KN Magazine: Reviews

12/10/15 12/10/15

Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo) by C. Joseph Greaves / Reviewed by Tessa Bryant

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo) at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

C. Joseph Greaves

Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo)
by C. Joseph Greaves
Reviewed by Tessa Bryant

Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo) has everything you want in a ‘30s crime novel: filthy New York alleyways, a mobster with a knack for staying alive, and a scarlet woman with secrets you’ll be dying to know.

C. Joseph Greaves (who prefers “Chuck” when he’s slinging noir) employs a sharp-tongued narrative voice to lead you through the 1936 trial of real-life mobster and prostitution kingpin Salvatore “Lucky” Luciano. The fact-based thriller is full of twists and will catch you off guard, whether or not you’ve heard the story before. There’s no use in trying to predict what will come next; just let Chuck and Tom and George and Cokey Flo lead the way.

One of the greatest strengths of this novel is Greaves’ woven narrative. He tells the story through POV-sections from each of the four eponymous characters, allowing readers to climb further into the world than would otherwise be possible. We see all sides of the conflict, and are able to understand the kind of complications that usually confuse and muddy legal thrillers. Greaves has obviously done his research, and it shows in his ability to keep the suspense taut, even when it would be simple to Google the end of the story.

Perhaps most exciting is the portrayal of Cokey Flo, a heroin-addicted prostitute-turned-star-witness. Flo, who speaks to us in first-person, has a simultaneous sharpness and grit that is probably what’s kept her alive, and endears her to us almost immediately. Greaves’ characters are all, in their own ways, completely unlikely: Lucky should have been dead long before the beginning of this book, Tom’s introduction into criminal law was more of a stumble, George loves a risk just as much as he loves a solid argument, and Cokey Flo is, well, Cokey Flo. The four together are the perfect recipe for a great noir novel.

Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo)(Bloomsbury Publishing) has all the elements of a classic courtroom drama, strengthened by the facts and given life and vitality by Greaves’ smartly-written characters and atmospheric, Jazz-Age backdrop. Give this book your attention and you’ll feel like you’re wearing pin-stripes from cover to cover.

Tessa Bryant is a graduate of the Departments of Theatre and English at Lipscomb University. She is a writer, director, administrator, and researcher of the performing and fine arts, and works and guest lectures at Lipscomb University. She is currently pursuing an M.F.A. in Creative Writing.

If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book of the Day Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the assistance of Emily Eytchison and credited guest reviewers.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.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.

12/8/15 12/8/15

Every Crooked Path by Steven James / Reviewed by G. Robert Frazier

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find Every Crooked Path at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

Steven James
Credit Eric McCarty

Every Crooked Path by Steven James
Reviewed by G. Robert Frazier

Reading Every Crooked Path, the new novel by national bestselling author Steven James, is like peeling an onion: each layer of mystery pulled back reveals something more foul and evil than the last.

What starts as an investigation into a fatal stabbing takes a twisted turn when James’ recurring hero, FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers, uncovers a child exploitation ring on the Dark Web, a cyberworld hidden away from the regular internet, where anonymous clients barter and trade in sexually explicit photographs of minors for their perverted pleasure and the profit of a mysterious cadre of webmasters.

James hooks readers right from the start, as within the first few pages Bowers is attacked at the crime scene in a Manhattan high-rise. Bowers manages to fend off his attacker, but before he can get anything out of him, the man jumps off the balcony to his death, leaving behind a key and a cryptic clue to an even larger conspiracy.

Partnered with Detective Tobin Cavanaugh, a special agent with NYPD’s Special Victims Unit, Bowers pieces together clues to a series of child abductions and their connection to the suicide victim. Bowers ultimately must go undercover to infiltrate the conspirators and bring them down from within, discovering along the way that not everyone is who they seem and that they will do anything to keep their secrets intact.

James purposefully spares readers from any graphic depictions of children in exploitative situations, explaining in an Author’s Note, “I chose to show the reactions of the characters seeing them. I’ll trust your imagination to fill in the rest.” It’s both a sensitive and confident decision on James’ part; sensitive in that the subject matter is horrifyingly real, yet is handled in a delicate manner, and confident in that James is able to craft the dark world of crimes against children without having to resort to graphic excess. Given today’s landscape of in-your-face, no-holds-barred storytelling, James’ approach is both refreshing and admirable, as well as something a lesser author might not be able to pull off.

At nearly 600 pages, Every Crooked Path (Signet) is a surprisingly quick read with short chapters, snappy dialogue, and tautly written action scenes.

James is the national bestselling author of nine novels, including the critically acclaimed thrillers Checkmate, The King, Opening Moves, and The Queen. He has won three Christy Awards for best suspense and was a finalist for an International Thriller Award. His thriller The Bishop was named Suspense Magazine’s book of the year. For more information, visit StevenJames.net, Facebook.com/sjamesauthor, and @sjamesauthor on Twitter.

G. Robert Frazier is a writer and an avid reader living in La Vergne, Tenn. He reads for the Nashville Film Festival and Austin Film Festival screenwriting competitions and is an active member of the Tennessee Screenwriters Association, Nashville Writers Meetup groups, and La Vergne Library Board. Follow him on Twitter @grfrazier23 and visit his Adventures in Writing blog at https://grfrazier.wordpress.com.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

12/3/15 12/3/15

Four Dog's Sake by Lia Farrell / Reviewed by Sharon Marchisello

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find Four Dog's Sake at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

Lyn Farquhar

Lisa Fitzsimmons

Four Dog's Sake by Lia Farrell
Reviewed by Sharon Marchisello

You don't have to be a dog lover to enjoy Four Dog’s Sake, the fourth installment in the Mae December mystery series by Lia Farrell. Lia Farrell is a pseudonym for the mother-daughter writing team, Lyn Farquhar and Lisa Fitzsimmons.

In Four Dog’s Sake (Camel Press), Mae December, kennel owner and dog trainer, is one of four central characters, and although knowledge of canines is not essential to the plot, Mae’s connections and people skills are. The story unfolds from four different points of view, using chapter divisions whenever there is a shift. Dr. Lucy Ingram first suspects her recent patient, Chester Willis, did not commit suicide, contrary to the initial coroner's report. After some amateur sleuthing to give credence to her theory, she persuades her boyfriend, Chief Detective Wayne Nichols, to open an investigation.

Mae’s fiancé, Rose County Sheriff Ben Bradley, coordinates the operation while trying to run for re-election. His opponent is sleazy trial lawyer Ramsey Tremaine, who represents Rick Willis, one of the chief suspects in Chester’s murder. Ramsey generates plenty of publicity about wrongful accusations and harassment of his client in an effort to discredit the competence of the current administration.

Likeable Chester Willis does not appear to have had any enemies. Before his death, he cared for his terminally ill father, Leonard Willis, and stood to inherit a substantial fortune at Leonard’s impending death. With Chester out of the way, Leonard’s estate is divided between Chester’s older brother Rick—high-living stock broker engaged to socialite Meredith Flynn—and Brooke Piper, Leonard’s massage therapist, a young, attractive nursing student who is struggling to make ends meet.

Against the backdrop of a sweltering Tennessee summer, budding romantic relationships, and staff changes around the sheriff’s office, the four main characters work as a team to assemble the puzzle pieces and deliver justice for Chester. Something tells me this amiable group of characters will allow readers more glimpses into the continuing saga of their lives next time there is a murder in Rose County.

Sharon Marchisello is the author of Going Home, a murder mystery inspired by her mother's battle with Alzheimer's. She has 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, and does volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

12/1/15 12/1/15

Purebred Dead by Kathleen Delaney / Reviewed by Sharon Marchisello

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find Purebred Deadat Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

Kathleen Delaney conducting a writing workshop for 6th graders at Holcomb Bridge Middle School in Georgia

Purebred Dead by Kathleen Delaney
Reviewed by Sharon Marchisello

Mary McGill, widow and long-time resident of Santa Louisa, a small coastal town in the California wine country, has found plenty to do since retiring from a career as a home economics teacher. She is the go-to person for heading up charitable committees and organizing almost every community fundraiser.

Purebred Deadopens amid the chaos of the Christmas Extravaganza, when Mary must reroute the Posada at the last moment after two children discover the blood-soaked body of local veterinarian Cliff Matthews lying in the manger. More fascinating for the children is the tiny Cockapoo puppy they found crying near the body.

Mary quickly realizes that the children saw the person who stabbed Cliff to death, but since many of the townspeople were wearing similar costumes that night, they are unable to make a positive identification. Unfortunately, the killer spotted them as well, which puts their young lives in danger.

The plot thickens when, a few days later, a local pet store owner is found stabbed to death in his shop. Mary believes the murders are linked and have something to do with dogs. Along with the reader, Mary receives an education in dog breeding, and suspects abound as she learns that many of the Santa Louisa residents are connected with the industry. Her amateur sleuthing leads her and the children to a confrontation with the murderer, and only their wits can prevent them from becoming the next victims.

Purebred Dead is the first in a new series by Kathleen Delaney, author of the Ellen McKenzie cozy mystery series. It is an entertaining read, and with a likeable heroine and charming setting, the series promises to be a winner.

Sharon Marchisello is the author of Going Home, a murder mystery inspired by her mother's battle with Alzheimer's. She has 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, and does volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society.

If you have a book you would like featured, send an ARC for consideration. The Killer Nashville Book of the Day Reviews are coordinated by Clay Stafford with the assistance of Emily Eytchison and credited guest reviewers.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with

suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

With over 24,000 visits monthly to the Killer Nashville website, over 300,000 reached through social media, and a potential outreach of over 22 million per press release, Killer Nashville provides another way for you to reach more people with your message. Send a query to books@killernashville.com or call us at 615-599-4032. We’d love to hear from you.

11/26/15 11/26/15

Plain Dead by Emma Miller / Reviewed by Sharon Marchisello

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find *Plain Dead* at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

Rachel Mast straddles the Amish world where she grew up, and the “English” world where she tried living for several years in corporate America, before returning to Stone Mill, Pennsylvania, to run a Bed & Breakfast. Plain Dead, the third installment in Emma Miller’s Amish mystery series, opens with Rachel organizing the Winter Frolic, a festival designed to bring in tourists with a much-needed cash infusion for the Amish community.

Newspaperman and gossip columnist Bill Billingsley threatens to expose a secret from Rachel’s stint on Wall Street that could jeopardize her standing in the community. The two argue publicly. The next morning, Bill is found frozen to death on his front porch, bound and gagged and locked out of his house.

Evan, Rachel’s fiancé, is the police detective assigned to the case. Although Evan does not believe Rachel could commit murder, the evidence against her mounts as one after another of the other suspects is cleared, often with Rachel’s help. Rachel feels betrayed that Evan could even consider her a suspect, and her meddling in the investigation causes friction in their relationship.

Emma Miller, who also writes Amish romances for Harlequin’s Love Inspired line, paints a vivid picture of the Amish culture, with honest insights into their beliefs and values. She has created a likable heroine in Rachel, whose understanding of the Plain ways and ability to maintain their trust uniquely qualifies her to probe where “English” law enforcement is shut out.

Clues like a lost hat and a buggy parked in the wrong place at the wrong time are dismissed by the police, but they lead Rachel down a path she would rather forego. She almost becomes another victim as the surprise murderer is revealed.

Plain Dead is not only an entertaining mystery, but it sheds light on a culture most readers know only in stereotypes.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with

suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

11/24/15 11/24/15

The Secret Lives of Bats by Dr. Merlin Tuttle / Reviewed by Emily Eytchison

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find *The Secret Lives of Bats: My Adventures with the World’s Most Misunderstood Mammal* at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

When first introduced to Dr. Merlin Tuttle by a blurb calling him “the real-life Batman”, I was somewhat offended. (Unreasonably so, but offended all the same.) Batman is a cultural icon, a living embodiment of justice. How DARE someone usurp that title, particularly without dedicating every second, every penny, every muscle he has to fighting crime?

But then, I opened his book.

The Secret Lives of Bats: My Adventures with the World’s Most Misunderstood Mammals (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) opens with an account of the September 1984 hysteria in Austin, Texas, over an influx of migrant Brazilian bats, which initially sounded more like a political allegory than an actual historic happening. Violent, widespread bat-hatred? Seemed a little far-fetched to me. But my very ignorance speaks to the impact of Merlin Tuttle’s life’s work.

In the preface, Dr. Tuttle’s account of Bat Conservation International’s first bat-rescue mission reads like a modern fairy tale: Austin, a city overcome by unfounded phobia, becomes a city that boasts its bat population as a major tourist attraction to this day, thanks to Merlin Tuttle’s calm and resolute intercession. The story of transformation is almost too good to be true. How often can one man say he changed an entire city by changing a few key citizens’ minds?

Yet that is the power of truth, as this tireless bat protector discovered early in his life. Although Tuttle never refers to himself this way (anymore than he refers to himself as a real-life Bruce Wayne), he emerges from the pages of his book as a near-mythic champion of knowledge, compassion, and love triumphing over ignorance, confusion, and hate.

Throughout the book, Tuttle cites so many near-death experiences, ingenious bat-study inventions, and miraculous conversions of bat haters that it is hard to believe he exists. Every time you think you’ve come through the most outrageous story, Tuttle outdoes himself with the next chapter, all with a modest, no-nonsense narrative voice that, like any conscientious scientist, simply states the facts.

Whether he’s describing the sweet and expressive (albeit strange) features of free-tailed bats, or run-ins with moonshiners and belligerent brothel owners, Tuttle writes with a gentle authority that balances extensive research with good storytelling. Latin names and scientific terms become integral parts of an often dangerous adventure story that began with one boy’s desire to understand bats because he did not believe that their stigma was true or fair. The horrors he sees human beings inflict on innocent bats along the way underscore the importance of his inspiring journey, from an inquisitive explorer to an expert quietly asking us to listen, learn, and care.

Merlin Tuttle may never have donned a cape, but he has become a formidable advocate for a group of maligned and defenseless creatures. He is a man who, for over half a century, has dedicated his life to fighting injustice with his time, resources, and considerable intellect.

Sounds like the kind of bat-themed hero we needed, after all.

Emily Eytchison is a huge fan of anything furry and mouse-like. She tried to save a trapped bat this summer using only her empathy and a paper plate. (Somebody more qualified eventually stepped in.) She likes Star Wars, popcorn with M&Ms, and wants to save the world. That’s basically it.

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 assistance of Emily Eytchison and credited guest reviewers.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with

suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

11/19/15 11/19/15

Powerless by Tim Washburn / Reviewed by G. Robert Frazier

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find *Powerless* at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

If you’ve never given a thought as to what to do in a disaster, you’ll probably change your mind after reading Tim Washburn’s terrifying debut novel Powerless (Pinnacle Books).

At the very least, you’ll find yourself taking an extra long look at those survivor magazines at the grocery store checkout lane, or setting your DVR to record those doomsday prepper shows. You may even feel compelled to go a step farther by purchasing a gas generator for your home, nonperishable foods by the pallet, and cases of bottled water. You might want to get a gun or two as well–one for hunting and one for self-defense.

Because when the power goes out–for good–you’ll need all of it sooner rather than later.

The characters in Washburn’s debut novel learn that lesson the hard way when a massive solar flare wipes out electricity across the northern hemisphere, plunging the entire US into complete chaos. The crisis strikes without warning, wiping out power grids, communications, and food supplies, while threatening global catastrophe from nuclear plant meltdowns.

Think of it: no power, no communications. No cellphones, Twitter, Facebook, or the familiar trappings of today’s socially connected society. Instead of Facebook friends and community groups rallying behind worthy causes, you get every man, woman, and child fending for themselves. Common decency and humanity towards your fellow man be damned.

Washburn skillfully weaves the action between a set of characters as they each deal with the crisis in their own way across the country, from an elderly couple trying to get out of New York City, to an army veteran trying to reunite with his sister, to the President in a heavily fortified White House. Told in blisteringly fast-paced present tense and short, tight chapters, Powerless ensures that readers won’t be able to turn the pages fast enough.

Like the popular The Walking Dead comic book and television series, part of the novel’s appeal is the moral dilemma facing Washburn’s characters. Can they transition from their complacent, spoiled, take-everything-for-granted existence to do-what-it-takes-no-matter-the-consequences survivors? How far will they go to save their loved ones? Can they kill in the face of being killed?

The result is a novel in which you not only empathize with the characters and their plight, but also ask questions about what you yourself would do in a similar situation. Questions that will linger long after you put the book down.

Washburn graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in Journalism, and his reporting skills are evident in Powerless. He lives in Edmond, Oklahoma.

G. Robert Frazier is a writer and an avid reader living in La Vergne, Tenn. He reads for the Nashville Film Festival and Austin Film Festival screenwriting competitions and is an active member of the Tennessee Screenwriters Association, Nashville Writers Meetup groups, and La Vergne Library Board. Follow him on Twitter @grfrazier23 and visit his Adventures in Writing blog at https://grfrazier.wordpress.com.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with

suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

11/17/15 11/17/15

The Cellar by Minette Walters / Reviewed by Will Lasley

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find *The Cellar* at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

BE FOREWARNED:

This is not a book for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.

One of the many horror tropes to come out of the 70’s was the “woman’s wrath” story. This type of story, be it book or film, revolved around a woman who was wronged or abused and set out to exact her revenge on those responsible. The reason these tales are so effective is that the catharsis of the protagonists, having previously been so helpless, gives the audience a vicarious thrill, playing not only to their bloodlust, but also their sense of justice.

In Minette Walters’ The Cellar, the stakes are raised even further. Muna, our central character, is the victim of many atrocities within her own home. Not only is she a child, she is an African immigrant living in England with another African family who stole her as a baby.

Muna’s “family” subjects her to such cruelty and humiliation on a daily basis, as their slave; physical, emotional, sexual. But when one of her adoptive brothers goes missing, the sham of a family is suddenly under the scrutiny of Scotland Yard, giving Muna the chance to expose them as the monsters they are.

The Cellar is a harrowing thriller that leeches off of the reader. My blood ran cold, and I couldn’t put it down. Walters’ use of language is especially good, choosing the most repulsive ways to describe the lurid events that transpire. I highly recommend it.

Will “Savage” Lasley is a writer and self-described horror junkie who simply loves a good story. He's also met Bruce Campbell, so there's that.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with

suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

11/12/15 11/12/15

The Scam by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg / Reviewed by Kelly Saderholm

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find *The Scam* at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg (C) Roland Scarpa

Con man Nicolas Fox and FBI agent Kate O’Hare team up once again in their fourth adventure,The Scam, written by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg. In this outing, Fox and O’Hare are on the trail of vicious casino tycoon Evan Trace. Although Trace’s casino money laundering is enabling terrorists, he has managed to evade law enforcement. Nick Fox, with the help of the reluctant Kate, sets up a snare to catch the elusive Trace.

Readers are treated to an outrageously fun romp as the scam to bring Trace to justice starts on the Las Vegas strip and stretches across the globe to Macau. They are sidetracked to Hawaii for a rescue mission involving Kate’s dad, Jake, and decide to add another villain to their con. Along the way, readers get an inside view of high stakes gambling and money laundering.

Kate O’Hare has her hands full juggling not just the ever-shifting and evolving scam, and its colorful characters, but also with the romantic tension between herself and bad-guy turned good-guy Nick Fox, as well as all around bad-guy Evan Trace. Romantic sparks fly and suspense builds as readers flip pages to discover who is scamming whom.

The Scam by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg is published by Bantam Hardcover, available September 15, 2015. Evanovich's next Stephanie Plum adventure, Tricky Twenty-Two, goes on sale November 17, 2015.

Kelly Saderholm has written, blogged, and lectured about aspects of the mystery novel. She has moderated panels and presented papers at literary conferences, on both the Mystery Novel and Urban Fantasy. She is currently shifting from writing about mystery fiction to writing actual mystery fiction, and is working on a novel, as well as a non-fiction book dealing with Folklore in the American South. She is a recipient of a Kentucky Foundation for Women grant. She lives in South Central Kentucky with her family and two feline office assistants.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with

suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

11/10/15 11/10/15

White Leopard by Laurent Guillaume / Reviewed by G. Robert Frazier

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find *White Leopard* at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

Whether it’s shooting thugs in the kneecaps, punching them in the solar plexus, or chopping off their hands at the wrist, author Laurent Guillaume doesn’t pull any punchesin hisgritty and graphic English-language debut, White Leopard.

Guillaume’s anti-hero Souleymane (Solo) Camera is a tough-as-nails private investigator making his living in arid Bamako, Mali, in West Africa after running from a dark past in France, where he was a former drug force detective. Solo’s cases typically involve chasing down and photographing cheating husbands in divorce cases, although he has handled a few higher profile criminal cases, netting him the title’s nickname from police. (He’s part French, part Malian, and reviled by both.)

A simple case—“buying” the freedom of a woman arrested on drug charges by offering a bribe to the local magistrate (apparently an all-too common occurrence in corruption-rife Mali)—takes an unexpected turn when the woman is brutally murdered upon her release. The sister of the victim, who hired Solo in the first place, boasts that he will bring the killers to justice, which only serves to make Solo the next target for the thugs.

First, the killers break into his home and kill Solo’s longtime friend and groundskeeper, Drissa, then make an attempt on Solo himself. Already angry over losing his wife and child when he left France, Solo is only fueled further by these actions in his quest to strike back with brutal vengeance. (This is where the shooting of kneecaps and other body parts comes in.) Solo follows the trail of thugs to the cartel leader and a final bloody confrontation.

When he’s not exchanging gunfire with the bad guys,Solo enjoys a few vices of his own with sexual flings and lines of cocaine. The sexual interludes are surprisingly graphic for a crime book, reading more like an erotic romance novel, but are in tune with the hard-boiled elements of the rest of the story.

Guillaume is an award-winning author of six previous books in France, but this is his first English-language publication. A former police officer, he worked anti-gang, narcotics, and financial crimes, and also served as a police advisor in Mali on drug trafficking cases. His familiarity with the Mali government and community is evident in his vivid, unflinching portrayal of the novel’s setting and characters.

The novel is aptly adapted to English by translator Sophie Weiner, who has a master’s in literary translation from the Sorbonne. Le French Book is a New York publisher specializing in great reads from France.

G. Robert Frazier is a former journalist, a reader for the Nashville Film Festival and Austin Film Festival’s annual screenwriting competitions, La Vergne Library Board member, and member of the Nashville Writers Meetup and Tennessee Screenwriters Association. He is currently working on a mystery/thriller novel and a screenplay. Follow him on Twitter at @grfrazier23 and visit his Adventures in Writing blog at https://grfrazier.wordpress.com.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with

suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

10/29/15 10/29/15

Jewish Noir by Kenneth Wishnia / Reviewed by Tessa Bryant

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find *Jewish Noir* at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

At the outset, a book entitled Jewish Noir will, without doubt, elicit a strong response. For me, that response was immediate laughter and intrigue. I had a thousand questions at once: What is Jewish noir? How is it different than other noir? Do the murderers all wear yarmulkes? Are there rabbis involved? Will the mothers help bury the bodies? Will there be latkes at the end?

My questions were, admittedly, culturally insensitive and cliché. However, the book’s skilled editor and contributor, Kenneth Wishnia, validates those questions within the first pages of his introduction. Wishnia carefully examines the myriad ways in which the Jewish identity is closely related to the literary identity of noir. After reading the introduction, I almost felt silly for questioning the concept in the first place. The Jewish voice can—and, after reading this excellent anthology, I believe should—be present in the noir literary community, and to great success.

Each piece in this anthology has a personality all of its own. There are hard-boiled lawyers and caseworkers, upper class folks in witness protection, neo-Nazis, southerners, Russians, and an English professor; this anthology finds a place in noir for every reader. The pieces work together to a common effect and understanding, yet no two stories blend together or fade into the background. Some writers make the noir world their playground, turning the go-to tropes on their heads, while others allow the genre and the subject to speak for themselves. Wishnia presents a celebratory work that is approachable, original, and, above all, a blast to read.

I could use this platform to praise my favorite stories in the anthology, but to do so would be a disservice to the authors included, all of whom are top-notch at their craft (though, I’ll note here that the editor’s contribution and the first-ever English translation of Yente Serdatsky’s A Simkhe certainly do not disappoint). I’ll let it suffice to say that I laughed, my heart raced, I sat on the edge of my seat, and I’ve marketed the book to all my coworkers.

Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this book. Check your expectations at the front cover; they’re bound to be exceeded.

Tessa Bryant is a graduate of the Departments of Theatre and English at Lipscomb University. She is a writer, director, administrator, and researcher of the performing and fine arts, and works and guest lectures at Lipscomb University. She is currently pursuing an M.F.A. in Creative Writing.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with

suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

10/27/15 10/27/15

Medusa's Web by Tim Powers / Reviewed by M. K. Sealy

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find *Medusa's Web* at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

Tim Powers’ latest novel, Medusa’s Web, is as powerful as it is intriguing. It is a harrowing tale that will make your skin crawl as you turn the pages, following the story of Scott and Madeline Madden and their cousins. Reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher,Medusa’s Web immediately engages the reader with promises of the dangerous and fantastical.

Following the suicide of their Aunt Amity, the Madden siblings—Scott and Madeline—find themselves back in Caveat, the strange, decrepit mansion where they grew up. However, though they once called Caveat ‘home’, they are less than welcome, and they soon find that their cousins, Claimayne and Ariel, have as many secrets as the old mansion—secrets that promise to turn the Madden siblings’ lives upside down.

Among the secrets kept between Claimayne and Ariel is a degenerative addiction to what, simply put, is a form of time travel made possible by the mansion, and in order to keep his sister safe, Scott finds that he must immerse himself in the deadly, addictive web of visions that have trapped and sustained Claimayne and Ariel for years.

Medusa's Web is macabrely whimsical; the dialogue is often poignant and the pacing is consistent, keeping the readers hooked line-by-line. Smartly written, with clever references throughout—such as mentions of Tetrach and The Whiffenpoof Song—Medusa's Web is a fantastic read for any time of year, but which fits very well with the spirit of Halloween. It comes as no surprise that Powers, whose On Stranger Tides was adapted for the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean installment, offers readers another masterfully crafted novel—one that I plan to revisit in the future.

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.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with

suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

10/22/15 10/22/15

The Monstrous by Ellen Datlow / Reviewed by Will Lasley

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find *The Monstrous* at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

One of the greatest things the horror genre can do is expand on traditional ideas, particularly those pertaining to fear. And Ellen Datlow’s newest collection of horror stories, The Monstrous, gives several different writers, each with their own unique sensibilities, the chance to play with our traditional notion of monsters.

The Monstrous combines 20 different creepy little tales, and it is most definitely a book by horror fans, for horror fans. Everyone who contributed has a clear grasp of the genre and a worthy concept, and they all seem to have their own way of playing in the sandbox. Subject matter ranges from the more psychological to the more supernatural to full-blown science-fiction. It’s so nice to see the kind of enthusiasm that these authors bring to the table.

These are also writers who clearly understand atmosphere. In an age where most horror is all about jump scares and startlingly loud noises, it is comforting to see that there are still people out there who are able to create real, spine-chilling horror. Because that’s what the genre is, and should always be, about.

This book is most definitely a beast best tackled blindly, so I’m not going to go into story synopses. However, just to draw you in, I will say that my favorite one, written by Peter Straub, involves a kindergarten teacher who has finally had enough, which is a fantastic premise. That’s the kind of inspired lunacy that genre fans crave.

Other than that, if you are the horror junkie that I am, you will enjoy reading it most without any idea of where each story is going. If horror is your thing, you will most definitely find a lot to love here.

Will “Savage” Lasley is a writer and self-described horror junkie who simply loves a good story. He's also met Bruce Campbell, so there's that.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery!

Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with

suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

10/20/15 10/20/15

Corrupted by Lisa Scottoline / Reviewed by Kelly Saderholm

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find *Corrupted* at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

Best-selling author Lisa Scottoline offers another compelling read in Corrupted, the next book in her re-launched Rosato and DiNunzio series. The now-adult Jason Lefkavick is being charged for the murder of the bully that caused him to be sent to a juvenile detention center as a child, a case that has haunted Bennie Rosato for thirteen years. The novel echoes the real life “Kids for Cash” scandal in Pennsylvania, in which thousands of children were jailed by corrupt judges.

Scottoline makes the story her own by focusing on Bennie, who thought she had put that case behind her. Bennie is not sure of Jason's innocence, but feels she owes him for her failure to win his case years ago. There are personal complications, as well as legal ones, which makes the story even more compelling.

This novel is more than just a legal thriller. Scottoline explores themes of ethics, legality, and morality. As readers, we are appalled at the injustice that resulted in the incarceration of the young Jason, and find ourselves cheering Bennie on as she struggles to find a just resolution. The novel has many twists and turns thatkeep the reader flipping pages to the very end.

Along the way, Scottoline presents fascinating knowledge about the legal system, but it is deftly done. She avoids the pitfalls of too much information, giving us just enough to bring the starkness of Juvenile Justice and the intricacies of a murder trial to life.

Corrupted offers a treat for fans of Scottoline’s Rosato and DiNunzio series. But it can also be read as a stand-alone novel for readers new to the series, or to Scottoline’s other works.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with

suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

10/15/15 10/15/15

Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica / Reviewed by M. K. Sealy

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Find *Pretty Baby* at Killer Nashville's associate, Amazon.com*

Though there are many new names to the psychological thriller genre, Mary Kubica stands heads taller than the rest with her second novel, Pretty Baby. Kubica has written an outstanding book that showcases her ability to delve far into the genre of popular titles like Gone Girl, and produce a story that causes the heartbeats and emotions of readers to ricochet with each clue and false lead.

The multiple perspectives of the novel engulf readers in suspense and suspicion as they enter the lives of Chris, Heidi, and their daughter, when, due to Heidi’s charitable nature, the family takes in a homeless girl and her child.

As a series of events unfolds, Chris’s inquisitive nature opens the door for discoveries that lead the family to conclude that their visitor may not be what she seems. Tensions arise, and Chris, Heidi, and their daughter must choose how far they will go to help the girl and her child, culminating in a phenomenal conclusion that will have readers reeling.

Filled with roiling emotions and obsession, Pretty Baby leaves the reader withgoose-bumps and a sense of awe. Kubica’s unique style of dialogue, sentence formation, and character and plot development creates a quick, engrossing read that has earned its place on the shelves beside other top psychological thrillers.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery!

Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with

suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

10/13/15 10/13/15

The Do-Right by Lisa Sandlin / Reviewed by Joseph Borden

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase *The Do-Right* or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

Delpha Wade, protagonist in Lisa Sandlin’s The Do-Right, is newly-paroled and in desperate need of a job, or else she will face the possibility of returning to prison where she spent fourteen years after killing one of her rapists. Cue Tom Phelan—veteran and ex-oil-rigger turned sleuth—a friend of Delpha’s parole officer who needs a competent secretary for his burgeoning P.I. firm. At first glance, the two appear an unlikely pair, perhaps. But, throughout the course of the novel, they form a partnership that is effective, and entirely incumbent on their respective backgrounds.

The Do-Right is set against the backdrop of the Watergate scandal. In classic noir fashion, the novel is threaded throughout with testaments to dirty, rotten humanity—such as the omnipresent reminder of Nixon in the height of his dishonesty, and an entire country victim to a sense of betrayal. These reminders imbue the novel with an undertone of disillusionment while juxtaposing it against harrowing investigations of blue-collar crime in Texas by our protagonists at Phelan Investigations.

Sandlin makes fantastic use of familiar, archetypal characters—the neophyte sleuth, the woman with the troubled past, etcetera, etcetera—and brings new life into them by crafting narrative that, past the surface of an exciting detective story, seems to search for a sense of grace or forgiveness. Delpha, haunted by her years spent on the inside and the memory of her rape, longs for a fresh start. “Something different than anything I had before,” she says when asked what she’s saving up for. But when Delpha comes face-to-face with her surviving rapist on a fishing excursion, she realizes a fresh start might not be possible.

Phelan, for his part, spends much of the novel learning the ropes—often berating himself for novice mistakes. Though inexperienced, the P.I. has a knack for sniffing out clues. Most importantly, perhaps, he has a thirst for seeing an investigation all the way through, and an ability to leave no stone unturned—possibly at great cost.

This novel has it all—murder, mystery, abuse, corporate espionage. Take your pick. The prose reads like movie stills from an old detective flick. It gives snapshots of each moment spent in the grungy, infected world Sandlin has created. The language is sparse and precise; the syntax is musical. Sandlin shows a mastery for crafting dialog, as well, brilliantly utilizing the expository possibilities of genuine, human conversation.

Lisa Sandlin’s The Do-Right is something akin to a rusted nail through the foot: it’s dirty, it hurts, and it’ll have you jumping up and down—or possibly just on the floor. Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan are as lovable a duo as any in noir fiction, and they bring a dynamism to the familiar archetypes that can so easily grow stale.

Will Phelan Investigations survive? Can Delpha live in peace with her rapist still alive? These are just a few of the mysteries you’ll have to solve yourself.

Joseph Borden has a B.A. in creative writing from Tusculum College. He currently lives in Lyles, TN, where he spends most of his time reading, writing, and obsessing over his dog.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon.com, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”

- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

10/10/15 10/10/15

Devil's Pocket by John Dixon / Reviewed by G. Robert Frazier

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase *Devil's Pocket* or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

In today’s society where everyone gets a trophy no matter how you finish, it’s no wonder that kids get so excited about do-or-die worlds like The Hunger Games, the Divergent series, or The Maze Runner. The imaginary free-for-alls that make those books and movies so popular seem to provide kids with an outlet for their competitive spirit… At least in a literary kind of way.

Author John Dixon’s latest young adult novel, Devil’s Pocket, rides that trend with its own kill-or-be-killed funeral games. The novel focuses on 16-year-old Carl Freeman, who has been technologically enhanced by a chip in his head, and hundreds more throughout his body, turning him into a lightning-quick, lethal super soldier. Along with two other members of Phoenix Force, he will be pitted in the squared circle against the best young fighters in the world in a deadly competition. At stake: $10 million, bragging rights, and their very lives.

But as the body count continues to grow, Carl becomes more and more disillusioned by the game he’s been forced to play. Barely able to keep his temper in check, he and former girlfriend Octavia, who represents an opposing team, begin to plot their escape and the demise of the Few, a collection of masked overlords who run the games for their own nefarious purposes. The tension boils over into an explosive climax reminiscent of a James Bond movie.

A former youth services caseworker, prison tutor, and middle school teacher, Dixon expertly uses his firsthand knowledge of what makes kids tick to delve deep into Carl’s inner turmoil—and into the mindsets of Carl’s teammates, the headstrong bruiser Agbeko, and the rebellious, devil-may-care Tex. Dixon’s own boxing skills—he was a former Golden Glover—are evident in his in-ring action scenes, which shine with blood and brutality. Dixon deftly combines these specialties, and crafts an emotional, action-packed tale of teenagers finding their identity, challenging authority, and discovering maturity within themselves.

Devil’s Pocket is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed and Bram Stoker Award-winning Phoenix Island. You don’t have to read that one to catch on, as Dixon efficiently brings readers up to speed. For more about John Dixon, visit his site at JohnDixonBooks.com and follow him on Twitter at @JohnDixonBooks.

G. Robert Frazier is a former journalist and editor, having worked at several newspapers in Middle Tennessee. He is a reader for the Nashville Film Festival and Austin Film Festival’s annual screenwriting competitions, serves on the La Vergne Library Board, and is an active member of the Nashville Writers Meetup and Tennessee Screenwriters Association. He is currently working on a mystery/thriller novel and a screenplay. You can locate him online at https://twitter.com/grfrazier23 and https://grfrazier.wordpress.com.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon.com, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”

- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

10/8/15 10/8/15

The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths / Reviewed by Kelly Saderholm

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase *The Zig Zag Girl* or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

Warning! Once you pick up this book you will not want to put it down!

The Zig Zag Girlby Elly Griffiths takes the reader to England, as Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens is confronted with the gruesome remains of a young girl discovered in the “Left Luggage” office at the Brighton train station. The body, which someone has slashed into three pieces and placed in separate cases, reminds the Inspector of “The Zig Zag Girl”, a magic trick invented by his old friend, magician Max Mephisto.

It is no accident that the girl was killed on Stephen's turf—the answer to this mystery lies in Stephens’ past, and with “The Magic Men”, a motley crew with whom Stephens and Max served during the second World War.

Author Elly Griffiths gives readers well-developed and compelling characters: Stephens may be (endearingly) naïve and young for a DI, but he is a far cry from the stereotypical bumbling police officer, and Max, the charming rouge magician, proves to have surprising depth.

Griffiths pulls the curtain aside to give readers a behind-the-scenes peek at the world of stage magicians in post-WWII England, and the slowly decaying vaudeville circuit, threatened by the emergence of a new medium: Television. As Stephens searches for clues, he—and the readers—learn that when Magicians are involved, nothing is as it appears to be.

The Zig Zag Girl is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and a sequel, The Demon King, is currently in the works. Elly Griffiths is also the author of the prize-winning and highly acclaimed Ruth Galloway series.

For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com, www.KillerNashvilleBookCon.com, and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!”

- Lisa Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

10/6/15 10/6/15

The Dead Student by John Katzenbach / Reviewed by G. Robert Frazier

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase *The Dead Student* or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

New York Times best-selling author John Katzenbach knows how to get into people’s heads, whether it’s in the psyche of his characters, or the minds of his readers. His newest novel, The Dead Student(The Mysterious Press, Oct. 6), is a perfect example.

Katzenbach wastes no time shaking things up for his protagonist, Timothy Warner. A PhD student better known by his nickname “Moth”, Timothy is a recovering alcoholic who battles the temptation to sink into the depths of drink and despair every day. Even with ninety-nine days of sobriety behind him, Moth knows he is one glass away from falling into a devastating abyss.

When his AA sponsor Uncle Ed is found dead, that yawning pit opens beneath Moth. It is only through a concerted effort, and the help of his AA group, Redeemer One, that he sobers up long enough to realize that his uncle would never kill himself. But gut feelings like his aren’t proof enough for police, who appear more than comfortable with their suicide theory.

Moth reaches into his own past, enlisting the help of former sweetheart Andrea Martine—better known as Andy Candy—in asking questions the police won’t. Along with the help of disgraced, drug-addicted prosecutor Susan Terry, they delve into Uncle Ed’s former life as a student of psychiatry to root out the skeleton in his closet and the reason for his death.

Each character struggles with his/her own inner limitations and flaws, adding a definitive level of emotional depth and complexity to their journey. As if that weren’t enough, Katzenbach expertly ramps up the tension by weaving in the twisted rationale of the real culprit.

The result is an intriguing tapestry of psychological cat-and-mouse that readers won’t be able to put down.

A former criminal court reporter for Miami Herald and Miami News, Katzenbach has written thirteen previous novels, including The Traveler, Day of Reckoning, and What Comes Next. His novel Red 1-2-3 is a finalist in Killer Nashville’s 2015 Silver Falchion Awards for Best Novel: Literary Suspense.

If you want to add your votes to the 2015 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award, vote here!

G. Robert Frazier is a former journalist, reader for the Nashville Film Festival and Austin Film Festival’s annual screenwriting competitions, La Vergne Library Board member, and member of the Nashville Writers Meetup and Tennessee Screenwriters Association. He is currently working on a mystery/thriller novel and a screenplay. Follow him on Twitter at @grfrazier23 and visit his Adventures in Writing blog at https://grfrazier.wordpress.com.

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

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!” - Lisa Jackson, New York Times Best-Selling author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

10/1/15 10/1/15

Edisto Jinx by C. Hope Clark / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase *Edisto Jinx* through C. Hope Clark's site.

Death comes quickly in C. Hope Clark’s latest mystery, Edisto Jinx. And again. And then again. Edisto Jinx has all the elements current mystery/thriller readers love: a smart female detective, a flawed protagonist, an intertwining and coiling series of relationships, a changing world, and a confined room (well, an island in this case).

Fortunately, the perfect South Carolina island crime spree is no match for Callie Jean Morgan. Combining modern social media and old-fashioned police work, Callie ultimately solves the crime in a delightfully twisting journey, but it takes time for her to get there.

On the heels of overcoming a personally devastating and life-changing experience, ex-Boston detective Callie finds herself in the middle of what appears to be a coincidental death, but could also be so much more. The “jinx” in the title refers to a local urban legend about mysterious deaths that have taken place within a two-week period every August for the past five years, during tourist season on Edisto Island.

Coincidence? When it happens again in the sixth year, Callie, a new resident to Edisto, thinks there might be something more sinister in play. Not only is someone trying to prevent the investigation from continuing, but it also seems that there are others who wish to profit on the supposed crime.

Callie definitely fills the bill of the flawed protagonist: everything that should serve as a foundation for a normal healthy life has been taken from her or is jeopardized in this latest adventure. Clark brilliantly places her main character in situations and roles that allow her to maximize her crime-solving abilities by being exactly at the right spot the exact moment she needs to be there.

If there is a murderer, who are the suspects? The town psychic who wants everyone to believe it is a vengeful ghost, the town real estate mogul who is hiding something, the distraught husband who is concealing more than he is saying, the town newspaper reporter creating her own stories—or one of the many tourists who come and go?

What if the killer is driving the media? And what if a town is profiting off the exposure given to them by what the killer is “reporting”? Filled with personal relationships and crimes galore, this thriller with a paranormal innuendo keeps the reader and the town hooked.

Those who haven’t read any of C. Hope Clark’s books are short-changing themselves. You can’t begin a C. Hope Clark book and then put it down. Two-time Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award nominee this year alone (for Murder on Edisto and Palmetto Poison), C. Hope Clark is a freelance writing expert, author of the Carolina Slade Mystery Series, the Edisto Island Mystery Series, and editor of FundsforWriters.com, a weekly newsletter service that reaches 40,000+ writers. You can learn more about her and her books at www.chopeclark.com.

I have to admit it took me a few pages to catch up to the references to the previous book’s backstory—even though Clark sets up the exposition well—but as I read, I started wanting to read the first book, as well. I’ve already placed an order, which should be in my mailbox in a couple of days.

This is one of the most realistic, believable amateur sleuth novels I’ve ever read (although Callie, while not a cop at the story’s opening, is no amateur). It brings new meaning—and verisimilitude—to the fanciful idea of amateur detectives knowing and finding out more than the police. I love how Clark paints a true picture of how this debacle would play out in real life.

Themes of sensationalism and media-generated misconceptions create an instantly brilliant conflict-of-interest situation, as Clark directly links news coverage of crime to the economic benefits notoriety and exposure offer the town’s economy. Her innovative plotting, real-life situations, and authentic characters make this novel stand out.

Clay Stafford is an author / filmmaker (www.ClayStafford.com), 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) and is editor and contributor to the new anthology of bestselling mystery and thriller authors, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded.

And be sure to check out our new book, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded, an anthology of original short stories by New York Times bestselling authors and newbies alike.

“Murder, mayhem, and mystery! Every story in KILLER NASHVILLE: COLD-BLOODED is filled with suspense, sizzle and startling twists. I loved it!” - Lisa Jackson, New York Times Best-Selling author

Want to review books for the Killer Nashville family?

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Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo) by C. Joseph GreavesReviewed by Tessa Bryant

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Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo)
by C. Joseph Greaves
Reviewed by Tessa Bryant

Every Crooked Path by Steven James
Reviewed by G. Robert Frazier

Four Dog's Sake by Lia Farrell
Reviewed by Sharon Marchisello

Purebred Dead by Kathleen Delaney
Reviewed by Sharon Marchisello