Reviewed By Liz

ISBN 1894917332

Rendezvous Crime – Paperback
September 1st, 2007

MEMORIES ARE MURDER is a Belle Palmer mystery. Belle is a woman of a certain age who runs a small real estate business in Northern Ontario. Her short but vital peak season is off to a poor start when her co-worker is called away to tend to an injured paramour and she arranges an unusual replacement for herself – a sassy young pregnant woman nicknamed Yoyo. Needless to say, it takes Belle and Yoyo a while to thrash out a comfortable working relationship.

Belle also rents her neighbors’ house to a mysterious stranger – and then discovers that he is actually the boy she dated in high school. They just have time to catch up on each other’s lives before Gary is found dead. Gary, a zoologist and professor, had come north to study the behavior of elk in the area. Belle knows that accidents in remote areas can be fatal, but something about Gary’s death doesn’t sit right with her. When Gary’s death is followed by other unusual incidents, Belle and her new ally Yoyo take matters into their own hands.

MEMORIES ARE MURDER is an interesting blend. On one hand, it is a treasure trove of information about Northern Ontario. Belle Palmer is very in touch with her surroundings and describes for the reader the flora and fauna around her. She also tells us the human history in the area and how people have interacted with the land and animals there. Then there is Belle herself, who is struggling with her business and a father in his declining years. And when Gary re-enters her life, her worldview gets somewhat tilted as she has to reassess past events in light of new information. All in all, an interesting book that makes me want to visit the area – with lots of bug spray.

Favorite character? Probably Yoyo because she is unexpected. Did I guess it? Some of it. Will I read another? Yes. How can you pass up a title like BUSH POODLES ARE MURDER?

Check out Lou’s web site at www.louallin.com.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2008

Available at Amazon!

ISBN 0312377703

St. Martin’s Minotaur – Hardcover
January 8th 2008

I am hoping that DEATH WAS THE OTHER WOMAN will turn out to be the first book in a series about Kitty Pangborn. Kitty has taken a job as the secretary for PI Dex Theroux in Depression Era L.A. This is a big step down for the young society woman and it was forced upon her by the loss of the family fortune and her father’s suicide after the stock market crash. While it might seem that Kitty has the weight of the world on her shoulders, she is soldiering on bravely and appreciates that she could do a lot worse in current economic climate. And she is quite fond of Dex, a mook on the outside, but a war vet who’s experiences have left him fragile and who brings out Kitty’s protective instincts, rather than her romantic ones.

When Dex’s drinking causes Kitty to worry that he will crack up the car on his way to a stakeout, she insists on driving him. But the two of them end up falling asleep in the car during the long wait and awake to find a murdered man. What started off as a simple tail job on a straying lover becomes complicated when the body disappears and the police show up to question Dex and he and Kitty are dragged into a quagmire.

Dialog in historical mysteries is an interesting thing. The author has to walk a fine line between capturing the way people of the day thought and spoke and disturbing the modern reader by appearing fake. I find that the dialog in noir genre has a tendency to sound goofy as characters talk about torpedoes fighting over lettuce with their roscoes (those are hired killers, money, and pistols to you and me). But the spin that Richards puts on this noir tale – telling it from the point of view of the outsider girl Friday – gives the story a kind of quirkiness that allows the lingo to go by without much trouble.

Did I guess it? Some of it. Favorite character? Dex’s buddy, Mustard, a born fixer. Will I read another? Yes. The odd pairing of Kitty and Dex makes this book – hopefully a series – a winner.

Check out Linda’s web site at http://lindalrichards.com/.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2008

Available at Amazon!

ISBN 1569475040

Soho Constable – Hardcover
April 1st 2008

RECONSTRUCTION is a book that I would never have picked out for my own reading enjoyment. Suspense isn’t my favorite mystery category and the book deals with a hostage situation at a nursery school, which would seem to indicate violence against children – something I try to avoid. Luckily for me, SOHO press sent me the book anyway. RECONSTRUCTION isn’t just a book, it is a literary striptease that will tantalize you until the wee hours of the morning.

Yes, it is about a hostage situation at a nursery school, but it doesn’t involve the slaughter of innocents that recent events might bring to mind. Instead, it involves a scared young man named Jaime who is looking for someone. Jaime is caught up in circumstances he doesn’t understand and is unable to control. His lover, Miro, has disappeared, possibly with a large sum of money that didn’t belong to him. Before he disappeared, Miro gave Jaime the name of one of his co-workers, Ben Whistler, and told Jaime to find Ben if anything unusual happened. Inside the school, Ben, Jaime, and even the hostages try to piece together the puzzle of Miro’s disappearance. Outside, the hostage negotiators, police, and shadowy government agents are doing much the same. But are they aiming for the right answer or just containment?

RECONSTRUCTION is the most enthralling book that I have read in a long while. Both the book and my reaction to it surprised and delighted me. And, unlike my usual reviews, that is all I am going to tell you because I don’t want to ruin it for you. Plan on reading it in one sitting!

Okay, I do have one other note. RECONSTRUCTION is from a new imprint from SOHO entitled SOHO Constable that features British mysteries. RECONSTRUCTION is Herron’s fourth book and, if it is anything to go by, we should expect more great things from both him and SOHO Constable in the future.

Mick Herron lives in Oxford. His novels, Why We Die, The Last Voice You Hear, and Down Cemetery Road, all follow a group of Oxford residents.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2008

Available at Amazon!

ISBN 1-59350-027-0

Alyson Books – Paperback
April 1st 2008

FOOL ON THE HILL is the second book in the Tess Camillo series. Tess is a 40-something computer programmer who lives in San Diego and discovers the body of musician Cody Crowne on her morning walk. Tess decides to dig into Crowne’s life and possible motives for his murder because her housemate, Lana, is a longtime Crowne admirer and because Crowne’s death is so unusual – he had been crucified and left in a public park. While religion seems the obvious motive in this unusual killing, Crowne affected the lives of many people during his long career, and not all of them appreciate it.

Tess is helped in her investigations by her housemate, Lana, with whom she has an unusual relationship. Former lovers, Tess and Lana, stayed friends after Lana fell in love with a man and gave up on being bisexual. Since neither of the women have had great success in the romance department, the two live together amicably to combat the high cost of living in Southern California. Though they have very different temperments, the women share a strong bond and Tess hasn’t given up hope that Lana will return to her someday.

The mystery in this book is good and has some delightful red herrings to tantalize the reader, but the character development is what really makes it a winner. I would guess that Hunt followed the old adage to “write what you know” and incorporated a lot of autobiographical information into the character of Tess. Tess’ search for companionship while she hopes for Lana to return to her, her physical and emotional recovery from a mastectomy as a result of breast cancer, and the wonderful internal dialogues she has with herself on such topics as being a middle-aged woman on the outside but a bad-ass, leather-clad, rock music loving rebel on the inside (the latter thought triggered in response to a young man calling her “ma’am”) all ring true. Even if you aren’t a middle-aged California lesbian, I think you will see some part of yourself in Tess because her emotions are so universal and captured so well by Hunt.

Favorite character? The remarkable Tess. Did I guess it? No. Will I read another? Definitely.

Check out Morgan’s web site at www.morganhuntbooks.com.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2008

Available at Amazon!

Jack is back!

We are delighted to welcome Jack Getze back to Reviewed by Liz. Jack is hitting the road again to promote his second book, BIG MONEY. We read, loved, and reviewed BIG MONEY and you can read our review here. If you missed the BIG NUMBERS World Tour, check out the category on the right of the same name. Jack entertained us with stories from the road as he traveled to exotic destinations, survived wardrobe malfunctions, signed books, and endured a hailstorm of frogs. Yes, frogs. Read it and find out.

FAIRFIELD, CONN. — I take deep breaths as Diane Defonce takes the microphone to introduce me. Diane is Manager of this two-story Borders store, and was just named Bookseller of the Year by The Romance Writers of America. Tonight is mystery night, however, and seven authors–me included–are talking about their books.

“So tell us about your new novel, Jack,” Diane says.

Here I go again. The pressure’s on. I have ten minutes or so to interest a room full of people in my novel. I’ve learned from experience that being clever, funny, entertaining, and charming is absolutely mandatory.

I wish I’d remembered to wear socks.

“My second novel, BIG MONEY, was sparked by a true event,” I say. “A gangster’s black limousine pulled to the curb in front of my father-in-law’s contracting office one day, and three large men made him go for a ride.”

So far, so good. I have their attention. Now I give them the punch line.

“I didn’t see this happen to my father-in-law. I just read about it on the front page of the local newspaper–the same day I met him.”

It’s a great story. And true. It was 1979. My future wife and I traveled back to New Jersey to meet her parents and attend the wedding of my wife’s brother. At the kitchen dinette that first morning, I found myself eating breakfast with the star of the local paper’s front page.

The big news that day was about the trial of a local gangster, and much of the previous day’s testimony concerned my future wife’s father and that limousine ride. The driver had been wearing a wire, and much of the conversation was played aloud in court.

In the back seat of the limousine that day, a gangster threatened my father-in-law with death if he didn’t pay for protection. My father-in-law said…well, he refused in colorful language. Told the gangster to go ahead and kill him. Then the gangster threatened his wife and children–including MY future wife. My father-in-law said, go ahead and kill them, too, and something like, “They hate me anyway.”

There were a lot of blank spots in the newspaper story, quotes with holes for cursing. At one point in court, during the playing of the taped conversations, a juror raised his hand and asked, “Which one is the bad guy again?”

Of course, when it came down to pointing out the guys who’d taken him for that limousine ride, my future wife’s father refused. He said he couldn’t be sure.

My father-in-law was tough, not stupid.

“You were a big hit,” Diane says after the show. “Does that story really have anything to do with your book?”

“There’s a limo ride,” I say.

Check out Jack’s web site at www.jackgetze.com.

Get your copy of Big Money from Amazon

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com (c)2008

ISBN 0977191354

Pemberley Press – Paperback
April 1st 2008

LETHAL LEGEND is the fourth and, apparently, final installment in the Diana Spaulding series. Set in Maine in 1888, the story centers around Diana, a writer for a scandalous newspaper, and her fiancé, doctor Ben Northcote. Ben has been called to the private island residence of an old friend to treat the workmen from an architectural dig taking place on the island. Ben realizes that the men have intentionally been poisoned and when Diana joins him on the island retreat, her journalistic instincts practically compel her to dig out the truth.

But the people on the island are an unusual group and they all seem to have checkered pasts. Ben and Diana must sort out the motives and determine whether current events are tied to the archaeological dig, the people themselves, or to the island’s ominous reputation. And they have to finish before their much-anticipated wedding, over which their eccentric mothers are about to come to blows.

There is something about the style of LETHAL LEGEND that is very welcoming. It is a traditional mystery that, even though this is the first book I have read in the series, felt comfortable and made me want to sit down and get to know the characters. For lack of a better term, I would call it a Nancy Drew mystery for grownups. It is less violent than much of the fare on offer today, it has a wonderfully “old-fashioned” detective adventure feel, and will remind you why you started reading mysteries in the first place.

Emerson has also included some of the fantastic historical tidbits we are used to seeing in her Face Down series and has developed some characters with interest and depth – Ben’s mentally ill brother, his reclusive friend, both of the couple’s unusual mothers, and the mysterious detective Justus Palmer. I look forward to going back to the earlier books in the series to meet the recurring characters and enjoy them fully.

Did I guess it? Some of it. Favorite character? Spoiled for choice here. I probably have to go with the bickering mothers, but the mysterious stranger is a close third. Will I read another? Definitely.

Check out Kathy Lynn’s web site at www.kathylynnemerson.com.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2008

Available at Amazon!

ISBN: 0977191354

Pemberley Press – 4/1/08

LETHAL LEGEND – A Diana Spaulding Mystery – Diana’s wedding preparations are interrupted when her fiance Ben receives an urgent plea for help from a reclusive childhood friend in the final volume of this mystery series. Working on a secretive archeological dig on Graham Somener’s island off the coast of Maine, a team of men have all been poisoned. When one is murdered in a diving accident and Graham refuses to call the police, Diana and Ben fear he may have fallen under the spell of a confidence woman posing as an archeologist from the Peabody Museum. Their investigations threaten Ben’s friendship and imperil Diana’s life before the conundrum is finally solved.

Kathy Lynn Emerson writes two historical mystery series and one contemporary mystery series and occasionally ventures into non fiction. In the Face Down series, featuring Susanna, Lady Appleton, sixteenth century gentlewoman, herbalist, and sleuth, the most recent entry is FACE DOWN O’ER THE BORDER. The Diana Spaulding 1888 Mysteries feature a late nineteenth century American journalist. NO MORTAL REASON (April, 2007) follows DEADLIER THAN THE PEN (set in Maine) and FATAL AS A FALLEN WOMAN. As Kaitlyn Dunnett she pens the contemporary Liss MacCrimmon Mysteries (KILT DEAD) which take place in the fictional Maine town of Moosetookalook. Kathy lives in Wilton, Maine with her husband and assorted cats and has just completed work on HOW TO WRITE KILLER HISTORICAL MYSTERIES: THE ART AND ADVENTURE OF SLEUTHING THROUGH THE PAST

Check out Kathy’s web site at www.kathylynnemerson.com.

Available at Amazon

New book releases are a feature provided for our readers by reviewedbyliz, but are not written by us. Where available, the descriptions of the books are those provided by the Author or publisher.

ISBN 1-59133-238-9

Hilliard & Harris Publishers – Hardcover
March 12th 2008

Austin Carr returns in Jack Getze’s second book, BIG MONEY. Our favorite stockbroker has lost his securities license, but this doesn’t keep his boss, Vick Bonacelli, from leaving him in charge of the store while Vick takes a long vacation. Vick also makes Carr promise to watch over his adult daughter Carmela and his mother, Mama Bones. As soon as Vick’s boat sails, Carmela’s ex-husband shows up, Mama Bones is arrested, the regulatory audit turns up some potentially disastrous transactions in the company’s books, and the local mob boss politely requests that Shore Securities launder some money for him. Well, perhaps not so politely…

Yes, it is a typical day in the life of Austin Carr. Carr is the everyman who lives his entire life caught between a rock and a hard place – and watching him try to wiggle out is a delight. A despised ex-husband but devoted father, Carr is motivated to protect his small ownership stake in the securities company so he can provide for his children. But Carr is out of his league when it comes to the machinations of the local mafia and has to rely on the more worldly assistance of his favorite bartender, Luis, and the surprising Mama Bones.

I love it when an author’s second book surpasses a good debut, and Getze achieves this with BIG MONEY. Getze hits his stride in this book and tips us the wink on Carr’s true character. For all his posturing, Carr is always the most naïve person in the room (even when his children are present) and you end up both laughing out loud at his view of the world and rolling your eyes at his sexual impulses, which he has as much control over as your average 14 year-old male of the species. But because he is obviously the innocent in the piece, you end up cheering for him, as well. BIG MONEY becomes a real page turner as you find yourself desperately hoping that everything will turn out all right for Austin Carr in the end.

Favorite character? The Creeper has some wonderful and bizarre appearances in this book, but I have to go with Austin Carr. Did I guess it? Some of it. Will I read another? Absolutely.

Check out Jack’s web site at jackgetze.com.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2008

Available at Amazon!

ISBN 978-1-56947-474-7

Soho Press – Hardcover
2008

In MURDER IN THE RUE DE PARADIS. Aimée’s former lover, Yves, has returned and asks her to marry him. Aimée accepts and begins to contemplate a more settled life, but the next day Yves leaves their bed before Aimée awakens and is murdered. Aimée learns some surprising information about Yves and comes to suspecs that Yves’ last overseas investigative journalist assignment has something to do with his death. As she investigates, Aimée realizes that distant political controversies have made their way to Paris and a terrorist group is about to make a major statement if Aimée can’t stop them in time.

I have a love/hate relationship with Cara Black’s Aimée Leduc series. I love the historical and architectural details that she includes in the books. Practically every building Aimée walks by is described – its appearance, its history, its claim to fame – and this gives so much flavor to the books. As I read them, I want maps, pictures, and an encyclopedia standing by to augment her intriguing little histories because my interest is truly piqued.

Strangely enough, the reason that I’m not wild about the series is because of something Black does well, too. Black has captured a very old-fashioned noir detective atmosphere. She has set the series in modern day France and has a female main character, but many of the characteristics are there. Leduc is a loner with few close friends or family and who mourns and is obsessed with her past. She works outside the law – she makes sure she gets to the crime scene, the victim’s apartment, or potential witnesses before the police and removes evidence and instructs the witness to run from the police, hindering any other investigation. She uses people, lies constantly, and the way she waltzes through any building she wants – public or private – is just bizarre. She is incredibly self-centered and her single-minded pursuit of the answer puts others in jeopardy or gets them killed. Black writes this character well, but the dark style just isn’t me. But if you like your characters edgy and in an urban atmosphere, you should definitely try this modern noir series.

Favorite character? René, Aimée’s business partner. Did I guess it? Yes. Will I read another? Tough call. I do so love those architectural and historical details… What I really need is the Cara Black walking tour of historical Paris – for that I will be first in line.

Check out Cara’s web site at www.carablack.com.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2008

Available at Amazon!

ISBN 1590582322

Poisoned Pen Press – Hardcover
March 15 2008

THE IRON TONGUE OF MIDNIGHT is the fourth book in the Tito Amato series. The book is set in 1740 and features Venetian castrato Tito Amato. Tito has been offered the lead role in a new opera, but he must leave Venice for the countryside to begin rehearsals immediately at the villa of the composer’s patroness. Tito’s brother-in-law, Artist Gussie Rumbolt, has been given a commission to paint scenery for the production that features the villa’s grape harvest. Anxious to leave their shared house in Venice to their wives for a while, the two accept their unorthodox invitations.

When Tito and Gussie arrive at the villa, they find the cast already assembled and realize that the clash of temperaments of the singers, composer, the patroness, and her husband are going to make this a difficult endeavor. But when an unknown man turns up dead in the hallway outside the bedrooms of the performers and the constable is out of indefinitely, Tito realizes that he and Gussie are going to have to dig a little deeper to determine if any of the villa’s current occupants really do know their uninvited guest.

Although set in a different time and place, THE IRON TONGUE OF MIDNIGHT reads very much like a classic English country house party murder. But Myers throws in some historical information and also manages to capture the atmosphere of a stage performance in production – the rivalries, the uncertainty, and the incredible enthusiasm and comraderie that comes with being an entertainer. All this and good characters and plot make the book an excellent read.

Favorite character? Tito is very interesting, but I like Gussie and want to see more of him. Did I guess it? Parts. Will I read another? Absolutely. Fortunately, there are three more already written!

Check out Beverle’s web site at www.beverlegravesmyers.com.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2008

Available at Amazon!