KN Magazine: Reviews
Mad Hatters and March Hares by Ellen Datlow / Review by Bree Goodchild
Mad Hatters and March Hares:
All New Stories from the Word of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland
Edited by Ellen Datlow
Tor
$15.99
ISBN 978-0765391070
Publication Date: December 12, 2017
Book of the Day
"Disagreements, it seems, are like boats. Once you are in one, it is impossible to get out again without falling into deep waters." ("My Own Invention," Sherman)
A red knight traveling the Wabe, accompanied by an Alice that transitions between female and male appearances (Not Alice/Not Josh); Two sisters, Lilly-White and Ruby-Red, are on a case to solve the disappearances of local Chesire animals; a seemingly gentle, yet intelligent orangutan sneaks out into the night, leaving behind the rowdy Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum and fellow circus kin for a peaceful zoo to call home. A smooth plan, until the great ape is lured into recruitment for the Red Queen as her champion - now he must defeat the formidable Jabberwocky, or die in the trying.
This is but a glimpse into editor Ellen Datlow's new anthology, based on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland series. Beautifully stitched together, it's a storybook of strangeness, of oddities and weird concoctions, and I'm confident critics and fans of the original Alice books will fall in love with it. New adventures await readers in Datlow's project, as well as new art (book cover included) created by Dave McKean.
I would highly recommend this anthology to any reader passionate about Carroll's literature. Filled with dark psychological thrillers, hallucinogenic imagery and landscapes, and satirical undertones on the worst of societies habits–Datlow's book includes stories by eighteen of today's renowned sci-fi and fantasy authors. Below includes a blurb from some of the author's fantastical tales about Alice and the Wonderland that awaits you, dear reader:
"My Own Invention" by Delia Sherman: A clumsy red knight and his companion Alice who takes both male and female identities (Not Alice/Not Josh) find themselves on an adventure towards reinvention.
"Lilly-White & the Thief of Lesser Night" by C.S.E. Cooney: Sisters Lilly-White and Ruby-Red must put I-owe-you's aside and join together to catch a mysterious thief, one who collects Cheshire animals teeth.
"Conjoined" by Jane Yolen: The narrator, a gentle and intelligent orangutan, who tries to escape the craziness of circus life one quiet night ends up, by strange circumstance and with the help of a Cheshire cat, fighting the terrible Jabberwocky on behalf of Wonderlands Red Queen.
"Mercury" by Priya Sharma: Alice and her father are stuck in a debtor's prison. Her father slowly falling into madness from years of infusing furs with mercury to create top quality hats. How much is Alice willing to sacrifice to save her father's business while striving to keep her own sanity?
"The Flame After the Candle" by Catherynne M. Valente: The author blends the classic tale by J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan, with Carroll's characters. A young Alice Hargreaves meets shy Peter Llewelyn Davies in one story while the reader simultaneously follows the adventures of Olive, a strange but brilliant child caught up in her own Wonderland. Practically a novella, the ending will surprise readers who dare take on this challenge of a read.
"Moon, and Memory, and Muchness" by Katherine Vaz: A modern take on Alice and her journey. I recommend caution while reading this chapter, which includes topics on eating disorders, thoughts of suicide, and personal loss.
Saving the best for last, let's not forget "Run, Rabbit, Run," a poem by Jane Yolen to conclude this maddening journey of Carroll's trilogy and Datlow's brilliant collaboration. Stories in this anthology also include authors Richard Bowes, Stephen Graham Jones, Jeffrey Ford, Angela Slatter, Matthew Kressel, Seanan McGuire, Andy Duncan, Ysabeau S. Wilce, and Genevieve Valentine.
Bree Goodchild is a recent graduate of Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville with a BA in English and Theatre Arts. She currently lives in Washington state with her beagle mix, Molly. A fan of a wide genre of books and authors, most recently Temple Grandin, Ira Glass, Terry Moore, Sebastian Barry, and Zora Neale Hurston.
City of Endless Night by Douglas Lincoln & Preston Child / Review by Liz Gatterer
City of Endless Night
By Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Grand Central Publishing
$28.00
ISBN 978-1455536948
Publication Date: January 16, 2018
Book of the Day
City of Endless Night by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is the 17th in the Agent A.X.L. Pendergast Series-and my new favorite. Preston & Child are master craftsmen and their novels are always a thrill to read.
F.B.I. Agent Pendergast is sort of in trouble... you can read the previous novel, The Obsidian Chamber if you need to learn why, but for now let it suffice that his standing within the department is not what it once was. As punishment for his transgressions, he is sent to investigate the gruesome murder of a young woman-an assignment he feels doesn't merit his involvement. NYPD Detective Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta is also working the case, and not happy about either. Had the call come in just 20 minutes later it would have gone to someone else. But the two have teamed up before and work well together which makes the assignment a bit easier to bear. But this is going to be a doozy of a case. The body was found without a head, a massive GSW to the heart, and wearing Louboutin sneakers. This is going to be a feeding frenzy for the press. When a second decapitated murder victim is discovered and then a third, albeit with different MO's and seemingly unconnected, Pendergast and D'Agosta race to find the killer or killers as the case may be.
Preston & Child have done it again. Their wordsmithing abilities are enviable. It is rare to find such a combination of imaginative storylines and flawless technique that repeatedly produces such wonderful work–I suppose it helps if one of the writers is a world class editor and the other a creative genius... They truly are a marvelous team. I find their details, like for example, the fact that the first victim is wearing Louboutin sneakers or that the second victim owns a 17th century Stradivarius so intriguing. Curiosity often gets the better of me and I find myself having to stop reading to look up what they are talking about (yes, Louboutin actually does make $1500 sneakers) or sometimes it is an unfamiliar word that my pride will not let me continue in ignorance of that turns out to be the perfect word for the situation. I am certainly never bored reading one of their novels and always feel like my time has been well spent when I have finished reading it (usually in one very intense, sleepless night).
For fans of the Pendergast series, City of Endless Night has moments of near heart-stopping fear for the beloved Agent, as well as a few wonderful moments that are very satisfying. The authors have given us a new Pendergast novel, on average, every 12.5 months for the past 15 years - is it too selfish to hope that they can speed that up? I'm not sure I can wait until NEXT January for the next book.
The Plot is Murder by V.M. Burns / Review by Lynda Palmer
The Plot is Murder
By V.M. Burns
Kensington
$15.00
ISBN 978-1496711816
Publication Date: November 28, 2017
Book of the Day
Reading is contentment. Reading a book that allows you to vicariously check off two things on your bucket list is a luxury not to be missed. In The Plot is Murder, V.M. Burns' main character, Samantha (Sam) Washington, quits a job she loves to open a mystery bookstore and completes her first mystery novel. The catalyst for this change was the death of her husband, but with the help of her family, she settles into her new home and life. All is going well until the body of her hateful Real Estate agent is discovered in her backyard.
The case is handed over to Detective Brad Pitt, not that Brad Pitt but rather a judgmental and incompetent detective. When no progress is made in the case, Sam enlists the help of Nana Jo and her three cohorts to solve this mess. Sam describes Nana as "Rose on Golden Girls" and her friends are smart, devious, and humorous. The antics of Sam and the four senior sleuths will keep you reading through the night.
Interspersed throughout the book is Sam's own novel–as she gets time to return to it. This story is set in a Country home in England in 1938. This story is full of love, murder, plots to win the hand of the fair maiden and lives of the Lords and Ladies of the manor and their friends. By using this technique, Burns actually gives the reader two stories in one book!
This book is sure to please cozy mystery readers. It is full of characters, two murders to solve, colorful characters and interesting settings.
Got a bucket list? See how a high school teacher checks off two of her goals just by doing it.
NightSun by Dan Vining / Review by Danny Lindsey
NightSun
By Dan Vining
Rare Bird Books
$24.95
ISBN 978-1945572647
Publication Date: Janauary 16, 2017
Book of the Day
Dan Vining’s dystopian novel, NightSun (Rare Bird Books, 2018) imagines a terrifying, but plausible future for America. Set in Los Angeles sometime after 2025, the landscape is at once familiar and as foreign as the soccer fields on Mars. It didn’t take a war, earthquake or tsunami to radically alter California life, just a few seemingly small events. When Mexico discovered vast oil reserves making it the new OPEC, all Latinos suddenly went home to good jobs, leaving huge gaps in menial and blue-collar workers in the United States. When China dumped tens of millions of ultra-cheap electric vehicles into California, all of a sudden everyone had wheels, and the freeways were completely stalled 24/7. Not that anyone cared; they just turned up the music and enjoyed the experience.
Policemen no longer ran on surface streets, having gravitated to two-seater helicopters. One seat (the driver) was for policemen, the other for their personal gunner, whose only duty was to keep the policeman alive. Gunners did not interfere on the behalf of citizens or victims. Crime scenes were flown to by techs, EMTs, and coroners. And crime scenes proliferated. Gang warfare was one of the remnants of today that changed little over time, either in ferocity or intensity.
The competing gangs no longer bothered with racketeering or prostitution, however. The big money was in smuggling US citizens from all across the New Dust Bowl into Mexico, where work was plentiful, a complete reversal of illegal immigrant migration of the early 21st century. The return trip was equally remunerative, as drugs were often the prevailing currency. Some things do not change with the passing of a couple of decades.
With a subplot featuring a private investigator who sports a catsuit, hired to find a beautiful girl, a modern version of the missing girl’s pimp and a third party professing undying love and paying the PI for her quest, Night Sun is an entertaining read.
Did I mention old-fashioned good guys vs bad guys chase scene? No? I guess I forgot to include it. Darn. Expect scenes reminiscent of Airwolf, or maybe Blue Thunder.
I’d read it again.
Danny Lindsey keeps trying to retire. After a 20-year Army career and a 25-year second one in the private sector, he’s finally settled down. His current gig is as the Veteran Employment Services Manager for a Huntsville, A.L. based non-profit, Still Serving Veterans. Both full careers were characterized by numerous writing assignments, from war plans to operating policies and procedures, then on to white papers, analyses of alternatives and competitive contract and grant proposals. Now his writing consists of blogs for the website www.ssv.org, podcasts for the local NPR affiliate, and a half dozen Pulitzer-worthy, albeit unpublished novels.
Update: Danny won the 2017 Killer Nashville Claymore Award with his manuscript Serial Justice – so he will not be unpublished for long!
Operator Down by Brad Taylor / Review by G. Robert Frazier
Operator Down (Pike Logan Book 12)
By Brad Taylor
Dutton
$27.00
ISBN 978-1101984819
Publication Date: January 9, 2018
An American arms dealer trying to move nuclear weapons components and a planned coup in a small South African country intersect in Brad Taylor’s newest thriller, Operator Down. But it’s the kidnapping of former Israeli agent Aaron Bergman that really ups the ante for Taskforce member Pike Logan and company.
Logan, as usual, is calm, cool, and calculating regardless of the circumstances and the odds against him. He takes great care in planning each action and subsequent reaction. What he can’t plan for, however, is the desperate, and at times reckless, actions of Aaron’s partner, Shoshana, who is hell-bent to rescue him, consequences be damned.
If Logan can’t control her temper, the whole mission and Aaron’s life itself could be at risk.
Taylor, who is a retired Special Forces operative, draws on his wealth of firsthand U.S. Army experience to weave another fast-paced, action-packed entry in the Pike Logan series. The author loads up the reader on plenty of Army jargon, technical know-how, and intelligence agency acronyms, but always manages to keep the plot moving. Aaron’s plight and Shoshana’s desperation add an emotional weight to the novel like few other books in the series.
Of course, there’s never any doubt about the outcome – we know Logan’s team will prevent the nuclear sale, we figure they’ll settle the coup one way or another, and we expect him to save Aaron, who has become one of the series’ most popular characters. But it’s fun getting there all the same.
That’s a credit to Taylor’s ability to craft an entertaining page-turner to keep you up at night -- though it wouldn’t hurt to throw in a few serious setbacks once in a while. Oh, well, maybe next time.
When he’s not working on his own novel or screenplays, G. Robert Frazier writes about other writers and their works on his blog and other sites such as BookPage and BloggingforBooks. He has served as a script reader for both the Austin Film Festival and Nashville Film Festival screenwriting competitions and is a member of the Tennessee Screenwriting Association. He used to write and edit stories for several newspapers in the Nashville area and he once won a flash fiction contest in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, so there’s that.
A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert / Review by Laura Hartman
A Murder for the Books
By Victoria Gilbert
Crooked Lane Books
$26.99
ISBN 978-1683314394
Publication Date: December 12, 2017
Book of the Day
Nursing a broken heart and a bruised ego, Amy Webber flees to a small town in Virginia. Leaving a prestigious university job to become the director at the Taylorsville Public Library wasn’t part of her life plan, but it just might be what she needs at this point in her life. She is enjoying the slower pace of life. Living with Aunt Lydia, whom she has adored since childhood, has been good for both of them.
Amy’s tranquility is upended when the tiny town is shattered by a murder. Not only is the body found in the library, but there may be a connection to one of Lydia and Amy’s long dead relatives. The mystery is too much for Amy to ignore. She begins to dig into the past with the help of her handsome new neighbor, Richard.
There is just enough romance to lighten up the tension of the mystery that must be solved. Richard is not only a partner in the investigation; he is also clearly smitten with Amy. How long does her heart have to heal before she can trust anyone?
Against her better judgment, Amy impulsively jumps into the investigation. The closer she gets to the truth; she realizes that many of the people she loves may be in danger. Will she find the answers she seeks before the killer strikes again?
Murder for the Books is the first book in Victoria Gilbert’s new series. It is the perfect cozy mystery. The characters are interesting and can easily be seen as people you might know. The town sounds delightfully quirky with the beautiful setting of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background.
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Shelved Under Murder, slated for publication July 2018.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from the publisher/author in connection with Killer Nashville in return for my review. Copyright © 2017 Laura Hartman
Laura Hartman is a short story author and book reviewer. She has work appearing in A Woman’s Touch: 11 Stories of Murder & Misdemeanors and The Killer Wore Cranberry, A Second Helping. She began reviewing books for GenReviews in 2011 and currently reviews for publicist Maryglenn McCombs, Penguin First to Read and NetGalley. She is a writer by day and a reader by night.
Cold Water by Samuel Parker / Review by Jim Biggs
Coldwater
By Samuel Parker
Revell
$14.99
ISBN 978-0800727345
Publication Date: January 2, 2018
Coldwater by Samuel Parker is not a book for the faint of heart. The last time I was so engrossed in the storyline from the very start was when I read John Grisham’s A Time to Kill. My heart was racing and I couldn’t read the pages fast enough. With such an intense beginning I wondered if Parker was going to keep the pressure on—and wondered if I could bear it if he did. I certainly don’t want to reveal too much but suffice it to say that he does and I did (but it was close).
This is the story of Michael, a man newly released from the penal system that has returned to the town he grew up in and the vacant house he had inherited from his parents. But the town’s people do not want Michael living there any more than Michael wants to be there. But we all have our cross to bear.
There is a fair amount of violence in the book—and a few scenes are pretty disturbing, but there isn’t any foul language or intimate scenes. It is, after all, published by a company that usually only publishes books with an overtly Christian message. I did not find this to be the case with Coldwater. There were some supernatural aspects to the story, but certainly, nothing that I would consider to be “preachy”.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think that Parker has an exceptional talent for drawing out the suspense. His writing is very detailed but written so well that I never felt I was being overwhelmed with superfluous information. Best of all, the ending was spot on. Often times I find that books that begin with so much action tend to fizzle at the end. But that is not the case with this story. I will be reading it again as well as Parker’s other novel, PurgatoryRoad.
Vindication by H. Terrell Griffin / Review by Amy Nygaard
Vindication
By H. Terrell Griffin
Oceanview Publishing
$26.95
ISBN 978-1608092765
Publication Date: January 2, 2018
Book of the Day
Vindication is the 11th installment in the Matt Royal Mystery series by H. Terrell Griffin. Retired defense attorney Matt Royal is jolted from his idyllic south Florida life when his police detective girlfriend’s aunt is arrested for murder. A new best-selling author has been been killed in a sprawling Florida retirement community, and Aunt Esther is the accused in need of Matt’s legal knowledge and prowess.
Esther swears she had nothing to do with the murder, despite a perfect motive: the victim stole Esther’s manuscript and had it published as her own work. The sheriff in charge of the investigation was humiliated in court by Matt Royal several years earlier, and Matt is unsure how that will affect his defense. With the help of his girlfriend, J.D., in an undercover role in the retirement community, he uncovers layers of decades-old crime all leading to the improbable homicide Esther stands accused of. The entire story package is wrapped up with a bow on top when Matt reveals his findings during Esther’s trial, she is acquitted and released, and the real culprits are arrested.
Matt Royal is a likable protagonist, and capable in his profession. The story itself has a decent plot, with the kinds of twists I'd expect in a legal thriller, and I tip my figurative hat to the author on that note.
Amy Nygaard - I am a lifelong lover of words, and reading has been my passion since childhood. After years of editing work and teaching grammar and writing, I fell in love with writing myself. I have several adult suspense manuscripts completed, a middle-grade boy's mystery first-of-series, and the framework of a separate middle-grade mystery/adventure series. I've attended multiple writing conferences around the country, pitching agents, making new friends, and learning all I can about the world of writing and publishing.
Murder in July by Barbara Hambly / Review by Liz Gatterer
Murder in July
By Barbara Hambly
Severn House Publishers
$28.17
ISBN 978-0727887405
Publication Date: Dec. 1, 2017
Book of the Day
Murder in July by Barbara Hambly is the first of the Benjamin January books that I have read, but I was so engrossed by the story that I have already acquired a copy of the first in the series, A Free Man of Color and plan to spend the next few months (maybe weeks if I can keep up the pace I ripped through Murder in July with) reading the entire series.
Benjamin January is a Free Man of Color living in New Orleans in 1839 with his wife Rose. They are expecting a child and plan to open a school for the education of free girls of color. Although Benjamin was trained as a surgeon, he is unable to find work as such due to his dark skin and the ignorance of the times. He earns his living as a musician. He is offered $100 by a British officer to find the murderer of his friend, but Benjamin refuses—at first. It isn’t until he discovers that the murder weapon was also used in a different murder that happened in Paris 9 years ago
The story itself is wonderful. It is a classic mystery with all the intrigue and suspense a reader could desire. But, even more fascinating, are Hambly’s descriptions of New Orleans in 1839 and the lives of those that live there. I lived in New Orleans many years ago, but I was able to recognize many of the locations and the remnants of the attitudes from that era that shaped New Orleans unique culture. Hambly certainly did her research and she is remarkably talented at relating all of that information into a rich and emotionally engaging story.
Tango Down by Chris Knopf / Review by Jim Biggs
Tango Down
(Sam Acquillo Hamptons Mysteries 7)
By Chris Knopf
Permanent Press
$16.99
ISBN 978-1579625016|
Publication Date: December 31, 2017
Book of the Day
What can I say? I'm a big fan of Sam Acquillo. A cottage in the Hamptons, his gorgeous girl living next door, a workshop in his basement and good dog by his side - this is the life I dream of. Ok, so there is always something happening and Sam always ends up in the middle of it - but, that's what keeps his life so damn interesting! The first Chris Knopf book I read was Short Squeeze, which is the first in his Jackie Swaitkoski book series but I found myself really identifying with the Sam Acquillo character. I then binge read the entire series over a few weeks. I was pretty happy when I found out about this latest installment, Tango Down and jumped at the opportunity to review it. I can honestly say, it just may be my favorite Sam Acquillo yet.
Tango Down begins with the murder one of Sam's custom cabinetry clients, Victor Billingsly. Bludgeoned to death by a golf club that he lent to another contractor working on his house, Ernesto Mazzotti, who happened to also be Sam's close friend. Obviously, Sam is not about to let his friend face the rap for this alone. Before the police are even aware that Mazzotti had the means (but no motive) to kill Billingsly, Sam enlisted the help of defense attorney, Jackie Swaitkoski. See how this all comes around full circle?
Knopf has become on of my favorite authors. His writing is witty and intelligent without sounding arrogant or patronizing. His characters are likable, but flawed, with just the right balance of good and bad traits that make them work together well. I seem to find myself humming "I get by with a little help from my friends" whenever I finish one of his novels and longing for an Adirondack chair with a view of the ocean...
Close to Me by Amanda Reynolds / Review by Anna Oneonta
Close to Me
By Amanda Reynolds
Quercus
$26.99
ISBN 978-978-1681440316
Publication Date: December 5, 2017
Book of the Day
Close to Me is the first novel by Amanda Reynolds. Although this is her first published work, it is well written and polished. I promise, no spoilers! I love books that I just can't put down-if dawn is breaking while I'm reading the last few pages-it has been a good book. And if I can't sleep the next night because I am still wrapped up in the characters lives, it is a really good book.
Jo thought she had the perfect family. She had a loving husband, two grown children, and could fill her time volunteering. But nothing is a perfect as is seems. Jo actually can't remember anything that happened last year. She knows she had a bad fall... but can't quite remember the details. And the perfect family isn't helping her recover the memories.
The story is told from Jo's POV and there is a bit of jumping backward and forward through time. It gave me the feeling of having missed a step, or falling in a dream and waking with a start not quite sure of what just happened.
That feeling of unease just never lets up. If you enjoy intense, suspenseful, and wholly unsettling psychological thrillers, this is a fantastic book. You may even question how well you know your own family.
The Truth Beneath the Lies by Amanda Searcy / Review by Hazel Reed
The Truth Beneath the Lies
By Amanda Searcy
Delacorte Press
$17.99
ISBN 978-1524700898
Publication Date: December 12, 2017
The Book of the Day
Debut author, Amanda Searcy, has truly written something special with The Truth Beneath the Lies. From the very beginning, I was completely hooked. I read the book from cover to cover in one sleepless night. A decision I do not regret. The ending is completely satisfying.
The story follows the lives of two teenage girls, Kayla and Betsy. Each girl telling her story in alternating chapters. Kayla has a rough life. She lives with her mother (an addict currently in recovery) in governmental housing. Living just a few doors down from them is her mother's former boyfriend and drug dealer. It is not a healthy situation for anyone. If she can just keep it together for a little while longer she will graduate from high school and finally be able to get away - far away.
Betsy is a bit more of an unknown. Although she has more of a stable family life (maybe), she certainly has her own set of problems. Searcy portions out Betsy's story in small bits and pieces - and it is not always easy to identify the truth from the lies (and half-truths). I personally found this to be very intriguing - like putting together the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle where the pieces can fit in more that one place.
The challenge in writing a YA Mystery/Thriller is finding the balance between too juvenile and too adult. Searcy certainly accomplished this feat. The tension builds page by page and even when I had an inkling of how this was going turn out - I still couldn't get through the pages fast enough. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and my own teenage daughter love it as well. That is truly a first and a testament to Searcy's skill as an author. I look forward to more from her in the future.
Daily Writing Resilience 365 Meditations & Inspirations for Writers by Bryan Robinson / Review by Joseph Borden
Daily Writing Resilience
365 Meditations & Inspirations for Writers
Book of the Day
Bryan Robinson’s Daily Writing Resilience 365 Meditations & Inspirations for Writers is a must-read for any writer. Whether you’re just getting started or are a household name, there is undoubtedly some piece of wisdom within this book that you can incorporate into your own writing life.
Daily Writing Resilience contains 365 daily mediations, each accompanied by a short inspirational quote. These quotes are from experts in a variety of disciplines—journalists, religious leaders, actors, psychologists, artists, bestselling authors, etc.— and are followed by a short passage that serves to enumerate upon the day’s theme.
All of the passages, of course, are aimed toward helping one to build the resilience it takes to persevere what Robinson calls the “trials and tribulations of writers.” The book highlights common issues amongst writers—despair, rejection, lack of confidence, impossible deadlines, bad reviews, etc.—and offers strategies for overcoming those hurdles, along with a bit of levity here and there. Some passages are lighthearted musings or funny anecdotes. Others contain a bit more gravity and ask the reader to reflect upon a particular issue they are facing. Each of them, though, can serve as a call-to-action.
The book begins with January 1 and runs through the end of December so you can jump right in at any point. It can be followed linearly, of course, but the book also contains an index with keywords relating to a number of writing issues/topics so one can quickly locate passages pertaining to a specific issue he or she might be facing that day.
At the end of each passage is a daily “takeaway”—a short (usually one sentence) bit of advice or contemplation that the reader can ruminate on for a while and incorporate into their own personal/professional lives.
If you, like me, find it difficult to navigate the day-to-day ho-hum of writing (or creating in general), then Daily Writing Resilience needs to be on your bookshelf. Better yet, keep it near your workstation alongside your most frequently consulted books on craft. In those daunting moments of doubt or frustration, Robinson’s Daily Writing Resilience can help give you the strength to power through—one day at a time.
Joseph Borden graduated from Tusculum College in December of 2014 with a degree in Creative Writing. Previously, he’s served as Managing Editor for The Tusculum Review and as an advertising specialist for a The Hickman County Times. He spends most of his time reading and writing fiction—his short story “Hell or High Water” was Editor’s Choice for the 2014 edition of Din Magazine. His hobbies include playing guitar, singing, people watching, and riding his motorcycle. He currently lives in Lyles.
A Lady in Shadows by Lene Kaaberbøl / Review by E.J. Boyd
A Lady in Shadows
By Lene Kaaberbøl
Atria
$16.99
ISBN 978-1476731421
Publication Date: December 5, 2017
Book of the Day
Lena Kaaberbøl’s latest release, A Lady in Shadows is the second book in the Madeleine Karno series. Set in 19th century France, at a time when women were considered to be little more than distractions to their male counterparts, Madeleine Karno will not accept the docile, submissive role that society has deemed her worthy of. As the daughter of an esteemed forensic pathologist, Madeleine was quite literally raised around the dead. Attending Heidelberg University as a student of Adrian Althauser, she proves herself to more than a match for her fellow students. It is she that performs the autopsy on the body of a young prostitute that seems to indicate that France may have its own Jack the Ripper.
Kaaberbøl excels at details. From her depictions of 19th century France to the details of an autopsy, she leaves nothing out. Her research is superb and her understanding of the socio-political atmosphere is remarkable. The actual story, the “whodunit” may be a bit predictable, but that is easily forgiven. Just because you see the end coming, doesn’t make it any less satisfying. I found myself willing Madeleine toward her discoveries and cheering when she found them.
I would expect that historical fiction fans and well as Kathy Reichs’ fans would enjoy this series. Madeleine is a much less flawed, but no less engaging than Temperance Brennan. It is so enjoyable to see characters such as Madeleine develop over time. I enjoyed Doctor Death very much and I look forward to the next installment in the series.
Nightblind by Ragnar Jonasson / Review by Amy Nygaard
Nightblind
By Ragnar Jonasson
Minotaur Books
$25.99
ISBN 978-1250096098
Publication Date: December 5, 2017
Book of the Day
An isolated city in northern Iceland boasts a police force of two and practically no crime. The fatal shooting of the police inspector at a remote location throws young policeman Ari Thor Arason into the uncomfortable investigation of discovering just who wanted whom dead. Ragnar Jonasson’s Nightblind, published by Minotaur Books, stirs together murder, mental instability, and unsuspected domestic problems in several households.
Nightblind sets up the inciting incident with the shooting of the police inspector, who is filling in for an ill Ari Thor. The discovery of a phone call drawing the inspector to the desolate, abandoned house on a cliff where he met a bullet leaves Ari Thor confused. Who made the call? Was he the intended target? What is the new town mayor hiding from him?
Murder is a rare occurrence in their relatively peaceful, chilly town, and Ari Thor struggles with investigating such a serious crime while his home life crumbles beneath him. As he pursues justice for his fellow officer, he risks losing his family, a possibility he can’t fathom. Interspersed throughout the story are journal entries from the past, written by a patient in a mental hospital ward. The additional storyline gives away few clues about the journal author’s identity until the end, and the truth about who fired a gun at the police inspector is left to the last.
So many elements of a successful suspense/procedural were present, but not to the rich depth you'd expect. From relationships to plot twists to suspects, depth was lacing, which left me frustrated because I very much enjoy this genre typically. Nightblind has story potential, and I wish it was more fully develped because overall, I like the premise, the twists, and the resolution.
Amy Nygaard - I am a lifelong lover of words, and reading has been my passion since childhood. After years of editing work and teaching grammar and writing, I fell in love with writing myself. I have several adult suspense manuscripts completed, a middle-grade boy's mystery first-of-series, and the framework of a separate middle-grade mystery/adventure series. I've attended multiple writing conferences around the country, pitching agents, making new friends, and learning all I can about the world of writing and publishing.
Blood Truth by Matt Coyle / Review by Gary Frazier
Blood Truth
By Matt Coyle
Oceanview Publishing
$26.95
ISBN 978-1608092390
Published December 5, 2017
Private investigator Rick Cahill’s latest case becomes his most personal to date in Blood Truth, the fourth novel in the thrilling Cahill series by Matt Coyle.
This time around, Cahill’s world is turned upside down when he is presented with a long-hidden wall safe found in his father’s home that, when opened, yields secrets that could confirm his father’s corruption and reasons for being kicked off the police force. Inside the safe: a stash of $15,000 in cash, a gun, and two bullet casings, all possibly tied to a murder twenty years ago.
Cahill, along with PI friend Moira McFarlane, turn over every stone in his father’s past, interviewing his old acquaintances, co-workers, and the reporter who covered the case in search of clues. Their investigation soon draws the attention of others who want to keep the truth buried at all costs, even if that means eliminating Cahill and McFarlane in the process.
As Cahill struggles to discern the truth, and what that means for him personally, he’s also wrapped up in a murder case involving his former wife and her current husband and a controversial real estate deal, leaving him little time in which to process all that is happening to him. The mystery deepens and the threats multiply at seemingly every turn.
A previous recipient of the Anthony Award, the Benjamin Franklin Silver Medal and the San Diego Book Award, as well as a finalist for the Shamus, Macavity, and Lefty awards, Coyle juggles both plotlines with deft skill. Readers learn firsthand through Cahill’s first-person point of view as the bodies start piling up and the clues multiply. Short, snappy chapters keep the pages turning at a fast rate straight until the finish.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced mystery packed with emotional punch, look no further. This one’s a winner.
When he’s not working on his own novel or screenplays, G. Robert Frazier writes about other writers and their works on his blog and other sites such as BookPage and BloggingforBooks. He has served as a script reader for both the Austin Film Festival and Nashville Film Festival screenwriting competitions and is a member of the Tennessee Screenwriting Association. He used to write and edit stories for several newspapers in the Nashville area and he once won a flash fiction contest in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, so there’s that.
Willnot by James Sallis / Review by Clay Stafford
WILLNOT
By James Sallis
Bloomsbury
$26.00
ISBN 978-1632864529
Publication Date: June 21, 2016
Book of the Day
In the town of Willnot, there is a clearing where two dead bodies are found buried atop a box of decaying papers. Dr. Lamar Hale, the town’s doctor, is brought into the case being investigated by the local authorities. Concurrently, a stranger comes to town in the form of Bobby Lowndes, a discharged sniper for the military who grew up in the town many years ago, but is not the same man. He is followed by an FBI agent and another sniper who has a reason for wanting Bobby to go away. As Dr. Hale goes through the ups and downs of his professional and personal life, his partner Richard is shot by a bullet meant for Bobby Lowndes. It is up to Hale to find equilibrium, not only for the town, but also for himself.
The simple plot is a primarily a character-driven story. The mystery and questions are there, but the storyline is mostly the arcing perspective of the main character, Dr. Lamar Hale. Written in a literary style, Willnotis a book to be read slowly to savor the language, which is near poetic. I was especially awed by the attention to slight details sprinkled just enough within each paragraph. The dialogue is a double entendre of sorts, highlighting the inner turmoils, growth, and regressions of the complex characters. You’re not going to find a whodunit mystery here for the mystery of Willnot is the mystery of life revealed through the MacGuffin of the initial two dead bodies, the FBI agent, and the two snipers. I usually read novels quickly, but this one I did not: the prose is something to savor. It is a novel that you’ll reflect on after reading it, trying to make sense (like Hale) of the little strands of truth hidden in the normal course of the daily mundane. It is a book I would highly recommend.
Clay Stafford is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He has sold over 1.5 million hardcover copies of his children’s adaptations and has seen his film work distributed internationally in over 14 languages. Four of his five staged murder mysteries have had Los Angeles premieres. He has reviewed books, plays, and films, writes near-daily book reviews for the Killer Nashville Book of the Day, has been quoted on book jackets, and has edited several PBS companion books associated with national series. Publishers Weekly has named Stafford one of the top 10 Nashville literary leaders playing “an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers” not only in middle-Tennessee, but also extending “beyond the city limits and into the nation’s book culture.” (PW 6/10/13). He is the founder of Killer Nashville (www.KillerNashville.com) and publisher of Killer Nashville Magazine (www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com). He has served on the board of numerous nonprofits. Clay has a B.A. and M.F.A. and has been a professor or lecturer to several major universities. His list of current projects includes the award-winning feature-length documentary “One Of The Miracles: The Inge Meyring Smith Story” (www.OneOfTheMiracles.com) and the music CD “XO” with fellow mystery writer Jeffery Deaver (www.JefferyDeaverXOmusic.com). Previously associated with Universal Studios and PBS, he is currently President / CEO of American Blackguard, Inc. (www.AmericanBlackguard.com), a publishing/film and television/music / entertainment company near Nashville, Tennessee. More information can be found at www.ClayStafford.com.
Protectors by Kris Nelscott / Review by Samantha Traci
Protectors
By Kris Nelscott
WMG Publishing
$34.99
ISBN 978-1561460649
Publication Date: October 17, 2017
Book of the Day
Three very different women, linked by very similar trauma. Protectors by Kris Nelscott tells the story of how these women collide in 1969 Berkeley, California, in an area torn apart by politics, violence and the ever-present debate of the Counterculture vs. The Establishment. None of the women wanted to get involved with the stories of disappearing college students and violent attacks against women in the dead of night, but each were drawn in because of their own demons whispering in the background.
The story begins the day of the Moon Landing. We learn that Pammy, owner of A Gym of Her Own, always has the best of intentions but is usually in over her head. We also meet Eagle, a former combat nurse who medicates her own demons with alcohol and marijuana while working as the unofficial medic for the gym; and Val, who fled Chicago after a heartbreaking loss. After a late-night incident leaves Eagle shaken to the core, the three women are reluctantly drawn together to investigate rumors of missing college students that the police are studiously unconcerned with. As the women delve deeper into the mystery, each piece of the puzzle they uncover pushes the stakes higher and makes them realize that they have no one to rely on but themselves. The story starts slowly, plodding through the sometimes mundane but absolutely necessary steps of real detective work, but builds to a fast-paced climax that will leave the reader reeling.
Nelscott is a good storyteller, and conveys a strong sense of voice for each of her characters. The plot weaves deftly between the voices of the three main protagonists and the reader is able to piece together an interesting outline of the crimes at the same time as each of the characters, all the while wondering what the next step might be. Protectors is a detective story about characters who would never call themselves detectives. While the overarching plot is one of mystery and murder; there’s also a strong subtext that deals with second-wave feminist issues like domestic violence and rape, sexuality, and women moving out of the home and into the workplace.
Atmosphere is seamlessly woven into the story. The tale is rich with descriptions and details that make the zeitgeist palpable. The reader is left wanting to know more about the real-life historical events that color the story, such as the People’s Park Riot. Casual mentions of ubiquitous cigarette machines and mistrust of the “new” concept of zip codes, to the blatant fear and distrust people feel for the police and the government in general helps set the stage for the conflict the women encounter, which is as much the general attitude of the day as it is anything physical. Yet as much as Nelscott strives to remind the reader that the time and place is 1969 Berkeley, it’s startling how many parallels to present day there are to be found. Characters struggling with their own opinions of politics and war, issues arising due to racism and misogyny, and the overall feminist undertones that permeate the story draw eerie parallels to present day, making the reader wonder just how far we’ve come in nearly 40 years.
While not quite a hard-boiled novel, the tone of the writing is similar. But instead of a gritty male P.I., Nelscott mixes it up with three female voices that are refreshing in their independence. These women never require male assistance; indeed the only male voices present in the story are decidedly unhelpful, either by choice or due to confines in the system. The term “feminist” isn’t directly mentioned but readers will be pleased with Nelscott’s handling of this story, where even women who play minor roles in the story are shown to be strong and capable. The story works great as a standalone detective novel, but seems to be poised as the beginning of a promising series featuring these characters. While not an edge-of-your-seat-thriller, Protectors is a solid piece of fiction that blends history and detective work with a feminist edge.
Samantha TraciSam is the co-founder and editor of progressandtea.com, a labor of love and exercise for sanity in these politically charged times. Drawing from her background in journalism, she currently works in higher education publishing by day but is hard at work on her first novel by night. When not working with words, she can be found indulging her passion for burlesque, a hobby that provides plenty of colorful experiences for her writing!
Dominic by Mark Pryor / Review by Lois Schmitt
Dominic
By Mark Pryor
Seventh Street Books
$15.95
ISBN 978-1633883659
Published January 2, 2018
Book of the Day
If you like dark mysteries, Dominic, by Mark Pryor, is as black as they come. An upstanding member of the legal profession, the main character, Dominic, is a psychopath whose actions escalate from mean childhood pranks to unspeakable deeds.
The suspense starts within the first few pages and continues to the end of the book. The provocative endings to each chapter will keep you on the edge of your seat and will have you flipping the pages until you discover who wins the game of cat and mouse. Although halfway through my reading, I predicted the outcome, I couldn’t put the book down because I hoped my prediction was wrong. (No spoiler alert—I’m not telling.)
The twist, which makes the story all the more terrifying, is that Dominic is a prosecuting attorney, and as an insider, he is able to hide his crimes from law enforcement. Dominic knows he is brilliant and considers himself unstoppable. His ability to manipulate people is especially evident in his relationship with Brian, a co-worker who craves approval from Dominic, the cool guy.
There are no heroes in this story—just evil characters and ordinary people with human weaknesses who fall under Dominic’s spell. Dominic’s most complicated relationship involves Bobby, a young boy Dominic met through the court system. Dominic sees himself in Bobby and treats the boy with what appears to be compassion, but when Bobby becomes a liability, the boy soon turns from protégé to prey.
Fast paced with well-crafted characters, Dominic is a psycho-thriller that will have you wondering if your co-worker and neighbors are really who they appear to be.
Lois Schmitt worked for more than two decades as Education Director and Media Spokesperson for Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs Agency. For the last few years, she has taught in the economics department at Nassau Community College. She is the author of Smart Spending, a consumer education book for young adults. She has combined her love of animals and passion for mysteries in her new Kristy Farrell series. She is a member of several humane and wildlife organizations as well as Mystery Writers of America. A graduate of Hofstra University, she lives on Long Island with her family which includes a one hundred ten pound Bernese Mountain Dog.
Quarry's Climax by Max Allan Collins / Review by Jim Biggs
Quarry's Climax
By Max Allan Collins
Hard Case Crime
$9.95
ISBN 978-1785651809
Published October 10, 2017
Book of the Day
Quarry's Climax, the latest in the long-running series by Max Allan Collins–damn, it's good stuff. Just look at the cover! This is a man's novel - no, I mean a real man's novel. None of this mamby-pamby-politically-correct-hypersensitive fluff. This is the type of book you read with a glass of whiskey - not a cup cocoa. Just looking at the cover brings me back to a time when guys were expected to watch a pretty girl go by and never notice what color hair or eyes she had. When copping a feel would earn you a slap in the face instead of a lawsuit. Ahh... the good ol' days. Back then, a book like this might cost you a buck and quarter, but even though it costs a sawbuck nowadays - GOOD pulp fiction like this is worth every penny.
Quarry is a professional killer. In Vietnam, he was a sniper taking out the VC. Now he works for The Broker taking out whoever he is paid to take out. Different boss–same job. His usual partner is Boyd is also a Vet. They are living it up on Broker's dime in Vegas where their assignment is to actually NOT kill a guy. Their job is to kill the guys who want to kill their guy. But it won't be easy keeping Max Climer, strip club owner and publisher of the raunchy skin mag Climax, alive.
Max Allan Collins really is a master of pulp fiction. His Quarry series is great–they are quick reads, with just enough of the good stuff to satisfy the itch. The covers are works of art. Really–I'd have them framed and hanging in my study if the Mrs. didn't insist on calling it her "craft room". It's hard getting old - but Collins' books really bring me back to my glory days. I recommend the entire series - just not to those in touch with their feminine side. I might even watch the new series on Cinemax – but I warrant the books will be better. Now, I think it's time for the little lady to go make me a sandwich.
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