December 2005

Welcome to December's Mystery Morgue!  Here's where you can take refuge from all the year-end merriment and cheer and get into some good, old-fashioned murder, mayhem and mystery!

Besides the 17 mystery book reviews, including titles from Joan Upton Hall, Sara Hoskinson Frommer, Taffy Cannon, Parnell Hall and others, there are a number of our favorite features, with some of our favorite authors.

The Mystery Morgue Interview looks into the work of J.B. Stanley, examines the roots of her work and the motivations behind it, giving us a very interesting peek into the creative process.

Another such look comes with this month's "How I Write" essay, this time by Sue Owens Wright, author of the Beanie and Cruiser mysteries, looking into her process and how she writes such doggone entertaining mysteries.

After a month off for good behavior, "Murder By Committee" is back, with another baffling, twisting chapter, this month by Kathy Brandt, author of the Hannah Sampson underwater mystery series.

So take a break from shopping and get into some mystery!  The Morgue is open for business, 24/7!

How I Write, by Sue Owens Wright
J.B. Stanley—The Mystery Morgue Interview

Reviews:
Candy Apple Dead, by Sammi Carter
Paradise Lost, by Taffy Cannon
As Dog is My Witness: Another Aaron Tucker Mystery, by Jeffrey Cohen
Death Climbs a Tree, by Sara Hoskinson Frommer
Arturo el Rey, by Joan Upton Hall
Stalking The Puzzle Lady, by Parnell Hall
Death Comes Too Soon, by Patricia Harrington
Hula Done It?, by Maddy Hunter
Long Time Gone, by J. A. Jance
Perfect, by Marne Davis Kellogg
Mercy Falls, by William Kent Krueger
Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye, by Victoria Laurie
Fiddlers: A Novel of the 87th Precinct, by Ed McBain
Merlin's Musings, by Sally B. Merlin
The Fig Tree Murder: A Mamur Zapt Mystery, by Michael Pearce
Murder Uncorked, by Michele Scott
Cover Your Assets, by Patricia Smiley

Ongoing Story:
"Murder by Committee," Chapter 19, by Kathy Brandt

Link to Archives

 

How I Write
by Sue Owens Wright

Sue Owens Wright is a writer of both fiction and nonfiction about dogs. She is a fancier and rescuer of Basset Hounds, which are frequently featured in her books and essays. Sue is a three-time nominee for the Mighty Maxwell, which is awarded annually by the Dog Writers' Association of America (DWAA) for the best writing on the subject of dogs. Her first nomination was for Howling Bloody Murder, the debut novel in the Beanie and Cruiser mystery series. She won the Maxwell Award in 2003 and received a third Maxwell nomination and special recognition from the DWAA in 2004 for the Humane Society of the United States Compassionate Care Award.

DOGMA FOR THE WRITER'S LIFE
or
How I Unleashed My Inner Author

Gustav Flaubert said, "A writer's life is a dog's life, but it's the only life worth living."  If you write about dogs, as I do, this statement is especially true.  If Flaubert had dogs of his own, he must have known that they have much to teach us about the writing life.  There's no breed better suited to be a writer's role model than the indomitable basset hound, which it so happens is as French as Flaubert. 

I've been owned by six bassets, which is why one named Cruiser is featured in my Beanie and Cruiser mystery series for dog lovers.  Having observed basset behavior within drool-slinging range for many years, I have come to understand they are the perfect barketype for the writer's life.  To lead the pack in pursuit of success in the literary field, a writer must emulate many of the same traits that make a scent hound so good at tracking hares in the field.

Here are some tricks my bassets taught me about unleashing my inner author.  I hope you'll find them as useful as I have.

• Pick up the Scent—Every writer begins with the same question: What shall I write about?  A basset ranges in the field, searching for the scent of game.  Then suddenly he picks up a hot scent.  Tally-ho!  He begins to bay with the joy and excitement of having discovered the quarry he will pursue.  The joy is no less great for a writer who has found that which he loves to write about.

• Stay on Track—A basset hound won't ever quit until he has tracked the hare to its lair.  Dogged determination is key to success in the field or on the page.  If a writer is ultimately to see his work published, he must never give up.

• Find your Voice—Every dog has a different bark: the mailman bark; the neighbor's cat on the fence bark, the squirrel in the tree bark.  A baying basset hound has a distinctive, melodious voice.  Writing, writing, and more writing will help the writer discover his unique voice.

• Use your Ears (and all your senses)—Dogs have a keen sense of hearing.  Writers have good ears, too, for listening or eavesdropping.  Using their ears, eyes, and other senses, they perceive details around them that enrich their stories.

• Slow and Steady Wins the Race—When I'm walking my stubborn hound on the leash, trying to rush him, he puts on the brakes and looks up at me as if to say, "What's the doggone hurry?"  The same is true of writing.  Take your time to edit and improve your writing before you submit it.  Editors will thank you, and publish you.

• Follow Where the Path Leads You—When a basset follows a scent, other scents may dilute and weaken the scent he was following.  He may stray off on the wrong path, but then he catches the scent again and he's back on the right trail.  The writer may also stray off the path now and then and be distracted by any number of things, but focusing on your end goal gets you there faster.

• Enjoy the Journey—A basset hound knows how to enjoy life.  He eats, plays, chases squirrels, and naps.  He naps a lot!  He conserves his energy and recharges his batteries.  So should writers.  All work and no play produce dull, uninspired writing and result in burnout.

• Hang with the Pack—Bassets work best in packs.  So do writers.  Writing is a lonely pursuit.  Spend some time (but not all of it) with other writers.  Attend writing workshops or join online chat groups.  By sharing and learning, you'll become a better writer.

• Bark up the Right Tree—A scent hound doesn't waste time following a trail that will not lead him to his quarry.  A writer must not waste precious time sending out material incorrectly to the wrong markets.

• Take the Bite out of Rejection—Dogs don't take anything personally.  If a dog gets rejected, he doesn't give up.  He doesn't sulk or whine but tries again and again until he eventually gets his reward.

• Be a Publicity Hound—A publicity hound is the breed that has the biggest mouth and the longest tale.  Howl your successes, bury your failures, and hire a good publicist (like PJ Nunn) to help you promote your book.  Speaking of publicity, a well-designed Web site is a must for promoting your work.  Mine has been worth its weight in Milkbones.

• Share the Rewards of the Hunt—At the end of a successful hunt, the hunter rewards his hounds. Share your reward with others. Teach. Mentor. Be gracious. It makes success all the sweeter. And don't forget to reward yourself for a job well done.

 

J.B. Stanley—The Mystery Morgue Interview

J.B. Stanley was educated in both writing and collecting at an early age. From plastic Smurfs to antique dolls, her parents and grandparents fostered her "collecting gene." One of her favorite ways to spend time with her grandfather was to sit on his lap in front of the typewriter and write stories with his help. All this time she had an Antique Fund going and her mom, who is a bit of an expert on the subject, would help her shop for decent pieces to use in decorating her teeny, tiny house. She also began submitting articles on auctions to Antiqueweek from time to time. Without knowing it, she had fallen in love with the world of antiques and collectibles much harder than she had collecting Smurfs as a pre-teen. After she got married, Stanley moved to Richmond, VA, and it was during her first year there that she began to write her first mystery novel, A Killer Collection. She had decided to take a break from teaching and also because she missed North Carolina. Stanley felt a genuine aching for the auctions, her friends, the pottery, her tiny house, and most of all, her mom. So she incorporated all those elements into her first novel.

Did the area where you grew up influence your present outlook or interests?

J.B. Stanley: I grew up in a small town in which there was a tiny library branch where the most wonderful Children's Librarian reigned supreme. This older woman got me so hooked on books that I owe her a debt. You see, every time you read a certain amount of books in one category, such as Science, you received a sticker for your library sticker book. My favorite thing was to complete my sticker row ahead of my brothers or any other kids I knew. I especially loved Halloween, when the Mystery Category was highlighted. So, I guess I was influenced not only to read but also to collect by that small-town librarian. 

Have you taken any formal writing courses, participated in any writers' conferences or workshops?

I have a Master's Degree in English Literature with a concentration on Creative Writing. I had always enrolled in as many creative writing courses as possible in high school and in college, but by the time I became a graduate student, I was absorbed with contemporary poetry. Of course, Practicality slaps all aspiring writers in the face and when someone asked me how I would support myself as a poet, I had no answer for them. Thus, I became a teacher. Not a huge pay increase, mind you, but at least there was a salary.

How/when did you become interested in mysteries?

I crossed over to mysteries after reading scores of books categorized as historical fiction. Soon, historical mysteries whet my appetite and then I wanted to read more and more mysteries from cozies to hard-boiled crime fiction. I've always loved classic movies, the ones you can catch on TNT, and am a Hitchcock fan. I don't think there are many modern films that can touch some of the scary, old movies like Ghost Story or The Lady in White.

What did you try writing before your first novel?  

I've had some poetry published in academic journals over ten years ago. I think I was afraid to write a novel. It seemed like I had to come up with an awful lot of words! I tried my hand at a few children's stories and had some interest from agents, but in the end, no one was able to sell them for me. 

What did you learn writing Killer Collection?

I learned that getting a book written is a major accomplishment, but it's nothing compared to trying to edit it and then sell it. I still have to pinch myself that this has all worked out and I'm going to be holding this paperback bearing my name in my hand and possibly signing it for a mystery reader. I feel very lucky and very humbled by the entire experience. I also truly hope that I can bring some recognition to the beauty of southern pottery.

How long did it take to write?

Two years, on and off. I wrote the first half quickly and then didn't know where the plot was going. I ended up shelving the whole thing for almost a year. Then, strangely enough, I was in my second trimester of pregnancy when I suddenly woke up with an epiphany about what was wrong with the plot and how to correct it. Guess it worked! Boy, I could use those hormones every day that I'm writing.

Does your having lived in Virginia play any part in your writing?

Only to the extent that the second book of this series will be set here in Richmond. It has had more influence on my supper club series that will be released in October 2006. The first book of that series is called Carbs & Cadavers and is set in the Shenandoah Valley, one of the most beautiful places within our great nation.

Have you traveled?  If so, has it contributed to the content of your book?

I have been to several European countries, to Russia, Egypt, Mexico, and all over the U.S. I was fortunate to have parents who believed young children could benefit from travel. I think that traveling has most awakened in me the realization that people are basically the same everywhere. They care about their friends, family, and future and are good souls. I hope to send Molly to London in a future novel. I haven't been there in a while and it would be too cool to spend a week there and then write the trip off on my tax return!

How do you do your research?

In this case, I took a pottery course so that I would have had experienced every step that the pottery process entails. I quickly learned that I would need another 10 years before I would ever be able to throw a symmetrical pot. Other than that, I have first-hand experience as a collector and having working at auction houses, so none of that requires any research to be accurate.

Where did you get the idea for Killer Collection?

Straight from the potters in North Carolina. Just watching them work influenced me to write about them and their craft. The mystery part of it seems to go hand-in-hand with my love of antiques and collectibles. Anyone who has ever been outbid during the last five seconds of an eBay auction can attest to the devastation that can grip you as a prized possession slips form your grasp. From PEZ to period furniture, collectors are filled with passion. Sure, not all of these passions are positive, but a day at auction is never dull. I just used the feelings I have always witnessed when it comes to collecting to bring life to this story. 

When you create a character, how much of that character comes from your personal experience?  Are your characters just an extension of your own life and are their experiences from your own life, or are they completely fictional?

My characters are purely fictional, though some of them bear traits belonging to people I know and love. My villains are usually based not on real people, but on common negativities that real people I may have encountered possess. So, if someone is really rude or hostile to me, they may find themselves the basis for a future antagonist or even, a future victim!

 

Reviews

Candy Apple Dead
by Sammi Carter
Berkley
Paperback, 232 pages, $5.99
ISBN: 0425205320
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

Abby Shaw inherited Divinity Candy Shop in Paradise, Colorado, upon her aunt's death.  She left her career as a corporate lawyer and her cheating husband to come run the shop.  Abby finds making and selling sweets helps ease her pain.

Brandon Mills, owner of a local men's store and Abby's friend, invites her to dinner after the upcoming local merchants' meeting.  At the meeting he'll be trying to get everyone to agree to extend the city's annual arts festival.  Abby starts thinking about the dinner as a date.  Then when he doesn't show up, she is furious.

That night Brandon's store is destroyed by fire.  No one can locate Brandon until his body is found among the rubble.  Abby is shocked that not everyone is mourning his death.  Plus she finds out information about Brandon and many married women in town that she had no clue about before.

When the police suspect her brother started the fire and killed Brandon, Abby kicks into gear and starts looking for the real killer.  Who killed Brandon and why?  Is her brother involved?  If not, why is he in hiding?

I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for a second in this series.  I highly recommend this book.

Paradise Lost
by Taffy Cannon
Perseverance Press
Trade paperback, 288 pages, $13.95
ISBN: 1880284804
Reviewed by Gloria Feit

Paradise Lost is subtitled "A Novel of Suspense," and it is indeed just that.  From the 4th page of the first chapter, headed Day One, when Vanessa Wyatt, an actress, and Holly Constantine, the daughter of high-powered Hollywood entertainment lawyers, are kidnapped from an early morning hike, this well-written novel has us in its grip. 

The two girls—Vanessa, depicted as a rather slutty and self-centered young woman, and Holly, an overweight college girl—were guests at Paradise Plaza, a posh Santa Barbara health spa.  The ransom demand,  when it comes posted on the spa's website, appears to be from environmental terrorists, asking that within the next several days the sum of $8,000,000 be deposited in a trust fund to be used to create national parks in three specifically designed California towns. 

What follows is a tightly-plotted tale that is part police procedural, part a drama reminiscent of the Patty Hearst case, part a re-working of the Leopold and Loeb case of the 1920s.  The perpetrators are, in fact, as we learn early on in the book [no spoilers here], inspired by what was dubbed The Perfect Crime of the 20th century, although as things proceed one of them inevitably asks himself "how could something conceived with such lofty aspirations have gone so irretrievably wrong?  Nobody was supposed to die.  Nobody was supposed to suffer."

Taffy Cannon has written a book which is more than just suspenseful.  The characters are very well-drawn, from the cops, the FBI and the local detective working on the case, to the perpetrators, the kidnap victims, Holly's parents, a stalker who has been obsessed with Vanessa for years, and others tangentially involved in the events.

This author has written several other books, in two different series, as well as four standalones, of which this is her latest.  I haven't read any of Ms. Cannon's prior books, I must admit, but will rectify that promptly.  I enjoyed this book very much, and found it very fast reading.  It is recommended.

 

As Dog is My Witness: Another Aaron Tucker Mystery
by Jeffrey Cohen
Bancroft Press
Trade paperback, 280 pages, $16.95
ISBN: 1890862436
Reviewed by Gloria Feit

I will simply say that this newest book in the Aaron Tucker series is an absolute delight.  Cohen manages to paint a portrait of a loving and very human family with some additional challenges than those most of us face, along with a very satisfying mystery containing some unexpected twists and turns, and his usual wonderful albeit somewhat quirky sense of humor.  This book had me smiling throughout, with at least every couple of pages giving rise to laugh-out-loud moments and an occasional guffaw.  And once again we are given some insight into the world of people with Asperger's Syndrome and those who love them.

Highly recommended.

Death Climbs a Tree
by Sara Hoskinson Frommer
St. Martin's Minotaur
Hardcover, 278 pages, $23.95
ISBN: 0312329210
Reviewed by Clara Johnston

Joan Spencer is the lead character in this cozy mystery.  She is the manager of the civic symphony and is in need of one more violinist since Sylvia decides to not be in attendance.  Sylvia wants to protest against a construction project that is environmentally unfriendly.  Seeking to raise some awareness and attention to her cause, Sylvia climbs a tree and sits there.  This is a valiant effort and Joan's son, Andrew, is especially taken with the cause and with Sylvia.

What happens next changes everything; murder usually does.  Poor Sylvia falls from the tree early in the story and leaves Joan to help answer the question why.  Joan's family consists of her husband Fred (a police lieutenant) and her son, Andrew.  This was a good introduction of these members since I have not read any of the previous installments of the series.  This is number six.  The others are: Witness in Bishop Hill, The Vanishing Violinist, Murder and Sullivan, Buried in Quilts, and Murder in C Major.  

The characters are full bodied and realistic.  I like Joan's passion for her music, her family and her sleuthing.  Combine murder, family, small town relationships, environmental concerns and the local symphony and you will have a satisfying cozy read.  Oh, and add a smattering of humor to the mix.    

 

Arturo el Rey
by Joan Upton Hall
Zumaya Other Worlds
Paperback, 373 pages, $17.99
ISBN: 1554102588
Reviewed by Terri M. Tumlin

The post-plague world in the United States as pictured in Arturo el Rey has much in common with the Dark Ages in Britain.  Both were in violent disorder with ordinary people living in fear of armed marauders who freely pillaged the land.  Art Reyes, a young marine, previously from the gang world of San Antonio, Texas, survives the plague and in the years after puts together his motorcycle gang—the Knights. 

While Art and his buddies are surviving on the road, salvaging what they can from the tattered remains of modern America, others are trying to build safe enclaves where people can live in relative safety.  Richard Cranston, PhD. is one of these working with the remains of an agricultural research station originally part of the University of Texas. By fortifying the station and building on the agricultural foundation already laid before the plague, Cranston is able to restart his own version of society.  Art discovers Cranston's compound and his beautiful daughter, Shanna, but cannot stay and live under the arbitrary rules imposed by Cranston. 

In another part of Texas, a small enclave does not fare as well.  Nilson, an old man and a small group have survived by hiding themselves in an abandoned library, still alive, but barely, as the food they have been foraging from abandoned buildings in the area runs low.  They dare not venture far with the ever-present danger of marauders in the area.  Art finds them and sees his opportunity—for them and for himself.

Art's quest to create a place where he can live and provide a home where he can safely bring Shanna provides the background for this well-written and fast paced novel.  Joan Upton Hall, a long-time fan of the Arthurian legend has skillfully woven the feel and the sense of the King Arthur story into this original novel without slavishly following the earlier story line.  Characters reminiscent of Guenivere, Merlin, and Lancelot appear, but they are not updated replicas.  The reader who is familiar with the legend can enjoy the overtones, while the deviations from the legend provides a layer of tension as to the direction the plot will take.  For those unfamiliar with the Arthurian legend, Art's nighttime dreams and those of Nilson, who was his old high school teacher, bring in elements from the days of Arthur and Camelot.  For those unfamiliar with the Arthurian legends, the tight sound plot, distinctive characters and face pace stand alone well.

I definitely recommend Arturo el Rey as an enjoyable and in ways provocative novel.

 

Stalking The Puzzle Lady
by Parnell Hall
Bantam
Hardcover, 320 pages, $24
ISBN: 0553804170
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

Cora Felton, the puzzle lady, is on tour promoting Granville Grains' Corn Toasties cereal with televised personal appearances at supermarkets off I-95.  Not her favorite thing. 

Right before leaving, a crossword puzzle is pinned to her door with a knife.  Cora's niece Sherry decides to accompany Cora to keep an eye on her and keep her safe. 

An old acquaintance of Cora's appears at one of the stores. Sherry's abusive ex-husband shows up on the tour as well.  Then a woman on the tour is found dead.  The people believe it was an accident.  Cora and Sherry believe it was murder.

Cora and Sherry set out to solve the murder, but can they find the murderer without putting themselves or anyone else in danger.

I always enjoy books in this series.  Cora is abrasive, yet likable.  Sherry is quiet and always keeping an eye on Cora.  They make such a great team.  The reporter that Sherry is dating always assists them and complements their detecting skills so well.

The TV crew in this book really adds to the story with all their quirks.  The fact that they're stuck at a motel while on tour but yet outsiders can come in and out helps keep the reader guessing on who the murderer is.

I highly recommend this book.

 

Death Comes Too Soon
by Patricia Harrington
PublishAmerica
Paperback, 199 pages, $19.95
ISBN: 1413777082
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

Bridget O'Hern's friend Bev Tilton talks her into coming to the Oregon coast to look into the local art league.  Bev is afraid that the art league's executive director is embezzling funds.  Bridget is a nonprofit consultant, but she has doubts about taking on this assignment.  But the lure of free lodging in Bev's bed and breakfast is too enticing.

Bridget is trying to heal from the end of her twenty-three-year marriage.  What she gets is a dead friend, Bev.  Bridget continues investigating the art league and trying to get information about who might have killed Bev.  Interim police chief, Sam Alpern, is none too happy that she is investigating. 

Can Bridget figure out what's going on in the art league and who killed her friend without becoming a victim herself?

This is the first in this series that I've read.  I really enjoyed it.  Found it hard to put down.  I can't wait to read the next one.  I loved the setting on the Oregon coast, too.  Bridget is a likeable character and the people in this small town really added to the story.  Sam Alpern is a great character, and I hope he'll be in future books.

I highly recommend this book.

 

Hula Done It?
by Maddy Hunter
Pocket Books
Paperback, 310 pages, $6.99
ISBN: 074348292
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

Emily Andrews is off on another adventure, this time on a Hawaiian cruise.  She is a travel escort for a senior citizens tour from Iowa which includes her Nana.

Professor Dorian Smoker, Captain Cook expert, goes overboard not long after a journal was lent to him by Nan's friend.   Was it an accident or was it murder?  Emily begins to investigate.  Then it is discovered the journal included a mysterious treasure map.  The Iowa group decides to go treasure hunting on the river rafting trip the next day.  Emily doubts there really is a treasure.  Unfortunately, the next day, everyone on the river seems to have a map and is searching for the treasure.  Who gave them copies?  It is determined that there was one other copy that wasn't "distributed."  If they can figure out who has it, they can find the murderer.

There are lots of suspects in his death as he was having affairs with many of his students.  Some of them were on board.  Can Emily figure out who the real killer is before anyone else is hurt or murdered?

I always enjoy books in this series.  I laugh out loud when reading them.  Emily is a fabulous character and Nana and her friends really add to the story.  The locale for each book is different and it makes it even more enjoyable to read about such exciting places.

I highly recommend this book and the whole series.  It's a great, fun, fast read.

 

Long Time Gone
by J.A. Jance
William Morrow
Hardcover, 339 pages, $24.95
ISBN: 0688138241
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

Special Homicide Detective J. P. Beaumont is asked as a favor by his high school friend Frederick Mackenzie to listen to Bonnie Jean's story.  She went to high school with them, too.  She recently remembered witnessing a homicide of her neighbor when she was five years old. 

Beau explains that he only handles cases that are assigned to him by Attorney General Connors.  Before Beau knows what has happened, this case is assigned to him.  He wonders who Freddy Mac knows.

Also, Beau's old partner Ron has troubles of his own and even though Beau is not supposed to be involved in the investigation, he can't turn his back on Ron and his family.

Can Beau solve the cold case or is someone determined that it shouldn't be solved?  Can Beau help Ron and his family without anyone getting hurt?

Beau is a great character.  I can't wait for the next installment in the series. The characters are fabulous.  You just want to keep picking up the book to find out what happens next.  J. A. Jance is a terrific story teller and weaves all the parts together beautifully. 

I highly recommend this book.

 

Perfect
by Marne Davis Kellogg
St. Martin's Press
Hardcover, 321 pages, 24.95
ISBN: 0312337329
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

Retired Shamrock Burglar Kick Keswick is at it again.  She and her husband, former Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Thomas Curtis, who was once the Samaritan Burglar, now live in their farmhouse in Provence. 

Although retired, Thomas is called to help Scotland Yard on a case:  Queen Elizabeth asked for him personally because some of the crown jewels were stolen by Bradford, her trusted footman.  He helped her pack them for the royal tour she is on. 

Thomas discovers that Bradford has changed his name to Sebastian Tremaine and is now posing as the business manager and companion to opera singer Constantin.

Thomas asks Kick to help out by getting close to Sebastian and Constantin.  Once Kick agrees and sets off, she changes the plan to her own, severing ties with Thomas to have more freedom to operate.

Kick sets out to meet one of the world's richest men, George Naxos, and his beautiful wife, Alma, who is wheelchair bound.  She gets close to them and then gets them to allow her to visit their large isolated estate in Switzerland.  It is actually a place where the rich and famous stay.  Constantin and Sebastian have a place there.

I love this series.  It is always a book that is hard to put down. 

The location in this book is intriguing, as well as the plan to steal back the crowned jewels is exhilarating. I highly recommend this book and suggest you read the whole series.

 

Mercy Falls
by William Kent Krueger
Atria Books
Hardcover, 344 pages, $24
ISBN: 0743445880
Reviewed by Gloria Feit

Mercy Falls, the newest book by William Kent Krueger in the Corcoran O'Connor series, begins, grippingly, with an ambush meant to be a fatal encounter for the protagonist, recently returned as Sheriff of Tamarack County, in Aurora, Minnesota.  While Cork only sustains a gunshot wound to his ear, his deputy is seriously injured.  Before he can even begin to deal with this, Cork is called in to investigate the murder of one Eddie Jacoby, who was in the area trying to broker a deal with the Ojibwe, the local Indian tribe, for his casino management firm.  Things become personal when Cork realizes that his wife, Jo, a local attorney, represented the dead man in those negotiations, and even more personal when he discovers that the dead man's half-brother, Ben, had had a serious relationship with Jo years before when Ben and Jo were both in law school.  

To make things even more stressful, someone places a bomb under the hood of Cork's car, albeit, one with a blasting cap that had previously been used and would never have been able to detonate.   The ensuing investigation turns up a man named Stone who is believed to be the triggerman in the ambush, and Lizzie Fineday, a young woman who is suspected to be involved in Eddie Jacoby's murder.

The things that make families "tick," or not, are explored convincingly by the author, both in the dysfunctional Jacoby clan, with assorted children and children-in-law and a domineering patriarch, contrasted with the O'Connors, who despite bumps along the road remain a deeply loving entity.  The suspense as Cork continues in his search, convinced that if they don't find Stone quickly Lizzie will be killed, kept this reader on the edge of her chair. 

But the most consistent factor in this beautifully written book is the descriptions of the magnificent Minnesota Northwoods area which transform it into a character in the novel.  The elegantly descriptive prose is so eloquent that one can feel the exquisite beauty of the land, the mountains, the lakes. 

One small quibble:  The author has used an interesting device in this book, beginning it with a short chapter entitled "How It Ends."  This was troubling to me in that as brief and intriguing as this 'prologue' is, it acted as kind of a spoiler, telegraphing a major plot line.  I can only assume that this was intentional; the suspense was still there.  True, there are a couple of completely unexpected twists at the end, and one can see where the next book in the series will find the protagonist.  Despite the aforementioned quibble, Mercy Falls is highly recommended.

 

Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye
by Victoria Laurie
Signet
Paperback, 295 pages, $5.99
ISBN: 0451213637
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

Abby Cooper is a Psychic Intuitive (P.I.).  She has known since she was young that she was clairvoyant.  She tried ignoring it for a while, but that just didn't work, so now she has a comfortable practice in Royal Oak, a suburb of Detroit.

After one of her clients ends up dead, the police come to Abby for answers.  She doesn't have any, but she is able to give them some direction in the case.  At first Detective Dutch Rivers doesn't believe her.  But over time, he begins to turn to her for answers when there are none.  It doesn't hurt that he's easy to look at.

Soon Abby finds out that the killer thinks she knows more than she does, because she finds herself in danger more than once.  Can she help the police solve this murder without becoming a victim herself?

This is the first in this new series.  I had some trouble getting into it because I don't really believe in psychics.  I must say that by the end of the book, I really liked it because I enjoyed the characters and the story.  I will read more in this series.  I recommend this book.

 

Fiddlers: A Novel of the 87th Precinct
by Ed McBain
Otto Penzler Books, Harcourt Inc.
Hardcover, 259 pages, $25
ISBN: 0151012164
Reviewed by Gloria Feit

This book, which sadly is the last we'll have from the prolific Ed McBain (Evan Hunter), is right up there with all the other wonderful 87th Precinct books we've all loved by this author.  It returns us to the lives of Steve Carella and his family, Ollie Weeks, Kling, Dawes and all the other colleagues of the 87th Precinct, all of whom will be sadly missed.

Fiddlers tells the tale of several seemingly unrelated murders which follow quickly one upon the other, with nothing to tie them together but the gun used in all the killings.  The victims include a blind violinist, a cosmetics sales rep, a college professor, a priest and an older woman.  The cops of the 87th, and at least initially some from other area precincts, each investigate these crimes along varying paths to finally arrive at the serial killer responsible.  The eponymous fiddlers are the initial victim; the cops 'fiddling around' until they solve the crimes, and those who 'fiddled around' in the life of the perpetrator.  The book is wonderfully well written and the 87th Precinct is one whose familiar personnel we will have to learn to live without in future, except in the re-reading of all these wonderful books the author has left for us.

To quote from the cover of the booklet produced for the memorial service for this terrific author who so recently left us, "he wrote like an angel."

Merlin's Musings
by Sally B. Merlin
Singing Tree Press
Trade paperback, 224 pages, $16
ISBN: 0970800541
Reviewed by Janet Koch

Screenwriting is a brutal business and few could know that better than Sally Merlin. But growing up the daughter of screenwriters didn't deter her from her own screenwriting career and expanding into becoming a producer, college professor, editor, and script consultant. Merlin's Musings is a powerful compilation of columns written for scr(i)pt magazine and the dedication is indicative of the book's flavor: "To every writer who has the courage to begin."

Arranged into the loose categories of Writing, Magic, Selling, Movies, and Politics, Merlin's essays average three pages with some as short as one. And one page, if filled with enough impact, can be enough. The essay Building Characters ends with the punch: "Trust in what you know. Be brave. Welcome to the unknown." This reviewer had to close the book and go for a walk after reading that. Sitting still was impossible.

Merlin writes about dialogue, about being stuck, about rejection, about the lessons learned from specific movies. A number of topics are repeated, but they are topics that many writers need to hear over and over and over. Persistence. Professionalism. Voice. Persistence.

Though Merlin writes about the movie industry, it's easy to draw parallels between Hollywood and the New York publishing industry, making even movie-specific essays useful to the novice screenwriter, the accomplished novelist, and every writer in between.

 

The Fig Tree Murder: A Mamur Zapt Mystery
by Michael Pearce
Poisoned Pen Press
Hardcover, 210 pages, $24.95
ISBN: 1-59058-068-0
Reviewed by Janet Koch

The sun is shining on the British Empire, baking the streets of Cairo dry in a time when donkeys are a primary mode of transportation, when a car is a rare sight, and when many railroads are still under construction.

It is on the tracks of one of those unfinished railroads that a murdered man is discovered. Enter Gareth Owen, official title Mamur Zapt, head of Cairo's Secret Police, the man responsible for political order in the city. For though the murder might have been a revenge killing—not an unexpected end for an adulterous man if his wife has a number of honor-bound brothers—the highly visible placement of the body indicates a more complicated answer.

Foreign corporations, Egypt's Nationalist Party, the local religious sheikh, the British authorities, the wealthy Pashas—all are interested in the railroad's progress, but some wish it completed and some most decidedly do not. Owen, caught between Old Egypt and New Egypt, between the old ways and the new, realizes that to find the killer he must understand both, a task that may be the most difficult he's ever had.

The first four sentences of The Fig Tree Murder ("It's called the Tree of the Virgin," said McPhee. "Virgin?" said Owen. "After the Holy Mother," said McPhee severely. "Oh.") give an early and accurate indication of the book it's going to be: clever, funny, and highly entertaining. Within a chapter or two even a reader new to the Mamur Zapt will understand the names and relationships in this long-running series.

A bit more explanation of the problems Egypt faced in the early 1900s might have been helpful, but Michael Pearce's storytelling skill is unquestionable. With seeming ease, he takes the reader to a time and place when men sat in a circle on the dusty ground, sipped tea made over a cattle dung fire, and tried to make sense of their changing world.

 

Murder Uncorked
by Michele Scott
Berkley
Paperback, 224 pages, $6.99
ISBN: 042520684X
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

When Nikki Sands accidentally spills a drink on a nasty bimbo she was serving at her waitress job, she has no idea how it is going to change her life.  The bimbo starts making a scene so Nikki quits.  While Nikki is getting a drink across the street, in walks the bimbo's date, the hunk.  He buys her dinner. 

After dinner he offers her a job at Maleveaux Estates, a Napa Valley winery.  He is Derek Maleveaux.  Having nothing to lose, she flies with him to his winery to look into this job.

As Nikki is settling in at the guest cottage, she notices something strange outside.  When she goes outside to check it out, she finds the murdered corpse of Gabriel Asant, Derek's winemaker and friend.

Nikki, a wannabe actress, once played a detective on TV, so she decides to do some investigating.  The police are interested in Derek.  She doesn't believe he did it.

Between the rival winery, Derek's strange family, and Gabriel's women, Nikki has plenty of people to investigate.  But can she do that without becoming a victim herself?

This is a great first book in a new series.  The characters are wonderful and the setting is delightful.  I'm not a wine drinker, but the information about wine and its making is not overpowering.  The author has blended it in well with the mystery.  I found myself laughing out loud.  It is a very fast, enjoyable read.

I can't wait for the next book.  I highly recommend this book.

 

Cover Your Assets
by Patricia Smiley
Mysterious Press
Hardcover, 290 pages, $23.95
ISBN: 0892960191
Reviewed by Theodore Feit

Tucker Sinclair solves her second murder, this time that of a college friend and former lover, Evan Brice, who jilted her and married Tucker's best friend.  He was murdered in an apartment he maintained separate from that in which he lived with his wife and daughter.  Evan was a bad poet but he became a high-powered theatrical agent, along with some bad habits, like womanizing and drugs.

The suspects abound, among them the wife, whom Tucker sets out to help, not believing she's guilty.  The narrative moves swiftly forward, with potential guilty persons cropping up regularly to confuse Tucker.  The author's light touch offsets the heaviness of the story.  The book is amusing and well-written, and is a fast read.

 

Murder By Committee

Read past installments and find out more about Murder By Committee

Chapter 19
by Kathy Brandt, inspired by those who came before

Kathy Brandt is the author of the underwater investigation series (Dangerous Depths, Dark Water Dive, and Swimming with the Dead), featuring police scuba diver Hannah Sampson.  Her new book, Under Pressure will be released in June 2006.  This chapter of our continuing story enlightens, without ever actually explaining, what's going on.  Read on, and buckle up!

I switched the engine off and sat staring out the cockpit window, contemplating my next move while watching night settle onto the ocean.  Dying rays of orange reflected off the white capes as they rushed to shore and broke into bubbles of foam on the sand.  The nearby woods were dark, the trees eerie sentinels towering against a purple sky. 

"Get out of the plane," a hard-edged voice demanded. 

I had not seen the man approach or heard him coming, but any doubt that he was an illusion dissolved when he yanked the cockpit door open, nearly pulling it off its hinges.

"Hey, easy on my airplane," I said.

"I said get out," the goon demanded again.  Before I could react, he grabbed my arm, his steel fingers digging deep into my flesh.  He pulled  me out of my seat like a rag doll and  threw me onto the dusty runway.

"Lay off," I shouted as he moved toward me, threatening further damage.  "What the heck is going on?"

"Who are you and what are you doing here?' he asked.  Darned if those weren't the same questions I'd been trying to get answered since I'd set the Harpy down on that little runway on Ojai.  How long ago had it been now?  Weeks? A month?  I had no idea, and at this particular moment I was not at all inclined to figure it out. 

"I'm Harper McCrea and I want to see Halsworth, now!"   I knew Halsworth had to be part of the entire sordid affair.  I was sure that the cargo I'd picked up on Ojai had included more than a few cheap trinkets for Halsworth's cut rate stores.  I'd underestimated the guy—considered him a five and dime player in a two bit game.   Now, I was betting that the stakes were higher, several million higher.  The cargo had been a cover for the computer chips—the key to a fortune—a formula for some far fetched idea to produce cheap hydrogen fuel.  Guthrie had gotten wind of it and arranged passage on my little plane.

"We'll see what Mr. Halsworth wants to do with you," the goon said.  He manhandled me to my feet, stuck a gun in my spine, and pushed me ahead of him  without another word.

I'd only been to Halsworth's estate once,  and then I'd been invited in the front door.  I'd stepped over a line that day when I'd agreed to break the law and solidified the deal with Halsworth to transport his goods.  I'd needed the money because of Richie, whom I had happily divorced the week before.  He'd taken everything I owned.  I'd been so thrilled to be out from under the guy, both literally and figuratively, that I'd gladly let it all go.  Everything except for my old de Havilland Caribou.  Unfortunately, what Richie hadn't taken, the mortgage company wanted.  I couldn't let that happen.  The airplane was my sole source of income.  It was either break the law or end up schlepping  pancakes for my brother in his sleazy restaurant.  No way.  Besides, I love the flying.

Now I was being forced to crawl under a tangle of barbed fencing my face covered with dirt, my backside sliced by the edge of the razor sharp wire.  I was beginning to wonder whether I should have just taken the job my brother had offered and settled into a life of maple syrup and hash browns. 

Halsworth was lounging in his hot tub in the back of his million dollar mansion when the goon and I stumbled out of the woods.  A woman was beside him in the tub, the top of ample breasts floating near the surface.   She stood when she saw us, stark naked and proud of what she had to display.  I was sure the breasts were silicone.   Call me envious.  I'd been enhancing my bust line with a padded 32A since the age of sixteen when I'd accepted the fact that was as good as it was going to get.  Now I was glad for the padding in which that little computer chip nestled. 

"Harper. What a surprise to see you.  I thought you'd be dead by now.  Where are my computer chips?"

"You aren't even going to offer me a drink before we get down to business?" I asked.

"Jones, get the woman a drink," he said to the goon who had his eyes stuck on the rose tattoo nicely displayed on the right cheek of the blonde who was now floating on her stomach in the hot tub. 

"Martini if I remember correctly?" Halsworth asked. 

"Yeah, extra dry, twist of lemon," I said, enjoying the fact that the goon was at my service.

"Now what about the chips?"  Halworth said, stepping out of the tub and wrapping a towel around his bare ass.

"What makes you think I know anything about chips?" 

"Do you think I haven't been keeping track of your movements since you and Guthrie left my Asian connections dead on the tarmac?"

"You know," I said, unable to contain the anger another millisecond.  "I'm not real pleased that I'm tangled up in all this.  I blame you.  And Guthrie.  That guy hitched a ride on my airplane, and he's been stuck to me like a flea on a dog.  He hasn't muttered a word of truth since he propositioned me in a closet that first night.  He's claimed to be with the FBI, the CIA, a private detective, and a member of some secret society.  He even told me he'd been a spy who lectured at the Sorbonne.  At least that's what I think he said, but I'm tired of trying to keep track of his story.  Worse yet, the guy has the nerve to try to take over my narrative.  In the process, I've been drugged, had various weapons pointed my way, been knocked unconscious, and worse yet, my ex actually showed up. I'm pretty sick of it."

About then the goon came back with my martini—no lemon twist.  The last straw.  I shoved him into the hot tub, pulled the little revolver from my boot, and pointed it at Halsworth.

"You want those chips?" I said.  "You're going to have to pay and pay big."