Winter 2019WX Issue 85 $6.00 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

Kristopher Zgorski on Domesticity & Suspense

Barry Award Nominations 2019

Maigret in New Translations

Hank Phillippi Ryan TRUST ME

Reviews WX Reviewed to Death WX Columns WX New Books WX What’s New in U.K. WX Articles 2 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

what is happening in the minds of the characters is more important than the advancement of the main plot. Domesticity & Suspense As we see with Megan Abbott’s blending of noir fi ction with psycho- logical suspense, the latter sub-genre is becoming increasingly versatile to the by Kristopher Zgorski point that it can be incorporated into any number of other styles to ratchet up the emotional impact for the reader. istory may show that we are cur- gan Abbott began her career in novels Let’s examine just a few of the adapta- Hrently living in the Golden Age by writing fairly traditional noir plots tions of psychological suspense we have of Psychological Suspense. Certainly, that highlighted the female characters seen in just this current publishing year: works like GONE GIRL (A-) by Gillian over the testosterone-laden works seen Flynn and THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN in that arena’s classics. In works like Thrillers (B-) by Paula Hawkins have brought the Edgar-Award winning QUEENPIN this sub-genre to the forefront of crime (A+) and the multi-award nominated y design, thrillers tend to be the fi ction reader’s minds. Works that look BURY ME DEEP (A), Abbott turned Bmost plot-focused of the crime at crime from a psychological angle the noir tropes on their head and al- sub-genres. Readers who enjoy that have been with us since the dawn of the lowed her female characters to reclaim category are looking for adventurous genre itself. In fact, one could make an the strength that was oft en denied them plots that move along at a very fast argument for the fact that Shakespeare in earlier writings in that style. clip, so the idea that one could blend was writing psychological crime epics Aft er having made her mark by in psychological elements seems like long before such categorization existed. altering the reader’s perception in these it would be anathema to the overar- For example, both Hamlet and Macbeth pastiche-style works, Megan then tran- ching desires of the genre. However, deal with murders that take excessive sitioned to writing novels in which the readers will fi nd that adding the depth tolls on the mental stability of their lead protagonists were younger girls. Oft en of psychology to such tales can raise characters. But that is a discussion for mislabeled at young adult novels, these the stakes and create deeper audience another time. works really are not geared for that investment in the character’s decisions. audience. Th ey are dark tales designed A novel like THE REAL MICHAEL to show how the oppression of women SWANN (B) by Brian Reardon about in our modern society begins at a very a terrorist bombing in Grand Central young age. By watching how characters like Lizzie and Evie in THE END OF EVERYTHING (B) and Addy and Beth in DARE ME (A) navigate the unique Deadly Pleasures (ISSN 1069-6601) challenges they face as young women in is published quarterly for $24.00 Gillian Flynn (U.S.) a year by Refunding Makes Gillian Flynn a threatening society, readers witness the birth of a new style that is distinctly Cents, Inc., 1718 Ridge Point Dr., her own and could now justifi ably by Bountiful, UT 84010 In many ways, it seems that modern labeled “Megan Abbott-esque.” POSTMASTER: Send address chang- psychological suspense is a reaction Both of these writing periods in es to Deadly Pleasures, 1718 Ridge to or antithesis of the noir sub-genre. Abbott’s career put a spotlight on the Point Dr., Bountiful, UT 84010 While the noir category is highlighted psychological aspects involved with the by works with macho male protagonists, crimes, but never one to repeat herself, PERIODICALS POSTAGE paid at more excessive violence, and a darker with her 2018 novel, GIVE ME YOUR Bountiful, UT 84010 worldview, the version of psychological HAND (A), Megan Abbott blends these suspense we are seeing lately expand two styles together and gives readers the on the more traditional female-led tales story of a female friendship that begins that favor manipulation over violence. in youth before transitioning into a If readers look at an author like more competitive, and arguably, more Megan Abbott, they can see an evolu- noir-like relationship later in life. It is in tion which shows that the trademark this work where the elements of psycho- elements of various sub-genres continue logical suspense really kick into high to blur – making for a richer reading gear for Megan Abbott. In many ways, experience for fans of crime fi ction. Me------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 3

conundrum of being forced to balanc- ing her faith in family with her duty to country lays the groundwork for deep psychological analysis of motive.

Serial Killer Novels

eaders never seem to get tired of Rthe various permutations of the serial killer novel. In 2018, we saw some Lori Roy interesting ways for those themes to be woven into what are basically psycho- police purview. When his actions go just logical suspense novels. a step too far he becomes the suspect One of my favorite reads of the year, in a crime and must use all of his wits Jennifer Hillier’s JAR OF HEARTS to outsmart both a diabolical criminal (A+), lures readers in with a heroine who and a determined pair of authorities. once dated a serial killer. Her involve- Lori Roy’s Southern Gothic epic, THE ment with him lands them both in jail, DISAPPEARING (A), is another novel but upon her release, it seems that this that uses the history of a serial killer as a killer may still be active. Readers get so cornerstone for a new case that alters an deep into Georgina’s mind that every entire town and its citizens. Terminal easily makes for an action-ori- decision and choice she agonizes over ented reading experience, but when you aff ects the reader as well. One would Closed Circle of Suspects throw in the complexity of a marriage expect the motives of this serial killer to in turmoil, the stakes are raised and be psychologically sound – and indeed ocked Room mysteries are more readers become more invested in the they are – but what is unexpected and Loft en written in the puzzle style, outcome for that relationship than elevates this book above other such but authors have begun to discover that simply following the expected thrills off erings is that Hillier also explores suspense stories with a limited pool of provided by the genre. Similarly, Cath- Georgina’s mental state throughout suspects allow for deeper examination erine McKenzie uses the backdrop of a the various signifi cant events dictating when using the close confi nes to elevate domestic terror attack as the launching her life journey. FIND YOU IN THE the psychological impact on their char- point for THE GOOD LIAR (B-), a nov- DARK (B-) by Nathan Ripley pres- acter’s psyches. el that goes on to examine its eff ect on ents family man Martin Reese secretly In both Lori Rader-Day’s UNDER three diff erent women. Th e psychology hunting for serial killers outside of A DARK SKY (A) and GO TO MY behind each of these characters’ choices GRAVE (A) by Catriona McPherson, will have readers contemplating what reunion-style vacations of childhood they would do under similar circum- friends lead to excavation of criminal stances. In her debut SOMETHING IN events from the past that have shattered THE WATER (A), actress Catherine the long-standing friendships. By set- Steadman bursts onto the crime fi ction ting their novels in unique settings, both scene with a book that places her happy of these authors weave the environment couple right in the middle of a major into the sensibility of their characters. threat. Because they are dealing with Similarly, in Jane Harper’s FORCE OF stress inducing factors – among them NATURE (A), a corporate retreat into job concerns, trust issues, and fi nancial the wilds of Australia goes awry when woes – readers watch as their mindset one of the participants fails to reach the deteriorates, making a bad situation fi nal destination. Th e wilderness locale even worse. On the surface, Karen mirrors the convoluted minds of those Cleveland’s NEED TO KNOW (B+), gathered within it. is a standard fare political thriller, but because a full fi ft y-percent of the novel deals with the eff ect this FBI agents ca- Domestic Suspense reer (and especially the current case) has on her marriage – aft er all, her husband his brings us to one of the larger is a suspected agent of espionage – the Tcategories under the psychological suspense umbrella – the domestics. Re- 4 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------lationship dynamics are oft en the thread look at the profound psychological and that feeds the psychological suspense emotional eff ect motherhood has on elements within these novels, so it only women. Th is is such ripe territory for makes sense that marriages (both good exploring the ramifi cations of such a and bad), parent/child power struggles, major life change. Similarly, when the and other family-related stresses would wife in Leila Slimani’s THE PEFECT be popular topics for authors writing in NANNY (B) decides she wishes to this sub-genre. return to the workforce, she and her husband have no idea that inviting a Marriages stranger into their home will change their lives forever. Th is slim volume et’s start with what is probably the packs an emotional punch with its abili- Lmost common of these themes – the ty to express the psychological quirks of oft en volatile and always complex dy- each of the main characters. namics within a committed relationship. Th e children don’t always get off easy Reading crime fi ction would give one either. In Zoje Stage’s BABY TEETH the sense that no marriage is completely (B), a mother is terrorized by her seven- happy and that in many ways, it is im- year-old daughter, who would much possible to truly know another person. prefer to just have a daddy. When the Without debating the validity of such a husband and father begins to doubt statement, a look at the books that fall the sanity of his wife, things escalate to way this can go smoothly. Th e cat and under this area certainly prove there is dangerous levels. mouse game of psychological warfare much to examine in this arena. Greer It is no surprise that a novelist of between these two women reaches epic Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen scru- Hank Phillippi Ryan’s caliber would level and readers have no idea who to tinized the tension between a wife and combine multiple aspects of this theme believe. her husband’s mistress in the twisty and into one novel. In TRUST ME (A+), the In another twist on the parent/child unexpected THE WIFE BETWEEN POV character is dealing with the tragic interaction, the female detective at the US (B). Very much in the vein of one of death of her husband and child. When core of Caz Frear’s SWEET LITTLE psychological suspense’s masters, Pa- she is asked to write a narrative non-fi c- LIES (A) has always suspected that her tricia Highsmith, TANGERINE (B) by tion book covering the trial of a mother father had something to do with the Christine Mangan seduces readers with accused of killing her daughter, she disappearance of a local girl. Years later, an intoxicating spell. Th e exotic Mo- thinks this might help her to move on. with her now on the UK police force, roccan setting is just one reason for the Readers know otherwise, because this is that missing girl turns up – newly dead heat between Alice; her college friend, psychological suspense, and there is no – and this throws our heroine into a Lucy; and Alice’s husband in this stylish psychological tailspin. Was she wrong novel. Since marriages are oft en an about her father or does the current important component in other examples investigation only lead right back to his of domestic suspense themes, this will doorstep? always be important as a core element in this varied sub-genre category. #Metoo

Parenting n a surprise to no one, readers have Iseen an infl ux of books that appear to be reacting directly to the #metoo s if parenting were not challenging movement. However, most of these enough, domestic suspense authors A books were in process before this issue weave wicked tales that would make any moved into the mainstream, so it is expectant parent loose sleep. THE PER- likely that we will see even more in the FECT MOTHER (A) is Aimee Molloy’s coming years. Alafair Burke’s THE debut and it is certainly a gripping tale. WIFE (A+) is a prime example of a book When a group of new mothers go out that couldn’t be timelier if it tried. But for a night on the town, one of their ba- what she does by allowing readers to see bies is kidnapped from his crib, sending how accusations of sexual misconduct the police off on an investigation that aff ect one of the individuals oft en for- throws suspicion on everyone. But the gotten in such cases – the spouse of the novel is more than just that, it is also a ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 5 accused of murder. What is interesting in these two examples is that it seems ical impact of abuse and an infatuation marketing chose to use initials for the with his step-mother pushes all kinds of author’s names, likely to obfuscate the boundaries. fact that they are male writers. In the case of Finn’s book, where the protag- Unreliable Narrators onist is female, this might be a bit less surprising, but Logan’s book features a his article would be remiss in not male protagonist, so the choice seems Tmentioning the plethora of unreli- odd and unnecessary. Most readers of able narrators in psychological suspense. psychological suspense are female (most Oft en considered a negative trope of the readers in general, in fact), and while it sub-genre, when executed successfully, is not uncommon for male readers to it can be a very eff ective way to keep say they will not read female writers, the reader wrong-footed throughout the reverse situation seems much less a book. Th e narrator of Alice Feeney’s common. In any case, these authors SOMETIMES I LIE (B) tells the read- should not be shy about embracing er on page one that she is not always their exploration of domestic suspense honest, so anyone who puts too much because clearly, based on sales, read- stock in what she tells them in the novel ers are willing to journey with them. had fair warning. Th e fact that she is in a My favorite example of a male author coma for the duration of the novel only writing domestic suspense came a few complicates matters. Th e psychological accused – is nothing short of revelatory. years back: Ben McPherson’s A LINE manipulation comes through in both the Th at she manages to avoid making it a OF BLOOD (A+). Here is a novel that fl ashback sections from before the coma cut and dried issue (because let’s face it, weaves both the marriage and parenting and a childhood diary that factors into it rarely is) is a testament to her talent elements into a story that contains true the story. and willingness to take serious risks in surprises and off ers no easy answers. Lisa Unger’s UNDER MY SKIN (B+) her writing. Similarly, ANATOMY OF Fans such as myself hope for a new spends much of the novel in a drug and A SCANDAL (C+) by Sarah Vaughn novel from McPherson sooner rather alcohol haze which results in severe lack becomes even more fascinating now that than later. of sleep – such that she is unable to tell we as a society have experienced the the diff erence between reality and the court hearings related to Brett Kava- hallucinations that plague her in those naugh’s Supreme Court nominations moments between sleeping and wakeful- and Christine Blasey Ford’s accusations ness. Th is keeps the reader also always against him. Vaughn’s novel is set in the wondering if what is happening on the UK parliament, but that only confi rms page is real or imagined. Th e characters in Liz Nugent’s LY- the universal nature and proliferation of ING IN WAIT (B) do not appear to be these types of situations. unreliable on the surface, but readers quickly learn they are playing psycholog- Male Authors ical games with each other and it is im- possible to trust any of them as a result. rom reading this article, it would Th is book and the creepy house setting Fseem that most domestic and psy- contains many surprises and proves that chological suspense authors are female dark tales can sometimes be even more and this would be true. However, more emotionally devastating when the reader and more male writers are exploring is not expecting it. the domestic suspense realm. An author To bring the article back around to like A. J. Finn can write an enjoyable the beginning, the similarities and dif- book like THE WOMAN IN THE ferences between psychological suspense WINDOW (B-) about an agoraphobic and noir is the tension the propels the woman who suspects that not all is right story for Laura Lippman’s SUNBURN in her neighbor’s house. While in T. (A). Here we have two unreliable charac- M. Logan’s LIES (A), a husband (and Another author who is not afraid ters – a woman and man, both of whom mostly stay-at-home dad) discovers to take risks is Peter Swanson. Each of are keeping secrets, manipulating not that his wife has been having an aff air his books is diff erent, but this year’s only each other, but also the reader as a only to fi nd that this leads to his being ALL THE BEAUTIFUL LIES (B-) in result. Th is streamlined novel is one of which a man deals with the psycholog- the best from a true master of the crime 6 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

The 2019 Barry Award Nominations

t’s Barry Award Voting Time! Please take a minute or two to vote right now for Iyour choices in each category. It is not necessary to have read all candidates. You may email your votes to george@ deadlypleasures.com or mail them to 1718 Ridge Point Dr., Bountiful, UT 84010. Voting is open to all readers of Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine. Deadline: Friday, September, 2019

Best Novel

NOVEMBER ROAD, Lou Berney (Morrow) DARK SACRED NIGHT, Michaele Connelly (Little, Brown) THE SHADOW WE HIDE, Allen Eskens (Mulholland) fi ction genre. DEPTH OF WINTER, Craig Johnson (Viking) It is hard to know what the future LEAVE NO TRACE, Mindy Mejia (Atria) holds for psychological suspense, but at A NECESSARY EVIL, Abir Mukherjee (Pegasus) the moment, there seems to be no slow down in the sub-genre. Since originality Best First Novel is so oft en highly praised, authors are going to continue to develop new ways MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER, Oyinkan Braithwaite (Doubleday) to explore the minds of their characters NEED TO KNOW, Karen Cleveland (Ballantine) while weaving in elements and tropes DODGING AND BURNING, John Copenhaver (Pegasus) from other aspects of the crime fi ction SWEET LITTLE LIES, Caz Frear (Harper) world. No matter what happens, it is BEARSKIN, James A. McLaughlin (Ecco) likely that the readers will come out the THE CHALK MAN,C. J. Tudor (Crown) true winners. Must Reads Best Paperback Original f psychological suspense/domestic Isuspense is your cup of tea, you A SHARP SOLITUDE, Christine Carbo (Atria) should read the following books. Let me DEAD PRETTY, David Mark (Blue Rider Press) know if you like them as much as I did. THE RUIN, Dervla McTiernan (Penguin) THE HOLLOW OF FEAR, Sherry Th omas (Berkley) UNDER A DARK SKY RESURRECTION BAY, Emma Viskic (Pushkin Vertigo) by Lori Rader-Day GO TO MY GRAVE Best Thriller by Catriona McPherson GIVE ME A HAND by Megan Abbott THE TERMINAL LIST, Jack Carr (Atria) SOMETHING IN THE WATER SAFE HOUSES, Dan Fesperman (Knopf) by Catherine Steadman LONDON RULES, Mick Herron (Soho) JAR OF HEARTS by Jennifer Hillier FOREVER AND A DAY, Anthony Horowitz (Harper) THE PERFECT MOTHER LIGHT IT UP, Nick Petrie (Putnam) by Aimee Malloy THE KING TIDES, James Swain (Th omas & Mercer) TRUST ME by Hank Philippi Ryan SWEET LITTLE LIES by Caz Frear hanks to the Barry Award Nominating Committee Members for all the reading THE WIFE by Alafair Burke Tthey do so as to be prepared to suggest worthy nominees: Oline Cogdill, Larry LIES by T. M. Logan Gandle, Maggie Mason, Mike Bursaw, Donus Roberts, Kristopher Zgorski, Donny A LINE OF BLOOD by Ben McPherson Longmuir, Mike Dillman, Kris Schorer, Steele Curry, Ali Karim and Jeff Popple. ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 7

Reviewed to Death THE RUIN by Dervla McTiernan (Penguin, $16.00) Dervla McTiernan

Jeff Popple I read THE RÚIN on Jeff Popple’s McTiernan will undoubtedly be com- THE RÚIN by Dervla McTiernan recommendation inasmuch as I don’t pared to another Irish writer, Tana (Penguin $16.00; Sphere, £13.99). Rat- remember him ever giving a book an A+ French, and the comparison is valid and ing: A+ This compelling first novel by rating. And boy, am I glad he did. I’m well deserved. Rating: A+ Australian-based author Dervla McTier- giving it an A+ also. It is the best mys- nan is my favourite debut of 2018 so far. tery I’ve read in 2018 so far. It was one Steele Curry of those books that I just didn’t want to Set in the Irish town of Galway, Terrific debut novel by an author put down and I thoroughly enjoyed the it follows the investigation by Garda originally from Ireland now living in entire reading experience. I can’t think detective Cormac Reilly into two crimes Australia. McTiernan’s next book is also of a thing to quibble about. Excellence twenty years apart. In 1993 on his first going to feature Cormac Reilly. Sign me throughout. I especially enjoyed the week in the job, Reilly was called to a up for a copy. horrific scene of death and abuse in a author’s insightful prose. crumbling country house. His investi- In the U.S. it was published by gation at the time was thwarted by his Penguin in a trade paperback edition Christopher Brookmyre {from A Stab in the Dark podcast superiors and he was left with a hopeless on July 3rd, but don’t let that fool you. entitled A Year of Crime, produced by feeling of letting two young children It is as good if not better than anything Mark Billingham] down. Now in 2013, Reilly has returned being published in hardback this year. “Dervla McTiernan and her book to Galway after a successful career in It deserves the publicity and accolades THE RUIN, which is about a police offi- Dublin as a detective. As he tries to that Karen Harper’s THE DRY got last cer in Galway. It was absolutely brilliant. navigate the politics of the Galway year. The U.S. edition contains the first Perfectly atmospheric, blending two sto- police station, he finds himself drawn chapter of the sequel, due out in 2019. I ry lines from twenty years ago. The first back to that earlier case when a body will read it the moment it lands on my case the guy ever sent out to when he surfaces in the icy black waters of the doorstep. just joined and he thought he was being River Corrib. Like the title of the Alison Krauss wound up by his mates and that comes This is a very well written and song, I’ve found a “new favorite.” The back to haunt more than the events. evocative crime novel that steadily U.S. edition also changed the title from When you read well executed crime fic- draws you into its dark plot. There are THE RÚIN, which, in Irish, means tion set somewhere that you haven’t read plenty of twists and turns and Reilly is a mystery or a secret to THE RUIN, about before you get a definite flavor of an interesting and credible character. which could refer to the crumbling the area. It was really well done.” The descriptions of Galway add to the house in which some early, essential enjoyment and the unfolding of the dual elements of the plot occur. It works investigations is well done. It is not hard either way. Larry Gandle to work out some of the elements of the If I can get enough of you to read it, Great characters, a great setting and plot, but the conclusion comes as a good it should be a shoo-in for a Barry Award an initially compelling story lent great surprise. nomination and possibly the award for promise to this book. But the book was This is an impressive debut that will Best Paperback Original or Best First simply too long. The plot repeatedly keep you glued to the pages until the Novel. It is a WOW book. Reminiscent went into pointless episodes which did end. of Minette Walters THE ICE HOUSE nothing to progress the storyline. There George Easter and just as good, if not better. Dervla was way too much backstory on each of 8 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

Th ird, I like book titles that are all those that read THE RUIN, this is enigmatic. THE RUIN, it doesn’t get simply the fi rst in a new series featuring any better than that. Did I say that I like Cormac Reilly. Rating: A- Irish and Australian settings? Oh, well. Rating: A Marv Lachman Th ere is much to admire in McTier- Kris Schorer nan’s fi rst novel, including some very be- I found THE RUIN to be a well-paced lievable characters and complex plotting. and intriguing crime novel. And I was Its setting is Ireland, and there are plot el- grateful that the main character was ements, such as child abuse and abortion, not tragically fl awed (gotten a bit tired that could have been torn from today’s of that). I did feel that there were a few newspaper. Detective Sergeant Cormac coincidences that were a bit over-the-top Reilly (due to return in McTiernan’s next and hard for me to believe. I also felt book) is an admirable hero. He reminded that the pacing slowed down a bit to- me of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch in wards the end. But overall it was a good his single-minded desire to fi nd the truth. read and I look forward to the second In summary, this is a poignant, highly book. Rating: A- readable book. As much as I enjoyed THE RUIN, there are some weaknesses I have to (well, Kristopher Zgorski I choose to) point out. Th e compelling At its core, THE RUIN is a police the characters to the point of being over- element of the plot was why a young man procedural set in Ireland across multiple done. Th is is a 380-page book that could with everything to live for committed decades, but unlike most crime fi ction have been cut in half. I barely managed suicide, or was he murdered? It turns out that focuses on investigative matters, to fi nish the book and by the time I did, I that unfortunately coincidence played Dervla McTiernan imbues this book with was totally apathetic as to the ending. a major role in his fate. Th e killer in the both the psychological astuteness of do- When he initially started Deadly case is identifi ed too soon, over forty pag- mestic suspense and the dark ambiance Pleasures all those years ago, George es before the end, leading to a feeling of of a gritty noir tale. Th is is done to such Easter had a brilliant idea. He created anti-climax. One character in the book, an extent that labeling THE RUIN by this column, Reviewed to Death, where Emma, the love of Reilly’s life, receives any one of these sub-genre designations all the reviewers give their opinion on a too little attention. Th ere’s a backstory would unjustly negate the intricacy of single book allowing the readers to read there, but we’ll have to wait for a later this work. along and determine who they would book to read of it. Dervla McTiernan has craft ed three agree with and with whom their taste McTiernan’s writing is serviceable, complex characters, all of whom want to in books would most align. Th is book is weakened by her having her characters do right by Jack Blake: his sister Maude is a perfect example as to why this column speak at least one four-letter word on holding secrets she hopes never to reveal, should exist. George loved this book. I almost every page. Maybe that’s how his wife Aisling wants answers to the did not. Now, you decide. Rating: C the Irish police do speak, but it becomes most basic of questions, and the detec- boring, so I can do without the attempt at tive Cormac feels both a sense of duty to authenticity. Rating: B+ Donus Roberts solve the modern crime and guilt over his THE RUIN is a crime novel that handling of the historic case surround- touches many of my preference points. ing Jack’s mother’s death. As all three of Michael Dillman Th is book was written in a way that First, it is very well written, and can co- them work independently, the threads of took me a little getting to use to. Th e exist in the literary category. Th ere are so their revelations begin to intertwine until Prologue sets up the story but you really many crime novels that have been written the reader is presented with a complete do not understand what is really going that it is impossible for each to be unique. picture of what happened years ago and on until much later in the book. Th e What separates the enduring from the its long-term ramifi cations throughout book jumps time between 20 years ago average is the quality of prose that the the lives of those involved. and the current investigation. While you author brings to the printed page. It is to the author’s credit that she are reading you may not be totally sure Second, I like novels that take place is able to weave in a sense of Ireland’s which situation is being investigated – over time where the characters have the challenging history into this plot without the past or the present. Th e end of the opportunity to realistically grow and becoming pedantic. Dervla McTiernan’s book could disturb some but I thought it change. In this novel the characters are writing is beautifully evocative and her was very well thought out. Th is is a very separated by the passage of twenty years, skill in managing the constant time- good procedural and I look forward to so that the opening of the novel serves as shift s and intricate plot belies the fact the next one. Rating: A a haunting memory. that this is a debut work. Fortunately for ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 9

by Scott Turow (1986)

THE CAT WHO SAW RED Bouchercon 50 by Lilian Jackson Braun (1986)

THE BLACK DAHLIA Mystery Lists by James Ellroy (1987) SILENCE OF THE LAMBS by Thomas Harris (1988) ’ve been tasked with coming up with CATERING TO NOBODY two lists for the upcoming Dallas by Joseph Wambaugh (1970) I by Diane Mott Davidson (1990) Bouchercon, where the 50th anniversa- ry of the convention will be celebrated. THE GODWULF MANUSCRIPT THE DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS One list is of the Most Influential Novels by Robert B. Parker (1973) by Walter Mosley (1990) of the Bouchercon Era. The other is Great Reads of the Bouchercon Era THE SEVEN-PER-CENT SOLUTION POSTMORTEM 1969-2018. The second list started out as by Nicholas Meyer (1974) by Patricia Cornwell (1990) the Best Novels of the Bouchercon Era, but that was too high a standard and WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN? THE FIRM such a list would open us up for a lot of by Mary Higgins Clark (1975) by John Grisham (1991) criticism (“How could you have possibly omitted my novel from that list?”). As THE EAGLE HAS LANDED BOOKED TO DIE promised, I’m printing the unfinished by Jack Higgins (1975) by John Dunning (1992) lists in DP and asking you for comment. Please e-mail me at george@deadlyplea- EYE OF THE NEEDLE THE BLACK ECHO sures.com with any suggestions. Put by Ken Follett (1976) by Michael Connelly (1992) “List Suggestions” in the subject line. RAISE THE TITANIC! ALONG CAME A SPIDER by Clive Cussler (1976) Most Influential Novels Of by James Patterson (1993) The Bouchercon Era COMA ONE FOR THE MONEY Most Influential = created a new by Robin Cook (1977) subgenre, or a publishing phenomenon by Janet Evanovich (1994) that others tried to emulate, or created A MORBID TASTE OF BONES KILLING FLOOR some other movement in the market by Ellis Peters (1977) (BOOKED TO DIE, for example), or by Lee Child (1997) books by mega-stars of the genre. The THE LAST GOOD KISS THE DA VINCI CODE range of settings and plots of the mys- by James Crumley (1979) tery/crime/thriller novel was greatly ex- by Dan Brown (2003) panded during the last 50 years because GORKY PARK TWILIGHT of the novels on the list below: by Martin Cruz Smith (1981) (In chronological order by date of by Stephenie Meyer (2005) publication) A IS FOR ALIBI THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON by Sue Grafton (1982) THE GODFATHER TATTOO by Stieg Larsson (2008) by Mario Puzo (1969) INDEMNITY ONLY

by Sara Paretsky (1982) THE BLESSING WAY GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn (2012) by Tony Hillerman (1970) LA BRAVA by Elmore Leonard (1983) THE HOT ROCK Have I left any influential title off by Donald E. Westlake (1970) THE HUNT FOR THE RED that should be on? OCTOBER by Tom Clancy (1984) THE NEW CENTURIONS PRESUMED INNOCENT Great Reads from the by Frederick Forsyth – Edgar Winner RAISE THE TITANIC! Bouchercon Era 1969-2019 THE STEAM PIG by James McClure – by Clive Cussler CWA Gold Dagger Winner THE JUDAS PAIR by Jonathan Gash – CWA 1st Novel Winner ere are some of the challenges in 1972 creating such a list as this. Take a H FIRST BLOOD by David Morrell 1977 popular author such as Michael Connel- SADIE WHEN SHE DIED BURGLARS CAN’T BE CHOOSERS ly. Which is his best book? Opinions by Ed McBain by Lawrence Block diff er. So the approach I have taken is to DEATH WISH by Brian Garfi eld TRUE CONFESSIONS list the fi rst book of a famous author, es- by John Gregory Dunne pecially if it is the fi rst book in a series. THE EIGER SANCTION CHARLIE M by Brian Freemantle Th ere are certain areas of mystery by Trevanian THE JUDAS PAIR by Jonathan Gash fi ction that I know nothing about such LAIDLAW by William McIlvanney – as romantic suspense, paranormal mys- 1973 CWA Silver Dagger Winner tery and young adult mystery. In such THE GODWULF MANUSCRIPT COMA by Robin Cook areas I asked advise of readers who are by Robert B. Parker A MORBID TASTE OF BONES very familiar with those sub-genre’s. DANCE HALL OF THE DEAD by Ellis Peters I paid more attention to award by Tony Hillerman – Edgar Winner EDWIN OF THE IRON SHOES winners when authors went on to have THE FIRST DEADLY SIN by Marcia Muller successful careers. by Lawrence Sanders A JUDGEMENT IN STONE Th e closer I got to the present time, by Ruth Rendell the more diffi cult it was to choose titles 1974 SHADOW OF A BROKEN MAN because recent books and new authors MARATHON MAN haven’t passed the test of time. by William Goldman by George C. Chesbro Th is list can be as long as we want THE SEVEN-PER-CENT SOLUTION it to be, but an addition of 20-25 more by Nicholas Meyer – CWA Gold 1978 titles should make it a reasonable size. Dagger Winner EYE OF THE NEEDLE by Ken Follett – I haven’t annotated all the awards the TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY Edgar Winner books have won yet. by John le Carre’ REST YOU MERRY Th e temptation will be to add ob- FLETCH by Gregory McDonald – by Charlotte MacLeod st scure favorites. Resist it. I’m aiming for Edgar 1 Novel Winner RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY titles that have a wide following. SPY STORY by Len Deighton by John Mortimer It is said that mystery readers love THE TEARS OF AUTUMN WAXWORK by Peter Lovesey – CWA lists. If that is true, you should really by Charles McCarry Silver Dagger Winner like this one. For me it’s a trip down SIX DAYS OF THE CONDOR memory lane. For a new reader to the by James Grady 1979 genre, it is a guarantee of great reading for years to come. 1975 Your suggestions are welcome. CROCODILE ON THE SANDBANK by Elizabeth Peters 1969 THE EAGLE HAS LANDED THE GODFATHER by Mario Puzo by Jack Higgins A THREE-PIPE PROBLEM 1970 by Julian Symons THE HOT ROCK SNEAKY PEOPLE by Th omas Berger by Donald E. Westlake WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN? THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE by Mary Higgins Clark by George V. Higgins THE WRONG CASE THE NEW CENTURIONS by James Crumley by Joseph Wambaugh FADEOUT by Joseph Hansen 1976 THE LAUGHING POLICEMAN by THE BLUE HAMMER Per Wahloo & Maj Sjowall – Edgar by Ross MacDonald Winner DANGEROUS DAVIES: THE LAST DETECTIVE by Leslie Th omas 1971 THE NIGHT OF THE TWELFTH THE DAY OF THE JACKAL by Michael Gilbert THE CATER STREET HANGMAN by Peter Lovesey – by Anne Perry CWA Gold Dagger Winner THE GREEN RIPPER THE BUTCHER’S BOY by Th omas by John D. MacDonald Perry – Edgar 1st Novel Winner

1980 1983 THE MASTER SNIPER THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Stephen Hunter by Umberto Eco THE BOURNE IDENTITY SHADOW TRADE by Alan Furst by Robert Ludlum LA BRAVA by Elmore Leonard – THE MURDER OF THE Edgar Winner MAHARAJAH by H.R.F. Keating – UNCIVIL SEASONS CWA Gold Dagger Winner by Michael Malone WHIP HAND by Dick Francis – Edgar TRUE DETECTIVE Winner, CWA Gold Dagger Winner by Max Allen Collins

1981 1984 CHIEFS by Stuart Woods – BRIARPATCH by Ross Th omas – Edgar 1st Novel Winner Edgar Winner THE DEAD OF JERICHO THE HUNT FOR THE RED by Colin Dexter – OCTOBER by Tom Clancy Edgar Winner CWA Silver Dagger Winner FROST AT CHRISTMAS GORKY PARK by Martin Cruz Smith by R. D. Wingfi eld 1988 – CWA Gold Dagger Winner SILENCE OF THE LAMBS by Th omas THUS WAS ADONIS MURDERED 1985 Harris – Anthony Winner by Sarah Caudwell LAGUNA HEAT by T. Jeff erson Parker A GREAT DELIVERANCE THE MAN WITH A LOAD OF MIS- THE SUSPECT by L.R. Wright – by Elizabeth George – Anthony Winner, CHIEF by Martha Grimes Edgar Winner Agatha Winner WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS COLD IN JULY by Joe R. Lansdale 1982 by Jonathan Kellerman – Edgar 1st SHACKLES by Bill Pronzini AN UNSUITABLE JOB FOR A Novel Winner, Anthony 1st Winner THE EIGHT by Katherine Neville WOMAN by P.D. James FLOOD by Andrew Vachss A COLD RED SUNRISE A IS FOR ALIBI by Sue Graft on by Stuart M. Kaminsky – INDEMNITY ONLY by Sara Paretsky 1986 Edgar Winner PRIZZI’S HONOR by Richard Condon PRESUMED INNOCENT THE CHARM SCHOOL THE FALSE INSPECTOR DEW by Scott Turow – by Nelson DeMille CWA Silver Dagger Winner THE CAT WHO SAW RED 1989 by Lilian Jackson Braun HALLOWED MURDER by Ellen Hart A DARK-ADAPTED EYE DEAD IRISH by John Lescroart by Barbara Vine (Ruth Rendell) – THE SILVER PIGS by Lindsey Davis Edgar Winner MARCH VIOLETS by Philip Kerr RITUAL BATH by Faye Kellerman – RULES OF PREY by John Sandford Macavity Winner (1st) HOUSE OF CARDS by Michael Dobbs THE WENCH IS DEAD 1987 by Colin Dexter – DEATH ON DEMAND CWA Gold Dagger Winner by Carolyn Hart LONELY HEARTS by John Harvey THE BLACK DAHLIA by James Ellroy THE MONKEY’S RAINCOAT 1990 by Robert Crais – Anthony PBO CATERING TO NOBODY Winner, Macavity Winner by Diane Mott Davidson THE NEON RAIN by James Lee Burke POSTMORTEM by Patricia Cornwell – WHAT BLOODY MAN IS THAT? Edgar 1st Novel Winner, CWA 1st Novel by Simon Brett Winner, Anthony Winner, Macavity OLD BONES by Aaron Elkins – Winner 12 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

THE DEVIL IN THE BLUE DRESS 1994 2000 by Walter Mosley – CWA 1st Novel THE ALIENIST by Caleb Carr FORTY WORDS FOR SORROW Winner, Shamus 1st Winner THE BEEKEEPER’S APPRENTICE by Giles Blunt L. A. CONFIDENTIAL by James Ellroy by Laurie R. King THE BOTTOMS by Joe R. Lansdale -- ONE FOR THE MONEY Edgar Winner 1991 by Janet Evanovich THE KILL ARTIST by Daniel Silva FACELESS KILLERS MALLORY’S ORACLE BIRDMAN by Mo Hayder by Henning Mankell by Carol O’Connell BLACK DOG by Stephen Booth THE FIRM by John Grisham ROMAN BLOOD by Steven Saylor 1995 2001 A DANCE AT THE SLAUGHTER- BREAKHEART HILL THE GUARDS by Ken Bruen HOUSE by Lawrence Block – by Th omas H. Cook DEAD UNTIL DARK Edgar Winner THE EAGLE CATCHER by Charlaine Harris THE LAST DETECTIVE by Margaret Coel THE COMPANY by Robert Littell by Peter Lovesey – THE MERMAIDS SINGING MYSTIC RIVER by Dennis Lehane Anthony Award Winner by Val McDermid TELL NO ONE by Harlan Coben HEARTSHOT by Steven F. Havill OPEN SEASON by C. J. Box ORCHESTRATED DEATH 1996 DIALOGUES OF THE DEAD by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles TEST OF WILLS by Charles Todd by Reginald Hill STOLEN AWAY by Max Allan Col- ABSOLUTE POWER GRIFT SENSE by James Swain lins – Shamus Winner by David Baldacci BLINDSIGHTED by Karin Slaughter TULAROSA by Michael McGarrity 1992 2002 BOOKED TO DIE by John Dunning – 1997 IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER Nero Wolfe Award Winner KILLING FLOOR by Lee Child by Julia Spencer-Fleming FATHERLAND by Robert Harris BLACK AND BLUE by Ian Rankin THE BUSINESS OF DYING THE SECRET HISTORY TRIAL OF PASSION by Simon Kernick by Donna Tartt by William Deverell RAIN FALL by Barry Eisler THE BLACK ECHO THE BONE COLLECTOR by Michael Connelly – by Jeff rey Deaver 2003 Edgar 1st Novel Winner A CERTAIN JUSTICE by P.D. James MONKEEWRENCH by P.J. Tracy THE BOOTLEGGER’S DAUGHTER AN INSTANCE OF THE THE DA VINCI CODE by Margaret Maron – Edgar Winner, FINGERPOST by Iain Pears by Dan Brown Anthony Winner, Macavity Winner, DEJA DEAD by Kathy Reichs MAISIE DOBBS Agatha Winner by Jacqueline Winspear THE ICE HOUSE by Minette Walters 1998 – CWA 1st Novel Winner THE NO.1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY by Alexander McCall Smith 1993 GONE, BABY GONE EVERYWHERE THAT MARY WENT by Dennis Lehane by Lisa Scottoline ON BEULAH HEIGHT POINT OF IMPACT by Reginald Hill by Stephen Hunter IRON LAKE by William Kent Krueger TRACK OF THE CAT GARNETHILL by Denise Mina by Nevada Barr – Agatha 1st Winner, Anthony 1st Winner 1999 ALONG CAME A SPIDER IN A DRY SEASON by Peter Robinson by James Patterson PLACE OF EXECUTION THE SCULPTRESS by Minette Walters by Val McDermid – Edgar Winner, Macavity Winner RIVER OF DARKNESS SMILLA’S SENSE OF SNOW by Rennie Airth by Peter Hoeg EVERY DEAD THING A SHARE IN DEATH by John Connolly by Deborah Crombie MURDER WITH PEACOCKS by Donna Andrews ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 13

2007 by William Kent Krueger -- NO TIME FOR GOODBYE Barry Award Winner by Linwood Barclay THE CUCKOO’S CALLING WHAT THE DEAD KNOW by Robert Galbraith by Laura Lippman 2014 2008 THE LIFE WE BURY by Allen Eskens A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO DIE LIFE OR DEATH by Malla Nunn by Michael Robotham THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON MR. MERCEDES by Stephen King -- TATTOO by Stieg Larsson Edgar Award Winner NIGHT OF THE LIVING DUMMY by R. L. Stine 2015 BLEEDING HEART SQUARE THE CARTEL by Don Winslow by Andrew Taylor THE SYMPATHIZER by Viet Th anh Nguyen 2009 ALL THE OLD KNIVES THE GRAY MAN by Mark Greaney by Olen Steinhauer CHILD 44 by Tom Rob Smith SWORN TO SILENCE 2016 by Linda Castillo A RISING MAN by Abir Mukherjee DISSOLUTION by C. J. Sansom THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM GIRL ON A TRAIN by Paula Hawkins OF THE PIE by Alan Bradley THE DRIFTER by Nick Petrie 2004 MISSING, PRESUMED THE SHADOW OF THE WIND 2010 by Susie Steiner by Carlos Ruiz Zafon THIRTEEN HOURS by Deon Meyer THE COLD DISH by Craig Johnson SLOW HORSES by Mick Herron 2017 DARKLY DREAMING DEXTER WINTER’S BONE by Daniel Woodrell SHE RIDES SHOTGUN by Jeff Lindsay THE LAST CHILD by John Hart by Jordan Harper THE HUNGER GAMES THE DRY by Jane Harper 2005 by Suzanne Collins THE MARSH KING’S DAUGHTER DIE A LITTLE by Megan Abbott POWER DOWN by Ben Coes by Karen Dionne POWER OF THE DOG THE POACHER’S SON by Paul Doiron BLUEBIRD, BLUEBIRD by Don Winslow by Attica Locke THE BROKEN SHORE by Peter Tem- 2011 ple – CWA Gold Dagger Winner THE LOCK ARTIST by Steve Hamilton 2018 STILL LIFE by Louise Penny THE BLACKHOUSE by Peter May -- NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney SILENCE OF THE GRAVE Barry Award Winner by Arnaldur Indridason BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP THE DEVIL’S STAR by Jo Nesbø by S. J. Watson s a reviewer, it’s my job to at TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyer LETHAL by Sandra Brown Aleast make a scratch at describ- THE LINCOLN LAWYER THE KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES ing the plot of the novel, but as a by Michael Connelly by Jussi Adler Olsen fellow novelist, I balk at giving more RED LEAVES than a few bare details. (In my opin- by Th omas H. Cook -- Barry Winner 2012 ion, the fl ap copy gives away far too GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn much — when you know everything 2006 THE WILD BEASTS OF WUHAN that’s going to happen in the fi rst 140 RAVEN BLACK by Ann Cleeves by Ian Hamilton pages or so, somebody went over- IN THE WOODS by Tana French DARK WINTER by David Mark board.) A good novel, especially one BILLY BOYLE by James R. Benn that fi ts, however uncomfortably, THE TEMPLAR LEGACY 2013 into the mystery genre, is like an by Steve Berry SUSPECT by Robert Crais expensive Swiss watch. My job is to THE NIGHT GARDENER SHE’S LEAVING HOME admire it, not overwind it. – Stephen by George Pelecanos by William Shaw King ORDINARY GRACE 14 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

Obscurity Was NOT The Plan by George H. Madison

larence Budington Kelland (1881- as “the happiest and fullest days of my C1964) once described himself as life”. At the age of 10, his family moved “the best second rate writer in Ameri- to Detroit to off er him “a more nourish- ca”. He was not alone in his evaluation. ing environment”. He must have been C.larence B. Kelland Each month during the 1920’s, 30’s and quite precocious because aft er only two 40’s, it was virtually impossible not to years of high school, he entered Detroit fi nd one of his serialized short stories in Law School, earning his degree in 1902. looked over the list, and I don’t believe the omnipresent magazines of the day. It was a slightly diff erent path than the I can do it.” His fellow members roared He sold more than one million dollars’ one I recall traveling several decades with laughter at the vintage Kelland worth of short stories and articles to the later. drollery. Saturday Evening Post alone. Kelland In true Horatio Alger style he be- In 1937, he relocated from the east was an economic engine to corporate came wealthy, although not as a practic- coast to Phoenix, Arizona, where he owners whose readers breathlessly ing attorney. His success in commerce settled and continued to write until his awaited each month’s installment. created an economic independence that death at 82 years in 1964. He became He penned 60 novels, many of them permitted him, as it did for Rex Stout, active in state and national Republican mysteries; 200 short stories and inspired to write full time. He traveled exten- politics, preceding Barry Goldwater as 30 movies. He was the literary idol of sively and married well. By mid-career, Arizona’s voice of right wing Republi- the young John O’Hara. In 1995, author he was recognized by most critics as canism. Th at, however, did not prevent Harlan Ellison was refl ecting on literary prominent, but his writing was also con- him from being a curmudgeon, attack- legacies and prophetically remarked – sidered by some to be somewhat super- ing both parties on the issues when he “In this time when cultural illiteracy is fi cial; “merely a contriver of fast moving felt it was warranted. He spent a life- at its peak…….if Clarence Budington entertaining fi ction.” Since when is it time being outspoken and was occasion- Kelland can’t make it, how the hell am I a bad thing to possess a consummate ally cantankerous, as well. going to make it!”. ability to entertain? Kelland authored more than 20 Who was Kelland? Born in Portland, Kelland was always a wit, and his mysteries, although they are exceedingly Michigan, he enjoyed a joyful Tom Saw- prominence insured his presence diffi cult to identify and fi nd . I’ve read yer-like boyhood. He later described it within New York City’s literary elite. and enjoyed 13 of them and fi rmly hold Th e prestigious Dutch Treat Club (est. him to be a most adept storyteller. His 1905) is still existent. It is an exclusive plots are deceptively simple and straight enclave for creative artists, meeting each forward, but they always contain a puz- Tuesday at noon where its members, at zle and a few surprises en route to the times numbering over 300, upstage each denouement. Be aware that his corpus other, eat and then split the bill (hence refl ects a dedication to American life as th its name). Kelland served as its presi- seen from his early 20 century vantage dent from 1927-1941). While serving as point, one that includes the heartfelt its toastmaster, he once rose to speak at belief that virtue must emerge victorious meals end. “Gentlemen”, he began, “the and that evil will be vanquished. Char- obvious duty of a toast master is to be acter and integrity mattered. so infernally dull, that the succeeding Protagonists are predictably out- speakers will appear to be brilliant by standing and unusual humans. Th e contrast…….However”, he continued leading men are virile, intelligent, brandishing a list of the speakers, ”I’ve ethical and competent. Th e women are ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 15 equal to their male counterparts and, therefore, more memorable especially It’s ironic that since I view most given the era in which Kelland wrote. things through the lens of the old Th ey are independent and never de- Hollywood studios, Kelland’s two picted as helpless damsels in distress. enduring characters are not featured in Kelland was a progressive conservative. mysteries. Instead, they are Longfellow Th e supporting cast always includes Deeds, from the classic Mr. Deeds Goes a full complement of quirky eccentrics. to Town (1936), played by Gary Cooper Th ey employ breezy, nimble dialogue to and Scattergood Baines, from a six-fi lm grin by, resulting in delightful banter series (1941-1943), featuring Guy Kibbee and an enjoyable reading experience. as the busy body hardware store owner. Th e cast is companionable, as well as Neither character is much to my liking. being improbable. My favorite fi lm, however, is a mad- An excursion into Kelland’s myster- cap mystery for Beauty’s Sake (1941), ies may motivate a few healthy souls to adapted from the aforementioned SKIN seek out his uncomplicated but re- DEEP. Th is trim – 61 minute – “B” warding books. What follows is a brief fi lm has a high entertainment value. outline of a few of them. Deadpan Ned Sparks; he of the dour SKIN DEEP (1939) involves mur- disposition, the ever-present cigar and der and blackmail at a beauty spa, only the W.C. Fields vocal delivery, steals the slightly interfering with a pre-ordained show as PR expert, Jonathan B. Smart. love aff air. SILVER SPOON (1941) in Comedienne Joan Davis is very amus- which a rich, seemingly useless young (1950) Murder and fraud in New York ing as his accidental assistant. Casting man born with a silver spoon in his City’s U.S. Post Offi ce which is de- for the romantic leads is somewhat less mouth becomes independent and solves scribed as being “a miracle of effi ciency, fortunate. Marjorie Weaver is fi ne as a night club murder. Of course, he also swift ness and accuracy”. Given the the perky and smart Dime Pringle in falls in love with a superior women. current dismal state of the U.S. Postal love with the dense Bertram Erasmus ARCHIBALD THE GREAT (1942) Service, this one is a hoot. MURDER Dillsome, played by Ted North who, features an eccentric genius and his pro- MAKES AN ENTRANCE (1954) Was sadly, cannot help being Ted North. His tector as they solve crimes, while both my introduction to Kelland three years performance is apropos of a George fi nd their mates. ago. It features enigmatic characters in S. Kaufman critique of an actor – “his HEART ON HIS SLEEVE (1943) is a a Hollywood whodunit. My obsession acting was wooden, and I mean that as novel of attempted sabotage combatted with him soon followed. THE CASE an insult to furniture”. Nevertheless, by a lovely woman and a young naval of- OF THE NAMELESS CORPSE (1956) sit back and enjoy the movie for its high fi cer, both of whom maintain their sense Murder in the Canadian oil fi elds, with zaniness quotient.Kelland’s writing of humor throughout their perilous ad- the detection complicated by three defi nes an American ethos, one from venture. ALIAS JANE SMITH (1944) females. another era. It was a gentler day, one Who is she? Fun and crime once again All are recommended. Now, try to founded in tradition of stability and mingle. LAND OF THE TORREONES fi nd them. Unless your library is in a strong American values. He evokes in (1945) Same plot. Th is time the setting time warp, don’t even bother to check me a nostalgic longing. I can readily is in the southwest. for Kelland. Th e existence of his books imagine myself lying on a hillock, day- DOUBLE TREASURE (1946) in libraries is somewhat akin to a fl ying dreaming happy thoughts while reading Involves the search for pirate treasure emu. a Kelland mystery. on what was then a bucolic beach front community on the north shore of Suf- folk County on Long Island, New York. Th e plot is somewhat more complex than normal. THE KEY MAN (1952) Involves murder in the milieu of early TV stu- dios, in the then sophisticated New York City, amidst a set of wealthy ice cold martini sippers. DEATH KEEPS A SECRET (1953) Murder and intrigue in a top secret research center. THE GREAT MAIL ROBBERY 16 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

Maigret…Encore!

by Nancy - Stephanie StoneNan-

nquestionably Georges Simenon 4, 1989 at age 86. Uwas the most infl uential writer of In more than forty-years, Sime- French crime fi ction in the 20th Century. non wrote at least fi ve hundred novels Simenon was born in Liège, Belgium on (under various names) and innumerable February 13, 1903. He moved to Paris in short stories. Between 1931 and 1972, Georges Simenon 1922 to pursue a writing career and his seventy-fi ve of those novels and twen- Inspector Maigret stories began regu- ty-six short stories featured Inspector Brown, rumored to have been a secret larly appearing by the early 1930s. Th e Jules Maigret of the Quai des Orfèvres. agent in WWI. Maigret suspects greed 1930s were Simenon’s decade: his books Initially, Simenon regarded the Maigret rather than foreign intrigue is behind were popular and he travelled widely. stories as a bridge to acceptance of his his death. Two eccentric women were As a café habitué, he was regarded as a other writings (les romans durs) and apprehended fl eeing from his rundown glamorous intellectual with an erotic planned to stop aft er 20 books. But the villa in Antibes with valises fi lled with life featured in glossy magazines. It all popularity of the series (and its fi nan- cash and bonds. Aft er establishing their changed, however, with the war. Initial- cial rewards) ensured its continuation innocence, he reconstructs Brown’s life ly, he remained in the Vendée (north) to through Simenon’s life. Like it or not, away from Antibes and ends up at the help Belgian refugees but his dealings Maigret became his signature character. tawdry Liberty Bar in Cannes. Almost with the Germans were both question- Recently, Penguin began updating as odd as the Antibes ladies, Brown’s able and profi table. At the war’s end, he the Maigret series, replacing the older lady friends in Cannes aren’t as inno- moved to Canada and later to the Unit- translations with contemporary ones cent. ed States to escape charges of collabo- with eye catching photographic covers. 1930s Paris provides the back- ration. Popular taste in crime fi ction Th ey have committed to publishing the ground for MAIGRET, translated by was also shift ing away from Simenon series. So where to begin this feast from Ros Schwartz (Penguin, 2015, $11) and towards authors such as Leo Malet and golden age French crime fi ction? written in 1934. Maigret’s nephew, Claude Aveline, both resistance heroes. A good introduction or reintro- Philippe, bungles a stakeout. He panics A decade later he briefl y returned to duction to Inspector Maigret is MAI- and picks up the murder weapon. He France but eventually settled in Switzer- GRET’S MEMOIRS, translated by then rushes off in the middle of the land. He died in Lausanne on September Howard Curtis (Penguin, 2016, $12). night to get help from his uncle, who is In 1927 or 1928 Maigret is called into recently retired and living in the coun- his boss’ offi ce to meet a young novel- try. Maigret realizes it's a gang killing ist, George Sim (a name oft en used by and, if Philippe hadn’t become involved, Simenon). Sim follows Maigret about the police would have ignored it. With for a few days. Several months later a Philippe under arrest, Maigret gets help pulp police story appeared with Mai- from his old colleagues at the Quai des gret as the protagonist, followed by the Orfèvres in solving the murder. With fi rst of many successful Maigret novels. its retired protagonist, MAIGRET, was Sim also explains his choice of locales, intended by Simenon to be a harbinger supporting characters and plots and of the series’ end. the evolution of Maigret and his fellow Although Maigret felt most com- offi cers. MAIGRET’S MEMOIRS, fortable in France, he did sometimes written in 1951 when Simenon was more venture beyond its borders. In MAI- or less in exile, is a swansong to Paris of GRET IN NEW YORK, translated by the 1930s and 1940s as well as backdrop Linda Coverdale (Penguin, 2016, $12) for the series. and written in 1947, young Jean Maura Originally written in 1932, LIBER- asks Maigret to accompany him to New TY BAR, translated by David Watson York as he’s concerned for the safety of (Penguin, 2015, $11), is a typical Maigret his wealthy, businessman father. Upon set on the Riviera. He is sent to inves- arriving by ship, young Maura disap- tigate the death of Australian William ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 17 pears, leaving Maigret to fi nd his way to Maigret. the St. Regis Hotel where he’s rebuff ed MY FRIEND MAIGRET, translated by John Maura and his secretary, Joseph by Shaun Whiteside (Penguin, 2016, MacGill. Puzzled by this behavior and $12.) and written in 1949, fi nds Maigret Jean’s disappearance, Maigret contacts mentoring Mr. Pyke from Scotland his friend, Special Agent O’Brien of Yard. A low-level criminal, Marcellini, the FBI, who provides background on who claimed friendship with Maigret, Maura’s early life as an immigrant in the has been murdered on Porquerolles, an Bronx. It seems his past has caught up island off Toulon. Both men are sent with him. MAIGRET IN NEW YORK to the island to fi nd Marcellini’s killer. was written while Simenon was living in Th ey encounter the island’s eccentric the United States and off ers a diff erent residents and expatriates as well as a perspective on the American immigrant few minor criminals. Maigret suspects experience. Marcellini discovered some illegal deal- MAIGRET GETS ANGRY, trans- ings and wanted a share. To uncover ward postwar America with its excess of lated by Ros Schwartz (Penguin, 2015, the killer, he must discover who had the material goods and health of its people $12) and written in 1947, is both a most to loose among the island’s lost that contrasted with war ravaged France mystery and a glimpse into the French souls. with its food shortages, health problems prewar society. Bernadette Amorelle, MAIGRET AT THE CORONER’S, and lack of material goods. Simenon a determined old lady, disrupts Mai- translated by Linda Coverdale (Pen- fl ashes an unexpected dislike of Amer- gret’s retirement in Meung-sur-Loire, guin, 2016, $12) and written 1949 when ican innocence in a country that really to persuade him to come to Orsenne to Simenon was living in the United States remained untouched by war. investigate her granddaughter, Monita’s and set in Arizona. While touring Simenon was never comfortable with suicide. Soon Maigret is enmeshed in the U.S. and studying American law female characters and nowhere is this the family aff airs of Ernest Malik, who enforcement, Maigret fi nds himself at more evident than in MADAME MAI- he had known and disliked since their a coroner’s inquest in Tucson. Bessie GRET’S FRIEND translated by Howard days at lycée. Th e family’s opulent life Mitchell, a 17-year old girl, died aft er Curtis (Penguin, 2016, $12) and written style makes him uncomfortable. He spending a drunken evening with fi ve in1950. In most stories, Mme. Maigret senses all isn’t well even before Ernest men from a nearby airbase. She wan- makes a cameo appearance when her tries to buy him off . Using the “retired” dered off into the desert and was hit by husband comes home from the offi ce for Inspector, MAIGRET GETS ANGRY a train. Th e inquest must determine lunch. But in MADAME MAIGRET’S was yet another of Simenon’s tries to who last saw her alive and was her death FRIEND, she conducts her own inves- move the series toward its conclusion. accidental. It's a humdrum plot. What’s tigation. To calm her nerves before a Maigret is still at the Quai des more interesting is Maigret’s feeling to- series of dental appointments, Mme. Orfèvres in MAIGRET’S DEAD MAN, Maigret sat on a park bench and en- translated by David Coward (Penguin, countered a young woman in a fashion- 2016, $12) and written in 1948. He able white hat and her two-year old son. receives a series of telephone calls from One morning, she asks Mme. Maigret a man claiming someone is going to to briefl y watch the boy and disappears kill him. And then, they do. Maigret for over an hour. She returns in a taxi, eventually identifi es the victim as Albert grabs her son, and drives away. Using Rochain, the owner of a small café. He the hat as a point of reference, Mme. decides to reopen the café with two po- Maigret tries to discover the woman’s lice offi cers posing as the proprietors to identity. At the same time, Maigret see if the killers might become curious receives questionable information that and come in. His hunch is correct as an elderly Belgian bookbinder burned a a gang member appears and a deadly body in his furnace. Much to Maigret’s chase ensues. Th e fl eeing man is shot surprise, two teeth are discovered in by one of the gang rather than captured. the furnace. In a most convoluted way, Maigret realizes that he’s not facing the two investigations merge but the the usual Paris criminals but a vicious culprits meet diff erent fates. gang of stateless thugs. As the violence Th e underside of Montmartre is the escalates, he would rather let their setting for MAIGRET AT PICTATT’S, leader escape than have his men killed. translated by William Hobson (Penguin, Postwar Paris provides very diff erent 2016, $12) and written in 1951. Arlette, and unwelcome challenges for Inspector who worked at Picratt’s, overheard two 18 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------men talking about murdering a count- ess and stealing her jewels. Although George Easter’s Top she was quite drunk aft er an evening’s Reads of 2018 work, she contacts the police. But they dismissed her story and sent her home THE RUIN by Dervla McTiernan where she was murdered. Maigret sus- DARK SACRED NIGHT pects someone from Arlette’s past was by Michael Connelly responsible for her death. But then, a RESURRECTION BAY countess is killed, confi rming her story. by Emma Viskic An almost benign relationship be- PERSONS UNKNOWN tween the police and the Paris under- by Susie Steiner world is refl ected in MAIGRET AND CITY OF SINNERS THE TALL WOMAN translated by by A. A. Dhand David Watson (Penguin, 2016, $13) and NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney written in 1951. An elderly prostitute, whom Maigret arrested 15 years earlier, asks to see him. Her husband, Albert, a Really Good Honorable safecracker, discovered a body during a resulting in the gangsters’ threat to his Mentions robbery, panicked and fl ed from Paris. wife. Realizing that the gangsters were Maigret locates the house but its own- American, Maigret calls a friend at the SNAP by Belinda Bauer ers, M. Serre and his mother, deny any FBI to learn their identity. He’s told by SPLINTER IN THE BLOOD by problems. In fact, he is rudely ushered retired Mafi osi that it’s an American Ashley Dyer (Margaret Murphy) away. In leaving, Maigret notices a aff air. But aft er one of his offi cers is se- BROKEN GROUND rear windowpane recently repaired. riously wounded, Maigret can no longer by Val McDermid He learns that M. Serre’s wealthy wife, stand aside. WRONG LIGHT by Matt Coyle Maria, has recently returned to Amster- MAIGRET TAKES A ROOM, THE SHADOWS WE HIDE dam. But he suspects she’s dead. translated by Shaun Whiteside, (Pen- by Allen Eskens MAIGRET AND THE MAN ON guin, 2016, $13) and was written in A NECESSARY EVIL THE BENCH translated by David Wat- 1960. One of Maigret’s inspectors is by Abir Mukherjee son (Penguin, 2017, $13) and written in shot during a boardinghouse stake- CLOSER THAN YOU KNOW 1953 is a story of family crime. Louis out. Maigret discovers the suspect by Brad Parks Th ouret’s body is discovered in an hidden under the landlady’s bed but is SALT LANE by William Shaw alley off Boulevard Saint Martin. He convinced that he wasn’t the shooter. SWEET LITTLE LIES by Caz Frear DEAD PRETTY by David Mark was killed with a knife but not robbed. He decides to take a room in Mme. When Maigret speaks with his widow, Clément’s boardinghouse to better she’s most disturbed over his brown understand the neighborhood and its Favorite Thrillers shoes and red tie-neither of which she residents. He suspects the shooting was had ever seen. Although Th ouret lost related to an old case and a misunder- AGENT IN PLACE his job three years earlier and spent his standing. by Mark Greaney time sitting on park benches, he was Taken together, these Inspector HOUSE WITNESS never short for money. His daughter Maigret stories mostly stand the test of by Mike Lawson Monique and her boyfriend discovered time. Maigret is revealed as someone THE KREMLIN’S CANDIDATE his other life and blackmailed him but who tries to understand rather than by Jason Matthews were not his killers. judge the situation. He’s also the leader LIGHT IT UP by Nick Petrie American crime and violence comes of a group of police offi cers and puts the THE BOMBMAKER to Paris in MAIGRET, LOGNON AND lives of his men before catching crim- by Th omas Perry THE GANGSTERS, translated by inals. No matter the story’s supposed THE FOX by Frederick Forsyth William Hobson (Penguin, 2017, $13) time, the setting is usually prewar THE KING TIDES by James Swain and written in 1954. During a stake- France (before his exile). Simenon’s THE FRACTURED by Brett Battles out, Inspector Lognon observes a body Maigret stories, written in a spare style thrown from a moving car. Before that was admired by Ernest Heming- he can call it in, a second car collects way, average about 160 pages and can the body. Rather than immediately easily be read on a fl ight to France or informing Maigret, Lognon tries to even on the Eurostar. C’est pas mal. solve the mystery of the missing body, ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 19

use up a lot of expensive ink printing off 84 pages. Not recommended. I’ll have to see what it costs to print out in color Editor’s Message at a copy center. 2. Unavailable to people who don’t have a computer or won’t go to the trou- ble to access a public one. Big Changes for DP. IMPORTANT generate enough income to at least cover 3. Not as pleasant to read on a TO READ. Most successful magazines expenses – which will be much lower computer screen as on a tablet screen or are kept alive by selling advertising, without printing and mailing costs. I print version. something I have long been determined fi gure I’ll need around 300 subscribers I plan to convert this issue that you to avoid. Join that with mounting frus- to break even, which shouldn’t be too have in your hand (#85) into a color pdf tration with the printing and mailing diffi cult – I hope. Profi t motive has nev- issue which I will send by an e-mailed processes I have to go through with each er been a major factor in my publishing link to any subscriber who e-mails a re- issue, and my age of 74 (lift ing heavy of Deadly Pleasures (thank goodness!). quest to me at george@deadlypleasures. mail bags is becoming burdensome) 2. Delivery is instantaneous – no com. Put “PDF Request” in the subject and I’ve come to the conclusion that wait on the post offi ce to deliver (or lose line. You can experiment and give me changes have to be made in order to it). feedback as to how well that works (I’ll keep Deadly Pleasures viable. A price 3. All photos and illustrations in print the best responses in the next hike alone will not suffi ce, although it magazine can be in color unless a black issue), so that when I get to Issue 89 I’ll will be an eff ective band-aid for the next and white one is the only option Layout have all the wrinkles worked out. Th is little while. My goal is to keep produc- will be a little simpler because I won’t will be very helpful to me. ing DP as long as my health (which is have to bump up resolution of every I hope that you will work with me on pretty good at present) holds up. photo in the magazine to reach print- this. I realize that it will be a disruption, I have made the decision to print this er-quality levels. I can just use the 72 but it shouldn’t be a major one for most issue and three more issues, through dpi color graphics from the internet and of you. Long live Deadly Pleasures! Issue 88. Issue 89 will be digital only. I they should look just fi ne. will produce it and subsequent issues 4. Each issue will be searchable. If Binge-Reading. With the advent as pdf fi les and will send the link to you want to know if there is a Peter of streaming and dvr’s the term “binge download it from the website (deadly- Lovesey mention in the issue you can watching” has become quite popular. pleasures.com) to those subscribers who search and instantly go to that section. It refers to the practice of watching pay for the digital subscription ($10 for 5. Each issue can be sent to every multiple episodes of the same tv or 4 issues for both foreign and domestic publicist (not just publicity depart- movie series over a short period of subscriptions) and provide me with a ments) more authors, booksellers, etc. time. If watching two or three hour- good e-mail address. I understand that Much easier to send out free issue sam- long episodes of a series on consecutive this will cause some consternation for ples to gain more readers. nights constitutes “binge-watching,” those of you who don’t own computers 6. Not limited to any set number of then I confess to having done that with or don’t have access to computers (al- pages (84 pages at present). Th e “jigsaw though everyone has access to a com- puzzle” of layout will be a lot simpler. puter through local libraries or through 7. Th e pdf version of DP looks great those owned by friends and relatives). on tablets, such as my IPad. One should If you have issues owed past Issue 88, be able to adjust the size of type to fi t I will convert remaining subscription your preferred reading size. amounts to the digital rate for those Disadvantages who want to continue or refund owed 1. No print magazine to hold in hand amounts to those who do not wish to unless one prints out the pdf fi le on a continue with the digital-only version printer. I’ll check into costs, but most of DP. copy centers have a cheap rate for black/ Advantages white copies of about 5 or 6 cents. So 1. No printing and mailing costs. you can take the pdf fi le to a copy center Proposed cost of subscription $2.50/per on a thumb drive and print off the issue issue. No more dealing with the printer for $5.00 to $6.00. If you have a laser and post offi ce will be heaven for me. printer at home, you can print it off at a Th at alone will speed up production by much lower cost. If you try to print an 2-3 weeks and I would be able to get the issue on an ink jet printer, you will fi nd issues out more on time. I would like to the cost to be very high because you will 20 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------the Bosch series on Amazon Prime, the go back and re-read anything, as I do not read and even chastised me for not Wanted series and the Bodyguard se- sometimes with series that I read one including it in my award-winning (have ries, both on Netfl ix. But it’s been many year at a time – as new books in a series I mentioned that?) readers’ history KISS years since I binge-read a series within a are released. Although the mysteries KISS BANG BANG though suggesting short period of time. Th e major reason were satisfyingly complex and puz- this might be because the author was for that is the pretty constant fl ow of zling, it was the back story of the main not British. He wasn’t, he was French, good books arriving each week on my characters, Cormoran Strike and Robin and I’ve now tracked down a copy of doorstep. I fi nd myself reading 6 to 8 Ellacott that kept me turning the pages. DADDY and I must thank Lee for the books at a time. And sometimes a good So my New Year’s resolution is to ev- recommendation. It’s a cracker. book I have been reading gets put aside ery once in awhile go on a binge-reading Loup Durand (1933-1995) only wrote because a better book has just come exercise. Next up is the Mick Herron’s three or four thrillers and DADDY, into my possession. Th at has been my Slough House series. I’ll keep you post- which appeared in English in 1988, was practice for the last couple of decades ed. (I can hear Larry Gandle groaning his greatest success. It is a fast-moving so there aren’t large blocks of time to – he is not a fan of Mick Herron, except manhunt story – or to be more accu- devote to a series of unread books. If for one of his books.) rate, a boy hunt, as the hero is a highly I missed reading a book that has since intelligent 11-year-old who carries in his become popular and well respected in prodigious brain the secret whereabouts mystery fi ction circles it has always been of bank accounts worth zillions, which diffi cult for me to go back and read it. are greedily sought by the Nazi hierar- But in early December I decided to chy. Th e poor lad is chased across Vichy do just that. Robert Galbraith’s (J. K. France in 1942, helped at fi rst by some Rowling’s) LETHAL WHITE arrived ruthlessly effi cient Spanish bodyguards and I realized that I was getting further Jane Langton and then by an American who might and further behind in this series, which just be the boy’s estranged father. now constitutes four novels. So I decid- It is a stunning thriller, crammed ed to read the fi rst in the series, THE Jane Langton R.I.P. It is with with ‘tradecraft ’ on how to avoid or fool CUCKOO’S CALLING, which turned profound sadness we announce the the Vichy police, the Gestapo, the SS out to be a wonderful experience. I passing of Jane Langton, a 2017 Grand and a wonderfully twisted Nazi aca- immediately picked up the second, then Master, on December 22, 2018 at age 96. demic, who hunt our young hero across the third and fi nally the fourth – a total In a writing career that spanned over France almost like ‘beaters’ pushing of 2050 pages. During this binge-read- four decades, Jane Langton had not gamebirds towards the waiting guns. ing, which took about three weeks, I only written multiple mystery series, Th ere is stone-cold shocking violence didn’t read anything else. One big plus but also illustrated them. Her fi rst and some genuine cliff -hanging mo- was that all details of the book were children’s book, THE MAJESTY OF ments and would, I thought, make a fresh in my mind and I didn’t have to GRACE, was published by Harper in breathless television series, only to 1961. Th e fi rst book of her Hall Family Chronicles series, THE DIAMOND IN THE WINDOW, was nominated for the Edgar for Best Juvenile. THE FLEDGLING, fourth in the series, was a Newberry Honor Book. Langton had written 18 books in the Homer (and Mary) Kelly series, published between 1964 and 2005. Th e fi ft h in the series, EMILY DICKINSON IS DEAD, was an Edgar nominee and received a Nero Wolfe Award. I treasure my signed Jane Langton books, that she not only signed, but added beautiful ink drawings appro- priate to the plot and/or settings of the books.

Recommendation From Mike Rip- ley. In DP 84, Mike Ripley stated, “At a panel on vintage thrillers, Lee Child recommended a favourite novel I had ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 21 discover that it had, with plot changes, when readers will cry, “Basta, enough!” very popular psychological suspense/ under the title Entrusted, some time and then those types of titles will shrink domestic suspense. Is anyone reading aft er the author’s death, though I do not back to normal levels. One of the really, anything else? Peter Robinson’s latest, believe it has ever been shown in the really great things about the world of CARELESS LOVE, arrived on my door- UK. mystery/crime/thriller fi ction is its step this morning. I remember thinking I can understand why Lee was so diversity. When you get tired of reading as I opened the package, “Hurray, a tra- impressed with DADDY thirty years a certain type of mystery, you have an ditional mystery!” And I dove right in. ago and I can attest that it still holds up almost infi nite choice of alternatives, All in all, I think that 2018 was a as an impressive thriller today.” quite diff erent from that which you have wonderful year for mystery fi ction. Well, I was impressed enough about just fi nished reading. Th ere was more to be excited about than a recommendation by Lee Child and Over the last few years, the market in 2017. Onward and upward to 2019! Mike Ripley to seek out a copy of DAD- has been fl ooded with mass market pa- DY and read it. While I didn’t quite perback cozies, but of late there has been Next Issue of DP. I am always look- think it was a “cracker,” it did keep my a big cutback from publishers such as ing for new trends in mystery fi ction interest all the way through and found Berkley and Kensington. I have a hard to write cover articles about. Th e latest it worthy of recommendation. Th anks time now coming up with a decent list noticeable trend is a major uptick in Lee and Mike. of cozy paperbacks to recommend. It’s recent Australian crime fi ction. Some just the market adjusting. are calling is Bush Noir. It started with the phenomenal success of Karen Harp- Best Mysteries of the Year. Start- ers’ THE DRY in 2017 (Barry Award for ing on page 67, I have added a number Best First Novel). In 2018 it was Dervla of “Best” lists for your perusal. I’m McTiernan’s THE RUIN and Emma amazed at the diversity of opinion (of Viskic’s RESURRECTION BAY (both course, we are not all reading the same Barry Award nominations). And in 2019 books). But it points out what a chal- there is a lot of buzz about SCRUB- lenge it is to come up each year with LANDS by Chris Hammer and Jane the Barry Award nominations. Our Harper’s third novel, THE LOST MAN. nominating committees do a fabulous Also of note is another 2019 fi rst novel, job, but it is very subjective and de- THE NOWHERE CHILD by Christian pends on what we have read. We on the White and Dervla McTiernan’s second committee communicate a few times novel, THE MENTOR. during the year about really good books Th en we’ll take a look at some favor- we have read -- to give opportunity for ite veterans such as Michael Robotham others on the committee to also read (THE OTHER WIFE) and Barry Mait- the same books. But we always seem to land (THE PROMISED LAND). miss at least one title a year. Last year it DP’s Australian correspondent Jeff was BLUEBIRD, BLUEBIRD by Attica Popple will be helping with the article. Locke (it just missed the cutoff on the Aft er corresponding with him for many Supersaturating the Market. Th e committee’s fi nal vote). Th is year there years, I’m excited that I’ll fi nally get to strength of a mystery subgenré waxes seems to be almost universal acclaim for meet Jeff at this year’s Bouchercon in and wains with perceived market de- SUNBURN by Laura Lippman. It was Dallas, which he is plaaning to attend. mands. Now is the day of the domestic on our Barry Award longlist , but nar- suspense/psychological suspense (hence rowly missed the the cover article of this issue). Th e mar- cut. (I can’t feel ket is being inundated (as am I) with too bad for Laura new and relatively unknown authors Lippman who has who write in this subgenre. Th ere are won two Barry some very talented writers producing Awards in the this kind of fi ction, but also some not so past.) . It’s not a good. I like to read one every once in a perfect system, but while – but not as a steady diet. Th at’s it is one that I fi nd why I rely on an expert on the subject very satisfying. who has good critical taste like Kristo- Some of the lists pher Zgorski to point me towards the above referenced gems (hence, the sterling cover article are heavily popu- of this issue). But there will be a point lated by the now 22 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

Assistant Editor’s Message Edgar Award Nominations 2019 hile reading ROBICHEAUX other reviewers but have Wby James Lee Burke, I have to little to no literary merit. It simply Best Novel keep reminding myself that books in doesn’t matter. In fact, browsing in an this genre should not be judged by independent bookstore this weekend, THE LIAR’S GIRL their literary merits about 95% of the I overheard the owner recommending by Catherine Ryan Howard time. The prose that this man creates a particular crime fiction book to a HOUSE WITNESS by Mike Lawson can be truly breathtaking. So often I customer. She added that she did not A GAMBLER’S JURY have to stop and reread passages just to like the latest Robocheaux book, NEW by Victor Methos admire his supreme talent at depicting IBERIA BLUES finding it too slow DOWN THE RIVER UNTO THE the Louisiana bayou locales. In writ- going. This just confirmed what I have SEA by Walter Mosley ing style, almost no crime writer can been saying. ONLY TO SLEEP come close to him. However, in the The Edgar Award nominations will by Lawrence Osborne crime fiction genre, astounding prose be announced in the next week or so. A TREACHEROUS CURSE is simply not enough. I have read many I remember how excited George and by Deanna Raybourn of this author’s books. They are very I would be to examine the list many similar and, at times, difficult to tell years ago. There was confirmation that Best First Novel by an apart. They are slow character-driven what we picked as favorites was also American Author narratives. As one of his publishers highly regarded by the Edgar commit- said to me once, “He writes the same tees. Also in the mix was the fact that A KNIFE IN THE FOG book over and over again but does it the occasional surprise book would be by Bradley Harper beautifully.” I haven’t read one of his a small press book and worth collect- THE CAPTIVES books in years but it was a good trip ing. Personally, I am not as excited by Debra Jo Immergut for me to go back to New Iberia. any longer. As we have demonstrated THE LAST EQUATION OF ISAAC As a contrast, let’s look at his last year, the selection of the Barry list SEVERY by Nova Jacobs daughter, Alafair Burke. I first met is more inclusive of a wider group of BEARSKIN Alafair before her first book came out. readers and the books, as a group, are by James A. McLaughlin She did not want the association with better. (In my opinion, of course) WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING her father but, since she wrote under Also, I would add that the MWA by Delia Owens her real name, it could not be avoided. was recently involved in a major What is amazing about her is that she controversy in which they initially Best Paperback Original did not merely hang onto her father’s named Linda Fairstein a Grandmaster coattails. She went to law school and but rescinded the award when Attica IF I DIE TONIGHT became a successful lawyer before she Locke said she was ‘almost single- by Alison Gaylin decided to write. Her style is complete- handedly responsible for the wrongful HIROSHIMA BOY ly unlike her father’s. In fact, she bris- incarceration of the Central Park Five’ by Naomi Hirahara tles when people try to compare her to (for allegedly raping and severely beat- UNDER A DARK SKY him because she wants to be consid- ing a female jogger). Linda Fairstein by Lori Rader-Day ered on her own merits. Alafair is not a told Attica Locke to “learn your facts” THE PERFECT NANNY stylist -- she is a storyteller. She wants adding “Your anger and comments are by Leila Slimani to entertain you -- not dazzle you. As misdirected.” This has angered a lot of UNDER MY SKIN by Lisa Unger a result, she is just as successful as him MWA members, some of whom would and very possibly even more so. resign from the organization if they I think it is clear that, in the crime were not so tied into the publishing fiction world, storytelling wins out world. Personally, I blame the MWA over style anytime. Readers want to for being so sloppy in vetting their be entertained more than anything. honorary recipients. This is bad on all Hence, books that are termed ‘cozies’ sides. get high ratings in this magazine by ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 23

keyboard 20-30 times a day. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.]

Letters Ben Petrone, Associate Director of Publicity for Jeffrey Siger, Greece it keeps me Viking, New York City What a terrific issue! And not be- in the game and I can work from there I’m happy to share the news that cause of your and Steele’s kind mention to try to gain some recognition for what Starz acquired from Fremantle the of my AN AEGEAN APRIL, but for all I do. BALL PARK is the next novel, eight-episode drama series Dublin the great things written about so many and it will be published in the U.K. in Murders, adapted from Tana French’s wonderful new and emerging authors. I July, and in Canada and the U.S. (they novels IN THE WOODS and THE had the fun of moderating a panel with insist on both sides of the Atlantic, and LIKENESS. Killian Scott (C.B. Strike) Abir Muhkerjee and he’s just a great indeed, the bulk of their sales is in the and Sarah Greene (Penny Dreadful) lead guy. Then there’s Lou Berney, and his U.S.) in October. Thank you. This was the cast as detectives Rob Reilly and truly breakout novel, NOVEMBER probably my last option. In the modern Cassie Maddox. Production is underway ROAD. We actually did our debut tours era, publishers and agents solely look at in Belfast and Dublin. together and I could not be happier than the sales of your last book and decide I am for him. on that basis. Severn House, though, William Kent Krueger I think it’s safe to say that your sub- makes a point of taking on writers who My greatest joy in the coming year scription increase is more than worth it. have had a decent track record but have will be the release in the fall of THIS stumbled at the box office, and I’m glad TENDER LAND, my companion novel Steele Curry, Calgary, that they do. It allows me another cou- to ORDINARY GRACE. I’ve been ple of kick at the can, and I’ll be doing at work on it for three years, and I’m Canada so with BALL PARK and the next book, deeply in love with it. It takes place in As usual, the latest edition of DP ROAR BACK, and I love them both. so southern Minnesota in the summer of is packed with relevant information we’ll see. So thank you, very very very 1932, well into the Great Depression. for fans of mysteries and thrillers. You much. It’s the story of four orphans running should have checked with some friends from the law because they’ve commit- regarding the increase in DP’s subscrip- Jerrold Elkin, Monterey, ted a heinous crime—but for the right tion price before you made your final California reason. A manhunt has been launched decision. As Warren Buffet has always to capture them, so they can’t take to the I continue to findDeadly Pleasures said, pricing decisions should not be roads. They’re afraid to ride the rails, as an invaluable resource for surfacing made in isolation by the people running everyone was doing in the Depression, authors unfamiliar to me. Thus, a few the business as they always error on the because the railroads were patrolled issues ago Larry offered a short approba- low side. All things considered, I believe by private police called bulls who had tory assessment of Steven Saylor. In the that the annual subscription price a reputation for incredible cruelty. So intervening months I read all fourteen should be $30 U.S. Even at that price, it’s they take to the rivers instead. They novels in the Roma Sub Rosa series, a steal! canoe a river called the Gilead to the with considerable pleasure. Minnesota River, canoe the Minnesota Nevertheless, in the hundreds of Trevor Ferguson aka John to the Mississippi, and their intent is mysteries/thrillers – interspersed with to canoe the Mississippi all the way to Farrow, Canada science fiction and fantasy novels – I Saint Louis, where they believe they [ This is an e-mail that Steele Curry have enjoyed over the years, only a have family and will be safe. I have forwarded to me. Apparently he pointed few remain imprinted indelibly in my always wanted to write an updated Canadian author John Farrow in the memory, illustrated by MOTHERLESS version of Huckleberry Finn. This is my direction of a new publisher. It contains BROOKLYN, with its intriguing – and Huckleberry Finn. insights that may be of interest to you.] occasionally hilarious – chief protago- I’ll leave you with a bit of the pro- Hi, Steele, I owe you a great debt. Today nist suffering from Tourette Syndrome logue to THIS TENDER LAND: I agreed to terms with Severn House. and THE ATHENIAN MURDERS, I’m not certain but I think “La crème de an outstanding multi-layered historical The tale I’m going to tell is of a sum- la crime”imprint is reserved for Brit- mystery. If memory holds, both won mer long ago. Of killing and kidnapping ish authors only, but in any case we’ve the Gold Dagger award. [Jerrold mildly and children pursued by demons of a agreed to publish the next two Cinq- complained of my mixing up two letters thousand names. There will be courage Mars novels with Severn House. The to the editor in the last issue, one being in this story and cowardice. There will be terms are not great, to say the least, but his. I blame my cat who walks across my 24 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------love and betrayal. And, of course, there pocket, but I still love holding a book, book sellers in the area. I get audio will be hope. In the end, isn’t that what smelling the print, turning the pages. books from the library due to cost. every good story is about? But my income is rapidly falling behind I enjoy having books and being able the rising cost of books. And, I do use to refer to them if I care to. I found a Don Longmuir, Scene of the library, increasingly, but I still like to local store that sells used books at half collect and shelve my own. price. Th ey give you credit for books the Crime Books, Canada Maryann Miller responds: Don, that you give them to lower the price [Donny started a string of posts on the I agree with you that books are oft en even more. I gave them 294 books a few 4MA interactive blog with this post about being priced out of the range of a lot of months back so I have credit. My only the current high cost of books. Th ought budgets. And the Kindle prices are too problems with them is that they are you might fi nd it interesting.] high, also. $10 to $15 for an electronic months behind on alphabetizing new to Th is has been bothering me all day. I book is also a budget breaker. them books and put them out and their went to the David Baldacci event at the Charlotte (? last name) responds: I system of deciding what price to charge Buff alo / Erie County Library for his agree the cost of a Kindle e-book is way seems to depend on reading tea leaves, newest book LONG ROAD TO MER- over priced. Th ey should drop the price leaving me with no idea of what price I CY. Awesome event. David was as usual on them. I have a price limit on buying will pay for a book using my ‘credit’. I’m very charming. Th e price of the book in ebooks. I try to use the library as much actually reasonably intelligent but have US dollars is $29.00 in Canadian $38.00. as possible. My house is full of book little knowledge of astrological signs Maybe I’m getting old. Or I’ve been shelves and books. I am having a hard and arcane scrolls from long lost tombs out of the new book game for too long time placing books in my house. Kindle that it seems are at the center of pricing but it was a shocker. does help saving room for very special these days. Publishing companies are always bought books. complaining “We can’t sell hardcover Another Maryann Miller response: Next books.” And I know how it works-- the I started reading on the Kindle for less you sell, the higher the price goes to many of the reasons you cited, then cover the printing of the copies you do had to turn to audio books primarily print. for the past three years. You are right Reviewed to But! about book lovers. We all started loving Also the higher the price goes, the the heft of a paper book, the feel of the less people are going to buy a hardcover pages, and the delight of the diff erent Death Title book. I have for a long time thought that fonts and layouts. Th at is something so it isn’t a majority of people who wish to special that we don’t get with e-books or own a kindle, it’s the publishers that are audio, although e-books are improving forcing us towards that direction so that the eye-appeal of the book. they can cut out the printing end of the Wally (? Last name) responds: I business, just like they have cut out the agree with everything you said, Don, editor end of it. especially the high price of hardbacks. It I know there are people who love appears the nature of book pricing has their kindles for various reasons. Eye entered into the Kohl’s pricing arena. sight. Cost. Storage. But there are plenty Th e two largest sellers of books (to my of us who still love hardcovers. And $30 knowledge), Amazon and Barnes & No- or $40 for a hardcover cancels out a lot ble, give big discounts on the hardbacks. of us. Th e idea is, by selling large quantities at Larry Chavis responds: I own a 30-50% off , they make enough money Kindle and use it very frequently, but, through volume. But I doubt individual truth to tell, I still would prefer a paper booksellers could make much by giving book, hardcover fi rst then paperback, such large discounts, taking them out instead. I use my Kindle for two pri- of the game. Th e larger price tag al- mary reasons, and the fi rst is what Don lows more potential profi t for the big has written here: “real” books are so discounters so I suspect the costs will expensive (the other has to do with the continue to rise. prospect of moving into a backyard tent, I still buy books, more than I should. SAVE ME FROM DANGEROUS as space in the house dwindles). I enjoy I get some at Half Price Books in Ft. MEN by S. A. Lelchuk (Flatiron my Kindle, like the variable font sizes, Wayne, some from Better World Books Books, $27.99, March, 2019) and love the idea of having dozens— but most from B&N and Amazon. We hundreds—of books with me in my don’t seem to have any individual new ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 25

BOUCHERCON 2020 Where Murder is a Capitol Crime October 15-18, 2020 DP Calendar Sacramento, California Guests of Honor Scott Turow Walter Mosley Anne Perry LEFT COAST CRIME 2019 Cara Black Whale of a Crime Silver Bullet Recipient 2018: Fan GOH: Janet Rudolph Vancouver, Canada Harlan Coben Toastmaster: Catriona McPherson March 28-31, 2019 Website: thrillerfest.com Website: American Guest of Honor: C. J. bouchercon2020.org Box THEAKSTONS OLD PECULIER Canadian Guest of Honor: Mau- CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL reen Jennings July 18-21, 2019 Lifetime Achievement: Sue Graft on Harrogate, U.K. Fan Guests of Honor: Don & Jen Guests of Honor: To Be Announced Longmuir Website: https://harrogateinternation- Toastmaster: Cathy Ace alfestivals.com/crime/ Website: www.left coastcrime. org/2019 BOUCHERCON 2019 50th Anniversary Convention Denim, Diamonds & Death October, 31- November 3, 2019 Dallas, Texas American Guest of Honor: Hank Phillippi Ryan Distinguised Contribution to Genre: James Patterson International Guest of Honor: Anthony Horowitz Lifetime Achievement: MALICE DOMESTIC 31 Peter Lovesey Bethesda, Maryland Local Guest of Honor: BOUCHERCON 2021 May 3-May 5 2019 Deborah Crombie August 26-29, 2021 Guests of Honor: Toastmaster: Harry Hunsicker New Orleans, Louisiana Donna Andrews Fan Guest of Honor: Guests of Honor Chris Grabenstein McKenna Jordan Steve Berry Lifetime Achievement: Parnell Hall Website: http://bouchercon2019.com/ Craig Johnson Fan GOH: P. J. Coldren Charles & Caroline Todd Malice Remembers: Sue Feder Sandra Brown Website: malicedomestic.org Linda Fairstein More details to follow CRIMEFEST 2019 It will be in the same hotel and put on Bristol, U.K. by the same committee of fans who put May 9-12, 2019 on the last convention in New Orleans Guests of Honor so expect a similar good time. To Be Announced Website: www.crimefest.com Come Join the THRILLERFEST XIII July 9-13, 2019 Fun! Grand Hyatt, New York City Th rillerMaster 2018: John Sandford 26 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------Novels Recently Read

I’ve read the first fifteen books by Michael Connelly, and that has only It’s About Crime brought me up to THE CLOSERS (2005). Obviously, he writes faster than I can read. He remains one of my favorite authors. THE CLOSERS is one of his by Marv Lachman best books, combining a well-plotted detective story with observations of race, politics, political correctness, and homelessness. This is excellent regional writing that captures many aspects of The Short Stop The other five stories that I would nominate, were there still a Barry Award Los Angeles. Harry Bosch has returned for the short story and were I still nom- to the LAPD from retirement and, as the he year 2018 was a good, if not title indicates, he is assigned to solving great, one in the short story. There inating, are as follows, in alphabetical T order, by author: what used to be called “cold cases,” this was BIBLIOMYSTERIES, Volume one the murder of a high school girl 2, edited by Otto Penzler (Pegasus, almost twenty years before. Its only fault $26.95), though because the stories were Simon Brett- “The Last Locked Room: (TEN YEAR STRETCH) is that a key clue would have been better first published before 2018, I could not presented as a photo than as a written include any in my list below. Two of the description. This is a fictional police stories from TEN YEAR STRETCH: David Dean- “Sofee” (March-April EQMM) procedural that reads as grippingly as Celebrating a Decade of Crime Fiction the very best true crime. at Crimefest, edited by Martin Edwards I selected Robert B. Parker’s FAM- and Lee Child (Poisoned Pen Press, Dayle A. Dermatis- “Bothering with Details” (May-June AHMM) ILY HONOR(1999) as my airplane and $15.95, 2018) are included. hotel reading for Bouchercon in Flori- An interesting anthology in 2018 was da, and that’s not intended as a criticism BLOOD WORK, edited by Rick Oller- Kate Ellis- “Crime Scene” (TEN YEAR STRETCH) of it. I’ve always found Parker to be fast, man. It was published to honor the late easy reading. It served its purpose. This Gary Shulze who once owned the Once is the book that introduces Parker’s Upon a Crime book store in Minneap- John Latigua- “The Cuban Prisoner” (September-October EQMM). This story second Boston private detective, Sunny olis. Published by Down & Out Books, Randall, who as first person narrator its proceeds go to the Memorial Blood would be my selection for the Shamus as Best Private Eye story of the year. sounds much like Spenser, though she Centers in St. Paul Minnesota, where is female. Her first case, about a teen- Gary was treated. Most stories refer to Five other stories too good to be ager who has run away from home, is books, bookstores, or tubas. (Shulze reminiscent of many cases of runaways loved books, owned a book store, and neglected, are in my Best Eleven list, namely: in the late 1960s and 1970s: Randall is sometimes played a tuba.) Occasionally, hired by the parents to find her, but once trying to insert one of these items into a again a Parker private eye does not obey mystery plot becomes awkward. Of the John M. Floyd- “Scavenger Hunt” (Jan.- Feb. AHMM) the client’s wishes. The telling is crisp, thirty stories, my favorites were Gary R. except for a lot of padding regarding Bush’s “I’m With It: A Love Story” and Marvin Kaye- “Post No Bulls” (Ju- Sunny’s dog. There is also good regional William Kent Krueger’s “Just Another writing, especially about Boston traffic. Cold Case.” ly-Aug. EQMM). (There are two other series of Nero Wolfe pastiches around, Less readers think I’ve given up on but this story is the best I’ve read.) the “old stuff,” let me strongly recom- Lachman’s Favorite Short mend Miles Burton’s THE SECRET OF Stories of 2018 R.T. Raichev- “A Chronicle of Death HIGH ELDERSHAM (1931). Burton is One story stood out among those Foretold” (May-June EQMM) another pseudonym of Major Cecil John I read this year, and it is no surprise Charles Street, and it is every bit as good that it is by a writer who has been an Kristine Kathryn Rusch- “The Wedding as the best work Street penned under his outstanding short story writer for over Ring” (Mar.-Apr. EQMM) more famous pen name John Rhode. A three decades. The writer is Brendan popular bar keeper in East Anglia has DuBois, and his story was “The Wildest Marilyn Todd- “First Dates Are Always been murdered, and Inspector Young of One” from September-October AHMM. the Tricky Ones” (Sept.-Oct. EQMM) Scotland Yard is assigned the case. Bur------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 27 ton’s usual detective Desmond Merrion Shapiro, fi gure prominently, this is more advocated: a good critic can analyze a comes in to help his friend Young. Th is of a thriller than a detective story. Th e book without giving away the plot. the is a case involving witchcraft ; there is writing and the people are sophisticated, ending, and any surprises. even a coven. Unusual for its time, it has as they are throughout the Lockridge It is a pleasure to see, among his a well-described (albeit discreetly) orgy. canon, though I’m not sure I can explain hundred, some of the books I have put Th ere is more sex and action than any- why. A Supreme Court judge once said on my own “Best” lists. So wide is the thing I read under Street’s pseudonyms. he couldn’t defi ne pornography, but he range of his reading that he has included Detection is not the book’s strong point; knew it when he saw it. I feel the same at least ten authors of whom I’ve never it is an exciting thriller, one that re- about sophistication. even heard and many more books I’ve mains very readable 85+ years aft er it not read yet. was written.. Books About the Mystery THE APRIL RAINERS (1989) is the Doom with a View fi rst book I’ve read by Anthea Fraser Suddenly, Martin Edwards is in (not to be confused with Antonia Fras- all the rooms. Everywhere in mystery er), and it’s a good one. Th e title comes fi ction. I see in him a combination of from the British folk song “Green Grow Anthony Boucher and Frederick Dan- the Rushes-O.” Th ere are many sub- nay. His 2015 book on the Golden Age tly-drawn, complex characters; enough and the Detection Club won almost all that a list of them at the beginning of of the awards for critical/biographical the book would have been useful. Fraser works. He is President of the Detection is especially good at describing subur- Club and Chair of the Crime Writers ban middle class life in England. It re- Association. He’s a regular at most mys- minded me of the controversy when P.D. tery conventions and oft en a panelist. James was accused of snobbery because He’s a novelist with two good series plus she implied that only the middle class stand-alones, and he also writes short was educated enough to make the moral stories. He’s a busy editor, including a choices that translate into good crime good collection that celebrated the tenth fi ction. I think that both James and An- years of CrimeFest, the Bristol, England, thea Fraser feel that mysteries in which convention. the crimes are committed by people who I’ve belatedly caught up with his normally don’t commit them are more THE STORY OF CLASSIC CRIME interesting. Especially good is Anthea’s IN 100 BOOKS (Poisoned Pen Press depiction of the problems of a female trade paperback, 2017, $15.95), and I composer in a male world of music. Th e am pleased not to have missed it. Th is resolution of the crime disappoints with is a book to be compared to Howard a hard-to-accept motive and a conve- Haycraft ’s MURDER FOR PLEASURE Another term I have trouble de- nient confession. (1941). Showing impeccable taste in the fi ning, though I frequently watch and Once enormously popular in books, books he selects, Edwards has captured write about it, is “Film Noir.” One of the radio, and television, Frances and Rich- the fi rst half of the twentieth century best movies in this genre is Criss Cross ard Lockridge are virtually forgotten and the books that are considered the (1949) which, like many noir fi lms, has today. I’ve ready all 26 of the Mr. and key works of the Golden Age, what- a voice over narration. In this case a Mrs. North books, and I now try to fi nd ever years you date it from. He starts strangely passive (as he was in Th e Kill- time to read those about their other with Conan Doyle’s HOUND OF THE ers) Burt Lancaster. sets the tone for the series characters and their non-series BASKERVILLES in 1902 and concludes movie, saying, “It was in the cards, and books, which are invariably thrillers. with Julian Symons enthralling and ex- there was no way of stopping it.” Th at’s a Th eir THE TANGLED CORD(1957) perimental THE 31ST OF FEBRUARY noir sentence if I’ve ever heard one. gets off to a suspenseful start as Ann (1950). In between, every major British Lancaster has an aff air with Yvonne Dillard of Westchester County is to writer (and a few Americans) are dis- DeCarlo, raising the ire of the other meet her fi ancé Clark Benson in Man- cussed. Each book is analyzed as to plot member of this triangle, Dan Duryea hattan when mysterious circumstances and its role in the author’s career and -- as a gangster who involves Lancaster send him into hiding and her searching its place in the history of the detective in a robbery. Th e fi lm is helped greatly all over the city to fi nd him. Th ere’s story. by the direction of Robert Siodmak, been a murder but the most mysterious One of the more impressive things one of the best directors of noir, and the aspect is wondering why Clark has fl ed. about Edwards’ work is his avoidance background music by Miklos Rozsa, a Th ough two of the Lockeridges series of “spoilers.” He proves a point I’ve long great composer for crime fi lms. detectives, Bill Weigand and Nathan 28 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

Katherine and prove her innocence, the terrors of the past threaten them both once more. BL & LJ The DP List **THE WORD IS MURDER by Anthony Horowitz ($27.99). PW, BL & Kirkus **MOOD INDIGO by Ed Ifkovic 2018 (Poisoned Pen Press, $26.95). SBL & PW **THE DARKNESS by Ragnar itles listed garnered starred reviews DP Jonasson (Minotaur, $27.99). The body Tin the four library journals (Pub- **WOMAN IN THE WINDOW by of a young Russian woman washes up lisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, Booklist and A. J. Finn (Morrow, $26.99). LJ & BL on an Icelandic shore. After a cursory Library Journal) and a glowing review **THE WITCH ELM by Tana investigation, the death is declared a sui- in Deadly Pleasures as indicated. These French (Viking, $28.00). Toby is a cide and the case is quietly closed. Over books are the best of the best for 2018. happy-go-lucky charmer who’s dodged a year later Detective Inspector Hulda For the sake of space, I have deleted plot a scrape at work and is celebrating with Hermannsdóttir of the Reykjavík police summaries of books that have appeared friends when the night takes a turn that is forced into early retirement at 64. She on this list in previous 2018 issues. See will change his life - he surprises two dreads the loneliness, and the memories a little taste of 2019 at the end of the end burglars who beat him and leave him of her dark past that threaten to come of the column. for dead. Struggling to recover from his back to haunt her. But before she leaves injuries, beginning to understand that she is given two weeks to solve a single he might never be the same man again, cold case of her choice. She knows which Best Novels he takes refuge at his family’s ancestral one: the Russian woman whose hope for home to care for his dying uncle Hugo. asylum ended on the dark, cold shore of **GIVE ME YOUR HAND by Then a skull is found in the trunk of an an unfamiliar country. BL, PW & DP Megan Abbott (Little, Brown, $27.00). . elm tree in the garden - and as detec- **BONE ON BONE by Julia Keller Kirkus, PW & BL tives close in, Toby is forced to face the (Minotaur, $26.99). After a three-year **GREEN SUN by Kent Anderson possibility that his past may not be what prison sentence, Bell Elkins is back in (Mulholland, $27.00). .BL & PW he has always believed. BL, LJ & PW Acker’s Gap. And she finds herself in **SNAP by Belinda Bauer (Atlantic **PUNISHMENT SHE DESERVES the white-hot center of a complicated Monthly, $26.00). .BL, LJ & DP by Elizabeth George (Viking, $28.00). and deadly case -- even as she comes to **NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Ber- BL & PW terms with one last, devastating secret of ney (Morrow, $26.99). . PW, LJ, BL, DP **THE BOUNCER by David Gordon her own. BL, LJ & PW & Kirkus (Mysterious Press, $26.00). BL & PW **THE SANDMAN by Lars Kepler **LONELY WITNESS by Wil- **SAINT OF WOLVES AND (Knopf, $27.95). PW, BL & DP liam Boyle (Pegasus, $26.00). .BL & BUTCHERS by Alex Grecian (Putnam, **GREEKS BEARING GIFTS by PW $27.00). BL & LJ Philip Kerr (Putnam, $27.00). Kirkus **GRAVE’S A FINE AND PRI- **DARK ANGEL by Elly Griffiths & LJ VATE PLACE by Alan Bradley (Dela- (Houghton Mifflin, $27.00). BL & LJ **A DANGEROUS CROSSING corte, $26.00). .LJ & PW **FORCE OF NATURE, Jane Harp- by Ausma Zehanat Khan (Minotaur, **THE PLEA by Steve Cavanagh er (Flatiron, $25.99). BL & DP 26.00). BL & PW (Flatiron, $26.99). . LJ & PW ** WHY KILL THE INNOCENT by **WHISPERS OF THE DEAD by **DARK SACRED NIGHT by Mi- C. S. Harris (Berkley, $26.00). Spencer Kope (Minotaur, $26.99). LJ & chael Connelly (Little, Brown, $29.00). . **CITY OF INK by Elsa Hart (Mi- DP DP notaur, $25.99). BL, Kirkus & PW **HOW IT HAPPENED by Michael **DON’T EAT ME by Colin Cotter- **BODY & SOUL by John Harvey Koryta (Little,Brown, $27.00). PW, LJ, ill (Soho Crime, $27.00). BL & PW (Pegasus, $25.95). When his estranged Kirkus & DP **STAY HIDDEN by Paul Doiron daughter Katherine suddenly appears on ** FERAL DETECTIVE by Jonathan (Minotaur, $26.99). PW & BL his doorstep, Elder knows that some- Lethem (Ecco, $26.99). Phoebe Siegler **SPLINTER IN THE BLOOD by thing is badly wrong. The breakdown first meets Charles Heist in a shabby Ashley Dyer (Morrow, $27.00). LJ, PW of her relationship with a controversial trailer on the eastern edge of Los Ange- & DP artist has sent her into a self-destructive les. She’s looking for her friend’s missing **THE SHADOWS WE HIDE by tailspin which culminates in mur- daughter, Arabella, and hires Heist to Allen Eskens (Mulholland, $27.00). der. And as Elder struggles to protect help. Reluctantly, he agrees to help. The Sequel to THE LIFE WE BURY. PW & unlikely pair navigate the enclaves of ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 29 desert-dwelling vagabonds and fi nd that LJ & DP suspect the woman must have been Arabella is in serious trouble—caught **THE MAN WHO CAME UP- delusional. But what if, Gamache begins in the middle of a violent standoff that TOWN by George Pelecanos (Mulhol- to ask himself, she was perfectly sane? only Heist, mysteriously, can end. BL & land, $27.00). Michael Hudson spends BL & LJ Kirkus the long days in prison devouring books **TREACHEROUS CURSE by **SUNBURN by Laura Lippman given to him by the prison’s librarian, Deanna Raybourn (Berkley, $26.00). BL (Morrow, $26.99). Kirkus, PW, BL, LJ a young woman named Anna who & LJ & DP develops a soft spot for her best student. **THRONE OF CAESAR by Steven **TWO GIRLS DOWN by Loui- Anna keeps passing Michael books Saylor (Minotaur, $27.99). PW& DP sa Luna (Doubleday, $25.95). BL & until one day he disappears, suddenly **SALT LANE by William Shaw PW released aft er a private detective manip- (Mulholland, $27.00). PW & DP **THE WIDOWS OF MALABAR ulated a witness in Michael’s trial. Out- **BARBED WIRE HEART by Tess HILL by Sujata Massey (Soho, $26.95). side, Michael encounters a Washington, Sharpe (Grand Central, $26.00). BL, PW, LJ & BL D.C. that has changed a lot during his Kirkus & PW **HANDFUL OF ASHES by Rob time locked up. Once shady storefronts **AEGEAN APRIL by Jeff Siger McCarthy (Pegasus, $26.00). BL & PW are now trendy beer gardens and fl ower (Poisoned Pen Press, $26.95). LJ & DP **BROKEN GROUND by Val Mc- shops. But what hasn’t changed is the **THE LEGACY by Yrsa Sigurdar- Dermid (Atlantic Monthly, $26.00). Six hard choice between the temptation of dottir (Minotaur, $25.99). T PW & feet under in a Highland peat bog lies crime and doing what’s right. BL, LJ & BL Alice Somerville’s inheritance, buried by PW **PERSONS UNKNOWN by her grandfather at the end of World War **KINGDOM OF THE BLIND by Susie Steiner (Random House, $27.00). II. But when Alice fi nally uncovers it, Louise Penny (Minotaur, $28.99). When Kirkus, BL, PW, LJ & DP she fi nds an unwanted surprise?a body a peculiar letter arrives inviting Armand **HER BEAUTIFUL MONSTER by with a bullet hole between the eyes. BL Gamache to an abandoned farmhouse, Adi Tantimedh (Atria, $26.99). LJ & PW & DP the former head of the Sûreté du Québec **THE BLOOD by E. S. Th omson **GO TO MY GRAVE by Catriona discovers that a complete stranger has (Pegasus, $25.95). Summoned to the McPherson (Minotaur, $26.99). Donna named him one of the executors of her riverside by the desperate, scribbled note Weaver has put everything she has into will. Still on suspension, and frankly cu- of an old friend, Jem Flockhart and Will restoring Th e Breakers, an old bed and rious, Gamache accepts and soon learns Quartermain fi nd themselves onboard breakfast on a remote stretch of beach that the other two executors are Myrna the seamen’s fl oating hospital, an old in Galloway. Now it sits waiting?freshly Landers, the bookseller from Th ree hulk known only as Th e Blood, where painted, richly furnished, fi lled with Pines, and a young builder. prejudice, ambition, and murder seethe fl owers?for the fi rst guests to arrive. But None of them had ever met the beneath a veneer of medical respectabil- Donna’s guests, a contentious group elderly woman. Th e will is so odd and ity. On shore, a young woman, a known of estranged cousins, soon realize that includes bequests that are so wildly prostitute, is found drowned in a dere- they’ve been here before, years ago. unlikely that Gamache and the others lict boatyard. A man leaps to his death Decades have passed, but that night still into the Th ames, driven mad by poison haunts them: a sixteenth birthday party and fear. Th e events are linked, but how? that started with peach schnapps and BL & PW ended with a girl walking into the sea. **AN ELDERLY LADY IS UP TO Kirkus & LJ NO GOOD by Helene Tursten (Soho **LEAVE NO TRACE by Mindy Crime, $12.99). Not a novel, but reads Mejia (Atria, $26.00). Kirkus & BL like one. Maud is an irascible 88-year- **AMERICAN BY DAY by Derek old Swedish woman with no family, no B. Miller (Houghton Miffl in Harcourt, friends, and… no qualms about a little $26.00). PW, LJ & BL murder. BL, PW & DP **DOWN THE RIVER UNDER **DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY THE SEA by Walter Mosley (Mulhol- by Ruth Ware (Gallery, $27.00). On land, $27.00). JBL & PW a day that begins like any other, Hal **A NECESSARY EVIL by Abir receives a mysterious letter bequeath- Mukherjee (Pegasus, $25.95). PW, BL, ing her a substantial inheritance. She LJ & DP realizes very quickly that the letter was **SWIFT VENGEANCE by T. Jeff er- sent to the wrong person—but also that son Parker (Putnam, $27.00). LJ & PW Louise Penny the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a **CLOSER THAN YOU KNOW by tarot card reader might help her claim Brad Parks (Dutton, $26.00). Kirkus, the money. Soon, Hal fi nds herself at the 30 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------funeral of the deceased…where it dawns DP **A SHARP SOLITUDE by Chris- on her that there is something very, very **THE LAST EQUATION OF tine Carbo (Atria, $16.00). DP wrong about this strange situation and ISAAC SEVERY by Nova Jacobs **A KNIFE IN THE FOG by Bradley the inheritance at the center of it. BL, (Touchstone, $25.00). Just days after Harper (Seventh St., $15.95). LJ & DP Kirkus, PW mathematician and faBL & PW **MURDER AT THE GRAND RAJ **GRIST MILL ROAD by Chris- **STAR OF THE NORTH by D. B. PALACE by Vaseem Khan (Redhook, topher J. Yates (Picador, $26.00). BL, John (Crown, $27.00). BL, LJ & PW $16.00). BL & PW Kirkus & PW **SIRENS by Joseph Knox (Crown, **THE GOOD SON by You-Jeong **LABYRINTH OF SPIRITS by $27.00). BL & DP Jeong (Penguin, $16.00). PW Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Harper, $37.50). **BEARSKIN by James A. Mc- **DEATH OF A RAINMAKER by Nine-year-old Alicia lost her parents Laughlin (Ecco, $26.99). Kirkus, PW Laurie Loewenstein (Kaylie Jones Books, during the Spanish Civil War when & DP $16.95). The Depression and a 240-day- the Nacionales (the fascists) savagely **HEARTS OF THE MISSING long dry spell drive the desperate bombed Barcelona in 1938. Twenty by Carol Potenza (Minotaur, $26.99). townspeople of Vermillion, OK, to hire years later, she still carries the emotional When a young woman linked to a list a rainmaker, but he’s murdered, leaving and physical scars of that violent and of missing Fire-Sky tribal members sheriff Temple Jennings to investigate. terrifying time. Weary of her work as an commits suicide, Pueblo Police Ser- LJ & PW investigator for Spain’s secret police in geant Nicky Matthews is assigned to the **HOLMES ENTANGLED by Gor- Madrid, a job she has held for more than case. As the investigation unfolds, she don McAlpine (Seventh Street, $15.95). a decade, the twenty-nine-year old plans uncovers a threat that strikes at the very BL & PW to move on. At the insistence of her heart of what it means to be a Fire-Sky **SLAUGHTER PARK by Barry boss, Leandro Montalvo, she remains to Native: victims chosen and murdered Maitland (Text, $16.00). BL & DP solve one last case: the mysterious disap- because of their genetic makeup. But **DEAD PRETTY by David Mark pearance of Spain’s Minister of Culture. these deaths are not just about a life tak- (Blue Rider Press, $16.00). PW & Kirkus, LJ & PW en. In a vengeful twist, the killer ensures DP the spirits of those targeted will wander **THE RUIN by Dervla McTiernan First Mystery Novels forever, lost to their family, their People, (Penguin, $16.00). PW, LJ & DP and their ancestors. When those closest **COUNCIL OF TWELVE by Oliver to Nicky are put in jeopardy, she must Potzsch (Mariner, $18.00). PW **MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILL- be willing to sacrifice everything?her **WALKING THE BONES by Ran- ER by Oyinkan Braithwaite (Doubleday, career, her life, even her soul?to save dall Silvis (Sourcebooks, $15.99). PW $22.95). Korede is bitter. How could the people she is sworn to protect. LJ & **THE HOLLOW OF FEAR by she not be? Her sister, Ayoola, is many PW Sherry Thomas (Berkley, $15.00). Under things: the favorite child, the beautiful **THE CHALK MAN by C. J. Tudor the cover of “Sherlock Holmes, consult- one, possibly sociopathic. And now (Crown, $27.00). In 1986, DP ing detective,” Charlotte Holmes puts Ayoola’s third boyfriend in a row is **THE 7-1/2 DEATHS OF EVE- her extraordinary powers of deduction dead. Korede has long been in love with LYN HARDCASTLE by Stuart Turton to good use. Moriarty’s shadow looms a kind, handsome doctor at the hospital (Sourcebooks, $25.99). There are three large. First, Charlotte’s half brother where she works. She dreams of the day rules of Blackheath House: 1. Evelyn disappears. Then, Lady Ingram, the es- when he will realize that she’s exactly Hardcastle will be murdered at 11:00 tranged wife of Charlotte’s close friend what he needs. But when he asks Korede p.m. 2. There are eight days, and eight Lord Ingram, turns up dead on his es- for Ayoola’s phone number, loyalties witnesses for you to inhabit; 3. We will tate. And all signs point to Lord Ingram become fuzzy. PW & DP only let you escape once you tell us the as the murderer. With Scotland Yard **SPY OF VENICE by Benet Brandreth name of the killer. Understood? Then closing in, Charlotte goes under disguise (Pegasus, $26.00). BL & PW let’s begin... Evelyn Hardcastle will to seek out the truth. But uncovering the **NEED TO KNOW by Karen die. She will die every day until Aiden truth could mean getting too close to Cleveland (Ballantine, $26.00). BL, LJ Bishop can identify her killer and break Lord Ingram--and a number of malevo- & DP the cycle. But every time the day begins lent forces. Kirkus & LJ **DODGING AND BURNING by again, Aiden wakes up in the body of **RESURRECTION BAY by Emma John Copenhaver (Pegasus, $25.95). LJ a different guest. Some of his hosts are Viskic (Pushkin Vertigo, $18.95). Caleb & PW helpful, and others only operate on a Zelic’s childhood friend has been brutal- **DEATH COMES IN THROUGH need to know basis. BL & LJ ly murdered - fingers broken, throat slit THE KITCHEN by Teresa Dovalpage - at his home in Melbourne. Tortured (Soho, $25.95). PW & DP Paperback Originals by guilt, Caleb vows to track down the **SWEET LITTLE LIES by Caz killer. But he’s profoundly deaf; missed Frear (Harper, $26.99). Kirkus, PW & words and misread lips can lead to ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 31

get murdered. Kirkus, LJ & PW diversion—war with the West.Upon learning of Krupin’s condition, CIA di- Thrillers rector Irene Kennedy understands that the US is facing an opponent who has nothing to lose. Th e only way to avoid a **THE TERMINAL LIST by Jack confrontation that could leave millions Carr (Atria, $26.00). DP dead is to send Mitch Rapp to Russia **BLOODY SUNDAY by Ben Coes under impossibly dangerous orders. (St. Martin’s, $28.00). Dewey Andreas, PW & BL still reeling from recent revelations ** THE FOX by Frederick Forsyth about his own past, is ready to retire (Putnam, $28.00). Former chief of the from the CIA. But he’s the only avail- British Secret Intelligence Service Adri- able agent with the skills to carry out an Weston is awoken in the middle of the CIA’s plan to stop North Korea. Th e the night by a phone call from the Prime plan is to inject a singular designer poi- Minister. Her news is shocking: the Pen- son into the head of the North Korean tagon, the NSA, and the CIA have been military and in exchange for the nuclear hacked simultaneously, their seemingly plans, provide him with the one existing impenetrable fi rewalls breached by an dose of the antidote. But it goes awry unknown enemy known only as “Th e when Dewey manages to inject a small Fox.” Even more surprisingly, the culprit amount of the poison into himself. Now, is revealed to be a young British teenag- to survive, Dewey must get into North er, Luke Jennings. He has no agenda, no Korea and access the antidote. PW & confusion, and trouble. PW & DP Also secrets, just a blisteringly brilliant mind. DP shortlisted for Gold Dagger and won Extradition to the U.S. seems likely--un- **THE DARK CLOUDS SHINING Ned Kelly Award. til Weston has another idea: If Luke by David Downing (Soho, $28.00). BL **AND FIRE CAME DOWN by can do this to us, what can he do to our & PW Emma Viskic (Pushkin Vertigo, $14.95). enemies? PW & DP ** SAFE HOUSES by Dan Fes- When a young woman is killed aft er **AGENT IN PLACE by Mark perman (Knopf, $26.95). West Berlin, pleading for Caleb’s help in sign lan- Greaney (Berkley, $27.00). Kirkus, PW 1979. Helen Abell oversees the CIA’s guage, Caleb is determined to fi nd out & DP network of safe houses, rare havens for who she was. And the trail leads straight **THE WAY I DIE by Derek Haas fi eld agents and case offi cers amidst the to his hometown, Resurrection Bay. Th e (Pegasus, $26.00). BL & DP dangerous milieu of a city in the grips of town is on bushfi re alert and simmering **THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED by the Cold War. Helen’s world is upended with racial tensions. As he delves deep- Mick Herron (Soho Crime, $25.95). BL when, during her routine inspection er, Caleb uncovers secrets that could & PW of an agency property, she overhears a threaten his life and any chance of re- **LONDON RULES by Mick Herron meeting between two people unfamiliar uniting with Kat. Driven by his demons, (Soho, $27.00). BL, LJ, PW & DP to her speaking a coded language that he pushes on. PW & DP **SKYJACK by K. J. Howe (Quercus, hints at shadowy realities far beyond her **MISS BLAINE’S PREFECT AND $26.99). PW, LJ & DP comprehension. Before the day is out, THE GOLDEN SAMOVAR by Olga **HELLBENT by Gregg Hurwitz she witnesses a second unauthorized Wojtas (Felony & Mayhem, $14.95). (Minotaur, $26.99). BL encounter, one that will place her in the Never underestimate a librarian. Com- **GALE FORCE by Owen Lauk- sight lines of the most ruthless and pow- fortably padded and in her middle years, kanen (Putnam, $27.00). BL & Kirkus erful man at the agency. Her attempts to Shona McMonagle may look bookish **HOUSE WITNESS by Mike expose the dark truths about what she and harmless, but her education at the Lawson (Atlantic Monthly, $26.00). BL has witnessed will bring about repercus- Marcia Blaine School for Girls has left & DP sions. BL & Kirkus her with a deadly expertise in every- **THE KREMLIN’S CANDIDATE ** RED WAR by Vince Flynn & thing from martial arts to quantum by Jason Matthews (Scribner, $27.00). Kyle Mills (Atria, $28.99).When Rus- physics. Her skills, her deceptively mild Kirkus, BL, PW & DP sian president Maxim Krupin discovers appearance, and her passionate loyalty **THE ESCAPE ARTIST by Brad that he has inoperable brain cancer, make Shona the perfect recruit for a new Meltzer (Grand Central, $28.00). . LJ & he’s determined to cling to power. His and interesting project: Time-travel to PW fi rst task is to kill or imprison any of Tzarist Russia, prevent a gross miscar- **BOMB MAKER by Th omas Perry his countrymen who can threaten him. riage of romance, and – in any spare (Mysterious Press, $26.00). Kirkus & Soon, though, his illness becomes seri- time – see to it that only the right people DP ous enough to require a more dramatic **LIGHT IT UP by Nick Petrie (Put- 32 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------nam, $26.00). DP expert in trauma, with whom Linna’s a job, toppling a set of carefully cali- **RIP CREW by Sebastian Rotella worked before. Bark is leery of forcing brated plans. And when he uncovers an (Mulholland, $27.00). Kirkus & LJ people to give up their secrets. But this extraordinary scheme set into motion **THE MIDDLEMAN by Olen time, Bark is the one hiding things. by an eccentric trio of young women--a Steinhauer (Minotaur, $28.00). BL & Years before, he had put a man away for convenience store clerk, her wheel- LJ an eerily similar crime, and now he’s be- chair-bound sister, and a cross-eyed Sneak Preview of 2019 ginning to think that an innocent man librarian--Reseng will have to decide may be behind bars. BL & PW if he will remain a pawn or fi nally take control of the plot. BL & PW Best Novels First Mystery Novels **NEW IBERIA BLUES by James Thrillers Lee Burke (Simon & Schuster, $27.99). **SCRUBLANDS by Chris Hammer (Touchstone, $26.99). In Riversend, an **OUT OF THE DARK by Gregg Robicheaux fi rst met Cormier on the Hurwitz (Minotaur, $27.99). Taken streets of New Orleans, when the young, isolated rural community affl icted by an endless drought, a young priest does the from a group home at age twelve, Evan undersized boy had foolish dreams of Smoak was raised and trained as part of becoming a Hollywood director.Twen- unthinkable, killing fi ve parishioners before being taken down himself. A year the Orphan Program, an off -the-books ty-fi ve years later, when Robicheaux operation designed to create deniable in- knocks on Cormier’s door, it isn’t to later, accompanied by his own demons from war-time reporting, journalist telligence assets, i.e. assassins. Evan was congratulate him on his Golden Globe Orphan X. He broke with the Program, and Academy Award nominations. Martin Scarsden arrives in Riversend. His assignment is simple: describe using everything he learned to disap- Robicheaux has discovered the body pear and reinvent himself as the No- of a young woman who’s been cruci- how the townspeople are coping as the anniversary of their tragedy approaches. where Man, a man who helps the truly fi ed, wearing only a small chain on her desperate when no one else can. But ankle. She disappeared near Cormier’s But as Martin meets the locals and hears their version of events, he begins to now Evan’s past is catching up to him. Cyrpemort Point estate. Kirkus, PW & Someone at the very highest level of gov- BL realize that the accepted wisdom—that the priest was a pedophile whose immi- ernment has been trying to eliminate **THE PARAGON HOTEL by every trace of the Orphan Program by Lyndsay Faye (Putnam, $26.00). Th e nent exposure was the catalyst for the shooting, a theory established through killing all the remaining Orphans and year is 1921, and “Nobody” Alice James their trainers. Aft er Evan’s mentor and is on a cross-country train, carrying a an award-winning investigation by Mar- tin’s own newspaper—may be wrong. the only father he ever knew is killed, he bullet wound and fl eeing for her life. decides to strike back. LJ & PW Desperate to get as far away as possible PW & DP **THE PLOTTERS by Un-Su **THE NIGHT AGENT by Matthew from New York City and those who Quirk (Morrow, $26.99). No one was want her dead, she has her sights set on Kim (Doubleday, $25.95). Reseng is an assassin. Raised by a cantankerous more surprised than FBI Agent Peter Oregon: a distant frontier that seems Sutherland when he’s tapped to work the end of the line. She befriends Max, a killer named Old Raccoon in the crime headquarters “Th e Library,” Reseng in the White House Situation Room. black Pullman porter who reminds her When Peter was a boy, his father, a achingly of Harlem, who leads Alice to never questioned anything: where to go, who to kill, or why his home was section chief in FBI counterintelligence, the Paragon Hotel upon arrival in Port- was suspected of selling secrets to the land. Her unlikely sanctuary turns out fi lled with books that no one ever read. But one day, Reseng steps out of line on Russians—a catastrophic breach that to be the only all-black hotel in the city, had cost him his career, his reputation, and its lodgers seem unduly terrifi ed of and eventually his life. Nowhere is Peter a white woman on the premises. Kirkus more vigilant than in this room, the & BL sanctum of America’s secrets. His night **STALKER by Lars Kepler (Knopf, job is monitoring an emergency line for $27.95, Feb.). Th e Swedish National a call that has not—and might never— Crime Unit receives a video of a young come. Until tonight. At 1:05 a.m. the woman in her home, clearly unaware phone rings. A terrifi ed young woman that she’s being watched. Soon aft er the named Rose tells Peter that her aunt and tape is received, the woman’s body is uncle have just been murdered and that found horrifi cally mutilated. With the the killer is still in the house with her. arrival of the next, similar video, the Before their deaths, they gave her this police understand that the killer is toy- phone number with urgent instructions: ing with them, warning of a new victim. “Tell them OSPREY was right. It’s hap- Detective Joona Linna Linna, recruits pening. . . “ LJ & DP Erik Maria Bark, the hypnotist and ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 33

A Conversation with quake never materialized. I’m hoping Armed confl ict over territory, resources, the earthquake will show up in another and historic grievances, with innocent Nick Petrie book. residents caught between two or more Author of TEAR IT In addition to his well-honed sur- sides – this could describe Iraq, Syria, or vival skills, Peter has post-traumatic many impoverished American neigh- DOWN stress that creates “white static” in his borhoods. When you see your friends head, and prefers to live as far away shot or killed, when you’re safe on the Each book in the Peter Ash Series is from “civilization” as possible. In streets or in your home because violence set in a diff erent place. Why have you Memphis he is thrust into an intense bleeds into the community, that’s not so chosen this method as a signature of urban world. What new challenges diff erent from being a soldier or civilian the series. does this present for him? in a combat zone. In fact, there’s grow- I love to read novels with compelling In TEAR IT DOWN, Peter is getting ing evidence that some of the challenges settings. A sense of place can add depth used to living with the White Static, facing inner city residents are in fact due and emotion and even a personality to which is his name for his post-traumatic to undiagnosed post-traumatic stress. a book. As a writer, I try hard to get the claustrophobia. But the city, as I write Like Peter, Wanda carries with her most out of a setting, and with each of it, is more like a war zone than any place the psychological scars of combat. my books set in a distinctly diff erent lo- he’s been since Iraq, complete with war- Who is this complex woman? How are cation, I get to play with something new lords and killers, machine gun attacks her experiences and issues similar and each time. Also, a peripatetic series is a and improvised explosives. Peter is a diff erent to Peter’s? good fi t for a guy like Peter Ash. He’s no complete outsider there, and he lacks the Wanda is a confl ict photographer longer an active-duty Marine, but he’s military resources he had as a Marine. who’s spent much of her career captur- got some serious problems from his time Before he can stop the violence from ing images of war. She’s been embedded at war. He’s still a drift er, a little lost, escalating further, he must navigate this with U.S. troops for months at a time, and trying to fi nd his way home. He’s challenging urban environment and and has lived in war zones reporting on got a long way to go before he gets there. fi gure out who’s cause these attacks, and insurgents and civilians as well. Her How do you choose where the next why. Luckily, he can call a few friends job, as she sees it, is to show the costs of adventure will take Peter? Why did for help. war, and to bear witness to its horrors, you pick Memphis for the setting of Wanda Wyatt, a character Peter for the majority of Americans who have TEAR IT DOWN and why does Peter is helping, compares Memphis street no idea what it can be like. go there? violence with what she has witnessed Lake many combat veterans, war Usually the topic of the book dictates in war zones in Iraq and Syria. How is correspondents oft en suff er from the the setting. BURNING BRIGHT is this an apt analogy? symptoms of post-traumatic stress. about cutting edge technology, so the I’m not the fi rst to compare Ameri- In some cases, the symptoms can be West Coast was a natural choice. I set ca’s troubled inner cities to war zones. quite debilitating, because they lack the LIGHT IT UP in Colorado because it the fi rst state to really dive into legal- izing cannabis, which is central to the story. I also want a setting with great dramatic possibilities – crime writers can’t waste any opportunities to put a character in trouble. For this setting, I had original- ly planned to writer about a natural disaster, and Memphis is in the heart of the New Madrid Fault Zone, the site of one of America’s largest earthquakes. In TEAR IT DOWN, Peter travels to Memphis to help a troubled war pho- tographer, whose personal problems are made worse when someone drives a dump truck into her house. Th en Peter meets a young street musician who’s been pulled into a robbery scheme. Nick Petrie Th ese characters were so vivid in my mind, and their stories captured me so completely, that somehow the earth- 34 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------intense training of soldiers, and they Did you spend time in Memphis to getting more interested in Peter and his are unarmed, which is essential to their get a feel for the singularities of that friends, and I have more ideas than I work but can leave them feeling less community? have time to write them! in control. Both of these factors can I didn’t spend as much time in Mem- Thrillers are often called “escapist” increase post-traumatic stress. phis as I wanted – that’s pretty much reads, but the stories you tackle in your Unlike Peter, Wanda doesn’t get the the case wherever I go – but my days in books actually remind readers of the White Static, but she’s haunted by here Memphis were vivid and illuminating. complicated problems and conflicts memories, which she sees represented The city is really evocative, both cultur- that we face as a society. Do you hope over and over again in her photographs. ally and to the senses. Driving through to educate as well as entertain? Rather than seek help, she self-medi- its neighborhoods and talking with My first goal is to entertain – that’s cates to survive. This is quite common residents, I could imagine telling any my primary job, to raise readers’ adren- with those suffering from post-traumat- number of Memphis stories. aline and keep them turning the pages ic stress. I’ve also spent a lot of time in im- faster and faster. My next goal is to Peter’s innate sympathies for the poverished parts of many cities, espe- create characters that seem like real peo- underdog play out in his interactions cially Detroit and Milwaukee, which are ple that make you think and feel. After with young Eli Bell. Who is Eli and similar to Memphis in profound ways. that, I try to describe the setting with what does Peter see in him that makes For example, they are strikingly segre- enough vivid details that you can close the young man worth trying to save? gated from their suburbs, both in terms your eyes and see it. If I can accomplish Eli Bell is a talented street musician of race and wealth. All three cities have those three goals, I’ve hopefully written whose friends pull him into an armed housing problems, with many homes a book that readers can get truly lost in. robbery scheme. But things go badly torn down or condemned or otherwise But I am fascinated by the complex- wrong, and Eli finds himself way over in dire need of repairs. Urban violence ities of our changing world, and I often his head. At first, Peter just wants to is an epidemic, usually violence directed find the beginning of a book in a news- help out a kid in trouble. Peter finds with the community, not outside it. I’ve paper or magazine article. I write about that he really likes the kid’s attitude, his spoken with police and regular folks things that interest me, complex topics intelligence, and his courage. When about these issues, and those conversa- that invade my waking hours and my Peter fully grasps Eli’s talents as a tions have been fascinating, inspiring sleep – topics I simply can’t escape. I’m musician, he’s determined to help give and heartbreaking. Often all at the lucky that my books allow me to explore the kid a chance. But Eli’s problems go same time. my obsessions, and even try to share a much deeper than Peter knows. And Eli When you wrote the first Peter Ash few things I’ve learned along the way. doesn’t want Peter’s help. book, THE DRIFTER – which went on At bottom, though, I do have a deep- Though not overtly about racism, to win the ITW Thriller Award and the er mission. I work hard to convey the TEAR IT DOWN does cut deep into Barry Award for Best First Novel – did emotional realities of men and women the hard realities of life in the pover- you intend to create a series? Has it who have put their minds and bodies at ty-stricken and crime-ridden Afri- been a challenge moving Peter’s story risk for their idea of a greater good. In a can American community of North forward? way, I’m like Wanda Wyatt – I’m trying Memphis. What got you interested in I didn’t set out to write a series and to help readers feel, through these Peter this topic? to be honest, I was pretty sure the book Ash stories, the aftermath of armed I’m fascinated by American culture, would never be published! But I truly conflict in all its human complexity, its both its positive and negative aspects. love series fiction, and I must have been triumphs and pain. Unfortunately, racism is an indelible thinking about it in the back of my Most Americans have no idea of the part of our nation’s formation and head, because when my editor told me true costs of war. Veterans reach out to history and character – and not just our she saw THE DRIFTER as the first in a me all the time, at book events and on nation, either. We’re in the middle of series, I only had to change a few lines social media, and tell me they appreciate a noisy public conversation about this to keep Peter traveling on to his next what I’m doing. Those conversations topic, and I think that’s what gave this adventure. are what keep me writing, and are, quite book this particular focus. But for me, I was afraid that I’d have trouble frankly, the best reward for the work. writing about race and crime is just writing a series and that I’d maybe Can you offer a sneak peek at the another way to tell the stories of the get bored or run out of ideas, but I’m next Peter Ash book? Where will it be dispossessed – not just black Americans actually having the opposite experience. set? stuck in generational poverty, but also With Peter’s unique character, I have The next Peter Ash book is set in the white working Americans whose the flexibility to write about essentially Iceland, where he searches for a missing future is often getting worse, not better. any topic I’m interested in, set in any child amid the dramatic landscape and The two groups share more than they place I’d care to visit. (I’d like to say strange characters of this wild and won- know. I planned it that way, but I’m not that derful place. Spoiler alert: bad things bright – just lucky.) So fare, I’m only happen. ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 35

2017, $16.99. Rating: A Th is novel was a sleeper, albeit I had been selling the book at my bookstore since it was The Donus Report published. I was surprised about just how interesting I found THE ALICE NETWORK, which was an organization Donus Roberts through which courageous men and women infi ltrated the German lines in rural France. I also found both the plot and characters in this historical crime novel believable. have backed off reading so many and Jana loves cold. Th eir interfacing Th e memory of World War II has IScandinavian authors because, of throughout the plot will be diffi cult. produced some brilliant novels in recent course, one cannot keep up reading Th e plot of MARKED FOR LIFE years, ALL THE LIGHT WE CAN- crime novels from around the world. moves into high speed early when a NOT SEE, THE NIGHTINGALE, As a result I missed Emelie Schepp, a search of Hans Jublen's offi ce computer THE GIRL FROM KRAKOW, among talented Swedish author who was named reveals a series of ten diff erent numbers others. THE ALICE NETWORK joins 2016 Swedish Crime writer of the year. and letters. Jana also recognizes one of the group. In a traditional sense, THE Her fi rst novel, MARKED FOR LIFE, the series of numbers and letters from ALICE NETWORK is on the fringe Mira Books, 492 pages, 2016 English reoccurring nightmares. of crime novels, but this novel is about translation, $9.99. Rating: A Th e plot and characters in this novel serious investigations into known crim- If highly suspenseful scenes give you are a near-perfect match. Th ere are inal acts. chills and send you burrowing under many twists and turns both in the plot Lili, chief handler of the spy group, covers, mark this book for a future read. and in the interfacing of the characters. is based on a real woman who during In addition, you will learn much about Th ere is not just one crime, but multiple World War II was called a "regular Joan people stuff ed into large containers and crimes, among which are child traffi ck- of Arc." With thousands of operatives smuggled into countries illegally. ing, drugs, and murder for hire. under her command, Lili claims that she Th e novel begins with a crime. Hans At this point there are three novels in is "a handful of water, running every- Jubien, head of the Swedish Migration the series, MARKED FOR LIFE being where," and that the Germans would Board, is found in his living room shot the fi rst. I became addicted to Schepp's never fi nd her. Th at did not happen. to death. He is found by his wife who writing, her characters and her plots, so "Charlie" St. Clair is a very intelligent claims to have found the body aft er I had to fi nish the trio without interrup- student at Bennington College in 1947. returning from a late night walk. Her tion. Unfortunately, she was not as bright only alibi is that she was out for a long THE ALICE NETWORK by Kate in the bedroom, and the result is an walk. Quinn, William Morrow, 494 pages, unwanted pregnancy. Her rich mother Th ere are complicating factors that hauls her off to Europe to fi nd a clinic draw attention from "the wife." Th ere that will take care of what is referred to are palm and fi nger prints of a small as her "Little Problem." child on a window, and the Jubiens are Meanwhile, Charlie conjures up childless. In the bedroom there are un- an alternative plan, to track down her signed threatening letters, all with the beloved cousin Rose, lost somewhere in same message: "Pay now or else you'll France. It is only two years aft er the end pay the higher price." of World War II, and literally thou- Th e police detectives assigned to sands of people are roaming Europe or the case are Detective Chief Inspector recovering in care facilities. Th is quest Henrik Levin and his partner, Detective results in the improbable connection to Inspector Mia Bolander. Jana Ber- Eve Gardiner, an explosive, drunken, zelus, the public prosecutor, is assigned foul-mouthed espionage agent who may oversight of the investigation. She will know where Rose has landed. be the main character in the novel. Jana Th is leads to a romp across France is very bright, but also emotionally in a dark-blue Aston Martin Lagonda cold. She reminds me of Carol O'Con- convertible, driven by a war-veteran nell's crime investigative protagonist, Scotsman, Finn. It is worth reading this Kathleen Mallory. Mia Bolander, who novel for Finn alone. must work closely with the prosecutor, Following the plot development to is very upset because she loves warmth this point, THE ALICE NETWORK 36 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------is told by alternating chapters, within camp made Sophie choose one of her World War I. Many soldiers who lived World War II and aft er World War II children to live or both would die was in the trenches and battled poison in 1947. Th e romp certainly applies to the most dramatic ever. In this novel mustard gas returned from the war with the near daily escapades of Charlie and a father has to have his hands cut off to a condition that we had not diagnosed Finn. save his children. Is this over the top or until recently: Post Traumatic Stress At times I was bothered by the too much current news chasing fi ction? Disorder. At that time soldiers returned bouncing back and forth, chapter by I should add that the book's conclu- from the war and no one knew its cause chapter. Overall, the author kept the sion will slam into you from the side, or cure. When I was a child, there was two plots interesting in diff erent ways, and you will never have see it coming. If a World War I veteran in our small and by the end of the novel she merged you see the ending coming, perhaps you town who never uttered a word aft er he the two plots. Th at took writing talent. should be writing thrillers in addition to returned from the war, and he lived for Purists may be bothered by too much reading them. over 40 years. foolishness within one of the plots, but I love the Alafair Tucker mysteries Alafair's oldest son has just returned in my opinion there is nothing wrong by Donis Casey. Although we both from the war. He is happy to be home, with adding humor to escape from the have Donis/Donus as a fi rst name, I but everyone notices that he is restless deadly realism found in the World War doubt that is the reason. Although she/ and moody. His real name is George II plot of the novel. It is a reading bonus. Donis bought me a drink at the 2007 Washington Tucker, but everyone calls I have read most of the noir crime Bouchercon in Alaska, I discount that him Gee Dub. novels of Yrsa Sigurdardottir since also. Th e truth is that Donis Casey One day, while riding his horse, he LAST RITUALS, her English language has created one of the most authentic encounters a woman trudging along a debut novel in 2007. Yrsa is commonly amateur detectives ever in the name of country road. She refuses to let him help called Iceland's "Queen of Noir," but she Alafair Tucker, mother of ten children, her, so Gee Dub enlists his mother to is a "Queen of Noir" around the globe. who thinks her way into the solution of take a horse and wagon out to help the Her latest novel is THE RECKONING, crimes during the Oklahoma boom days woman named Holly. Hodder and Stoughton, 406 pages, of the 1910's. So the mystery is triggered and Ala- 2018, 16.99 pounds. Rating: A- Th e FORTY DEAD MEN by Donis fair can engage her investigative mind. second book in the chilling Children's Casey, Poisoned Pen Press, 206 pages, Holly has come from Maine to Oklaho- House series, THE RECKONING is a 2018, $26.95. Rating: A- Th is is the 10th ma to fi nd the soldier she married before very good example of Sigurdardottir's novel in the series. I have been hooked he shipped to France. Th e war now crime-writing style, and it may well be from the very beginning, her fi rst novel over, her husband has never returned to her most grisly, potentially too grisly for being THE OLD BUZZARD HAD IT Maine, but he lived in a small town in some readers. COMING, which was named an Okla- the area before the war, which brought Th e plot of the novel resembles some homa Centennial Book in 2008. her to the dusty road in Oklahoma, contemporary news. A time capsule is Th e setting for this novel is post penniless. dug up ten years aft er being buried, and Alafair starts to gather information. inside the capsule is a note that specifi es She has to hurry because her son Gee six people who are going to die. A thir- Dub is arrested for the murder of Holly's teen-year-old originally wrote it, so is it husband. Th ere is logic to the arrest imagined or possible? since Gee Dubb is smitten by Holly. Detective Huldar believes that he has I have read almost all of the crime been assigned this case to keep him away novels of Georges Simenon. His from doing real police work. None- crime-solver was Jules Maigret, the theless, he turns to psychologist Freyja Police Commissioner of Paris. He and to help him understand the child who Alafair Tucker are polar opposites except hid the message. Th en another shock- that both of them, literally, roam the ing case arises, and the race is on. Th e scene of the crime and interview and reader understands from this point that observe the suspects. Finally, they essen- these cases will converge, but the trick is tially become the character(s) they are how. Huldar asd Freyja have a love-hate investigating. relationship which plays a role in their In 1992 I was fortunate to read the investigation, which also generates a sex- fi rst novel of Martin Limon entitled ual tension during the investigations. JADE LADY BURNING. Th e novel Be prepared for detached body introduced me to two of my favorite parts. I always thought that the scene in characters in crime fi ction. "George SOPHIE'S CHOICE by William Styron, Sueno rose out of the barrios of East L. where a German offi cer at a Nazi death A. His partner, Ernie Bascom, escaped ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 37 the mean streets of Detroit. And both opportunities to make Claire's quest to have found a home in the U. S. Army-- discover her father's guilt or innocence the criminal Investigation Division in more interesting. Korea..." Now, thirteen novels later, the Steven Saylor has been a major histor- two characters are still solving crimes in ical novelist--and crime novelist--since Korea, investigating ordinary crimes in his fi rst book, ROMAN BLOOD, was an extraordinary setting, South Korea published in 1991. ROMAN BLOOD in the 1970s. If you have never heard of is still one of the best as well as most this series but are interested, start at the collectible historical/crime novels writ- beginning with JADE LADY BURN- ten by an American, and it introduced ING. Saylor's most famous crime investigator, For this issue of Deadly Pleasures Gordianus the Finder who also is the I am reviewing THE NINE-TAILED central character in Saylor's most recent FOX, Soho Crime, 323 pages, 1917, novel, THRONE OF CAESAR, Mino- $26.95. It is actually the twelth novel taur, 392 pages, $27.99. Rating: A in the series, the thirteenth had not yet Gordianus has a knack to criminal been published when I wrote this review. research, mostly on the streets of Rome, Rating: A and the personality to attract famous Th ree American GIs stationed in clients who do not want to fi nd their South Korea during the 1970s go missing confi dences whispered on the streets. in a short period of time, which triggers Th us Gordianus interacts with real peo- Army Criminal Investigation Sergeants Th e central character of this novel ple, Julius Caesar, Mark Amtony, Cicero, George Sueno and Ernie Bascom into is Claire, whom we meet when she was Pompey, Cleopatra, and many others. acting. Street intelligence points them to eight years old. Claire and her younger In THRONE OF CAESAR, Cicero an underground organization connect- brother are asleep in their home when an contacts Gordianus because his ears ed to the local legend of the Gumiho, a intruder breaks into the house, blud- have picked up news on the street that a nine-tailed fox that transforms into a geons their nanny, and beats their moth- plot exists to assassinate Caesar before beautiful woman in order to seduce men er within an inch of her life. Th e mother he leaves for a military campaign against and eat their livers for dessert. unequivocally identifi es the attacker as Parthia, which places the time, perhaps In South Korea during that period her estranged husband who is nowhere on the Ides of March. So in this case the of time, one does not discount anything. to be found. His rich friends come to his motive is to prevent a crime rather than Th ey have hardly started the investiga- rescue and muddle and cover the crimes. investigate one that has happened. tion when they are derailed by two army Th e father is gone, the crime is un- So much has been written about the wives who are locked in a vicious fi ght solved, and only Claire, now a doctor, assassination of Caesar that there could over a refrigerator and a local women's is obsessed with fi nding him. Th is plot be no suspense. However, Saylor bril- shelter. If you enjoy comedy and crime, sounds similar to ones we have heard liantly adds the murder of the famous this episode in the novel is worth every before, but I was ready for an exciting Roman poet Cinna, which occurred on penny. discovery and chase. Th e problem is the same day but aft er the assassination Oft en the escapades by Sueno and that the plot never became exciting. It of Caesar. Much less is known about Bascom are equal to their dogged pur- was resolved, but without any unusual this second assassination so Gordianus suit of cases. Sueno has taught himself discoveries or whoops moments. has a real case to investigate aft er not Korean which gives him an edge in I have complained that some writers being able to prevent the assassination of investigations. Bascom, meanwhile has of crime novels have oft en over-relied Caesar. his back during particularly dangerous on plot turns to the detriment of any I realize that many crime novel read- sorties into the South Korean bar scenes sense of reality. Th is plot needed more ers dislike historical novels that include at night. If you are occasionally tired climactic scenes. When the father was historical characters in novel plots. For of crime novels whose plots or charac- potentially discovered, there needed to me the question is whether the author ters are too similar, read one of Martin be more of a thrill to the chase. re-invents history to play the novel game, Limon's Sueno and Bascom novels. Th e book is very well written, and and I have never found anything but his- Off and on I have always read some the characters, particularly Claire, are torical accuracy in the novels of Steven true crime stories, and among those I very well developed, but the movement Saylor. Saylor's novels do not need to be remembered was one called the Lord toward the plot resolution was just too read in the order he wrote them, but I Lucan Case, which led me to a current predictable and ordinary. I fi rst read would encourage new readers to under- crime novel, A DOUBLE LIFE by Flynn about this case as a true crime story, and take ROMAN BLOOD fi rst. Berry. Viking Press, 260 pages, 2018, this novel, which was not trying to retell $26.00. Rating: B the true crime story, missed some golden

38 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

ning plot. LYING IN WAIT is one of those books where plot and character merge so successfully that it would be Central B ooking impossible to imagine one without the other. Prepare to dig in, you never know what you will fi nd buried within. GIVE ME YOUR HAND by Megan Kristopher Zgorski Abbott (Little, Brown, $27.00). Rating: A No other crime fi ction author can so perfectly and eloquently distill the com- YING IN WAIT by Liz Nugent speaker to the plexities of female relationships in the L(Gallery/Scout Press, $26.00). reader in subtle, by way that Megan Abbott can and does Rating: B Liz Nugent is one of those signifi cant ways, and yet obscuring the repeatedly. Whether she is writing about rare authors willing to take true risks most pertinent details until that precise classic femme fatales, kidnapping vic- with her writing. In terms of structure, moment when maximum impact can be tims, high school cheerleaders, or elite themes, and character depth, Nugent achieved. athletes, Abbott has proven again and defi antly refuses to adhere to long-held It is probably Laurence who elicits again that while her novels always center crime fi ction conventions. Her debut the most sympathetic response from around crime, it is the female characters novel, Unraveling Oliver, made an readers. His choices are the ones that at the core that are truly worth explor- instant splash with its UK release and readers will most easily identify with ing. With GIVE ME YOUR HAND, proceeded to experience a slow boil as – albeit, knowing that he is making mis- Megan Abbott once again excavates well other locations discovered the book’s takes along his journey. Watching him below the surface in a story of female unparalleled uniqueness. By the time gain confi dence and self-worth as he friendship, jealousy, and rivalry amidst her new book appeared, it was clear overcomes unhealthy eating habits and extreme professional pressure. that many fans the world over would be his obesity make him relatable in all his Kit Owens and Diane Fleming meet rushing to get their hands on LYING IN fl awed glory. As the “outsider,” Karen’s in chemistry class at Lanister High. WAIT. Th ey will not be disappointed. viewpoint allows readers a glimpse into Th ere is an immediate bond, a linkage LYING IN WAIT begins with Lydia the family dynamic that those intimate- that will follow them through life. What Fitzsimons conspiring with her husband ly involved are unable to see. All that starts as a friendship morphs towards a on a secret meeting that ends in the said, Lydia is likely the character readers competitive angle, with mutual respect death of a young woman named Annie will remember the most by the dramatic and more than a note of fear always Doyle. By the end of the fi rst chapter, conclusion of this novel. To put it mild- present. When both girls apply for the Annie is buried in the garden behind ly, she is a piece of work. same STEM scholarship, a repeated the family estate. Suffi ce to say, all three points of view pattern of healthy competition begins to Th e rest of the novel covers 36 years are needed to work this word magic. emerge. in the convoluted journey of this Irish One loose thread in any of their tales family. Readers are given three points of and this house of cards would crum- view: Lydia, Laurence (Lydia’s son), and ble. Liz Nugent’s talent is such that she Karen (Annie’s sister). Th ere are a num- makes this look so easy, when in fact ber of other characters who play key later rumination reveals many deliber- roles in the development of this novel’s ate choices that enhanced the overall plot, but the reader’s only access to them enjoyment of LYING IN WAIT. is through the lens of the three leads. As Th is is a very Irish tale, almost fairy the police, relatives, and their own guilt tale in nature, assuming that one likes begin to close in on the Fitzsimons, this their fairies warped and their tales dark. insular family must make some very dif- Some readers may be put off by the fi cult choices or risk having their secrets overwhelming unhappiness on display exposed. throughout the novel, but Liz Nugent Plot-wise, LYING IN WAIT is so knows what she is doing. Even the main elegantly structured that really to say setting – the family estate known as much more would risk spoilers. Th e Avalon – comes alive and vacillates narratives of each of the main charac- between feeling like “home sweet home” ters refl ect upon the others in beautiful- and a menacing entity in which every ly enlightening ways, weaving through crevice holds a secret. each other’s testaments, exposing the All of this is in service to the win------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 39

“…you don’t have a self until you have HAND would seem to be a story about a secret.” women, for women, and of course, by But then Diane tells Kit her darkest a woman; and yet, Megan Abbott has secret and the tentative nature of their proven over and over that she is able to friendship is shattered. Th e two part draw men under her spell. She never ways and life goes on. Kit continues shies away from going to diffi cult or with her interest in the world of science, controversial places, but she does it rising up through the ranks within with measured restraint and beauti- her laboratory-based career. When she ful language that is free of judgment. hears that her idol, Dr. Lena Severin, Much can be learned about our society is launching a new research endeavor by looking at how these two women examining the causes and eff ects of ended up in their situation. Th e key severe premenstrual dysphoric disor- to community is empathy and Megan der, Kit immediately wants to be part Abbott is gift ed enough to lead read- of the team. Th e problem is, so do all ers there without getting didactic or her fellow Severinites at her current lab. pedantic along the way. Th e scientifi c Confi dent that she can beat any of them, setting of GIVE ME YOUR HAND is Kit’s plans are suddenly thrown into so on-point with current trends that it disarray when Diane Fleming shows makes for a refreshing change of pace up also coveting a spot on Dr. Severin’s within the crime fi ction genre. It is to project. Megan Abbott’s credit that she never “To be so ordered and so out of con- attempts to make this feel revolutionary, Crime fi ction needs a character like trol.” because while it may seem like a new nineteen-year-old Jamie Elders. She’s Bringing these two women together angle for fi ction, it is a journey women spirited, candid, and steadfast to the again stirs up the memories of their past have traveled for years in reality. Th e core; she’s incredibly savvy, yet inher- together. Megan Abbott tells this story verisimilitude of every action will send ently world-weary; she’s an every-wom- from the point of view of Kit Owens, so shockwaves while also entertaining any an who manages to also be one-of-a- readers are only granted one half of the reader who dares open the cover. kind. Th is complex nature makes Jamie full story. Th is structure grants Abbott GIVE ME YOUR HAND is another Elders the perfect type of character on the ability to slowly build suspense in a long line of successes for Megan which to base a series. Not only will around what exactly Diane’s secret is, to Abbott. Don’t miss this novel – it’s sure readers not know where she is going to such an extent that it will have readers to be one of the most talked about books go in THE GIRL FROM BLIND RIV- begging for relief. And when Kit does of the season. ER, there is also no telling where Jamie fi nally reveal the truth, the ramifi cations THE GIRL FROM BLIND RIVER is willing to go in the future. are felt both for the reader and for the by Gale Massey (Crooked Lane Books, Which brings us to Blind River. Gale narrative. $26.99). Rating: B Occasionally, Massey’s elegiac language brings this “Give me your hand…” debuts come along that are so tightly- location to life in a way that makes it Not only is this the title of the book, plotted and strongly-written that it is unforgettable. On the surface, Blind but when those words are uttered at hard to believe they are fi rst novels. River is nothing special: a struggling almost the precise middle of the book, When that happens, readers instantly corner of New York state one either the fate of these two women is forever know they will be following said passes through with arms tense and linked and there is no turning back. author’s career for quite some time to breath held or a birthplace one aims to Readers will have long felt the dangers come. Th at is exactly what will happen rid oneself of as soon as possible. But at play within the novel’s tension and when readers pick up Gale Massey’s it is more than a physical place; it’s an Megan Abbott makes that moment both THE GIRL FROM BLIND RIVER; attitude that resides in the bones of its shocking and inevitable. Many writers there is no turning back. citizens, making escape impossible – would lack the fi nesse necessary to pull In a way that is not always the case, and just maybe unwarranted. off such a major moment, but Abbott the title of Gale Massey’s debut clues her Of course Jamie dreams of leaving allows it to fl ow naturally from the new fans in to what is most important; Blind River behind, but she won’t aban- characters she has craft ed. Th e idea of the girl – Jamie Elders and the location don her younger brother, Toby. When putting the book aside from this point – Blind River. Based on the strength of Uncle Loyal gets Toby embroiled in a to the fi nal conclusion will never be an those two elements alone, THE GIRL major crime – as the lead suspect, no option for fans of psychological sus- FROM BLIND RIVER would be a less – Jamie’s fi erce nature roars to the pense tales. smashing success, but in an embarrass- forefront. Self-preservation becomes a “Th e blood is the life…” ment of riches, Gale Massey manages to non-entity as she willingly sets out to do On the surface, GIVE ME YOUR provide so much more. 40 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------whatever she must to save young Toby. posedly murdered years ago – the fi nal With the multiple viewpoints, Mason Jamie’s journey toward a new victim of the Devil Mountain Killer. Cross outlines the logical fl ow of that in- understanding of maturity dominates Th rough mutual contacts, David reaches formation while using the shift ing focus THE GIRL FROM BLIND RIVER, out to Carter Blake, begging him to look to increase tension and suspicion. but the secondary characters are never for his sister. Th e resolution of PRESUMED neglected. Th e good, the bad, and every With that set-up, Carter fi nds him- DEAD is a true stunner, eliciting a “holy permutation between are fl eshed out in self in Bethany, Georgia. At fi rst, Carter shit” from this reader. But unlike some nuanced ways, eliciting true emotion thinks he is just appeasing the delusions twists that appear totally contrived, this from the reader with each new plot turn. of this eccentric loner – a brother who development is organic to the novel, so Poker plays a signifi cant role in the never got over the loss of his beloved sib- the emotions generated are rewards for plot, but excessive familiarity with the ling – but when Carter fi nds out that the the reader and deserve kudos for the game is not really necessary. Massey previous investigator hired by David is author who laid such complex ground- creates an ambience out of the many now dead, he begins to wonder if there work. Crime fi ction fans who have not risks gambling generates for her charac- might be some validity to this sighting. yet met Carter Blake should certainly ters – a gateway to worse crimes. Based Th is brings Carter into the crosshairs rectify that as soon as possible. Mason on the authenticity displayed through- of the local sheriff ’s department and it Cross has craft ed a modern-day hero out THE GIRL FROM BLIND RIVER, quickly becomes clear that this town – fl aws and all – and fans will happily one suspects that this author’s knowl- does not want to revisit the source of its follow him to any destination. edge of card games is on point. infamous notoriety. LITTLE COMFORT by Edwin Hill Gale Massey’s writing style in THE Determined to follow his client’s (Kensington, $26.00). Rating: B+ LIT- GIRL FROM BLIND RIVER is unique. claims through to whatever end result TLE COMFORT is the title of Edwin While the plot moves at fast clip, the develops, Carter teams up with Deputy Hill’s debut novel, but it is also an apt language is methodical and at times Isabella Green. At fi rst, Green – whose description of the reader’s experience lyrically beautiful. Th is is a writer in father was involved in the original while reading this suspense-fi lled book. charge of every word and phrase, able investigation – is reluctant to dig up past LITTLE COMFORT is billed at the to seduce readers, keeping them under memories, but the more she and Carter fi rst Hester Th ursby Mystery, but let’s her spell for the duration. Based on the follow the trail of clues, the more con- get that marketing matter out of the strength of the writing, the complexity vinced everyone is that the truth of what way immediately. LITTLE COMFORT of the characters, and the uniqueness happened years ago is still disrupting reads more like a thriller than it does of the setting, a lot of new fans will be lives throughout Bethany today. a mystery, so readers should know this created once THE GIRL FROM BLIND Even though Carter doesn’t call going in. Th ere are certainly mysterious RIVER is completed. himself a private investigator – he much elements within the plot, but the thrills PRESUMED DEAD by Mason prefers the term locating consultant – remain dominant. And while Hester Cross (Orion, $13.99). Rating: B Car- he does employ standard methods of is no doubt a main character – and the ter Blake fi nds people – that is what he investigation as he works through cases. one that will be the focus of the series – does; but in many ways, it is also who Little Comfort is very much an ensemble he is on the deepest level. Having such piece with multiple points of view. It is purpose makes the challenges of life this weaving of perspectives, building bearable and the rewards that accompa- a whole-cloth tapestry, which makes ny success are undeniably fulfi lling. So Edwin Hill’s book feel so fresh and when his latest case – in PRESUMED innovative. DEAD – fi nds him hunting down the Of late, much has been made about last victim of a notorious serial killer, the lack of diversity in crime fi ction – Carter discovers his entire world-view but certainly no one can lay that claim turned upside-down. again LITTLE COMFORT. Along with PRESUMED DEAD is the fi ft h book Hester – who, at around four-foot-ten in Mason Cross’s thriller series. Fans inches and eighty-nine pounds, qual- who have followed Carter Blake on his ifi es as a little person – Hill populates previous investigations will delight in his novel with a Benetton commercial’s visiting with an old friend, but this nov- worth of variety, making the Boston el works equally well for new readers. setting feel vibrant and realistic. David Conner is traveling when he As LITTLE COMFORT begins, Hes- sees his sister, Adeline, through the bus ter is hired by Lila Blaine to locate her window. By the time he can get to her, brother who has been missing for over she has vanished into the crowd. No so a decade. It doesn’t take Hester long to unusual, except that Adeline was sup- fi nd Sam Blaine – even though that is ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 41 no longer the name he is using – but Frank Guidry has worked for mob rather than tell her client immediately, boss Carlos Marcello for years. Loyal to Hester decides to monitor the actions of a fault, when he becomes privy to infor- this man and his roommate, Gabe, for mation of National signifi cance, he real- a while. It is this decision that puts her izes that his life is in danger from those and those she loves dearly in the cross- he trusts most. On the run, making spur hairs of danger. of the moment decisions, Frank must Sam and Gabe ran from their home stay one step ahead if he has any hope – called Little Comfort – for a reason, of surviving. Frank is a man who does and over time they have grown accus- bad things, but he is also a man with a tomed to living the lifestyle of the rich moral compass. Riding with him as he and famous. Except for the fact that they struggles with this dichotomy is a lesson are doing it on a shoestring budget. How every reader deserves, even needs. is that possible? Th is is just one of the Paul Barone also works for Car- many startling things Hester uncovers los – as a hitman. His assignment is as she digs deeper into the Blaine Family to fi nd and eliminate the problem of history. Frank Guidry. Teaming up with a young Along with the case complexities, African-American kid named Th eodore, Edwin Hill also puts Hester in the posi- Barone tracks this fugitive’s every move tion of having to care for her very young across multiple States. Th e bond be- niece, Kate, while traversing the state tween Barone and Th eodore elucidates looking for answers to each new ques- like, and oft en worse, than the time we much about the status of race relations tion. Hester is none-to-pleased with this wish to escape. Nostalgia requires us to during this transitional period in our arrangement and watching her struggle paint the past with a sepia-laden brush country’s history and readers will feel to juggle this situation helps the reader of incongruity. Th is is the area in which both hope and fear in equal measure. bond with this unique character. Her Lou Berney places readers with his new Charlotte is also on the run – but her love of movies – especially horror fi lms historical crime novel, NOVEMBER journey represents one more of self-dis- – and the constant allusions to them ROAD. covery than of survival. With her two within the novel are another way the au- For many, NOVEMBER ROAD will daughters – Rosemary and Joan – in thor brings the reader closer to Hester. be much more than a crime novel – and tow, Charlotte leaves her stable and As one can see, the mystery of there is no denying this truth – but it is contented life behind in the eff ort to “where is Sam?” is answered very quick- also a novel that never shies away from fi nd herself and make a better future for ly, but that revelation serves to launch its genre-based touchstones – by a writer her girls. Charlotte embodies the move the thriller aspect of the novel into full who refuses to deny his genre-based towards female empowerment that bloom. Th is book is most defi nitely not origins. Th e literary world is going to seemed so revolutionary at the time. Her a cozy. It is Edwin Hill’s ability to imbue embrace NOVEMBER ROAD, but actions may seem impulsive, but Char- every character with the necessary psy- crime afi cionados will remain the heart lotte is committed to them with no less chological make-up that keeps readers behind the hug. vehemence than the others. Charlotte invested. Th is is not a book of good NOVEMBER ROAD is a road-trip is the character with which readers will versus evil but one of troubled souls on novel with three distinct journeys on likely most identify; she is the every- life’s journey where no one is completely a collision course with destiny. Set just woman who is unlike any woman. innocent, but some stray too far to ever before, during, and aft er John F. Kenne- And when these three groups return home. dy’s assassination, the novel documents converge – come on, it’s not like you Readers will react to the original- a time of strife that reverberates into didn’t know that was going to happen ity of LITTLE COMFORT and will our modern world. Th e struggle for – the resulting cacophony will echo for surely for many return visits with Hester civil rights for all citizens was in full generations. If November Road teaches Th ursby. swing and was as contentious then as it us anything (and believe me, it teaches NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney sadly remains today. But NOVEMBER us tons), it is this: major events aff ect (William Morrow, $26.99). Rating: A+ ROAD is not a novel “about” this topic, even the most minor of individuals; Nostalgia is a complex concept. Most but rather is a story in which these but minor alterations can also have a oft en, we defi ne it as fondly looking back realities resonate through the characters major impact. Th ese characters – simply on a simpler time, a better time; but it and situations presented to the extent because of how real they are – will stay has a sinister side as well. Because, in or- that the two become inseparable. In with readers forever, and their choic- der to long for yesteryear, we must also fact, these characters become universal es – both the good and the bad – will forget – or at the very least obfuscate – because of their singularity of time and infl uence future decisions for each and that those times had challenges not un- place. every one of the folks who read this 42 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------novel. Sure, we won’t be able to track ed by her mother’s crimes and fi nds how this string of continuity actually herself drawn to the families of the Agatha Award fl ows, moment to moment, but every victims. Nominations 2019 true reader knows that books do make Given the nature of the narrative a diff erence. Th is book will make a structure, psychological suspense nov- he names of winning works diff erence. els oft en have very complex character Tand authors will be declared on NOVEMBER ROAD is an emi- development and Moretti’s new book May 4, during Malice Domestic 31, nently readable thriller with a power is no exception. For some readers, set to be held in Bethesda, Mary- and depth that belies that ease. Th ere this makes these lead characters more land from May 3 to 5. are grander ideals at play within Lou challenging. Th ere is no question that Berney’s words, sentences, and chap- Edie is a diffi cult character to “like,” Best Contemporary ters. Sometimes the greatest changes but it is precisely because of her poor are spurred from the most unexpect- choices that IN HER BONES is able to Novel ed of sources. To read NOVEMBER unspool with constant surprise. Given ROAD is to live NOVEMBER ROAD her peculiar history, Edie’s troubled MARDI GRAS MURDER by Ellen – and it is impossible not to be altered life is perfectly understandable and Byron (Crooked Lane) by that experience. given enough time, readers will feel BEYOND THE TRUTH by Bruce IN HER BONES by Kate Moretti responsive towards her. Robert Coffi n (Witness Impulse) (Atria, $16.00). Rating: B- Th e read- Edie’s infatuation with the relatives CRY WOLF by Annette Dashofy ing public’s interest in psychological left in the wake of her mother’s mur- (Henery Press) suspense shows no sign of diminish- derous spree leads her directly into KINGDOM OF THE BLIND by ing. IN HER BONES is Kate Moretti’s her own nightmare. When a man is Louise Penny (Minotaur) third book in this genre and yet, each murdered and Edie becomes the prime TRUST ME by Hank Phillippi of these stand-alones is distinctly suspect, she must go on the run and Ryan (Forge) diff erent. Unifying them all is an evade capture until she can remember easily-readable writing style and a gift exactly what happened on the night Best Historical Novel for plotting complex tales in which in question. Hopefully for Edie, that character is the focus. means fi guring out who the real killer FOUR FUNERALS AND MAY- IN HER BONES tells the story of is – assuming it’s not herself. BE A WEDDING by Rhys Bowen Edie Beckett, the daughter of notorious Kate Moretti gives readers the other (Berkley) serial killer, Lilith Wade. Fift een years side of things via point of view chap- THE GOLD PAWN by L.A. Chan- aft er those crimes, Edie is still haunt- ters from Gil Brandt – the detective dlar (Kensington) who arrested Edie’s mother and the THE WIDOWS OF MALABAR man hunting Edie down now. Gil’s HILL by Sujata Massey (Soho Crime) history with the family makes for an TURNING THE TIDE by Edith interesting way to expose readers to Maxwell (Midnight Ink) more of the backstory while never los- MURDER ON UNION SQUARE ing sight of the current cat and mouse by Victoria Th ompson (Berkley) game. One other element weaves its way through IN HER BONES. Occasion- Best First Novel ally readers get excepts from a true- crime book that was written about A LADY’S GUIDE TO ETI- QUETTE AND MURDER by Lilith’s case. Th ese chapters are incred- Dianne Freeman (Kensington) ibly well-written and many readers will LITTLE COMFORT by Edwin Hill fi nd them their favorite part of this (Kensington) story. But they are also integral to the WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU by structure of this overall novel and fans Aimee Hix (Midnight Ink) of Moretti will know that nothing is DEADLY SOLUTION by Keenan included simply to fi ll pages. Powell (Level Best) Despite a prickly lead character, CURSES BOILED AGAIN by Kate Moretti’s IN HER BONES will Shari Randall (St. Martin’s Press) please readers looking for psycholog- ically-astute explorations of criminal ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 43

negotiator’s job just that much more dangerous. But when he is called in to negotiate the sale of a long-missing From The Waterfront Rembrandt, things turn nasty. The seller kills the negotiator’s partner and the negotiator barely escapes with his life. Naturally, he decides that he must by Ted Hertel pursue the killer, ably assisted by two women with their own motives. This is an amazingly fast-paced OVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney individual Americans, from an ordinary novel that only slows down to take the N(William Morrow, $26.99, Octo- woman and her children to a criminal occasional breath, usually involving ber 2018), Rating: A November 1963. tangentially involved in the event. one of the women. Brendan DuBois, Frank Guidry is a fixer for powerful Charlotte Roy is the beating heart of award-winning author of the fine Lewis mobster Carlo Marcello who ruled the this story. At times she doesn’t know Cole series and many short stories, New Orleans crime family from 1947 whether to laugh or to cry. She is all the knows how to keep the pages of this until the late 1980s. Guidry has been more human for that. Guidry, with all tough standalone tale turning with sent on several mysterious missions by his contradictions, is equally well pre- short scenes and interesting characters. Marcello, including stashing a getaway sented, as he searches his soul over what Sharp, witty dialogue and what at first car just blocks away from Dealey Plaza he has done and what salvation might lie appears to be a straightforward plot in Dallas days before John F. Kennedy ahead. Berney has the ability to see into drive the book to its twisty ending. was assassinated. The more he thinks people and know how they act. What’s Humor, suspense, romance, and about it, the more he comes to believe more, he can translate that into words indiscriminate (and some discriminate!) that Marcello was behind the killing and on the page better than just about any killing. What more could a mystery the more it appears that the mob boss writer today. That was true forTHE reader want? Maybe another book is wiping out everyone who was in any LONG AND FARAWAY GONE and it about The Negotiator. way involved in order to eliminate any is no less true here. Along the way, he UNDER A DARK SKY by Lori link back to him. This includes Guidry creates nonstop tension, not only for his Rader-Day (William Morrow, $15.99, himself. So he decides to disappear. main characters but also for his readers. August 2018). Rating: B+ Five former On the road he meets Charlotte Roy, This was difficult book to put down classmates and a guest walk into a guest her two daughters and their dog, also – in fact, I didn’t want to – and I don’t house with an interloper and one by one running, this time from a stifling small say that very often. It is an incredibly they meet with disaster. This sounds town life and her drunk of a husband. absorbing story of two people caught like the beginning of a bad joke or a Guidry sees an opportunity to enhance in webs of secrets and lies with danger riddle. But it’s not. It’s deadly serious, his cover by traveling with a ready-made following them every step of their paths. just like the Christie classic And Then family. They join up on the road to Steeped in a history of “what might have There Were None. Eden Wallace arrives Las Vegas and California together. But actually been,” we see an America at the at a resort home reserved by her hus- fugitives shouldn’t fall in love, especially moment of change, of loss of innocence, band before his untimely death only to with the mob not far behind. of hope dashed, and of prayers for a bet- discover that the owner had also rented This is Lou Berney’s follow-up novel ter future. Simply put, do not miss this the home to the five classmates, one of to the outstanding Edgar, Anthony, novel. You can thank me for the recom- whom brings along his new girlfriend. Barry, Macavity, and ALA Award mendation later but read it now. Before the first evening is over, there’s winning THE LONG AND FARAWAY THE NEGOTIATOR by Brendan a bump and a murder in the night. All GONE. With NOVEMBER ROAD he DuBois (Midnight Ink, $15.99, August are suspects, including Eden who claims is a serious contender to sweep those 2018). Rating: A- The unnamed nego- she has never met any of the others awards once again. This is a powerful tiator does just that: negotiates transac- previously. But like all who are there, novel, involving real life crime boss tions between people in order to obtain Eden too has secrets that she is keep- Carlos Marcello, centered around one of a fair price for the object being sold. He ing, especially her paralyzing fear of the 20th Century’s most horrific crimes, is an expert appraiser whom both sides the dark. As the other classmates come the assassination of a United States Pres- know they can trust. The negotiations under attack, it becomes apparent that ident. But the reader only sees that from involve such things as rare books, hot Eden is a more and more likely suspect, a distance, through the eyes of ordinary diamonds, stolen artwork, even limit- her denials notwithstanding. people watching reports on television. ed edition Air Jordan sneakers. So, of This is Lori Rader-Day’s fourth What becomes central to the story is course, the parties on either side of the standalone novel. Each of her other how that event affected the lives of negotiations are criminals, making the three books have won either the Antho- ny or the Mary Higgins Clark Award 44 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------and were nominated for others, as well, email claiming that the assassin had including the Barry Award from Deadly been set up, that the resistance group Pleasures. Th is one looks like it will had been infi ltrated by trolls and other follow in the path of the earlier novels. adversaries. She was concerned that It is a fi ne blend of suspense, mixed with there was a conspiracy of some nature Rader-Day’s terrifi c characterization of behind her daughter’s death. When all the suspects and exploration of the relatives of those who died at the rally human condition, with a great setting in begin to disappear, Davis realizes that a “Dark Sky Park” in upper Michigan. she has undertaken a most dangerous Th is is not a place that Eden Wallace investigation. Her search for those be- wants to have anything to do with, but hind the killing takes her from Chicago goes there anyway in remembrance of to Washington D.C., and to the frozen her and her late husband’s anniversa- ice of Minnesota. But how do you ferret ry. It’s a decision she quickly comes to out one person from a list of 42,000 regret. suspects?Libby Fischer Hellmann’s fi ft h While the fi rst few chapters dwell Georgia Davis novel revolves heavily almost too heavily on Eden’s fi rst person around today’s political turmoil. As narrated feelings of grief and morose- the author admits in an aft erword, she ness, once past that the story really takes was seriously aff ected by the results of off . Th e author slowly peels back the the 2016 election, until fi nally she used onion of Eden’s life with her husband, her anger to create this story. So, the her unhappiness fi nally given sound question is: do the politics get in the way much for stealing too little, because sure reason. Eden is particularly well-drawn of telling a good story? I am glad to say as shooting (literally!) someone will end and Rader-Day’s decision to set her in a that, while the story is politically driven, up dead. Naturally, when he undertakes place that is in total darkness works very this is still a solid mystery fi lled with just such a job (for fi ft y grand to steal a well. Her fear of even going outdoors at familiar characters who act without doll), an old friend of Junior’s ends up night limits her ability to investigate on political motives. Davis seeks justice murdered. What was in that doll worth her own (as all good amateur sleuths do) regardless of personal viewpoint. fi ft y thousand dollars and ultimately when all she wants is to get out and go Hellmann creates a suspenseful story more than one person’s life? Junior home where it’s more-or-less safe. while at the same time not overlooking decides that he must fi nd out what and Th e how, the why, and, of course the personal aspects of Georgia’s life why so that he can even the score. mostly importantly, the who are all with her half-sister and estranged moth- Th is is Timothy Hallinan’s seventh adroitly handled. My one criticism is er. Mixing the personal with the pro- Junior Bender novel and, as usual, it is the book’s length. At nearly four hun- fessional is not always easy, of course, entertaining, humorous and a bit too dred pages, it really is too long. But you and the confl icts between the two long. Along the way, we once again won’t regret passing the time with Eden aspects of Davis’ life are well handled. get to hang out with some of Junior’s Wallace and her creator Lori Rader-Day, Other family confl icts involving Dena acquaintances, as well as meet new who is fast becoming one of the more and her (also estranged) right-wing people who sometimes help, sometimes dependable and entertaining crime father come into play, as do appearanc- hinder, his eff orts to earn his pay. But novelists we have. es by disgruntled veterans of Iraq and he reluctantly has to proceed because HIGH CRIMES by Libby Fischer Afghanistan. Th ere is corruption at the he needs the money. As his repulsive, Hellmann (Th e Red Herrings Press, heart of the political system here, with a strangely orange-wigged client tells him, $16.99/Ebook $5.99, November 2018). ripped-from-the-headlines feel to it. But “[a] salary is what they give you because Rating: B+ Fourteen months aft er the those motives can be misleading. Not you’d rather be somewhere else.” Aft er 2016 presidential election a resistance everything either needs to be or can be all, you don’t have to like your clients to group has been formed to actively explained by politics. All these aspects like their money. Besides, he fi gures it’ll protest the results of that election. Dena are skillfully portrayed as this series all work out. As Junior tells a friend, he Baldwin, the founder of that 42,000 continues to improve with each novel. specializes in “[g]etting away.” member group, is assassinated during NIGHTTOWN by Timothy Hal- Th e center of the main story con- an anti-presidential rally. Immediately linan (Soho Crime, $26.95, November cerns what Junior refers to as a “creep following the shooting, the gunman is 2018). Rating: B Los Angeles burglar factor,” so much unhappiness, betray- blown up at his perch on a nearby hotel Junior Bender desperately needs cash al, greed, illness, death and darkness, rooft op. Private investigator Georgia to help his girlfriend Ronnie snatch her coupled with revenge that has been Davis is hired by Erica Baldwin Stewart, son back from her mobbed-up ex. So he plotted for years so it could take eff ect Dena’s mother, “to get to the bottom of breaks his number one rule: don’t take at the very moment of the death of the this.” Erica had received an anonymous a job if someone off ers to pay you too schemer. Th is is all well and cleverly ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 45 handled by Hallinan. But the subplots Th e reader is nicely kept in the dark drawn variety of characters, each with here really get in the way of moving that for much of the story, as it unwinds. a potential motive. Mix in drug thugs, main story along. Yes, those subplots But the relationship between the two disgruntled town folk, cops, and the can be fun at times but when they go on men does seem to slide a bit too quickly, FBI. All of this keeps the reader guess- at length, they can overpower the main as one minute they are at each other’s ing throughout. However, in the long thrust of the book. At nearly 400 pages, throats and the next working together run, I admit to disappointment with the there is just a lot of that. However, a without much explanation as to the shift end of the story and its fi nal revelations. reader unfamiliar with previous novels in their attitudes. If the reader can get But getting there was a lot of suspense- in the series can still feel comfortable past this, the book is suspenseful and ful fun. jumping in right here without any prior mysterious as the danger in town grows. WRONG LIGHT by Matt Coyle knowledge of Junior and his cast of Th e book, at an economical 270 pages, (Oceanview Publishing, $26.95 hardcov- quirky but generally loveable characters. moves swift ly and without a lot of sub- er/$16.00 trade paper, December 2018). Th row in a mixture of burglar lore, plot to distract from the story. Th ere’s Rating: B+ When a crazed individual Spiritualism, Arthur Conan Doyle, and even time for a bit of romance without begins to harass AM 1350 “Heart of San other esoterica and you have a typical unnecessarily having that get in the way Diego” sultry-voiced radio star “Naomi Junior Bender novel, one that can be of the engrossing tale. at Night” Hendrix, the radio station enjoyed in spite of its fl aws. Hopefully, BLEAK HARBOR by Bryan Gru- hires private investigator Rick Cahill to the next book contains the actual eff ort ley (Th omas & Mercer, $24.95 hard- protect her and track down the stalker. to grab Ronnie’s son, since a lot of time cover/$4.99 eBook, December 2018) Th e man has made it clear that he is just here was spent on that subject but left Rating: B Autistic fi ft een-year-old waiting for the right moment to snatch hanging in the end. Danny Peters has been kidnapped her and fulfi ll his twisted fantasies. SHELTER COVE by Colin Camp- the day before his sixteenth birthday Cahill discovers that Naomi is hiding bell (Lulu Publishing, $13.80, September and a fi ve million dollar ransom has secrets about her past that could help 2018). Rating: B+ Cole Th ornton owns been demanded. His mother, Carey, unmask the man. However, before the a lovely bookshop in the peaceful town estranged daughter of Bleak Harbor, PI can get the truth from Naomi, he is of Shelter Cove, California. But while Michigan’s wealthiest woman, is in the thrust into a missing person’s case—an talking in the store with part-time po- midst of blackmailing her boss while abduction he may have unwittingly lice deputy Holly West, a careening car Danny’s adoptive father, Pete, has gone caused. Th e investigating detective in comes crashing through the storefront, into the sale of legal medical marijua- that case questions Rick’s motives for causing serious damage to the building na. Danny’s birth father has just been getting involved and pressures him to and the two people in the shop. Th en released from prison. So the suspect list stop meddling. when the dead people start washing up is plentiful. Contrary to the kidnapper’s Th is is the fi ft h book in Matt Coyle’s on the beach, Th ornton begins to won- instructions, the police have been called Anthony Award-winning Rick Cahill der just how peaceful the town really in, which only complicates matters, as series. It follows two diff erent sto- is. But when he learns that Jim Grant, the kidnapper seems to be working with rylines, the fi rst of which is more credi- a British cop dubbed “Th e Resurrec- someone on the inside. tion Man” by the press, is headed to Brian Gruley has created a complex town looking for him, Th ornton knows and suspenseful, if somewhat overlong, it’s time to get out while the getting is novel. He has chosen a wonderful lo- good. Too bad Grant arrives before that cation in the Michigan setting, with its happens. Dragonfl y Festival for its background. Th is is the sixth novel in Colin Th e small town setting works perfectly Campbell’s Resurrection Man series for this novel. Th e descriptions of the and it’s the fi rst one I’ve read. Frankly, town, its docks, bars, and stores make I would have liked a bit more detail on the story come to life. Grant and his sobriquet than the book Th ere are so many secrets here, gives. However, that didn’t spoil the everyone keeping them from everyone enjoyment of it. Th e background of the else, that any one of them (or none of two men, why Grant wants to arrest them) could be the motive for the kid- Th ornton, and why Th ornton wants to napping. But the twists keep coming, get out of Grant’s way, is made clear as each one whipsawing the reader in the story moves along. Th e two bitter a diff erent direction. Text messages enemies, however, must set aside their arrive, changing the amount of ransom diff erences in order to discover where demanded. Small town secrets, jealousy, those bodies came from and why they and hatred abound. Gruley does a good washed up dead on the beach. job revealing things slowly with a well- 46 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------ble than the second. Th e fi rst has all the until the fi nal page of this harrowing trappings of a terrifi c private eye novel. novel. But it is also an in depth look at A detective with a dark past is hired to the roots of revenge and how long it can protect a woman, also with a hidden simmer before bursting into the open, past. He comes into confl ict not only destroying people’s lives. Th ough the with her but also with the radio station story is told with little sentimentality, which hired him. He has to dig deep you will still come to care about the into the past to discover twisty motives characters and their fates. and try to help Hendrix, who just might his is a straightforward, no holds not want to be saved. Th is held my barred, thriller. No one writes this kind attention with its tightly written scenes of book better than Zoë Sharp. If you and good old-fashioned detective work haven’t read one of her books before, the by Cahill. I thought this worked well on only question is “why not?” many levels, giving us a good look at its ROBERT B. PARKER’S COLOR- California atmosphere. BLIND by Reed Farrel Coleman (Put- Th e second story line concerns nam, $27.00, September 2018) Rating: Cahill’s obligation to repay a Russian A- Paradise, Massachusetts, Police crime lord by helping him when asked. Chief Jesse Stone has just returned to Th is promise arises out of the prior town aft er a stint in rehab for his long- novel, BLOOD TRUTH. While there is time problem with alcohol. No sooner information here that would allow a new has he gotten his badge back on when reader to follow that premise, it would a young black woman is found raped be helpful to have read that previous attacking sheep at her neighbor’s farm. and beaten to death on a nearby beach. book for additional detail. Without Detective Constable Nick Weston, newly Th is is followed by a cross burning on giving anything away, this second story transferred into England’s Lake District, the lawn of an African-American family was less satisfactory to me because of arrives on the scene expecting some- who have moved into Jesse’s old house Cahill’s involvement with the FBI and thing much more serious that a dead (while he has moved on to a condo). the rather bizarre medical aspects of dog. But crime scene investigator Grace His deputy, Alisha Davis, the fi rst black that part. McColl insists that Weston treat the woman on the Paradise police force, is Th ere is plenty of well-written action shooting as important. Later, the sniper then framed for the murder of an appar- here, coupled with solid detection, kills a politically connected woman ently unarmed man. As if hate crimes oft en leading down paths that appear who had been at the scene of the dog’s on the rise in the area were not enough to go nowhere until something pops shooting and mortally wounds a police to deal with, Stone also has other up to propel the investigation on the offi cer. Th e police make a connection problems, including a young man who right road. Suspense mounts as the PI between the two events. Can Weston has come to town with a problem with tries to juggle the two cases, not always and McColl, two damaged people carry- authority, in particular with Jesse. successfully. But he proves himself to ing a lot of baggage from their pasts, act Reed Farrel Coleman continues his be someone who pursues the truth, no in time to stop more killings and bring a expansion of Robert B. Parker’s Jesse matter what the cost. But here the cost murderer to justice? Stone series, in his fi ft h novel about the was high, perhaps even too high for Ca- Zoë Sharp, author of the outstand- character. While remaining true to hill. He has to ask himself: Is the truth ing Charlie Fox series, is one of the Parker’s original vision of Stone, Cole- worth it? best, and most underrated, thriller man has given him a depth and breadth Th is dark novel book is recommend- writers around. Th is book proves that he never had before. His problems with ed reading for the main plot, which I she should be better known. Creating Jenn, his ex-wife, are in the past. Stone was hooked on right to the fi nish. How- suspense from the opening line right is now struggling with recovery from ever, I would suggest reading BLOOD through to the novel’s bloody denoue- alcohol abuse, has even removed the TRUTH fi rst to get a better feel for ment, Sharp knows how to keep readers temptation of the bottle in the bottom what’s going on with the Russian mob turning the pages. She understands drawer of his desk, and is attending AA aspect. Nevertheless, overall, this was a people and what drives them to act, meetings. Th e cast of characters has fi ne addition to Coyle’s series. weapons and how they work, action and also grown as some old-time acquain- DANCING ON THE GRAVE by how to write it. tances have died, retired, or otherwise Zoë Sharp (Zace Ltd., $11.99 paper- Th is book, in part, is an examination moved on, and new ones have taken back/$5.34 digital, June 2018). Rating: of the quest for fame – or more rightly their place. A- While a sniper lies in wait for a dif- infamy – as well as the eff ects of the Coleman skillfully plots this topical ferent target, he sees seventeen-year-old search on the seeker, and its tragic con- story of racial hatred and violent white Edith Airey shoot a dog that was sequences, including one not revealed supremacists, mixing in what seems to ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 47 be an impossible crime that must be no matter how much self-deprecation he Th is is the seventh book in the series, solved: the shooting death of a young uses to defl ect his opponents. Plus you but the fi rst in seventeen years, in John man who fi red fi rst at Deputy Davis, but will learn a lot about mob infl uence in Straley’s entertaining Cecil Younger left no weapon at the scene. Th e author corporations, corruption, double-deal- series set in Sitka, Alaska. Straley has manages to work all of this around ing, how to hide in plain sight, keeping the ability to bring the beauty of Alaska Jesse’s struggle with recovery and also secrets from others and, of course, mak- to life on the page and mingle it in a adds revelations that will change his life ing salsa. Wonderfully done! most fascinating (and oft en very dark) forever. Coleman has taken a successful way with the strange characters, oft en series, written by an MWA Grand Mas- THE INNS (AND OUTS) criminals, Younger encounters. Th ese ter, updated it, and essentially recreated characters are oft en based on people the Jesse Stone for a new generation. If you OF COURT author actually met in his years doing liked Parker’s novels, you will really similar work (only without the crimes enjoy Coleman’s expansion of Stone’s BABY’S FIRST FELONY by John Younger apparently committed here!). world. Straley (Soho Crime, $25.95, July 2018) Th rough the use of Younger’s allocu- LIKE TO DIE by David House- Rating: B Th is book opens with the tion, which takes 234 pages of the book’s wright (St. Martin’s Minotaur Books, longest allocution in legal history, 250, Straley slowly peels back the onion 26.99, June 2018) Rating: A Unli- fi ctional or otherwise. In it criminal of the crimes for which his protagonist censed private investigator Rushmore defense investigator Cecil Younger ex- has already been convicted. Th is grad- McKenzie is asked by a friend to help plains to a sentencing court what lay be- ually reveals Younger’s motives for what Erin Peterson, owner of a food company hind the actions that got him convicted he has done, laying them out in a way that makes salsa. Her factory has been of destruction of property and negligent that is designed to be sympathetic to vandalized, though not to the point of homicide. Younger lays out a tale of as- his position seeking a reduction from a closing down operations. Someone was sisting criminal clients, theft of evidence mandatory sentence. However, at times supergluing her trucks and building (a large pile of cash), drugs, kidnapping, this seemed to drag on and if I were one locks. She was reluctant to report this and murder. Meanwhile, the attorney of the judge’s listening to this, I would to the police, as she was in the midst of Younger works for has created a book have encouraged Younger to pick up trying to get a better distribution deal. entitled Baby’s First Felony, fi lled with the pace. One of the rules that could be So McKenzie stops by to chat and off ers rules designed to assist clients. Among added to the attorney’s advice book for to help. Eventually, as the vandalism es- these helpful hints are “While you are criminals is “Quit while you are ahead.” calates, she accepts. But things go from incarcerated and awaiting trial, when Th e darkness of portions of this not too bad to a lot worse and more talking on the jail phone, [remember] story are leavened by the humor that dangerous. Erin, naturally, has her own Pig Latin is not an unbreakable code” runs through it, particularly in the use secrets she is reluctant to share, compli- and “Never use the phrase ‘How dumb of the “advice” from Baby’s First Felony, cating McKenzie’s eff orts to help her. do you think I am.’ You are just asking the book within the book. Further, the Th is is the fi ft eenth novel in Edgar for an answer.” reader will fi nd it amusing to see how winner David Housewright’s consistent- oft en Younger actually avoids taking the ly entertaining McKenzie series. Not advice himself. A word of caution: sen- only is the novel humorous in places, it sitive readers should be aware that there is also suspenseful, easily keeping the are some hideous crimes against chil- reader “superglued” to its pages. Th e dren in the novel and their descriptions book is fl at out fun. Th e characters are might be too much for some people. wonderfully drawn and Housewright makes excellent use of his Minnesota THE SHORT CIRCUIT setting – and why not? He lives in St. Paul. Not only is this fi rst person point THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF of view, we are also party to McKenzie’s SHERLOCK HOLMES: Th e Annotated innermost thoughts – things perhaps Edition by Terence Faherty (Gasogene he wishes he could have said aloud but Books, $19.95, January 2019) Rating: A more wisely kept to himself. We’re all familiar with Sherlock Holmes If you haven’t read previous novels and very few are more familiar with him in this series, you can feel free to jump than Terence Faherty. He is the editor right in here because the author gives of this slim collection of what purports suffi cient backstory where needed with- to be the recently discovered notebooks out overwhelming or boring the long of none other than Dr. John H. Watson time reader. McKenzie is one tough containing the very fi rst draft s of eleven character and a smart cookie to boot, 48 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------of the earliest Holmes stories. The come “with the same scholarly dignity Challenge to the Reader. I got a kick startling revelation here is that these and respect we lavished on this initial out of both his lighter Hollywood tales original drafts differ significantly from series.” Looking forward to it. and then his more serious works in the the stories as published in The Strand AN ELDERLY LADY IS UP TO NO 1940s and ‘50s. Of course, Queen the between July 1891 and June 1892. So GOOD by Helene Tursten (Soho Crime, author was really two cousins, Frederic this volume contains what the editor $12.99, November 2018). Rating: B+ Dannay and Manfred B. Lee and their refers to as “a tantalizing glimpse of the Maud is an 88-year-old woman. Her mysteries were huge bestsellers in their true facts behind eleven cases Watson family is long dead. She has no apparent time. Now, unfortunately, many of the did write up as well as insights into his friends. All she has is an apartment in works are out of print and Queen the writing methods.” downtown Gothenburg, Sweden, that author has been lost in the shadow of Among the previously little known she has lived in her entire life. All she the Queen of Crime herself, Agatha facts we learn from these early drafts wants is a little peace and quiet. Some- Christie. are that originally Holmes didn’t play times she just has to commit a murder So it was with great anticipation and the violin, but rather the banjo. He to get it. pleasure that I received this book con- drank beer instead of taking cocaine. This little book, about the same size taining sixteen stories connected in one He cheats at cards. These stories present as one of those paperback books from way or another to Ellery Queen. I was more of a blue-collar version of Holmes, the ‘50s and ‘60s, contains five short not disappointed. All sixteen are re- who was later gentrified by Watson for stories about the life and times of Maud. prints, mostly from Ellery Queen’s Mys- publication in the magazine. As just A spry lady, Maud finds she must take tery Magazine. The editors divide them one example of the complete change of some action to fend off a woman who into three parts consisting of pastiches, thrust of a story, the Beryl Coronet, of covets Maud’s apartment. Or to help parodies, and “potpourri” (stories which the story of the same name, was actually her ex-fiancé out of a wedding jam, defy characterization). There are pure a horse rather than a gem. In fact it is whether he knows about it or not. And novelty stories, such as Dying Message in that draft that Holmes first inquired what’s wrong with having a little peace by Leyne Requel (a pseudonym). Some about the incident of the dog in the at Christmas, the Time of Peace, any- are serious efforts to duplicate Queen’s nighttime, although with a totally differ- way. Finally, what’s that antique dealer successful approach to crime solving, ent response than we are accustomed to doing with her precious silver and a bag including the intricate The Book Case, from Silver Blaze, where Watson chose while she’s peeking at him through the by editor Andrews and Kurt Sercu, to later place it. We also are treated to door? Can’t an elderly lady just be left featuring an elderly Ellery solving what Watson’s personal notes on the choices alone? could be his final case. Others touch on he made for his later revisions. This is These five humorous tales make for a people or things related to Queen but accompanied by Editor Faherty’s helpful very pleasant change of pace from some driven by other characters. For example, historical and informative annotations of the darker novels we get from the Arthur Vidro examines the mystery of putting everything into context. Scandinavian writers these days. Plus, the two different covers to the first issue All of this is played very straight, Helene Tursten includes some of her of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine in but Faherty’s incredibly dry sense of other characters, such as Irene Huss and the entertaining The Ransom of EQMM humor shows through in every story Embla Nyström, into a couple of these #1. Joseph Goodrich sets Frederic here. Seven of these tales originally stories. My only complaint is that the Dannay on the trail of a murderer, ably appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Mag- final, and longest, story in the book is assisted by Dashiell Hammett, in the azine and four are new here. Even if a rehash of the previous story, just told clever The Ten-Cent Murder. Other you read those stories there, this volume from a different point of view. I could contributors include such luminaries as contains the annotations which were have done with just one of those two. Lawrence Block, Edward D. Hoch, Jon not in EQMM. Each tale is a little gem Still, this is a thoroughly entertaining L. Breen, and Francis M. Nevins. (and not of the Beryl Coronet or Blue collection, one that would make a great These stories are interesting, and oc- Carbuncle variety!). The best way to stocking stuffer or a gift for anyone who casionally ingenious, but they do make read these “drafts” is first to re-read the enjoys humor sprinkled with a touch of clear one thing: no one ever did it better stories as published over 125 years ago homicide. than Dannay and Lee. Still, the book (you have read them before, haven’t you? THE MISADVENTURES OF is thoroughly enjoyable and certainly If not, do so immediately!). Then settle ELLERY QUEEN edited by Josh worth reading, especially for fans of down with this book and prepare to be Pachter & Dale C. Andrews (Wildside Queen who will particularly appreciate thoroughly entertained by their clever- Press, $29.99 hardcover/$19.99 paper- it, as there are many references through- ness and flat out fun. As Holmes says, back/$5.99 ebook, March 2018) Rating: out the stories to matters in the original “[in] the interests of a lively tale, there’s A- My favorite Golden Age author is Queen canon. It is a wonderful tribute no disbelief [Watson] is not willing to Ellery Queen. I enjoyed his early novels to a Mystery Writers of America Grand suspend.” Apparently the same holds in the late 1920s and early’ 30s, con- Master. true for Faherty, who promises more to taining his intricate plots and famous ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 49

Sheriff Joanna Brady’s maternity leave is interrupted by the fi nding of a recent corpse and the skeletal remains of sever- Just in Crime al other individuals in a fi eld. Latisha Marcum is being kept prisoner in a basement with three other women under terrible conditions. Th e complex Norma Dancis investigation strains Joanna’s small de- partment to the utmost, testing Joanna’s attempts to help without taking over. But the question of whether Joanna will take ILD FIRE by Ann Cleeves reactions of autistic Christopher, one of her full leave is overshadowed by a bigger W(Minotaur, 2018, $26.99). Rat- Emma’s charges, accentuate the families’ question: will Latisha survive long enough ing: A Emma, the young nanny for the separation and loneliness. Cleeves also to be rescued? Moncrieff family, is found hanging in pulls away slightly from her normal focus Jance balances Latisha’s story of suff er- the barn owned by the Fleming fami- on Perez, which allows us to see him in ing with her compassionate account of the ly. Th e previous owner of the barn had others’ eyes. Th e estrangement of the prisoners’ lives. Th e darkness of that story is in turn juxtaposed against the warmth also hanged himself here shortly aft er characters from one another and the life of Joanna’s family life and the sincerity the Flemings moved in. Th e Moncrieff of the community and Cleeves’ moody and humanity of the investigation. and Fleming families are both incomers prose both contribute to a memorable, atmospheric experience. Serial killer novels tend to gloat over from England. BURY THE LEAD by Archer Mayor the victims’ pain and suff ering and the Detective Jimmy Perez fi nds it had ((Minotaur, 2018, $27.99). Rating: A- kidnapper’s inhumanity. Jance doesn’t to learn much about the self-contained fall into that trap. She presents the wom- Emma and the two families whose lives Mick Durocher has confessed to the murder of a young woman found at a ski en dealing with their predicament with are so intertwined and separate from dignity and humor and even spiritual most Shetlanders. His emotional life is resort. He was also employed at a local business hit by industrial sabotage. Joe growth. Th eir tormentor is chilling, but also challenged by the arrival of Willow, he is still a believable person. Th e char- Gunther and his team at the Vermont his supervisor in Scotland, to assist in the acters in general are fully rounded and Bureau of Investigation don’t believe the investigation. distinctive. Th e story moves briskly with Perez begins to move tentatively from confession, but they can’t fi gure out if or many surprising elements raising this his emotional paralysis over Fran’s death. how the two crimes fi t together. above the genre. Th e book’s cover touts this as the fi nal Willy Kunkle and his wife Sammie, Jance overturns many of the conven- book in the Shetland series. Th is book re- important members of Gunther’s team, tions of the serial killer story and main- volves around newcomers who are shaped are of limited help due to Willy’s medical tains a high level of interest. I had given and aff ected by the island’s isolation. Th e emergency. As the sabotage grows in up serial killer mysteries because they violence, Gunther and his unit struggle were so similar, but Jance has provide a to fi nd the answers before the body count fresh and enjoyable take on the subject. grows higher. SHELL GAME by Sara Paretsky Mayor writes mysteries at the highest (William Morrow, 2018, $27.99). level. Th is is nearly the thirtieth entry Rating: A- Private Investigator Vic. in the Gunther series. As always, it feels Warshawski is called in to help her fresh, sharing the quick pace and com- pulsive readability of the fi rst books. friend Lotty Herschel’s nephew, Felix. For fans of the series, Mayor adds depth His name and phone number have been and breadth to some of the continuing found in the pocket of a murdered man, characters. While the motivation for the and the local Sheriff is convinced that crime is less compelling than usual, the Felix is the killer. Aft er Vic identifi es narrative is so absorbing that the reader the dead man, she discovers that he had might be too caught up in the story not to links to Middle East archaeology and notice. Th e ending is a bit confusing, with the Muslim community. a somewhat rushed conclusion, which is Th is investigation is complicated by the cause of the minus to the “A” rating. Vic’s second investigation into the disap- You will need to pay full attention at the pearance of her niece, Reno. Trying to end. A thoroughly good read, if not a solve both mysteries involves Vic in issues blue-ribbon winner. and danger involving Russians, fi nancial FIELD OF BONES by J. A. Jance fraud, immigration, stolen antiquities, (HarperCollins,2018, $27.99). Rating: A and family concerns that she must handle before uncovering the truth. Paretsky has 50 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------created almost a kitchen sink of a mys- if his daughter, Lennie, could join the tery—she has thrown everything into the Greenbury force to gain some more pot. Even trying to retell the plot of this experience. book is nearly too complex to manage. In When the body is found, Baccus pulls fewer than 400 pages, Paretsky has packed his daughter from Greenbury. Lennie is more thrills and complications than many angry and decides to work the case on her authors’ entire works, perhaps too many own. As Decker investigates, he realiz- for an exhausted reader. es Neil’s murder probably stems from a Even in an obviously plot-driven book, decades-old case in Hamilton for which Paretsky takes time to create memorable Baccus was responsible. Decker and his characters. You will need to read careful- force must work the case in another juris- ly and perhaps take notes in order to keep diction in which the police chief might be up, but the trip is well worth it. implicated. Complications and the body MURDER AT THE MANSION count rise. by Sheila Connolly (Minotaur, 2018, Kellerman has added some strong $24.99). Rating: B+ Having lost her characters to the regular series cast. job at a high-end, boutique hotel in Bal- Kellerman’s writing is straightforward timore, Katherine Hamilton returns to and easy to follow, which helps to clarify her hometown of Asheford, Maryland. the extremely complex plot. If you like to Th e Town Council explains that solve the puzzle yourself, pay strict atten- the town is on the verge of bankrupt- tion. Otherwise, sit back as the story car- cy and asks her to see what she can do ries you along and enjoy the journey. Th e with the large Victorian mansion that it Upon investigating, she fi nds the body plug for Kellerman’s husband’s mysteries owns. Cordelia Walker, her high school of an elderly parishioner and several was annoying. Nonetheless, the book is a enemy and the person who engineered niches that have been pried open and solid piece of good work. Kate’s biggest embarrassment, is the only their urns spilled out. PROTECTED BY THE SHADOWS townsperson who has an alternate plan. Th e murdered man, Junius Hagley, by Helene Tursten (Soho, 2017, $26.95). When Kate and a historian fi rst visit the had been threatening to sell his niche and Rating: B- Inspector Irene Huss is a site, they stumble over Cordelia’s corpse. take back his wife’s ashes. A valuable ruby member of the Violent Crimes Unit in Kate’s plans to rescue the mansion are ring stolen in a robbery to which Hagley Gőteburg, Sweden. A bomb is set under complicated by her eff orts to discover who had had a connection is found among the her husband’s car, apparently by a gang killed Cordelia. ashes. Was this murder connected? At trying to collect money from him. But Connolly, with over thirty cozy mys- the same time, the toucan is stolen. Is the that’s not the only gang problem. Th e teries to her credit, exhibits a smooth and theft related to the robbery? Are the rest two main gangs seem ready to explode charming prose style. Kate, her romance, of the stolen jewels nearby to be found? into gang warfare, starting when a and her attempts to save the mansion and Meg works to solve both mysteries. member of a biker’s gang is set on fi re Andrews is the queen of the humorous the town, form a delightful book in their alive. own right. Character, writing, and basic mystery. As always in this long-running Faced with danger to her family, Irene plot, minus the mystery, keep the reader series, she blends a serious mystery with goes into hiding and sends her family interested. Unfortunately, the mystery lunacy bubbling beneath the surface. hiding elsewhere. But someone seems feels like an interruption and sideline Andrews whips together witty writing, to know too much about what the unit rather than the centerpiece of the book. If silly situations, and offb eat characters. and its members are doing. Th en more you love women’s fi ction or cozy myster- She caps them off with a laugh-aloud fi nal violence seems to arrive from an outside ies, you will enjoy this book. If you are chase scene. Th is is one of the best off er- source. Can Irene solve the case before more interested in the mystery itself, you ings in the series. If you enjoy a humor- she or her family is killed? won’t fi nd it satisfying. ous mystery, don’t miss it. Tursten’s thriller is only partly success- TOUCAN KEEP A SECRET by WALKING SHADOWS by Faye ful. Th e setup is promising, and many of Donna Andrews (Minotaur, 2018, Kellerman (William Morrow, 2018, the scenes are well executed. Many of the $26.99). Rating: A While Reverend $27.99). Rating: A- Pete Decker is plot twists are exciting, particularly con- Robyn Smith of Trinity Episcopal called to investigate the death of Brady cerning Irene’s personal danger. However, Church is on enforced bed rest, Meg Neil, found in the woodlands of his the subplot involving Irene’s husband feels Langslow has taken over some of her Greenbury, New York, jurisdiction. unbelievable. Th e narrative tends to plod. duties as well as the pet toucan Robyn However. Neil was a resident of nearby Either the prose is too fl at or the translator was keeping for a deployed parishioner. Hamilton, whose police chief doesn’t not very good. Action that should have While Meg is locking up the church want Greenbury police investigating on set the pulse racing remained interesting one evening, she hears the sound of his turf. Th is situation is complicated rather than exciting. Th ere’s a lot to like hammering from the cremation niches. because Hamilton’s police chief, Victor about this book, but it doesn’t completely Baccus, had previously asked Decker succeed. ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 51

DESOLATION MOUNTAIN by now assigned to a gangland killing ap- determined to discover her knowledge William Kent Krueger (Atria, 2018, proach her to report that their supervising of Fatima and the Amir family. Th e $26.00). Rating: B A private plane offi cer is hindering their work and aban- crash was clearly no accident, and An- carrying a United States Senator crashes doning proper procedure. Elaine runs an nabel must protect herself from those into Desolation Mountain on the off -the-books eff ort to fi nd where the rot who think she can reveal more about Ojibway Reservation. Cork O’Connor in the police service lies and how her old what Matthew was doing and what and his son Stephen are among the fi rst nemesis is connected to this case. information he left behind. at the crash site. Elements of the crash Hope is a believably obsessed and Meanwhile, Marina Tourneau is a strike Stephen as relating to a recurring emotionally damaged offi cer. While society journalist engaged to Grant Ellis, she and a few other characters are well vision he has been experiencing. Th ey whose father is about to run for President delineated, the others are more shadowy. and the other fi rst responders start to of the United States. She is handed explo- Th e plot is complex and rather confusing. sive information about money laundering search the wreckage, but the FBI quickly Ashworth jumps into the middle of the arrives and assumes control. Other at Swiss United. Everyone involved with action. Despite an attempt to bring the the story turns up dead. Can she prove unidentifi ed, presumably governmental, reader up to speed on what happened in groups also arrive to work the site. Th e and polish the story before she dies, too? the fi rst book, putting everything togeth- Th is is a smart and edge-of-your-seat locals are treated roughly and several er is challenging. Near the end, Hope’s thriller. Alger explains the facts and of the fi rst responders disappear. Cork lover explicitly discusses her mental state implications of money laundering clearly meets up again with a private security and their relationship. Th is conversation and without slowing the narrative or consultant. Th e two work together, explains a lot, but it would have been more lessening the suspense. One twist is that despite the violent opposition of the illuminating if it had occurred earlier. It all of the main characters are female and offi cial searchers, to rescue the missing also undermines the suspense that Ash- in danger. Th ey are not portrayed pri- and discover what really happened. worth had been expertly craft ing. None- marily as victims or villains but as strong On the positive side are Krueger’s theless, the reader who perseveres will get characters grappling with dangerous cir- pacing and his mastery of suspense. Th e caught up on what happened and enjoy cumstances. Th ey make choices based on solution is so complicated that at the end, the hunt. Nearly excellent, but not quite. idealism and intelligence as well as fear. I could not have explained exactly what THE BANKER’S WIFE by Cristina Unfortunately, the ending lets down the happened. It is a mark of Krueger’s talent Alger (Putnam, 2018, $27,00). Rating: reader by dispelling too much of the ten- that that wasn’t a decisive mark against A Annabel Werner is devastated when sion and grittiness. Nonetheless, this book the book. He is able to make the reader the remains of a private plane carrying is certain to fi gure on Best of Year lists. I care deeply for the characters and be her husband, Matthew, banker with nominate it for best thriller of 2018. breathless over their fate. I enjoyed the the powerful Swiss United Bank, are LIES COME EASY by Steven ride, even though I wasn’t sure just where found. Th e plane’s owner, Fatima Amir, Havill (Poisoned Pen Press, 2018, I had been. a beautiful, wealthy investor related to $15.95). Rating: A Undersheriff Estelle On the other hand, Stephen’s visions the Syrian dictator, has also been killed Reyes-Guzman of Posadas County is are an important clue in Cork’s investiga- in the crash. Agents interview Annabel, waiting impatiently for her two sons to tion. I dislike the entry of the supernatu- fl y in for Christmas. Th ey will only be ral into any mystery and normally imme- diately discard a book in which it surfaces. there for a day due to son Francisco’s My disbelief in the visions undercut both career as a celebrated pianist. Natu- my desire to read the book and my belief rally, crime peaks as she waits. First, in the solution. Th is is a seriously fl awed a toddler is found on a snowy road book redeemed by Krueger’s writing apparently dumped there by his father. skill. Th en a range tech is missing, and the TWO FACED by A. R. Ashworth search for him turns up a dead woman (Crooked Lane, 2018, $26.99). Rating: in a tiny nearby town. Th e police force B+ Detective Chief Inspector Elaine is stretched to its limits as Estelle tries to Hope is still somewhat of a wreck nine solve all these cases and still make time months aft er a devastating assault. for her family. Not only is she barely holding onto Th is twenty-third entry in the Posadas physical and emotional health, but her County series takes place about ten years career seems doomed. She is pursuing later than book twenty-two. For the fan an unauthorized investigation into the of this series, reading it is enriched by observing all the changes that have taken criminal conspiracy involved in the Cristina Alger place in the county’s police force and Es- earlier investigation, but is beginning to telle’s family. For once, reading the book suspect the involvement of higher-ups at might be simpler for a newcomer than a Scotland Yard itself. longtime fan, who will stop to observe Loyal members of her former team 52 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------the differences. Personal relationships within the family and police force, as always, remain central and help knit together the narrative. Despite the 2019 Left Coast Crime central mayhem, the rich characteri- zation and vivid settings help create a warm, human background. Havill is one of my favorite authors. It is good Lefty Award Nominations to see him maintain the same high quality of writing and imagination for over twenty-five years. HEAD WOUND by Judith Cut- ler (Allison & Busby, 2018, $25.00). Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel Rating: B Jane Cowan, head teacher at two village schools, is living in tem- MARDI GRAS MURDER by Ellen Byron (Crooked Lane Books) porary accommodations. Her abusive HOLLYWOOD ENDING by Kellye Garrett (Midnight Ink) ex-husband is finally in prison, and her NIGHTTOWN by Timothy Hallinan (Soho Crime) most serious concern involves major DEATH AL FRESCO by Leslie Karst (Crooked Lane Books) cuts to the school’s budget instead of THE SPIRIT IN QUESTION by Cynthia Kuhn (Henery Press) physical threats. However, she is also SCOTT FREE by Catriona McPherson (Midnight Ink) worrying about her landlord’s dete- riorating health, the odd behavior of Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel her neighbors, mysterious white vans, (Bruce Alexander Memorial) for books covering events before 1960 and screams that are dismissed as fox screams. All these problems seem FOUR FUNERALS AND MAYBE A WEDDING by Rhys Bowen (Berkeley like pieces of different puzzles that she Prime Crime) must try to assemble. As she begins THE LONG-LOST LOVE LETTERS OF DOC HOLLIDAY by David Corbett to do so, however, the puzzles become (Black Opal Books) increasingly violent and threatening. ISLAND OF THE MAD by Laurie R King (Bantam Books) Judith Cutler is one of my favorite THE WIDOWS OF MALABAR HILL by Sujata Massey (Soho Crime) A DYING NOTE by Ann Parker (Poisoned Pen Press) writers, and I welcomed this third vol- IT BEGINS IN BETRAYAL by Iona Whishaw (Touchwood Editions) ume in the series. However, I hadn’t read the earlier books recently, and the first several chapters were quire con- Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel fusing. Cutler only alludes to rather than retells previous events. Cutler BROKEN PLACES by Tracy Clark (Kensington Books) COBRA CLUTCH by A J Devlin (NeWest Press) also ties in characters from other ear- THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW by A J Finn (William Morrow) lier books, particularly those involving A LADY’S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER by Dianne Freeman Caffy ofSCAR TISSUE. Familiarity (Kensington Books) with previous works would also help WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU by Aimee Hix (Midnight Ink) the reader understand all the allusions. DEADLY SOLUTION by Keenan Powell (Level Best Books) If I, who have read them all, was con- GIVE OUT CREEK by J G Toews (Mosaic Press) fused, a reader new to Cutler probably shouldn’t begin with this book. Since one of the book’s strengths is its han- Lefty for Best Mystery Novel dling of the confusing, seemingly un- NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney (William Morrow) related incidents, that additional con- WRONG LIGHT by Matt Coyle (Oceanview Publishing) fusion requires more intensive reading KINGDOM OF THE BLIND by Louise Penny (Minotaur Books) than should be necessary. That’s a pity, UNDER A DARK SKY by Lori-Rader-Day (William Morrow Paperbacks) because the plot is fascinating and well A RECKONING IN THE BACK COUNTRY worth reading. Fortunately, catching by Terry Shames (Seventh Street Books) up on Cutler’s work can be a delight in A STONE’S THROW by James W. Ziskin (Seventh Street Books) itself. ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 53

the journey. A beautifully told story of redemp- tion and new birth that has universal Deadly Pleasures appeal. A Barry Award nominee for best novel. THE FRACTURED by Brett Battles George Easter (CreateSpace, $15.95). Rating: A- Jon- athan Quinn has had better years, but now most of the trouble is behind him, if not forgotten. Th ere is one issue that E, THE JURY by Robert Rotstein pulling out all of the stops to fi nd and remains unresolved—the break between W(Blackstone, $24.99). Rating: B+ kill her. him and his partner, Nate. Quinn has When David Sullinger killed his wife Th ere are several surprising revela- come to accept the only potential path with an axe, he claimed he was a bat- tions along the way and a bitter-sweet to healing the wound is via the passage tered spouse and he feared for his life. resolution. of time. Th e secret world has other Th e story of his trial is told by a dozen Th e author James Rayburn is a pen ideas. Quinn and his girlfriend, Orlan- or so participants in the trial, including name for Roger Smith, who has pub- do, are hired for a new mission, but they witnesses, the judge, prosecutor, celeb- lished crime novels set in South Africa, must include on their team the operative rity defense counsel, bailiff , clerk and all two of which I have read and reviewed who is one of the few to have ever seen eight jurors. To me it had somewhat the in DP. He is very accomplished and the face of the job’s target. Th is opera- same feel as the old Henry Fonda movie, really knows his craft , but he defi nitely tive is unknown to the client, but not to 12 Angry Men. dwells on the dark side. Quinn and Orlando. Now, to stop a plan By far the most interesting chapters A note on the publisher, Blackstone. that could slaughter tens of thousands of of the book are the ones told by the It produces the fi nest quality hard cover people, they must turn to the one person jurors – and how their backgrounds, in the U.S., which I, as a collector, very who wants nothing to do with them. If prejudices and interactions weigh heavi- much appreciated. Very solid top and they can even fi nd him in time. ly in their decision making. bottom of spine and boards overall. As in every book in this series, It is clear that the author really Well done. the narrative is chock a block with knows his stuff when it comes to all the NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney the well-realized actions scenes that ins and outs of a murder trial. And he (Morrow, $26.99). Rating: A- A poi- we’ve come to expect from this Barry puts this knowledge to very good use gnant story told in two tracks. Track Award-winning author. Although, these in this admirable character study. Th is one: Frank Guidry is a loyal under- are mostly plot-driven books, I’ve grown should be required reading in every ling of New Orlean’s mob boss Carlos to care about the main characters and it law school, just as 12 Angry Men was Marcello. But he is privy to explosive is always nice to check in a see how they required viewing at the law school I information about the assassination of are doing. attended. If you are looking for some- President John F. Kennedy. He knows thing diff erent and creative, check out that he is expendable, so he takes off WE, THE JURY. toward the West, being pursued by Bar- THE TRUTH ITSELF by James one, a relentless mob hitman. Rayburn (Blackstone, $26.99). Rating: Track two: Charlotte Roy is an Okla- B+ Former spy Kate Swift blew the homa housewife with two young daugh- whistle on some nefarious goings-on ters. She is very dissatisfi ed with her life (some considered it treason) and has with her alcoholic, controlling husband. been in hiding under an assumed She fi nally musters up the courage to identity for a few years. But one day, leave and takes her two daughters with on dropping off her daughter at school, her on a journey to Los Angeles where she notices some suspicious activity and she plans to stay with an aunt while she follows two young men into the school, gets her life in order. suspecting an imminent school shoot- Along the way Charlotte’s path and ing. She foils that attack, but her cover that of Frank Guidry intersect when is blown, so she and her daughter go on her car breaks down. He realizes that the run again, in search of the legendary Charlotte and the two girls provide an operator Harry Hook, who may be her excellent cover for him. So disguised as Lou Berney only hope for salvation. an insurance salesman, Frank charms Meanwhile, her twisted nemesis is Charlotte into joining him on the rest of 54 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

RIVER OF SECRETS by Roger satisfy even the most hardened of James THE DARKNESS by Ragnar Jonas- Johns (Minotaur, $27.99). Rating: Bond fans. It has been nominated for a son (Minotaur, $27.99). Rating: B+ DI B- Th e staged murder of a prominent, Barry Best Th riller Award. Hulda Hermannsdottir is a very good black Baton Rouge politician raises AN ELDERLY LADY IS UP TO and dedicated detective. But she has puzzling questions for homicide detec- NO GOOD by Helene Tursten (Soho always been a loner and critical of her tive Wallace Hartman. DNA evidence Crime, $12.99). Rating: A- Th e author colleagues who have isolated her. She points toward political activist Eddie explains how this small hardcover gem loves her work and can’t imagine doing Pitkin, but this doesn’t fi t with the Eddie of a short story collection came to be: anything else. But she is 64-year-old Pitkin she has known for years (Eddie is “One of the biggest publishers in Sweden and being forced to retire. She is asked the half-brother of Wallace’s childhood asked me for a story for their Christmas to clear out her desk for a new hire but best friend.). When she fi nds a possible anthology. I said yes, but then realized manages to extract one concession from alibi witness, who promptly disappears, that I didn’t know what story to tell. Th e her boss – let her work a cold case for her quest to exonerate Eddie gets that bit deadline came closer, and I felt totally the two weeks she has left on the force. harder. empty. I almost panicked. And then she Th e case she chooses is the death Aided by her former FBI boyfriend came to me: Maud. She was 88 years-old of a Russian asylum-seeker who was (who plays a minor role in this novel and looked like most old grannies. But found dead in the water. Th e death was compared to the fi rst book), Wallace inside she was quite special. Her age was ruled a suicide or accident. She suspects continues to dig deeper and uncovers a perfect disguise for a criminal! Even otherwise – especially since the young a decades-old conspiracy among the ... a murderer. I wrote the fi rst story “An woman had been granted asylum the Southern wealthy and powerful. Elderly Lady Seeks Peace at Christmas,” day before her death. RIVER OF SECRETS was an o.k. in just three hours, and I enjoyed every Jonasson gives us glimpses of events read, but not nearly as good as the fi rst minute of her company. But let’s just say in Hulda’s early life that shaped her into in the series, DARK RIVER RISING. I would not like to have her as a neighbor the person she became – an interesting Th e resolution of the plot was a bit hard or a relative!” (and admirable for her determination), to swallow and the delightful tension Maud’s “adventures” include her but not necessarily a likeable character. between Wallace and her boyfriend in plotting to get rid of an obnoxious Th e ending is a real shocker. I, for the fi rst book was totally missing in the neighbor, a gold-digger fi ancée of a one, would like to know the aft ermath second.. long-ago lover, a local celebrity with of what happened, but I understand FOREVER AND A DAY by Antho- eyes on Maude’s spacious, rent-free that the next book in the series will be ny Horowitz (Harper, $26.99). Rating: apartment and a crooked antiques deal- a prequel, so I may have to wait awhile. A- Th is time around Anthony Horow- er. Th ese well-told stories have a surfeit Ragnar Jonasson continues to show us itz treats us with an exciting story of of black humor which I greatly enjoyed, why he has leapt into the forefront of how James Bond came to be 007 with but recognize is not for everyone. My Nordic crime fi ction. a license to kill. It seems that British appetite for Maud stories has been whet- TEAR IT DOWN by Nick Petrie Intelligence had four agents with such ted. More, please. (Putnam, $26.00). Rating: A- Iraq war a license, but one of them – 007 – has veteran Peter Ash suff ers from severe been found dead, his body fl oating in claustrophobia and a general restless- the harbor of Marseille. ness whenever in one place for a period M laid down his pipe and stared at it of time, so his committed girlfriend tetchily. “We have no choice. We’re just June Cassidy sends him on a mercy mis- going to bring forward this other chap sion to help an old friend Wanda Wyatt you’ve been preparing. But you didn’t tell (war photographer and world traveler), me his name.” who is being harassed to move out of “‘It’s Bond, sir,’” the Chief of Staff her ramshackle Memphis home. replied. “James Bond.” Peter arrives to fi nd a large dump First assignment: fi nd out who truck sitting in Wanda’s living room. killed his predecessor and deal with it. On a parallel track, a homeless black What ensues is an archetypal Bondian youth (who also happens to be a very thriller in which he matches wits again talented jazz guitar player) takes part in a wealthy megalomaniac with designs to a botched robbery of a mall jewelry store destroy America as we know it. and is now on the run. He encounters First class job in capturing the es- Peter at a gas station and steals his sence of a James Bond novel – fast paced beloved truck, with all his tools in it, at and exciting in its execution. An added gun point. bonus is the very believable back story Not only are the cops aft er him, but of James Bond’s origins. Th is should also the owner of the jewelry store who ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 55 happens to be a powerful gangster. hours of on-the-edge-of-my-seat enter- Events continue to escalate and soon tainment. Peter and Wanda are in considerable THE KILLER COLLECTIVE by danger. Barry Eisler (Th omas & Mercer, $24.95, Nick Petrie’s novels are very much $15.95). Rating: B+ Barry Eisler’s two in the Lee Child/Jack Reacher vein, but main series, one featuring killer-for-hire also quite diff erent in plotting and style. John Rain and the other Seattle sex- Th ey have at least one very memorable crimes cop Livia Lone are merged in action scene in each one. I’ve enjoyed this exciting thriller. them all and predict that Nick will be a Livia Lone is as obsessed with catch- star, if he isn’t one already. He’s my go- ing and bringing bad guys to justice as to recommendation to friends who like Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch, so she Lee Child. is more than upset when her operation THE NIGHT AGENT by Matthew to shut down a child pornography/child Quirk (Morrow, $26.99). Rating: abuse ring is shut down by unnamed A- Son of a disgraced FBI agent, Peter power brokers in Washington, D.C. It Sutherland has followed a diffi cult path seems that Livia had gotten too close full of doubt and scorn to reach his to exposing very powerful people, who goal of being a valued and trustworthy now are seeking to not only shut down FBI Agent. He has been diligent in his the operation, but extinguish anyone adherence to the rules who knows about it. Aft er working for an extended John Rain (“make it look like an acci- point in any house because it contains period of time in a surveillance unit, dent”) is contacted to kill a female cop the most valuables – jewelry, cash, guns, Peter now has been assigned a job in the in Seattle, Washington for a very sizable etc.) she encounters three dead bodies White House Situation Room, where his fee. He turns down the contract because and a video camera still on and still principal assignment is to man the night he doesn’t kill women. Well that doesn’t recording. So she takes the camera with action desk, monitoring an emergendy sit well with the powers that be and his its memory card and makes a quick exit. phone line for government agents. He’s name gets added to the list for extermi- She returns the next night to see what never had to respond to a call – until to- nation. No loose ends. the police are doing and a black SUV night when at 1:05 a.m. the phone rings. Over time the people on the list follows her when she leaves and tries A terrifi ed young woman named Rose band together with the aid of John’s old to catch her. She escapes (barely) and tells Peter that her aunt and uncle have friends Dox and Delilah and plan to decides to go into hiding for awhile. just been murdered and that the killer is strike back. But she can’t help being very curious still in the house with her. Before their Most of this exciting, action-packed about the murders so she starts using deaths, they gave her this phone number story was an A or A- for me, but the her burglary research skills to investi- with urgent instructions: “Tell them by-the-numbers ending, with no real gate the lives of the victims. And when OSPREY was right. It’s happening. . . “ surprises, demoted it to a B+. If you like subsequent attacks occur, her investiga- Peter passes the information on to Barry Eisler’s prior work, you’ll want to tion moves from one of curiosity to one the appropriate parties and is told to read this to keep up with the charac- of necessity. stand down, but there is something ters and enjoy the ride, but I wouldn’t Another great thriller from Th omas about Rose’s voice that stirs his protec- recommend this as a starting place for Perry – one infused with insider bur- tive instincts so he goes to the site of the those who have not read Barry’s work glary tips of the trade (no fair using any murder and tries to comfort Rose. before. of them) and an air of total authenticity. His superiors once again tell him THE BURGLAR by Th omas Perry I look forward every year to my annual to stand down and he has every inten- (Grove Atlantic, $26.00). Rating: A- Th omas Perry fi x. tion of doing so – until Rose calls him Elle Stowell targets ritzy L.A. neighbor- HEADLONG by Cynthia Har- again and asks for help. He begins to hoods to ply her trade – burglary. She is rod-Eagles (Severn House, $28.99). Rat- understand that Rose may be the key meticulous and very patient in “casing” ing: B+ Ed Wiseman is a very likeable to uncovering a Russian plot involving her targets and credits her preparation and very well-known literary agent in a traitor at the highest level of govern- with the fact that she have never been London. Th en he takes a dive out his ment. caught. offi ce window into a construction site My idea of good thriller elements are Her latest objective is the home of next door. Was it suicide, an accident a deadline, chases, grave danger, fast a wealthy art dealer and she success- or was he pushed? DCI Slider takes the pacing, likeable characters and lots of fully enters the house without setting case and is immediately being pressured action. THE NIGHT AGENT has all off any alarms. When she proceeds to by the Borough Commander to close the those elements and provided me with the master bedroom (her fi rst stopping case as quickly as possible and conclude 56 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------it was a accidental death. serious fl aws and all, to leave unmined. When evidence points to murder, And the same could be said to his newly Slider discovers a number of peope minted sidekick. with possible motives for the crime: an WOLF PACK by C. J. Box (Putnam, embittered ex-wife, a discarded mistress, $27.00). Rating: B+ When we last saw a frustrated would-be author, and a Joe Pickett had lost his job as game war- disgruntled former employee. Many had den. Well, he’s got it back due to friends reason to hold a grudge against the late in high places, and is doing better than lamented literary agent. But who would ever with a new house and a new pickup feel strongly enough to kill him? truck. Another satisfying case for Bill Slider Joe witnesses a high-tech, sophisti- and for us as his loyal fans. A traditional cated drone track and scare wildlife into British police procedural that provides stampeding, with attendant loss of life. a few hours of pleasant pastime and He teams up with a female game warden distinct pleasure. who has also seen the drone be a serious HOUSE ARREST by Mike Lawson danger to wildlife and they go in search (Grove Atlantic, $26.00). Rating: A- It’s of the owner. Joe fi nds that the drone a new year and that means a new book belongs to a mysterious and wealthy man from Mike Lawson to brighten up what whose son is dating Joe’s own daughter, is otherwise a dreary winter day. Lucy. He lays down some rules for the Joe DeMarco is Congressman John drone operator, but then is asked by Mahoney’s behind-the-scenes fi xer. agents of the FBI and the DOJ to back But he’s now in a lot of trouble and his down into serious drug and alcohol off , which doesn’t sit well with Joe relationship with Mahoney has been addiction. He hits bottom in CRIME Meanwhile dead human bodies are made public, endangering his future SONG, which was a tough book to read showing up in Joe’s jurisdiction, appar- employment. Joe has been accused of because Frank Marr has a good heart ent victims of a Mexican cartel murder shooting and killing Representative Lyle in spite of his problems. Now with squad known as the Wolf Pack. Joe’s Canton, the House Majority Whip and TRIGGER we have an uplift ing story of close friend Nate Romanowski, on the there is substantial evidence to back up redemption. So I guess what I’m saying threshold of fatherhood for the fi rst time, the prosecution. is, if you decided to stop with CRIME helps out with both cases. Unable to call upon Mahoney for SONG, you shouldn’t. Th is was an enjoyable, fast-paced, help, DeMarco turns to his friend Emma, As the book opens we fi nd Frank easy read, but lacked the “pop” of some an ex-DIA agent. She follows her own having some success battling his ad- of Box’s better books. leads and discovers that a prominent dictions. He’s still robbing the houses MERCY RIVER by Glen Erik businessman had a great motive for seek- of drug dealers, taking their cash and Hamilton (Morrow, $26.99). Rating: B+ ing Canton’s life. drugs. He keeps the cash, but fl ushes the When Van Shaw received a call for help Meanwhile, in jail, forces have been drugs away. from his former Ranger buddy Leo Pak, hired to kill Joe DeMarco before his case Th en his former partner on the police he heads off to a remote Oregon town even gets to trial and his friends become force is accused of gunning down an called Mercy River to fi nd out what kind aware of this and have to call in a lot unarmed black youth. His friend is ada- of trouble Leo is in. It’s big trouble: Leo of help to keep Joe alive while Emma is mant that he saw a gun, so Frank inves- is accused of murdering a local gun store fi nding evidence to prove his innocence. tigates to fi nd out what really happened. owner. Van elicits help from big-time Th is is the thirteenth in this con- Along the way, Frank recruits a young attorney Ephraim Ganz. But both Ganz sistently high quality series. But with man he nearly executed years before. and Van are shocked when Leo pleads HOUSE ARREST the life of Joe DeMar- Th e scenes of them working together are guilty at the arraignment. What is going co has certainly taken a new course. I some of the best in this wonderful novel. on? Van is convinced Leo is innocent. will be very interested to know what’s Swinson’s writing is top notch, but Why would he plead guilty? in store for him in the next novel. And the subject matter (drugs and violence) is Complicating matters is a three- congratulations to the author on his Ed- heavily laced with profanity and so is not day party for Army Rangers which gar nomination for HOUSE WITNESS for everyone. I just turn my fi lter on and has become an annual event in Mercy – another great book. ignore the distasteful in order to experi- River. As Van investigates he fi nds that TRIGGER by David Swinson ence the many highlights of TRIGGER. the town has had a rocky history with a (Mulholland, $27.00). Rating: A With Th is brings to an end the story arc community of white supremacists, which TRIGGER, we complete the trilogy cycle that began in the fi rst book in this trilo- were run out of town by the Rangers but that started with THE SECOND GIRL, gy, THE SECOND GIRL, but I hope that threaten to return. To save his buddy, in which we encounter the protagonist we will see Frank Marr again some time Van reverts to the skills taught him by ex-cop Frank Marr beginning to cycle in the future. He is too rich a character, his master-thief grandfather. ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 57

Th is was a fun read with some big guy was alive when he left , but he was and determinations that they are willing coincidences to overlook. But Glen Erik quite drunk so he begins to doubt his to reassign to the London offi ce of the Hamilton always puts out a good prod- certainty. Another problem: his fi nger- OSS. She is excited about the opportunity uct. But if you haven’t read him yet, you prints and DNA are all over the crime but has misgivings about traveling across should start with his excellent fi rst novel scene. the Atlantic Ocean in the SS Amelia PAST CRIMES. Th en the body of a African-American Earhart, a Liberty Ship carrying ammu- THE LAST ACT by Brad Parks (Dut- teenaged boy is found in the remnants of nition and supplies for the troops. ton, $26.00). Rating: A- Tommy Jump a fi re. He was apparently lynched. Th is Accompanying her on the voyage to simply loves being an actor, but roles for discovery creates a lot of racial tension Liverpool are an eclectic group of passen- a short, muscular young man are getting and media scrutiny in the town which gers, including the aloof Blanche Bryant, harder and harder to fi nd. So with real- adds to P.T.’s problems. But being a whose husband, Eddie, died in myste- ity setting in and a girlfriend-artist who “good” detective, P.T. doggedly marshals rious circumstances on the ship’s prior needs a more stable life (especially now on, eventually discovering a conspiracy voyage out to New York three months that she is expecting their fi rst child), leading all the way back to the time of before. Most of the same crew and pas- Tommy is searching for a more perma- the Civil War. sengers are on the return voyage, and one nent job. Th is fi rst novel is an example of question remains: was it really suicide? A childhood friend, now an FBI the type of story that starts off with a When the body of one of the pas- agent, off ers Tommy what could be bang and is enjoyable for 2/3 of the way sengers is found on deck, it’s clear that considered the role of a lifetime: $150,000 through the book and then becomes so German bombs and raging storms aren’t for a six-month acting gig. Th ey want improbable that I’m sorry I wasted my the only threats to Louise’s safety. Can Tommy to go undercover to prison and time on it. I have been encountering this she expose a brutal killer before the ship get close to Mitchell Dupree, a banker/ more and more of late. Perhaps I’m just docks in England? money launderer, who is believed to getting old and grumpy. I’m a big fan of this series for two know the whereabouts of incriminating THE WOMAN IN THE BLUE reasons. One is the admirable character documents that could put a major drug CLOAK by Deon Meyer (Atlantic of Louise Pearlie and two is the insight lord in prison. Monthly, $22.00, May, 2019). Rating: A- into what everyday life on the homefront With a lot of trepidation, Tommy It’s been three years since the last Benny was like during WW II. Th e mysteries assumes a false name and identity and Griessel mystery and Benny has been are o.k., but not exceptionally plotted. begins his mission. Th ere are missteps spending his time getting his life in or- Th is one Louise was fortunate to solve and challenges to overcome but Tommy der. Both his girlfriend, a famous singer on the last day possible. I look forward appears up to the task. and he are alcoholics, but both have been to her adventures in London. I envy the Th e story progresses as one might on the wagon for many months. And author, who, of course, will have to travel predict until about the 3/4 mark and Benny is thinking of popping “the ques- to England to do substantial research. then takes a very dramatic turn and the tion,” with the only thing holding him tension ratchets way up. back is the cost of a diamond ring that Th is is the third of Park’s standalone “she could be proud to show her friends.” novels which I would describe as Har- Hard to do on a cop’s salary. len Coben-esque. I’ve read and greatly Meanwhile, Benny and his partner enjoyed all three. Th ey are all very catch a case of a unidentifi ed woman’s creatively plotted and are wonderful en- body found posed in a tourist area. First tertainments. As more and more readers item of business: identify her. Next, fi nd become familiar with his work, I can her killer. Pretty simple premise for a only hope that he will attain Coben-like story but the veteran Meyer throws in success. some twists and some wonderful dia- THE GOOD DETECTIVE by John logue. McMahon (Putnam, $27.00). Rating: C+ At 160 pages I’m not sure this qual- Detective P.T. Marsh is hurting from the ifi es as a novel, but I’ll take any helping loss of his wife and young son who died of Deon Meyer/Benny Griessel I can in a car accident. He may be a “good” get and savor it. I read this in one night detective but he is now prone to rash and and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. professionally risky decisions. For exam- Please, don’t make us wait three years for ple, when he decides to teach an abusive more. boyfriend a lesson by beating him up. LOUISE’S CROSSING by Sarah Th e next morning P.T. is summoned R. Shaber (Severn House, $28.99, May, to the scene of a murder and is shocked 2019). Rating: B+ February, 1944. to fi nd that the victim is the boyfriend Washington D.C. Louise Pearlie has he visited the night before. He’s sure the shown her bosses enough of her talents 58 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

Lookin’ For A Few Good Books Larry Gandle

ARD AGROUND by Brendan Th ere is enough suspense interjected see every copy HDuBois (Pegasus, $25.95). Rating: into the lives of Lewis and his friends as with the note. I B Lewis Cole is a defense analyst who to keep the pages turning. Th e solution was fooled! From the publicity stand- has recently undergone surgery to re- is clever and all is neatly wrapped up. I point it worked beautifully, but I was not move a couple of tumors from his torso. do not normally like cozy mysteries, but amused. He is recuperating in his historic beach I was won over by the characters’ charm. What did I think of the book? Did I front home. At night, he hears someone It is recommended. mention how long it was? Probably 200 breaking into his house but is unable PIECES OF HER by Karin Slaugh- pages too long. Initially I was drawn to go down the stairs to investigate. ter (Morrow, $27.99). Rating: B-/C+ into the story and the suspense was rat- Between an old friend (with a shady Andrea spent her whole life with her cheted up. However, the plot began to criminal past) and his girlfriend, he is mother, Laura, in a beach town called drag with numerous pointless episodes. kept abreast of the local news including Belle Isle. She has a reasonably normal Characters were uneven -- some solid the violent death of an antique dealer childhood but never knew her biological creations and others stock, cartoonish in town. He is also being bothered by a father. She thinks she knows all there villains. Th e conclusion was no surprise genealogy couple who want to explore is to know about her mother -- until in that everything was meticulously his house for research purposes. Lewis an event at a local restaurant. While explained before that. Th e bottom line tries to solve the mystery at home as Andrea is at lunch with her mother, a -- the book is entertaining enough but peaceful recuperating just doesn’t seem young man walks in with a gun and really needed some major editing. to be possible. kills the girl and her mother at the next A SHARP SOLITUDE by Christine Th e Lewis Cole series is a long table. Laura gets up to protect her own Carbo (Simon and Schuster, $16.00, one. I admit I never read any of them daughter, gets stabbed in the hand and PBO). Rating: B- Reeve Landon lives before and it is quite evident that there using the blade of the knife, calmly slic- near Glacier National Park. His job is is quite a long history associated with es the boy’s throat killing him. Th e en- to train his dog to fi nd scat or animal this character in previous books. Th ere tire world wants to know who this lady waste for a scientifi c investigation on is no doubt this is a character-driven, is. Next comes an assassin to kill Laura wild, indigenous animals. When a cozy mystery, but quite a charming one. and Andrea fl ees in bewilderment. In al- woman reporter’s body is found nearby, ternate chapter form, we follow Andrea Reeve is immediately a prime suspect as in the current time and Laura in her he was the last one to supposedly see her past life slowly -- very slowly -- discov- alive. Ali Paige is the mother of his child ering exactly who she is and why people and an FBI agent working in the region. want her dead. Hiding her past relationship with Reeve I would never have picked up a 600- from local authorities, Ali investigates page book by an author I did not usually while attempting to prove Reeve’s inno- read except for two things -- fi rst, the cence. buzz was very positive but second -- Th e reason I picked up and read this upon opening the front cover, there was book is an individual at Bouchercon a neatly hand-printed note written by said it was one of the most suspenseful the author. I thought I felt the ink lines books he read all year. I will respectfully and it was original. Th is impression disagree. It is a typical regional mystery was reinforced when I saw it for sale for that is pretty good.A big positive is that $75.00 online because of the handwrit- the author has an excellent sense of the ten note on the inside cover. So, I read locale as she lives there. Her characters the very long book. When I saw it in the are realistic and complex enough. Th e Brendan DuBois airport, I opened the front cover expect- book is told in alternate chapter form ing to see it blank and was surprised to from Reeve’s or Ali’s perspective. Th is ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 59 does manage to ratchet up the sus- eled, hairy and totally weird keeping a pense. Th e negative is there is so much possum in his desk drawer. Th e two of fi ller -- descriptions and episodes that them travel off into the desert looking do nothing to advance the plot. Th is is for Arabella who appears to be in peril obviously a way for the author to bulk from competing desert tribes. up the book. As a result, it dragged for I have been following Jonathan a considerable length. Th e book is okay Lethem’s career for decades -- since -- nothing unique. GUN, WITH OCCASIONAL MUSIC NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Ber- became a collectable fi rst book. I picked ney (Morrow, $26.99). Rating: A- In up this one because it is his fi rst detec- November, 1963, Frank Guidry, a loyal tive novel since then. Initially the book henchman to New Orleans mobster, was faintly amusing and the characters Carlos Marcello, is asked to drive a car of Phoebe and Charles were interesting to Houston. Kennedy is assassinated enough to warrant spending time with and he is again asked to go to Houston them. It was when they moved off into to pick up the car and drive it into the the desert mountains and meeting the ocean. He quickly realizes that he is members of the tribe that I lost interest. a potential leak in the assassination Th e tribal members are strange and very and fi nds himself in mortal danger as diffi cult to relate to. Th e plot just seemed Marcello’s hitman is sent aft er him. He to slow down – almost stopping -- and fl ees west to Las Vegas where he hopes my interest waned as the pages went by. a rival of Marcello will help him out. traveling from Canada to New York I crawled to the fi nish and was thrilled In the meantime, Charlotte Ray, are forced to stop at a remote motel to close the book. No more Jonathan a disgruntled housewife living in when their car breaks down. Th e owner Letham books for me! Woodrow, Oklahoma with a drunken appears to be friendly and helpful but THE WITCH ELM by Tana French husband, decides to leave with her two they soon notice they are trapped with (Viking, $28.00). Rating: D- Toby children giving them a chance at a bet- no means of getting away. Th e question is a young man working in an art gal- ter life. Broken down in Arizona, she is - why? To what purpose is there in lery. He comes home and, while in his meets Frank Guidry who quickly re- keeping them there? As Reacher investi- bedroom, hears people breaking in. He alizes that Charlotte and her two girls gates his family, he eventually wanders confronts them and is severely beaten will be an excellent shield hiding him to the same motel where, literally, all and left for dead. He manages to survive from Carlos loyalists and the hitman. hell breaks loose. and decides to recover in his ancestral But the mobster crowd is too clever Th is is probably the most satisfy- home, Th e Ivy House. All is well until a for that and they soon close in on him ing Reacher book in years. It is classic skull is discovered in the witch elm in with Charlotte and the two girls in the Reacher where he enters a small town, the garden. Th is sets off a sequence that way. Th ings get bloody really quickly makes things right and leaves. Th ere leads to the unraveling of family secrets leading to the surprise ending. is plenty of action and suspense with long left behind. Th is book has been raved about the puzzle as to what is going on at that I listened to the book on Audible by many reviewers of crime fi ction. motel. Reacher causes harm to all kinds and read it on my Kindle. Th e reason I will join their ranks. Th e author is of nefarious people. Yes, the characters I picked up this book is that the pre- an excellent writer for the genre. His are stock fi gures in many instances and publication buzz was intense, as well characters are well fl eshed out. Th e reality must be suspended throughout, as the fact that it was featured on the story is clever and compelling. Th e but these books are generally meant to front cover of the New York Times Book length is not excessive and the multiple be fun and entertaining. With a compel- Review with a very favorable review point of view alternating chapters is an ling plot and a rapid pace, this is truly written by Stephen King. First of all, the excellent technique to keep the reader’s superior entertainment. Highly recom- pacing is slow -- incredibly slow and the interest. Th is will prove to be one of mended. narrative is fi lled with so much minu- the best novels of the year. Highly THE FERAL DETECTIVE by Jon- tia that the plot gets lost frequently in recommended. athan Lethem (Ecco, $26.99). Rating: useless dialogue. It borders on mad- PAST TENSE by Lee Child (Dela- C-/D+ Phoebe Siegler is looking for the dening as nothing happens for literally corte $28.99). Rating: B+ Wander- daughter of a friend of hers. Arabella, hundreds of pages. In over fi ve hundred ing from Maine to New Hampshire, the daughter, has fl ed to the California pages, there are maybe six important Reacher sees a sign with the name of desert to enter a commune. Phoebe hires events that occur, each interspersed with a town his father was from. He de- a detective, Charles Heist, who lives in addition endless dialogue. Th e only rea- cides to visit and locate his parent’s a trailer outside the desert. She initially son I fi nished the book -- and fi nish it I old home. In the meantime, a couple meets him in a shabby offi ce -- dishev- did -- God help me -- is that there were 60 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------indications that the conclusion pays off blesome. I was hoping for something in a big way. Well let me break it to you more clever in the end. Th ere are some -- it doesn’t! It ends on a whimper. Th e technical details on how to cheat at characters are an unlikeable bunch and poker, but they were quite dull and did not whom I would want to spend 500 not truly help me understand what they pages with. 95% of the book takes place were doing. Yet, the book is entertain- in Ivy House so there is a claustropho- ing enough. But, overall, not enough to bic sense to the book. Th e story is dull, recommend as there are so many other dreary and desperately needed editing. I great books out there. do not foresee me reading another book FOREVER AND A DAY by Antho- by Tana French -- no matter what rave ny Horowitz (Harper, $26.99). Rating: reviews it gets. B In a prequel to CASINO ROYALE, BLUFF by Michael Kardos (Mysteri- James Bond is promoted to the double- ous Press, $26.00). Rating: C+ Natalie O service and is sent on a mission to Webb is a 26-year-old magician with discover what happened to the previous a washed-up career. She, foolishly, 007 who was found in the Marseilles places herself into a position where she harbor with three bullet holes in his will need a lot of money. Initially, she chest. It appears that the Corsican mob decides to write an article about card is very much involved in narcotics sharks -- cheaters at poker but is even- smuggling and Bond’s predecessor dis- tually convinced to work with a partner covered something that got him killed. told. One takes place in 1979 as Helen, in an eff ort to fl eece some very rich, but In order to discover what happened, a low-level CIA agent, is in charge of dangerous men, out of a million dollars. Bond must get to know Jean-Paul Scipio keeping up with several safe houses It will take practice and nerves of steel. -- an enormously obese individual located in Berlin. At the big moment, things do not quite who appears to be calling the shots in While she is upstairs in one of the happen the way she hoped, leading to Marseilles. Sixtine is a beautiful older safe houses checking out the recording danger. woman who has a lot of knowledge device, she overhears a rape taking BLUFF is an entertaining novel with about the British secret service and place downstairs and intervenes. Th e stereotypic characters. I felt like I was might have been involved in the death agent, who was raping the young girl, is reading a cozy novel fi lled with so much of the agent. She is dating Irwin Wolfe, found to be dangerous and is actually useless descriptions and episodes in an a billionaire who is about to launch beyond reproach, as Helen learns, when eff ort to both help defi ne characteriza- his new cruise ship which will travel she reports him to her supervisor. Helen tions and bulk up the book. However, to New York. Bond sets out to discover eventually bonds with other female the book is not lengthy and as a result, what is happening in Marseilles and, as agents in an eff ort to bring him down. the ancillary material is not too trou- a result, the body count begins to ratch- In a separate story that takes place et up, as usual. in the current time frame, in the rural Anthony Horowitz has written an Eastern Shore of Maryland, Helen and excellent pastiche of the Bond opus. It her husband are killed in their bed is written very much in the same vein by their mentally impaired son. Th eir as Ian Fleming with the usual devices daughter, with the help of a local PI, of a beautiful women, infi ltration of an investigates the murder which does not impregnable fortress and, of course, the appear to be so clear cut. Th e implica- destruction of a ship. tions are the crime has much to do with Th is book is not only entertaining but it Helen’s past life that has fi nally caught is also quite cinemographic. It is silly, at up with her. times, and the plot occasionally drags. Dan Fesperman is one of my fa- Th e actual goal of the villain is truly vorite writers in spy fi ction genre. He idiotic but no more so than any of the is very much underappreciated and other Bond villains. Yet, all of these deserves a wider audience. His books fl aws fall within the normal storyline of are extremely diverse. Th ey could be the Bond novels so the book is true to its foreign or historical and usually both. source. Recommended. Anthony Horowitz In any event, the reader will be left SAFE HOUSES by Dan Fesperman both entertained and educated. Th ey (Knopf, $26.95). Rating: A- Th ere are are all compelling tales. Th is book is no two apparently separate stories being exception. It is intriguing and complex. ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 61

Th e characters are realistic. Th e plot assess the story of Kimberly Crepeaux, Th is has, apparently, happened before. generally moves quickly and the book a drug user currently incarcerated for Korede is a nurse and is quite profi cient is hard to put down. My only problem the killing of two local youths. Barrett at cleaning up blood. Th ey manage to is the length. It is simply too long and is convinced she is telling the truth, make the body disappear. could have been cut by a hundred pages however, when it is time to recover Soon aft er this, a physician at the -- too many dead ends. Yet, there is so the bodies, there is no trace of them. Lagos hospital where Korede works much good in this book that it is highly Kimberly’s story implicates a successful (whom she is secretly in love with) asks recommended. businessman. Th is creates a scenario Ayoola out and the fear of another mur- A LADDER TO THE SKY by John where Barrett must go aft er this indi- der becomes quite real. Korede really Boyne (Hogarth, $27.00). Rating: A vidual and, of course places himself into likes this physician and does her best to Maurice Swift is a handsome young grave danger. dissuade him from dating her sister but man anxious to become a famous Th e fi rst eighty percent of this book does not succeed. Can another murder writer. He has the talent for writing but, is brilliant. A double murder must be be on the horizon? unfortunately, lacks the imagination solved and nothing seems to fi t. Th e last Th is book is fi lled with dark humor. necessary to create original stories. twenty percent of the book (except for It is short and quite a fun read. Char- While working as a waiter in Berlin in a brief interlude on a boat) is nothing acters are well developed and the plot 1988, he encounters Erich Ackermann, but talk, talk talk. Endless discus- moves swift ly. Chapters are brief and a well-known and acclaimed novelist. sions and confessions are necessary to the author uses the short chapters for Erich, is gay and is smitten by the young explain away the complex plot. Prior to small vignettes of the characters and man. He decides to take him on his lat- this, Michael creates strong and deep their relationship to others. Th ere are est book tour as his assistant. Maurice characters with a vivid setting. Th e plot some unexpected developments which accepts wholeheartedly and uses the is compelling and the mystery keeps the does keep the pages turning. Th is is a experience to meet others who could pages turning. Th is makes the ending popular book and highly recommend- help advance his career. He soon proves incredibly frustrating as discussion and ed. himself to be duplicitous -- a total op- confession take turns in revealing just George’s Take: With a title like MY portunist willing to walk over anyone to about everything. Not my favorite of the SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER how get ahead. In fact, Maurice’s fi rst book author’s work. can one resist reading it? And the title is based on a story from Erich’s life MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER turned out to not be a gimmick. Th e which the author confi ded to him. Erich by Oyinkan Braithwaite (Doubleday, writing is excellent and the humor very had disclosed a deep dark secret of $22.95). Rating: B+ Ayoola phones black (not in a racial sense). Each short something he did during WWII. When her older sister, Korede, and informs chapter is a delicious morsel. It would Maurice’s book is published, it leads her that she just killed her boyfriend have been easy to devour this little book to Erich’s ruin. In that way, Maurice and could she help clean everything up. in a few large bites, but I would inten- continues to walk on others. Nothing is tionally put it down so as to make it last above his desire for success -- not even longer. Rating: A- murder. NO EXIT by Taylor Adams (Wil- Th e book covers the life of Maurice liam Morrow, $26.99). Rating: B+ Dar- Swift . Th e various chapters tell sepa- by Th orne is a college student heading rate stories of people in his life and the home for the holidays to see her dying impact they made on him and him on mother. A sudden blizzard forces her off them. It is written from various points the highway into a rest stop where she of view. In that sense it is disjointed but meets several strangers -- including the the book works as a whole. Characters driver of a van that contains a young are richly brought to life with so many girl inside locked in a dog cage. With contradictory traits. Few of the char- no cell phone signal or means to calling acters are sympathetic to the reader. for help, she must devise a way to rescue Th e plot is always interesting and full the little girl as a blizzard rages outside. of surprises. Th is is a very entertaining Th e author sets up a truly ingenious and well written novel. scenario full of rich possibilities. Th e HOW IT HAPPENED by Michael result is a fun-fi lled adventure that will Koryta (Little Brown, $27.00). Rating: keep the reader riveted to the pages. B- Rob Barrett is an FBI investigator Characters are stock fi gures and poorly who specialized in being able to detect developed but that is not unusual in a the truth in a confession. He is assigned suspense thriller such as this. Th e story to go back to his roots in rural Maine to almost stretches the boundaries to 62 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------reach the allotted number of pages. But fi nancial straits. Dr. Shields, running eventually devolves into idiocy. Not for for pure fun -- which is the reason we the study, requests that they meet for me! I should know by now to not trust read most of these books, it cannot be a follow-up study. Jessica agrees and hype from sources I don’t trust. beat. Highly recommended. she soon fi nds herself in the midst of ROBICHEAUX by James Lee Burke a so- called psycho-social experiment (Simon & Schuster, $27.99). Rating: And now for some psychological/do- possibly placing herself in grave danger. A- When a local gangster calls Dave mestic suspense thrillers. Oh, joy! Th is is a very popular book with Robicheaux to come over to his house THE PERFECT NANNY by Leila some positive reviews. Th ese psycholog- to look at an old civil war sword that Slimani (Penguin, $16.00). Rating: ical suspense novels have become all the he wants to sell to a local author with B-A nanny is accused of killing two rage following GONE GIRL. Th is book whom he wants to produce a motion young children. We are told this at the was named one of the best books of the picture, it sets off a chain of events lead- very beginning of this seemingly slight month by Amazon and was a Book of ing to death and destruction. Multiple book. We then learn about this family -- the month Club selection. It also has a plots intertwine involving Dave and his Myriam is an attorney who has decided lot of buzz. I wanted to read it as I sus- best friend Clete Purcel. One of them to go back to work. Her husband, Paul, pected these types of domestic thrillers includes the death of the man respon- helps her pick the perfect nanny for are really bad and this one confi rms it. sible for killing Dave’s wife in a car their young children, Mila and Adam. It is horribly written -- characters so accident. Dave has a blackout and it is Th e nanny, Louise, works tirelessly to very superfi cial. Th e plot was intriguing not certain if he actually murdered the make herself indispensable to the fam- up to a point -- then it became over- man or is being setup. Also lurking is ily. Th ey even take her on vacation to bearing. Th e length is about 150 pages one of the creepiest assassins I have ever the Greek Islands. She cooks, cleans, is too long. I thought there would at least encountered in crime fi ction. quiet, polite and pleasant. Th at is, until be the usual twist that would hold a sur- With any James Lee Burke novel, she eventually and inexorably begins to prise and make the book worth slogging expect two things- great writing and a go mad, leading to murder. through. I was wrong -- no twist. Th is convoluted plot that can be either char- Th is book appears, on the surface, book, and others like it, are getting way acter driven or suspense driven. In this to be one of the usual domestic thrill- too much attention. Please ignore this case, the writing is beautifully lyrical ers that dominate bookstore shelves in one. It’s not worth your time. where, so oft en, I fi nd myself reread- the wake of GONE GIRL. However, it NINE PERFECT STRANGERS ing passages. Nobody will evoke the was named one of the ten best books of by Liane Moriarty (Flatiron Books, Louisiana bayou country like he does. the year by the New York Times Book $28.99). Rating: C Nine people go Th e characters are all realistic with su- Review. Th is is the only reason I picked to a remote spa called Tranquillium perbly authentic dialogue. Th e pacing is up this book. As a fan of crime fi ction, House in an eff ort to change their lives. languid, as usual with interludes of fast I thought this book would fi t perfectly Frances Welty, a middle-aged novelist paced action. Th e book is a bit too long into the genre. It simply does not. Th ere has been swindled in a relationship and but otherwise is a superb example of the is always an underlying sense of dread has come in an eff ort to heal herself. as the end result is known. Th e ques- Th e eight others have similar problems. tion is how Louise reaches this point of Th ey fi rst undergo three days of silence murder. Th e plot is relatively mundane with no alcohol, no electronics, and almost to the point of boredom. Th e no food other than what is served. Th e crime comes upon us almost insidious- owner, Masha, initially appears odd ly. Th e book is more of a psychological but it is soon apparent she is quite mad, study as opposed to a thriller with well placing all the characters into a precari- created, realistic and complex charac- ous and potentially fatal situation. ters. It falls much more into the literary I selected this book to read due to camp and thus the literary accolades. the huge publisher’s push. Th is is an Personally, I was less than enthralled extremely popular author and there and oft en just downright bored. were some mentioning in other reviews AN ANONYMOUS GIRL by Greer that this compares to Agatha Christie’s Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen (St AND THEN THERE WERE NONE Martin’s, $27.99). Rating: C- Jessica in the sense that they were stranded in Farris, a makeup artist in NYC, signs a remote house in Australia. Foolish up for a psychology study at NYU me in thinking this was in any way a which promises to pay her $500.00 for mystery novel. Th e book is a long and two days time -- money she desperately mostly dull book. Th e characters are needs to help her family who are in dire superfi cial stock creations and the story ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 63

guise Harkness forshadows someone who will appear in a later Holmes story. It is clear that Doyle learns much History Mystery from this experience which will help him in his future writing. Th e three of them, Doyle, Bell and Harkness work eff ectively as a team to uncover the iden- Potpourri tity of the killer. Th is is the author’s fi rst novel and it is a fi ne beginning. Th e chapters are short and informative. Th ere are plenty in Scarlet, worked on an historical novel, Sally Sugarman Reviews of surprises. Th e time and place are Micah Clarke, and attended patients eff ectively recreated. Th e characters are Doyle is awaiting the birth of his fi rst OR THE SAKE OF THE GAME well developed. Besides being a model child. Th erefore, he is surprised to FEdited by Laurie R. King and Leslie for Holmes, Bell is a delight in his own receive a letter from William Gladstone, S. Klinger (Pegasus Crime, 2018). Rat- right. Harkness embodies the new wom- asking him to come to London. Since ing: A+ Th is is the fourth of this duo’s an and enlarges Doyle’s understand- the former prime minister enclosed Holmes anthologies. Th is volume off ers ing of many aspects of which he was funds for the fare, Doyle decides to go. the same high quality as the other three unaware. Although Doyle tends to play On meeting an emissary from Glad- books and belongs in all Sherlockian Watson, he off ers signifi cant insights at stone, Doyle is asked to assist the police collections as well as on the shelves of crucial moments. Hopefully, these three in solving the Whitechapel murders. those who are mystery fans or those will meet again to solve some more mys- Evidently, the insights he demon- who just enjoy a good read. Th e editors teries even if they are not as spectacular strated in his Holmes story indicated his attract and select fi ne writers who off er a as the Ripper case. skill as an investigator Th e recompense selection of stories of diff erent kinds. MYCROFT AND SHERLOCK by is generous and includes expenses. It is the variety as well as each of the Kareen Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Wa- Doyle stipulates that his mentor, Dr. specifi c tales that is appealing. Some terhouse (Titan Books, 2018). Rating: Joseph Bell assist him. Wilkins, Glad- directly and others indirectly involve B Th is is the second novel in the series stone’s representative agrees. Later he Holmes. Time periods vary as do the about the young Mycroft Holmes. suggests that the two men use Margaret genres. Some readers may prefer diff er- As before, the writing is skillful and Harkness, a writer who lives in the East ent stories, but all of them are engaging. smooth with interesting characters. End, as their guide. She lives there to Each has its unique quality, characters Mycroft is back in London. His friend better understand those whose lives she that quickly grab your attention an Cyrus Douglas has set up a home to help records. Harkness is a feminist who of- stories that unfold satisfactorily. Trying orphan boys – a dream of his to create a ten goes about dressed as a man. In this to pick favorites is diffi cult since each tribute to his dead son. With help from writer projects his or her own individu- Mycroft , it seems to be doing well. ality, which is as appealing at as are the Mycroft thinks it would benefi t Sher- stories themselves. lock to work at the home. In the fi rst Collections such as these are a re- novel, Sherlock was glimpsed, but not minder of the power of the short story. central to the story as he is in this book. Aft er all, it was in the short story that At eighteen years of age, Sherlock has Holmes primarily existed as readers some of the same skills as Mycroft , who perused their magazines. Many of our sees his younger brother immature and favorite sleuths started out in this form in need of mentoring. and it is a pleasure to revisit the great Since the original Holmes stories detective and others in this format. were written over a span of forty years, King and Klinger should be congratu- the image of Sherlock that emerges from lated on the authors that they present them is complex. For many Sherlocki- and the balance that they off er in each ans, this version of Sherlock may seem of their anthologies. unconvincingly unformed. Th ere is an A KNIFE IN THE FOG by Bradley arrogance in this Sherlock that limits his Harper (Seventh Street Books, 2018). abilities as a sleuth. His attitude towards Rating: A+ Narrated by Arthur Conan others is not that which will enable him Doyle, this story plunges Doyle into to blend into other roles which he does the mystery of Jack the Ripper. Having so eff ectively in the Canon. moved to Portsmouth, written A Study Th e authors have created a complex 64 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------character in Mycroft who is recovering Th omas and Sister Anne, are on a mis- when she was a baby. Th e sister, Lady from the death of his fi rst love in the sion to Mynchen Buckland Priory of Emma DeVeere and her husband, fi rst book and considering his future. the Order of the Hospital of Saint John Rupert took her in, assuming that her Douglas is also interesting, maneuver- of Jerusalem. Much to Eleanor’s surprise mother and her husband had died or at ing as a successful black man in Victori- there have been changes at the Order least this was the story they told. Now as an England. As for Sherlock, the authors due to a murder supposedly committed a young lady, Merula is a companion to seem to have taken their cue from A by the former Prioress. When Eleanor is her cousin Julia. Study in Scarlet and projected the image fi nally admitted to see the new Prioress, Merula is not a typical Victorian Watson presents backward to show how she discovers some disturbing facts that young lady. She is much more interested much Sherlock improved under My- arouse her curiosity. Th is is intensifi ed in science than she in young men. Since croft ’s tutelage. when she meets the accused woman this was not a proper pursuit for a young Th e plot about a drug ring also who has neither pleaded guilt or inno- woman, her uncle took the credit for her seems to suggest a possible explanation cence. However, aft er reading a message work. She has developed a rare butterfl y for Sherlock’s use of drugs later in life. from Prioress Eleanor’s brother, the and she and her uncle are going to a Otherwise, it is not as engaging as the accused woman asks Eleanor to prove Royal Zoological Society meeting to ex- mystery in the fi rst novel. Since there her innocence. hibit this rare specimen. As Lord Raven is relatively little about Mycroft in the Clearly, not welcomed by the new Royston, whom her uncle dislikes, ex- Canon, his character in this series is Prioress, Eleanor fakes an injury to presses disbelief that the butterfl y is real, believable. Watching him transform prolong her stay. Th e new Prioress who Merula releases it at the meeting. When into whom he becomes in the Canonical supervises the nuns and the Command- the butterfl y lands on the guest of honor tales is absorbing. However, the image er who supervises the monks are sister Lady Sophia’s arm. Merula and the rest of Sherlock is not that eff ective in this and brother and they make sure that the of the company are startled when the reader’s opinion. It will be interesting to visitors are closely monitored so that lady collapses and dies. Merula’s uncle see how Sherlock and the other char- they cannot investigate as their reputa- Rupert is accused of the murder by but- acters develop in future novels in the tion indicates they are likely to do. Un- terfl y which the group tramples to death series. der these circumstances, the suspense is before it can infect anyone else. Lord WILD JUSTICE by Priscilla Royal generated around how they will be able Royston whisks Merula away so that the (Poisoned Pen Press, 2018). Rating: to communicate. police will not arrest her with her uncle. A On the surface medieval mysteries Even with the limited number of Th is is the most questionable aspect present a challenge to the author and the characters, the culprit is a surprise. Th e of the story. Why would Merula go reader, particularly when set in a reli- third person narrative switches perspec- with him? Th is is far more ruinous of gious order. Th at wasn’t a problem for tives throughout the story and includes her reputation than raising butterfl ies. Ellis Peters and her Cadfael mysteries, those of the suspects as well as the Staying with Royston, his scientifi c but the setting limits the number and sleuths. Th is is a skillfully written book. friend Galileo and Royston’s man ser- type of suspects as well as the nature of Even the author’s historical notes at the vant, Bowsprit seems unusual for even a the crimes. Th is at least was my thought end of the book are worthy reading. young, naïve, scientifi cally inclined lady when I started reading WILD JUS- Time to revise one’s misconceptions of the period. Once the reader adapts TICE. Before I knew it, however, I was about medieval mysteries in a religious “a willing suspension of disbelief,” the engaged in the story. setting. eff orts of the three honorable men and Th is is the fi rst of the author’s four- THE BUTTERFLY CONSPIRA- Merula to investigate the mystery move teen medieval mysteries that I have read CY by Vivian Conroy (Crooked Lane, along in a relatively believable fashion. so I had to glean the backgrounds of 2018). Rating: B Th is is the fi rst in Th ere is an obvious suspect whom the major characters from the referenc- a series by an author who has written the experienced reader knows to disre- es made in the text. Prioress Eleanor three other series. Merula Merriweather gard. Not surprisingly it is Merula who and her two faithful assistants, Brother was sent to her mother’s sister’s home eventually solves the mystery. Having saved the reputation of both Uncle Rupert and the butterfl y, Merula’s un- usual adventure with the three gentle- men is forgiven and the Uncle changes his opinion of Lord Royston, making further detecting adventures for Merula and the Lord possible. Th is is the fi rst book in the series. Th e characters are likeable and once the relationship between the two has been accepted by the family and society, it is ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 65 worth giving the team another try since Although the astute mystery reader there is the promise that the secrets in will solve the crime earlier than the the family lives of both Merula and Lord detecting team does, the historical ele- Royston will be uncovered. ments of the story maintain the reader’s DEATH OF AN UNSUNG HERO interest as do the personalities of the by Tessa Arlen (Minotaur Books, 2018). two women. Th e author recreates the Rating: A- Th is is the fourth book in time and the place with an assortment the series about the sleuthing adventures of characters who are all individual- of Lady Montfort and her housekeeper, ized so that a sense of the community Mrs. Jackson. All the books begin with emerges. Th e contrast between the two “Death” in their title. Th ey are set in the amateur detectives refl ects class diff er- early twentieth century. ences, but respect for each other and an In this book, it is 1916 and Clemen- equality of thinking skills. tine, Lady Montfort has persuaded her husband the Earl of Montfort to convert Ted Hertel Review Haversham Hall, the dower house on the estate, into a hospital for wounded THE BLACK ASCOT by Charles soldiers suff ering from shell shock. In Todd (William Morrow, $26.99, Febru- England large estates had dower houses ary 2019). Rating: A- It’s January 1921. for the widow of the owner when the Alan Barrington, a suspect in a ten year offi cial residence passed to the next old murder, has evaded capture but was generation. Shell shock was the designa- believed spotted entering England and frustrations grow and he runs into one tion at that time for those suff ering from reported to Scotland Yard Inspector dead end aft er another, as he is stone- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Ian Rutledge. Th e Yard’s inability to walled time and again. Ultimately he For the time being Mrs. Jackson capture Barrington aft er all those years fi nds that he must take a leave from the is overseeing the hospital which is has been an embarrassment, one Rut- Yard to fi nally put everything together implementing a treatment which was ledge plans to set right. He delves deep But the driving force of the novels advanced for the time. Th e Haversham into the original inquiry, laying bare has been the relationships between Hall Hospital is also supervised by Ma- long-held secrets that begin to rip apart Rutledge and those around him and – in jor Andrews who has the men painting, relationships. Solving the case becomes the case of Hamish – within him. Th ese working on nearby farms and gardens a matter of survival for Rutledge, both are deeply personal stories of the strug- and talking with him. Th is disturbs professionally and personally when an gle of a nation back to normalcy aft er the Montforts’ neighbor Sir Winchell attempt is made on his life. Along the years of brutality. Yet nearly every day Meacham who has lost two sons in the way the shell-shocked Rutledge is helped Rutledge faces violence. All he can do war. Like many, he thinks the men were not only by his friends and family but to retain his sanity is to bring order out cowards who should have been sent also by the ghost of Hamish, the man he of that chaos, to bring justice to a little back into action without being coddled. killed in the Great War. Is Barrington corner of the war-shattered world. He is Complicating matters for the estate really still alive or is Rutledge perhaps fortunate to have those relationships to and the community re the Woman’s chasing the ghost of another dead man? strengthen him. And we, as readers, are Land Army, helping the farmers by tak- Th is is the twenty-fi rst novel in the fortunate to have him to do that. ing over the farming roles of the young excellent Ian Rutledge series. Charles men who were off at war. Th e War Offi ce Todd, a mother and son writing team, Larry Gandle Review is scheduled to review the hospital have once again captured post World shortly to reauthorize its continuation. War I England right down to its tea PARIS IN THE DARK by Robert Unfortunately, a patient is found mur- and crumpets. Th e reader is immersed Olen Butler (Mysterious Press, $26.00). dered. Further complicating matters is in history, from the Black Ascot of the Rating: B- In the autumn of 1915, Chris that the deceased’s brother is scheduled title (though I would have loved to have Cob, a Chicago newspaper reporter is for a visit the day that the young man is seen more of this 1910 royal horse race in Paris to report on the war which is found. honoring the late King Edward VII) raging in Europe. Th e United States has Th e third person narrative alter- through the horrifying eff ects the War not yet entered the war. He is recruit- nates between Lady Montfort and Mrs. had on everyone, whether they served ed to be a secret agent for the United Jackson as they try to fi nd a solution to in it or lived through it at home.Th e States Government. His assignment is to the crime before the War Offi ce visit. plot of the novel appears to be rather infi ltrate the local German community Th e local police are more of a hindrance straightforward, but not everything (or (given that he speaks German), locate than a help. When a second patient is everyone) is what it seems. Rutledge’s an individual suspected of random killed, the team intensify their eff orts. 66 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------bombings throughout the city and to but not viscerally, the unfolding of the kill that individual. Th ere are a number plot only fi tfully convinces, and the action of twists along the way with, of course, moves slowly. Todd’s writing skill and fatal results. interesting characters rescue the book I read this book because it was from mediocrity. However, this is one of recommended by a very nice owner of the weakest books in the series. Perhaps an independent bookstore. Th e book Todd needed the immediacy of the war to is merely okay. Th e main characters add urgency to the plot. are adequately conveyed but the minor THE PRISONER IS THE CASTLE by Susan Elia MacNeal (Bantam, 2018, characters are superfi cial. What is good $26.00). Unrated 1943 or 1944. Just about this book is the locale. Th e de- back from a dangerous mission, Maggie scriptions of Paris during WWI are very Hope, British spy, fi nds herself a prison- detailed and realistic. Obviously, a lot of er in a remote Scottish castle. For some research went into this book. However, unknown reason, she and another 10 the story is weak and not really compel- former agents are being kept on an island. ling in spite of its brief length. Th eir only access to the outside world is a shortwave radio tuned directly to an over- Norma Dancis Reviews seer and a rare boat delivering supplies. Besides the prisoners, the island contains TWENTY-ONE DAYS by Anne just a family of three locals who act as Perry (Ballantine, 2018, $29.00). Rat- cook and caretakers. ing: A 1910. Daniel Pitt, son of Sir Perry skillfully pours on the tension. Th e One of the other prisoners fi nds a copy of Agatha Christie’s AND THEN THERE Th omas Pitt, is now a junior barrister solution is unexpected but believable. WERE NONE at about the same time trying his fi rst case. He is also seconded Th e characters introduced suggest that as a new prisoner arrives. Suddenly, the to Kittredge, a barrister who is defend- this beginning of a new series has a solid foundation. Th is is one of the best books inmates begin to die, one by one, as in the ing Russell Graves, charged with the I have read all year. I look forward to the book. Can Maggie fi gure out the killer murder of his wife. Daniel dislikes the next entry. before she becomes a victim? arrogant and nasty Graves but suspects A FORGOTTEN PLACE by Charles Th is book was impossible to rate due to he may be innocent. Graves is found Todd (William Morrow, 2018, $27.99). my deeply divided response. I had liked guilty and sentenced to death, with only Rating: B- 1918. World War I is over. each previous book in the series. Th e twenty-one days in the appeal period. Bess Crawford is still nursing the book jacket is full of gushing praise from As Daniel digs into the circumstances wounded soldiers, although back in respected authors. I agree that MacNeal of the murder, he begins to realize that writes richly and vividly creates the Britain. When given a ten day leave, the motive may have come from Graves’ setting and atmosphere of distrust. She she decides to check fi rst on a group of biography in progress. Th at manuscript plots cunningly and ratchets up the terror. Welshmen amputees to discover their slurs Daniel’s aunt and would ruin his However, I found the book a failure on success in adjusting to civilian life. She father’s career as head of Special Branch, two counts. A minor problem was diffi - discovers that almost all but the offi cer, as well as destroy public confi dence in culty telling some of the characters apart. Captain Hugh Williams, had committed the Special Branch. Fatal, however, was fi nding the basic suicide. Daniel works desperately to save the premise and even beyond that, the reason Williams is now living with his sis- despicable Graves, his father’s career, for Maggie’s presence, ridiculous and ter-in–law, Rachel, a war widow. When and the truth. Th e book is the fi rst in a unbelievable. I read with a curled lip, un- Bess visits, she fi nds herself marooned in series transferring interest from Th omas moved. If you are a fan of Maggie Hope a completely isolated Welsh village. Men and Charlotte Pitt to their son. Unlike and can accept the setup, you will enjoy washed up by the sea are buried in the the books focusing on his father, Daniel’s this book. Otherwise, read anything else dead of night, and secrets abound. Bess story involves trial tactics and the newest in the series or wait for the next book. realizes that for some reason, she is not police techniques. Daniel’s style, thoughts WHY KILL THE INNOCENT by C. being allowed to leave. Somehow, she and techniques are contrasted with those S. Harris (Berkley, 2018, $26.00), Rating: knows too much, even though she’s not of Kitteridge, who deeply venerates the B+ 1814 Th e body of a beautiful young sure what it is. She tries not to put at risk law. Daniel, on the other hand, wants musician, Jane Ambrose, is found in the Captain Williams and Rachel, her only both to win and to serve individuals. Th e snow. Jane had taught piano both to the allies, as she searches for answers and a confl ict between the two lawyers and be- Prince Regent’s estranged wife and his way to escape. tween Daniel’s professional and personal nearly imprisoned daughter, Charlotte, Th e fi nal Author’s Note engagingly interests are central. Th ey ratchet up the heir presumptive to the throne. Th e Pal- explains the idea giving rise to the book. time-pressed search for the truth about ace acts quickly to shut down the inves- Unfortunately, the idea is better than the Graves to a painful personal dilemma. tigation, declaring the death an accident realization. Menace builds intellectually ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 67 despite the large head wound. Viscount Devlin and his wife, Hero, refuse to let this death go unpunished, even though Hero’s powerful father is working against Experts ‘ Lists them. This is the year of the Frost Fair, held on the frozen Thames River. His dogged Best Mysteries of 2018 and dangerous investigation contrast- ing with the festival atmosphere, Devlin finds strong evidence of the connection Oline Cogdill GIVE ME YOUR HAND between Jane’s death and political ma- Nationally Syndicated by Megan Abbott neuvering concerning both Caroline and THE HUSH by John Hart Charlotte. Mystery Reviewer THE MAN WHO CAME UPTOWN The lack of women’s and, secondari- by George Pelecanos ly, gays’ rights are major themes in this NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney CLASSIC AMERICAN CRIME book. The polemics sometimes threaten IF I DIE TONIGHT by Alison Gaylin NOVELS OF THE 1920s to overwhelm the story, and the plot is GIVE ME YOUR HAND edited by Leslie S. Klinger too prolonged far beyond what is neces- by Megan Abbott ALL THE BEAUTIFUL LIES sary and almost beyond what is interest- DARK SACRED NIGHT by Peter Swanson ing. Nonetheless, it is clever, and Harris by Michael Connelly THE LIBRARY BOOK by Susan Or- illuminates an almost forgotten aspect JAR OF HEARTS by Jennifer Hillier lean of British history. The sense of place and SUNBURN by Laura Lippman LAST FERRY HOME understanding the period are among the THE WIFE by Alafair Burke by Kent Harrington strengths of the series. Harris takes for THE LONELY WITNESS THE LONELY WITNESS granted the continuing characters and by William Boyle by William Boyle doesn’t recap much of their personal SAFE HOUSES by Dan Fesperman history. If you are a new reader, you may DEATH OF A RAINMAKER miss the personal details known to previ- by Laurie Loewenstein Marily Stasio ous fans. Even without that enrichment, LULLABY ROAD by James Anderson New York Times the book is absorbing and well worth LEAVE NO TRACE by Mindy Mejia reading. THE DISAPPEARING by Lori Roy Best Mysteries 2018 THE THREE BETHS by Jeff Abbott Mike Dillman Review RIVER BODIES by Karen Katchur IN A GALWAY SILENCE by Ken Bruen UNDER A DARK SKY WRECKED by Joe Ide UNEASY LIES THE CROWN by by Lori Rader-Day HOLY GHOST by John Sandford Tasha Alexander (Minotaur, $27.99). CAGED by Ellison Cooper DARK TIDE RISING by Anne Perry Rating: A The 13th Lady Emily nov- DODGING AND BURNING SHELL GAME by Sara Paretsky el. It switches in time between the 15th by John Copenhaver NEWCOMER by Keigo Higashino Century and 1901 (the present). There is SWEET LITTLE LIES by Caz Frear PAST TENSE by Lee Child a murder and the victim is posed in the LAST GIRL GONE by J. G. Hetherton THE MAN WHO CAME UPTOWN manor of a dead king. THE OTHER WOMAN by George Pelecanos When other murders follow, the vic- by Sandie Jones WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING tims posed in similar fashion, Lady Emily THE OTHER SIDE OF EVERYTHING by Delia Owens sets out to determine who is the murder- by Lauren Doyle Owens ROBICHEAUX by James Lee Burke er. The investigation takes Emily to all WAYS TO HIDE IN WINTER THE BOMB MAKER by Thomas Perry parts of London and includes a visit to a by Sarah St. Vincent THE GATEKEEPER by Charles Todd bordello and encounters with the King’s THE CHALK MAN by C. J. Tudor DOWN THE RIVER UNTO THE SEA Boy gang. THE REAL LOLITA by Sarah Weinman by Walker Mosley The 15th Century story is about the FLORIDA HAPPENS (short stories), THE TEMPTATION OF Battle of Agincourt. William Hargrave edited by Greg Herren FORGIVENESS by Donna Leon goes with the King to the battle and his THE CUTTING EDGE recent wife Cecily is left behind. This part by Jeffery Deaver of the story goes into what is happening to Otto Penzler’s Top Ten HOW IT HAPPENED Cecily and William individually. At the by Michael Koryta end of the book the two time periods are THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW THE WOMAN IN THE WOODS tied together. by A. J. Finn by John Connolly A very enjoyable story as are all of DARK SACRED NIGHT BEARSKIN by James A. McLaughlin Tasha Alexander’s work. by Michael Connelly 68 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

by Michael Connelly THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY Publications’ Lists by Ruth Ware THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT by Chris Bohjalian Best Mysteries of 2018 THE FOX by Frederick Forsyth GIVE ME YOUR HAND by Megan Abbott THE INFINITE BLACKTOP Library Journal Crime Novels 2018 by Sara Gran OUR HOUSE by Louise Candlish Best Crime Fiction 2018 DOWN THE RIVER UNTO THE SEA THE RECKONING by John Grisham SUNBURN by Laura Lippman THE NIGHT VISITOR by Lucy Atkins by Walter Mosley HELLBENT by Gregg Hurwitz THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney by A. J. Finn BROKEN PLACES by Tracy Clark LET ME LIE by Clare Mackintosh A DEATH OF NO IMPORTANCE SUNBURN by Laura Lippman by Mariah Fredericks THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW Best Mysteries of 2018 THE WITCH ELM by Tana French by A. J. Finn The Seattle Times SUNBURN by Laura Lippman ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL DEATH OF A RAINMAKER by Sarah Vaughan WILD FIRE by Ann Cleeves by Laurie Loewenstein NEED TO KNOW by Karen Cleveland DARK SACRED NIGHT A NECESSARY EVIL OUR LITTLE SECRET by Roz Nay by Michael Connelly by Abir Mukherjee SIRENS by Joseph Knox DON’T EAT ME by Colin Cotterill CULT by Fuminori Nakamura TANGERINE by Christine Mangan THE WITCH ELM by Tana French AN AEGEAN APRIL by Jeff rey Siger WEEPING WATERS by Karin Brynard Y IS YESTERDAY by Sue Graft on THE FERAL DETECTIVE by Jonathan Lethem Kirkus Best Mysteries Publishers Weekly Best WINTER SISTERS by Robin Olivera Mysteries of 2018 KINGDOM OF THE BLIND and Thrillers 2018 by Louise Penny FIREFLY by Henry Porter Anthony Horowitz, THE WORD IS THE STRANGER GAME THE PRICE YOU PAY MURDER by Peter Gadol by Aiden Truhen Sujata Massey, THE WIDOWS OF THE MYSTERY OF THREE THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN MALABAR HILL QUARTERS by Sophie Hannah HARDCASTLE by Stuart Turton NEWCOMER by Keigo Higashino Eliot Pattison, SAVAGE LIBERTY HOW IT HAPPENED Emma Viskic, RESURRECTION BAY by Michael Koryta Lea Carpenter, RED, WHITE, BLUE SUNBURN by Laura Lippman Louise Candlish, OUR HOUSE THE PERFECT MOTHER Liane Moriarty, NINE PERFECT by Aimee Molloy STRANGERS CLOSER THAN YOU KNOW George Pelecanos, THE MAN WHO by Brad Parks CAME UPTOWN KINGDOM OF THE BLIND Frederick Forsyth, THE FOX by Louise Penny Elsa Hart, CITY OF INK RIP CREW by Sebastian Rotella Takemaru Abiko, THE 8 MANSION THE OTHER WOMAN by Daniel Silva MURDERS MISS BLAINE’S PREFECT AND THE Derek B. Miller, AMERICAN BY DAY GOLDEN SAMOVAR by Olga Wojtas EIGHTEEN BELOW by Stefan Ahnhem The 10 Best Thrillers SAFE HOUSES by Dan Fesperman and Mysteries of 2018 Washington Post

Booklist (Bill Ott) Best DARK SACRED NIGHT ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 69

SOMETHING IN THE WATER by Catherine Steadman Websites’ Lists THE CHALK MAN by C. J. Tudor THE WIDOWS OF MALABAR HILL by Sujata Massey Best Mysteries of 2018 LEVERAGE IN DEATH by J. D. Robb BRING ME BACK by B. A. Paris THE BROKEN GIRLS by Simone St. James CrimeReads.com 20 Best by Laurie Loewenstein THE LAST TIME I LIED by Riley Sager Crime Novels 2018 TRANSCRIPTION by Kate Atkinson RED WHITE BLUE by Lea Carpenter JANE DOE by Victoria Helen Stone MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER WRECKED by Joe Ide THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY by Oyinkan Braithwaite by Ruth Ware GIVE ME YOUR HAND CULT by Fuminori Nakamura BookMarks’ Best Reviewed by Megan Abbott THE FERAL DETECTIVE Mystery, Crime, Thriller THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY by Jonathan Lethem by Ruth Ware 2018 THE WITCH ELM by Tana French THE CHALK MAN by C. J. Tudor JAR OF HEARTS by Jennifer Hillier THE INFINITE BLACKTOP GIVE ME YOUR HAND WRECKED by Joe Ide by Sara Gran by Megan Abbott THE NIGHT VISITOR by Lucy Atkins THE WORD IS MURDER THE WITCH ELM by Tana French BEARSKIN by James A. McLaughlin by Anthony Horowitz THE PERFECT NANNY HOLLYWOOD ENDING SOCIAL CREATURE by Leila Slimani by Kellye Garrett by Tara Isabella Burton NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney LYING IN WAIT by Liz Nugent WHO IS VERA KELLY? SUNBURN by Laura Lippman SNAP by Belinda Bauer by Rosalie Knecht TANGERINE by Christine Mangan SUNBURN by Laura Lippman THE CABIN AT THE END OF THE GREEKS BEARING GIFTS THE PERFECT NANNY WORLD by Paul Tremblay by Philip Kerr by Leila Slimani CITY OF ASH AND RED MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER GIVE ME YOUR HAND by Hye-Young Pyun by Oyinkan Braithwaite by Megan Abbott THE HOLLOW OF FEAR SOCIAL CREATURE by Tara Isabella THE LONELY WITNESS by Sherry Th omas by William Boyle THE HELLFIRE CLUB by Jake Tapper THE WIFE by Alafair Burke Book Depository ONLY TO SLEEP by Lawrence Osborne MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER by Oyinkan Braithwaite LONDON RULES by Mick Herron THE INFINITE BLACKTOP GoodReads Best Mysteries BEARSKIN by James A. McLaughlin by Sara Gran and Thrillers 2018 THE DEATH OF MRS WESTAWAY OUR KIND OF CRUELTY by Ruth Ware TOMBLAND by C. J. Sansom by Araminta Hall THE OUTSIDER by Stephen King THIRT3EN by Steve Cavanagh NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW THE CHALK MAN by C. J. Tudor by A. J. Finn DARK SACRED NIGHT LETHAL WHITE by Robert Galbraith NPR Best Mysteries & by Michael Connelly THE WIFE BETWEEN US Thrillers 2018 LETHAL WHITE by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Dekkanen by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling) THEN SHE WAS GONE by Lisa Jewell THE WITCH ELM by Tana French THE PRESIDENT IS MISSING GREEKS BEARING GIFTS by James Patterson & Bill Clinton by Philip Kerr THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY GRIST MILL ROAD by Ruth Ware by Christopher J. Yates THE WITCH ELM by Tana French THE PERFECT NANNY FORCE OF NATURE by Jane Harper by Leila Slimani SOMETIMES I LIE by Alice Feeney BITTER ORANGE by Claire Fuller THE 7-1/2 DEATHS OF EVELYN DEATH OF A RAINMAKER HARDCASTLE by Stuart Turton 70 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------intentions, who have their own plans for him. COLD BONES by David Mark (Mulholland, January, 2019). It’s the What’s New in coldest winter in Hull for years. When McAvoy is told by a concerned stranger that an elderly woman hasn’t been seen the U. K. for a few days, he goes to check on her - only to fi nd her in the bath, encased in ice: the heating off ; the windows open; the whole house frozen over. It could THE SCENT OF DEATH by Simon own life. When the Truth Is Bigger than be a macabre accident, but McAvoy Beckett (Bantam Press, April, 2019). A All the Lies. Jean was an investigative senses murder. Someone watched her call comes from an old associate: a body reporter working the case of a lifetime. die. As he starts to uncover the vic- has been found, and she’d like Dr. David Somewhere in the shreds of her investi- tim’s story and her connections to a lost Hunter to take a look. Th e empty shell gation is the truth behind her murder. fi shing trawler, his boss Trish is half a of St Jude’s Hospital now stands await- Who Would Believe It? For Mitch, world away, investigating a mysterious ing demolition, its only visitors society’s piecing together the clues will become a death in Iceland. Hull and Iceland have outcasts, addicts and dealers. A partially dangerous obsession: one that will lead traditionally been united by fi shing - in mummifi ed corpse has been discovered him to the dark heart of his country - this case, they are linked by a secret in the hospital’s cavernous loft , but not and into the crossfi re of a conspiracy. concealed for half a century, and a series even Hunter can say how long it’s been THE LONELY HOUR by Christo- of brutal killings that have never been there. All he knows for sure is that it’s pher Fowler (Doubleday, £16.99, March, connected. Until now. the body of a young woman. And that 2019). On a rainy winter night outside a she was pregnant. But the collapse of the run-down nightclub in the wrong part loft fl oor reveals another of the hospi- of London, four strangers meet for the tal’s secrets. A sealed-off chamber, still fi rst time at 4:00am. A few weeks later with beds inside. Some of them occu- the body of an Indian textile worker pied.. is found hanging upside down inside THREE BULLETS by R. J. Ellory a willow tree on Hampstead Heath. (Orion, March, 2019). It Was the Shot Th e Peculiar Crimes Unit is called in Heard Around the World. On 22nd to investigate. Th e victim was found November 1963, John F. Kennedy’s pres- surrounded by the paraphernalia of idential motorcade rode through Dealey black magic, and so Arthur Bryant and Plaza. He and his wife Jackie greeted the John May set off to question experts in crowds on a glorious Friday aft ernoon the fi eld. But the case is not what it ap- in Dallas, Texas. But What If it Missed? pears. When another victim seemingly Mitch Newman is a photojournalist commits suicide, it becomes clear that in based out of Washington, D.C. His the London night is a killer who knows NIGHT by Bernard Minier (Mulhol- phone never rings. When it does, a voice what people fear most. And he always land, £14.99, February, 2019). A wom- he hasn’t heard in years will tell him strikes at 4:00am. an murdered in a church in Norway. his former fi ancée Jean has taken her ONE FALSE MOVE by Robert God- A collection of photographs on an oil dard (Bantam Press, £18.99, February, rig in the North Sea. A young boy in a 2019). How Joe Roberts does what he picturesque Austrian village. Th e three does is a mystery. He has a brain that clues that suggest a serial killer has seems able to outperform a computer. returned . . . To a games company like Venstrom that Detective Kirsten Nigaard believes promises big profi ts if his abilities can be the signs point to none other than Julian properly exploited. So they send Nicole Hirtmann, a serial murderer on the Nevinson to track him down and make run. She turns to Toulouse cop Martin him an off er too good to refuse. But Servaz, who has a painful personal his- Venstrom aren’t the only people inter- tory with Hirtmann. Servaz hunted the ested in Joe. His current boss, a shady elusive killer for many years until the businessman, is already making serious trail went cold. Now they have a chance money out of Joe’s talents and isn’t going to bring him to justice at last.But soon to let him go without a fi ght. And then the pair fi nd themselves in a terrifying there are other forces, with still darker cat-and-mouse chase. ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 71

with reviewing the original evidence and fi nding out who the murderer might be if it was not Lockman. Th ey soon Reviews from fi nd problems with the original evidence and identify three new suspects, but Kate is uncertain that they are heading in the right direction. the U. K. Th is is a very ably plotted mystery novel that smoothly goes through its paces and keeps the reader happily Jeff Popple Reviews and spies. It is an interesting concept engaged until the surprising outcome. and Ripley makes good use of the Vichy Th e suspects are nicely sketched and MR CAMPION’S WAR by Mike France setting to bring it alive. interesting, but I thought that Kate and Ripley (Severn House, £20.99). Rat- As usual, Ripley’s charming narrative her colleagues were a little bland and ing: A Th is is the fi ft h book in Mike style and dollops of wry humour keeps found it diffi cult to diff erentiate between Ripley’s marvellous continuance of the the reader happily engaged throughout the two police detectives. I also thought Albert Campion novels by Margery the book. Campion’s refl ections are that Kate’s actions were a little unlikely Allingham. Set in 1970 it fi nds Campion especially amusing, particularly those at times. Nevertheless, the story was and his family and friends, and some from 1970: clever and enjoyable, and the author odd foreigners, gathered together for his “Th e BBC, Campion was sure, was does a good job of keeping the reader seventieth birthday party at the distin- bound to be accepted sooner or later as guessing as to who the killer is. It would guished Dorchester Hotel in London. a cultural institution, despite its diver- make a good television show. Th ere is interest amongst his family sifi cation into television, a popular drug IN A HOUSE OF LIES by Ian and close friends over the attendance which really ought to be available only Rankin (Orion, £20). Rating: A A new of some of the foreigners, about whom on prescription.” Rankin novel is always a delight and they know very little. In typical fashion, Th e pacing is good and there is a his latest is a great example of a crime Campion distracts attention by recount- nice thoughtful feel to the story, as the writer at the peak of their ability. John ing details of his wartime experiences in characters refl ect on their wartime Rebus may be retired from the police Vichy France, a topic which he has never experiences and the eff ect of the war on force, but he has not lost his interest talked about before. them and others. Ripley also seamless- in Edinburgh’s underbelly. When the In smooth fashion, the story switches ly weaves in interesting historical detail body of a private detective is found in between 1970, told in the third person, to give some fl esh to the two historical the boot of a car deep in the woods, he and 1942 and Campion’s secret mission periods, and does a particularly good knows it is linked to an unsolved case to Vichy France, told in the fi rst person. job of capturing the small details that he investigated ten years and that it is It is an eff ective device with the sus- make his recreation of 1970 convincing, pense of the wartime mission carrying and amusing. the 1970 storyline along at a good pace. In all, this is a very entertaining read As the details of Campion’s mission and is highly recommended. gradually unfold, the relationships COLD, COLD HEART by A. J. between the various guests at the party Cross (Severn House, £20.99). Rating: becomes clearer and there is a growing B+ Th is is the fi rst of A. J. Cross’s books suspicion that there is more to the gath- that I have read, and I thought that was ering than just a birthday celebration. a good enjoyable police detective novel In Ripley’s capable hands the suspense underpinned by some interesting foren- mounts in both storylines and the book sic psychology. builds to a tense, refl ective ending. Professor Kate Hanson, a foren- Central to the novel is Campion’s sic psychologist, and the team at the mission to Marseille, which is essential- Unsolved Crime Unit (UCU) are given ly a clever and surprising spy story that a controversial crime to solve. Ten provides some fresh twists to the tradi- years ago, David Lockman, a famous tional wartime thriller plot. It involves author, was sentenced to life in prison a scheme to rescue a Jewish accountant for the murder of Della Harrington. who has incriminating details about Aft er persistent eff orts by his legal team, some senior Nazi fi gures and illicit bank Lockman has now been set free and the accounts and also involves gangsters original verdict declared unsafe. Th e members of the UCU have been tasked 72 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------likely to cast suspicion on him and oth- pacing is a little uneven at times, but determine if she is a good person, or ers. Th e old case was marked by sloppy overall this is a good addition to the someone we should fear. handling and possible corruption and growing number of Arctic thrillers. As Rachel Savernake’s foil we have Rebus knows that his actions were also the young and ambitious reporter Jacob not totally pure. Th e current crew look- Ali Karim Review Flint who works for London’s Th e Clar- ing into the case do not want Rebus too ion. Th e young Jacob is soon promoted closely involved and there are a couple to head the crime-desk when Tom Betts GALLOWS COURT by Martin of crooked cops from the old days who is taken seriously ill aft er a car accident; Edwards (Head of Zeus, £18.99). are also anxious for Rebus not to stick one that is as unexpected as well as for- I would not allow the 1930s London his nose in or dig too deeply. Of course, tunate (or unfortunate), for Jacob Flint’s backdrop to fool you, for Martin Ed- in the background revitalised Edin- future career in journalism. wards’ departure in his narrative fi ction burgh underworld fi gure Ger Caff erty Th ere are a series of murders in is far from a comforting historical novel is also using the discovery to further his London, terrible crimes as well as what portrayed by its cover. Gallows Court is hold on his corrupt business interests. appears to be crimes of karma, where a very dark thriller, in fact so dark, it is Th is well-craft ed mystery contains some very bad people have met their obsidian, with sharp edges that make one the usual Rankin trademarks of musical maker. Mingled at the epicentre of think deeply about those that surround references, sharp social commentary, the narrative is Rachel Savernake, the us. gritty characters and a wry sense of femme fatale, or is she? Daughter of a dark humour. Rebus and Caff erty steal senior Judge, one who was feared as well the limelight every time they are on the as respected within a London establish- page, but Rankin’s supporting cast of ment, until he became exiled on that Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox also island named Gaunt. Was it a mental continue to develop interestingly. In all, breakdown, a suicide attempt or the a terrifi c novel with a touch of melan- pressures of heading the Gambit Club choly to it. THE GIRL WITHOUT that was housed in Edwards’ epony- SKIN by Mads Peder Nordbo (Text, mously titled Gallows Court? Or was it £10.99). Rating: B+ related to his whispered moniker Th e Fans of Nordic crime novels will wel- Hanging Judge? come this latest addition to the genre, Now an enigmatic fi gure in the set on the coast of Greenland. cloisters of the London establishment, When a possible mummifi ed Viking Rachel is living off her late Father’s corpse is discovered on an isolated ice inheritance, transforming herself into sheet in Greenland, Danish journalist an amateur sleuth of sorts – one that is Matthew Cave thinks that he has oft en found a little too close to her cho- stumbled on the story of his career. His sen quarry. She has also become a little elation is short lived, however, when the troublesome for the forces of law, with corpse disappears and is replaced by her deductive abilities (are they real or the fl ayed body of the policeman who disguised) solving crimes that the police was guarding it. All the photographic failed to unravel. evidence of the original mummifi ed Soon, Jacob Flint’s trajectory brings corpse is also stolen, and Cave is him toward Rachel, like a Moth attract- It starts with a terse diary entry from forced to look elsewhere for a story. ed to the luminosity of a candle fl ame, 1919, from a girl living beside the Irish Encouraged by his editor he starts and so starts this extraordinarily dark Sea; reporting the loss of her parents, investigating a series of murders from journey one that is as violent as it is in- allegedly from the Spanish Infl uenza the 1970s, also involving fl aying. Th e sightful into the darkest edges of human epidemic. Th ough, little is as it seems earlier murders are somehow linked nature. on the island amusingly named Gaunt, to the current killing and as Cave Th e power of this novel should come and placed between Ireland and the investigates, he becomes targeted by the as no surprise as its author is a multiple British mainland. Juliet Brentano’s diary killer. award-winning writer who explores entry also names a girl; a woman who Th is intricate crime novel mixes a with rare insight into (what we term), becomes the enigma at the centre of this grisly plot with interesting insights into the Golden Age of Crime Fiction. He’s dark thriller, Ms. Rachel Savernake. Th is Greenland’s history and culture and the also Editor of the British Library’s name, this character I feel will become strained relationship with Denmark. Crime Fiction Classics of that era, the better known as the years pass, for as a Nordbo handles the dual storylines set Golden Age, as well as a senior offi cial character, she embodies the enigmatic in the 1970s and the present and the of Th e Detection Club and Th e Crime nature of ‘being’, for it is oft en hard to book builds to a good conclusion. Th e Writers Association. ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 73

Th ough his fi ction writing has always been staying only to fi nd two dead FBI working the case, but that would bring been evocative, with those early Harry agents and no Bobby Ray. Th en they into question why he is on the roof Devlin legal thrillers, the Lake District are attacked. of an opium den in the middle of the mysteries – little can prepare the reader With the help of friends such as Spi- night. So he leaves the body, but re- for the dark revelations contained with- der Shepherd, Standing goes in search turns the next day to fi nd that it is gone. in GALLOWS COURT. I was delighted of the truth. But he doesn’t know He notices that a neighboring building when I heard from Head of Zeus, that whom he can trust, other than his in- houses a mortuary and he breaks into there is a follow-up novel currently stincts, which prove very reliable. it and discovers the corpse in one of being penned by Martin Edwards, and LAST MAN STANDING has just its holding drawers. But no one has I am reliably informed that Ms Rachel what I’ve come to expect from an reported the murder to the police. ??? Savernake may well feature again; be- action-packed Stephen Leather thrill- Th en a new homicide case comes in cause like many of us, we have good as er: chases, danger at every turn, high with the victim being a nurse at a near- well as bad parts to the facets that make body count and terrifi c pacing. If you by military hospital. When he inspects us who we are, or more importantly who like male action thrillers and haven’t the body, he discovers that her eyes we portray to others in our fi ction and tried Stephen Leather, you’re in for a have been gouged out and that there in our reality. treat. are two prominent stab wounds in her GALLOWS COURT is a thought chest. He’s sure that the two murders -provoking and violent crime-fi ction are by the same perpetrator, but cannot narrative that explores [with a contem- reveal anything about the fi rst one. porary eye], the dark-side of human As a backdrop to his investigations, nature; but trapped within an evocative- the city of Calcutta is experiencing a ly realised historical thriller, like a black lot of social strife as a result of demon- widow spider, encased in obsidian. strations and strikes by the populace, spurred on by the nationalistic, an- George Easter Reviews ti-British peaceful obstruction under Mahatma Ghandi’s direction. Th e LAST MAN STANDING by police are short-handed because many Stephen Leather (Hodder & Stough- of its native Indian staff have quit in ton, £16.99, January, 2019). Rating: protest. So an impending royal visit by B+ SAS trooper Matt Standing was a the Prince of Wales is seen by Wyn- secondary character in Stephen Leath- dham and his superiors as a disaster er’s last Spider Shepherd thriller, TALL waiting to happen. ORDER. Now they trade places, with Among other interesting subplots Standing taking the lead in LAST is his very on-again, off -again (mostly MAN STANDING and Spider only off ) relationship with Anne, a beautiful making short cameo appearances. mixed race Calcutta native whom he Standing spent some time embed- met in the fi rst book. She seems to have ded with a U.S. Navy Seal team in acquired a rich American beau and Afghanistan and the opening chapter SMOKE AND ASHES by Abir Sam is not amused. Also of great inter- describes a harrowing attack that he Mukherjee (HarvillSecker, £12.99). est is the dilemma that Sam’s sidekick is survives thanks to the bravery of Navy Rating: A Th e third book in this experiencing. “Surrender-Not” Ba- Seal Bobby Ray Barnes. Because of marvelous British Raj series starts out nerjee is caught between loyalty to the injuries sustained in the attack, Bobby with a bang. Captain Sam Wyndham is police force (a job that he loves doing Ray was forced to leave the Navy and still under the spell of opium addiction and is very good at) and loyalty to his has been earning a living as a body- (he became addicted when he received family and friends who all support the guard to important/rich clients. But strong pain-killing medicines to treat removal of British rule from India. things go sideways when Bobby Ray’s the serious injuries he suff ered in the Abir Mukherjee is in the highest Russian oligarch client is murdered Great War) and getting his latest fi x at echelons of historical mystery/thriller and he is suspect number one. He’s on a Calcutta opium den, when the police writers. I can’t think of any such writer the run and calls his sister to tell her raid the place. He narrowly escapes, I would prefer to read. He is just so to get in touch with Miles Standing thus saving his career. But during his good at bringing a period of history and ask him for help. Miles takes leave exodus he comes across a body that has alive and in such an interesting way. from his unit and fl ies to Los Angeles. had its eyes gouged out and two large Th e next in the series, DEATH IN When he meets up with the sister, they stab wounds in its chest. His instincts THE EAST will be out in the U.K. in drive to the motel where Bobby Ray has as a homicide detective are to start June, 2019. 74 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

explosive action. Michael Davies has done an excellent Getting Away With Murder job as ‘curator’ of that initial fi rst draft , with its themes of political corruption and a rich elite living on what should be an island paradise but is in fact fl oating by Mike Ripley on a sea of casino money attracting organised crime, incorporating Bagley’s own notes for a second draft and pro- viding a new (better) title. THE GOLDEN KEEL arrived, thanks Better Late than Never DOMINO ISLAND will be pub- to a victorious eBay auction, an advance lished in May and will not disappoint Th ere was a time, in the 1960s and proof copy of Desmond Bagley’s new hard-core Bagley fans. It will bring new ‘70s when the appearance of a new thriller, DOMINO ISLAND arrived readers who appreciate straightforward, Desmond Bagley thriller in paperback courtesy of publishers HarperCollins. honest story-telling, to his backlist. And prompted a run on the bookshops And yes, you read that right. More dare I say that there are some contem- almost entirely fueled, in those pre-in- than thirty-fi ve years aft er the death of porary thriller writers who could benefi t ternet days, by word of mouth recom- Desmond Bagley, a previously unpub- from learning how one of the masters mendation from fellow fans. I was, in lished novel will fi nally see the light of did it half a century ago? my youth, one of the fi rst in the queue day. It was a novel which started out as when a new Bagley appeared in Fontana a ‘classic whodunit’ under the working paperback and I still have the copy of title BECAUSE SALTON DIED, and his 1963 debut THE GOLDEN KEEL its long journey to publication in- which I bought in 1965. Waiting up to volved a fair amount of detective work two years for the paperback edition was by researcher Philip Eastwood who an important consideration as hard- runs www.thebagleybrief.com, editor backs were between fi ve and six times Michael Davies and publisher David more expensive and this keen reader Brawn, all of whom, needless to say, are was still at school and without an in- Bagley fans. come. Indeed, I had never actually seen Philip Eastwood discovered the a hardback copy of that initial Bagley fi rst draft manuscript of BECAUSE thriller until last month when I treated SALTON DIED among the Bagley myself, 53 years on, to a fi rst edition as papers deposited in the Howard Gotlieb an early Christmas present. Archive at Boston University in Amer- ica and, on the title page, a plea from the author: ‘if you can think of a better [title], please do’. It was written in 1971 following a period of “writer’s block” not helped by a brief, but salutary experience in Hol- lywood where he was invited to write a screenplay of one of his most popular thrillers, RUNNING BLIND. He was

to say later that ‘Everything you have Resolutions Blown read about Hollywood is true’ and that I really don’t know why I bother it had been ‘a poor experience’. Possi- making New Year’s Resolutions. I was bly to exorcise his Hollywood demons, fi rm in my resolve to turn a blind eye to Bagley opted to write a whodunit rather any book which used the ‘girl walking than one of his trademark adventure away’ motif on its cover and almost as thrillers, but thankfully you cannot solid was my vow to ignore any new keep a good thriller-writer down and thriller promoted with the rhetorical the basic mystery plot of how and why question How far would you go? In addi- property magnate David Salton died on tion, I am instinctively suspicious of any the formerly British Caribbean island novel being compared to the over-rated of Campanilla develops into a vintage television series Th e Bodyguard. It was an amazing (and genuine) co- Bagley scenario of siege, jeopardy and However, I cannot resist WINNER incidence that the day aft er my copy of ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 75

they wrote for Th e Times on how they on Riversend, the scene, a year ago, of a researched the subject and discovered, mass shooting in full public view by the as is oft en the case, that the fact is local vicar! [Warning: Plot Spoiler Alert stranger than the fi ction. I particularly re: next two paragraphs] liked the story of the female protection Scarsden is not an attractive hero, offi cer assigned to former Prime Min- given to considerable introspection ister Tony Blair whose cover was blown about the ethics of journalism and prone when she left her Glock pistol in the to sulking when he cannot get a decent lavatory of a Starbucks. coff ee, and quickly becomes part of the story rather than reporting it. Although Crime Down Under only there for ten days, ostensibly to fi nd out why the town priest shot fi ve people I have already predicted that the and then committed ‘suicide by cop’, he early months of 2019 will highlight quickly seduces one of the priest’s lovers crime-writing talent from Australia. (there were others), rescues a young First out of the blocks is SCRUBLANDS tearaway from a car crash, helps fi ght by Chris Hammer (Wildfi re), with a bushfi re and then a fi re in the town Jane Harper’s much-anticipated third itself, rescues a baby from the clutches novel THE LOST MAN (Little Brown) of a psychopath, helps solve the rape and coming in early February and Chris- murder of two German back-packers tian White’s THE NOWHERE CHILD and gets involved in a security service KILLS ALL, out this month from (HarperCollins) published in March, operation against organised crime. Simon & Schuster, despite its female although an e-Book version has been Th e town of Riversend, suff ering walking-away cover (albeit an armed available for some time. from drought and economic depression female rather than a vulnerable young SCRUBLANDS is a long (perhaps is a grim place and ‘dying on its feet’ girl), the publisher’s insistence that this just a tad too long) debut novel by would not be an expression used lightly is “for fans of BBC’s Bodyguard” and the journo (as they say down under) Chris as the amount of dying thanks to mur- fact that the fi rst sentence of the Pro- Hammer, whose hero is, naturally, a ders (at least eight) and suicides (two, logue is How far would you go to save a journo sent to the dying town of Riv- arguably three?) is considerable, plus loved one? ersend in New South Wales. Th e journo, there are underlying themes of black- I have immediately abandoned the Martin Scarsden, comes with his own mail, rape, paedophilia, wife-beating, few principles I claimed to have on the experience of PTS syndrome following war crimes, false identities and that old basis that the authors behind the name an assignment in the Gaza Strip and is stand-by, cheating someone out of an R.J. Bailey are none other than hus- trying to revive his career with a feature inheritance. band-and-wife writing team Rob and For a debut novel, Hammer has Deb Ryan, which is usually a mark of attempted to keep a lot of plot plates quality, and because the novel mentions spinning but he does successfully tease the wartime career of actor Sir Anthony out the solution to the initial mystery of Quayle, who was an SOE agent in Al- why a gun-toting priest went on a shoot- bania (something I am sure I have read ing spree to the very end and provides in an authoritative ‘reader’s history’ of a riveting read for anyone not planning British thrillers). Th e action of WIN- a back-packing holiday in New South NER KILLS ALL moves rapidly from Wales. Albania to Bali and south-east Asia and features former Personal Protec- All in the Title tion Offi cer Sam Wylde, who kicks ass and employs an impressive selection of Without doubt the book title which weaponry in her freelance work, which jumped out at me in 2018 was THE runs alongside a very personal quest for SIEGE OF REGINALD HILL by her missing daughter. Corinna Turner, which I believe is a As an added bonus to the tur- historical fantasy aimed at young adults bo-charged story, in case anyone doubts published by Unseen Books. the premise of female personal pro- I know nothing of the book other tection offi cers, the authors supply a than I am sure the title would have wonderful coda in the form of an article amused my old friend Reg Hill and I 76 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

matter or the title, I have no idea. Harris will be joined on the review pages by James Ellroy whose delayed (from last September) novel set in 1942 Califor- nia, THIS STORM, will fi nally appear. August will see a new Robert Harris novel, which may or may not be ti- tled THE SECOND SLEEP, and I have set time aside in October for a new John le Carré thriller, AGENT RUNNING IN THE FIELD. But more immediately, two January titles are taking precedence. First- ly, BATTLE SIGHT ZERO, which is, I believe, Gerald Seymour’s 35ththriller in a 40-year career since he swopped fame as an ITN reporter covering the world’s very hot spots to become a best-selling thriller writer. Published by Hodder, BATTLE SIGHT ZERO follows the history of a particular Kalashnikov assault rifl e, can envisage, had he been still with from its manufacture in Russia in 1957 Towards the end of January I am sure us, that it would have led to a frantic to being smuggled into Britain in the I will be enjoying CURTAIN CALL by exchange of emails with suggestions for 21st century where a terrorist cell plans Graham Hurley, published by Severn other titles such as THE TAKING OF to make deadly use of it. I am particu- House, as I am a big fan of his recent RENDELL 123, LAST SEEN KEAT- larly looking forward to this one as it thrillers set during WWII. CURTAIN ING and LEE CHILD 44; so on, so is bang-on up-to-date, the fi nal chap- CALL sounds as if it may be a departure forth. It’s a game anyone can play but, as ters being set in January 2019, and the (should that be another departure?) for usual, there are no prizes. locations include Dewsbury in West the prolifi c Graham Hurley who has cre- Yorkshire which admittedly may have ated a female protagonist (not for the Books in Prospect changed since I knew it half a century fi rst time) in the shape of Enora An- ago, but I do not recall it ever featuring dersson, an Anglo-French actress, who My Boy Scouts’ Diary for 2019 is now in a thriller before. will act as an observer on the state of the up and running, with key days already British nation just as his much-admired highlighted (i.e. the publication dates of Portsmouth detective Joe Faraday did a my new novel and no less than fi ve (5!) decade ago. new paperback editions, which I may I have made myself a promise to read conceivably mention in the course of the Graham’s new novel as quickly as possi- year) and I have begun to fl ag up other ble as I hear that the follow-up, SIGHT important points in the publishing UNSEEN, is already written. I told you calendar. he was prolifi c. April, the cruelest month in many ways, will see the publication of the Last Laugh last Bernie Gunther thriller METROP- OLIS by the late Philip Kerr, a novel I I was highly amused to learn that the have been anxiously awaiting since I most popular crime drama in Denmark heard – at Philip’s funeral last April – is not one of their badly-lit, multi-strand that he had completed the manuscript Scandi-noirs, but dear old Midsomer shortly before his untimely death at the Murders which has been slaughtering age of 62. England’s rural middle-class and strain- In May, two American heavyweights ing the suspension bridge of disbelief of take centre stage. With his fi rst novel in viewers since 1997. Shortly to embark on what must be 14 years, Th omas Harris its 21st series, Midsomer Murders en- will no doubt return to the internation- joys far greater viewing fi gures in Den- al best seller lists, but as to the subject mark than such home-grown products ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 77 as Th e Killing or Th e Bridge. page one). ways and it relates to the way dialogue I wonder if that has been taken into It is a well-paced thriller with an is indicated by en-dashes rather than consideration in negotiating trade deals interesting female police detective inverted commas. Th ere was something post Brexit? called (remember the binge drinking) of a craze for reporting speech (in crime Charlie Lager and it is, as far as I can fi ction) this way some years ago; I even Bad News Year tell from a very sketchy knowledge of did a novel myself in this style in 2002. OLD NORSE, smoothly and inventively Whilst recommending NIGHT RUN- 2018 was a bad, sad year which saw translated by Harvard academic Agnes NERS most heartily, I hope other crime the loss of Philip Kerr, Reg Gadney, Broomé. writers do not follow Richard Cromp- Anthony Lejeune and Jessica Mann, and For a complete change of scene, how ton’s example. I have only just got used a memorial service for Colin Dexter. I about Kenya, specifi cally the slums of to ‘single’ inverted commas replacing considered most of them as good friends Nairobi where making a bonfi re out of a “doubles” as speech marks. I am not and respected them all. passing vehicle is a social gathering? sure I would survive another seismic It was also another year for the ‘Girls’ NIGHT RUNNERS, published by change in punctuation. in that I spotted at least ten new crime Weidenfeld & Nicolson, is the third novels with Girl in the title and I must novel by former BBC correspondent Pick of the Year certainly have missed (or ignored) many Richard Crompton to feature his Maasai more. policeman Detective Mollel. In NIGHT It’s that time of year again, where we And the use of the ‘girl from behind’ RUNNERS Mollel makes his entrance are aff orded the luxury of looking back (please do not Google that) image for in dramatic fashion in the middle of a and deciding which books have give us covers remains sadly ubiquitous despite violent protection/extortion racket run the most pleasure this year, and though my cries in the wilderness for the last by local gangs against the drivers of I fi nd myself using the royal “we” I do, two years or more…. the mutatu mini-buses which provide of course, mean purely myself. much of the public transport in Nairobi John Lawton’s FRIENDS AND Not a Thorny Problem (and don’t have Route Numbers, but TRAITORS (Grove Atlantic) was the titles, such as Arsenal, God Knows and best novel I bought this year (and I have Beyonce). the receipt to prove it). Surely there A new paperback imprint, Black- Mollel is fascinating hero, pitted thorn, is to be launched on an unsus- can be no higher praise. It really was a against crime, political corruption hypnotic guide through several decades pecting crime fi ction reading world in and tribal rivalries; the sights, smells May 2019. A division of Canongate Pub- of treachery within the British establish- and customs of Kenya are colourful- ment, European politics and Lawton’s lishing, Blackthorn has recently released ly described, and the writing is brisk its fi rst catalogue, which can be viewed fi ctional Troy family, a far from dys- and controlled. If I have a qualm it is functional family of immigrants when on line at https://tinyurl.com/yco93kl2 because I am very old and set in my Among authors to feature in the fi rst it comes to adapting to British society. seven months are: David Hewson, Si- Lawton also manages to slip in a trade- mon Brett, Caro Ramsay, Paul Doherty mark reference to a favourite character and Michael Jecks. Oh yes, and me, just borrowed from Margery Allingham. in time for next Christmas. Graham Hurley’s ESTOCADA (Head of Zeus) was a compulsive, convoluted thriller set in the Europe of Recent Books 1937-38 with a young Luft waff e ace and a reluctant British spy pursue diff erent Just when you were thinking that paths to the realisation that war is inev- the Scandi-crime bubble may have itable. Th is is part of Hurley’s outstand- burst, along comes another ‘Swedish ing ‘Wars Within Wars’ series, which crime sensation’ to brighten the long really do set a benchmark for 20th-cen- dark evenings with the tale of a missing tury historical thriller fi ction. girl and a Stockholm police detective Manda Scott's A TREACHERY OF who equates bouts of binge drinking to SPIES (Bantam) is another excellent ‘self-medication’. thriller with a WWII setting, or rath- FOR THE MISSING is a debut novel er a wartime backstory, for the story by Lina Bengtsdotter and is published begins with a gruesome case of murder here by Orion although it has already in Orleans for French police detective been a bestseller in Scandinavia and Ines Picaut. Her investigation revolves parts of Europe under the title ANNA- around what happened in Occupied BELLE (the girl who goes missing on 78 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

France in the 1940s, when the Maquis, there is a picture of the author on the and an eBook for the first time. aided by Britain’s Special Operations back cover, in this case the young Gavin It really is a cracking thriller, which Executive, fought many enemies, some in full flying kit (he had served in RAF that leading Irish noirista Ken Bruen of them the occupying Germans. Terrif- and worked as aviation correspondent has described as: ‘One of the great un- ically exciting. for the Sunday Times). der-valued thrillers of the 70's, a wonder- Peter Morfoot’s BAG OF BONES Several of his early thrillers featured fully fast paced narrative that literally (Titan) was the third outing for Captain flying and pilots not averse to a bit of has you holding your breath. The passage Paul Darac, the jazz-loving Nice (as in smuggling on the side; and one reviewer of time demonstrates that great writing, France, not as in ‘naughty but’) police- in The Spectator said he was a “jet- great story never age. It is a brilliant edge man who has, without doubt, become age author” who got “the same sort of of the seat novel.' my favourite foreign detective created romance out of beaten-up old Dakotas Alongside IN CONNECTION by a Brit since the late Michael Dibdin and their disillusioned pilots as steam- WITH KILSHAW, Top Notch have gave us Aurelio Zen. Darac’s adventures age Robert Louis Stevenson did from a also republished Peter Driscoll’s break- celebrate the smells, sounds, food and schooner and its pirate crew.” through South African thriller, THE music of southern France, the plots are Only available in electronic form for WILBY CONSPIRACY, which first ap- satisfyingly complex, the violence suit- many years, I believe THE WRONG peared in 1973 and was quickly filmed ably shocking and the jazz is, of course, SIDE OF THE SKY is now back in starring Michael Caine and Sidney wonderful. paperback from the Bloomsbury Reader Poitier. Jane Harper’s FORCE OF NATURE imprint, at a price more than double Peter Driscoll (1942-2005) emigrat- (Little Brown) is a second novel which that I paid for my vintage edition, ed to South Africa with his parents proves the author’s debut – THE DRY – without a picture of the author and, in as a child. He became a journalist on was no fluke. A team-building exercise my not-so-humble opinion, with a cover the Rand Daily Mail but returned to in the unforgiving Australian outback which no one will get excited about in London in 1968 to write fiction. THE goes horribly wrong when five women fifty years’ time. WILBY CONSPIRACY , a classic back-pack their way into the bush but chase-and-pursuit thriller, was his sec- only four come out. Atmospherically Self-Explanatory ond novel and received accolades from tense, claustrophobic and guaranteed novelists John Braine and Len Deighton to convince the casual tourist to stay on Publisher Vintage has utilised not and Eric Ambler called it ‘The best chase the highway and never get out of the 4 so much a Spoiler Alert as a prophetic story I have read for a long time’. x 4. statement to promote the reissue of The novel is notable for its opening Fletcher Knebel’s 1965 thriller NIGHT scene, an escape from Robben Island, Collector’s Corner OF CAMP DAVID, even though the although relatively few in the northern very thought of an American President hemisphere were aware of the notorious I am not a book collector as such – I going of his trolley is surely venturing prison there (or its most famous prison- acquire a lot of books and keep the ones into the realm of science-fiction, isn’t it? er) at the time. The cover photograph of I like – and certainly not a ‘completist’ (Please say it is…) the Top Notch edition, showing the road but I do have a soft spot for vintage into the High Karoo followed by the paperbacks with interesting artwork Top Notch Revivals fugitives in the novel, was taken by the covers and have been known to buy old best-selling South African crime-writer Deon Meyer. editions of thrillers I already possess. At the height of ‘The Troubles’ in Although I have owned at least three Northern Ireland, a British army officer different copies over the years, I simply called Harry goes undercover in Belfast Dear Reader could not resist buying Gavin Lyall’s to unravel a conspiracy involving a debut thriller THE WRONG SIDE OF Protestant paramilitary force and a I have been asked on numerous THE SKY in what I believe was its first Marxist splinter group of the IRA, occasions over the last year when eBook incarnation in paperback. Betrayal, deception, gun-running and editions of my last two Angel novels I had never seen this edition, pub- assassination are the order of the day – ANGEL’S SHARE and ANGELS lished in 1963 by Hodder, two years and Harry realises he has been set up UNAWARE – were likely to appear, after the original hardback, with a as the ultimate fall-guy. Sound famil- mostly (well, entirely) from a reader in wonderful endorsement from the Daily iar? You’re probably thinking of Gerald Australia, herself an author and clearly Express emblazoned across the cover: Seymour’s 1975 trail-blazer HARRY’S a lady of excellent taste. When I was able “Best new thriller in Fleming-Ambler GAME but in fact IN CONNECTION to announce that electronic versions of vein since Fleming and Ambler.” WITH KILSHAW by Peter Driscoll the books had gone live (or whatever And most unusually for a paperback came out the year before, in 1974, and it is they do), my Australian Angel fan nowadays (though not fifty years ago), is now reissued as a Top Notch Thriller responded simply: Oh frabjuous day! ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 79

I may not have many readers, but the present. At times it as if the reader so when two come along in rapid suc- ones like that I value. can hear the radio and television news cession I sit up and take notice, especial- programmes worming their way into ly when they are so good. Irish (and other) Eyes Taylor’s brain, fuelling his rage at a I mentioned Deon Meyer’s THE world going, if not mad, then certainly WOMAN IN THE BLUE COAT last Is the private eye novel making a downhill. month and now this month comes THE comeback? Has it ever really gone away? And then there’s Jack Taylor’s rela- DROP by Mick Herron, from John Certainly there are some impressive tionship with organised religion which, Murray. Th is is a real nugget of spy examples around at the moment and in Ireland with a character like Taylor, fi ction, featuring many of Herron’s leading the pack, as she has been since is never going to be a comfortable one, ensemble ‘Slough House’ cast of mis- about 1982, is, of course, Sara Paretsky especially as part of the plot revolves fi ts, back-stabbers, front-stabbers and whose SHELL GAME [Hodder] came around a paedophile. But even in the washed-up spies. One very washed-up out last month, the nineteenth novel to grimmest territory, Bruen can turn a agent features prominently here, as does feature her detective V. I. Warshawski, wonderful phrase, such as: Th e road to an old, retired spy who is convinced he as played by the wonderful Kathleen hell is paved with well-intentioned nuns. has seen a ‘drop’ take place, but surely Turner in a rather disappointing fi lm. To prove that the private eye nov- such antique tradecraft is no longer el is versatile and its tropes adaptable practised. Of course it is, and things to virtually location, time period and culture, then I off er SINS AS SCARLET by Nicolás Obregón. For legal reasons I missed this when it appeared in hard- back earlier this year, but the paperback is now published by Penguin. Obregón was, I believe, born in Spain, lived in London then Japan and now resides in Los Angeles. He blends all his cosmopolitan experience into SINS AS SCARLET, which features his Japanese detective Kosuke Iwata now working as a private eye in Los Angeles, but having brought much of his Japa- nese mental baggage with him. A spe- cialist in fi nding missing persons very much in the old school style (knocking on doors, asking questions, calling in favours from police contacts), the stakes are raised when Iwata begins to investi- gate the murder of a young transgender male. Ken Bruen’s Jack Taylor may not SINS AS SCARLET is intelligent- have been going quite so long, but he’s ly, oft en delicately, written. Not many get really interesting when the recipient certainly going strong in his latest, IN private eye novels use words such as turns out to be a triple agent working for THE GALWAY SILENCE published ‘mimesis’ or ‘repining’ – at least not the German intelligence service (who this month by Head of Zeus, in which, accurately – and there is a haunting un- are on our side, aren’t they?). as usual, murder and mayhem as only derlying sense of Iwata being a stranger With outstanding cheek, Herron has the Irish can do it, interrupt Jack’s seri- in a very strange land, as is highlighted the German ‘triple’ about to be ‘planted’ ous drinking time. (Breakfast tends to by a poster of Marilyn Monroe bearing in that repository of sensitive secrets: the be coff ee ‘with a base of Jay’). the legend: Hollywood is a place where Brexit Offi ce! Bruen has a unique voice in hard- they’ll pay you a thousand dollars for a A Happy and Prosperous 2019 boiled fi ction, his prose is poetic, kiss and fi ft y cents for your soul. scatological and spare to the point of (at least until Brexit) to all and sundry, making Hemingway seem verbose and In Short Th e Ripster. overweight. His hero Taylor is haunt- ed by past failures and relationships, I rarely get to read novellas, perhaps [Reprinted by permission of author and and he has just as much trouble with there are just not many of them around, website: www.shotsmag.co.uk] 80 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

A PAPERBACK CONFIDENTIAL PROFILE -- Bruno Fischer by Brian Ritt

runo Fischer (also wrote as Russell their over-the-top nature, are oft en BGray, Harrison Storm, Jason K. viewed as campy by modern readers, Storm). Born in Berlin, Germany in the detailed descriptions of torture in 1908; immigrated to the United States in the “weird menace” pulps can, even 1913. Died in Mexico, 1992. today, be unsettling... Bruno Fischer came of age during Fischer graduated from the Rand the 1930’s, during the thriving era of the School of Social Sciences, which was pulps. In particular, he made a name for established by the American Socialist himself writing stories for the “weird Party in 1906. He became a sports re- menace” pulps, using the pseudonym porter for the Long Island Daily Press on various Jewish relief organizations. Russell Gray. Th ese stories were brutal (1929-1931), then worked at the Labor Fischer even ran as a Socialist candidate tales of women enduring gruesome acts Voice (1931-32), a socialist newsletter. He for the New York state senate in 1938. of torture, oft en at the hands of mad sci- went on to edit the Socialist Call (1934- When not writing his own books, he entists. Fischer’s stories had titles such 36), the offi cial weekly for the Socialist served editorial stints at Macmillan’s as “Fresh Fiancés for the Devil’s Daugh- Party. Collier Books (a paperback house) and ter,” “Daughters of Lusting Torment,” Fischer published his fi rst novel, SO Arco Publishing Company (a textbook “Lovely Ladies for the Butcher,” and MUCH BLOOD, in 1939. He found house). “Girl’s Enslaved in Glass”; they appeared his biggest success during the 1950’s, He spent his later years living at in pulps such as Dime Mystery Maga- writing paperback originals—HOUSE Camp Th ree Arrows, a socialist cooper- zine, Terror Tales, and Sinister Stories. OF FLESH (1950), a story about a man’s ative in Putnam County, New York. Although many pulp magazines, due to encounter with a femme fatale and her brood of savage dogs, sold nearly two Further Reading: million copies. Another notable book is Ben Helm series (complete): SO WICKED MY LOVE (1954), a story THE DEAD MEN GRIN (1945) about a man who gets involved with a MORE DEATHS THAN ONE (1947) murderous sexpot. Fischer has described THE RESTLESS HANDS (1949) his most typical novels as being about THE SILENT DUST (1950) “ordinary people in extraordinary situ- THE PAPER CIRCLE (1951, as ations.” STRIPPED FOR MURDER, 1953) Fischer wrote a series featuring Ben THE HORNET’S NEST (1944) Helm, a private detective who works as QUOTH THE RAVEN (1944, a criminologist when he’s not investigat- as THE FINGERED MAN, 1953) ing. Th e Helm novels are: THE DEAD THE PIGSKIN BAG (1946) MEN GRIN (1945), MORE DEATHS KILL TO FIT (1946) THAN ONE (1947), THE RESTLESS THE BLEEDING SCISSORS (1948) HANDS (1949), THE SILENT DUST HOUSE OF FLESH (1950) (1950) and THE PAPER CIRCLE (1951). FOOLS WALK IN (1951) Fischer’s life was far removed from THE LADY KILLS (1951) the brutality of his fi ction. Politically ac- THE FAST BUCK (1952) tive, he held memberships in the Social RUN FOR YOUR LIFE (1953) Democrats and the Workmen’s Circle SO WICKED MY LOVE (1954) (the Jewish socialist fraternity). He also MURDER IN THE RAW (11957) corresponded with Dr. Hannah Ar- SECOND-HAND NUDE (1959) endt, the famous political philosopher, THE GIRL BETWEEN (1960) THE EVIL DAYS (1974) ------Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine 81

Recent Paperbacks of Note

Softboiled to Kellerman, Jonathan, NIGHT MOVES (Ballantine, $9.99). Mediumboiled Kepler, Lars, THE SANDMAN (Vintage, Bartlett, Lorraine with Gayle Leeson, YULE $16.95). BE DEAD (Berley, $7.99). Lawler, Liz, DON’T WAKE UP (Harper, Bradford, Laura, JUST PLAIN MURDER $16.99). (Berkley, $7.99). Lelic, Simon, THE LIAR’S ROOM (Berkley, Carlisle, Kate, A WRENCH IN THE WORKS $16.00). (Berkley, $7.99). Luna, Louisa, TWO GIRLS DOWN (Anchor Durham, Laura, MARRY AND BRIGHT Books, $16.00). (Broadmoor, $7.99). Moore, Jonathan, THE NIGHT MARKET Eaton, J. C., BOTCHED 4 MURDER (Mariner, $14.99). (Kensington, $7.99). Olson, Neil, THE BLACK PAINTING Goldstein, Debra H., ONE TASTE TOO (Hanover, $15.99). As Russell Gray MANY (Kensington, $7.99). Jenny Rogneby, ANY MEANS NECESSARY Harris, Sherry, THE GUN ALSO RISES (Other, $16.99). (Kensington, $7.99). THE LUSTFUL APE (1950, pub- Schaffh ausen, Joanna, THE VANISHING Henry, Julia, PRUNING THE DEAD SEASON (Minotaur, $16.99). lished as by Bruno Fischer, 1959) (Kensington, $7.99). Scottoline, Lisa, EVERY FIFTEEN Hunter, Maddy, CATCH ME IF YUKON MINUTES (St. Martin’s Griffi n, $15.99). If you like Bruno Fischer, you might (Midnight Ink, $15.99). Sigurdardottir, Yrsa, THE LEGACY Mugavero, Liz, MURDER, SHE MEOWED like: Paul Cain, Gil Brewer, Day Keene (Minotaur, $17.99). (Kensington, $7.99). Simenon, Georges, MAIGRET AND THE Pressey, Rose, FASHIONS FADE, HAUNTED RELUCTANT WITNESS (Penguin, $13.00). IS ETERNAL (Kensington, $7.99). Smith, J. P., THE DROWNING (Sourcebooks, Ross, Barbara, STEAMED OPEN $15.99). (Kensington, $7.99) Swinson, David, CRIME SONG (Mulholland, $15.99). Mediumboiled to Tudor, C. J., THE CHALK MAN (Broadway, $16.00). Hardboiled Box, C. J., THE DISAPPEARED (Putnam, $9.99). History Mystery Corbett, Ron, CAPE DIAMOND (ECW, Dunsmore, Helen, BIRDCAGE WALK $15.00). (Grove Atlantic, $17.00). De Jager, Anja, A COLD DEATH IN Finch, Charles, THE WOMAN IN THE AMSTERDAM, Constable, $13.99). WATER (Minotaur, $17.99). Delaney, J.P., THE GIRL BEFORE (Seal, Finlay, Mick, ARROWOOD (Mira, $7.99). $9.99). Huber, Anna Lee, TREACHEROUS IS THE Dodd, Christina, DEAD GIRL RUNNING NIGHT (Kensington, $15.95). (HQN, $7.99). Odden, Karen, A DANGEROUS DUET Fox, Candice, CRIMSON LAKE (Arrow, (Morrow, $15.99). Th is is the sixth in a series of articles $12.60). Oliveira, Robin, WINTER SISTERS ( P e n g u i n , about the crime writers from the 1940s Gardner, Lisa, LOOK FOR ME (Dutton, $17.00). to the 1960s, as found in PAPERBACK $9.99). CONFIDENTIAL by Brian Ritt (Stark Harper, Jane, FORCE OF NATURE (Flatiron, Thriller $16.99). Leather, Stephen, TALL ORDER (Hodder & House, $19.95, 2013). Reprinted by per- Hillerman, Anne, CAVE OF BONES (Harper, Stoughton, £7.99). mission of Stark House and the author. $9.99). Perry, Th omas, THE BOMB MAKER Hunter, Cara, IN THE DARK (Penguin, Th is reference book is highly recom- (Mysterious Press, $16.00) $16.00). mended to collectors of vintage crime Reich, Christopher, TAKE (Mulholland, Jonasson, Ragnar, RUPTURE (Minotaur, $9.99). paperbacks. $16.99). Rhys, Rachel, DANGEROUS CROSSING (Washington Square, $17.00). 82 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

RIVER (Van Shaw) 14 Dean Koontz, THE NIGHT WIDOW (Jane Hawk) Sneak Previews 15 Diane Les Becquets, THE LAST WOMAN IN THE FOREST 19 Clive Cussler & Dirk Cussler, CELTIC Upcoming Mysteries EMPIRE (Dirk Pitt) 19 Greg Iles, CEMETERY ROAD 19 Harlan Coben, RUN AWAY 19 C. J. Box, WOLF PACK (Joe Pickett) 26 Linda Fairstein, BLOOD OATH February, 2019 (Alexandra Cooper) 5 Phillip Margolin, THE PERFECT ALIBI 26 Stuart Woods, WILD CARD (Stone 5 James Grippando, THE GIRL IN THE 5 T. J. Martinson, THE REIGN OF THE Barrington) GLASS BOX (Jack Swyteck) KINGFISHER 26 David Rosenfelt, BLACK AND BLUE 5 Charles Todd, THE BLACK ASCOT ( I a n 5 Dana Haynes, ST. NICHOLAS (Doug Brock) Rutledge) SALVAGE & WRECKING 26 Jacqueline Winspear, THE AMERICAN 5 Lars Kepler, STALKER (Joona Linna) 5 Abir Mukherjee, SMOKE AND ASHES AGENT (Maisie Dobbs) 5 Mike Lawson, HOUSE ARREST (Joe (Sam Wyndham) 26 Eliot Pattison, BONES OF THE EARTH DeMarco) 5 William Boyle, A FRIEND IS A GIFT (Shan Tao Yun) 5 Boris Akunin, THE CORONATION YOU GIVE YOURSELF (Fandorin) 5 Donna Leon, UNTO US A SON IS April, 2019 5 Jonathan de Shalit, A SPY IN EXILE GIVEN (Guido Brunetti) 5 Craig Russell, THE DEVIL ASPECT 5 Jane Harper, THE LOST MAN 1 Paul Doherty, THE GODLESS 5 Greg Iles, CEMETERY ROAD 5 C. J. Tudor, THE HIDING PLACE 1 Robin Blake, ROUGH MUSIC (Cragg/ 5 Elly Griffi ths, THE STRANGER 5 Ian Hamilton, FATE: Th e Lost Decades Fidelis) DIARIES of Uncle Chow Tung 1 Peter Turnbull, COLD WRATH 5 Peter Swanson, BEFORE SHE KNEW 12 David Swinson, TRIGGER (Frank Marr) (Hennessey/Yellich) HIM 12 Peter Robinson, CARELESS LOVE 2 Jeff Abbott, THE THREE SISTERS 5 Sara Blaedel, HER FATHER’S SECRET (Banks) 2 S. A. Lelchuk, SAVE ME FROM (Family Secrets) 12 Ausma Zehanat Khan, A SOLITUDE OF DANGEROUS MEN 5 Steve Berry, THE MALTA EXCHANGE BLOOD (Getty & Khattak) 2 Parnell Hall, LIGHTS! CAMERA! (Cotton Malone) 12 Charles Cumming, THE MOROCCAN PUZZLES! (Puzzle Lady) 5 Gioacchino Criaco, BLACK SOULS GIRL 2 Jack Carr, TRUE BELIEVER (James 5 Peter May, THE MAN WITH NO FACE 12 Lee Goldberg, KILLER THRILLER (Ian Reece) 6 Clive Cussler, & Graham Brown, SEA OF Ludlow) 2 J.A. Jance, THE A LIST (Ali Reynolds) GREED (NUMA) 12 Yrsa Sigurdardottir, THE RECKONING 2 David Downing, DIARY OF A DEAD 12 Joel C. Rosenberg, THE PERSIAN (Huldar & Freyja) MAN ON LEAVE GAMBLE (Marcus Ryker) 12 Jenny Rogneby, ANY MEANS NECES 9 Anne Hillerman, THE TALE TELLER 12 Brad Parks, THE LAST ACT SARY (Leona Lindberg) (Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito) 12 C. J. Box, WOLF PACK (Joe Pickett) 12 Rhys Bowen, THE VICTORY GARDEN 9 Philip Kerr, METROPOLIS (Bernie 12 Glen Erik Hamilton, MERCY 19 Mark Greaney, MISSION CRITICAL Gunther) (Gray Man) 9 Lisa Scottoline, SOMEONE KNOWS 19 Bill Crider, THAT OLD SCOUNDREL 9 Frances Brody, A SNAPSHOT OF DEATH (Dan Rhodes) MURDER (Kate Shackleton) 19 Charles Finch, THE VANISHING MAN 9 Nancy Herriman, A FALL OF (Charles Lenox prequel) SHADOWS (Bess Ellyott) 19 Sophie Hannah, THE NEXT TO DIE 16 Alafair Burke, THE BETTER SISTER 19 Alan Hruska, THE INGLORIOUS 16 Ilaria Tuti, FLOWERS OVER THE ARTS (Alec Brno) INFERNO 26 Marc Cameron, OPEN CARRY (Arliss 16 David Baldacci, REDEMPTION Cutter) (Memory Man) 26 Michele W. Miller, WIDOWS-IN-LAW 23 John Sandford, NEON PREY (Lucas 26 Don Winslow, THE BORDER Davenport) 26 Rick Mofi na, MISSING DAUGHTER 30 Brian Panowich, LIKE LIONS (Clayton 26 Helene Tursten, HUNTING GAME Burroughs) 27 Joanne Fluke, RASPBERRY DANISH 30 Susanna Calkins, MURDER KNOCKS MURDER (Hannah Swensen) TWICE May, 2019 March, 2019

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1 Sarah R. Shaber, LOUISE’S CROSSING 11 Sandie Jones, THE FIRST MISTAKE 6 Ben Coes, THE RUSSIAN (Rob 1 Graham Hurley, CURTAIN CALL 11 Leonare Goldberg, THE DISAPPEAR Tacoma) 1 Bill James, HITMEN I HAVE KNOWN ANCE OF ALISTAIR AINSWORTH 6 Karin Fossum, THE WHISPERER (Harpur/Iles) (Sherlock Holmes Daughter) (Sejer) 7 Deon Meyer, THE WOMAN IN THE 18 Ashley Dyer, THE CUTTING ROOM 6 Robert Pobi, CITY OF WINDOWS BLUE CLOAK (Benny Griessel) (Carver & Lake) 6 Ruth Ware, THE TURN OF THE KEY 7 Elly Griffi ths, THE STONE CIRCLE 18 Kate Mosse, THE BURNING 6 Lindsey Davis, A CAPITOL DEATH (Ruth Galloway) CHAMBERS (Flavia Albia) 7 Katherine Hall Page, THE BODY IN 18 Nancy Atherton, AUNT DIMITY AND 6 Donna Andrews, TERNS OF ENDEAR THE WAKE (Faith Fairchild) THE HEART OF GOLD MENT (Meg Langslow) 7 Chris Pavone, THE PARIS DIVERSION 20 Robert Crais, A DANGEROUS MAN 13 William Shaw PLAY WITH FIRE 7 Benet Brandeth, THE ASSASSIN OF (Cole & Pike) (Breen/Tozer) VERONA (William Shakespeare) 25 Lori Roy, GONE TOO LONG 13 Steve Cavanagh, THIRTE3N (Eddie 7 Liv Constantine, THE LAST TIME I 25 Denise Mina, CONVICTION Flynn) SAW YOU 25 Kelley Armstrong, WHEREVER SHE 13 Howard Michael Gould, BELOW THE 7 Kylie Logan, THE SCENT OF MURDER GOES LINE (Charlie Waldo) 7 James Runcie, THE ROAD TO 13 T. Jeff erson Parker, THE LAST GOOD GRANTCHESTER July, 2019 GUY (Roland Ford) 14 Dervla McTiernan, THE SCHOLAR 13 C. J. Box, BITTERROOTS (Cormac Reilly) 13 Ellen Hart, TWISTED AT THE ROOT 14 Sujata Massey, THE SATAPUR MOON 2 Caz Frear, STONE COLD HEART (Kat (Jane Lawless) STONE (Perveen Mistry) Kinsella) 20 Fred Vargas, THE POISON WILL RE- 14 Michael Koryta, IF SHE WAKES 2 Alison Gaylin, NEVER LOOK BACK MAIN (Commissaire Adamsberg) 14 Carolyn Haines, GAME OF BONES 2 Riley Sager, LOCK EVERY DOOR 20 David Lagercrantz, THE GIRL WHO (Sarah Booth Delaney) 2 Matthew Betley, RULES OF WAR LIVED TWICE (Lisbeth Salander) 14 Eva Dolan, THIS IS HOW IT ENDS (Logan West) 20 Julia Keller, THE COLD WAY HOME 21 David Housewright, DEAD MAN’S 2 S. J. Rozan, PAPER SON (Lydia Chin/ (Bell Elkins) MISTRESS (Mac McKenzie) Bill Smith) 20 Louisa Treger, THE DRAGON LADY 21 Ragnar Jonasson, THE ISLAND (Hulda 2 Caite Dolan-Leach, WE WENT TO THE 27 Sara Lovestam, THE TRUTH BEHIND Hermannsdottir) WOODS THE LIE 21 Agnete Friis, THE SUMMER OF ELLEN 2 Paul Doiron, ALMOST MIDNIGHT 28 Clive Cussler & Robin Burcell, THE (Mike Bowditch) ORACLE (Fargo) 6 David Gordon, THE HARD STUFF (Joe September, 2019 28 Patrick Lee, DARK SITE (Sam Dryden) the Bouncer) 9 Peter Lovesey, KILLING WITH 10 Reed Farrel Coleman, THE BITTEREST CONFETTI (Diamond) PILL (Jesse Stone) June, 2019 9 Ace Atkins, THE SHAMELESS (Quinn Colson) October, 2019 4 Martin Walker, THE BODY IN THE 9 Jo Nesbo, KNIFE (Harry Hole) CASTLE WELL (Bruno) 9 Keith McCaff erty, A DEATH IN EDEN 22 Nelson DeMille, THE DESERTER 4 Stuart Woods & Parnell Hall, SKIN (Sean Stranahan) GAME (Teddy Fay) 9 Adrian McKinty, THE CHAIN 4 David Ricciardi, ROGUE STRIKE (Jake 9 Sheila Connolly, KILLER IN THE November, 2019 Keller) CARRIAGE HOUSE 4 Anthony Horowitz, THE SENTENCE IS 9 Kristen Lepionka, THE STORIES YOU 12 William Kent Krueger, THIS TENDER DEATH (Daniel Hawthorne) TELL (Roxane Weary) LAND 4 James Ellroy, THIS STORM 16 J. Todd Scott, THIS SIDE OF NIGHT 4 Cara Black, MURDER IN BEL-AIR (Chris Cherry) (Aimee Leduc) 16 David Rosenfelt, BARK OF NIGHT 4 Allison Montclair, THE RIGHT SORT (Andy Carpenter) OF MAN 16 Linda Castillo, SHAMED (Kate 4 Mark Billingham, THEIR LITTLE Burkholder) SECRET (Tom Th orne) 16 Ellison Cooper, BURIED 4 Becky Masterman, WE WERE KILLERS 26 Mark Greaney & Rip Rawlings, RED ONCE (Brigid Quinn) METAL 4 Allison Montclair, THE RIGHT SORT 30 Stephen Hunter, GAME OF SNIPERS OF MAN (Bob Lee Swagger) 11 Mike Madden, TOM CLANCY: ENEMY 30 Lisa Gardner, NEVER TELL CONTACT (Jack Ryan, Jr.) William Kent Krueger 11 Mick Herron, JOE COUNTRY (Slough House) August, 2019 11 Brad Th or, BACKLASH (Scot Harvath) 84 Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine ------

Table of Contents Editor/Publisher George A. Easter Domesticity & Suspense by [email protected] Kristopher Zgorski 2 Barry Award Nominations 2019 6 Associate Editor Reviewed to Death 7 Larry Gandle Bouchercon 50 Mystery Lists 9 Obscurity Was NOT The Plan, [email protected] George Madison 14 Maigret ...Encore!, Contributors Nancy-Stephanie Stone 16 Marvin Lachman Editor’s Message 19 Mary Mason Assistant Editor’s Message 22 Kristopher Zgorski Letters 23 Jeff Popple Next Reviewed to Death Title 24 Mike Ripley DP Calendar 25 Ted Hertel, Jr. It’s About Crime Norma Dancis by Marvin Lachman 26 DP List 2017 28 Sally Sugarman A Conversation with Nick Petrie 33 Ali Karim Reviews Donus Roberts Donus Roberts 35 Nancy-Stephanie Stone Kristopher Zgorski 38 Ted Hertel, Jr. 43 Norma Dancis 49 George Easter 53 Subscription Rates Larry Gandle 58 History Mystery 63 Agatha Award Nominations 42 Sample $6.00 Lefty Award Nominations 52 3 Issues $18.00 News and Reviews From the U.K. 3 Issues Overseas $33.00 U.S. New Books 70 3 Issues Canadian $21.00 U.S. Reviews 71 Mike Ripley Column 74 Prior issues $5.00 each Paperback Confidential Profile Mini-set (Issues 81- 84) $12.00 Bruno Fischer 80 Recent Recommended Paperbacks 81 Make checks (U.S. funds only) Sneak Previews 82 payable to George Easter or Deadly Pleasures and send to George Easter -- DP 1718 Ridge Point Dr. Bountiful, UT 84010