Spring Blog Carnival

We are celebrating spring here at Mysteries and My Musings with a giveaway!  


To all the participants in the Spring Carnival Blog hop who stopped by and those who found a new place to visit and hangout - Thank YOU!



If you are joining us as part of the Spring Carnival Blog hop, look around and stay for awhile.  We celebrate everything mystery and suspense here - no doubt you can find something of interest!

PRIZE:  ENTRY IS NOW CLOSED AND A WINNER DECIDED
Winners have been contacted.


Two-toned 11 oz mug (dishwasher and microwave safe) with flying books picture and "Anywhere you want to go" on the backside and "Books are magic" facing a right-handed drinker.  Works nicely for left-handed drinkers as well.

LEFT SIDE OF MUG

RIGHT SIDE OF MUG

Entry for giveaway lasts until March 8 noon (EST).

Prizes are shipping directly from the shops/companies providing them.

How to enter:

*** First, you must be a member (follower) of this blog.***

All entries are to be in the comments for this post.

I will accept entries for this giveaway Sunday May 1 beginning at midnight (EST) through to noon (EST) on Sunday May 8.  

Winners will be announced Monday May 9 on the original post.  I shall notify the winner via the email address you provide to get your mailing address and have the prize sent directly to you.

IF you are a member of this blog, you only need to leave a comment with your correct email.

BECOME a member of this blog if you aren't already and enjoy the celebration of all things mystery and suspense.


And in celebration of books that we each enjoy (or you wouldn't be here) here is a humorous note about books and a video I hope you get a chuckle out of them both:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Introducing a new idea in compact information transportation: the Bio-Optic Organized Knowledge device, trade-marked, BOOK™. BOOK™ is a revolutionary breakthrough in technology: no wires, no electric circuits, no batteries, no charging, nothing to be connected or switched on (no need for a Wi-Fi hotspot or internet connection).

It's so easy to use, even a child can operate it. Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere -- even sitting in an armchair by a fire. Yet it is powerful enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disc.

Here's how it works: BOOK™ is constructed of sequentially numbered sheets of (recyclable) paper, each capable of holding thousands of bits of information. The pages are locked together with a custom-fit device called a binder, which keeps the sheets in their correct sequence. Opaque Paper Technology (OPT) allows manufacturers to use both sides of the sheet, doubling the information density and cutting costs. Experts are divided on the prospects for further increases in information density; for now, BOOK™'s registering information directly into your brain. A flick of the finger takes you to the next sheet.

BOOK™ may be used at any time merely by opening it. There is no lengthy "boot up." BOOK™ never crashes or requires rebooting, though, like other devices, it may be damaged if coffee is spilled on it, but it remains usable even if dropped on a hard surface. The "browse" feature allows you to move instantly to any sheet and move forward or backward as you wish. Many come with an "index" feature, which pinpoints the exact location of any selected information for instant retrieval.

An optional "BOOKMARK™" accessory allows you to open your BOOK™ to the exact place you left it in a previous session, even if the BOOK™ has been closed. BOOKMARKS™ fit universal design standards; thus, a single BOOKMARK™ can be used in many different BOOK™s, even if made by different manufacturers! Conversely, numerous BOOKMARK™s can be used in a single BOOK™ if the user wants to store multiple access points. The number is limited only by the number of pages in the BOOK™.

You can even make personal notes next to BOOK™ text entries with an optional programming tool, the Portable Erasable Nib Cryptic Intercommunication Language Stylus (PENCILS.)

Portable, durable, and affordable, BOOK™ is being hailed as a precursor of a new entertainment wave. BOOK™'s appeal seems so certain that thousands of content creators have committed to the platform and investors are reportedly flocking to invest. Watch for a flood of new titles soon.

Anonymous

 

Review - Blast From the Past

Today we go to Cape Cod for a little movie magic - and murder!  If you like cozy mysteries with a confident amateur sleuth then this will interest you.

Author: Toni L.P. Kelner


Copyright: Feb 2010 (Berkley) 294 pgs

Series: 3rd in"Where Are They Now?" Mysteries

Sensuality: innuendo

Mystery Sub-genre: Amateur Sleuth - cozyesque

Main Character: Tilda Harper, freelance journalist specializing in the formerly famous


Setting: Modern day - Cape Cod


Obtained Through: Publisher for an honest review


I had not read the prior two entries in this series but was able to jump right in and understand Tilda and her work easily. Tilda typically writes articles on formerly famous people in the "Where are They Now" features, but this time she is given the golden oportunity to interview John Laryea who is filming his latest movie. Tilda's ex-boyfriend's father owns the company handling security for the location filming and arranged for her to get a prime interview. Laryea had gotten his start on a Saturday morning kid's show.

The producer and director of the film are impressed with Tilda and ask if she would help them out. The movie is based on a comic book that only had 12 issues but has a strong cult following. The fans are already mad, claiming the movie isn't true enough to the original comic. They ask Tilda to please find the elusive writer who did his own illustrations cryptically named Leviathan.

Tilda makes a deal to do her best to find the original comic book author/artist in exchange for some interviews and a pass to the filming. This is why Tilda is still at the five-star resort Glenham Bars Inn when she witnesses Laryea and his assistant run down on the road. The assistant is killed and one of the security company employees is blamed. But Tilda doesn't think so and partners with her ex-boyfriend to prove it.

I must say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I was drawn into the story. Even Tilda's search for the elusive comic book author/artist was interesting with the comic fandom brought to life. The setting of Cape Cod and Monomoy lighthouse was a good backdrop. The descriptions of filming and the harried tension to get a shot of a sunrise etc add to the overall story.

Tilda is a character I easily liked, she is self-disciplined and observant, which pays off for her. Tilda's keen insights into people play well as a writer and a sleuth. I didn't like her roommate and felt the home struggles didn't add to the story. It seemed counter to Tilda's character to be self-disciplined enough to make a living as a freelance writer and yet get a rather flaky roommate who brings nothing but conflict.

The character of her ex-boyfriend Nick is just realistic enough, a bit awkward at times but they are good to each other without petty baggage. The movie star John Laryea was interesting, a good measure of spoiled and insulated while showing a vulnerability that only Tilda seems to have figured out. Even the man blamed for the hit and run, Pete, is well drawn as a recovered alcoholic who fell off the wagon and is tagged as the culprit.

The confrontation of the killer has some good suspense to it. I had suspected who the killer was, but I mostly just sat back and enjoyed the journey. The wrap up had several good revelations - who the real Leviathan was and a door opens concerning Tilda and Nick to keep the reader coming back.

This was a very enjoyable read with a good mix of plot and characters against a great backdrop of Cape Cod. Give it a try, it might surprise you.

Now for a humorous video - enjoy!

Children's Book Week

Children's Book Week is the national celebration of books and reading for youth. This year it is May 2-8 and I hope your library or school is participating.



Since 1919, Children's Book Week has been celebrated countrywide with author & illustrator appearances, parties, storytelling, and other book-related events in schools, libraries, bookstores, clubs -- anywhere where kids and books connect.


It all began with the idea that children's books can change lives. In 1913, Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, began touring the country to promote higher standards in children's books. He proposed creating a Children's Book Week, which would be supported by all interested groups: publishers, booksellers, and librarians.


Visit the website for more information: http://www.bookweekonline.com/about


I think that mysteries are great for children. Mysteries encourage using analytical skills, cause and effect thinking, and logic.


I loved the Three Investigators growing up. Everyone knows of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Let's see what else is out there.

I found Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett that features a pair of precocious kids on an artful quest full of patterns, puzzles, and the power of blue M&Ms.

Next is Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach featuring a search for the missing "Murphy Diamond," a precious jewel that supposedly disappeared from a neighbor's house.

I stumbled across an intriguing premise of an orphan who is recruited to be a spy of sorts in The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart.  There are a few in the series so far.

Then there is the 39 Clues (11 books that I know of in the series) that starts with The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan. The story line is that a brother and sister follow clues left by a deceased relative to a treasure. This is reported to be filled with "suspense, peril and puzzles in a fast-paced read." Each book in the series in written by one of seven or so authors.

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler b y E.L. Konigsburg we have siblings Claudia and Jamie caught up in the mystery of an angel statue that the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York purchased at an auction for a bargain price of $250. The statue is possibly an early work of the Renaissance master Michelangelo, and therefore worth millions. Is it? Or isn't it? Claudia is determined to find out.

Of course there is the book Holes by Louis Sachar that was made into a movie.

How about the Enola Holmes mysteries by Nancy Springer. There are about six in the series that I know of, starting with The Case of the Missing Marques. This series features the intriguing, much younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes.


The Theodosia series has Theo Throckmorton, a combination of Nancy Drew and Indiana Jones. I believe there are four so far in this series.


Please share what mystery novels you have found for children.

  
 

 
 

Review - Bad Moon Rising

This week we have a police procedural book that is suspenseful and has some delicious paranormal elements.  Join this cruise ship that stops in New Orleans and Jamaica for a nail-biting excursion by an award winning author.

Author: L.F. Crawford


Copyright: Feb 2010 (Five Star) 256 pgs

Series: 2nd in Murry/Kidman Suspense

Sensuality: N/A

Mystery Sub-genre: Paranormal Police Procedural

Main Character: California Police Detective Art Murry

Setting: Modern day - New Orleans, on-board a cruise ship, and Jamaica

Obtained Through: Author for an honest review


What would it be like to be a police detective and have psychic visions? Detective Art Murray has learned to pay attention to his "insights". In the first book in this series he followed his visions and saved his girlfriend from a serial killer - but she is left traumatized. This book picks up with his girlfriend Mary having retreated to family in Iowa and Art's opera star brother drags him on a cruise to cheer him up. Murry's single police partner Billy tags along and finds the dating possibilities endless while Art tries to bury his pain of possibly loosing Mary in booze. That is until the ship docks in New Orleans and the woman Billy was out with is found brutally murdered in the ship's jacuzzi. Billy is the prime suspect and Art sobers up fast to sort out the vision he has of wolves involved in the murder.

In New Orleans Detective Jean Gallan is investigating the murders and doesn't think Billy is the only suspect but her boss insists Billy is the killer. Detective Gallan believes it is a local woman, Sylvania, who was a prime suspect of a prior and very similar murder who happens to be on the cruise. The problem being that Sylvania Benoit is wealthy and her papa is influential so Gallan will have to risk her career to trust Art and try to prove Sylvania is the murderer not Billy.

Initially Art Murry was drowning his sorrows and I didn't care for him. But once he got focused and moved into action his character was compelling. I enjoyed the New Orleans detective Jean Gallan who was more than a rich girl playing at being a cop. The main view point shifts between Murry and Gallan smoothly and effectively. They are both well developed characters. Art's brother Lance although a minor character is lovable. The story has a few minor characters who are still quite enjoyable.

There are several twists in the plot with eerie settings in New Orleans and later in Jamaica that keep the tension and suspense high. The paranormal aspects lend to the suspense and atmosphere. This is primarily a police procedural with paranormal elements and a good dose of suspense. If you aren't a big paranormal fan this will allow you to dip your toe in the water without immersion. I liked the bit of supernatural help Art gets from a New Orleans celebrity - the deceased voudou priestess Marie LeVeau. I felt that was a nice touch.

The climax is good edge-of-your-seat suspense that will have you hooked. I enjoyed this book and will definitely look for the next in the series. If you like your books with action and more police type than amateur sleuths this book is a good choice. Although this is not a cozy, it wasn't graphic in explaining the murder etc.
 

Fill in Blank Game

Let's try another game this week. I am going to list partial titles and you try to fill in the blanks. All the books are by the same author which is a clue. At the end of the titles, supply who the author of those books was. I will give you a hint that these are not new books - they have been out for a while.

I forgot to mention that you are on the honor system playing this.  In a few days I will fill in the blanks and you can post how many you got right in the comments.  I did this in a very low tech sort of way :-)

1) And Then There Were None


2)  The Mysterious Affair at Styles


3) Appointment with Death


4) The Body in the Library


5) Death on the Nile


6) A Pocket Full of Rye


7) Evil Under the Sun


8) The Seven Dials Mystery


9) They Do It With Mirrors


10) The Mirror Cracked From Side to Side


The Author of all these books is Agatha Christie who wrote 80 detective novels - and a few romances under the name Mary Westmacott.

ENJOY!!!