March 2005

Welcome to the (somewhat delayed) March issue of Mystery Morgue. This month's issue has a special tribute to Barbara Burnett Smith, who left us far too soon in February, and we offer it to those who knew her or enjoyed her work.

Also, we have the usual tidal wave of mystery reviews, including one of Barbara's latest novel Bead on Trouble, as well as a terrific interview with Victor Gischler, author of the current Suicide Squeeze, and a new essay, "How We Publish," by Robert Rosenwald, publisher and president of the Poisoned Pen Press, one of the most respected mystery publishers in America.

Sorry, but there's no chapter of "Murder By Committee" this month. February only has 28 days, and we couldn't come up with anything quite twisted enough in such a short time.

Sit back, take it all in, and enjoy. We promise to be on time next month.

In this month's issue:

Barbara Burnett Smith: A Series of Appreciations
Essay: How We Publish, by Poisoned Pen Press
The Mystery Morgue Interview: Victor Gischler

Reviews:
Bead on Trouble by Barbara Burnett Smith
Dekok and the Geese of Death by A. C. Baantjer
Deep Pockets by Linda Barnes
The Big Dig by Linda Barnes
Buried By Breakfast by Claudia Bishop
For Whom The Minivan Rolls... by Jeffrey Cohen
The Asperger Parent by Jeffrey Cohen
Died Blonde by Nancy Cohen
The James Deans by Reed Farrel Coleman
Polished Off by Barbara Colley
The Poet's Funeral by John M. Daniel
Give First Place To Murder by Kathleen Delaney
Dying For a Change by Kathleen Delaney
Suicide Squeeze by Victor Gischler
Nobody Runs Forever by Richard Stark
A Wedding to Die For by Leann Sweeney
Pick Your Poison by Leann Sweeney
Death In Duplicate by Valerie Wolzien

Link to Archives

 

Barbara Burnett Smith: A Series of Appreciations

On February 19, the mystery book world lost one of its most beloved ambassadors. Barbara Burnett Smith, author of the "Purple Sage" series and the current "Bead on Trouble," lost her life after being struck by a car as she tried to retrieve a dog she'd just rescued. Below, those who knew her well, and some only casually, remember the seemingly unstoppable force that was Barbara Burnett Smith.

I didn't know Barbara well, but we had established an email correspondence that gave me a very strong impression of her. When I was first being published, she noticed my first novel, was very supportive of my writing, and encouraged me to keep going on. I couldn't do much to help her in return (of course, Barbara didn't need my help), but I offered, and she was gracious about that, too.

There are some people you don't meet often and don't spend long periods of time with who you still consider friends. I'll miss Barbara, and regret that I didn't get to know her better.

Jeffrey Cohen, editor, Mystery Morgue

You've heard about the "A" personality? Well, Barbara Burnett Smith was an "A+" personality. And proof of that was the 200+ people who attended her memorial service. There were her writer friends, including the women she worked with as president of the National Sisters in Crime, her staff and clients from her business as a speaking coach, her beading friends, her social friends, and the many members of her extended family.

Barbara and I met in 1989 when I joined a writers group already in progress. By that time Barbara had written ten books, none of them published. I'd never met anyone who had done such a thing - personally, maybe two and I would have quit. But Barbara was, if anything, tenacious, and she knew in her heart that this dream would someday come true. A couple of years later, after we were both out of that writers group, some other writer friends and I decided to start another group. I called Barbara. She said she'd decided to give it up. I begged her for one more try. She finally said she'd join, on one condition, that this group give positive as well as negative feedback. We took her advice and The Black Shoes-Barbara Burnett Smith, Jan Grape, Jeff Abbott, and myself-was one of the most successful groups of its kind. Within the first year, Barbara and Jeff had published their first novels, Jan had published two short stories, and I had published another book.

Barbara was one of those people who was always there for her friends. A blurb, an edit, a ride, or the shirt of her back. She will be dearly missed.

—Susan Rogers Cooper

I had the privilege of knowing Barbara for a long time. The first thing I noticed about Barbara was how attractive she was; the second, how intelligent and warm. Those impressions were right on the money, as I found throughout the years.

Barbara was an industrious self-starter. Not only did she have the talent to show countless people how to improve their lives and their careers by becoming better speakers, she was a serious writer. She loved the company of other writers, and the party she gave at her home when Bouchercon was held in Austin was especially notable. It was easy to see how hard Barbara had worked to prepare her home for this event, and her hospitality touched everyone who entered.

Barbara and I shared one short road trip, but it's one I've never forgotten. We drove from Washington to Oakmont, Pennsylvania, to do a signing after a Malice Domestic. Barbara drove, and I navigated, and I think it says a lot for Barbara that she was still my friend after we finally made it out of the city. When we went on a toll road, somehow Barbara misplaced the ticket we'd gotten from the machine, and when we exited and the booth operator demanded the ticket, we had a frantic four minutes digging around on the floor board to find it so we wouldn't have to pay extra. Barbara was smiling, but that booth operator wasn't having any. He was the only person I ever met who couldn't be mollified by Barbara's charm.

Barbara crackled with vitality. She was a very small woman, but she had enough charge to jumpstart a car. If she wasn't explaining how she'd managed to triumph over some bump in her road, she was telling you a story about her husband, or her grandchildren, whom she loved with a passion. Through her sister's illness and her own episodes of poor health, Barbara must have had many dark moments, but she kept her head up, led with her chin, and never admitted defeat.

I grew casual about keeping in touch, which is something I regret now. I always assumed in the back of my mind that someone so alive, so vital, would be around forever. I didn't realize what a hole she would leave until she was gone."

—Charlaine Harris

Barbara was such a warm, bubbly personality. You don't want to make somebody sound absolutely perfect, but she was.

—Jan Grape, quoted in the Austin American-Statesman

I first met Barbara in 1996. She had already published her first Purple Sage mystery, and my first BIGGIE had just been bought. To my mind, she was already the pro and I was a rank, and very ignorant, amatuer. When I found out that we had the same editor at St. Martin's, I found the courage to call her. Well, nobody could have been more kind and helpful. She gave encouragement and advice with generousity and grace. We became friends, not the kind of friends that meet for lunch or call one another every few days. But every time I ran into Barbara at a meeting or conference, my spirits lifted. She was just that kind of person. I have served on many panels with her, and we did a number of book signings together. Her passing has left a big void in our little Austin community of mystery writers. She will be missed.

—Nancy Bell

My impression of her was of someone always impeccably dressed, often cowboy boots and well-cut jeans to betray her Texan background, petite, pretty and perky. She always seemed full of energy with a great zest for life. She was friendly. Countless authors have registered tributes saying that Barbara was the only big name author who spoke to them at their first convention and encouraged them in their own writing lives. I really enjoyed her company. One always laughed a lot with Barbara. I think especially fondly of the party at her house at Bouchercon, Austin—the house bursting to the seams and the noise level incredibly loud.

The fact that she gave her life trying to rescue a stray dog is especially poignant. I think there is a big hole in many hearts including mine and a big blank space in the middle of mysterydom.

—Rhys Bowen

 

Essay: How We Publish, by Poisoned Pen Press

By Robert Rosenwald
Publisher and President, Poisoned Pen Press

When we started Poisoned Pen Press in 1996 we had a couple of goals and a few ideas in mind. We felt that the consolidation that was taking place in NYC publishing was hurting booksellers, readers, and authors. By pruning lists and supporting only the better selling authors larger publishers were limiting the choices of readers and, in our opinion, indirectly censoring books.

My wife Barbara Peters and I had started The Poisoned Pen, A Mystery Bookstore... and more in 1989 and we felt strongly that readers wanted a lot more than just bestsellers. We also felt that what distinguished an independent bookseller from a chain store was the ability of the independent to give the customer a great book to read by a less well-known author that the customer wouldn't know, and that new technologies including Print On Demand, the Internet, desktop publishing, and Adobe Acrobat enabled us to begin with a modest investment while we learned our way.

Almost immediately after we published our first Edgar Award nominated work, AZ Murder Goes Classic in 1997, we started getting unsolicited manuscript submissions. At the current time we are getting around fifteen hundred submissions per month. Of those approximately 80% are submitted directly from authors and 20% from agents. We request an inquiry letter initially to try to eliminate those books that are immediately going to get rejected. We also use the query letter to pass on our manuscript submission guidelines to those who haven't read them. Among the main points we stress in our guidelines are:

1. We do not consider simultaneous submissions.
2. We pay a $1,000 advance for all fiction we publish.
3. We insist upon receiving all materials electronically.

The reason we don't consider simultaneous submissions is fairly straightforward. We have very limited resources and it is expensive to evaluate a MS. We want to know that if we are considering a book and want to do it then we'll be able to, assuming we can come to terms. We don't care what other publishers think of a book—if we like it we'll publish it and if we don't we won't.

Once we get a submission we send out the synopsis and first thirty pages to three or four initial readers and ask them to evaluate it. If one of the readers loves it or all of the readers think it worthwhile we then ask three or four other readers to read the full manuscript. If one of them absolutely loves it or they all really like it, it then goes on to our senior editor, my wife. I would estimate that of the fifteen hundred submissions we get two-thirds get eliminated in stage one and another four hundred are eliminated in stage two. Of the hundred or so that get to Barbara we may publish six to eight in a good year.

The criteria we are most interested in are the author's voice and the overall quality of the writing. We also put a great deal of importance on the setting or location, dialogue, use of language, and character development. The plot ultimately has to work but is usually the easiest to fix.

Once Barbara has decided she'd like to publish a book and we have verified with the author that they are still interested in working with us and are willing to do the work and revisions that invariably need doing I prepare a contract. We're fairly inflexible regarding our basic contract. We insist on getting the absolute right to publish a second book upon the same terms and conditions as the first. We want all rights in a book including translation and performance (film/tv). We pay royalties annually and base them on the retail price of the books sold typically starting at 9% and escalating as the quantity sold increases. The guiding principle with our contract is that basically all authors should be treated fairly and all authors should be treated equally. We have no super-stars.

We hoped from the beginning that Poisoned Pen Press would act as an incubator. In an ideal world we want to publish two or three books of a new author and then have them go off to a larger publisher which can give them greater exposure and support to help further develop their career. But we do want to do the first two or three books by a new author. If we're going to take the risk of publishing their first book then we'd like to reap some reward from that. Thus we insist upon the right to do their second book.

Once the contract has been signed things start to move fairly rapidly. Barbara will begin work with the author on their final revisions which may involve as little as stylistic clean-up and a number of minor edits to, more frequently a partial re-write, and occasionally a complete re-write. Because we believe the author should be involved in the cover design process, if the author wants to be involved, we put our illustrator in contact with the author to begin the process of coming up with a suitable cover. At the same time an ISBN is assigned and a tentative publishing date is established. We then furnish the author an extensive questionnaire for the author to fill in as completely as possible. The main purpose of the questionnaire is to assist us in deciding to whom we'll send advance reading copies (ARCs) to and what sorts of marketing hooks we might be able to use.

Once the manuscript is approved by Barbara it goes to be typeset into ARCs. A cover is created for the ARC and typically five to six months prior to publication date the ARCs are created. Generally we do around one hundred and fifty ARCs but that could be expanded or decreased depending upon circumstances. More if the author had provided us with a number of newspapers and other outlets that they felt we should provide them to, fewer if we were publishing a non-fiction work with very limited appeal. Once the ARCs come in we send off two to the author-one of which is to be proofed and returned-the other to be kept by the author. At the same time we send off ARCs to the review media, various mystery and independent booksellers, and one or two select readers who do a preliminary proofing. Once all the proofs are back in we send them to our final proof reader to take a final pass through before the final typesetting.

A dust jacket will have been created by the time we get back the final typeset book and all materials then go of to our printer and, approximately seven weeks later finished books arrive. Advanced orders from Ingram, Baker & Taylor, and others will be filled, some number of books will typically get shipped to the author for signing from which we will fulfill requests for signed copies, and the balance of the books will go to our fulfillment house in Michigan where all future orders will be processed.

That, in a nutshell, is the process we use. But what I have glossed over in this description is the incredible help we get from too many people to name, most of whom are unpaid volunteers. Poisoned Pen Press succeeds because of the collective will of many mystery fans who love good books that are well-written and well-edited dealing with subjects or time periods that they would normally not have access to. We love what we do and we hope our readers love what we publish.

 

The Mystery Morgue Interview: Victor Gischler

Interview by Gloria Feit

What prompted you to begin writing mysteries?

I suppose when I started. I didn't really think of it as "writing mysteries." I just wrote a story that seemed good to me and it turned out to be a crime story. I really wanted to write sci-fi and fantasy, but one week in grad school I had a story due, so I wrote about a hit man who'd been paid to kill a moonshiner in Mississippi. This story turned out to be "Hitting Rufus" which was selected for Best American Mystery Stories 1999. Encouraged by the publication, I decided to stay with crime. After all, I grew up reading John D. MacDonald and other hardboiled types, so I figured I'd enjoy it.

Your novels seem to be centered on Florida—is it because you live there, or did you feel that would be the most interesting setting?

Well, half my novels are in Florida. Gun Monkeys and Suicide Squeeze. And yes, I lived there, so it seemed natural to write about places I knew. Pistol Poets and the novel I'm working on now are not set in Florida. I was reluctant at first to set a novel in Florida because it seemed like a bunch of authors use Florida. But I was born in Florida and lived there for 28 years, so I figure I have the right.

Have you traveled extensively? If so, how has that contributed to you as an author?

I love to travel. My wife and I spent a month in Prague a few summers ago. Wonderful. When I was 16 I went around the world with a bunch of students from my High School—our world history teacher was the leader and my dad was one of the "adults" on the trip, but really he had as much fun as the kids. We saw East Germany and the Soviet Union while the Iron Curtain was still up. At the very least, travel gives an author an understanding of how important "place" is to a novel.

Where do you get ideas for your novels?

The hell if I know. If I knew, I'd go there more often. Somehow the ideas come. It almost never happens the same way twice. I think I'm just going to start ripping off old "Columbo" episodes.

When you write a character, how much of that comes from your personal experiences? Or are they completely fictional?

Mostly fictional. But of course a writer's understanding of how humans relate to one another has to be based (at least a little) in some kind of "real life" experience. It would be very difficult for friends or family to point to a particular character and say, "That's me."

How does your academic background contribute to your writing? Teaching experience? Pupil interaction?

It goes the other way. My writing experience helps my teaching. I can tell a student, "Been there, done that" and hopefully they'll be more likely to listen to me. But in general, my academic experiences did contribute to my novel The Pistol Poets which has professors as characters and is set on the fictional campus of Eastern Oklahoma State University.

What did you write before mysteries?

As mentioned above, I tried some sci-fi/fantasy/horror. I published a few short stories, but I can't say I really went anywhere. I'd love to try again... maybe write a fantasy novel under a pen name.

How do you do your research?

I get a six-pack of beer and surf the web. Beyond that, I don't do a hell of a lot of research. Too much like grad school.

In Suicide Squeeze, your latest book, why did you select Joe DiMaggio's baseball card as a key ingredient in the store—are you a baseball fan?

I like baseball okay. But really, I'm a pop culture fan. And DiMaggio was married to Marilyn Monroe. A marriage of two American icons. That interested me.

Are you considering a more "serious" tone for your next novel, or do you intend to keep writing in the same, i.e., humorous, vein?

I just sort of write, and the story comes out like it needs to be. As a matter of fact, the one I'm working on now will be a bit less "crazy" than Suicide Squeeze, but I'm not sure I'd quite say it's "serious." I mean, I'm "serious" about writing it, and making it a good read, but too many books (and I won't name names) seem really full of themselves with importance and "social meaning." Sometimes they are. Other times, it just comes off like the author's personal soap box, and that leaves me cold.

 

Reviews

Bead on Trouble
by Barbara Burnett Smith
Berkley
Paperback, 292 pages, $5.99
ISBN: 0425199991
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

Sadly, this book was meant to start a new series by the late Barbara Burnett Smith. This is the first book I have read by her, and I'm sorry the series may not continue, due to her tragic, untimely death. A second book in the series was almost completed, and its fate is uncertain, although it may be published.

Kitzi Camden is terrific. She and her best friend Beth Fairfield are off to Camp Green Clover for the Craft Retreat. They went to this camp together when they were children. Now their friend owns it and runs the Craft Retreats twice yearly. Both Kitzi and Beth are into beads. This year they are bringing Shannon, Beth's daughter, along.

The first night of camp Shannon insists to Kitzi that she just saw her father's car at the camp. They end up at a hardware store where Shannon says she recently saw her father. After searching the store and parking lot, Shannon sees another parking lot in back. When they investigate they find his car and him in it making out with camp crafter May Feather. Agreeing to not say anything to Beth, they return to camp.

The next day the find out that May was murdered. Shannon and Kitzi lie to the police about their whereabouts the night before. One officer doesn't believe them, and Kitzi begins to look into things on her own, determined to find out who the real murderer is.

There are plenty of suspects for Kitzi to investigate that you will have trouble figuring it out before she does. I highly recommend this book, and sincerely hope the second in the series gets to see the light of day.

 

DeKok and the Geese of Death
by A.C. Baantjer; translated by H. G. Smittenaar
Speck Press
Paperback, 196 pages, $13
ISBN: 0972577661
Reviewed by Kim Malo

Inspector DeKok (Homicide) of the Amsterdam Municipal Police is old, tired, and thoroughly disgusted with himself. Disgusted, because he's also far too experienced to turn his back to answer a ringing phone while interrogating Igor Stablinsky, who almost certainly ambushed and bludgeoned to death a couple of elderly people with the weapon sitting on DeKok's desk. Thanks to his partner's timing in walking through the door, DeKok survives. However, blaming his own carelessness, he refuses to register a complaint about Stablinsky, who subsequently escapes custody through a more successful attack on another officer. The phone call? That was Mrs. Bildijk, a known crank, asking if DeKok knows anything about her geese.

There are a few more strange coincidences connecting Mrs. Bildijk and Stablinsky. Her name appears in a book believed to contain Igor's intended victims. Then when DeKok goes to talk with her, he's startled to note a strong physical resemblance between the woman and his attacker. Still, strange coincidences and resemblances do occur, and she doesn't recognize Igor's name.

But then members of Mrs. Bildijk's protectively gathering family inform him that she has been receiving threats from an unknown source before beginning to turn up as the latest murder victims themselves. One of them is found shortly after DeKok watched him visit Stablinsky's prostitute girl friend, opening new worlds of possible connections between the two cases. Finding solutions to the crimes forces DeKok to unravel an evil tangle of relationships built on supreme egotism, incest, and greed.

The book also contains a short story: "DeKok and the Grinning Stranger." Assigning guilt to the primary suspect for the murderer of a young prostitute highlights DeKok's preference for solving crimes his way rather than by strict adherence to the rules, something that gets him into trouble with his superiors while working on The Geese of Death.

This is a classic police procedural, but one that stands out as having been written by someone with an insider's appreciation for the workings of investigations and precinct life, filled with interesting characters and the strong sense of humanity of its hero, seasoned with his gentle and ironic humor. The Amsterdam setting breathes with life, felt as much through the constant undercurrent of its own unique worldview as it is in the more usual physical descriptions. And because the setting is so pervasive and believable, the reader will feel that he is really there, following DeKok from shouting matches with his superiors to the warped life that fills the Bildijk's suburban estate to meeting the real people inhabiting Amsterdam's famous red light district. The writing hits an occasional awkward spot, almost certainly because it is a translation from the original. But the storytelling is very strong, paired with a singularly strong sense of place and strong, vivid characters to make an enjoyable read that will more than repay ignoring the few rough spots.

 

Deep Pockets
by Linda Barnes
St. Martin's
Hardcover, 310 pages, $24.95
ISBN: 0312282710
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

Carlotta Carlyle, PI and sometimes cab driver, notices someone following her throughout Harvard Square. She hides and then confronts him: he swears he wasn't going to hurt her. He wants to hire her.

The man finally admits that he had an affair with freshman student Denali Brinkman. He is tenured Harvard Professor Wilson Chaney. If his affair is made public, it will ruin his career. He wants Carlotta to uncover the identity of his blackmailer.

When Carlotta starts digging, she finds Denali recently committed suicide in a fire in the boathouse at Harvard. She was a rower. The more Carlotta digs, the more she questions everything her client has told her. Plus she finds more pieces to investigate the deeper she gets.

Plus Carlotta is dating Leon, an FBI agent she met on her last job. Carlotta isn't sure where this relationship is going. She doesn't have much time to devote to it either due to her investigation.

I really like Carlotta. She is a great PI. I don't feel that she puts herself in dangerous situations without the proper tools like in many mysteries. This is very believable. I like the way that she is able to find out the needed information without just calling someone else to find out everything.

I also like the Boston setting for this series. The author has done a great job of creating the characters and location in the book. I highly recommend this book.

 

The Big Dig
by Linda Barnes
St. Martin's
Paperback, 341 pages, $6.99
ISBN: 0312989695
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

PI Carlotta Carlyle has been hired to work undercover searching for fraud on Boston's Big Dig. She is to pose as a mild-mannered secretary working in a construction trailer. This is not what Carlotta had in mind.

She also ends up, with the help of her little sister, being hired in a missing person's case. Veronica James left for a weekend and never came back. Now her landlady, and friend, wants Carlotta to find her. She hits one brick wall after another in her search for Veronica.

Things aren't going much better in the fraud investigation. Then a construction worker dies and Carlotta isn't sure it was an accident.

There's a break-in at Veronica's. Carlotta isn't too sure things are what they seem here as well.

I recommend this book. I really enjoy Carlotta. I must admit this wasn't one of my tops in this series, but it was an enjoyable read. I think people who have lived through the Big Dig in Boston relate better to this story.

 

Buried By Breakfast
By Claudia Bishop
Berkley
Paperback, 253 pages, $6.50
ISBN: 0425199452
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

It's the slow season at the Inn of Hemlock Falls. So, Meg and Quill are happy to have the sequestered jury. That is until they get all the requirements for having them stay there. There are only six jurors, the judge, his bodyguard, and the court liaison, but they keep everyone hopping with their demands.

Corliss Hooker is the head of protestors called "Friends of the Dead." They are trying to stop Ferris Rodman, owner of Roncor Construction, from relocating the Civil War cemetery to build a golf course. Then Corliss is found murdered in the cemetery. He is clutching a piece of paper that brings Quill into the investigation.

Quill starts hearing rumors of a large hotel being built in town. She and Marge end up doing some late night investigation to find out more. Plus Marge's ex-husband Boomer is in town. No one even knew she was married before. One morning Marge asks Quill to help her find Boomer as he didn't show up for their meeting. Unfortunately they find he's had an "accident" and has been decapitated.

Quill begins to wonder if the two murders are related. She begins digging to try to find the link. She ends up putting herself in danger before unmasking the killer.

I love this series. Meg and Quill are so likeable. I would love to be able to stay at the Inn and get to know everyone in town. It sounds like the type of place you would love to visit, except for all the murders.

Not only are the setting and characters wonderful, the plot and pacing are great too. There are always plenty of suspects so that it is difficult to figure out who the killer is before the author uncovers it through the story. I highly recommend this book.

 

For Whom the Minivan Rolls: An Aaron Tucker Mystery
by Jeffrey Cohen
Bancroft Press
Hardcover, 261 pages, $19.95
ISBN: 1890862185
Reviewed by Kevin R. Tipple

Aaron Tucker didn't set out to be a private investigator. He had his hands full as a freelance writer, stay at home Dad, and spouse of the most beautiful woman in the world with amazing legs, Attorney Abigail Stein. His specialty, when not dealing with everything else, is writing newspaper and magazine features on electronics. But Gary Beckwirth wants him and a man like Gary Beckwirth always gets what he wants no matter what the little people say and think.

Gary Beckwirth's wife Madlyn, is missing and he wants Aaron to investigate. After all, years ago for a short six months, Aaron was an investigative reporter. The fact that, as Aaron points out repeatedly, he failed miserably does not stop Beckwirth's insistence that Aaron and Aaron alone investigate Madlyn's strange middle-of-the-night disappearance.

While his sidewalk is vandalized with a vulgar obscenity directed at his young son and while he deals with the joys and travails of being a work-at-home dad, Aaron digs into an increasingly bizarre case. In so doing, he begins to get unwanted attention from the various wealthy and politically connected suspects as well as unknown parties. Stalking and threatening his family is unacceptable and Aaron, with an increasingly uncooperative client, won't stop until he finds out the real truth.

This is a good, strong mystery with a very funny backbone from start to finish. The travails and joys of being a work-at-home dad are detailed loud and clear and ring true with the experiences of someone who has been doing it for a very long time. That fact, along with numerous and often laugh-out-loud pop culture references make this fast read flat-out funny.

That isn't to say that the only thing it has going for it is the humor. Far from it as the core of the book is a complex mystery that would make a certain talk show host proud as it winds and weaves through the interrelated passion triangles. The mystery is full of twisting complexity that didn't come clear until the final few pages. All in all this work is a very good, very well written novel from start to the finish in what promises to be a really good series.

 

The Asperger Parent: How to Raise a Child With Asperger Syndrome and Maintain Your Sense of Humor
by Jeffrey Cohen
Autism Asperger Publishing Co.
Trade paperback, 243 pages, $19.95
ISBN: 1931282145
Reviewed by Kevin R. Tipple

Having a "special needs" child is an incredibly stressful ongoing event and something author Cohen knows well as the father of a child with Asperger Syndrome. In its simplest terms, Asperger Syndrome (AS) is a form of higher functioning autism. Instead of another book on how to help the child, Cohen looks at the often forgotten group in such situations: the parents. Parents, regardless of the child's disability, are often blamed by society for their child's problems and may not have the local support needed to deal with the issues. This book, as he notes in the first chapter, is designed to be a sort of portable support group for those days and times it all gets to be too much.

It will get to be too much at times as he writes in the second chapter, "Other Parents Think I'm A Monster." What parent of a special needs child hasn't gotten the LOOK from another parent or adult when his or her child acted way out of bounds in public? That look that says you aren't doing something right and why won't you stop the child now? Cohen relates his own experiences along with the guilt and shame one instantly feels as others pass judgment on your parenting skills without ever having spent a minute in your shoes: something all parents of special needs children will relate to.

If one isn't careful that internal battle can spill over into the schools. In "The Debate Over Inclusion" he lays out the arguments on both sides of the issue regarding placement of AS children in the public school system and recounts how well his local school district has handled the situation. He shares coping skills concerning the school's staff decisions and how to best get the help the child needs without becoming adversarial.

What follows may be the most important chapter in the book, "Remember That Person You're Married To?" The author gently and with more anecdotes reminds the reader to pay attention to his or her spouse. The guilt and stress over having an AS child or any disabled child is heavy, and it is easy to blame the partner for the situation. One has to constantly remember that it isn't anyone's fault and to take time to keep the romance alive. The author advocates quite strongly that time alone together for the parents is vitally important not only to strengthen the relationship, but to be a better parent and happier person that it is better able to cope with the situation. This chapter contains a lot of good advice not only for AS parents but for everyone.

Cohen then goes on to cover how to deal with sibling rivalry, moments one dreads like eating out and going on vacation, how to deal with medication issues, and other topics. Through it all, the author shares his personal experiences, both happy times and sad times, as he shares hard earned insight from being there before much was known about the syndrome. It is a roller coaster ride and Cohen recounts it all along with providing a lot of good information.

The bottom line theme through out the work is directly expressed towards the end of the book, "Lighten Up On Yourself." Cohen's overall point is that none of it is your fault and you are going to make mistakes as an AS parent. Hopefully, the good will outweigh the bad which is the best any of us as parents can hope for whether our children have AS or not.

Editor's note: Mystery Morgue editor Jeffrey Cohen notes the following:

1. Yes, two of his books are being reviewed in this issue. He wants you to know the reviewer asked for them, and was not assigned them;
2. No, The Asperger Parent isn't a mystery novel. Every once in a while we do venture outside the genre, particularly in non-fiction areas. Again, the book was requested, and hey, how to deal with any child is a mystery, so that's close enough;
3. Perhaps fans of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time might find more information about Asperger Syndrome, in a non-fiction form, interesting;
4. Then again, perhaps not.

 

Died Blonde
by Nancy Cohen
Kensington
Hardcover, 256 pages, $22
ISBN: 0758206569
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

Hairstylist Marla Shore finds her rival, Carolyn Sutton, dead in the meter room in back of their strip mall. Her boyfriend, Detective Vail, asks Marla for her help. He feels people will talk to her about this more readily than they will to him. She is a hairstylist, and they know her.

\Marla talks to Carolyn's psychic and is told some information about her own family that concerns her. She talks to Carolyn's bingo partner. Marla and her best friend end up visiting a nearby town and meeting with some psychics to gain more information.

Instead of clearing up the details, the waters just get muddier. Plus, a hurricane is bearing down on Florida. Can Marla uncover the truth about Marla's death, as well as some other issues that have come out of her death, as well as keep her own salon working, and keep herself and those important to her safe and healthy?

Things with Vail are heating up, and she has to come to terms with her feelings for him and his daughter. Is she ready to make things more permanent?

I always enjoy books in this series. Marla is a great character. Her salon business brings her in touch with so many people. She is always able to get the dirt that Vail cannot get. The relationship between Marla and Vail is wonderful too. I can't wait to read the next book and see what happens to them.

I highly recommend this book.

 

The James Deans
by Reed Farrel Coleman
Plume
Paperback, 288 pages, $13
ISBN: 0452286506
Reviewed by Kevin R. Tipple

This third book in the Moe Prager series (Walking The Perfect Square, Redemption Street) finds Moe dealing with a heavy heart as he is handed a case that he does not want. It's 1983 and just a few months after the events of the last novel and Moe sincerely believes that the private investigator bug is out of his system. The wine shop business he runs with his brother has expanded with the opening of a second shop, his wife's design business is taking off, and his daughter, Sarah, has gloriously turned two and is doing exactly what two year olds do.

But, Mr. Geary changes his plans. Mr. Geary wants Moe to look into the disappearance of Moira Heaton, a young intern who was working for State Senator Steven Brightman. Since her disappearance, rumors of extramarital affairs and death have plagued the Senator while police with few clues have been unable to solve the case. Mr. Geary, because of Moe's past, believes that Moe is the man for the job when others have failed.

Of course, Moe will be well compensated but that isn't the point. As Moe works the case, things begin to fall together and Moe is able to do locate a suspect who will clear the Senator. It wouldn't be a Moe Prager book if Moe didn't start wondering about it all and once he starts, he never can leave things well enough alone. This third book in the series continues that tradition of Moe digging far past surface appearances both in the case and his own psyche. This work shares the hallmarks of the series with strong and complex character development, duplicity and greed at every turn and constant complications over shadowed at all times by his internal angst. While his angst over his Jewish faith is considerably less central to this novel than Redemption Street it is still there. However, in this case, the angst is more in the form of a Shakespearian morality play where Moe is forced to consider whether what he always wanted is really worth the price those with the power and money to make it happen will extract from him. For fans familiar with the series, Moe's choice is somewhat obvious; hanging in doubt is how he will accomplish righting his own internal scales of justice.

Once again the author pulls the reader deeply into the world of Moe Prager and does not let go until the final page. This latest in the series continues the story arc across the three novels and provides another excellent read. It is strongly recommended for readers new to the series that the novels should be read in order because of the ongoing and evolving character development. That fact along with brief but very complete references to events in the earlier books of this series makes it very difficult to recommend this novel as a stand-alone read. For fans familiar with the series, this is Moe at his best. For those new to the series, you are in for a real treat from one of the consistently best writers around today.

 

Polished Off
by Barbara Colley
Kensington
Hardcover, 245 pages, $22
ISBN: 1575668777
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

When Nadia, Charlotte's employee and now her niece by marriage, calls in sick, Charlotte does the cleaning job at Patsy's house herself. Patsy is having an ornamental pot moved by two men when it breaks and human bones are discovered. Worse than that, they are believed to belong to Ricco, Nadia's ex-boyfriend.

Nadia disappears. Charlotte's nephew, and Nadia's new husband, Daniel, is arrested. Charlotte takes in Nadia's little son, Davey, so that he won't have to go to a foster home. And to help get Daniel out of jail, Charlotte takes it upon herself to do some investigating.

The detective in charge of the case, Will Richeaux, recently had an affair with Charlotte's niece, Judith, and he is not very friendly, let alone helpful. This hampers Charlotte in getting needed information about the case. Judith is a policewoman and tries to assist Charlotte, but there's only so much she can do.

Can Charlotte find the real murderer and unravel all the pieces related to this murder and get Daniel out of jail? Will Nadia return? Will life ever return to normal?

I love this series. Charlotte is a very likeable character. New Orleans is a terrific setting for this series. So many interesting characters and locations.

Ms. Colley has a winning series. I highly recommend this book, and the whole series.

 

The Poet's Funeral
by John M. Daniel
Poisoned Pen Press
Trade paperback, 241 pages, $14.95
ISBN: 1590583159
Reviewed by Clara Johnston

This story commences with the obituary of Heidi Yamada. Heidi, a forty-year-old poet, died with her cause of death listed as a drug overdose. Yamada, as well as many other people, was attending the ABA (American Booksellers Association) convention in Las Vegas. In the rest of the story, the readers are learning about Heidi and who she was. The author creates a smart vehicle for introducing each character. Each chapter is entitled with a character's name and their tribute to Ms. Heidi. She was not always loved, even though her reputation with the man of the moment was well known.

Guy Mallon met Heidi when she entered his small Santa Barbara bookshop. She was picking up books for her employer. She was a gorgeous Asian woman and Guy and Heidi had instant chemistry, or perhaps instant lust. Heidi offered the proposition to Guy that she would be the poet and he would be the publisher. Although neither of them had experience, somehow it didn't matter. They started together, they succeeded and then they split. Both parties continued on their separate journeys after their love and their professional life ended. Heidi moved on to other venues, other men and other books. Guy's new gal pal is Carol Murphy and you have to like Carol. They have brusque conversations occasionally but often they entertain each other with humor and hard work. If the movie version of this book was shot, Guy would definitely be a 1990's Humphrey Bogart and Carol could nicely play Lauren Bacall.

Within the story, you will be witness to some two-faced people, some greed, a little kidnapping and a very strong man who threatens some of the people you want to stay healthy. You will also be witness to a good story—I just kept reading and didn't have any intention of putting it down until I finished. If you have ever attended one of the big booksellers or mystery conventions, you will be reminded of the smell of the books as you read this story. You will also recognize many famous names on the pages and the author has a delightful way of name-dropping.

A collection of eulogies paints a picture of Heidi Yamada. It will take you right to the end and provide the answers. Enjoy!

 

Give First Place to Murder
by Kathleen Delaney
PublishAmerica
Hardcover, 207 pages, $19.95
ISBN: 1413733026
Reviewed by Theodore Feit

A follow-up to the initial Ellen McKenzie-Dan Dunham mystery, First Place continues to find Ellen's propensity for bumbling into dangerous situations and stumbling upon murder victims, this time at a horse show. The author spent more than 20 years breeding and showing purebreds and half-Arabians, which provides this novel with a background and authenticity which are rewarding.

Ellen finds a groom impaled upon a pitchfork in a barn at a horse show where her daughter is working at a summer job. And that is only the first of two murders (the second is at a regional championship show). There are precious few leads to either crime, although both victims are employees of the daughter's employer, and Ellen (and Chief of Police Dan) begin their own independent investigations. As the plot unfolds, both Ellen and her daughter become the next targets.

As in the debut novel, Delaney combines her former passion of horse breeding with her new interest in selling real estate. The tale is swift, the writing and plotting well done. The only unresolved question is the love angle which, introduced in Dying for a Change and developed in the sequel, asks whether Ellen and Dan make further progress in their continuing romance.

Recommended.

 

Dying for a Change
by Kathleen Delaney
PublishAmerica
Trade paperback, 185 pages, $19.95
ISBN: 1591292166
Reviewed by Clara Johnston

The first page captured me and drew me right into the story. A realtor is trying to enter a home so she can get it ready to show to a client. She can't get inside and then humorously figures out the door is not locked. Ellen, the realtor, looks for lights. She finds the switch and she also finds a dead body.

Humor laces this story and I adore Ellen. I like her spunk, her questioning and her sense of self-worth. New to her realty profession, she has returned to her childhood hometown. Ready to start over in her life, she is recently divorced and is preparing to be a realtor. After the murder occurs, a surprised Ellen sees the chief of police. This man had been her next-door neighbor when they were children. Both of them have returned home from complicated lives that had taken them away earlier. From the beginning, I liked their relationship—occasionally, you can feel how much they sparred and talked when they were children. Now, there is definite chemistry and this is solidly written. Dan exudes a strong sense of responsibility in his work. Sometimes, the two of them are in conflict. One of their conflicts is whether Ellen should be sleuthing. He would prefer that she stick to real estate and he will take care of the criminals. Of course, it does not always work that way.

The person murdered would not win "the person of the year" award. Ellen was sure she recognized him. Thrown into the mix, there were rumblings and confrontations involving investments, real estate and changes that were happening in this town. Could the murdered person have been in the midst of this?

The backdrop of the real estate business is interesting. Being relatively new to this line of work, the reader learns some things along with the main character. I found myself waiting for her to list her first house. When Ellen revisits some of the familiar places, it brings a nostalgic feeling. I like the recapturing sense it accomplishes.

For cat lovers, you will get to meet Jake. You will also meet two of my favorite characters: Ellen's Aunt Mary and her daughter, Susanah. Aunt Mary is a natural leader and knows everyone and everything. This woman has a pulse on what is happening; she understands more than meets the eye. Susanah is also a good addition to the story. Never having been exposed to a small town, she quickly feels at home when she comes to visit her mother. Susanah thinks her mother's life is exciting (two murders in a short period of time brings a different sort of spine-tingling, on-the-edge feeling to this community). So much for thinking that nothing ever happens in Ellen's small hometown.

A quick refreshing read.

 

Suicide Squeeze
By Victor Gischler
Delacorte Press
Hardcover 288 pages, $23
ISBN: 0385337256
Reviewed by Theodore Feit

When he was six years old, Teddy Folger's father spotted Joe DiMaggio at the filming of the famous skirt-blowing scene in "The Seven Year Itch." His father quickly ran home to get Teddy and his DiMaggio baseball card and ran back to the scene, where somehow they got the ballplayer to autograph the card. Soon, both Marilyn Monroe and Billy Wilder, the director, added their autographs.

Setting aside for the moment the unlikelihood that Joltin' Joe would autograph anything under the circumstances (it is well-known he was not only a tightwad but also jealously guarded as to future income from collectibles associated with him or his name, and that he was especially upset at the scene being shot), the card plays a crucial role in the story. It seems two wealthy Japanese businessmen vie with each other in collecting memorabilia, and at least one would pay $1 million for the card. Unfortunately, the card is supposed to have been destroyed in a fire (not true or there wouldn't be a story).

Enter Conner Samson, repo man, born loser who becomes involved in the search when he is hired to repossess Teddy's sailboat for nonpayment on the mortgage. He gets possession of the boat and hides it. The Japanese eventually discover it. But to no avail: they can't find the card, which, it is assumed, is hidden there. By accident, however, Conner does, and he tries to peddle it to a local gangster. The Asians invade the gangster's stronghold, killing all but Conner, and secure the card. Win some, lose some.

Meanwhile, an insurance investigator who also has been tracking the card joins forces with Conner and the lone surviving member the gangster's entourage who was not present at the slaughter, and they invade the Japanese businessman's hotel suite. Another slaughter. But Conner emerges with the card, now greatly diminished in value. (Of course, the Asian merely took it rather than paying the offered price like a true Yakuza.)

Maybe Conner would have avoided several beatings if Joe was true to form and not signed the card. He would have remained just as broke as he always is. However, in the end the tale is really about his true love, Nympho Tyranny. Does he, or doesn't he get her? As in Mr. Gischler's previous novels, the writing is fast-paced, with all the usual wise-cracks.

A fitting follow-up to Gun Monkeys by this Edgar-nominated author.

 

Nobody Runs Forever
by Richard Stark
Mysterious Press
Hardcover, 295 pages
ISBN: 0892967986
Reviewed by Angela McQuay

Richard Stark, who also writes under the name Donald Westlake, is maybe one of the most prolific mystery writers working today. His Parker novels, including Comeback, Backflash and his most recent Nobody Runs Forever, have been especially popular. Parker, a freelance heist specialist, is an intriguing character and Stark writes him well.

In Nobody Runs Forever, Parker is helping to organize the robbing of an armored truck that is transporting one bank's vault to another. Parker is working with other freelance specialists including McWhitney, Delesia and weapons man Briggs. Unfortunately, there are non-experts involved, including the bank president's unhappy and drunken wife Elaine, Elaine's lover Jake and Jake's doctor, Dr. Madchen. Parker is uneasy about the deal due to everyone who's in on the deal. He becomes even more uncomfortable when a bounty hunter comes looking for Harbin, another freelancer that was caught wearing a wire and disposed of.

Nobody Runs Forever is a taut thriller that will appeal to readers who enjoy getting an inside look at the criminal life. The quick read never lags and each of the characters involved with the heist are intriguing in their own way. If you haven't read any of Stark's (or Westlake's) work, you'll be in for a treat if you start with this book. If you're already a fan, you won't be disappointed by this master's latest offering.

 

A Wedding to Die For
by Leann Sweeney
Signet
Paperback, 268 pages, $6.50
ISBN: 0451210328
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

Abby Rose is a new adoption PI in Houston. Meagan Beadford hires her to find her birth mother, hoping she will attend Meagan's wedding. Unfortunately Abby hits one brick wall after another in the search. Meagan won't discuss it with her adoptive parents; she doesn't think they will understand.

Meagan's adoptive father is murdered at Meagan's reception. At Meagan's request, Abby continues to search for her birth mother. She soon discovers not everything is as it seems. This search ends up taking her out of Texas for a few days.

When Meagan's uncle is murdered, Meagan asks Abby to help find who killed the two men. Meagan is unsure that she can help, but she agrees to cry. Meagan looks so pale that Abby can't turn her down.

Abby finds herself in some sticky situations along the way, but she is determined to discover the truth about Meagan's adoption and the murder of her father and uncle.

I really like this new series (this is the series' second book). Abby is full of spunk and has wonderful people around her to assist her and support her. Of course, there are those like Aunt Caroline, who you can't always tell if they really have her best interests at heart.

I highly recommend this book.

 

Pick Your Poison
by Leann Sweeney
Signet
Paperback, 266 pages, $5.99
ISBN: 045121031X
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

Abby Rose is trying to decide what to do with her life. Since she has a large bank account, she doesn't have to rush to decide. Her twin sister Kate is soon moving out to be with her boyfriend, and Abby doesn't know what she will do with the large house their father left them—it's too big for just her.

After she discovers her gardener, Ben, dead in the greenhouse, she realizes how little she knew about him. She begins to look into his life so that she can express her condolences. That just opens up more questions, like who killed Ben's wife years before? And why was he working for Abby's father?

Abby contracts with her ex-husband, who swears he is clean and getting his life together, to help her renovate the house in Galveston. It hasn't been lived in for years. She finds herself having to interact with him more than she likes.

The sexy detective from the Houston P.D. who is investigating Ben's death, adds some spice to Abby's dull life, especially when he tells her that Ben was poisoned. Now Abby is determined to unravel the mystery surrounding Ben and who killed him. She finds more questions to answer.

In her investigation, she finds herself in many sticky situations. Can she discover the truth before someone puts an end to her?

This is the first Yellow Rose Mystery. LeAnn Sweeney has a real winner. I had trouble putting this book down. Abby and Kate are terrific. The Texas setting is fabulous. I've always wanted to go to Galveston, and I feel like I've at least had a short visit there. I highly recommend this book.

 

Death In Duplicate
by Valerie Wolzien
Ballantine
Paperback, 305 pages, $6.99
ISBN: 0449468082
Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle

When Susan and Jeb Henshaw's new twin grandchildren, their daughter Chrissy , their son-in-law Stephen, their two mastiffs, and the twin's nurse Shannon come to stay with them until their Chrissy and Stephen can find an apartment in New York City, they are thrilled. That is, until Susan's neighbor Nadine Barnes watches them move in and promptly tells Susan that Shannon was a suspect in the deaths of three residents at the Perry Island Care Center. This case still remains open.

Susan decides to investigate the care center homicides in the hopes of clearing Shannon because she sees how much she seems to care for her daughter and grandchildren. Plus she doesn't know how they would function without her! Their house is overtaken by baby things and dinner time isn't relaxing anymore. When one baby is quiet, the other one needs care.

While Susan is investigating the care center homicides, someone murders Nadine. Now Susan wonders whether Shannon silenced her neighbor. Susan continues sleuthing to try to find out more. In the process, she discovers that Nadine's husband and his mother, both real estate developers, have plans for Perry Island. One of their plans is to destroy the nursing home.

Can Susan uncover the truth about the murders with putting herself or those she loves in danger?

I always enjoy books by Valerie Wolzien in the Susan Henshaw series. Susan is a likeable character. Now that her children are grown, she is having new experiences but still having time to investigate murders. Her friend Kathleen is a great help in her investigations, along with her friend the chief of police, Brett.

I highly recommend this book.