Fiction Review

November is NaNoWrMo, otherwise known as National Novel Writing Month. Wendall Thomas, author of the debut mystery Lost Luggage, headed off to Book Soup to work on a novel. (Let’s hope it’s a sequel.) Here are some photos from the event, in which people can see an author in the window, working on a novel.

She looks like she was having too much fun to NOT be working on a sequel to Lost Luggage. Have you checked out Lost Luggage in the Web Store? https://bit.ly/2i7kXYW

Here’s the description.

Cyd Redondo, a young, third-generation Brooklyn travel agent who specializes in senior citizens, has never ventured farther than New Jersey. Yet even Jersey proves risky when her Travel Agents’ Convention fling, Roger Claymore, leaves her weak in the knees-and everywhere else-then sneaks out of her Atlantic City hotel room at three a.m.

Back in Brooklyn, when she reads about smugglers stopped at JFK with skinks in their socks or monkeys down their pants, she never imagines she will join their ranks. But days after the pet store owner next door to Redondo Travel is poisoned, Cyd wins a free safari. Her boss, Uncle Ray, wants to cash it in for computers, but Cyd is determined to go. When Roger turns up at the Redondo clan’s door, Cyd invites him along as her “plus one.” And just like that she is thrown heels-first into the bizarre and sinister world of international animal smuggling.

She and Roger arrive in Africa, luggage lost, to find two of Cyd’s elderly clients in a local jail. She manages to barter them out, only to discover smugglers have hidden five hundred thousand dollars’ worth of endangered parrots, snakes, frogs, and a lone Madagascan chameleon in the clients’ outbound luggage. When Roger steals the bags – is the U.S. Embassy in on the contraband ring? – Cyd and the chameleon helicopter into the jungle to go after Roger on their own.

Wondering if “plus one” Roger is actually a minus, Cyd dodges Interpol, faces off with a cobra, steals a diplomatic bag, hijacks a FedEx truck, crashes an eco-safari, winds up in a leopard trap, and is forced to smuggle snakes in her bra. It’s a scramble to find the smugglers, save her clients, and solve Mrs. Barsky’s murder before finding herself at the top of the endangered species list.

For fans of Elaine Viets, Lisa Lutz, Janet Evanovich, and Blaize Clement.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press author Mary Anna Evans for sending the following feature. Stuart Rosebrook’s column, “Locked and Loaded” in True West Magazine, https://truewestmagazine.com, recently featured books about Western history and fiction from 2017. Here’s the link to Rosebrook’s entire column. https://truewestmagazine.com/locked-and-loaded-western-history/

But, maybe you’re only interested in the crime fiction about the west. Here are the titles Rosebrook featured under “A Badge, a Body and a Gun”. If you’ve been attending Poisoned Pen Bookstore programs, or reading Barbara Peters’ newsletter, I think you’ll recognize some of these authors. After you check Rosebrook’s list, you might want to check the Web Store for the books. https://store.poisonedpen.com/

A Badge, a Body and a Gun

Modern Western mysteries dominate the sales of Western novels and there is no shortage of titles to choose from in 2017. Here are 11 of my favorites.

Beyond Reason by Kat Martin (Kensingon)

Burials: a Faye Longchamp Mystery by Mary Anna Evans (Poisoned Pen Press)

Cold Hearted River by Keith McCafferty (Viking)

Dark Signal by Shannon Baker (Forge)

Desert Remains by Steven Cooper (Seventh Street Books)

Double Wide by Leo W. Banks (Brash Books)

Kill the Heroes by David Thurlo (Minotaur Books)

Song of the Lion by Anne Hillerman (HarperCollins)

The Last Cowboys of San Geronimo: A Novel by Ian Stansel (Houghton Mifflin)

The Right Wrong Number by Jim Nesbitt (Spotted Mule Press)

The Western Star by Craig Johnson (Viking)

Although Michael Connelly’s Two Kinds of Truth tops Marilyn Stasio’s list for her latest column in The New York Times Book Review, she also covers books by Lee Child, Rita Mae Brown and Henning Mankell. After you read her article, “Big-League Crimes, Solitary Victims and Galloping Escapism”, https://nyti.ms/2z1KLh8, check out the Web Store for copies, in some cases, signed copies of the books. https://store.poisonedpen.com

Douglas Preston recently sent this to The Poisoned Pen so we could share it with you. As he said, Cities of Gold will never be at this low price again.

The Old West’s last glimmers flicker through this piercingly beautiful adventure, an unforgettable saga. –Publishers Weekly Greetings to my dear readers, I wanted to let you know of a totally fantastic, unbelievable, fabulous and never-to-be-repeated deal to buy one of my very favorite books for $2.99!! That book is CITIES OF GOLD. It tells the true story of my thousand-mile journey on horseback across Arizona and New Mexico, retracing Coronado’s crazy search for the Seven Cities of Gold. It was my second book and I still believe it is one of the finest books I’ve ever written. I was 33 years old when I made this arduous journey in the year 1989. My partner Walter Nelson and I rode from the Mexican border through the harsh deserts and mountains of the American Southwest. We traveled cross-country, not following trails, and came close to killing ourselves in the process. We packed our supplies, found water and grass where we could, and slept under the stars. On several occasions we nearly died of thirst and at other times almost starved. Walter packed on horseback an 8 x 10 Deardorff view camera of the same kind used by Ansel Adams. He took thousands of beautiful photographs that captured the last dying glimmers of the Old West. We met many extraordinary people along the way, from ranchers, desert hermits and cowboys to Pueblo and Navajo Indians. But despite the dangers and extreme hardships, it was a staggeringly beautiful adventure, which changed both our lives forever. The book was originally published in 1992 without photographs, because my publisher said adding photos would make the book too expensive. I was really cast down by this decision. Many readers wrote me, asking: Where the heck are Walter’s photos? So now, I have created a new ebook edition of CITIES OF GOLD which includes over one hundred never-before-published photographs. Not only did I reproduce many evocative photos taken by Walter, but I also included scores of fascinating and rare historical photographs of Native Americans, pioneers, prospectors, Indian pueblos, and vanished landscapes.  This special ebook edition of CITIES OF GOLD is now available to you, my readers, for $2.99, but only for a very limited time.  If you have any interest in buying it, you should do so now because the price will go back up at the end of the month. The book will never, ever be sold at this low price again. Here are links to the special $2.99 ebook of CITIES OF GOLD Amazon Kindle iBooks Nook Kobo Reviews of CITIES OF GOLD “A fearful, fascinating tale.” -Los Angeles Times  “The Old West’s last glimmers flicker through this piercingly beautiful adventure, an unforgettable saga in which Preston, astride his horse Popeye, traverses the desert and mountain wilderness of Arizona and New Mexico retracing the trail-blazing 1540-41 expedition of Spanish Explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado in search of the legendary Seven Cities of Gold … In place of the mythical winning of the West, Preston unfolds a harrowing tale of loss.” -Publishers Weekly “The entire book is a sheer pleasure to read.“ -The San Diego Union-Tribune “A Blue Highways on horseback, well worth the trip.” -Kirkus Reviews “A riveting yarn, with as many turns as a switchback road.” -The Christian Science Monitor “A journey of historical importance.” -The New York Times Amazon Kindle iBooks Nook Kobo

It isn’t just USA Today that picked Michael Connelly’s Two Kinds of Truth as it’s hottest book of the week. The new Bosch novel is the Hot Book of the Week at The Poisoned Pen as well. You can order a signed copy through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2hsl41A

Here’s the summary.

Harry Bosch searches for the truth in the new thriller from #1 NYT bestselling author Michael Connelly

Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, recently hosted author Sarah Bailey. The two introduced readers to Gemma Woodstock, the lead homicide investigator in Bailey’s The Dark Lake. Although the bookstore sold all the copies of The Dark Lake that night, you can still order them through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2iPQ53c

You might want to order the first in this new Australian police procedural series, one very dependent on the character of Gemma. Here’s the summary of the book.

Rosalind’s secrets didn’t die with her.

The lead homicide investigator in a rural town, Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock is deeply unnerved when a high school classmate is found strangled, her body floating in a lake. And not just any classmate, but Rosalind Ryan, whose beauty and inscrutability exerted a magnetic pull on Smithson High School, first during Rosalind’s student years and then again when she returned to teach drama.

As much as Rosalind’s life was a mystery to Gemma when they were students together, her death presents even more of a puzzle. What made Rosalind quit her teaching job in Sydney and return to her hometown? Why did she live in a small, run-down apartment when her father was one of the town’s richest men? And despite her many admirers, did anyone in the town truly know her?

Rosalind’s enigmas frustrate and obsess Gemma, who has her own dangerous secrets–an affair with her colleague and past tragedies that may not stay in the past. Brilliantly rendered, THE DARK LAKE has characters as compelling and mysteries as layered as the best thrillers from Gillian Flynn and Sophie Hannah.

You can learn more about The Dark Lake and Gemma Woodstock through the Livestream program.  https://livestream.com/poisonedpen/events/7895396

USA Today picked Michael Connelly’s Two Kinds of Truth as the hottest book of the week. Author Joe Ide will host Connelly on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7 PM at Doubletree Resort Hilton Paradise Valley. Call the bookstore for details. Phone:(480) 947-2974,
Toll Free: (888) 560-9919. You can order a signed copy through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2hsl41A

Here’s what Jocelyn McClung said in USA Today.

1. Two Kinds of Truth by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown, fiction, on sale Oct. 31)

What it’s about: In Connelly’s 20th Harry Bosch book, the detective gets pulled into a prescription drug case while volunteering for the San Fernando police force; meanwhile an imprisoned killer from Bosch’s LAPD days claims the cop framed him.

The buzz: Connelly had a No. 1 USA TODAY best seller in July with The Late Show, in which he introduced a new character, Det. Renée Ballard.

Kate White brings back true crime writer Bailey Wiggins in her latest novel, Even If It Kills Her. You can order a copy through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2zRUqWM

First, you might want to read the summary.

Kate White returns to her New York Times bestselling Bailey Weggins’ Mystery series, with this favorite true-crime journalist turned sleuth’s most chilling case to date.

Bailey Weggins’ great new friend in college, Jillian Lowe, had everything going for her. Pretty, popular, and whip-smart, she lit up any room that she walked into. All of that dramatically changed during her sophomore year, when a neighbor became unhinged and murdered her family. Jillian immediately left school, and ever since, Bailey has felt guilty for not staying in closer contact and being a greater support to her friend.

Now, sixteen years later, Bailey is shocked to see Jillian at her book event, and even more stunned when her still-gorgeous friend approaches her with a case. The man accused of murdering her family is on the brink of being cleared of the crime through new DNA evidence. With the real killer walking free, Jillian is desperate for Bailey’s help to identify him and allow her the closure she yearns for.

As the two women return to Jillian’s childhood town to investigate, it doesn’t take long for their sleuthing to cause shock waves. Someone starts watching their every move. As they uncover deeply-guarded secrets, so shocking that they make Jillian rethink her entire relationship to her family, Bailey and Jillian find themselves in great peril. They must decide just how much they’re willing to risk to finally discover the truth about the Lowe family’s murder.

*****

Intrigued? You can also read John Valeri’s interview with author Kate White. It’s available on CriminalElement.com, at https://bit.ly/2z6diEa.

The Hot Book of the Week at The Poisoned Pen is a memoir, Scott Kelly’s Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery. You can order a signed copy through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2hlhPch

Here’s the summary.

A stunning, personal memoir from the astronaut and modern-day hero who spent a record-breaking year aboard the International Space Station—a message of hope for the future that will inspire for generations to come.

The veteran of four spaceflights and the American record holder for consecutive days spent in space, Scott Kelly has experienced things very few have. Now, he takes us inside a sphere utterly hostile to human life. He describes navigating the extreme challenge of long-term spaceflight, both life-threatening and mundane: the devastating effects on the body; the isolation from everyone he loves and the comforts of Earth; the catastrophic risks of colliding with space junk; and the still more haunting threat of being unable to help should tragedy strike at home–an agonizing situation Kelly faced when, on a previous mission, his twin brother’s wife, American Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was shot while he still had two months in space.

Kelly’s humanity, compassion, humor, and determination resonate throughout, as he recalls his rough-and-tumble New Jersey childhood and the youthful inspiration that sparked his astounding career, and as he makes clear his belief that Mars will be the next, ultimately challenging, step in spaceflight.

In Endurance, we see the triumph of the human imagination, the strength of the human will, and the infinite wonder of the galaxy.

When Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, hosted Laura Caldwell and Leslie S. Klinger, she turned the program over to them as editors of Anatomy of Innocence.  You can order a signed copy of this remarkable book through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2yaB5Uf

Why do I refer to it as remarkable? It includes pieces by authors such as Sara Paretsky, Scott Turow, Michael Harvey, Lee Child, dealing with The Innocence Project and testimony by people who were wrongly convicted of crimes, did prison time, and were eventually exonerated. You can watch the conversation on Livestream. https://livestream.com/poisonedpen/events/7872072

If you don’t have time to watch the entire program now, here’s the summary.

Wrongful convictions, long regarded as statistical anomalies in an otherwise sound justice system, now appear with frightening regularity. But few people understand just how or why they happen and, more important, the immeasurable consequences that often haunt the lucky few who are acquitted, years after they are proven innocent.

Now, in this groundbreaking anthology, fourteen exonerated inmates narrate their stories to a roster of high-profile mystery and thriller writers—including Lee Child, Sara Paretsky, Laurie R. King, Jan Burke and S. J. Rozan—while another exoneree’s case is explored in a previously unpublished essay by legendary playwright Arthur Miller. An astonishing and unique collaboration, these testimonies bear witness to the incredible stories of innocent men and women who were convicted of serious crimes and cast into the maw of a vast and deeply flawed American criminal justice system before eventually, and miraculously, being exonerated.

Introduced by best-selling authors Scott Turow and Barry Scheck, these master storytellers capture the tragedy of wrongful convictions as never before and challenge readers to confront the limitations and harsh realities of the American criminal justice system. Lee Child tells of Kirk Bloodsworth, who obsessively read about the burgeoning field of DNA testing, cautiously hoping that it held the key to his acquittal—until he eventually became the first person to be exonerated from death row based on DNA evidence. Judge John Sheldon and author Gayle Lynds team up to share Audrey Edmunds’s experience raising her children long distance from her prison cell. And exoneree Gloria Killian recounts to S. J. Rozan her journey from that fateful “knock on the door” and the initial shock of accusation to the scars she carries today.

Together, the powerful stories collected within the Anatomy of Innocence detail every aspect of the experience of wrongful conviction, as well as the remarkable depths of endurance sustained by each exoneree who never lost hope.