhoun, author of St. Marks Is Dead 

Ted Bundy. John Wayne Gacy. Jeffrey Dahmer. The names of notorious serial killers are usually well-known; they echo in the news and in public consciousness. But most people have never heard of Israel Keyes, one of the most ambitious and terrifying serial killers in modern history. The FBI considered his behavior unprecedented. Described by a prosecutor as “a force of pure evil,” Keyes was a predator who struck all over the United States. He buried “kill kits”–cash, weapons, and body-disposal tools–in remote locations across the country. Over the course of fourteen years, Keyes would fly to a city, rent a car, and drive thousands of miles in order to use his kits. He would break into a stranger’s house, abduct his victims in broad daylight, and kill and dispose of them in mere hours. And then he would return home to Alaska, resuming life as a quiet, reliable construction worker devoted to his only daughter.

When journalist Maureen Callahan first heard about Israel Keyes in 2012, she was captivated by how a killer of this magnitude could go undetected by law enforcement for over a decade. And so began a project that consumed her for the next several years–uncovering the true story behind how the FBI ultimately caught Israel Keyes, and trying to understand what it means for a killer like Keyes to exist. A killer who left a path of monstrous, randomly committed crimes in his wake–many of which remain unsolved to this day.

American Predator is the ambitious culmination of years of interviews with key figures in law enforcement and in Keyes’s life, and research uncovered from classified FBI files. Callahan takes us on a journey into the chilling, nightmarish mind of a relentless killer, and to the limitations of traditional law enforcement.

Daniel Nieh’s debut crime novel, Beijing Payback, is the July selection for the First Mystery Book Club. Of course, you don’t need to be a member to order a signed copy from the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2YdBttv

In a starred review, Publishers Weekly says, ” This impressive blend of crime and coming-of-age marks Nieh as a talent to watch.” https://bit.ly/2Oj9tVA

Here’s the summary of Beijing Payback.

A fresh, smart, and fast-paced revenge thriller about a college basketball player who discovers shocking truths about his family in the wake of his father’s murder

Victor Li is devastated by his father’s murder, and shocked by a confessional letter he finds among his father’s things. In it, his father admits that he was never just a restaurateur—in fact he was part of a vast international crime syndicate that formed during China’s leanest communist years.

Victor travels to Beijing, where he navigates his father’s secret criminal life, confronting decades-old grudges, violent spats, and a shocking new enterprise that the organization wants to undertake. Standing up against it is likely what got his father killed, but Victor remains undeterred. He enlists his growing network of allies and friends to finish what his father started, no matter the costs.

Laura Lippman’s standalone, Lady in the Lake, is the current Hot Book of the Week at The Poisoned Pen. It’s quite hot in fact. While the store’s description of the book refers to Lippman as “The revered New York Times bestselling author”, Lady in the Lake was reviewed in The New York Times by another revered author, Stephen King. You can read his review here. https://nyti.ms/2JMCALB

Of course you can order a signed copy of Lady in the Lake through the Web Store. You can also order copies of Lippman’s other books. https://bit.ly/2Sw6oji

Here’s the summary of the current Hot Book of the Week.

The revered New York Times bestselling author returns with a novel set in 1960s Baltimore that combines modern psychological insights with elements of classic noir, about a middle-aged housewife turned aspiring reporter who pursues the murder of a forgotten young woman.

In 1966, Baltimore is a city of secrets that everyone seems to know—everyone, that is, except Madeline “Maddie” Schwartz. Last year, she was a happy, even pampered housewife. This year, she’s bolted from her marriage of almost twenty years, determined to make good on her youthful ambitions to live a passionate, meaningful life. 

Maddie wants to matter, to leave her mark on a swiftly changing world. Drawing on her own secrets, she helps Baltimore police find a murdered girl—assistance that leads to a job at the city’s afternoon newspaper, the Star.Working at the newspaper offers Maddie the opportunity to make her name, and she has found just the story to do it: a missing woman whose body was discovered in the fountain of a city park lake.

Cleo Sherwood was a young black woman who liked to have a good time. No one seems to know or care why she was killed except Maddie—and the dead woman herself. Maddie’s going to find the truth about Cleo’s life and death. Cleo’s ghost, privy to Maddie’s poking and prying, wants to be left alone. 

Maddie’s investigation brings her into contact with people that used to be on the periphery of her life—a jewelry store clerk, a waitress, a rising star on the Baltimore Orioles, a patrol cop, a hardened female reporter, a lonely man in a movie theater. But for all her ambition and drive, Maddie often fails to see the people right in front of her. Her inability to look beyond her own needs will lead to tragedy and turmoil for all sorts of people—including the man who shares her bed, a black police officer who cares for Maddie more than she knows.

Steve Cavanagh, author of Thirteen, will be The Poisoned Pen’s featured author on Thursday, August 22 at 7 PM. Why am I telling you that so far in advance? Cavanagh and Thirteen just won the 2019 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. You’ll want to pre-order your signed copy through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/30QyXew

According to the Harrogate Informer, the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year Award is the most coveted crime writing award in England. You can read the entire announcement, and see a picture of Steve Cavanagh, here. https://bit.ly/30NSlZt

Here’s the description of the award-winning crime novel.

Thirteen is the legal thriller Lee Child, Michael Connelly, and Ruth Ware are raving about and readers can’t put down.

“Outstanding – an intriguing premise, a tense, gripping build-up, and a spectacular climax. This guy is the real deal. Trust me.” —Lee Child

“A dead bang BEAST of a book that expertly combines Cavanagh’s authority on the law with an absolutely great thrill ride. Books this ingenious don’t come along very often.” —Michael Connelly

It’s the murder trial of the century. And Joshua Kane has killed to get the best seat in the house ““ and to be sure the wrong man goes down for the crime. Because this time, the killer isn’t on trial. He’s on the jury.

But there’s someone on his tail. Former-conman-turned-criminal-defense-attorney Eddie Flynn doesn’t believe that his movie-star client killed two people. He suspects that the real killer is closer than they think ““ but who would guess just how close? 

“A brilliant, twisty, ingeniously constructed puzzle of a book. Steve Cavanagh pulls off an enviable premise with panache.” —Ruth Ware

Maggie Robinson is the author of two mysteries featuring Lady Adelaide Compton., Nobody’s Sweetheart Now, and Who’s Sorry Now? The books are set in the 1920s. Both books are available through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2r5nvfa

Recently, Robinson wrote an article for Bookreporter called “Bright and Young and Who’s Sorry Now?” in which she discussed the 1920s. You might want to read the article for background to the series, or even just information about that time period. https://bit.ly/2LyLVtv

Here’s the description of Who’s Sorry Now?

“If you like a clever mystery, a handsome ghost, and the far-from-bereaved widow who can’t find the elusive killer without Rupert’s help, Who’s Sorry Now? is just your cup of English murder.“—Charles Todd, author of the Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries and the Bess Crawford mysteries

London, England 1925

A Russian prince. A wealthy heir. An impoverished earl’s daughter. Which one will make an untimely exit from the London social scene?

Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Devenand Hunter finds himself in the middle of a series of upper-class deaths in London. Bright Young People are being extinguished in their favorite night spots, from a sleazy private jazz club to the Savoy ballroom. Dev knows just the person to help him navigate the treacherous society waters: Lady Adelaide Compton, a marquess’ daughter and widow of a Great War hero. Unfortunately, he has put her in jeopardy once before, nearly leading him to turn in his warrant card.

But when her sister Cee is nearly one of the victims, Addie turns to Mr. Hunter, offering her help… and it soon becomes clear that the two of them working together again could lead to much more than merely solving crime.

The Lady Adelaide Mysteries:
Nobody’s Sweetheart Now (Book 1)
Who’s Sorry Now? (Book 2)

Susan Hoover recently reviewed Michael Stanley’s latest thriller from Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press, Shoot the Bastards. The review was published in Reviewing the Evidence here, https://www.reviewingtheevidence.com/review.html?id=11331

You can order Stanley’s books, including Shoot the Bastards, through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2XYsqMQ

Here’s the description of Shoot the Bastards.

“From Minnesota to South Africa to Mozambique to Vietnam, Michael Stanley’s Shoot the Bastards is an extraordinary tale of the extreme measures taken to combat international poaching and smuggling.”—C.J. Box, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wolf Pack

The black market feeds all appetites…

The dark winter nights of Minnesota seem to close in on investigative journalist Crystal Nguyen as she realizes that her close friend Michael Davidson has disappeared while researching a story on rhino poaching and rhino-horn smuggling in Africa. Crystal, fearing the worst, wrangles her own assignment on the continent. Within a week in Africa she’s been hunting poachers (“Shoot the bastards,” she’s told), hunted by their bosses, and questioned in connection with a murder—and there’s still no sign of Michael.

Crystal quickly realizes how little she knows about Africa and about the war between poachers and conservation officers. What she does know is she must find Michael, and she’s committed to preventing a major plot to secure a huge number of horns… but exposing the financial underworld supporting the rhino-horn market is only half the battle. Equally important is convincing South African authorities to take action before it’s too late—for the rhinos, and for Crystal.

Michael Stanley, author of the award-winning Detective Kubu Mysteries series, introduces an intriguing new protagonist while exposing one of southern Africa’s most vicious conflicts in Shoot the Bastards.

Did you miss Ace Atkins’ recent appearance at The Poisoned Pen on his book tour for The Shameless? If so, Marilyn Stasio’s comments in the recent crime column for The New York Times might make you wish you had been at the store to hear more about Mississippi and Quinn Colson. She talks about The Shameless, but she also covers other crime novels you might want to watch for in the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com

Here’s the link to Marilyn Stasio’s latest column. https://nyti.ms/2M22kpK

Here’s the summary of The Shameless.

Buried secrets, dirty lies, and unbridled greed and ambition raise the stakes down South in the lauded crime series from New York Times bestselling author Ace Atkins.

Twenty years ago, Brandon Taylor was thought to be just another teen boy who ended his life too soon. That’s what almost everyone in Tibbehah County, Mississippi, said after his body and hunting rifle were found in the Big Woods. Now two New York-based reporters show up asking Sheriff Quinn Colson questions about the Taylor case. What happened to the evidence? Where are the missing files? Who really killed Brandon?

Quinn wants to help. After all, his wife Maggie was a close friend of Brandon Taylor. But Quinn was just a kid himself in 1997, and these days he’s got more on his plate than twenty-year-old suspicious death. He’s trying to shut down the criminal syndicate that’s had a stranglehold on Tibbehah for years, trafficking drugs, stolen goods, and young women through the MidSouth. Truck stop madam Fannie Hathcock runs most of that action, and has her eyes on taking over the whole show. And then there’s Senator Jimmy Vardaman, who’s cut out the old political establishment riding the Syndicate’s money and power–plus a hefty helping of racism and ignorance–straight to the governor’s office. If he manages to get elected, the Syndicate will be untouchable. Tibbehah will be lawless. 

Quinn’s been fighting evil and corruption since he was a kid, at home or as a U.S. Army Ranger in Afghanistan and Iraq. This time, evil may win out.

Craig Johnson’s next Walt Longmire mystery, Land of Wolves, isn’t due out until Sept. 17. And, he won’t be at The Poisoned Pen until Sept. 19 for a special ticketed event. But, Scott Montgomery’s piece for CrimeReads is too good to ignore. It’s called “The Evolution of Walt Longmire: Somewhere Between Laughter and Death.” Montgomery summarizes every Walt Longmire novel, in order, so the article is perfect for anyone who wants to catch up with the series, or start from the beginning. You can find it here. https://bit.ly/2YZMM9F

Craig Johnson has come to The Poisoned Pen for every book, beginning with the first Longmire book, The Cold Dish. You can order the books through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2Qmogf5

Here’s the summary of the forthcoming book, Land of Wolves.

The new novel in Craig Johnson’s beloved New York Times bestselling Longmire series.

Attempting to recover from his harrowing experiences in Mexico, in Land of Wolves Wyoming Sheriff Walt Longmire is neck deep in the investigation of what could or could not be the suicidal hanging of a shepherd. With unsettling connections to a Basque family with a reputation for removing the legs of Absaroka County sheriffs, matters become even more complicated with the appearance of an oversize wolf in the Big Horn Mountains to which Walt finds himself feeling more and more empathetic.

*****

As I said, Johnson will appear for The Poisoned Pen on Sept. 19 at a special ticketed event. But, I thought readers would appreciate Scott Montgomery’s article now.

Two authors, two hosts. The Poisoned Pen recently hosted Linda Castillo, author of Shamed and Stuart Turton, author of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. John Charles introduced Turton, and discussed his book, while Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, welcomed Linda Castillo. You can order copies of Castillo’s books, including a signed copy of Shamed, and a signed copy of Turton’s debut novel, through the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com

Because Turton appears first in the video, here’s the description of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

“Agatha Christie meets Groundhog Day…quite unlike anything I’ve ever read, and altogether triumphant.”—A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

The Rules of Blackheath
Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at 11:00 p.m. 
There are eight days, and eight witnesses for you to inhabit. 
We will only let you escape once you tell us the name of the killer. 
Understood? Then let’s begin…

***
Evelyn Hardcastle will die. Every day until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others.

For fans of Claire North and Kate Atkinson, The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a breathlessly addictive novel that follows one man’s race against time to find a killer— but an astonishing time-turning twist means that nothing and no one are quite what they seem. 

Praise for The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle:
Costa First Novel Award 2018 Winner
One of Stylist Magazine’s 20 Must-Read Books of 2018
One of Harper’s Bazaar’s 10 Must-Read Books of 2018
One of Guardian’s Best Books of 2018

*****

Here’s Linda Castillo’s latest Kate Burkholder novel, Shamed.

In this gripping thriller from New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo, a devastating murder exposes an Amish family’s tortured past.

The peaceful town of Painters Mill is shattered when an Amish grandmother is brutally murdered on an abandoned farm. When Chief of Police Kate Burkholder arrives on the scene, she learns that the woman’s seven-year-old granddaughter is gone, abducted in plain sight. Kate knows time is against her—the longer the girl is missing, the less likely her safe return becomes. The girl’s family is a pillar of the Amish community, well-respected by all. But Kate soon realizes they’re keeping secrets—and the sins of their past may be coming back to haunt them. What are they hiding and why?

Kate’s investigation brings her to an isolated Old Order Amish settlement along the river, a community where family is everything and tradition is upheld with an iron fist. But the killer is close behind, drawing more victims into a twisted game of revenge. Left behind at each new crime scene are cryptic notes that lead Kate to a haunting and tragic secret. What she uncovers threatens to change everything she thought she knew about the family she’s fighting for, the Amish community as a whole—and her own beliefs. 

As time to find the missing girl runs out, Kate faces a harrowing choice that will test her convictions and leave one family forever changed.

*****

Now, you can watch two authors and two hosts. Here’s the event from earlier this week.

Last weekend, during the New York City blackout, the International Thriller Writers presented their annual Thriller Awards. Don’t forget to check the Web Store for copies of the winners’ books. https://store.poisonedpen.com

Here are the winners.

BEST HARDCOVER NOVEL

Jennifer Hillier – Jar of Hearts

BEST FIRST NOVEL

C. J. Tudor – The Chalk Man

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL NOVEL

Jane Harper – The Lost Man

BEST SHORT STORY

Helen Smith — “Nana” in KILLER WOMEN: CRIME CLUB ANTHOLOGY #2

BEST E-BOOK ORIGINAL NOVEL

Alan Orloff – Pray for the Innocent

BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL

Teri Bailey Black – Girl at the Grave

Also receiving special recognition: John Sandford, ThrillerMaster, in recognition of his legendary career and outstanding contributions to the thriller genre.

Harlan Coben, Silver Bullet Award

“Mystery Mike” Bursaw, ThrillerFan Award

Margaret Marbury, Thriller Legend Award