Review - The Sayers Swindle

I reviewed the first in the series, "The Christie Curse" (click here) and was honored to interview this mother/daughter writing team (click here).  I finally got to this second book in this new series, sorry it took so long.  

The Mystery and Crime Fiction Blog Carnival is coming up, please submit your book reviews to the blog carnival (click here).

Author: Victoria Abbott

Copyright: December 2013 (Berkley) 305 pgs

Series: 2nd in Book Collector Mystery series

Sensuality: Kissing

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy

Main Characters: Jordan Bingham, works for Van Alst estate managing the book collection

Setting: Modern day, Harrison Falls NY

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

This book picks up where the last concluded.  Jordan is trying to track a collectors set of Dorothy Sayer books that had been stolen from Vera Van Alst's estate.  The stolen books had been sold to a rare book broker who in turn sold them to an elderly gentleman in the neighboring town.  When Jordan and the book broker visit Randolph Adams to arrange to get the books back, things appear to be shady. Before Mr. Adams can return the books there is a murder and Mr. Adams and his family disappear overnight.  As if this weren't enough to keep Jordan busy, another eccentric uncle comes to town to hide from some criminals in NY city.  Uncle Kevin is a handful in many ways and has the entire family topsy-turvy. 

Jordan is a smart and fun sleuth. There is no recriminations for her sleuthing and even has some humor about her ability to pick locks.  Uncle Lucky gets to shine a bit more in this story, which I was happy to see.  For a character that has no dialog (silent-type extraordinaire), he has quickly before a star. Uncle Kevin is an interesting new character, as the wild card to disrupt any plan. It looks like he will be a regular character. I like Kevin, but in restrained doses. Karen Smith, the owner of the Cozy Corpse mystery bookstore is assisting Jordan to recover the Sayer collection.  I am looking forward to more of her in future stories.  Vera Van Alst is her cranky stubborn self, with Jordan challenging her to be less insulated and self-absorbed.  Tyler Dekker (aka "Officer Smiley") gets plenty of Jordan-time but otherwise I didn't feel the character was expanded any further. Librarian Lance DeWitt has my vote for the romantic interest, but this book may have disrupted that.  I like Lance's character and that the romantic interest might not be the cliche cop.  I hope Lance's potential as a boyfriend is revived in the next book (I have my fingers crossed.)

The climax delivered my favorite, a tense killer confrontation. The wrap-up was heart warming.  This was a well paced story that kept my interest and delivered an entertaining mystery with humor, engaging characters, and a smart and sassy heroine.  A great follow-up for The Christie Curse.

Rating:  Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend. 

Fill in the Blanks Game

We have not had a game for a while, so it is time for one.

The idea is to try and fill in the blank of each of these mystery book titles. These are all books from the same author.  This game is on the honor system, try to figure them out without doing an internet search :-)

In a few days I will provide the answers and you can share how well you did.



Here are the answers:

1)  The Children of Men

2)  Skull Beneath the Skin

3)  A Mind to Murder

4)  A Certain Justice

5)  Devices and Desires

6)  Death in Holy Orders

7)  The Private Patient

8)  A Taste for Death

9)  The Murder Room

10) Innocent Blood


Author is P.D. James



I hope you enjoyed this mystery game.  Are they too easy?


 
Here is a simple and healthy recipe:  Garlic Chicken

Ingredients
     1/4 cup olive oil (variations: use Italian Dressing or Garlic Oil)

    2 cloves garlic, crushed

    1/4 cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs

    1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (I prefer the real grated cheese, not the fine dust-like)

    4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (you may pound with tenderizer if desired)

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Heat olive oil and garlic (or Italian Dressing) in a small saucepan over low heat until warmed, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer garlic and oil to a shallow bowl. 
 
Combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese in a separate shallow bowl.  Dip chicken breasts in the olive oil-garlic mixture using tongs; transfer to bread crumb mixture and turn to evenly coat. Transfer coated chicken to a shallow baking dish.
 
Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink and juices run clear, 30 to 35 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Review - Why Kings Confess

Today I review the newest in the Sebastian St. Cyr historical mysteries.  Previously I reviewed "What Darkness Brings" (click here), "When Maidens Mourn" (click here), and "Where Shadows Dance" (click here).  We were also honored to interview C.S. Harris (click here.)  Let's get to the review right away...

Author: C.S. Harris

Copyright: March 2014 (NAL) 352 pgs

Series: 9th in Sebastian St. Cyr Regency Mysteries

Sensuality: mild romance, some clinical discussion of mutilation-not too graphic.

Mystery Sub-genre: Historical Suspense

Main Characters: Sebastian St. Cyr (Viscount Devlin) a veteran of the Peninsula wars with Napoleon and a nobleman.

Setting: 1813 London England

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

Sebastian's good friend, Paul Gibson, finds a badly injured Frenchwoman (Dr. Alexandrie Sauvage) beside the mutilated body of Dr. Damion Pelletan in one of London’s worst slums. Alexi has no memory of the attack. Sebastian knows her from his past that he still has nightmares about, and they share a mutual mistrust. Apparently Dr. Pelletan was part of a secret delegation sent by Napoleon to test the possibility of peace with Britain.

During the investigation, there is the chance that the graphic murders are tied to the “Lost Dauphin,” the boy prince and heir (son of King Louis XVI) who is rumored alive rather than having died during French Revolution. Sebastian must investigate the surviving daughter of King Louis and Marie Antoinette, the haughty and cold-blooded daughter of Marie Antoinette... who is determined to retake the French crown at any cost.  There were four children of the King and Marie Antoinette (Marie-Thérèse Charlotte "Madame Royale" (1778-1851), believed the only surviving member of the Royal Family.  Louis-Joseph: eldest Dauphin of France (1781-1789) who died because of tuberculosis, Louis-Charles "Louis XVII": younger Dauphin of France (1785-1795) who died in the Temple's tower but rumored escaped, and Sophie-Béatrice "Madame Sophie" (1786-1787)). An additional concern is Hero's health with the impending birth as well as dear friend Paul Gibson's battle with pain medicine.

Sebastian faces some personal demons as well as learns to express his feelings with Hero. Hero is facing a dangerous breach birth while trying to stay active and help Sebastian.  Lord Jarvis is his usual calculating self who doesn't want the peace negotiations to succeed.  Paul Gibson gets a spotlight as he becomes entangled in the people involved, and must face his own emotional and physical pain.  Dr. Alexandrie Sauvage is complicated and layered, her motives are murky but her concern for Gibson appears real.  I hope she returns in future novels.  I consider Alexi the breakout character.

Regency England is richly spread before the reader in meticulous detail, transporting you fully into the time and place.  The birth complications added to this as well.  The history about the French revolution and the trials of the royal son and daughter was gripping.  The climax had some twists and the expected high tension -- very satisfying.  The wrap up was priceless.

Another great entry in the series, maintaining the high standards of intrigue, character development, and atmosphere.

Rating: Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend. If you enjoy historical mysteries, this is a must read.

Here is a book trailer for Why Kings Confess.

FYI, Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou is currently the heir to defunct French throne.  A little piece of trivia.

2014 THRILLER AWARD NOMINEES

Congratulations Carolsue who won the giveaway for the copy of "Murder on Bamboo Lane" by Naomi Hirahara.  Carolsue should have received an email asking for her physical mailing address.  Thank you to everyone who participated, we will have a few more giveaways coming up in May.

The Thriller Awards are presented by the International Thriller Writers at the annual ThrillerFest conference in July in New York City.  Here are the nominees:


Best Novel
  °      Her Last Breath by Linda Castillo
  °      Never Go Back by Lee Child
  °      Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner
  °      Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
  °      Criminal Enterprise by Owen Laukkanen
  °      White Fire by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
  °      The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper

Best First Novel
  °      Montana by Gwen Florio
  °      Resolve by J.J. Hensley
  °      Rage Against the Dying by Becky Masterman
  °      Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews
  °      The Edge of Normal by Carla Norton
  °      Out of Range by Hank Steinberg
  °      The Intercept by Dick Wolf

Best Paperback Original
  °      Cold Snap by Allison Brennan
  °      Buried by Kendra Elliot
  °      His Majesty's Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal (click here)
  °      The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon
  °      Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus
  °      Deadly Harvest by Michael Stanley

Best Short Story
  °      "Baggage of Eternal Night" by Eric Guignard in JournalStone
  °      "Waco 1982" by Laura Lippman in Grand Central
  °      "The Gallows Bird" by Kevin Mims in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine


Best Young Adult Novel 
°      The Rules for Disappearying by Ashley Elston 
°      Scorched by Mari Mancusi 
°      Escape From Eden by Elisa Nader 
°      All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill 
°      I am the Weapon by Allen Zadof

Review - Home for the Haunting

Today I review the next in the Haunted Home Renovations Mystery series.  I have reviewed each in this series from the debut issue.  The third, Murder on the House (click here), the second book, Deadbolt (click here),  and the debut book, If Walls Could Talk (click here).  I have had the great honor of two interviews with the author, the recent interview (click here), and the older author interview (click here).

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Copyright: December 2013 (Signet) 337 pgs

Series: 4th in Haunted Home Renovations Mysteries

Sensuality: Some kissing

Mystery Sub-genre: Paranormal Cozy

Main Characters: Mel Turner, woman construction renovation Owner/Operator

Setting: Modern day, San Francisco

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review
 
Mel Turner volunteers to lead a home renovation project for the underprivileged, and has a side bet going with her father who can finish their project the quickest.  It is the first day of the weekend project when one of college student volunteers finds a dead body in a shed.  The shed is part of the property next door, known at the murder house because of the family who was murdered there twenty-five years ago.  Mel has seen the ghosts in the windows and now she wonders if they are trying to communicate or seek revenge. She tries to restrain herself from getting involved, but homicide Detective Annette Crawford asks for her assistance since the body in the shed was one of two children who survived the killing spree in the house.  

Even Detective Crawford wonders if something other-worldly is happening.  As if this isn't stressful enough, Mel's incredibly popular, does-no-wrong sister "Cookie" has decided to stay for an indefinite time during apparent marital strife.  Mel's anemic self-esteem takes several hits with Cookie in the picture while she is juggling running Turner Construction and helping the police. Graham is present, worrying about her safety and providing fodder for Cookie to try and match-make them. 

Mel, the funky dressing female construction guru who has a few extra pounds makes a feisty lead character. In this edition she is trying to embrace her dubious talent by taking classes on it in addition to dealing with her trust issues after her divorce.  Cookie, her blond, thin, graceful, guy-magnet sister is annoying for how she manipulates with feminine charms.  She was okay for one book, but I am glad she doesn't look like becoming a regular.  Graham, high school flame and current love interest, is pretty realistic.  We see some progress between them.  Detective Annette Crawford is definitely the breakout character as she opens to paranormal explanations as part of her due diligence.  She has always been a capable cop, but now there is the potential for Crawford to include Mel in cases as a consultant.  I love this idea without the cliche of the cop boyfriend.  Mel's friend Luz is present, as well as Olivier and Zack   Kobe, a neighborhood juvenile is an added nice touch.

The plot was good and kept my interest.  The clues are sprinkled throughout to keep the pace going, and the mix between mystery and home life makes this a good cozy story.  There is plenty to draw you in and keep you reading.  The climax had my favorite, a blood-pumping killer reveal that topped the story off with a great adrenal rush and some good ghostly chills.  

This edition in the series features plenty of interesting characters and suspects, ghostly nuances culminating in a seance and Mel's developing medium talents. This is a great addition to the series and advances the characters, particularly Mel and Graham.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list