KN Magazine: Reviews
Murderabilia by Carl Vonderau / Review by Sheila Sobel
Murderabilia
By Carl Vonderau
Midnight Ink
$16.99
ISBN 978-0738761305
Publication Date: July 8, 2019
*Killer Nashville is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you purchase a book from the links on this page, Amazon will give Killer Nashville a small percentage of the total sale. Killer Nashville receives zero compensation from publishers who have been selected for the Book of the Day.
Book of the Day
2020 Silver Falchion Nominee
How far will one man go to protect his family? To Hell and back if that’s what it takes.
Since childhood, William McNary worked to erase his past and craft a new future. One without the terror his father—serial killer Harvey Dean Kogan—created when he murdered, dismembered, posed and photographed thirteen innocent women. It wasn’t long before Kogan’s “Preying Hands” photographs of artfully staged severed body parts launched a macabre market for his father’s “Murderabilia.” William had no choice but to reinvent himself.
After overcoming years of challenges, his horrific history is finally behind him. Or so William thinks. He has a new life—a loving wife, two adorable children, and a supportive, also re-invented, sister. He’s happily employed as a private banker and living a peaceful, if not humdrum, life in the burbs. For him, life is perfect. Until he gets the call that shatters his perfect world. From someone claiming to be his brother.
When the dismembered body of his wife’s friend and colleague is found, and with nearly irrefutable evidence against him, William McNary is arrested for her gruesome murder. His once perfect life is unraveling at warp speed. When bail is granted after new evidence is presented, William is released. He leaves jail determined to find Harvey Dean Kogan’s copycat killer. Even if it means reconnecting with the brutal murderer he used to call “Dad.”
Murderabilia is a dark tale that touches a deep-seated fear held by all—the loss of everything we hold dear. Carl Vonderau’s debut novel will keep the reader’s heart racing from page one to the end.
Carl and his wife live in San Diego. When not writing terrifying thrillers, Carl spends his time as a partner at San Diego Social Venture Partners, an organization that mentors other non-profits.
To learn more about Carl Vonderau: http://carlvonderau.com/
Sheila Sobel’s debut novel Color Blind won the 2017 Killer Nashville Reader's Choice Award for Best Fiction YA and Finalist for the 2017 Silver Falchion Award for Best Fiction YA. Sheila is a member of ITW, MWA, SinC, SCBWI, and Women in Film. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two dogs, and a cat.
To learn more about Sheila Sobel: https://www.sheilasobel.com/
Hemlock Needle by Keenan Powell/Review by Joy Gorence
Hemlock Needle
By Keenan Powell
Level Best Books
$16.95
ISBN 978-1947915091
Publication Date: January 2019
*Killer Nashville is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you purchase a book from the links on this page, Amazon will give Killer Nashville a small percentage of the total sale. Killer Nashville receives zero compensation from publishers who have been selected for the Book of the Day.
Book of the Day
2020 Silver Falchion Nominee
The cold and isolation of Anchorage, Alaska provides the backdrop for Keenan Powell’s captivating novel, Hemlock Needle. The narrative centers around the disappearance of Esther Fancyboy, the mother of Evan. At a Yup’ik gathering during the Christmas holidays in Anchorage, Esther tells her son, Evan, that she will be right back before she walks out into the cold winter weather. She does not return. Three days later, Cora, her mother, seeks the help of Maeve Mallory to locate her daughter.
Cora and Maeve share a history, and when the police refuse to consider the seriousness of Esther’s disappearance, Cora seeks Maeve’s assistance. Although Maeve is in danger of losing her license to practice law, she agrees to help Cora. The author provides an explanation for the lack of police concern based on a cultural bias that provides an undercurrent for the conflicts in the story. With the help of Tom Sinclair, a friend and investigator, Maeve becomes involved in more than a mere missing person enquiry. Fighting the elements of both a harsh winter and personal demons, Maeve refuses to surrender to defeat.
Keenan Powell masterfully combines the atmosphere of the times with the elements of a true suspenseful novel. Although she does not provide the warmth of a fireside tale, she does dig into the injustices of society and reveals the dark side of humanity alongside the resilience of the human spirit.
Joy Gorence is new to Killer Nashville. She is an author, world-traveler, English professor (ret.), and avid reader. Originally from Long Island, NY she now lives in South Florida with her husband, Bill and their two pampered kitties.
The Bad Break by Jill Orr / Review by Sharon Woods Hopkins
The Bad Break
By Jill Orr
Prospect Park Books
$16.00
ISBN 978-1945551208
Publication Date: April 2018
2019 Silver Falchion Candidate
BOOK OF THE DAY
Riley Ellison, an obit-writing, wannabe-full-time-journalist, sleuth solving protagonist, manages to talk her editor into writing Tuttle Corner, Virginia’s biggest crime story, the murder of Doctor Davenport. While detecting and stumbling after leads, Riley tries to untangle herself from an online self-improvement app and the results are both humorous and surprisingly meaningful.
Meanwhile, the mystery of who killed Dr. Davenport moves along with Riley both helping and hindering and getting help from her ex-boyfriend’s pregnant ex-girlfriend, who has moved in next door to Riley. Riley wants to hate her but finds herself captivated by her instead. Her own love life isn’t going so well, and many bumps produce an ending which, as a reader, I hope isn’t the ending. The Bad Break is a great read, a darn good mystery with plenty of humor.
Sharon Woods Hopkins' mystery series featuring mortgage banker Rhetta McCarter and her '79 Camaro hits close to home. Sharon is a former branch manager for a mortgage office of a Missouri bank. She also owns the original Cami, a restored '79 Camaro like Rhetta's. Sharon's hobbies include painting, fishing, photography, flower gardening, and restoring muscle cars with her son, Jeff. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Guppies, Thriller Writers of America, the Southeast Missouri Writers' Guild, Heartland Writers, and the Missouri Writers' Guild.
Book of the Just by Dana Chamblee Carpenter / Review by Liz Gatterer
Book of the Just
By Dana Chamblee Carpenter
Pegasus Books
$25.95
ISBN 978-1681778587
Publication Date: October 2018
BOOK OF THE DAY
Killer Nashville 2019 Silver Falchion Nominee
Book of the Just by Dana Chamblee Carpenter is the final book in the Bohemia Trilogy—and it is a wonderful read!
Big news—Mouse has a new baby brother! Unlike most older siblings, Mouse hopes that her father will be so focused on the new addition that he will forget all about her. But, when your father is the Devil you never get what you hope for.
Mouse and Angelo have been hiding with the Martu deep in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia. Shut off from the world they have eluded both her father and Angelo’s “father”, the Bishop Sebastian and his Novus Rishi. They have enjoyed being a family and part of a community. The spiritual leader of the Martu, Ngara, knows that Mouse is special. She leads Mouse through a dream that reveals many things, but especially, the location of a “gift” from the Seven Sisters that is waiting for Mouse to find. Angelo pushes Mouse to find the gift. He knows he is Mouse’s greatest weakness. He can see the battle coming and knows that Mouse must learn to control her powers and use every bit of advantage she can find. But Mouse would rather just stay with the Martu and pretend that the outside world just doesn’t exist, her powers don’t exist, and that she and Angelo can just be a happy. But, Heaven and Hell both know that with the right bait every mouse will venture from the safety its hole. Can Mouse escape the traps that are set to snare her this time?
Carpenter has once again woven a wonderful story from the threads of history, mythology, art, fact and fantasy all laced together with emotion—love, hate, faith, betrayal, fear and fortitude. Her ability to create characters that are at once flawed and perfect is a delight to experience. I found myself at times cheering out loud the characters or desperately trying to will not to make the choices that will lead to their downfall. I have cherished each volume in the Bohemian Trilogy and look forward to what Ms. Carpenter will write next.
Liz Gatterer attended Tulane University while living in New Orleans. It was there that she first began working with authors in the printing industry. Originally from Upstate New York, she moved to Nashville with her husband to pursue their careers (his being music). Three (absolutely fabulous) children later, she has returned to the working world in the industry she loves. She currently lives in Spring Hill with said husband and children, dogs, cats, and various other creatures. The necessity of multitasking has led her to an addiction to audio books – but, when able to, she still prefers to curl up with a good book (and a child in her lap).
Bar None by Cathi Stoler/ Review by Joy Gorence
Bar None
By Cathi Stoler
Clay Stafford Books
$16.99
ISBN 978-0978842727
Publication Date: October 16, 2018
BOOK OF THE DAY
Killer Nashville 2019 Silver Falchion Nominee
Events beyond Jude Dillane’s control begin to unfold when Sully, her landlord, asks her to give his key to his fellow worker from the Food Coop. Soon, Jude, a single woman and the part-owner of the Corner Lounge on the Lower East Side, finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. With an evenly-paced narrative, the reader becomes engrossed in the unsettling events that follow. Although the character development leaves some unanswered questions, the setting helps to enhance the mystery that evolves.
Clearly from the opening line, “Somebody had to do it and that somebody was me,” Jude is the narrator and protagonist. In her normal routine of cutting fruit for the drinks that will be needed later, the reader follows Jude as she prepares for the “five to seven Corner Lounge Social Hour.” Her helper and landlord, Sully, arrives late from his volunteer job at the Big City Food Coop. This ex-marine seems to have a special spot in Jude’s life, but the reader never discovers the reason for their closeness. Stoler also never provides the background for Jude’s other relationships beyond cursory descriptions, yet this does not hinder the pacing of the novel or the emotional bond that the reader develops with Jude.
Stoler’s effective use of dialogue moves the plot along from one day to the next. There never seems to be a gap in the setting of the novel. Seamlessly, the background for the mystery is revealed in the conversations between characters as Jude begins to uncover the mystery and get closer to revealing the identity of the murderer. As a true heroine and modern-day woman, Jude seems to be able to balance work, play, and investigation—even if, at a point, she thinks, “Fatigue swooped over me like an eagle zooming in on an unsuspecting field mouse.”
Throughout the novel, Stoler masterfully keeps the reader on the edge of discovery. It is not until the end, however, the reader learns the identity of the murderer—but will it be too late?
In addition to creating a compelling mystery, Stoler has crafted a novel full of good food and drink. She reveals the recipes for some of the menu items offered at the Corner Lounge. A satisfying ending for all.
Joy Gorence is new to Killer Nashville. She is an author, world-traveler, English professor (ret.), and avid reader. Originally from Long Island, NY she now lives in South Florida with her husband, Bill and their two pampered kitties.
When Death Imitates Art by P.D. Halt/ Review by Sheila Sobel
When Death Imitates Art
By P.D. Halt
Black Opal Books
$13.49
ISBN 978-1626948877
Publication Date: March 2018
BOOK OF THE DAY
Killer Nashville 2019 Silver Falchion Nominee
Amanda Lee is not having an easy time of it. After giving up her life in the United States for romance and a new life in Germany, everything begins to unravel. When Amanda’s fiancé dumps her, and with her New York life behind her, she forges ahead and creates a new life for herself by partnering with wealthy divorcée, Marlene Eichler, in opening a new art gallery. Just when Amanda is happy again and believes her new life to be firmly established, she is viciously attacked, her gallery partner is brutally murdered and again, her life begins to unravel, only this time, the consequences could be deadly. Not only is Amanda the prime suspect in Marlene’s murder, but she also discovers that she too, is a target. Set in the art world of 1980’s West Germany, P. D. Halt’s debut thriller, When Death Imitates Art, is a fast-paced novel of art, power, murder, and intrigue. P.D. Halt, a native Virginian, and veteran of the advertising world lives in New York and is a member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers.
After thirty-three years and seventy films (including Harry Potter, The Matrix trilogy and Batman, The Dark Knight), Sheila stepped away from the film business to complete her Young Adult novel. Her debut novel Color Blindwon the 2017 Killer Nashville Reader's Choice Award for Best Fiction YA and was a Finalist for the 2017 Silver Falchion Award for Best Fiction YA. Sheila was also nominated for the 2016 Allegra Johnson Prize in Novel Writing through UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.
Sheila is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and Women in Film. She lives in Beverly Hills with her husband, two dogs and a cat. www.sheilasobel.com
Serial Justice by Danny Ray / Review by G.Robert Frazier
Serial Justice
By Danny Ray
Danny Lindsey
$26.95
ISBN 978-1732744103
Publication Date: October 2018
BOOK OF THE DAY
Perhaps the most surprising thing about Serial Justice, the new novel from Danny Ray, is its bad guys. They are, after all, supposed to be the good guys.
And before you worry about spoilers, don’t. The novel makes no secret about who is pulling the trigger in each murder or who is calling the shots behind the scenes. Heck, the book blurb itself spells it all out for you.
What Serial Justice does is turn the crime novel on its head by making vigilantes out of characters who should otherwise be sworn officers of law and order.
The two culprits in a rash of killings involving convicted sex offenders are, in fact, retired law enforcement operatives. Both are following the secret directives of the head of the FBI’s Sex Crimes Division, Cliff Nolan, a 40-year veteran who is dying of cancer, and later his two successors who he lets in on the plan. The plan, by the way, is simple: exact final judgment on sex offenders released from prison after serving minimum sentences.
The novel follows cops-turned-killers George and Penny as they crisscross the country in their RV seeking out their targeted parolees and plan their demise. Their expert skills and tactics enable them to carry out each execution with cold-blooded efficiency, leaving nary a clue nor witness behind that can identify them to local authorities. The pair even review their murderous exploits with detailed “After Action” reports to help make sure they left nothing behind that can be traced to them.
Of course, the trail of bodies eventually garners the notice of a pair of honest investigators in the FBI, Jim Dawkins, and Joan Kesterling. As they race from murder to murder in search of clues, Nolan and his partners quietly monitor them in case they get close. It’s not until the pair enlists the help of a group of computer analysts at the FBI that the pieces to the puzzle begin to take shape.
Lindsey, who won the Killer Nashville Claymore Award, has crafted a fascinating police procedural that will leave you questioning which side you should be on–justice or vengeance?
Don't Let Go by Michel Bussi / Review by Sharon Woods Hopkins
Don’t Let Go
By Michel Bussi
Weidenfeld & Nicolson
$16.21
ISBN 978-1474601788
Publication Date: 2017
2019 Silver Falchion Candidate
BOOK OF THE DAY
“Don’t Let Go” is a thriller set in Réunion, a tropical island in the Indian Ocean, under French control. The plot, although interesting was convoluted at times, with points of view changing frequently. It was at times, hard to tell whose story it was. Each main character tells his/her story in a time-stamp-like narrative, and always under the watchful eye of the omniscient voice. It’s not a style which I’ve seen very often. However, the plot was compelling enough that I kept reading.
Liane, her husband, Martial and spoiled young daughter Sopha, are on holiday on this beautiful island far away from their home country of France. One day, Liane leaves the pool to go up to her hotel room. Later, Martial asks a nearby couple to look after Sopha while he checks on his wife who is gone longer than he thought she should be. Finding the hotel door locked, and himself without his key, he asks the hotel staff to open it. Upon entering there is no Liane, but the room is a mess, all her things have gone and there is blood. He calls the police, but then the timeline puts Martial solidly in first place as a suspect. As the police spread out a net, Martial takes his daughter to run away, then finds a message written in the dust on his rental car—a message which drives the two of them to go inland, in search of Liane, while the police are hunting Martial as a murderer.
The ending was a bit overdone, but still satisfying.
I kept wishing I could get to know the characters a bit better, especially since so many of them had a point of view, such as Martial, Aja, the female police captain, Christos, her older male partner, his girlfriend, Imelda, his daughter Sopha and several staff at the resort.
And finally, I was a bit confused as to why Martial chose to even go to the island, in light of the history he had there when he lived there before, which we, the readers learn about as the story and chase progresses.
The foreign language phrases that were explained with footnotes kept me flipping pages and pulling me out of the story. I would have preferred to have seen the phrases translated on the go, as to have to search the end of each chapter for the footnotes.
Sharon Woods Hopkins' mystery series featuring mortgage banker Rhetta McCarter and her '79 Camaro hits close to home. Sharon is a former branch manager for a mortgage office of a Missouri bank. She also owns the original Cami, a restored '79 Camaro like Rhetta's. Sharon's hobbies include painting, fishing, photography, flower gardening, and restoring muscle cars with her son, Jeff. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Guppies, Thriller Writers of America, the Southeast Missouri Writers' Guild, Heartland Writers, and the Missouri Writers' Guild.
The Warriors by Paul Batista / Review by Henry Hack
BOOK OF THE DAY
Slide over John Grisham and Scott Turow and make room on your narrow bench for Paul Batista to join you as a fellow top legal thriller author. The Warriors contains everything necessary to keep you turning pages, anticipating the next surprise plot twist until sleep finally overcomes you.
The story is immediately relevant when a female senator from New York State, whose husband was a former president, must stand trial on charges of foreign campaign contributions and misuse of those funds. The comparison to recent events surrounding the last presidential campaign is obvious, but not at all trite as the story takes us into unchartered territory far beyond mere political corruption. Powerful and deadly drug lords, two strong, intelligent, beautiful women locked in a life and death struggle, and an assortment of crooked cops, businessmen, jurors, and politicians combine for a terrific ride in the City of New York and its environs. The killer known as The Blade of theHamptons may inhabit your dreams long after this book has been devoured.
Author Paul Batista brings thirty years of legal experience to his fifth novel, and that experience and his intimate factual knowledge of Manhattan streets, enable him to create well-drawn characters who perfectly fit within their environs.
As a writer, and reader, I ask myself two questions after reading a book by an author new to me: Was I satisfied that the author knew his material and conveyed an exciting story? And, Would I buy another book written by that author? In Mr. Batista’s case, my answers are a resounding, Yes and Yes! Pick up a copy of The Warriors and I’m certain you will agree.
Henry Hack is a lifelong New Yorker who served in the Nassau County, NY Police Department for twenty-two years, including fourteen years in the Detective Division. He commanded the Scientific Investigation Bureau and was qualified as an expert witness in several forensic fields including blood, narcotics and trace evidence. He also commanded the Eighth Precinct, Uniform Force, and resides in North Carolina with his wife, Lorraine.
After attending public schools in Queens and Brooklyn, Henry received a Bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University and a Master’s in Criminal Justice from Long Island University. In addition to his public service on the police force, Henry served as Vice President in charge of Security at Cablevision. Now an empty-nester with seven children and step-children scattered around the country, Henry devotes his time to writing fiction.
His novels Danny Boy, Cases Closed, Mommy, Mommy and Forever Young feature homicide Detective Danny Boyland. Cassidy's Corner, The Last Crusade,The Romen Society andElection Day feature Police Officer Harry Cassidy.
Portraits inBlue is a collection of fourteen stories.
Last Seen Leaving by Catherine Lea / Review by Danny Lindsey
Last Seen Leaving
By Catherine Lea
Brakelight Press
$11.99
ISBN 978-0473449773
Publication Date: August, 2018
BOOK OF THE DAY
NEW FROM CLAY STAFFORD BOOKS
Catherine Lea has become a master storyteller. In Last Seen Leaving (Brakelight Press, 2018) she tackles a unique and very difficult protagonist, and succeeds nicely. Syd Schaeffer, former assistant District Attorney, has been blinded by a rogue virus. Her promising career has become little more than a subsistence practice, fed the occasional case from Walt Vander, a police detective. Syd suspects that even the cases he refers are from a sense of pity.
All that changes when her former fiancé disappears in New Zealand. He’s been caught up in an international tug of war over plans to retrofit the targeting software on an A4 Skyhawk, and apparently kidnapped. Syd is determined to not only solve the case, but to travel alone to New Zealand and solve it in person, over the objections of both her assistant and Walt Vander.
Lea describes the hurdles encountered by Syd at each step as though she has personal knowledge of the constant obstacles visually impaired persons must overcome routinely. She makes the reader aware of just how difficult every move can be.
If the telling is done well, the plot is even better. Without becoming so convoluted that the reader needs a program to tell the good guys from bad, Lea weaves an intricate thread, all the while giving Syd the correct doses of pluck and luck to move the storyline along at a good pace.
U.S. readers will find a few words here and there (e.g., lorry) that are not in use in America, but none that need be looked up. In fact, their use often blends right in with the location. All in all, this is a good one. Catherine Lea has once again stepped up her game.
Danny Lindsey keeps trying to retire. After a 20-year Army career and a 25-year second one in the private sector, he’s finally settled down. His current gig is as the Veteran Employment Services Manager for a Huntsville, A.L. based non-profit, Still Serving Veterans. Both full careers were characterized by numerous writing assignments, from war plans to operating policies and procedures, then on to white papers, analyses of alternatives and competitive contract and grant proposals. Now his writing consists of blogs for the website www.ssv.org, podcasts for the local NPR affiliate, and a half dozen Pulitzer-worthy, albeit unpublished novels.
Update: Danny won the 2017 Killer Nashville Claymore Award with his manuscript Serial Justice – so he will not be unpublished for long!
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins/ Review by Sharon Marchisello
INTO THE WATER
By Paula Hawkins
Riverhead Books
$11,85
ISBN 978-0735211209
Publication Date: May, 2017
BOOK OF THE DAY
Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Nominee
Into the Water, the latest novel by Paula Hawkins, author of the international bestseller The Girl on the Train, was nominated for a Silver Falchion award.
For more than three centuries, the Beckford Drowning Pool has seen the demise of "troublesome" women. From Libby Seeton, accused of witchcraft in 1679, to Katie Whitaker, a popular, well-adjusted 15-year-old high school student who unexpectedly commits suicide, the river has swallowed inconvenient women and their secrets along with them.
Nel Abbott was always fascinated with the river's power and the women who met their ends in its quiet bend beneath a cliff. She begins researching the questionable suicides and compiling their stories into a book with the help of psychic Nickie Sage. But then Nel herself becomes a victim of the water.
When Into the Water opens, Nel's estranged sister Jules returns to Beckford to settle the estate and look after Nel's hostile 15-year-old daughter Lena. While packing up Nel's things and perusing her writings, Jules finds the missing pieces to their broken relationship and is able to unravel some of Beckford's mysteries.
Master of "the unreliable narrator," Hawkins tells the story through the eyes of 10 different characters, all looking at events from different angles, alternating between first, second, and third person. Woven through the narrative are excerpts from Nel's unfinished manuscript. Just like the characters, sometimes the reader doesn't know whom to trust. The pace is steady through to the twist at the end.
Into the Water is the second novel by Paula Hawkins, whose debut psychological thriller, The Girl on the Train, was published in 50 countries, sold 20 million copies worldwide, and was made into a major motion picture. She currently resides in London.
Sharon Marchisello (sharonmarchisello.com) is the author of Going Home, (Sunbury Press, 2014) a murder mystery inspired by her mother's battle with Alzheimer's disease. She earned a Masters in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California and is a member of the Atlanta chapter of Sisters in Crime. She lives in Peachtree City, GA, with her husband and cat, does volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society, and writes a blog about personal finance, Countdown to Financial Fitnesshttps://sharonmarchisello.blogspot.com/.
PAULA HAWKINS worked as a journalist for fifteen years before turning her hand to fiction. She is the author of two #1 New York Times bestselling novels, Into The Water and The Girl on The Train. An international #1 bestseller, The Girl on the Train has sold almost 20 million copies worldwide and has been adapted into a major motion picture. Hawkins was born in Zimbabwe and now lives in London.
Tripleye by John Hegenberger / Review by Frank Reed
TRIPLEYE
By John Hegenberger
Black Opal Books
$12.97
ISBN 978-1626946835
Publication Date: June, 2017
BOOK OF THE DAY
Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Nominee
Tripleye (Black Opal Books, 2017) has at least triple layers of intrigue. John Hegenberger has co-mingled bits and pieces of Bond, Bourne, and the occasional smidgen of other familiar “tagonists,” both pro- and an- in his sci-fi fantasy. Murder, theft of military weapons, double agent Manchurians (or New New Yorkians?), they’re all present and sometimes accounted for. He nails it—duplicity, greed, and ego have no boundaries. The final frontier is just as wild and dangerous as the Old West back on Earth three centuries ago.
The Weave Corp, headed by Van Loon, is set on taking over the entire extra-terrestrial enterprise, complete with geo-therm stations, sand mines, and a thriving population. The Corp has also managed to infiltrate Tripleye, the government’s private investigation entity, which enables them to interfere with Tripleye’s ace in the hole, a mind meld technology called the Link.
Throughout, it is apparent that regardless of location, time, technology, or other advancements, certain basic attributes continue to drive humans. Love, hate, anger, fear, jealousy still are prime motivators. Most anything can be purchased (for credits, the new cash), no one can be taken at face value, and the coin of the realm still rules behavior.
Did I mention that there is evidence of intelligent life on Mars? Did I forget to say that much of the conflict centers around the theft of “Snot,” the acronym for the tangible life form? Did I get so caught up in the action that I omitted that little tidbit? Oh, well.
But perhaps the best nugget, though easy to miss, is the fare on the thirteen hour shuttle from Ceres to Mars. The featured menu item? Microwaved hegenbergers, of course.
Born and raised in the heart of the heartland, Columbus, Ohio, John Hegenberger is the author of upcoming Stan Wade LAPI series from Black Opal Books, father of three, tennis enthusiast, collector of silent films and OTR, hiker, Francophile, B.A. Comparative Lit., Pop culture author, crime-fighter, comedian, ex-lead in the senior class play, ex-Navy, ex-comic book dealer, ex-marketing exec at Exxon, AT&T, and IBM, happily married for 45 years.
Active Member of SFWA, PWA and ITW.
The Bricklayer of Albany Park by Terry John Malik / Review by Sharon Wood Hopkins
THE BRICK LAYER OF ALBANY PARK
By Terry John Malik
Blank Slate Press
$16.95
ISBN 978-1943075348
Publication Date: August 22, 2017
BOOK OF THE DAY
Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Nominee
The Bricklayer of Albany Park is a name the Chicago area police give to a serial killer. It is Detective Francis Vincenti’s job to apprehend him. Frank is totally consumed with finding the killer, that, as his marriage and sanity are at risk, he turns to his mentor, retired detective Thomas Foster for help. Will Frank find the killer before he loses everything?
This gripping debut thriller is told in fast-moving alternating chapters between Frank and the killer. Their paths must cross, but the suspense builds trying to figure out when.
The plot snags you from the start, so do not overlook any sentence, any nuance, because there are clues everywhere in this masterfully crafted psychological thriller.
Hold on to your seat as the story skids to a surprising conclusion. It will leave you breathless.
Give Place to Wrath by Steven Harms / Review by Sheila Sobel
GIVE PLACE TO WRATH
By Steve C. Harms
KCM Publishing
$12.99
ISBN 978-1939961723
Publication Date: October 28, 2017
BOOK OF THE DAY
Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Nominee
After sinking the putt of a lifetime, Mary Hale is dead. The explosion that killed her left little evidence. The assassin that killed her left behind one obscure clue. Detective Roger Viceroy and his Midwest Region Special Crimes Unit team have virtually nothing to help them solve her murder. Tension builds as the assassin strikes again and again. The killings appear to be random because each murder is different, but Viceroy soon discovers that every crime scene contains a similar, solitary clue. The killer is clever and highly motivated. He thwarts and teases Viceroy and the Special Crimes Unit with each new victim. As Viceroy and his team piece together the puzzle, they uncover the thread that binds the crimes—Curwood, Wisconsin, a sleepy little town with a dark, hidden past. Viceroy, believing that Governor Kay Spurgeon is the next target, is up against a ticking clock. Give Place to Wrath will leave the reader wanting a quick release of a second book in the series.
After three decades as a professional sports business executive across the NBA, NFL, and MLB, Steven C. Harms has knocked it out of the park with his debut novel, Give Place to Wrath by combining sports with a police procedural. He resides in Oxford, Michigan, a rural suburb of Detroit. For more information about Steven C. Harms: http://stevencharms.com/
After thirty-three years and seventy films (including Harry Potter, The Matrix trilogy and Batman, The Dark Knight), Sheila stepped away from the film business to complete her Young Adult novel. Her debut novel Color Blindwon the 2017 Killer Nashville Reader's Choice Award for Best Fiction YA and was a Finalist for the 2017 Silver Falchion Award for Best Fiction YA. Sheila was also nominated for the 2016 Allegra Johnson Prize in Novel Writing through UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.
Sheila is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and Women in Film. She lives in Beverly Hills with her husband, two dogs and a cat. www.sheilasobel.com
Unto the Third Generation by Larry & Rosemary Mild / Reviewed by Sharon Marchisello
UNTO THE THIRD GENERATION
By Rosemary and Larry Mild
Magic Island Literary Works
$11.95
ISBN 978-0990547228
Publication Date: November 1, 2017
BOOK OF THE DAY
Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Nominee
Unto the Third Generation, a Novella of the Future, by Rosemary and Larry Mild (Magic Island Literary Works) is a Silver Falchion nominee in the Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi category. It prompts the reader to wonder, "What if…"
The story begins in the prime number year 2039. A group of scientists and other dignitaries are celebrating the end of world hunger thanks to the development of Synthomanna, a synthetic food that has just been approved for worldwide distribution.
But another problem arises that year: the outbreak of Infirenza, a deadly flu-like disease so-named because it first appeared in Florence (Firenze), Italy. There's no known cure or vaccine, and the medical community is not even sure how it is spread.
There are many P.O.V. characters, sometimes within the same scene. Two of the main protagonists are Fanny Mapleton, a waitress from St. Louis, and Leo Tall-Chief, a high-rise construction worker from Columbus, Ohio. Both contract Infirenza and are on the brink of death when they are accepted into an experimental cryogenic program. They meet briefly during recruitment, find each other attractive, and then end up hibernating side-by-side for 24 years.
A lot changes in the world while Fanny and Leo sleep, but the reader sees little of it. Funding priorities for cryogenic research have shifted, and the subjects are all but forgotten. A rogue doctor and nurse team decides to resuscitate them. But when the cryonauts awaken, they are asked to take on a new role that might help save mankind.
As well as this foray into science fiction, Rosemary and Larry Mild co-author cozy mysteries, adventure/thrillers, short stories, articles, and essays. They belong to Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Hawaii Fiction Writers.
Sharon Marchisello (sharonmarchisello.com) is the author of Going Home, (Sunbury Press, 2014) a murder mystery inspired by her mother's battle with Alzheimer's. She earned a Masters in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California and is a member of the Atlanta Chapter of Sisters in Crime. She lives in Peachtree City, GA, with her husband and cat, does volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society, and writes a blog about personal finance, Countdown to Financial Fitness https://sharonmarchisello.blogspot.com/.
Insidious Intent by Val McDermid / Reviewed by Sharon Marchisello
INSIDIOUS INTENT
By Val McDermid
Atlantic Monthly Press
$14.79
ISBN 978-0802127167
Publication Date: December 5, 2017
BOOK OF THE DAY
Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Nominee
Insidious Intent, the tenth installment of international bestselling author Val McDermid's Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, has been nominated for a Silver Falchion award.
Dr. Tony Hill is an astute psychological profiler and former police detective Carol Jordan has recently been tapped to head the elite Regional Major Incident Team. Their first case involves a forensically savvy serial killer with no previous criminal record and no connection to any of his unrelated victims. All were single women who met a dashing stranger at a wedding, engaged in a whirlwind courtship, and then were found burned to a crisp in their own cars, stranded in remote locations.
AsInsidious Intent was my first introduction to this series, I felt a bit like a newcomer at a family reunion. All the characters had rich back stories and complex relationships which were alluded to in passing. I'm still wondering what happened to Carol's brother and his wife; I only know they met a tragic end, most likely simultaneously, and Carol is still haunted by their deaths.
Nevertheless, my unfamiliarity with the characters' history did not prevent me from becoming thoroughly engaged in this well-crafted British police procedural. The author rotates point-of-view among the characters who play essential roles on the task force, like cogs in a well-oiled machine. An interesting sub-plot features Detective Sergeant Paula McIntyre and her partner Elinor, wards of an orphaned teenager, Torin, who becomes a target of cyber-bullying.
Besides the frustration of hunting a murderer who knows how to cover his tracks, the team faces pressure from above to deliver results and skepticism from other branches of law enforcement who resent them. And a pesky reporter starts digging up unsavory details from Carol's past which could derail her career, taking the fledgling task force down along with her. When they catch a break and figure out the identity of the alleged culprit, he lawyers up and taunts them with their lack of concrete evidence, which further convinces the brass to shut down their investigation and dismantle the team. Desperation drives Tony and Carol to use unorthodox methods, with an end result readers will not see coming.
Multiple award-winning author Val McDermid has been turning out murder mysteries for over thirty years. In addition to her popular Tony Hill/Carol Jordan series, she has published series featuring sleuths Karen Pirie, Lindsay Gordon, and Kate Branigan, as well as several short story collections and nonfiction books.
Sharon Marchisello (sharonmarchisello.com) is the author of Going Home, (Sunbury Press, 2014) a murder mystery inspired by her mother's battle with Alzheimer's disease. She earned a Masters in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California and is a member of the Atlanta chapter of Sisters in Crime. She lives in Peachtree City, GA, with her husband and cat, does volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society, and writes a blog about personal finance, Countdown to Financial Fitness https://sharonmarchisello.blogspot.com/
The Ostermann House by J.R. Klein / Review by Sharon Marchisello
THE OSTERMANN HOUSE
By J.R. Klein
CreateSpace
$13.95
ISBN 978-1544815053
Publication Date: June 19, 2017
BOOK OF THE DAY
Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Nominee
J.R. Klein's paranormal psychological thriller, The Ostermann House, has been nominated for a Silver Falchion award. Read it and step into The Twilight Zone.
The protagonist is university professor Michael Felton. He and his wife Audrey, also a professor at a university in Houston, seek refuge from the rat race of the city and buy an old farmhouse in the eccentric community of Krivac, Texas. The price was a steal and they soon find out why.
There's a shroud of mystique surrounding the former owner, Herman Ostermann, who was feared and loathed by the townspeople. Michael and Audrey, as the new owners of the Ostermann House, are distrusted by association.
Weird things start happening. Items disappear or are moved. Cryptic messages appear on Michael's computer. Mysterious nonograms are found on the property.
People visit and chat, and then the next day denies the interaction. Many of the people who show up have been reported dead… long dead.
Michael and Audrey alternate from being spooked, to shrugging it off, to being curious, to not caring, to be totally creeped out. Just when they make up their minds to cut their losses and leave Krivac, they find they might not be able to.
J.R. Klein has a Ph.D. in Immunology from John Hopkins University and has published over 150 articles in academic journals and mainstream magazines. His first novel, Frankie Jones, was published in 2016. He currently lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife.
Sharon Marchisello (sharonmarchisello.com) is the author of Going Home, (Sunbury Press, 2014) a murder mystery inspired by her mother's battle with Alzheimer's disease. She earned a Masters in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California and is a member of the Atlanta chapter of Sisters in Crime. She lives in Peachtree City, GA, with her husband and cat, does volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society, and writes a blog about personal finance, Countdown to Financial Fitness https://sharonmarchisello.blogspot.com/
Lesson Plan for Murder by Lori Robbins / Review by Joy Gorence
Lesson Plan For Murder
By Lori Robbins
Barking Rain Press
$14.99
ISBN 978-1941295540
Publication Date: November 21, 2017
BOOK OF THE DAY
Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Nominee
Readers of crime fiction will uncover the machinations of a high school English department as Liz Hopewell, the new Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition teacher, becomes Liz Hopewell, “lady detective.” Liz knows full-well no AP teacher relinquishes his or her role unless death intervenes, so when the AP Lit teacher suddenly dies, Liz knows something is amiss. With skill and craft, Ms. Robbins never leaves an opportunity to guide the reader through a mastery of allusions interlaced with the reality of high school faculty drama to create a lively, delightful, and fast-paced mystery novel.
After Liz enters Marcia’s AP classroom and notices Marcia’s “shiny red-soled shoes on the floor…[which] really were beautiful shoes,” she sees the body of the “acerbic” Marcia Deaver “behind the desk.” Gordon, the principal of Valerian Hills High School, bestows the coveted role of AP instructor to Liz, who understands that Marcia Deaver, whom Liz doesn’t really know, would never commit suicide despite the preliminary report of her cause of death. When the “Hot Detective” comes to investigate, Liz explains that “Marcia’s entire life was ruled by the written word. She wouldn’t have killed herself without leaving a suicide note.” Although at first, the detective doesn’t take her observations seriously, it soon becomes apparent that she is more attuned to the workings of an AP teacher than he realizes.
Ms. Robbins uses the titles of her chapters to provide further insight into each chapter. Chapter one entitled “Things Fall Apart” not only appeals to the readers of Achebe’s novel, but its title also provides clues to the disturbance of the balance of the norm. With an eye to detail, the title for chapter two, “Heart of Darkness,” is also aptly placed. It helps reflect the conflict among the characters and also hints at the depth of what Liz is about to uncover.
To discover ‘whodunnit,’ the reader follows the crumbs that Robbins provides without any distraction of unnecessary detail. With each new clue, the reader continually guesses how the story will end. The final chapter, “Annals of the Former World,” reaches a satisfying conclusion through structure and substance.
Brooklyn-born Lori Robbins began dancing at age 16 and launched her professional career three years later. After ten very lean years as a dancer, she attended Hunter College, graduating summa cum laude with a major in British Literature and a minor in Classics. She is now an English teacher in New Jersey. The mother of six, Robbins has vast experience with the homicidal tendencies that everyday life inspires. Lesson Plan for Murder, Robbins’s first book was published by Barking Rain Press. Two more books are in the works: the second Lesson Plan mystery, and a new series, which takes place in the world of professional ballet. Find her at lorirobbins.com
Murder Among the Tombstones by Kim Carter / Review by Tim Suddeth
Murder Among the Tombstones
By Kim Carter
Raven South Publishing
$14.99
ISBN 978-1947140035
Publication Date: August 29, 2017
BOOK OF THE DAY
Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Nominee
Kim Carter has given us the second in her Clara and Iris Mystery series, Murder Among the Tombstones. Part cozy, part police procedural, Clara Samples and Iris Hadley are septuagenarians who decide to begin their second careers, by opening a private investigation agency in one of the rougher areas of Atlanta. Sounds like a perfect fit, except Iris doesn’t like to drive in traffic or at night, and Clara doesn’t have a lot of confidence. And did I mention a little thing called technology?
They surprise everyone, including themselves by solving their first couple of cases. Along the way, they meet Quita, a young lady from the neighborhood who soon takes over their office and introduces them to a smartphone. When victims of a possible serial killer begin turning up at some of the city’s historic cemeteries, one of their sisters turns to them for help. The ladies realize things have gotten serious. The police officers, who were on the case, were gun down outside their precinct.
If you have a parent who comes to you to help with their phone, or you are from a generation that remembers phone booths, this book will leave you both laughing and on the edge of your seat. Clara and Iris have a way of finding themselves in trouble, yet making a way out. They prove that teamwork goes a long way. Even the police, begrudgingly, begin to give them respect. Ms. Carter surrounds them with very colorful characters. She lives in Atlanta and gives us a very realistic picture of the city and its citizens.
I look forward to reading more of the series and watching the faceoff between two very different generations. A fun series but with an opportunity to hold a mirror up to ourselves.
Tim Suddeth attended the 2017 Killer Nashville Internation Writers’ Conferences as the Jimmy Loftin Memorial Scholarship winner. He has started a series of a young law school graduate starting her career in Charleston, SC. He lives in Greenville, SC with his wife, Vickie, and his 20-year-old autistic son, Madison. He can be reached at timingreenville@gmail.com and is a regular contributor at The Write Conversation and www.timingreenville.com.
Cat Got Your Secrets by Julie Chase / Review by Joy Gorence
BOOK OF THE DAY
Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Nominee
CAT GOT YOUR SECRETS
By Julie Chase
Crooked Lane Books | $26.99
978-1683312833
September 12, 2017
Julie Chase writes about suspense, murder, and self-discovery in her third novel, Cat Got Your Secrets. The narrator, Lacy Crocker, “thirty and single,” has recently opened the Furry Godmother, “a pet boutique and organic treat bakery in the heart of New Orleans’s Garden District.” Having left home twelve years earlier to find herself, Lacy discovers that although she left New Orleans, her family roots and ancestral heritage define her and provide the comfort and support she seeks. However, once she is home, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, the third since her return. With a flair for invoking life into her characters, Ms. Chase commands each page with finesse and suspense. From the opening chapter, the characters take on a life that draws the reader into the midst of the action and tension that builds throughout the story.
Penelope, Lacy’s cat, provides the indirect anchor for the story. Although there must be more to her cat than meets the eye, Violet Conti-Crocker, Lacy’s southern and wealthy mother contributes to the list of colorful characters that compose Lacy’s support system. When the body of Wallace Becker, her father’s close friend is discovered, and Dr. Crocker is accused of his murder, the motivation behind Lacy’s unending quest to find the murderer has her cross paths with Detective Jack Oliver and Chase Hawthorne, a member of the “Garden District Royalty,” attorney, and her best friend’s brother-in-law.
The author’s deft manipulation of the story-line is enhanced by the addition of the sexual tension and uncertainty of Lacy’s emotional feelings for both Jack and Chase. Part of her self-discovery involves her understanding of her relationship with these men. In addition, the underlying tension in the story is enhanced through juxtaposition. It subtly forces Lacy and the reader to consider that people and events are not always as they appear. For instance, Ms. Chase writes that her “Dad’s friend was dead” and in the next paragraph, she shows the life surrounding the city as Lacy “careened onto Magazine Street, the heart of the Garden District…Robust baskets of red, white, and pink flowers hung from lampposts along the six-mile stretch of charming shops and delicious food, anchored by matching ‘Fall in Love with the Garden District’ flags and golden silhouettes of Cupid and his bow.”
With a flair for detail, Ms. Chase provides an entertaining read the keeps one riveted. The questions that one may have about some of the other characters, such as Kinley and Mrs. Becker, may be revealed in her next novel. But as any good writer, Ms. Chase brings the reader back again to the beginning of the story with her discovery of the truth.
Joy Gorence is new to Killer Nashville. She is an author, world-traveler, English professor, and avid reader. Originally from Long Island, NY she now lives in South Florida with her husband, Bill and their two pampered kitties.
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