KN Magazine: Reviews

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.

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

*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.

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.

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.

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?

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?

9/29/15 9/29/15

Shooting for the Stars by R. G. Belsky / Reviewed by Kimn Hinkson

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase *Shooting for the Stars* or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

Oh, murder!

Sensational!

R. G. Belsky dazzles with his new mystery novel, Shooting for the Stars. Suspenseful, Shooting for the Stars will knock you down with its broiled characters, its attention to detail, and haunting undertones. From the vagaries of an unsolved crime—an apparent murder-suicide that left movie starlet Laura Marlowe dead, and the shooter six feet under with her—emerges a slew of dark, horrific secrets, and dark, horrific men and women.

It’s a cyclone of suicide, and remorseless humans who will even slay their own sisters, and it’s clamoring to make its way on the top shelf in your office. The writing is decisive and lucid; the detectives collected and anything but stereotypical. Leave the hard-boiled stuff in your section with Sam Hawkens and dear old Jack Searle; Gil Malloy shines!

It mixes professionalism with bloody excellent timing, maximum character development, and a nice blend of reality and storytelling. Belsky shakes the consciousness with roaring naturalism, meaning blood, scandal, and lots of awe-inspiring murder, not to mention nihilism!

Not what you'd expect from your run-of-the-Miller-Light-and-Pall-Mall-laced mystery novel; Belsky is a tantalizing, devilish, mesmerizing writer. His well-spoken, subtly crafted protagonist Gil Malloy runs ahead of us through a grisly alphabet of mayhem with zeal; he even provides us with a gruesome and classic image of someone smearing a, what was that...? A Z?

So who was it, Malloy? Zeak? Zelda? Zorro?

You’ll have to read the book and see!

Kimn Hinkson is like most over-caffeinated, introverted bibliophiles: indifferent to most other items on the planet.

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 Maria Giordano, Emily Eytchison, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers.

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

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9/24/15 9/24/15

Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart / Reviewed by G. Robert Frazier

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase *Girl Waits with Gun* or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

Constance Kopp could be just the leading lady Hollywood has been waiting for. She’s independent, resourceful, intelligent, brave, and she won’t back down from any man. While we wait for the inevitable movie adaptation, and for the dust to settle over which A-list actress will portray her on the big screen, readers can whet their appetite for Constance’s adventures now in Girl Waits With Gun, the new historical fiction novel by Amy Stewart.

Set in 1914, the novel wastes no time as Constance, along with sisters Norma and Fleurette, are nearly killed in the opening pages in a horrific collision between a motorcar and their horse-drawn buggy in Paterson, New Jersey. Both Constance and Norma escape the mishap with minor scrapes, though Fleurette, who is the youngest of the three at just 16, suffers a badly injured leg.

Making matters worse, the driver of the motor vehicle—silk factory magnate Henry Kaufmann—has no remorse for what’s happened, and blames the wreck on the Kopp sisters. When he tries to drive off, Constance promptly shuts the car door in his face and demands his name so that she can send him the repair bill for the wreckage to their buggy. Right away, readers cannot help but cheer for Constance Kopp, and want to keep reading.

Of course, demanding reparation and receiving it are two different things. Kaufmann balks at the request, and instead sends his ruffians to harass Constance and her sisters at their remote farmhouse with bullets and threats, including a scheme to kidnap Fleurette and sell her into slavery. Constance complains to local police, who are dismissive and unwilling to help, before finding an ally in Sheriff Robert Heath. With Heath’s support, Constance and her sisters are armed with revolvers and get a crash course in self-defense, prepping them for their next encounter with Kaufmann and company.

Stewart pieced their fascinating story together from newspaper archives—beginning with a 1914 newspaper article she found while researching a different Henry Kaufmann for a nonfiction book she was writing. Additional resources included courthouse documents, genealogical records, and interviews with surviving family members. In some instances, there was little to go on, and so Stewart embellishes the rest, from the novel’s dialogue to the sisters’ personalities and backstories. A fictional subplot about a woman in Kaufmann’s employ whose son is stolen from her adds fuel to Constance’s quest for justice.

“I have fallen in love with the Kopp sisters,” says Stewart. “Their lives have taken over my life. Nothing has ever been written about them. They were brilliant and amazing and hilarious, and nothing makes me happier than spending time in their company.”

Readers should be quick to embrace the trio as well, thanks to Stewart’s vivid imagination and finely crafted prose. Constance’s story may be just beginning, as Stewart has amassed hundreds of articles during the course of her research. By the end of the novel, Constance becomes the first deputy sheriff in the country, setting the stage for future novels.

Stewart is best known for her award-winning nonfiction bestsellers The Drunken Botanist and Wicked Plants. Girl Waits With Gun is her first historical fiction novel.

G. Robert Frazier is a former journalist, La Vergne Library Board member, reader for the Nashville Film Festival and Austin Film Festival’s annual screenwriting competitions, 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 Maria Giordano,Emily Eytchison, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.)

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9/22/15 9/22/15

Murder at the Courthouse by A. H. Gabhart / Reviewed by Sharon Marchisello

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase *Murder at the Courthouse* or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

Nothing much happens in Hidden Springs, Kentucky, which suits Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane just fine. After years on the big city police force, he is happy to return to his hometown to play peace officer, where the most serious crime is a missing laptop or a bounced check. Until the town busybody stumbles upon a dead body on the courthouse steps.

Keane’s first problem is to identify the victim. No one in Hidden Springs claims to have ever seen him before. And what was he doing, getting shot on the courthouse steps? Everyone has a wild theory, but all agree that none of the good folks of Hidden Springs could have possibly had anything to do with a murder.

A. H. Gabhart, author of Christian fiction including Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, Love Comes Home, and several Shaker novels such as The Outsider, The Believer, The Innocent, and The Heart of Hollyhill series, has created a bevy of quirky characters who are not as simple as they appear on the surface. There is a power struggle in the law enforcement ranks, and tension between police and press, but things get more serious when the murderer strikes again—and this time, one of their own falls victim.

When in his teens, Sheriff Keane lost his parents in a horrific car accident that incapacitated him for a year and wiped out some of his memory. Recovering some of these long-lost memories becomes crucial to solving the present-day case, until past events that seemed random and unrelated collide into a startling conclusion. Murder at the Courthouse will keep you engrossed and entertained.

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 Maria Giordano,Emily Eytchison, Will Chessor,and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.)

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9/17/15 9/17/15

The Flicker Men by Ted Kosmatka / Reviewed by Kevin Tipple

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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

Is what we perceive as reality actually real? Is the concept of déjà vu really a glimpse into another version of us elsewhere in time or space? Can the soul of a person be actually measured? Why do civilizations exist? Are those that are considered mad or insane just people who can see and experience another reality? These questions and many more are asked in the intriguing thriller The Flicker Men by Ted Kosmatka.

Eric Argus has followed the path to where madness lies and, for now, is back on the edge of the abyss. He has returned to the Boston area, a shell of himself, where he contemplates suicide by gun and bottle. The bottle is currently winning, as heavy drinking helps with his nightmares. It also helps with the guilt, to a certain extent, as well as with his nerves.

Gradually readers learn that horrible things happened in Indiana just a few months ago. Despite what happened there, an old friend, Jeremy, has hired Eric to work at “Hansen Research”, hoping he will pick up where his research left off. He has four months to produce something of scientific merit. Eric reluctantly takes the job, knowing that, should he fail and become unemployed again with no place to go, there is always the gun.

After reconnecting with people on a daily basis, and occasionally managing to stay sober for a few days at a time, he still does not have a worthy project for those in charge to keep him after the probationary period. Instead of coming up with something new, he wants to reconsider something that was established as fact long ago. Eric has developed a need to duplicate the famous Feynman’s double-slit experiment, and thanks to the sudden arrival of just the right equipment in a batch of scientific gear from a closed lab, Eric will be able to see it with his own eyes.

Although he does not intend to produce new science, Eric Argus’s experiment goes far beyond what researchers have previously attempted or thought, proving that the impossible is true in ways that boggle the mind. His experiment sets off a ripple effect around the globe, causing some to cry that he “broke the world”, and others to look for God and the soul. In the chaos he has unleashed, Eric Argus quickly realizes just how small a cog he is in the machinations of others with competing agendas. Hunted by unthinkably powerful forces he cannot even begin to understand, Eric has literally nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.

Award-winning author Ted Kosmatka has created a thriller where science (in the form of quantum mechanics) is a major character. Complex and intriguing, with a science angle that isn’t easy to understand, The Flicker Men is also ultimately a novel of mystery and redemption. In the midst of plenty of science and action, Kosmatka asks the big questions, and explores their impact at the personal level, even if he does not answer them outright. Hard to simplify and explain in a review, The Flicker Men by Ted Kosmatka is a mind-bending thriller that works on all levels, resulting in a very good read.

When not offending someone in person or online due to his strange sense of humor, Kevin Tipple reviews books, watches way too much television, and offers unsolicited opinions on anything. His short fiction has appeared in magazines such as Lynx Eye, Starblade, Show and Tell, and The Writer's Post Journal among others and online at such places as Mouth Full Of Bullets, Crime And Suspense, Mysterical-e and more. The fact that most of those publications and sites no longer exist is not his fault. Fully trained before marriage, Kevin can work all major appliances and, despite an obsessive love of nearly all sports, is able to clean up after himself.

(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 Maria Giordano,Emily Eytchison, Will Chessor,and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.)

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9/15/15 9/15/15

Minute Zero by Todd Moss / Reviewed by G. Robert Frazier

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase *Minute Zero* or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

In the life of every country, at a moment of extreme national disruption, there is a brief period of breakdown, when everything is uncertain. That is the moment to act, to shape events the way you want them to go. That is Minute Zero.

State Department Crisis Manager Judd Ryker is thrown into the midst of just such a scenario in Minute Zero, the new book by Todd Moss. Inspired by actual events, the novel highlights the chaos of a national election gone awry in the African country of Zimbabwe. Ryker is tasked with helping steer a political outcome that will benefit the United States, but, unbeknownst to him, he is merely a pawn in the political game being played out around him.

The election pits longtime Zimbabwe leader Winston Tinotenda against upstart rebellion leader Gugu Mutonga, and early signs point to a possible victory by Mutonga at the polls. Ryker’s investigation unveils a money trail and secret U.S. support behind the candidates, as well as a scheme to uncover a high-grade uranium mine that could put weapons-grade material in the wrong hands.

But as the election draws to a close, the country is rocked by a series of events.

First, a bomb obliterates the home of General Solomon Zagwe, the exiled president of Ethiopia granted asylum in Zimbabwe by Tinotenda. Zagwe, it turns out, is the target of a U.S. probe into war crimes for his role in something called the Red Fear, a genocidal campaign of violence that resulted in half-a-million civilian deaths in Ethiopia. Soon after, Tinotenda himself falls victim to a car bombing, and his right-hand man General Simba Chimurenga vies to take over the presidency in a coup. Ryker must rush to expose Chimurenga, and make certain Mutonga is rightfully made president.

Moss directs the events like a maestro in an orchestra, taking readers across the globe from the U.S. to Zimbabwe to Taiwan and more, in short suspense-filled chapters. His artful skill keeps the complicated plot on course, making it possible for readers to remain fully aware of what’s happening, even as he leaves Ryker in the dark to figure things out for himself. As the clock counts down to Minute Zero, the tension only heightens.

Moss draws on his real-life experiences in U.S. government to craft a thoroughly believable and politically charged thriller. He previously served as the chief U.S. diplomat for West Africa, overseeing 16 countries under President George W. Bush. He is currently senior fellow and chief operating officer at the Washington, D.C. think tank, the Center for Global Development, where he writes on U.S.-Africa relations, energy, national security, and investment.

Minute Zero is his second international thriller, following on the success of The Golden Hour.

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.

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9/10/15 9/10/15

Woman with a Secret by Sophie Hannah / Reviewed by Jonathan W. Thurston

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase Woman with a Secret or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

We all have secrets. Deep, dark, chilling secrets. Things we wouldn’t tell our best friend or our lover or our family. But what if you had the chance to confide in an absolute stranger?

Nicki Clements, the Byronic star of Sophie Hannah’s new psychological thriller Woman with a Secret, found someone she could tell everything. It was a simple online exchange. Only secrets aren’t quite so simple.

When everyone’s least favorite local online reporter is killed by a mysterious murderer, with even more mysterious circumstances, the cops struggle to narrow down the list of actual suspects from the ample one of people who hated him. When the cameras show Nicki driving past the reporter’s house multiple times the day of his murder, she may have to confess to worse things than murder.

Sophie Hannah approaches this thriller with an almost experimental mindset, using emails, texts, news reports, and even dating ads to bring together a suspicious cast of characters, each with their own motives and, as the title suggests, their own secrets. This meta-narrative approach, while reminiscent of Mark Z. Danielewski, is fresh and startlingly engaging.

This absolutely chilling novel brings out the most frightening of psychological thrillers: the secrets we all have buried deep within us. Sophie Hannah captivates readers with a bone-chilling story in the tradition of Gillian Flynn and Tana French. From the charmingly sadistic Craigslist ad on page one, readers will be hooked and begging to turn the page. We all have secrets. Some are just better left in the dark.

Jonathan W. Thurston is a literary studies graduate student. Aside from his studies, he owns a small publishing house called Thurston Howl Publications and serves as its editor-in-chief. He has written several books on his own and always enjoys reading a good horror novel. When he’s not busy with grad school or his business, he is often found reading a good book with hot tea in one hand and his dog Temerita curled up at his feet (she often thinks she is a cat, you see).

(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 Maria Giordano,Emily Eytchison, Will Chessor,and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com.)

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9/8/15 9/8/15

Gone But Knot Forgotten by Mary Marks / Reviewed by M. K. Sealy

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase Gone But Knot Forgotten or read other reviews through Killer Nashville’s affiliate, Amazon.com*

Looking for the perfect punny mystery? Look no further than Gone But Knot Forgotten, the third installment of Mary Marks’ quilting mystery series.

Protagonist and quilting enthusiast Martha Rose just can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Her “penchant for discovering dead bodies” keeps her life complicated, but this time, her accidental affinity for tragedy hits unusually close to home: Martha’s best friend from high school, Harriet Oliver, has passed away and named Martha as the executor of her estate.

The intrigue begins immediately, as Martha learns that the friend she’d lost to distance and time has been dead for almost a year—and that poor Harriet Oliver has yet to be laid to rest. Martha, feeling indebted to a once-beloved friend, takes on the role of executor, only to find that things she has taken for granted over the years aren’t what they seemed. What starts out as a dutiful, well-meant response to the unfortunate passing of an old friend leads to much, much more…

Mary Marks’ characters are dynamic and relatable, creating a novel that is appropriate for people regardless of their age. Marks’ plot and form also play a huge role in drawing in the reader. Intending to read the first few pages of a chapter, I found myself three chapters ahead of where I’d been, in what felt like just a few minutes.

This novel is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery, well-developed characters, and novels that appreciate the intricacies of friendship.

(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 Maria Giordano, Emily Eytchison, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com)

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9/3/15 9/3/15

Go Down Hard by Craig Faustus Buck / Reviewed by Maria Giordano

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase Go Down Hard or read other reviews through Killer Nashville's affiliate, Amazon.com*

What happens when your rock ’n’ roll crush is shot dead and the case is never solved?

If you’re Nob Brown, a down and out ex-cop, ex-reporter, looking to get his ex-wife off his back, you try to solve the 20-year-old case in time to write an exposé for whatever magazine will pay top dollar.

But Nob, an endearing mess of a guy, who appears to be still trying to figure out his own life, does what other investigators can’t, uncovering an ugliness so deep that when the truth is discovered, Los Angeles will never be the same. All will, as the title of the book suggests, Go Down Hard.

Of course, Nob—I would love to know the origin of this antihero’s unusual name—has help from some main ladies in his life: his yoga-twisting assistant, and his on-again-off-again lover, who happens to be a sexy and skilled detective in the Los Angeles Police Department.

Author Craig Faustus Buck’s debut novel takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of murder, betrayal, incest, and abandonment. It is steeped in the seedier side of L.A. life, both repulsive and endearing.

Buck’s writing style draws from his years as a journalist, delivering a fast-paced story with some kinky, adult-only overtones, seemingly ripped from the tabloids. But don’t be scared. It’s a tight story line that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Maria Giordano is an over-caffeinated lover of books that she can hold in her hand. Her two daughters keep her sane, and she makes her home in Nashville.

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9/1/15 9/1/15

Hollow Man by Mark Pryor / Reviewed by Cole Meador

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

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Mark Pryor’s Hollow Man is not a novel for the faint of heart or the cozy readers out there. It is a dangerous, profane, and riveting story that rips along at breakneck speeds.

Set in Austin, Texas, Hollow Man follows Dominic, an English lawyer with a mysterious past and a deep desire to play music. Through glimpses into his mind, the reader finds that all is not well with Dominic. He is a psychopath who is trying to keep his world in check.

A suave and sharp prosecutor, Dominic makes harsh, yet glaringly true, comments about society as things take a turn for the worse when he is demoted, and his carefully constructed world begins to unravel. Despite Dominic’s creepy perspective on life and his schemes to land quick cash, this story’s rollercoaster ride of events will have readers both rooting for and against him. When faced with capital murder, Dominic must make one of the most important choices of his life: will he protect others, or will he protect himself?

This charming, but disturbing book kept me up for quite a few nights, hastily turning the pages to find out what would happen next. Mark Pryor does an excellent job fleshing out his characters, providing each with believable dialogue and interesting personalities.

This book is one of my favorites this year, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good crime fiction novel with a splash of romance and murder. Suffice it to say, I will be reading anything else that Mark Pryor puts out.

Cole Meador is a full-time student pursuing a B.A. in Creative Writing. When he isn’t writing poems or short stories, he spends his time frequenting Nashville coffee shops, planning his next road trip, and attending any and all concerts he can. Cole aspires to work in the music industry, while continuing to pursue his passionate love for the written word.

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8/25/15 8/25/15

Idyll Threats by Stephanie Gayle / Reviewed by Maria Giordano

Killer Nashville Book of the Day

Purchase Idyll Threats or read other reviews through Killer Nashville's affiliate, Amazon.com*

Stephanie Gayle Credit: Sayamindu Dasgupta

Police Chief Thomas Lynch has a world of challenges on several fronts with murder seemingly the least of his worries in Stephanie Gayle’s Idyll Threats.

First, he’s new to the job in bucolic Idyll, Connecticut, where little is similar to his former world in New York City until the murder of a young woman found sprawled out on a golf course shatters the quietude. His staff is wary of his leadership and methods. The mayor is breathing down his neck for a quick resolution, and besides being one of the last persons to see the woman alive, Lynch is gay, a secret he wants to keep for now.

In a town as small, traditional, and close-knit as Idyll, which by the way, is a homophone of idle, finding the perpetrator of the woman’s death leads Lynch to uncover more secrets than answers. The trail leads him to some of the more colorful members of town for clues from a UFO-obsessed, conspiracy theorist to a Goth-punk teen.

While taking personal risks to shake out the murderer, Lynch is forced to reflect on his own arrival to Idyll, his past work as a New York City detective, and the death of his partner and friend when an investigation goes awry. It turns out he has his own mysteries to unravel.

Stephanie Gayle delivers a tight story that is part police procedural and part traditional mystery that keeps you guessing to the very end. It is also a fast-paced jaunt that never lags and paints a believable picture behind the charming and sometimes complicated facade of small town life.

Moreover, Gayle tackles Lynch’s homosexuality in a non-preachy way. Her perspective rings true for what it might be like to be homosexual in a predominantly heterosexual profession as well as living in a traditional community.

Maria Giordano is a learner of life who continues to be amazed at the little things. She resides with her two daughters in Nashville.

(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 Maria Giordano, Will Chessor, and credited guest reviewers. For more writer resources, visit us at www.KillerNashville.com and www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com)

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