Standout Books of the Year

First we have the winners of last weeks Blog Jog Day Book giveaways.  The winner of prize pack #1 is Jennifer and the winner of prize pack #2 is Patricia Rockwell.  You should have received an email asking for your mailing address to send the books to.  Congratulations!  

This week I want to hear from YOU.  We are nearing the end of the year and I would like to open this up to hear from each of you as to what mystery/suspense novel did you read this year that really stood out.  Which book did you read that you had to share with everybody?  What was the stellar mystery/PI/police procedural/cozy/amateur sleuth/suspense novel that was so well written with great characters and masterfully told?  Leave a comment so we can share these gems with all the readers of the blog.

For me I would have to say Wild Penance by Sandi Ault and Tomorrow River by Lesley Kagan were the standouts for me.  Runners up would be The Crocodile's Last Embrace by Suzanne Aruda and Royal Blood by Rhys Bowen.  Check out my reviews by clicking on the titles.

Your turn.

The holidays are great for pot luck dinners and I found this fantastic dessert last week and just had to share it with you.

Chocolate Graham Cracker Eclairs

Ingredients

    * 2 individual packages graham crackers
    * 2 (3 ounce) packages instant French Vanilla pudding mix
    * 3 cups milk
    * 1 (8 ounce) container frozen French Vanilla whipped topping, thawed
   

Directions

1. Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch pan with graham crackers.
2. In a large bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Stir well. Stir in whipped topping to pudding mixture.
3. Spread half of mixture over graham cracker layer. Top with another layer of graham crackers and the remaining pudding. Top all with a final layer of graham crackers
4. frost with chocolate sauce (see below) or a package of prepared chocolate frosting. If you use a can of frosting, remove all foil and microwave about 30 seconds (just enough to warm it.)  This allows you to use less for just a glaze.

Refrigerate until serving.


Chocolate Sauce Recipe:
1/3 cup cocoa
1 cup sugar
1 teasp vanilla
1 stick butter
1/4 cup milk

Mix cocoa and sugar in sauce pan.
Add  vanilla, butter and milk.
Boil for 1 minute, then set aside to cool.
Once cooled top pan of graham cracker eclairs

We are approaching the end of this year and I would truly appreciate your vote if you haven't already.  If each follower voted for me I would win!!

* * * * * If you have enjoyed this blog, then PRETTY PLEASE vote for this blog as best Entertainment Blog (proving reading is entertainment) CLICK HERE and also as best Hobby Blog CLICK HERE. Thank you most sincerely. There are voting buttons on the sidebar too. You will have to register with Blogger's Choice, but it is a simple process. I am listed under Mysterysuspence.Blogspot.com. * * * * *  

 

Review - Bellfield Hall: Or, The Observations of Miss Dido Kent

Happy Thanksgiving!  For those not in the United States, this is a holiday that reminds us to give thanks for all we have.  

I stumbled across this Regency England mystery and the publisher was kind enough to send it for review. We have a country manor house with some strange events topped off with a murder of an unknown woman and a cast of varied characters. The main character is an independent, and therefore single, woman who may be too cleaver in discerning everybody's secrets.

Author: Anna Dean

Copyright: February 2010 (Minotaur Books) 300 pgs

Series: 1st in Dido Kent Mysteries

Sensuality: N/A

Mystery Sub-genre: Historical British Cozy

Main Character: Miss Dido Kent, spinster genteel woman

Setting: 1805, English country side

Obtained Through: publisher for honest review

Miss Dido Kent is called to a country manor house by her niece, Catherine. Catherine's fiancé, Richard Montague, breaks off the engagement just after the announcement of the engagement and while still at their engagement party. Michael is approached by a strange man, not a word is spoken, and suddenly he cancels the impending wedding and leaves the property. Dido rushes to the manor house to assist her niece. She arrives a few hours after a women is found murdered in the shrubbery - a gun shot to the face making her unidentifiable.

Miss Kent's first priority is to find out why Richard Montague abruptly broke off the engagement. But she can't help noticing how every person at Bellfield Hall, even the gatekeeper, appears to have secrets. She also suspects there just might be a connection between the murdered woman and the strange actions of young Richard.

Occasionally letters to Dido's sister are employed to good effect, breaking up the story and giving a good glimpse at Dido's thoughts and feelings which are insightful and sometimes humorous. Dido proves to be observant and intelligent, which is surprising to some who discount her for being a woman and for being single. There is a cast of interesting characters including a gentleman whom Dido shares in a letter to her sister makes her wish she hadn't given up on the whole idea of falling in love.

Dido really is the heart of the book and gracefully manages to figure out the murdered girl's identity in the first few chapters. This new series is being touted as Jane Austen meets Miss Marple. After reading it I can certainly see that.

There are just a few items I took issue with. When Dido figures out who the murdered girl was, she kept it to herself even though the police were trying to ID the body. Just a simple explanation of why she remained quite would have sufficed, but that didn't happen. There was a side story of another guest, the Colonel, always trying to locate a footman which I still don't understand why that was included at all.

The author does an outstanding job bringing the era and its societal norms to life which is critical in such a story. The dialog maintains the period and is witty. The characters are all finely drawn. The story moves along at a leisurely pace but clues are being dropped all along so pay attention. There is no suspenseful confrontation with the killer which was a bit of a let down (I must be spoiled, but I like that).

Overall this is a standout debut that lays a solid foundation to build a series upon. I foresee this not only being a hit, but the author developing a devoted fan base quickly. If you love mysteries and Regency England this will most likely become your new favorite.

This is "Mrs Bennet Regency Cat" by Tara Fly

This is a digital painting depicting Mrs. Bennet from 

Tara's cat adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice".

We are approaching the end of this year and I would truly appreciate your vote if you haven't already.  If each follower voted for me I would win!!

* * * * * If you have enjoyed this blog, then PRETTY PLEASE vote for this blog as best Entertainment Blog (proving reading is entertainment) CLICK HERE and also as best Hobby Blog CLICK HERE. Thank you most sincerely. There are voting buttons on the sidebar too. You will have to register with Blogger's Choice, but it is a simple process. I am listed under Mysterysuspence.Blogspot.com. * * * * *  

  

Blog Jog Day

 

Thank you for stopping by my Blog! 

We celebrate Mystery and Crime fiction here.

If you enjoy a good mystery or suspense book

take a few moments to check out our reviews,

many author interviews, book giveaways, videos and occasional recipes.

Please explore all this Blog has to offer, 

then jog on over to Susan Whitfield's blog. 

If you would like to visit a different Blog in the jog, 

go to http://blogjogday.blogspot.com.

Today we have two book grab bags to give away!  The book packages includes three (3) books to the winner.

Package #1 includes:

An Uplifting Murder by Elaine Viets

 

On Josie's latest assignment, her former teacher-now working in a lingerie shop-is in need of some serious support when a customer is found murdered. Unfortunately, the teacher's alibi is flimsier than the camisoles she sells, so Josie will need to bust out her sleuthing skills to expose the real killer.

The Diva Cooks a Goose by Krista Davis

A Scrooge steals presents right from under Sophie Winston's family Christmas tree. Then her sister-in-law's father show's up with a diva girlfriend just a month after his separation. More than one person is thinking of committing a merry murder-until it actually happens! With many under suspicion for the deadly deed, can Sophie find the murderer and restore the Christmas spirit before it's too late?

False Impressions by Terri Thayer

Professional rubber stamper April Buchert is shocked to discover that the brother of one of the Stamping Sisters faked his own death, only to really die in a tragic car accident-that was not an accident at all. Now this heated family drama could cause one cold winter if the killer isn't found.

Package #2 includes:

Dirty Rotten Tendrils by Kate Collins

When high-powered lawyer Ken "the Lip" Lipinski is found dead from a suspicious overdose, florist and amateur sleuth Abby Knight finds it hard to swallow that his opposing counsel-and her old boss-is the murderer. 

 The Pumpkin Muffin Murder by Livia J. Washburn

Phyllis loves to spend quality time with her grandson. She'll be taking him to a festival with hopes of winning the baking contest-now that her friendly competitor, Carolyn, is judging and not competing. But when a decorative scarecrow is actually a dead body in disguise, it's Phyllis's sleuthing skills that are needed.

The dead body is that of the festival's organizer- and his wife, Carolyn's friend, falls under suspicion. Carolyn turns to Phyllis for help, because who's better at dishing out some justice than a baker extraordinaire who can handle the heat.

Murder at the PTA by Laura Alden

After Tarver Elementary School's unpopular principal is murdered, PTA secretary and mother of two Beth Kennedy puts aside bake sales and class trip fund-raisers to catch a killer. And when members of the PTA become suspects, she realizes solving this murder will not be as easy as ABC.

How to Enter:

*** First, you must be a member (follower) of this blog.  Restricted to U.S. and Canada only***

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

I will stop taking entries for this giveaway Friday November 26 at midnight and will announce the winner Monday  November 29th. 

For each point you earn you will have one entry in the random drawing. There is a chance for 9 points total for each contestant and thus 9 entries each.

+1 for leaving a comment with your correct email information. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving your email in a comment.

+2 for each new member you bring to this blog (you must identify the new member you brought) limit of 2 new per contest

+2 posting on Facebook recommending this blog or post, please supply link in comments

+1 for having this blog's button in a side bar of your blog with a link back, please supply link in comments

+1 for tweeting about this blog, please post link in comments

Comment/email example:

+1 here is my email address so you can notify me I won _ _ _ _ _ (at) _ _ _ (dot) com

+2 for new google member Sadie197 I brought to your blog

+2 here is the link to my Facebook page where I posted about your blog

+1 for adding your blog button to my blog sidebar (http://myblog.blogspot.com/)

+1 here is the link to the tweet I did on this Blog ( http://twitter.com/NICKI0162/status/7657117606)

I love sharing animal videos...or videos related to the books I am reviewing.  So enjoy these cute animal videos :-)

We are approaching the end of this year and I would truly appreciate your vote if you haven't already.  If each follower voted for me I would win!!

* * * * * If you have enjoyed this blog, then PRETTY PLEASE vote for this blog as best Entertainment Blog (proving reading is entertainment) CLICK HERE and also as best Hobby Blog CLICK HERE. Thank you most sincerely. There are voting buttons on the sidebar too. You will have to register with Blogger's Choice, but it is a simple process. I am listed under Mysterysuspence.Blogspot.com. * * * * *

 

 

Review - Berried to the Hilt

With Thanksgiving approaching I naturally thought of...cranberries!  This mystery series is set on Cranberry Island, named for the natural cranberries growing on the island.  FYI, I discovered there really is a Cranberry Island  which makes the story more tangible somehow. So this week we go North to Maine for some Pirate lore and sunken treasure.  Arggggg!

Author:  Karen MacInerney

Copyright:  November 2010 (Midnight Ink) 280 pgs

Series:  4th in Gray Whale Inn Mysteries

Sensuality:  N/A

Mystery Sub-genre:  Cozy

Main Character:  Natalie Barnes, Bed & Breakfast innkeeper

Setting:  Modern day, Cranberry Island Maine

Obtained Through:  publisher for honest review

The Island seems quiet as Natalie and John Quinton look to getting married soon. Natalie has been roped into judging an island baking contest which is likely to get Natalie into trouble with her neighbors.  Then the normality and peace are disturbed by a ship wreck discovered by a local lobersterman.  Two rival teams arrive to recover the wreckage, University of Maine Archeologists and a treasure hunting team - both groups staying at Natalie's Inn.  Gerald McIntire, leader of the treasure hunters, is threatened by elderly local Eleazar for intending to take the ship's "treasure" for profit when it is the Island people's... and by the next morning McIntire is found dead- floating at the shipwreck site and Eleazar is arrested.  Natalie and John vow they must clear Eleazar's name and quick.  At the same time as McIntire is killed, an island teen with a penchant for trouble goes missing along with the treasure hunter's ship.

Then there is the sunken ship itself.  Is the wreck the remains of the Myra Barton, the missing ship of island sea captain Jonah Selfridge? Or the elusive Black Marguerite, which belonged to one of the most notorious pirates of the 17th century and vanished without a trace—except for the ghost ship that old-timers say roams the water on fog-shrouded nights?  Natalie quickly finds herself in full sleuth mode and danger draws closer to her with each new tidbit uncovered.

The Gray Whale Inn mysteries are always great escapes. Natalie is an interesting main character, having moved from Texas to open the Gray Whale Inn on Cranberry Island.  The sleuthing is done around the running of the Inn and Island life.  The setting is ideal for a cozy series, allowing enough variety in the vacationers while maintaining the isolated feeling.  The pacing keeps a steady march throughout and the plot, while not very complicated, is sufficient to keep most readers interest to the end.  The story transports and envelopes the reader to provide a mini-vacation which is one of the reasons I enjoy the series.

Natalie's Beau has not  grown on me, I like him enough but have nothing I really like about him.  I do enjoy Natalie's best friend Charlene who is a hoot.  The island regulars are varied and eccentric which provides plenty of "characters" to flavor the story.  The author does an outstanding job with transporting the reader to this slightly wild and isolated setting.

I must warn readers, Natalie is a snoop of the first degree.  Under the guise of delivering fresh towels she investigates her guests' rooms.  If that is something that would irritate you then you must consider whether you would still enjoy the book.  The climax is first rate and suspenseful with some heart stopping moments and the wrap up is well done.  Overall a solid cozy that is nicely balanced between characters and the sleuthing with plenty of Island flavor.

For those who love recipes with your mystery, this series always includes a few recipes that Natalie has made in the book for her Gray Whale Inn guests.

Since I found there really is a Cranberry Island in Maine, I found these short videos which give a good feel for the island with its rocky shores and evergreens that are prevalent in the books.

We are approaching the end of this year and I would truly appreciate your vote if you haven't already.  If each follower voted for me I would win!!

* * * * * If you have enjoyed this blog, then PRETTY PLEASE vote for this blog as best Entertainment Blog (proving reading is entertainment) CLICK HERE and also as best Hobby Blog CLICK HERE. Thank you most sincerely. There are voting buttons on the sidebar too. You will have to register with Blogger's Choice, but it is a simple process. I am listed under Mysterysuspence.Blogspot.com. * * * * *  

 

Author Interview - Judi McCoy

Judi is the author of many books including the Dog Walker Mystery series. Judi and her husband Dennis live in the peace and solitude of Virginia’s beautiful eastern shore. Retired from her career as a nationally rated women’s gymnastic judge, she now writes and promotes her dog walker series full time, teaching aspiring authors and speaking at conferences around the country. 

You may read the review I did of her latest Dog Walker Mystery here.  

In this heartwarming interview you will see how Judi has immortalized her BFF, best furry friend.  Please give a warm welcome to author Judi McCoy!

- Do you start your next mystery with the killer, the victim or a plot idea?
I usually start with a victim. Every character in my stories runs the risk of being killed or being a killer. I never know when the idea will strike. But I don’t want the characters I love to be killed so I choose them and then think of a way I can involve them in a murder.

- Do you outline the plot or some variation of that (a little/a lot of detail, a strict 3 act structure etc) before sitting down and writing?
I do a lot of thinking and talking with other writers. I also bounce ideas off my sister, who is a great mystery lover.


- What is your process for developing a character? Do you use pictures, a worksheet or just let the character(s) tell you about him/herself as you write?
If I’m basing the character on a friend, I try to use their actions, reactions, & thoughts.  If it’s a character I’ve
created on my own, I go with my gut and flesh them out as I need to. But I never write anything down. I let the character grow in my mind as I write it.  If my character is based on a friend (someone real) then I talk to them too, and ask if they have an idea for what there character might like to do.


- How do you find time for writing, what works for you - and do you have anything special you do before writing, particular music or a special room/location that helps you get in the zone and write?  

I have an office I love and I sit in there and stew a lot. I have lots of pictures of Rudy, the yorkiepoo I based the dog character on in my books, and he inspires me. I look at his pix and close my eyes, imagine what he’d think or say in a certain situation and the idea just comes to me.

Rudy was my boy, the very best dog in the entire world, and I miss him every day. He and Ellie have the same relationship  I had with my Rudy, and that will never change. Often in their dialogues, Ellie is saying the same thing to her Rudy that I said to mine. 


- What is your work schedule like when you're writing and how long does it take you to write a book?
I look at my writing as if it were a job. I get to my desk by 9 every morning, take one hour lunch break, and go back to work. I’ve very disciplined. If I need a hair cut or have to get my nails done or go to the grocery store, I schedule it on the same day so I don’t waste time more than one day in a week.

- What in your background prepared you to write mystery novels?
Absolutely nothing. I was getting bored writing what I thought to be ‘one note’ books (romances) and wanted to do something more exciting, but I hate violence. That meant no thrillers and a carefully constructed mystery that showed a murder without blood and guts. That is NOT easy to do. 

- How did you get your first break toward getting published?  Was it at a writer's conference or mailing a query letter etc?
I was lucky enough to find an agent first. She was/is wonderful. Was patient with me as my writing grew stronger, encouraged me, and always let me write what I wanted. She was even the one to encourage me to try a mystery, even after I told her I had no idea how to construct one.

- What are you currently reading?

I’ve just started a book by Carl Hiassen, who I love, and I just finished the first book in the ‘Repairman Jack’ series. I heard the line was the favorite books of Stephen King and thought I’d try one to see what a master enjoyed. I always buy the first book in a series because I want the ‘set-up’ so I got number one. It was a good read, so I’ll probably go back for book two

- What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Hmm. I don’t know. Would talking to the picture of a deceased dog be considered a quirk?

- Do you participate in a critique group (or have you in the past?) What are the pros and cons of critique groups?I think critique groups are very important, especially for a new writer. I participated in one where the group met face to face each month and a few others that were done on line. I was very insecure about my writing and used a critique group up until book nine or so. Then the group fell apart and I had to make it on my own—which I did. But I still go back to a good writing friend to discuss ideas, plots, character dialogue, etc.   

Thank you so much Judi.  Every time I read a Dog Walker Mystery I will know that your beloved Rudy lives on to brighten all our reading lives!  That is a tremendous tribute to the love we share with our pets.

With the holiday season approaching, perhaps a donation of pet food, blankets, toys or money to your local no-kill rescue/shelter would make a great way to pay back the love pets give us.

We are approaching the end of this year and I would truly appreciate your vote if you haven't already.  If each follower voted for me I would win!!

* * * * * If you have enjoyed this blog, then PRETTY PLEASE vote for this blog as best Entertainment Blog (proving reading is entertainment) CLICK HERE and also as best Hobby Blog CLICK HERE. Thank you most sincerely. There are voting buttons on the sidebar too. You will have to register with Blogger's Choice, but it is a simple process. I am listed under Mysterysuspence.Blogspot.com. * * * * *