Congratulations to the Agatha Award nominees, 2023 titles. The awards will be presented at Malice Domestic. Check the list, and then the Webstore for your favorite titles. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
Best Contemporary Novels
Byron, Ellen – Wined and Dined in New Orleans Dashofy, Annette – Helpless Laskowski, Tara – The Weekend Retreat Moss, Korina – Case of the Bleus Pandian, Gigi – The Raven Thief
Historical Mystery Novels
Calkins, Susanna – Death Among the Ruins Connally, Celeste – Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord Flower, Amanda – I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died Head, Cheryl A. – Time’s Undoing Massey, Sujata – The Mistress of Bhatia House
Best First Mystery Novel
Arceneaux, Danielle – Glory Be Kisska, Kristin – The Hint of Light Pachter, Josh – The Dutch Threat Silver, Daphne – Crime and Parchment Simon, Nina – Mother-Daughter Murder Night
Best Children’s/YA Mystery Novels
Bunce, Elizabeth C. – Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity Jackson, K.B. – The Sasquatch of Hawthorne Elementary Segura, Alex – Arana and Spider-Man 2099: Dark Tomorrow Souders, Taryn – The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle Springer, Nancy – Enola Holmes and the Mark of the Mongoose
Best Nonfiction
Babbar, Anjili – Finders: Justice, Faith, and Identity in Irish Crime Fiction Bordwell, David – Perplexing Plots: Popular Storytelling and the Poetics of Murder Dawidziak, Mark – A Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe Morgan, Robert – Fallen Angel: The Life of Edgar Allan Poe.
John Charles recently welcomed author Hannah Dennison back to The Poisoned Pen. Her latest novel is Dagger of Death at Honeychurch Hall. You can order a copy through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/482FmFx
Here’s the summary of Dagger of Death at Honeychurch Hall.
‘Just the thing to chase the blues away’ M. C. Beaton
Is it a question of turn the other cheek… or an eye for an eye?
At last St Mary’s church is going to have its own vicar! Not only that, the gorgeous Reverend Pritchard is sixty, single… and in need of a wife.
But when he spearheads a campaign to restore a derelict chapel – rumoured to be haunted by a German Luftwaffe pilot- in a far-flung corner of the Honeychurch estate, the Dowager Countess puts her foot down. But nobody quite understands why…
Meanwhile, a fierce bidding war at an auction of military memorabilia ends in Kat’s female adversary being murdered and Kat being held as the prime suspect. And then it turns out that several of the auctioned items are connected to Operation Tiger, a doomed rehearsal for the D-Day landings that took place in nearby Slapton Sands all those years ago. And Kat begins to realise that the vicar, the Luftwaffe ghost and all the World War II weaponry may all somehow be related…
Praise for Hannah Dennison:
‘The perfect classic English village mystery but with the addition of charm, wit and a thoroughly modern touch’ Rhys Bowen
‘Downton Abbey was yesterday. Murder at Honeychurch Hall lifts the lid on today’s grand country estate in all its tarnished, scheming, inbred, deranged glory’ Catriona McPherson
‘Will delight fans and new readers alike’ People’s Friend
‘A fun read’ Carola Dunn
‘Sparkles like a glass of Devon cider on a summer afternoon’ Elizabeth Duncan
Hannah Dennison was born and raised in Hampshire but moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting more than two decades ago. She has been an obituary reporter, antique dealer, private jet flight attendant and Hollywood story analyst. Hannah writes the Honeychurch Hall Mystery Series and Vicky Hill Mystery Series, both of which are set in the wilds of the English countryside. She currently divides her time between California and the West Country.
Enjoy John Charles’ conversation with Hannah Dennison.
The conversations between Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, and author David Rosenfelt are always fun ones between friends and dog lovers. Rosenfelt was at bookstore to talk about two Andy Carpenter books, Flop Dead Gorgeous and ‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas. You can order signed copies of both books through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/4briKRS
Here’s the description of Flop Dead Gorgeous.
Lights, camera, action in bestselling author David Rosenfelt’s Flop Dead Gorgeous, as Andy Carpenter goes bicoastal to prove an old friend’s innocence.
Retired lawyer Andy Carpenter remembers every dog that’s come through the Tara Foundation’s doors, but the most well-known alum of the dog rescue organization that Andy founded in Paterson, New Jersey, may be Mamie. Adopted by famous actress Jenny Nichols—Andy’s high school girlfriend—the miniature French poodle is now practically a starlet in her own right.
Andy doesn’t hold it against his friend. In fact, he and his wife, Laurie, have dinner with Jenny while she’s in town filming her next big hit. But after an eventful meal, there’s a plot twist the next morning that none of them see coming: Jenny’s costar is found dead, a knife in his back. It’s not long before Jenny is arrested for the murder and finds herself in need of Andy’s legal services.
While Mamie becomes reacquainted with Tara, Andy’s golden retriever, Andy digs into the lives of the rich and famous.
DAVID ROSENFELT is the Edgar-nominated and Shamus Award-winning author of more than twenty Andy Carpenter novels, including One Dog Night, Collared, and Deck the Hounds; its spinoff series, The K-Team; the Doug Brock thriller series, which starts with Fade to Black; and stand-alone thrillers including Heart of a Killer and On Borrowed Time. Rosenfelt and his wife live in Maine with an ever-changing pack of rescue dogs. Their epic cross-country move with 25 of these dogs, culminating in the creation of the Tara Foundation, is chronicled in Dogtripping.
Here’s ‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas.
In National Bestseller David Rosenfelt’s ‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas, all through the Carpenter house, five dogs are stirring, and not even Andy can get out of working this latest case at his door.
Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter is at the Tara Foundation’s annual Christmas party. The dog rescue organization has always been his true calling, and this is one holiday tradition he can get behind because every dog that’s come through the rescue—and their families—are invited to celebrate.
This year’s party is no exception. But before the stockings can be hung by the chimney with care, homicide detectives ruin the evening. Derek Moore, one of the foundation’s best foster volunteers, is arrested for murder.
Andy discovers Derek—whose real name is Bobby—is in the witness protection program after giving evidence against his former gang. The police believe Bobby murdered a member. But Bobby swears to Andy he didn’t do this. He’s built a new life, a new business, has two new dogs after being a double foster-failure.
There isn’t much Andy likes about this case, but he likes Bobby. If he’s innocent, Andy wants to help. Before Andy can settle down for his long winter’s nap, he has a client’s name to clear, a murderer to catch, and two new dogs to look after: a golden and a Dalmatian. Andy’s golden retriever, Tara, will have to adjust to not being the only golden at the house while Andy gets to the bottom of this one…
Enjoy the conversation between two people who have been together for all of David Rosenfelt’s books.
Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, recently welcomed debut author Kemper Donovan, along with Mike Lawson, to the bookstore. Lawson was there to talk about his latest Washington insider thriller, Kingpin. Donovan’s debut is The Busy Body. There are signed copies of both books available in the Webstore. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
Here is the description of Kingpin.
The latest pulse-pounding thriller from Edgar and Barry Award finalist Mike Lawson starring his beloved Washington DC “troubleshooter” Joe DeMarco.
Carson Newman doesn’t think of himself as a gangster. He doesn’t have a consigliere or operate out of the back room of a bar. No, Carson’s a different sort of gangster, a billionaire Boston real estate developer, who only breaks the law when necessary—and he doesn’t usually get his hands dirty.
Joe DeMarco, on the other hand, is paid to get his hands dirty. So, when John Mahoney, the former Speaker of the House, calls, DeMarco knows it’s time to get to work. Brian Lewis, an intern who worked for Mahoney, has been found dead, seemingly from a drug overdose. But Brian didn’t seem like a drug user, and even more concerning, he seemed to be on the cusp of releasing a report that identified a group of politicians who had taken bribes.
Brian’s mom is convinced that Brian was murdered because of what he’d learned, and it doesn’t take long for DeMarco to come to a similar conclusion. A conclusion that points to Carson Newman’s empire.
In a city full of shadowy agreements and duplicitous deals, DeMarco will soon learn that to get to the bottom of Brian’s death, he’ll have to look at people perched the very top of the world.
Mike Lawson is a former senior civilian executive for the US Navy. He is the Edgar Award-nominated author of more than fifteen novels starring Joe DeMarco and three novels with his protagonist Kay Hamilton.
Kemper Donovan is the host of the podcast “All About Agatha”. For seven years, he’s been talking about Agatha Christie. Of course, Christie inspires Donovan’s debut, The Busy Body.
Veep meets Agatha Christie in this intelligent, wildly funny, literary mystery for fans of Richard Osman, Anthony Horowitz, and Nita Prose!
The host of the “All About Agatha” podcast injects the spark and fizz of a Golden Age murder mystery into the present-day, as a ghostwriter is chosen to collaborate on a presidential candidate’s memoir, only to discover just how much trouble a smart woman with time on her hands can get up to . . .
“A delight from start to finish. If you like Agatha Christie, you’ll love this.” – Alex Michaelides, # 1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient
“I tell other people’s stories for a living. . . . I nip and tuck their excesses, soften their hard edges, polish whatever an armada of editors and publicists deem unsightly till it sparkles.”
It’s a dream assignment. Former Senator Dorothy Gibson, aka that woman, is the most talked-about person in the country right now, though largely for the wrong reasons. As an independent candidate for President of the United States, Dorothy split the vote and is being blamed for the shocking result. After her very public defeat, she’s retreated to her home in rural Maine, inviting her ghostwriter to join her.
Her collaborator is impressed by Dorothy’s work ethic and steel-trap mind, not to mention the stunning surroundings (and one particularly gorgeous bodyguard). But when a neighbor dies under suspicious circumstances, Dorothy is determined to find the killer in their midst. And when Dorothy Gibson asks if you want to team up for a top secret, possibly dangerous murder investigation, the only answer is: “Of course!”
The best ghostwriters are adept at asking questions and spinning stories . . . two talents, it turns out, that also come in handy for sleuths. Dorothy’s political career, meanwhile, has made her an expert at recognizing lies and double-dealing. Working together, the two women are soon untangling motives and whittling down suspects, to the exasperation of local police. But this investigation—much like the election—may not unfold the way anyone expects . . .
“Kemper Donovan’s voice is original, captivating, and assured.” —Taylor Jenkins Reid, bestselling author of Daisy Jones & the Six
“Kemper Donovan has created a hugely entertaining character, a ghost writer and amateur sleuth, who is wry, gossipy and completely compelling. The investigation into a murder disguised as a suicide is full of twists and turns worthy of a classic mystery novel.” —Alex Michaelides, New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient
“A gripping and highly entertaining mystery, with ingenuity and flair aplenty, and a wonderful detective character that readers will be dying to meet again.” —Sophie Hannah, New York Times bestselling author
“The Busy Body is a thoroughly modern, Agatha-Christie-esque mystery set in a sumptuous corner of moneyed, Maine wilderness. It’s a delightfully escapist, page-turner.” —Kimberly McCreight, New York Times bestselling author of Friends Like These
Kemper Donovan is an acclaimed author and host of the podcast “All About Agatha.” A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, he worked at the literary management company Circle of Confusion for a decade before transitioning to writing full-time. He is a member of the New York Bar Association, PEN America, and Mystery Writers of America. He lives with his husband and daughters in Los Angeles and can be found online at KemperDonovan.com.
Enjoy “meeting” Kemper Donovan, if you haven’t already, and listening to Mike Lawson.
Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, recently welcomed Benjamin Stevenson for a virtual event. Stevenson, author of last year’s hit, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, is back with the sequel, Everyone on This Train is a Suspect. Stevenson says it’s a standalone sequel, as all Golden Age mysteries are. There are signed copies of Everyone on This Train is a Suspect in the Webstore. https://bit.ly/4948wWg
Here’s the description of Everyone on This Train is a Suspect.
From the bestselling author of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, a fiendishly fun locked room (train) murder mystery that “offers a tip of the hat to the great Agatha Christie novel while at the same time being a modern reinvention of it” (Nita Prose) — perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Anthony Horowitz
When the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society invited me to their crime-writing festival aboard the Ghan, the famous train between Darwin and Adelaide, I was hoping for some inspiration for my second book. Fiction, this time: I needed a break from real people killing each other. Obviously, that didn’t pan out.
The program is a who’s who of crime writing royalty:
the debut writer (me!)
the forensic science writer
the blockbuster writer
the legal thriller writer
the literary writer
the psychological suspense writer
But when one of us is murdered, the remaining authors quickly turn into five detectives. Together, we should know how to solve a crime.
Of course, we should also know how to commit one.
How can you find a killer when all the suspects know how to get away with murder?
Benjamin Stevenson is an award-winning stand-up comedian and author. He has sold out shows from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival all the way to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has appeared on ABCTV, Channel 10, and The Comedy Channel. Offstage, Benjamin has worked for publishing houses and literary agencies in Australia and the USA. He currently works with some of Australia’s best-loved authors at Curtis Brown Australia. He is the author of three novels, including Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.
Enjoy the conversation about Stevenson’s books and Golden Age mysteries.
John Charles from The Poisoned Pen hosted authors Allison Brennan and Cate Quinn. Quinn, the author of The Clinic, is from England. Brennan, author of The Missing Witness, the fifth Quinn and Costa thriller, now lives in the Valley. There are signed copies of both books available in the Webstore. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
Here’s the description of The Clinic.
“A superior, creeping psychological thriller taut with tension and drama.” —The Seattle Times
“Easily the creepiest setting for a suspense novel since the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King’s The Shining.” —BookPage
From the critically acclaimed author of Black Widows comes a thriller set in a remote rehab clinic on the Pacific Northwest coast, in which the death of a woman inside prompts her sister to enter the clinic as a patient in order to find the truth. Perfect for fans of Stacy Willingham and Tarryn Fisher!
Meg works for a casino in LA, catching cheaters and popping a few too many pain pills to cope, following a far different path than her sister Haley, a famous actress. But suddenly reports surface of Haley dying at the remote rehab facility where she had been forced to go to get her addictions under control.
There are whispers of suicide, but Meg can’t believe it. She decides that the best way to find out what happened to her sister is to check in herself—to investigate what really happened from the inside.
Battling her own addictions and figuring out the truth will be much more difficult than she imagined, far away from friends, family—and anyone who could help her.
Cate Quinn is a bestselling historical thriller novelist in the UK under the name C.S. Quinn—her Charlie Tuesday series for Thomas & Mercer UK sold over 350,000 copies across four books, and 35,000 ebooks in the U.S. She is also a travel and lifestyle journalist for The Times, The Guardian, and The Mirror, alongside many magazines. This is her first novel as Cate Quinn.
Here’s the description of The Missing Witness.
“This latest installment will likely satisfy Quinn and Costa’s loyal followers and attract those curious about the interplay between public policy, law enforcement, and politics.” —Booklist
When a key witness goes missing, Quinn & Costa must find her before a killer silences her for good…
Detective Kara Quinn is back in Los Angeles to testify against a notorious human trafficker, finally moving past the case that upended her life. But when the accused is shot in broad daylight, the chaotic scene of the crime turns up few reliable bystanders. And one witness—a whistleblower who might be the key to everything—has disappeared.
After another person close to the case is killed, it’s clear that anyone who knows too much is in danger, and tracking down the witness becomes a matter of life-and-death. But as explosive secrets surface within the LAPD and FBI, Kara questions everything she thought she knew about the case, her colleagues and the life she left behind months ago.
Now with FBI special agent Matt Costa’s help, she must race to find the missing witness and get to the bottom of the avalanche of conspiracies that has rocked LA to its core…before it’s too late.
A Quinn & Costa Thriller
Book 1: The Third to Die Book 2: Tell No Lies Book 3: The Wrong Victim Book 4: Seven Girls Gone Book 5: The Missing Witness
ALLISON BRENNAN is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over thirty novels. She has been nominated for Best Paperback Original Thriller by International Thriller Writers and the Daphne du Maurier Award. A former consultant in the California State Legislature, Allison lives in Arizona with her husband, five kids and assorted pets.
John Charles always leads interesting discussions. Enjoy the conversation.
Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, welcomed Brad Taylor to the bookstore, for his eighteenth Pike Logan thriller. He’s been at the Pen for all of his books. He talked about the three things that could go wrong with this book. You can order signed copies of Dead Man’s Hand through the Webstore. http://tinyurl.com/mvaaxyfd
Here’s the summary of Dead Man’s Hand.
New York Times bestselling author and former special forces officer Brad Taylor is back with a propulsive and topical edge-of-your-seat thriller featuring Pike Logan as he goes head-to-head with Putin’s henchmen.
To finally end the war between their nations, a rogue band of Ukranian partisans known as the Wolves teams up with members of Russia’s military intelligence to assassinate Vladimir Putin.
But Putin is aware of the traitors in his midst and assigns the loyal commander of the Russian National Guard to root them out. It’s a mission Victor Petrov is expected to undertake after he prevents Sweden from joining NATO—by assassinating a deputy minister of foreign affairs.
After receiving intelligence about the threat in Sweden, the United States sends Pike Logan to identify Petrov’s target—only for him to get caught in the crossfire between Putin’s agents and the Wolves. When the smoke clears, Pike makes no effort to stop the Wolves on their ultimate mission, believing it just, until he discovers that their operation has unimaginable consequences.
For Putin is preparing a devastating endgame: activating the Dead Man’s Hand nuclear response that will launch Russia’s missiles in the event of his death. . .
Brad Taylor, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), is a twenty-one-year veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry and Special Forces, including eight years with Delta Force. Taylor retired in 2010 after serving more than two decades and participating in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has written seventeen New York Times bestsellers and is a security consultant on asymmetric threats for various agencies. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife and two daughters.
If you’re a fan of current military history, you’ll want to listen to this conversation.
Author Karen Odden was guest host for Mariah Fredericks’ recent appearance for The Poisoned Pen. Fredericks’ latest book, The Wharton Plot, features Edith Wharton. There are signed copies of The Wharton Plot available in the Webstore. http://tinyurl.com/5n992tmy
Here’s the summary of The Wharton Plot.
Mariah Fredericks’ mesmerizing novel, The Wharton Plot, follows renowned novelist Edith Wharton in the twilight years of the Gilded Age in New York as she tracks a killer.
New York City, 1911. Edith Wharton, almost equally famed for her novels and her sharp tongue, is bone-tired of Manhattan. Finding herself at a crossroads with both her marriage and her writing, she makes the decision to leave America, her publisher, and her loveless marriage.
And then, dashing novelist David Graham Phillips—a writer with often notorious ideas about society and women’s place in it—is shot to death outside the Princeton Club. Edith herself met the man only once, when the two formed a mutual distaste over tea in the Palm Court of the Belmont hotel. When Phillips is killed, Edith’s life takes another turn. His sister is convinced Graham was killed by someone determined to stop the publication of his next book, which promised to uncover secrets that powerful people would rather stayed hidden. Though unconvinced, Edith is curious. What kind of book could push someone to kill?
Inspired by a true story, The Wharton Plot follows Edith Wharton through the fading years of the Gilded Age in a city she once loved so well, telling a taut tale of fame, love, and murder, as she becomes obsessed with solving a crime.
MARIAH FREDERICKS was born, raised, and still lives in New York City. She graduated from Vassar College with a degree in history. She is the author of the Jane Prescott mystery series, which has twice been nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award, as well as several YA novels. She can be reached through her website.
John Charles is always pleased to welcome a debut author to The Poisoned Pen. Mary Liza Hartong’s Love and Hot Chicken is “A Delicious Southern Novel”. Release date is February 20, but you can pre-order a copy through the Webstore. http://tinyurl.com/3r2h3bx2
The debut of a dynamite new voice from the South, Love and Hot Chicken is a spicy and hilarious Tennessee story about family, friendship, fried chicken, and two girls in love.
The Chickie Shak is something of a historical landmark. Red clapboard walls, thriving wasp population, yard-toilets resplendent with sunflowers. My best friend Lee Ray and I used to come after our softball games and snag a picnic table while our mammas ordered the home team special. Truth is, most people around here order the same thing until the day somebody throws their ashes off a roller coaster at Dollywood. The line snakes around the building as far as you can see, the grimiest bunch of Jessies, Pearls, and Scooters you ever did behold, hobnobbing in the parking lot from noon until night.
When PJ Spoon returns home for her beloved daddy’s funeral, she doesn’t expect to stick around. Why abandon her PhD program at Vanderbilt for the humble charms of her hometown, Pennywhistle, Tennessee? Mamma’s broken heart, that’s why. But truth be told, PJ’s own heart ain’t doing too good either. She impulsively takes a job as a fry cook at Pennywhistle’s beloved Chickie Shak, where locals gather for Nashville-style hot chicken. It may not be glamorous, but it’s something to do.
Fate shakes up PJ’s life again when the town rallies around the terribly retro and terribly fun Hot Chicken Pageant. PJ finally notices her cute redheaded coworker Boof, a singer-songwriter with a talent as striking as her curly hair, and learns to fear her smack-talking manager, Linda.
As PJ and Boof fall for each other, Boof’s search for her birth mother—a Pennywhistle native—catapults the budding couple into a mystery that might be better left unsolved. The Chickie Shak pageant takes off, spurring old rivalries and new friendships in this tale of unexpected connections and new beginnings.
Mary Liza Hartong lives and writes in her hometown of Nashville. She graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in English and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She also holds a master’s from Dartmouth in Creative Writing and a master’s from the University College Cork in British and American Literature via Fulbright grant. Mary Liza is the aunt of five boisterous nieces and a proud member of the queer community. When she’s not writing, you can find her combing yard sales for treasures with her fiancée, Bridget. Love and Hot Chicken is her first novel.
Enjoy John Charles’ interview and introduction to Mary Liza Hartong.
Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, recently welcomed Kate Alice Marshall back to the bookstore for a live event. There are signed copies of Marshall’s latest book, No One Can Know, available in the Webstore. http://tinyurl.com/ydx58f4r
Here is the description of No One Can Know.
Three sisters, two murders, and too many secrets to count. “A propulsive and intricate psychological thriller. . . Meticulously plotted. . .Family connections prove both their damage and their worth in this community-focused thriller.” —Kirkus(starred review)
Fourteen years ago, the Palmer sisters—Emma, Juliette, and Daphne—left their home in Arden Hills and never returned. But when Emma discovers she’s pregnant and her husband loses his job, she has no option but to return to the house that she and her estranged sisters still own . . . and where their parents were murdered.
Emma has never told anyone what she saw the night her parents died, even when she became the prime suspect. But her presence in the house threatens to uncover secrets that have stayed hidden for years, and the sisters are drawn together once again. As they face their memories of the past, rivalries restart, connections are forged, and, for the first time, Emma starts to ask questions about what really happened that night.
The more Emma learns, the more riddles emerge. And Emma begins to wonder just what her siblings will do to keep the past buried, and whether she did the right thing staying quiet about what was whispered that night: “No one can know.”
Kate Alice Marshall is the author of the young adult novels I Am Still Alive, Rules for Vanishing, and Our Last Echoes, as well as the Secrets of Eden Eld middle grade series. She lives outside of Seattle, where she spends her time playing board games, tending a chaotic vegetable garden, and wrangling dogs and children. No One Can Know is her second adult novel.
