Author Archive
Carolyn Hart’s new Bailey Ruth Raeburn mystery is just what the doctor ordered during this dreary time of year. Bailey Ruth is a ghost, or as her boss reminds her, a heavenly emissary, who doesn’t always follow the rules. Although this time she does try to follow the Precepts for Heavenly Visitation more closely, she again ends up doing the right thing the wrong way to the dismay of her boss, Wiggins.
In Merry, Merry Ghost Bailey Ruth gets to re-visit her hometown Adelaide, Oklahoma. She is sent by the Dept of Good Intentions to safeguard Keith, a 5-year-old boy who has lost his parents and has been deposited on his grandmother’s doorstep around Christmas. Susan Flynn, his grandmother, is one the leading members of the town. She is delighted to find out that she has a grandson, particularly when she is dying of congestive heart failure. But her other relatives are not so thrilled. Because Bailey Ruth is so concerned about protecting Keith she doesn’t see that Susan is in danger. So when Susan dies prematurely, Bailey Ruth “flies” into action. Not only does she stage Susan death so that the police will investigate, she helps the police along in their investigation, despite the fact that she is supposed to remain invisible. From there it’s a race to protect Keith and find Susan’s killer.
It’s a treat to watch the vivacious and nosy Bailey Ruth protect Keith and at the same time help the police find Susan’s killer. I look forward to more adventures in Adelaide with Bailey Ruth.
March 3rd, 2010
Kathy K. - Central
If you like historical mysteries, I have two to recommend. The first, A Trace of Smoke by Rebecca Cantrell, is set in 1931 Berlin, Germany. Hannah Vogel is a single woman in a man’s world. She is a journalist for the Berliner Tageblatt and writes under a pseudonym. Crime is her beat. The mystery begins when Hannah gets the shock of her life while following leads at the police station. There in black and white she recognizes the identity of one of the photographs in the Hall of the Unnamed Dead. The nude dead man on the river bank is her beloved brother, Ernst, a gay transvestite cabaret singer. But she can’t tell anyone because her and her brother’s identity papers are being used to help Jewish friends escape Germany. So she decides to investigate on her own.
As she digs into her brother’s life Hannah discovers that Ernst was involved with some pretty powerful and decadent Nazis. As the investigation proceeds she must walk a fine line if she wants to stay alive and protect those close to her. This bittersweet mystery gives us a look into the life of an ordinary German trying to navigate the dangerous times as the Nazis were coming to power.
My second recommendation is set in fifth century Britain. It has Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, and introduces the one-armed man, Malgwyn. In The Killing Way by Tony Hays, Malgwyn is asked by a young Lord Arthur to investigate the brutal death of a young woman - who just happens to be Malgwyn’s sister-in-law. Since he lost his arm in battle and his wife to a brutal death by the Saxons, Malgwyn has been drowning his sorrows in alcohol. Despite that fact he cannot resist Arthur’s request for help. Soon enough the investigation has him off the bottle and using his detective skills to find out who killed the young girl. In saving the accused Merlin, finding justice for the young woman and helping Arthur defeat those who would challenge his ascension to the throne Malgwyn once again begins to feel like he has a purpose and a life. I enjoyed watching Malgwyn change from an angry, old drunk to a sober, brave detective. I hope to read more of his adventures.
October 10th, 2009
Kathy K. - Central
The Courtesan Chronicles is a trilogy of Regency romances by Claudia Dain. So far there are only three, but according to her web page she plans on writing more. Yeah!
A major character in all three romances is Lady Sophia Darby, a former courtesan who married an Earl for love. I like Sophia. She is funny, smart, and people-savvy. She stretches the boundaries of society and keeps the Ton on its toes. She uses her people-reading skills to help other young women find their happily ever after just as she did. Along the way we not only learn about the main love interests of the story, but we slowly learn more about Sophia’s background and family.
Her first opportunity to play matchmaker is with her own daughter, Caroline, in The Courtesan’s Daughter. Because of her mother’s infamous past as a courtesan, Caroline’s marriage prospects are somewhat limited. So when her mother agrees to pay the gambling debts of the Earl of Ashdon in exchange for marriage, Caroline is more than a bit upset. Ashdon sees her as aloof and prudish, which enrages her even more. She decides to take control of her life and become a courtesan just like her mother was. The changes to her dress and behavior cause Ashdon to see her in a different light and he decides that marrying her won’t be so bad after all. However, he has to convince Caroline and push aside the other suitors. Along the way Lady Darby helps them both see how right they are for each other.
After successfully matching up her daughter, she now has the respectable young ladies of London coming to her for help finding a husband. In The Courtesan’s Secret Lady Louisa Kirkland enlists the help of Lady Darby to win the love of the rakish Marquis of Dutton and to retrieve her family’s pearls which are in his possession. Louisa’s father sold them to Dutton and she wants them back along with Dutton as a husband. However, Sophia realizes that Louisa really belongs with her childhood friend, Lord Henry Blakesley. Wagers are placed on who will end up with whom. Lady Sophia uses her considerable people skills to make sure that Louisa ends up with the right man. A delightful regency romp.
The lastest in the Courtesan Chronicles is The Courtesan’s Wager. Lady Amelia Caversham been on the marriage market for a while without success. Since Lady Darby fixed up her daughter and Amelia’s cousin, Amelia decides that she needs help landing a husband. In spite of her apprehension, Amelia asks Lady Darby to help her land a duke. Of course, Sophia agrees and the hunt for a duke begins. With Lady Darby’s help Amelia begins to compile a list of dukes to interview for a husband. Once she interviews one duke the competition to get on her interview list begins. In fact, bets are placed on who Amelia will chose. The brother of one of the interviewees, the Earl of Cranleigh, has made it very clear that he will do anything to protect his brother from falling under her spell. One thinks that the man doth protest too much. It is fun to watch Amelia and Cranleigh spar and, of course, to find true love.
These romances are funny, sensuous, and a delight to read. I really admire the beautiful widowed Lady Sophia Darby and look forward to reading more in the series of books where she plays matchmaker and maybe even finds love again for herself.
March 26th, 2009
Kathy K. - Central
One of the reasons I read books is to learn about places that I’ve never been. Russia is one of those places. Fortunately, there are a number of Russian detectives that have provided me insight into and knowledge of this vast and diverse country.
It all started with Gorky Park. Three bodies are discovered in Gorky Park. Renko, a Moscow chief inspector is reluctant to get involved in a case that interests the KGB. Yet he is drawn in due to the death of his partner. There are many complications, yet the cynic Renko perseveres. So far there are five more in the series. The latest is Stalin’s Ghost. I like Renko for his stubborn determination and his patient ability to cut through all the crap to find a bit of justice and to survive.
Another series I enjoy is Stuart Kaminsky’s Inspector Rostnikov mysteries. So far there are 15 books in the series. Although you don’t have to start with the first one, Death of a Dissident, I’ve found it interesting to see how the characters have changed over the years. Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov is a Moscow policeman who in the first book tracks down the killer of a dissident while trying to stay out of the way of the KGB. This bear of a man with a bum leg tries to find justice and protect his family in spite of the odds against him—corrupt leaders, cunning criminals and an ingrained bureaucracy. With each new outing I look forward to finding out how he and his team are doing and seeing which untouchable case they have been assigned. The relationships between the team members are one of the things that I like best about this series.
In his latest People Who Walk in Darkness, Chief Inspector Rostnikov and his team are scattered across Russia trying to solve within nine days various crimes, including murder, drug and diamond smuggling. The existence of the Office of Special Investigations where he and his staff work depends on their success. Rostnikov and his assistant Emil Karpo are sent to Siberia to investigate the murder of a Canadian geologist in a diamond mine. The death was apparently caused by the ghost of a little girl. Two team members, Elena and Sasha, are off to Kiev to investigate the murder of a drug smuggler, and the other two team members, Iosef and Zelach, are left in Moscow, trying to investigate the murders of two Africans who may have been smuggling diamonds from Botswana. I enjoyed seeing how Rostnikov and his team resolve this high stakes investigation and I look forward to their next case.
Lastly, Boris Akunin, the international best-selling author, has two late 19th century Russian detectives. One is Erast Fandorin, a young naïve Moscow policeman, a bit of Holmes and a bit of Clousseau. Erast was introduced in The Winter Queen, the first of five books. Akunin’s other series stars Sister Pelagia, a young nun in a remote Russian province. Her bishop discreetly uses her deductive skills to solve crimes. I’ve read the first one Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog, but haven’t gotten to the second one yet, Sister Pelagia and the Black Monk.
If you’re an armchair traveler like me, here’s your chance to visit our neighbor to the east.
November 13th, 2008
Kathy K. - Central
I’m always on the lookout for new crime writers who can join the company of authors such as Michael Connelly and George Pelecanos. I think that I’ve found one in The Calling. The pseudonymous Inger Ash Wolfe has written an engaging and suspenseful crime novel. I hope these characters are back in a new story.
A grisly murder of a local elderly woman with terminal cancer is not what Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef, acting commander of the Ontario Police Services Port Dundas detachment, needs. Her department is understaffed. She is trying to recover from a surprise divorce and to stay sober. In addition, she has a bad back and lives with her acerbic 87-year-old mother. What starts out as a single murder turns to the discovery that a serial killer with a purpose is making his way across Canada.
Hazel and her team are the only ones who can stop him, although Hazel’s not so sure that they can stop him. The suspenseful action is goes back and forth between the killer and Hazel and her team. As the bodies pile up, Hazel puts herself at risk in order to catch a killer. The ending is both climactic and surprising. I hope this cast of characters returns for a command performance.
June 10th, 2008
Kathy K. - Central
Within my big pile of library books to read there usually is a romance or two. One of the reasons I like romances is because happy endings are a basic requirement and we all could use a happy ending once in a while.
I just finished Deirdre Martin’s newest one. Her romances are witty and sexy, and usually her guys are connected with hockey. In her latest book, Just a Taste, she takes a break from hockey and tells the story of Anthony Dante. We first met him in Fair Play, the love story of his brother Michael, the professional hockey player.
Anthony has been in a bit of a rut since his wife died over a year ago. He is an excellent chef, but temperamental. He co-owns Dante’s, a Brooklyn institution, with his brother Michael. And both his brother and sister-in-law have been encouraging him to get out more. They even try to play matchmaker a bit when they see the sparks start to fly between Anthony and another chef, Vivi Robitaille.
Vivi is the new competition in town. She has just come over from France with her sister to open her own restaurant, which will be across the street from Dante’s. It’s fun watching the mating ritual of Anthony and Vivi. It even includes a cooking competion between the two. Although they argue about food, they find common ground to build a future on.
Martin’s writing is funny and romantic. I recommend this title along with her other books.
April 11th, 2008
Kathy K. - Central
Reading Bill of Wrongs: The Executive Branch’s Assault on America’s Fundamental Rights by Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose reminds me how much I miss Molly Ivins’ humor and political insight. She died in January, 2007.
The book was both depressing and encouraging at the same time. Although the government plunders our rights, there are people courageous enough to stand up and fight back. The eight chapters tell how the Bill of Rights has come under assault. For example, protesters were removed from presidential speeches. The rights of the accused were ignored. A German Muslim of Turkish descent was held and subjected to torture by the US Military. Secular public education is devalued when a school board tried to outlaw evolution & replace it with “intelligent design”. Journalists have been jailed for shielding sources. Librarians were silenced by Kafkaesque government secrecy rules. The FBI displayed incompetence when it arrested a lawyer who happens to be Muslim for being a part of the 2004 bombing in Spain. How is it that our government is determined to protect us against terrorists, yet trashes the Bill of Rights? Thankfully, we still have people who are willing to stand up for what is right.
Even though I liked some of her other books better, such as Bushwhacked: Life in George W. Bush’s America, I still recommend this book.
March 21st, 2008
Kathy K. - Central
The Merry Widows Trilogy is a set of witty, passionate and sexy regency romances about a group of widows. Together these friends form the Benevolent Widows Fund to assist widows and their children. That means getting together to plan fundraising events. During these meetings they not only plan the events but also talk about their lives, including their sex lives. In fact, they make a pact to be “merry widows”. That means two things: one, to stay widows because it allows the freedom to be in charge of their own lives; and, two, to take lovers because they deserve to feel passion in their lives. In her latest novels Candice Hern tells of three of the Merry Widows. Each can be read independent of the other.
In the Thrill of the Night is the first in the series. Although Marianne Nesbitt adored her late husband, she wonders if she has missed something after hearing about her friends’ passionate sexual experiences. So would taking a lover help her discover what she’s been missing? She asks Adam Cazenove, an old friend and notorious rake, to school her in the art of seduction and to help her form of list of potential lovers.
This request turns Adam’s world upside down. He cannot believe that his best friend’s widow wants to take a lover. In fact, he would fulfill her wish himself if he wasn’t already engaged. Yet that doesn’t stop him from sabotaging Marianne’s plans. But one night of unintended passion changes everything.
This is a sexy and romantic tale of two friends who discover love and passion.
Just One of Those Flings is the second one. Beatrice couldn’t imagine taking a lover as her Merry Widow friends advised. She’s too busy helping her niece to find a husband. Yet while chaperoning her niece at a masked ball she behaves quite unlike the widowed and proper Lady Somerfield. Her Artemis has a passionate and anonymous garden tryst with a man dressed as a maharajah. He turns out to be the most eligible bachelor of the ton, Gabriel Loughton, the Marquess of Thayne.
Thayne is searching for his “Artemis” and wants to continue what they started. Whereas Beatrice is appalled; particularly when she discovers that her maharajah is the same man that she is pushing into her niece’s arms. However, the attraction is too strong and they have a private fling. Thayne comes to realize that he wants more than a fling, but Beatrice isn’t so sure that she wants to get married again.
A host of misunderstandings and family issues, plus the fact that their private fling has become a public scandal turn both of their lives upside down. It takes them both a while to realize how special their love is and, of course, love triumphs in the end.
The third one Lady Be Bad begins with a bet. The notorious ladies’ man, John Grayston, seventh Viscount Rochdale, makes a bet that he can seduce the Bishop’s widow, the prim and proper, Grace Marlowe. If he doesn’t bed her in three months he loses his best horse. Rochdale is confident that he can win the bet. So he begins wooing the strait-laced Grace.
At first Grace is both apprehensive and flattered. She knows that he is a rake and does not want to risk her reputation. Yet the more she gets to know him the more alive she feels, although this conflicts with her view of how she should be behaving and feeling. Likewise, Rochdale is also struggling with his conscience. His attraction to Grace is strong and he begins to see the kindhearted and passionate woman behind that proper facade. As they spend more time together he becomes concerned about Grace’s reputation. A simple wager has become much more complicated when Rochdale realizing that he is falling in love.
In this third of the trilogy, Hern has written a sensual, witty romance where both characters grow and each makes the other a better person.
November 1st, 2007
Kathy K. - Central
In Consequences of Sin: an Edwardian Mystery by Clare Langley-Hawthorne Ursula Marlow is not your typical heiress. She is an Oxford graduate and active in the suffrage movement. Yet she is caught between her widower father’s expectations that she does her duty by getting married and her desire for a career in journalism.
Her life is forever changed when her friend calls in the wee hours of the morning for help. Winifred’s lesbian lover has been murdered in their bed. Because Ursula doesn’t believe that her friend is guilty she investigates with the help of Lord Oliver Wrotham, her father’s lawyer. However, what Ursula digs up from the past involves her father and his business partners. Despite the family connections she continues searching for evidence to clear her friend. But this chain of interconnected events changes Ursula forever.
From the book jacket it sounds like Consequences of Sin is the first in a series. Although I had things figured out fairly quickly, I did enjoy this historical romantic mystery and I look forward to finding out what happens next to Ursula and Oliver.
October 11th, 2007
Kathy K. - Central
Sometimes I just want to read a book where true love triumphs in the end. Romances do that for me.
Love Is Blind by Lynsay Sands is a funny, sexy, Regency romance. Clarissa Crambray is having a tough time finding a husband. Her step-mother has forbidden her to wear her spectacles, which makes it extremely difficult for her to see. Her extreme near-sightedness (something I can really identify with) has caused her many a clumsy and humorous moment with potential suitors, although the suitors don’t find the situation funny at all. This has happened so often that most have been warned about her. However, things start to change for the better when she meets Adrian Montfort, the Earl of Mowbray, who has some issues as well. He came back from the Napoleonic Wars with a disfigured face. Both are self-conscious about their appearances. Yet it is encouraging to see two hurt and lonely souls find each other.
A sweet and pleasant read.
September 26th, 2007
Kathy K. - Central
I haven’t really read a lot of mysteries set in Australia, 
except for the Phryne Fisher mysteries by Kerry Greenwood, but The Broken Shore by Peter Temple makes me want to read more about the land down under.
The main character, Joe Cashin, a broken cop recuperating from a near fatal attack in Melbourne, has been temporarily assigned to his hometown of Port Munro on the south coast of Australia. Although trying to live a quiet life with his 2 dogs, it seems that big city crime has followed Joe to his hometown. When Charles Bourgoyne, a wealthy old man, has been attacked, left for dead, and eventually dies, Cashin is assigned the case. Local racial tensions increase when the local area police, who have poor relations with the Aboriginal community to begin with, place suspicion on three Aboriginal lads. Community relations are not improved when two are killed in a screwed-up stakeout and the other drowns. As far as the police are concerned the case is closed, but Joe doesn’t agree. He decides to continue investigating on his own, delving into his own past (he has Aboriginal cousins), and the past of his home town. This search takes him deep into a world of sexual abuse and child pornography with a shocking conclusion.
This is a multilayered thriller, having all the ingredients of a great crime novel: a flawed main character, murder, race, class, politics, police corruption, strained family relations, humor, and a sense of place. (And there’s a glossary in the back that helps with the Australian lingo!)
I recommend this winner of the UK Crime Writers’ Association Duncan Lawrie Gold Dagger, the world’s most prestigious prize for crime fiction.
August 25th, 2007
Kathy K. - Central
