From Eileen Effrat
Author: Ann Cleeves
Blue Lightning
This is the fourth book in Cleeves’ crime series set in the Shetland Islands. Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez returns to Fair Isle to introduce his fiancée to family and friends. Shortly after their arrival, the well known director of the island’s bird observatory is found murdered. Within a day the cook is found dead. As a storm rages across the island, no one can get on or off the island. When forensic help finally arrives, it is of little help. This is a mystery where motive is crucial. I would recommend beginning with the first in the series, Raven Black, followed by White Nights, and Red Bones.
Category Archives: Mystery
The Book Case
From Rosemarie Jerome
Author: Nelson De Mille
The Book Case
Otis Parker owns the Dead End Bookstore in Manhattan. An employee finds him dead in his shop. He was killed by a fallen bookcase. Was it a bizarre accident or premeditated murder? Detective John Corey must solve this puzzle, a clever locked room mystery, with an unusual choice for a murder weapon. This exclusive Kindle eBook is available on our circulating Paperwhite Kindle.
7th Woman
From Rosemarie Jerome
Author: Frederique Molay
7th Woman
Inspector Nico Sirsky is the Chief of Police, Head of the Paris Criminal Investigation Division. When Marie-Helene Jory, Assistant Professor of History at the Sorbonne, is killed in her home, Nico is called in to investigate. The homicide has sexual overtones and the victim was brutally tortured. The killer was slow, methodical and calculating, he enjoyed the kill. When similar murders occur, Nico realizes that they are dealing with a serial killer. The killer begins leaving messages for Nico. This crime novel is not for the squeamish, but the plot twists and the appealing characters will draw you in as the acts of violence repel you. Read it with the lights on and whatever you do, don’t answer your doorbell…This exclusive Kindle eBook is available on our circulating Paperwhite Kindle.
Unwanted: A novel
From Eileen Effrat
Author: Kristina Ohlsson
Unwanted: A novel
In Sweden,a mother leaves her six year old daughter sleeping on a train while she slips off the train to make a quick telephone call. The train leaves without her and the daughter disappears. The child’s body is found hundreds of miles away with the word “UNWANTED” scrawled on her forehead. In quick succession, 2 other child abductions occur with the same M.O.. What follows is the pursuit of a ruthless child killer. This is a police procedural from a new Swedish author. If you enjoy Nordic noir, give this a try.
Six Years
From Rosemarie Jerome
Author: Harlan Coben
Six Years
A broken hearted college professor, Jake Fisher, watches is ex-lover, Natalie, marry another man, Todd. He tells her that he loves her and she makes him promise that he will never contact her again. He keeps that promise for six years until a momentous event occurs, he sees Todd’s obituary online. Jake attends the funeral but another woman is the grieving widow. Where is Natalie? His search for her unearths lies, secrets, conspiracies and violence. His world and reality is destroyed but he knows that he must discover the truth about the woman that he loves.
The narrator of this suspense, Scott Brick, is a master storyteller who navigates the listener through these plot twists and draws you into the story. His intense delivery captures you from the very beginning and he gives each character their own distinct voice by just using a subtle change in tone, pitch or dialect. His narration is very natural, never over the top, but you really get to know the characters by their (his) voice. I loved the characters with attitude like our hero.
Budapest Noir
From Eileen Effrat
Author: Vilmos Kondor
Budapest Noir
Set in 1930’s Budapest, this is the first book in an Hungarian crime series featuring Zsigmond Gordon, a crime reporter for a Budapest newspaper. The world is on the eve of war and fascism is on the rise in Hungary. The murder of a wealthy young woman in a seedy part of the city leads his investigation to the highest echelons of the Hungarian government. This is the first Kondor book translated into English. I will be anxiously anticipating the others in the series to be translated—A Spy in Budapest, Sinful Budapest, and Budapest in Ruins. For an authentic flavor of Budapest back alleys,cafes, and daily life in the 1930’s,this is an excellent choice.
What Darkness Brings: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery
From Rosemarie Jerome
Author: C.S. Harris
What Darkness Brings: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery
A wealthy gem merchant, Benjamin Eisler, is found dead in his decrepit home filled with priceless works of art. Russell Yates, a pirate, is found standing over his body. The case is solved, the trial is pending and his execution is a sure thing. Sebastian St. Cyr is asked to investigate the murder, the accused is the husband of his former lover and Yates claims to be innocent. Sebastian soon discovers that the victim was a vile swindler and blackmailer and the list of suspects rapidly increases as well as the danger. People are lying, others are dying and the clock ticks towards Yate’s demise. This is the eighth book in the suspense series that takes place in Regency England. I look forward to the 9th; the drama between the main characters and their secrets are so compelling.
A Small Death in the Great Glen
From Eileen Effrat
Author: A.D. Scott
A Small Death in the Great Glen
For an atmospheric portrayal of 1950’s Scotland, this is a good pick. As Scotland struggles to adjust to a post World War II world, a young boy is found murdered in a canal. Suspicion automatically falls on the town’s “outsiders” —refugee Poles, an Italian restaurant owner, and a band of Gaelic tinkers. As the investigation proceeds, it begins to reveal some very unpleasant secrets concealed by the very “pillars of the town”. Scott’s sequel, A Double Death in the Black Isle, is just as enjoyable.
Murder past due
From Andrea Kalinowski
Author: Miranda James
Murder past due
I love books and cats and not necessarily in that order so when I discovered a new author who combines my two loves, I was in heaven. Miranda James has a “Cat in the Stacks mystery” series which features an archivist/public librarian named Charlie Harris who is accompanied almost everywhere by his Maine Coon cat, Diesel. Diesel warbles, chirps, meows and manages to communicate quite easily with his owner. Charlie solves the mystery while Diesel provides sympathy and/or emotional support to Charlie and others. So far there are four titles in the series and they are, as follows: Murder past due, Classified as Murder, File M for murder, and Out of circulation. I can’t wait for the next Cat in the stacks mystery to appear on my bedside table.
Hawkwood: A Regency Crime Thriller
From Rosemarie Jerome
Author: James McGee
Hawkwood: A Regency Crime Thriller
The dashing, dangerous, mysterious, Matthew Hawkwood is the hero of this historical thriller set in Regency London. Hawkwood, a Bow Street Runner, is ordered by Chief Magistrate James Read to investigate the double murder of a coachman and a navy officer on the Kent Road. Could the murders be part of a plot by Emperor Napoleon to crush Britain? Does the country’s security rest in the hands of its most controversial investigator? This is the first book of this exciting series. Hawkwood’s adventures are an entertaining treat.
