KN Magazine: Reviews

2/13/15 2/13/15

"Playing Saint" By Zachary Bartels / Reviewed by Allison Curtin

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase “Playing Saint” or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

"Playing Saint" By Zachary Bartels
Reviewed by Allison Curtin

With an exorcism as its opening scene, "Playing Saint" establishes itself quickly as an atypical murder mystery. Readers need look no further for an engaging, yet inspirational mystery as author Zachary Bartels offers a chance to experience the strength of a man’s faith with his cogent writing style and a thrilling tale.

Bartels successfully interweaves religious belief, law enforcement, and criminal thoughts to make one disturbing and enlightening experience through the story of a popular television personality’s shaken faith, and a series of murders obstructing his path to success.

Bartels uses the destructive mind of a murderer to display the immoveable power of a true believer while giving a whole new meaning to “church and state.” Bartels utilizes compelling imagery to depict a modern belief system and its followers so that unfamiliar readers can step inside a frequently stereotyped world.

His characters are thrust into a physical, emotional, and mental battle between the evils of life and the truth of hope. The epilogue encourages the reader to reflect on the events without prejudice for or against the Christian themes and to take the story for what it is: an excellent piece of faith-based fiction. Readers will enjoy the heart pumping suspense, enveloped by the story from the very beginning until last page.

Allison Curtin enjoys reading and swimming. Her favorite books of pleasure include Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.

(If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the irreplaceable assistance of Meaghan Hill, Maria Giordano, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com)

*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 (other than sometimes the book to review) from publishers who have been selected for the Book of the Day.

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2/10/15 2/10/15

"The Unsubstantial Air: American Fliers in the First World War" By Samuel Hynes / Reviewed by Megan Roberts

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

"The Unsubstantial Air: American Fliers in the First World War" By Samuel Hynes
Reviewed by Megan Roberts

Purchase “The Unsubstantial Air” or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

In a world animated by large-scale warfare, young American men enamored with the glamour of the air enlisted in droves to serve as pilots in the First World War. "The Unsubstantial Air: American Fliers in the First World War" by Samuel Hynes spotlights the romance of the Great War and the iconic pilots who waged it.

This experience-based account of World War I rests on an organized collection of pilots’ letters from Europe and is augmented by Hynes’s military and historical knowledge. This portrait is further detailed by Hynes’s experience as a Marine pilot in World War II.

Painting with the strokes of first-hand experience, Hynes captures the idealistic glow surrounding the Great War in the minds of these young recruits, many of whom came from wealthy families and prestigious universities. Europe captivated the imaginations of sophisticated, thrill-seeking men with the allure of beautiful cities, fraternity, patriotism, and the glamour of bellicose glory. Hynes writes, “At [age 22], manhood is not a condition but a goal, and war is a training ground, a test. And death? Death is a romantic dream.”

Pilots enlisted and made the journey from the States to the exciting European arena. "The Unsubstantial Air" explores the alluring glamour of the War while also laying bare the ubiquity of death among the troops, the struggles and very real tragedies of war. Immediate impressions of battle, informed by Hynes’ personal recollections, add depth to the account of a pivotal moment in global history.

Megan Roberts is a student of English Literature making a new home in Nashville, Tennessee.

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2/5/15 2/5/15

"The Diamond Mystery #1" (The Whodunit Detective Agency) / Reviewed by Kaitlin Chaparro

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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"The Diamond Mystery #1" (The Whodunit Detective Agency) by Martin Widmark
Reviewed by Kaitlin Chaparro

Fans of Blue Balliett’s "Chasing Vermeer" will enjoy this wonderful story for young mystery-lovers. Well-developed characters and a good plot in Martin Widmark’s first installment of "The Whodunit Detective Agency" series draw readers in and keeps them hooked from page one. A character map and a setting map helps readers understand where each place is in relation to another.

Another pleasing aspect is how the adults treat young detectives, Maya and Jerry. Instead of treating the youngsters like nuisances, they act respectfully toward them and acknowledge their responsibility in solving the mystery of the stolen diamonds. The adults welcome Maya and Jerry and thank them for their work.

With a bright cover and eye-catching illustrations, this character- and action-filled book will keep readers enthralled until the last word. This is a wonderful chapter book for children who are not yet ready for books such as the Harry Potter series. In addition, this is a great book for parents and children to read together.

The second installment of "The Whodunit Detective Agency" is now also available in bookstores.

Kaitlin Chaparro is an avid reader who loves a good cup of coffee or tea, and a book to fall into.

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2/3/15 2/3/15

"Life Deluxe" by Jens Lapidus / Reviewed by Anita Dixon

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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"Life Deluxe" by Jens Lapidus
Reviewed by Anita Dixon

Jens Lapidus’ final installment in his noir trilogy is bound to leave readers on the edge of their seats. The Swedish crime lingo in "Life Deluxe" may present a challenge to new readers, but crime novel–lovers will enjoy it all the same.

Jorge is a drug dealer fresh out of prison. Unsatisfied with his new life as the owner of a Stockholm café, he begins to plot a bold new heist to bring in the big bucks. Meanwhile, Stockholm police plan to dismantle the city’s underground crime ring.

That’s when Martin Häggström enters with an axe to grind. He has given up his life as a police detective and wants to put an end to this criminal underworld without regard for his own fate.

But Haggstrom and others will come up against the king of Stockholm’s crime ring, Radovan Kranjic, and he feels his crown is threatened. Will Radovan still reign at the end of this so-called “perfect heist”?

Lives will be endangered. Relationships will be tested. Credibility will be shaken. Trust will be broken. And, most importantly, the lives of all involved will never be the same.

Anita Dixon is working toward her English degree with a concentration on creative writing at a major Tennessee university. She loves to write and hopes to put her writing skills to good use.

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1/29/15 1/29/15

"The Life We Bury" by Allen Eskens / Reviewed by Kate Proffitt

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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"The Life We Bury" by Allen Eskens
Reviewed by Kate Proffitt

What do you get when you combine a wrongfully convicted war veteran, a boy struggling to become the man he wants to be, and a murder trial that has been closed for thirty years? The intricate storyline of Allen Eskens’ "The Life We Bury".

Set against the backdrop of a metropolis in Minnesota, college student Joe Talbert desperately wants an A on a college assignment. For the project, Joe chooses to interview Carl Iverson, a nursing home resident who is dying of pancreatic cancer. Talbert assumes Iverson will be an easy, if somewhat bland, subject but soon realizes Iverson is nothing like he appears to be.

Unsure of why he wants to help Carl, Joe sets out to discover the truth of Iverson’s past. Joe embarks on an intense journey complete with abandoned huts, arsonists, and unexpected allies, including the neighbor with whom Joe is infatuated. Through discovering Carl’s secrets, Joe begins to dwell on his own unhappy past: his alcoholic mother, his absent father, his beloved late grandfather, and his sometimes-difficult autistic brother.

As Carl grows weaker and time starts running out, Joe realizes that despite Iverson’s pretenses, Iverson wants his name cleared before he dies. Over the course of the novel, it becomes evident that Joe isn’t searching for the truth for his grade or even for Carl: Joe feels that in finding the truth that he has always desired, he will also find himself.

If you’re looking for a book that will challenge, captivate, and move you, "The Life We Bury" will not disappoint. Brimming with emotions and challenging questions of innocence, Joe discovers that the choices we make may not define us, but deciding whether we can live with them does.

Kate Proffitt is a creative writing major who loves to read, write, travel, and drink a lot more Diet Coke than she should.

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1/27/15 1/27/15

"Eat Him if You Like" by Jean Teulé / Reviewed by Ellen Findley

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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"Eat Him If You Like" by Jean Teulé
Reviewed by Ellen Findley

In this brief novel of unimaginable horrors, French author Jean Teulé brings to life the true story of atrocities committed against Alain de Monéys, a man who becomes the target of a mad mob.

During the summer of 1870, the young nobleman prepares to fight for Napoleon III in the Franco-Prussian War and works to divert the Nizonne River to alleviate the drought that is wreaking havoc on the French countryside. He is days away from his appointment, and on August 16, sets out for the fair in the village of Hautefaye, greeting his beloved neighbors along the way. There are the brothers Campot; Madame Lachaud, the kindly schoolmaster’s wife; Anna Mondout, the lovely young woman whom Alain so admires; and countless others.

The villagers are mostly cheerful in their suffering, but the war has already cost the villagers their sons, and the drought their sustenance. Tensions run high until a simple misunderstanding sparks a roaring fire of a mob. In the blink of an eye, the villagers turn on Alain and his pitifully few defenders.

Teulé follows the path of the hunters and the hunted throughout Hautefaye, from the church where the priest attempts to assuage the murderous mob with wine to the house of the cowardly mayor. Teulé recalls the myth of the lébérou, the cursed wanderer who eats dogs and impregnates village women by night, but takes the shape of a kind neighbor by day.

Nothing is as calm or as benign as it seems, Teulé reminds us. He accomplishes in just over one hundred pages what a lesser author could not in three times that: readers’ stomachs will turn at the ferocity and mercilessness of the mob, who in the end batter Alain before burning and eating him.

Ellen Findley is an aspiring scholar with a love of indie pop, British crime drama, and terrible puns. Formerly an avid travel vlogger, her current lifestyle and beauty blog, lilac + gray, features everything from film to mascara. When not lost in her punderful imagination, she can be found with a mug of tea and something to read.

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1/22/15 1/22/15

"The Lewis Man" by Peter May / Reviewed by Meaghan Hill

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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"The Lewis Man" by Peter May
Reviewed by Meaghan Hill

Mummies. Mystery. Murder.

Peter May’s "The Lewis Man" has it all.

Right from the start, readers will not be able to put down "The Lewis Man", the second in May’s Lewis trilogy. Look for the third book in the trilogy, "The Chessmen", which publishes February 3rd.

Set in Scotland, "The Lewis Man" follows the murder investigation of an unidentified body found in the bogs on the Isle of Lewis conducted reluctantly by Fin Macleod, a former detective inspector returning to the island to repair his parent’s derelict home and himself.

Like the intricate blanket the body is found in, the novel weaves the different perspectives of the investigation, including that of Macleod and Tormod Macdonald, an elderly man with dementia who shares DNA with the unidentified body, but swears he has no remaining relatives on the island.

Through his relatable characters, May takes his audience on the emotionally thrilling ups and downs of these two men. Both Fin and Tormod would do anything for the ones they love, but are their loved ones really who they say they are? The answer is astonishing!

Deceit, betrayal, revenge, and even an old romance emerge to reveal a surprising past for all of those involved. Readers will feel as if they are solving the murder alongside the detectives all the way until the action packed and shocking ending.

Readers will also discover a new favorite in Peter May. From the use of Gaelic to the beautifully described scenery, readers will experience the islands of Scotland for themselves. May crafts a thrilling mystery, transporting readers to his settings with descriptive imagery.

Meaghan Hill is a Tennessee native navigating post-college life. She is a writer, traveler, coffee addict, and adventurer. When not working in the Killer Nashville office, she can be found searching for and renovating antiques.

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1/20/15 1/20/15

"Lila" by Marilynne Robinson / Reviewed by M. K. Sealy

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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Marilynne Robinson,
Photo by Kelly Ruth Winter

"Lila" by Marilynne Robinson
Reviewed by M. K. Sealy

In a breathtakingly stunning work of literary art, Pulitzer-prize winning Marilynne Robinson has graced readers with the third and final installment of novels set in Gilead, Iowa, the intricate town of Robinson’s design.

Written largely in a Joyce-like third-person stream-of-consciousness narrative, "Lila" follows its eponymous main character and the tender relationships she establishes with several characters, especially Gilead’s Reverend Ames.

While the style and language of the novel are masterpieces in and of themselves, it is the novel’s main character, Lila, who makes this work truly stunning. "Lila"leads the audience through the tumultuous early life of the savage little girl, hooking readers from the very first page as we follow her story into adulthood.

And while readers may assume that this is a novel that follows the cliché metamorphosis expected in a girl going from the “wild” into civilized society, this is not Robinson’s focus. Instead, and more importantly, the audience is made privy to Lila’s innermost struggles as the good wife of the town’s kind and gentle Reverend Ames.

Throughout the course of the novel, Lila must attempt to reconcile her strange past and her current state of being, neglecting the impulses that were once normal but that are no longer appropriate. Due to societal restrictions and the moral conflict of right and wrong, she must not fulfill these strange desires that are influenced by her past.

Already receiving mighty praise from Publishers Weekly and the Kirkus Review, Robinson’s newest masterpiece has been hailed as an instant American classic. "Lila"is a novel that requires full attention to its decadent language—Lila’s accent nearly drips off her tongue—and loping narrative, and it deserves a place on readers’ shelves immediately.

M. K. Sealy earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in literature from a Nashville university. She is a copyeditor for a Nashville-based publication, but also writes poetry, fiction, and is currently attempting a screenplay, all while working to obtain a Master of Education.

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1/15/15 1/15/15

"The Family Hightower" by Brian Francis Slattery / Reviewed by Summer Starkie

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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"The Family Hightower" by Brian Francis Slattery
Reviewed by S.B. Guy

For decades, authors have told the story of the American dream, of the young man turning his rags into riches, but none have done so quite like Brian Francis Slattery. His recent novel, "The Family Hightower", follows generations of a family sewn together with threads of deceit, violence, and, most importantly, staggering wealth. With brilliant savagery at the heart of his tale, Slattery reveals each character’s desires to leave the past of poverty, of crime, of violence, or of the disappointment of the family name and their willingness to commit whatever act it takes to do so.

"The Family Hightower" flows through history, characters, and countries fluidly, gracefully jumping from one Peter Henry Hightower to the next, from the Ukrainian famine to the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run and from Kiev to Cleveland.

Blood reigns throughout the tale: a young girl, Madalina, enters the stage as a corpse whose internal organs and eyes have been removed; scumbag Joe Rizzi, plans to dismember and scatter the body of the young daughter of the man he attempts to blackmail; a Ukrainian boy from the South Side of Cleveland quickly learns the ways of the mob and slits the throat of his first boss.

Slattery spins his story around brutality, guile, and crime on an international and local level, his characters’ decisions beating against each other with blunt force and slicing through ties of loyalty like a razor against an unguarded artery.

With quick, clever pacing and a superb narrative voice of reason, Slattery combines history, grisly crime, family ties, and the money that spurs it all along. Smart, insightful, satisfying, exceptional—a tale that captures the attention and holds it down with a loaded pistol, worried only about spilling blood on its lavish Italian shoes.

S.B. Guy studies Journalism & Creative Media. They serve as a staff writer for their University’s newspaper and conduct research for a local true crime blog. S.B. loves the puzzle of a good mystery as much as they love the puzzle of a perfect sentence. One day, they hope to have written both.

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1/13/15 1/13/15

"Rose Gold" by Walter Mosley / Reviewed by Alycia Gilbert

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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"Rose Gold" by Walter Mosley
Reviewed by Alycia Gilbert

Set in the corrupt, racially charged Los Angeles of the late 1960s, Walter Mosley’s "Rose Gold"examines its social backdrop as much as its detective examines the mystery within it. "Rose Gold" is the newest addition to Mosley’s Easy Rawlins mysteries, but can be readily enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.

Private detective Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins finds himself entangled in jurisdictions and lies as he investigates the kidnapping of Rosemary Goldsmith, daughter of a military weapons developer, and her involvement with boxer-turned political activist Bob Mantle. As Rosemary’s case unfolds, Easy delves deeper into the world of communes and revolutionaries while relying on old friends and favors to help his investigation along. To clear names, navigate additional cases, and find Rosemary Goldsmith, Easy Rawlins will have to work his way through blatant prejudice and constant misdirection.

"Rose Gold" is more a mystery of connections than a thriller, with a constant, steady pace that picks up toward the climax of the novel. Mosley’s grasp on the culture of Vietnam-era L.A. is organic, and his use of setting will delight readers. His writing style is straightforward and easy to process, and is laced with moments of original, beautiful description.

Readers who are unfamiliar with the rest of the Easy Rawlins mysteries may find themselves overwhelmed by the number of characters in this novel, as they will have to meet both old and new figures and sort through their involvement. Those looking for a mystery with a smooth pace, humor, and a very involved narrator and those who are interested in postwar social interactions will find Mosley’s narrative captivating.

Alycia Gilbert studies English and French at a local university with an emphasis in both literature and writing majors, which thankfully excuses the large amount of time she spends reading. An aspiring writer, Gilbert enjoys penning short stories and poems, and she is currently expanding a short story in an attempt at writing a full novel. She acts as editor-in-chief of her university's two literary journals, and loves to help other student writers through editing and strengthening the products of their talents.

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1/8/15 1/8/15

"A Last Goodbye" by J.A. Jance / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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"A Last Goodbye" by J.A. Jance
Reviewed by Clay Stafford

J. A. Jance, who has a passion and penchant for working the dogs in her lives into her stories, has done it again with Bella, the Where-Did-You-Come-From Dog.

Melissa Gramstad at Simon & Schuster sent the novella to me by previous Killer Nashville Guest of Honor J. A. Jance and it somehow did not appear on my radar, until now. I’m glad she sent it.

"A Last Goodbye" by J. A. Jance was a fast, fun read. I’ve followed the books and characters of Jance for years and was delighted to read that one of those characters, Ali Reynolds, was finally getting married to her longtime significant other, B. Simpson. It was supposed to be a small Las Vegas wedding, attended by a few close friends and, of course, Ali’s family. Those familiar with Jance’s work will already know the main characters and it is for us readers that the eBook was written. But it is not the main characters that become the central character in what should be Ali’s wedding weekend. This ends up being a story, not about a wedding, but about a dog.

I have to say this one thing, and maybe it’s because I’m from the generation of sad dog books. This is not a spoiler, but at the same time I’d prefer not to mention this at all, but I have to because it made me hold off reading for a few days: there is a dog. And nothing bad happens to the dog. I’ve casually known Jance and her delightful husband Bill, read most of her books, known her love for animals, and I was sure that she wouldn’t do anything against character, but there was a dread all the way through – I’m thinking Ol’ Yeller or Where the Red Fern Grows – that for some reason made me think something bad might happen. I guess it’s the picture on the cover of the adorable long-haired dachshund beneath the title “A Last Goodbye.” Anyway, the dog does fine. It’s everyone else who has to make some decisions.

Ali’s grandson finds this dog – later identified as Bella and based upon Jance’s own current dog by the same name – during Christmas in a most dangerous way. Who is the owner? That’s the question. And what to do with the dog in the hotel while Ali is supposed to get married? That’s the other. What was meant as a weekend wedding now doubles as a mystery to find who owns the dog and why it was abandoned the way it was.

Of course Ali finds answers to the mysteries brought on by the dog and this proves to be a great segue for the series as Ali changes her life. And – as Jance would probably agree – what is better to mark changes in one’s life than a dog?

The ending and the story all tie up nicely in the consistent and true Jance way. For fans, it is a story worth reading as we wish Ali well as she moves on in her new life with B.

Comhghairdeas!

So here’s a toast to Ali and B, to J.A. Jance and us: long lives, and many wonderful years ahead. This book hints the course.

Clay Stafford is an author / filmmaker (www.ClayStafford.com). He is also founder of Killer Nashville (www.killernashville.com) and publisher of Killer Nashville Magazine (www.killernashvillemagazine.com). In addition to selling over 1.5 million copies of his own books, Stafford’s latest projects are the documentary “One of the Miracles” (www.oneofthemiracles.com) and writing the music CD “XO” with Kathryn Dance / Lincoln Rhymes author Jeffery Deaver (www.jefferdeaverxomusic.com). He is currently writing a film script based on Peter Straub’s “Pork Pie Hat” for American Blackguard Entertainment (www.americanblackguard.com).

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1/6/15 1/6/15

"The Emerald Light in the Air" by Donald Antrim / Reviewed by Krista Jenkins

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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"The Emerald Light in the Air" by Donald Antrim
Reviewed by Krista Jenkins

In Donald Antrim’s "The Emerald Light in the Air", readers experience an emotional roller coaster: it may or may not end in disaster, but readers of this book of short stories will feel strangely placid while heading toward that end. The stories, particularly “An Actor Prepares” and “Another Manhattan,” foster intense empathy for the characters as their realism encourages a strong connection. The reader learns with them throughout the stories, discovering their major flaws along the way. Anything is possible with Antrim as he builds concern for his characters and keeps readers turning pages.

Much of Antrim’s stories involve dark humor. This specialty may lead readers to discover a dark-humor-loving side that they did not know they had. The main character in “An Actor Prepares,” Reginald Barry, is reminiscent of Humbert Humbert in Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita, and Antrim’s writing style resembles Nabokov’s as well.

Barry, a middle-aged dean and drama teacher at a cruddy college, conducts the school’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He runs a pretty risqué show, casting himself as Lysander. A “skinny, balding, unmarried” middle-aged man’s desire to act alongside college boys and girls seems somewhat perverted, much like Humbert’s connection with “nymphs.”

Antrim’s dark, yet captivating narrative style continuously calls Nabokov to mind in that the narrator seems so mysteriously appealing. The often times uncomfortable darkness does not inhibit readers’ connection to the characters, but rather often fosters it. Those who enjoy Nabokov’s Lolita or a good, dark-humored laugh every once in a while will appreciate "The Emerald Light in the Air".

Krista Jenkins is a self-diagnosed “eclecticist.” Growing up in Atlanta sparked her interest for R&B and noisy lifestyles, but after moving to Nashville she fell in love with country music and the atmosphere in a quiet coffee shop. She loves books and will read anything from graphic novels to classic literature.

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1/2/15 1/2/15

"Prison Noir" by Joyce Carol Oates, Editor / Reviewed by Hillary Martin

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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"Prison Noir" by Joyce Carol Oates
Editor / Reviewed by Hillary Martin

Many of the authors featured in this Joyce Carol Oates–edited collection are still in prison. Nonetheless, readers will soak up every line, receiving every bit of depth they deserve. Every word gives a face to the faceless and a voice to the voiceless while giving a creative outlet to those who need it most. "Prison Noir" allows readers unfamiliar with life within the prison system to see those within for what they are: people.

There is an unexpected eloquence in the writings. It is as if each word on each page was meticulously thought out and well planed. “Bardos” by Scott Gutches is a particular stand out. This story deals with the unfairness of death. In “Trap” by Eric Boyd, readers will be thrown for a loop when they read the first officer’s treatment of the main character. Caution, it will turn readers’ stomachs. Still, these writers grab readers’ attention and take them on fantastic journeys.

Each story in this impressive collection will cause readers to respond in different ways, and every story represents a different voice. There is no doubt that readers from all walks of life, especially those less knowledgeable about life in prison, will appreciate "Prison Noir".

Hillary Martin is a student at a major Tennessee university. An English major, her interests include writing, reading and spending time with family and friends. She is a member of the Society of Technical Communication, and she is currently working on a few writing projects.

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2/27/14 2/27/14

"Death Canyon" by David Riley Bertsch / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Debut author. Great new mystery/thriller. This book is the start of a series; but this story is so good, I’m not sure how Bertsch is going to top it using this scenario and these characters following this much fictional destruction.

The beginning gets my attention: earthquakes in Wyoming, men getting rid of the body of a friend of theirs in a watery gorge, and a group of half-naked Native Americans participating in a “relations” dance, which to this reviewer of Irish decent, looks a lot like the Celtic rituals of old.

Death Canyon is much better than the initial generic blurbs offered. This is an intertwined story of species’ rage and greed – both human and nonhuman. I really didn’t see in advance where this story was going (didn’t see it coming until page 157), which made it fun. This isn’t a story about fly-fishing and murder set in Jackson Hole; this is a story of avarice to the point of annihilating the human race, the propulsion to the end of the world as we know it. What starts small blows up to world-ending proportions. The backstory plays out with perfect pacing; not too much at the beginning, and then only peppered nicely when the explanation is needed. And add all the crazy and unexpected elements: Rocky Mountain wildlife, ex-lawyer, politics and corruption, Mafia thugs, real earthquakes in Wyoming (what’s up with that?).

In the beginning, Bertsch thanks his wife and family for giving him the courage to write this book. I thank them, too. There is a long career ahead for this new writer. Someday, I would like to take a little trip to Jackson, Wyoming and do a little fly-fishing with Bertsch. When the ground starts shaking, he would be a good one to have nearby.

Well, this should give you a few eclectic titles to read over the next few days. Get in touch with these authors, learn about them, and tell them you would like to see them at this year’s Killer Nashville.

And remember, if you buy your books through the links on Killer Nashville, you’ll still get the great Amazon discount prices, but – better yet – a portion of the proceeds goes towards the educational events sponsored by the good volunteers at Killer Nashville. So support Killer Nashville while you’re supporting our featured authors!

Until next time, read like someone is burning the books!

– Clay Stafford is an author / filmmaker (www.ClayStafford.com) and founder of Killer Nashville (www.KillerNashville.com). As a writer himself, he has over 1.5 million copies of his own books in print in over 14 languages. Stafford’s latest projects are the feature documentary “One of the Miracles” (www.OneOfTheMiracles.com) and the music CD “XO” (www.JefferyDeaverXOMusic.com). A champion of writers, Publishers Weekly has identified Stafford as playing “an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers” throughout “the nation’s book culture.” (PW 6/10/13)

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2/27/14 2/27/14

"Killer's Island" by Anna Jansson / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

I’m a fan of the differing perspectives in foreign novels (yes, my fellow Americans, there is a world outside the U.S.) and I’m a particular champion of the dark world of Swedish mystery writers. Killer’s Island is the action-packed seventh Detective Inspector Marian Wern book and the second of Anna Jansson’s – I think – translated into English, this one skillfully retold by Enar Henning Koch. I wish I spoke Swedish because – after reading this book – I’d love to read the rest in the chronology and also view the Swedish TV series based upon the character of Wern.

The story starts with a decapitated young nurse dressed in bridal clothes (hopefully not from Jansson’s part-time life as a nurse herself). Killer’s Island is part mystery and part scientific thriller. The supertech villain does a tremendous job playing cat-and-mouse with the police and Wern. What drew me in were my feelings for the victim. This is one of those books where, if you can figure out the motive, you can possibly figure out the killer. All deaths in this novel are taking place on an island – I love confined places stories.

What I got from this book: I have a new author to explore. With over 2 million copies of Anna Jansson’s books in print in over fifteen countries, I can only read two of them! We definitely need more translators and more publishers like Stockholm Text to get onboard sharing works such as this around the world.

Until next time, read like someone is burning the books!

Buy the book from the Killer Nashville Bookstore and help support a new generation of writers and readers.

Visit our bookstore for other similar books.

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join our Facebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

2/27/14 2/27/14

"The Last Time I Died" by Joe Nelms / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Okay, this one made me pause. Highly different from my normal fare. At first, I wasn’t fond of the novel, but I couldn’t stop reading. That’s crazy. The reason is because the writing is just too darn good. Then after I got sucked into this character’s mad descent, the character was so complexly written that I couldn’t give the guy up. You’ve got to read this book! The last book I read that did this to me was Fight Club. I read that book once, but when the movie came out (starring a young Brad Pitt), I saw it (literally) six times at the 99-cent movie theater. This novel had the same effect on me. It’s a story I don’t think I would ever be able to write and it amazes me authors such as Nelms can turn out a world such as this.

This is a first-person novel of a man looking back at his unraveling life while his present life falls apart. The psychological first person format helps the reader view it from the main character’s perspective, even the fantasy of his detached self, where I began to wonder – and this is what the book is about – what is real and what is not? Sometimes I think the guy is going out-of-body for a detached third-person, which is freaky unto itself. It’s a dark book filled with caverns of repressed memories. The main character is a man focused on the negative who clearly sees the negative in others and acerbically – even laugh out loud – describes them. Reading this book is like watching a slow death. I can only imagine how tired Nelms was at the end of each day as he worked on this novel. For character studies, you don’t beat this one. It brings new meaning to the old phrase, How do I make you love me? As I read, I kept hearing Elton’s Blue Moves album in the background. You know, citing this character and in my own armchair-psychologist’s opinion, sometimes forgetfulness can be a good thing; I’m convinced that it is not always best – and I’m sure health professionals would disagree – to go digging in old tired mental graves. Obviously, this is a thrilling story that interested Nelms and one that he cathartically needed to write, definitely one you need to read, and a new author whose next book you should eagerly await.

Until next time, read like someone is burning the books!

Buy the book from the Killer Nashville Bookstore and help support a new generation of writers and readers.

Visit our bookstore for other similar books.

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join our Facebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

2/14/14 2/14/14

"Death Nell" by Mary Grace Murphy / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Can food bring two people together? Sure, over a dish of cold murder. Making your heart glow, this is maturity at its finest. Loved this first book from indie author Mary Grace Murphy. Like her character Sam, I don’t think she knows I’m writing about her. Hopefully, she’ll take it well.

Until next time, read like someone is burning the books!

Buy the book from the Killer Nashville Bookstore and help support a new generation of writers and readers.

Visit our bookstore for other similar books.

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join our Facebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

2/14/14 2/14/14

"Frame-Up" by Jill Elizabeth Nelson / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Frame-Up by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

From snowstorm to the frying pan, nothing like being saved and then becoming a murder suspect. Good thing she has a great man by her side to rev up her tingles.This should give you something to read for the next few days. Get in touch with these authors, learn about them, check out their other series, and buy their books. And tell them you would like to see them at this year’s Killer Nashville.Until next time, read like someone is burning the books!

Buy the book from the Killer Nashville Bookstore and help support a new generation of writers and readers.

Visit our bookstore for other similar books.

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join our Facebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

2/14/14 2/14/14

"Love is Murder" by Sandra Brown / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

From International Thriller Writers, a short story anthology from authors such as Lee Child, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Heather Graham, Allison Brennan, and more. These will pull at your heart: bodyguards, vigilantes, stalkers, serial killers, men and women both in jeopardy, cops, thieves, P.I.s, and killers all in the midst of romance, love, or downright lust.

This should give you something to read for the next few days. Get in touch with these authors, learn about them, check out their other series, and buy their books. And tell them you would like to see them at this year’s Killer Nashville.

Until next time, read like someone is burning the books!

Buy the book from the Killer Nashville Bookstore and help support a new generation of writers and readers.

Visit our bookstore for other similar books.

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join our Facebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

2/14/14 2/14/14

"Megan's Mark" by Lora Leigh / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

For those who really want to go out there, this is a world where altered Breeds and the humans who created them cross the boundaries of desire. Murders and passion go hand in hand and Cupid gets on the run. Read this one in private.

Until next time, read like someone is burning the books!

Buy the book from the Killer Nashville Bookstore and help support a new generation of writers and readers.

Visit our bookstore for other similar books.

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join our Facebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

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"Playing Saint" By Zachary Bartels
Reviewed by Allison Curtin

"The Unsubstantial Air: American Fliers in the First World War" By Samuel Hynes
Reviewed by Megan Roberts

"The Diamond Mystery #1" (The Whodunit Detective Agency) by Martin Widmark
Reviewed by Kaitlin Chaparro

"Life Deluxe" by Jens Lapidus
Reviewed by Anita Dixon

"The Life We Bury" by Allen Eskens
Reviewed by Kate Proffitt

"Eat Him If You Like" by Jean Teulé
Reviewed by Ellen Findley

"The Lewis Man" by Peter May
Reviewed by Meaghan Hill

"Lila" by Marilynne Robinson
Reviewed by M. K. Sealy

"The Family Hightower" by Brian Francis Slattery
Reviewed by S.B. Guy

"Rose Gold" by Walter Mosley
Reviewed by Alycia Gilbert

"A Last Goodbye" by J.A. Jance
Reviewed by Clay Stafford

"The Emerald Light in the Air" by Donald Antrim
Reviewed by Krista Jenkins

"Prison Noir" by Joyce Carol Oates
Editor / Reviewed by Hillary Martin