KN Magazine: Reviews
The Beauty by Aliya Whiteley / Review by Bree Goodchild
BOOK OF THE DAY
"Today the world moves on, and I must find new ways to turn the truth into stories. The graveyard bears more mushrooms, clustering in soft wet shapes, yellow folds and rivulets, in the outlines of the women beneath the soil."
Whiteley's The Beautyis a powerful punch of 112 pages. It has been described as "weird," "speculative," and "disturbing." Recommended for lovers of Margaret Atwood and the late Ursula Le Guin this compelling novella tackles themes like feminism, gender relations, and age-related power struggles. Once you fall into the rabbit hole of The Beauty you will not come back the same.
Whiteley’s world is told through the voice of a young storyteller within the Group in the Valley of the Rocks. Nathan is the reader's eyes and ears among the men in the Group. Nate composes poetic tales of how men and women from all places came looking for sanctuary from a chaotic, technology-driven world. How all the women were now gone, eaten alive slowly by an incurable disease.
Nate also knows the forest holds a terrible secret. Within the shadows of the trees, beneath the soil in which the mushrooms grow, there lives an "other," a new Group that will rattle the lives of the men in the Valley. Is this alien "other" the missing piece to a crippled humanity, or a sinister being with its own agenda?
"Terror, hatred, panic and those stranger, softer feelings: they are there, but they do not crowd me or make me their puppet."
Weaving a story of science fiction, mystery, and post-apocalyptic thrills writer Aliya Whiteley challenges her readers to think beyond traditional storytelling, and to open their minds to the great "what if..." A myth in its own weight, The Beauty is a short story which keeps its readers up at night. You’ll be far too captivated by the strangeness to put it down for even a moment. Embrace the weird, surrender to the beauty.
Bree Goodchild is a recent graduate of Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville with a BA in English and Theatre Arts. She currently lives in Washington state with her beagle mix, Molly. A fan of a wide genre of books and authors, most recently Temple Grandin, Ira Glass, Terry Moore, Sebastian Barry, and Zora Neale Hurston.
The Devil Has A Black Dog by Jonathan Thurston / Review by Liz Gatterer
From the very first page, I felt sure that this was going to be an intriguing read. There are several letters that have been stylized with a dramatic font. It doesn’t take long to figure out that if you connect the letters, they spell out the message – “We need the key”. And just like that, I was hooked. The temptation to scroll through the pages and find all of the letters was almost overpowering – but I resisted. The special effects on the pages continued. Some pages were different shades, some had text arranged in different ways but it was never distracting, it helped to draw me into the story and in some cases, made the link between the what was written and what was being said much clearer. I believe when an author manipulates the text that way, it technically changes it from prose to poetry. I couldn’t agree more.
The main character in this novella is Titus Anderson. Titus has had a bad day. He lost his boyfriend, his job, his dealer want to kill him, the landlady will most likely evict him, the townspeople see him as a pariah, oh… and he drives a Prius. You would have to be a pretty cold-hearted person to not feel for Titus. He is cast as the anti-hero that would really have liked to be the hero but thinks he can’t be. I think this is a trap many people fall into and can’t see a way out of on their own. It’s an example of the “whether you think you can or think you can’t – you’re right” type of situation.
The people of Hollow Rapids, Massachusetts are split into two groups “Church Folk” and “Night Folk”. The former being those that conform to conventional standards of “good” but aren’t necessarily good people, and the later are those that won’t or can’t fit in that box. Titus is “Night Folk”. He recalls how when he was young, the world was full of color. But, as an adult – the world shifted to just black and white and he fell into the black category. More than once, he wishes he could be clean again. The hopelessness and isolation he feels are reflected in the background as the pages begin to darken from pure white to black. It is heartbreaking. Titus is tempted to just drive his car off the road and end it all. That is when he runs over the dog. But this is no ordinary dog. It is a demon. It is a demon sent to Earth by God to stop other demons. But should one trust a demon?
The Devil Has a Black dog is a fantastic read. For those of us that like stories that require a bit of thought and reflection to really appreciate, it is a rare treat. Fans of Neil Gaiman, Stephen King and maybe A.N. Roquelaure should really enjoy this updated parable about perils of vice and vengeance and the cost of sacrifice and virtue.
The List by J.A. Konrath / Review by Jim Biggs
Book of the Day
All good thrillers have a murder, a mystery, and a conspiracy. The List by J.A. Konrath is no exception. The tale begins with a wonderfully gruesome murder, a curious tattoo, and a late-night phone call to a senator that must behind it all.
The decapitated and de-digited body of librarian Tom Jessup had been discovered (the woman living in the apartment below noticed blood seeping through her ceiling and called 911). Detectives Tom Mankowski and Roy Lewis are in charge at the murder scene. They find the head, note that it appears to have been removed in one fell swoop and that the stumps of the fingers are tourniquet-ed with twist ties. But the one discovery that brings this case home for Mankowski is a tattoo of the number 7 on the victims left heel. For Mankowski also has a tattoo on the heel of his left foot–the number 5. He has had it his whole life and has no idea where it came from or what it might mean. Meanwhile, in California, a film executive, Joan DeVilliers is shaken by a voice message from someone who has scheduled her tattoo removal for that evening. Joan does have a tattoo–the number 2 on the heel of her left foot. But she is sure no one knows about it (she doesn't even know where it came from) and she never scheduled its removal. But this is just the prelude to the horrific scene that awaits her at home.
Part mystery, part horror, part comedy, The List reads like a Lethal Weapon movie script written by Stephen King. It is fast paced and fun! Okay, maybe the premise is a little far-fetched, but that’s ok. There is a perfectly reasonable (albeit maybe not scientifically plausible) explanation for it all. It is like an extended late night "what if ..." debate with good friends over a few beers. The characters are well crafted and quickly feel like old friends. The villains are very creative and perfectly flawed so as to not garner even one iota of your sympathy. So, go exercise your suspended disbelief and hang on. It is well worth the ride. There are 12 more books in The Konrath Horror Collective and I can’t wait to read them all.
J.A. Konrath is a Guests of Honor at the 2018 Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference if you’d like to meet the man in person!
Killer Nashville Interview with Alan Bradley
Alan Bradley is the New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning Flavia de Luce mystery series. His first novel, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie received the Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger Award, the Agatha Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, the Arthur Ellis Award, the Macavity Award and the Spotted Owl Award. Recently, Mr. Bradley took a bit of time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions for Killer Nashville. The author discusses his protagonist and the unique choices made in creating her, his writing process, and offers advice to those who—like Bradley—began their writing careers a little later in the game. Thanks to Liz Gatterer for conducting this interview.
Enjoy!
A Killer Nashville Interview with
ALAN BRADLEY
KN: When I first looked at the press release for The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place and saw that the story was about a 12-year-old girl, I assumed this was a children’s book, or a middle-grade book and was intrigued that was not how it was categorized. Who do you write your books for?
I write my books for people who are interested in the same kind of things I’m interested in. I dote on curiosities and wonder, and I have been accused of possessing a magpie mind. Fortunately, there are vast numbers of readers of all ages who share my enthusiasms.I have heard of a four-year-old girl who insists upon having the books read aloud to her, then acting them out with herself as Flavia, her father as Dogger, and her mother as Mrs. Mullet.
KN: I must admit, I am a new Flavia fan. I enjoyed The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place so much I have now binge read/listened to the entire series from the beginning. By the way, the narrator, Jayne Entwistle is just fantastic! There is an incredible amount of information in each book. How long does it take to research one of your books? Do you squirrel away factoids for use “at some point” or is it a more focused practice?
Yes, Jayne is incredible. I recently had the opportunity of speaking to her “live” during an internet broadcast. I think we were both in tears of laughter and recognition!
Some of the facts in the Flavia books are titbits I’ve been saving up for years, while others come to light during research. Because I’m a great fan of ancient and outdated reference books, it’s often harder to decide what to leave out than what to put in. In general, it takes about nine months to a year to write each book, a substantial amount of which is research. It’s not always easy to find out, for instance, what the weather was like in England at a certain hour of a certain day in 1952, or whether the 10:32 from Waterloo ran on Sundays in November.
KN: I have read at first you thought this would be a six-book series, and then a ten-book series. Well, The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place is book 9… Is book 10 in the works? Will that be the end of the series? (Please say no) Are there any plans for your next series?
In spite of reports to the contrary, I’m presently working on a tenth book. Beyond that? I don’t know. I’m sure my lovely publishers would be happy to continue, but, as Sherlock once so wisely remarked, “It is a capital mistake to theorize in advance of the facts.”
KN: Although the character of Flavia de Luce has certainly developed over the series, she has not really aged. She was 11 in Book 1: The Sweetness at the Bottomof the Pie and now in Book 9: The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place she is 12. It has been quite a year for the young girl! Is Flavia destined to be a pre-adolescent forever?
Flavia at 18, for instance, would be a completely different person than she is now, and perhaps not half so interesting. At any rate, there’s still much to be told about her present circumstances, and I’ve never been one for rushing things.
KN: As an author that really began to write in earnest after retirement and who published an award-winning novel after 70, what advice or words of encouragement (or words of warning) would you give to others who are just beginning their writing later in the game?
First of all, my heartiest congratulations to anyone who manages to get published at 60 and beyond! At that age, it seems unlikely that you’ll be changed: your life will be, but you won’t.
My best advice would be, as has been said so many times before, never give up. I was once told that real success takes ten years, but in my case, it took fifteen. To summarize: apply bottom to chair, write, and keep writing.
As Philip Van Doren Stern (author of the book that inspired the film “It’s a Wonderful Life”) once said, “The only thing that’s important is the manuscript. All the rest is just bubbles on the horse-piss.
Many thanks to Alan Bradley for taking time to answer our questions and to Sharon Propson from Random House Publishing for facilitating this interview.
The Undertaker's Daughter by Sara Blaedel / Review by Bree Goodchild
The Undertaker's Daughter
By Sara Blaedel
Grand Central Publishing
$26.00
ISBN 978-1455541119
Publish Date: February 2, 2018
Book of the Day
"She couldn't read his face, but it might have surprised him that the undertaker's daughter was a beanpole: six feet tall without a hint of feminine form."
The clearest memory that Ilka Nichols Jensen had of her father was when she was seven years old. At the race tracks, where she rode a horse for the first time. A young Ilka knew her father would be proud, but soon realized he'd left, to gamble...again. But he didn't come home this time. Instead, Ilka and her mother were left in Copenhagen, Denmark with a funeral home and a steady debt. Paul Jensen was a bonified gambler and absentee father. Everyone in town knew. Now, almost four decades after his disappearance, Ilka and her mother receive the news that he has passed away. Leaving in his will a funeral home in Racine, Wisconsin (a Danish community) as part of Ilka's inheritance.
Now a middle-aged woman, school photographer, and recently widowed Ilka, the novel's heroine, is in a vulnerable position. Her mother, Karin, believes her daughter will disappear into the fray of deceit, debt, and misery that rules the undertaker business. Regardless, Ilka is willing to take the risk; her chance at saving the last connection to the father she wrote to for years but never replied. Was this his answer?
Ilka Nichols Jensen, Artie Sorvino (makeup artist of the deceased and business partner to Paul Jensen), along with Sister Eileen, Officer Thomas, Karin Jensen and her partner Hanne, and Ilka's father Paul Jensen. All these characters create a world that takes the reader into the hidden crevices of the funeral business. Well researched and beautifully depicted the author brings the smells, tastes, and sounds of Racine, Wisconsin to life in this short mystery novel, The Undertaker's Daughter. Produced by Hachette Book Group, Sara Blaedel's new story focuses on people who take the part of a spectator rather than a detective. An offbeat storyline compared to Blaedel's usual crime-driven works, like Detective Louise Rick, recognized as an international bestseller series within the genre of Scandinavian crime fiction.
"The mood of the funeral service moved her deeply, and now she felt closer to her father...she realized it was too early for her to go home, with so many facts that didn't add up, so much left unsaid, so many things still a mystery to her."
Although the majority of the novel is well translated from its original Danish language, there are parts of dialogue and scene transitions that appear awkward. Such as moments when Ilka notices the people around her are mumbling, doing odd tasks, or when it's difficult to follow along with the heroine's train of thought between her past memories and present predicaments. Besides those few bumps, I was otherwise impressed with how I picked up the story one minute and all too soon found myself at the ending cliffhanger. Looking forward to where Blaedel will take me with her next installment of the Ilka Nichols Jensen mystery series!
Bree Goodchild is a recent graduate of Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville with a BA in English and Theatre Arts. She currently lives in Washington state with her beagle mix, Molly. A fan of a wide genre of books and authors, most recently Temple Grandin, Ira Glass, Terry Moore, Sebastian Barry, and Zora Neale Hurston.
Yesterday's News by R.G. Belsky / Review by Sharon Marchisello
2019 Silver Falchion Candidate
BOOK OF THE DAY
The manuscript that became Yesterday's News (Oceanview Publishing) was the 2016 winner of Killer Nashville's Claymore Award. It is the first in a new series by R.G. Belsky featuring Clare Carlson, the driven, middle-aged news director for Channel 10.
Clare's career catapulted to stardom when, as a young newspaper reporter, she broke a story about the disappearance of eleven-year-old Lucy Devlin, a poster child who vanished on her way to school one day. Clare's heart-wrenching coverage of the family's tragedy captivated New Yorkers and won her a Pulitzer Prize.
Now, fifteen years later, with the mystery of Lucy's fate still unsolved, Anne Devlin, the grieving mother, thinks she has a new lead about the case, and she requests Clare's help to bring the story back to the front burner. Clare agrees.
Anne has received a puzzling email describing a girl who looked a lot like Lucy on the back of a motorcycle at a biker's convention in New Hampshire around the time of her disappearance. Clare learns that Patrick Devlin, Lucy's father (now estranged from Anne), once had ties with a motorcycle gang that attended the gathering. Claire also learns the bodies of six missing children were unearthed near that location a few years later when ground was broken for a shopping center.
The law enforcement official who supervised the investigation of the children's murders and identified the victims was Elliott Grayson, whose career took off after that event. He is now running for the U.S. Senate and both he and his opponent are willing to do almost anything to win. When Clare interviews Elliott about the case, he dodges her questions and romantic sparks fly.
The more Clare digs, the more lies she uncovers, and the more suspicions gnaw at her. No one is who they seem. And then the reader finds out Clare has a much closer connection to the Lucy Devlin case than she has ever revealed.
R.G. Belsky has an extensive journalism background, and his experience is evident in this fast-paced crime novel. Most recently, he was Managing Editor at NBC News. He resides in New York City and is the author of the award-winning Gil Malloy mystery series, including Blonde Ice, The Kennedy Connection, and Shooting for the Stars.
Sharon Marchisello (sharonmarchisello.com) is the author of Going Home, (Sunbury Press, 2014) a murder mystery inspired by her mother's battle with Alzheimer's. She earned a Masters in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California and is a member of the Atlanta Chapter of Sisters in Crime. She lives in Peachtree City, GA, with her husband and cat, does volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society, and writes a blog about personal finance, Countdown to Financial Fitness https://sharonmarchisello.blogspot.com/.ns.
Vindication by H. Terrell Griffin / Review by Amy Nygaard
Vindication
By H. Terrell Griffin
Oceanview Publishing
$26.95
ISBN 978-1608092765
Publication Date: January 2, 2018
Book of the Day
Vindication is the 11th installment in the Matt Royal Mystery series by H. Terrell Griffin. Retired defense attorney Matt Royal is jolted from his idyllic south Florida life when his police detective girlfriend’s aunt is arrested for murder. A new best-selling author has been been killed in a sprawling Florida retirement community, and Aunt Esther is the accused in need of Matt’s legal knowledge and prowess.
Esther swears she had nothing to do with the murder, despite a perfect motive: the victim stole Esther’s manuscript and had it published as her own work. The sheriff in charge of the investigation was humiliated in court by Matt Royal several years earlier, and Matt is unsure how that will affect his defense. With the help of his girlfriend, J.D., in an undercover role in the retirement community, he uncovers layers of decades-old crime all leading to the improbable homicide Esther stands accused of. The entire story package is wrapped up with a bow on top when Matt reveals his findings during Esther’s trial, she is acquitted and released, and the real culprits are arrested.
Matt Royal is a likable protagonist, and capable in his profession. The story itself has a decent plot, with the kinds of twists I'd expect in a legal thriller, and I tip my figurative hat to the author on that note.
Amy Nygaard - I am a lifelong lover of words, and reading has been my passion since childhood. After years of editing work and teaching grammar and writing, I fell in love with writing myself. I have several adult suspense manuscripts completed, a middle-grade boy's mystery first-of-series, and the framework of a separate middle-grade mystery/adventure series. I've attended multiple writing conferences around the country, pitching agents, making new friends, and learning all I can about the world of writing and publishing.
Blood Truth by Matt Coyle / Review by Gary Frazier
Blood Truth
By Matt Coyle
Oceanview Publishing
$26.95
ISBN 978-1608092390
Published December 5, 2017
Private investigator Rick Cahill’s latest case becomes his most personal to date in Blood Truth, the fourth novel in the thrilling Cahill series by Matt Coyle.
This time around, Cahill’s world is turned upside down when he is presented with a long-hidden wall safe found in his father’s home that, when opened, yields secrets that could confirm his father’s corruption and reasons for being kicked off the police force. Inside the safe: a stash of $15,000 in cash, a gun, and two bullet casings, all possibly tied to a murder twenty years ago.
Cahill, along with PI friend Moira McFarlane, turn over every stone in his father’s past, interviewing his old acquaintances, co-workers, and the reporter who covered the case in search of clues. Their investigation soon draws the attention of others who want to keep the truth buried at all costs, even if that means eliminating Cahill and McFarlane in the process.
As Cahill struggles to discern the truth, and what that means for him personally, he’s also wrapped up in a murder case involving his former wife and her current husband and a controversial real estate deal, leaving him little time in which to process all that is happening to him. The mystery deepens and the threats multiply at seemingly every turn.
A previous recipient of the Anthony Award, the Benjamin Franklin Silver Medal and the San Diego Book Award, as well as a finalist for the Shamus, Macavity, and Lefty awards, Coyle juggles both plotlines with deft skill. Readers learn firsthand through Cahill’s first-person point of view as the bodies start piling up and the clues multiply. Short, snappy chapters keep the pages turning at a fast rate straight until the finish.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced mystery packed with emotional punch, look no further. This one’s a winner.
When he’s not working on his own novel or screenplays, G. Robert Frazier writes about other writers and their works on his blog and other sites such as BookPage and BloggingforBooks. He has served as a script reader for both the Austin Film Festival and Nashville Film Festival screenwriting competitions and is a member of the Tennessee Screenwriting Association. He used to write and edit stories for several newspapers in the Nashville area and he once won a flash fiction contest in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, so there’s that.
Willnot by James Sallis / Review by Clay Stafford
WILLNOT
By James Sallis
Bloomsbury
$26.00
ISBN 978-1632864529
Publication Date: June 21, 2016
Book of the Day
In the town of Willnot, there is a clearing where two dead bodies are found buried atop a box of decaying papers. Dr. Lamar Hale, the town’s doctor, is brought into the case being investigated by the local authorities. Concurrently, a stranger comes to town in the form of Bobby Lowndes, a discharged sniper for the military who grew up in the town many years ago, but is not the same man. He is followed by an FBI agent and another sniper who has a reason for wanting Bobby to go away. As Dr. Hale goes through the ups and downs of his professional and personal life, his partner Richard is shot by a bullet meant for Bobby Lowndes. It is up to Hale to find equilibrium, not only for the town, but also for himself.
The simple plot is a primarily a character-driven story. The mystery and questions are there, but the storyline is mostly the arcing perspective of the main character, Dr. Lamar Hale. Written in a literary style, Willnotis a book to be read slowly to savor the language, which is near poetic. I was especially awed by the attention to slight details sprinkled just enough within each paragraph. The dialogue is a double entendre of sorts, highlighting the inner turmoils, growth, and regressions of the complex characters. You’re not going to find a whodunit mystery here for the mystery of Willnot is the mystery of life revealed through the MacGuffin of the initial two dead bodies, the FBI agent, and the two snipers. I usually read novels quickly, but this one I did not: the prose is something to savor. It is a novel that you’ll reflect on after reading it, trying to make sense (like Hale) of the little strands of truth hidden in the normal course of the daily mundane. It is a book I would highly recommend.
Clay Stafford is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He has sold over 1.5 million hardcover copies of his children’s adaptations and has seen his film work distributed internationally in over 14 languages. Four of his five staged murder mysteries have had Los Angeles premieres. He has reviewed books, plays, and films, writes near-daily book reviews for the Killer Nashville Book of the Day, has been quoted on book jackets, and has edited several PBS companion books associated with national series. Publishers Weekly has named Stafford one of the top 10 Nashville literary leaders playing “an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers” not only in middle-Tennessee, but also extending “beyond the city limits and into the nation’s book culture.” (PW 6/10/13). He is the founder of Killer Nashville (www.KillerNashville.com) and publisher of Killer Nashville Magazine (www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com). He has served on the board of numerous nonprofits. Clay has a B.A. and M.F.A. and has been a professor or lecturer to several major universities. His list of current projects includes the award-winning feature-length documentary “One Of The Miracles: The Inge Meyring Smith Story” (www.OneOfTheMiracles.com) and the music CD “XO” with fellow mystery writer Jeffery Deaver (www.JefferyDeaverXOmusic.com). Previously associated with Universal Studios and PBS, he is currently President / CEO of American Blackguard, Inc. (www.AmericanBlackguard.com), a publishing/film and television/music / entertainment company near Nashville, Tennessee. More information can be found at www.ClayStafford.com.
Protectors by Kris Nelscott / Review by Samantha Traci
Protectors
By Kris Nelscott
WMG Publishing
$34.99
ISBN 978-1561460649
Publication Date: October 17, 2017
Book of the Day
Three very different women, linked by very similar trauma. Protectors by Kris Nelscott tells the story of how these women collide in 1969 Berkeley, California, in an area torn apart by politics, violence and the ever-present debate of the Counterculture vs. The Establishment. None of the women wanted to get involved with the stories of disappearing college students and violent attacks against women in the dead of night, but each were drawn in because of their own demons whispering in the background.
The story begins the day of the Moon Landing. We learn that Pammy, owner of A Gym of Her Own, always has the best of intentions but is usually in over her head. We also meet Eagle, a former combat nurse who medicates her own demons with alcohol and marijuana while working as the unofficial medic for the gym; and Val, who fled Chicago after a heartbreaking loss. After a late-night incident leaves Eagle shaken to the core, the three women are reluctantly drawn together to investigate rumors of missing college students that the police are studiously unconcerned with. As the women delve deeper into the mystery, each piece of the puzzle they uncover pushes the stakes higher and makes them realize that they have no one to rely on but themselves. The story starts slowly, plodding through the sometimes mundane but absolutely necessary steps of real detective work, but builds to a fast-paced climax that will leave the reader reeling.
Nelscott is a good storyteller, and conveys a strong sense of voice for each of her characters. The plot weaves deftly between the voices of the three main protagonists and the reader is able to piece together an interesting outline of the crimes at the same time as each of the characters, all the while wondering what the next step might be. Protectors is a detective story about characters who would never call themselves detectives. While the overarching plot is one of mystery and murder; there’s also a strong subtext that deals with second-wave feminist issues like domestic violence and rape, sexuality, and women moving out of the home and into the workplace.
Atmosphere is seamlessly woven into the story. The tale is rich with descriptions and details that make the zeitgeist palpable. The reader is left wanting to know more about the real-life historical events that color the story, such as the People’s Park Riot. Casual mentions of ubiquitous cigarette machines and mistrust of the “new” concept of zip codes, to the blatant fear and distrust people feel for the police and the government in general helps set the stage for the conflict the women encounter, which is as much the general attitude of the day as it is anything physical. Yet as much as Nelscott strives to remind the reader that the time and place is 1969 Berkeley, it’s startling how many parallels to present day there are to be found. Characters struggling with their own opinions of politics and war, issues arising due to racism and misogyny, and the overall feminist undertones that permeate the story draw eerie parallels to present day, making the reader wonder just how far we’ve come in nearly 40 years.
While not quite a hard-boiled novel, the tone of the writing is similar. But instead of a gritty male P.I., Nelscott mixes it up with three female voices that are refreshing in their independence. These women never require male assistance; indeed the only male voices present in the story are decidedly unhelpful, either by choice or due to confines in the system. The term “feminist” isn’t directly mentioned but readers will be pleased with Nelscott’s handling of this story, where even women who play minor roles in the story are shown to be strong and capable. The story works great as a standalone detective novel, but seems to be poised as the beginning of a promising series featuring these characters. While not an edge-of-your-seat-thriller, Protectors is a solid piece of fiction that blends history and detective work with a feminist edge.
Samantha TraciSam is the co-founder and editor of progressandtea.com, a labor of love and exercise for sanity in these politically charged times. Drawing from her background in journalism, she currently works in higher education publishing by day but is hard at work on her first novel by night. When not working with words, she can be found indulging her passion for burlesque, a hobby that provides plenty of colorful experiences for her writing!
A-List by D.P. Lyle / Review by G. Robert Frazier
A-List
By D.P. Lyle
Oceanview Publishing
$26.95
ISBN 978-1608092703
Publication Date: December 12, 2017
Book of the Day
When A-list actor Kirk Ford wakes up next to a deceased woman in a New Orleans hotel, his arrest for her murder threatens to derail his career and ruin a multi-million dollar Hollywood film series. Enter Jake Longly and a team of investigators determined to find the truth behind the murder.
A-List, written by cardiologist and forensics expert D.P. Lyle, is billed as a thriller, but more accurately is an old-school whodunit mystery. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Longly and company – his father, Ryan, girlfriend and fellow investigator Nicole Jamison, and computer expert/muscle Tommy Jeffers, aka Pancake – are more than up to the challenge, whether it comes from the begrudging police detective in charge Troy Doucet to the less-than-friendly assistance of the local mafia don, Tony Guidry, whose niece was the victim.
After a tox screen by the medical examiner reveals both Kirk and the victim had traces of the date rape drug Ketamine in their systems, the clues point to a possible third party involved in the murder whose intent was to frame Kirk for the crime. Jake and Nicole spearhead a line of questioning of potential witnesses and acquaintances to both the victim and beleaguered actor, turning up occasional clues and red herrings along the way. Guidry, meanwhile, is intent on seeing Kirk punished for the death of his niece and uses his own streetwise resources to bully his way to truth.
Lyle’s medical background is a plus here as he is able to succinctly explain the technical details of the death while keeping the plot churning. The head-to-head confrontations between Longly and Guidry are entertaining reads, with snappy dialogue masking underlying threats. The clues ultimately pit the team of investigators in a thrilling head-to-head confrontation with Guidry in the violent finale.
When he’s not working on his own novel or screenplays, G. Robert Frazier writes about other writers and their works on his blog and other sites such as BookPage and BloggingforBooks. He has served as a script reader for both the Austin Film Festival and Nashville Film Festival screenwriting competitions and is a member of the Tennessee Screenwriting Association. He used to write and edit stories for several newspapers in the Nashville area and he once won a flash fiction contest in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, so there’s that.
Origin by Dan Brown / Review by E.J. Boyd
Book of the Day
Everyone’s favorite unintentional sleuth is back! Witness to the murder of a former student and good friend, Robert Langdon finds himself once again in a mad dash, against impossible odds and a ticking time clock, to solve the code, save the girl and … well, not save the world this time. Actually, what he is trying to find out just might devastate the world. But, the truth will out – and with the entire world watching there is not a moment to lose.
Dan Brown’s style is as recognizable as the works of the artists in his books. One may be able to recognize the art of Bernini, Da Vinci, Dante or Gaudé by their signature style, but that does not diminish their work. The details are what make each piece sui generis. Origin has all of the classic elements of a great Langdon novel – a race against time, a beautiful (but unavailable) woman, an unknown mastermind, a zealot, a pawn , a wealthy/powerful friend, his Mickey Mouse wristwatch, the pivotal moment where some element of his swimming prowess saves him from disaster, the works of a famous artist, and the puzzle. But, it is the details that Brown weaves so eloquently into the story that really draws the reader in.
Where do we come from? Where are we going? These are the two questions mankind has tried to answer since time began. Every culture has its own genesis and apocalypse story. The religions of the world are based on these stories. But science has failed to find a definitive answer – until now. Billionaire, futurist, former student and dear friend of Robert Langdon—Edward Kirsch, has found the answers and despite the havoc, his revelation may cause, he is about to share his discovery live and on camera with the whole world. The story begins in Spain at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao where Kirsch and museum director Ambra Vidal have spent weeks planning the event at which he will launch his presentation. SPOILER ALERT! At the penultimate moment, Kirsch is murdered. To solve the murder of his friend and carry out his last wish to share his discovery, Langdon and Ambre Vidal must discover the 47 character password that will launch the presentation. They know the password is a line from Kirsch's favorite poet. But they do not know who that poet is or which poem it might be from. Help comes in the form of Winston, an incredible interactive computer program developed by Kirsch.
Religion versus science, tradition versus innovation, love versus obligation—Origin touches on many of the theological, political, and social arguments currently fueling debates around the world. Readers that are open to such debates will enjoy this book immensely. As always, Dan Brown’s books are well researched and loaded with so many factoids that one must read them at least twice to catch them all. Alas, the burdens we must bear…
The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz / Review by Liz Gatterer
The Silent Corner
By Dean Koontz
Bantam Books
$28.00
ISBN 978-0345545992
Published June 20, 2017
Book of the Day
The Silent Corner
Review by Liz Gatterer
The Silent Corner is the first in the thrilling new series by Dean Koontz. Touching and terrifying, it is the story Jane Hawk, a young widow that will not accept that her husband committed suicide, even though she was the one to discover his body. The man she loved would never abandon her or their son—never. And she will risk everything prove it.
As a trained FBI agent, Jane Hawk has the resources and training needed to thoroughly investigate her husband's death. She sells her house and her car, cashes out her bank accounts and secrets away her son. She buys a car that has been illegally modified to be untrackable by GPS. She buys disposable cell phones and acquires fake identification. She steps into the silent corner - a place where she should be invisible to all of the tracking capabilities of modern society. Step by step she follows a trail that may give her answers—or may take her life...
Fans of Dean Koontz will understand that he has two types of "scary stories". On one side you have books like Ticktock, Odd Thomas, or Ashley Bell—tales that have a touch of the paranormal. They are fun and they will get your heart racing, but, they are not terrifying. Voo-doo dolls, Elvis' Ghost or using "Scrabble-mancy" to devine the future isn't "real". We are protected by the bubble of suspended disbelief. Then, there are the books that could very well be real. For me, these are by far the scarier of the two. That is the kind of book The Silent Corner is. This could really happen. Many of the things that Jane Hawk discovers—are really happening! I now fear of all the tech in my life.
The Silent Corner is very well written. The characters are very well developed with detailed backstories that support their abilities and personalities. Even the minor characters are well defined and their roles are clear. This is where Koontz really shines. He paints with a very fine brush. But, he is never course. Although his stories have a sharp edge, the language and sexual content are more implied than stated. And, of course, there are plenty of dog references. The man does love his Goldens!
The second book in the Jane Hawk Series, The Whispering Room will be released 11/7/2017. Look for that review soon!
Coyote Zone by Kathryn Lane / Review by Robert Selby
Coyote Zone
Kathryn Lane
Pen-L Publishing
$16.99
ISBN 978-1683131083
Published September 27, 2017
Book of the Day
Coyote Zone is the thrilling new installment in the Nikki Garcia series by Kathryn Lane. Once again, Lane takes her readers to exotic locales with glutinous helpings of adventure and intrigue. The heroine, Nikki Garcia is drawn back into threatening circumstances when her client's daughter, kidnapped from the local food court by a Mexican coyote, sends her into undercover work that threatens her life and those of the young victims she needs to rescue.
The setting, as with all of Ms. Lane’s thrillers, is a big part of the story. San Miguel Allende is the historical town in Mexico where the drama begins. As the story unfolded, it was entertaining to recognize how many similar characteristics Ms. Garcia has with internationally renowned author Isabel Allende; whose last name is attached to the town where this story originates by way of her infamous uncle.
Ms. Lane is a master at pacing the “thrill”. She sets the emotional hook the moment the little girl is abducted. The pace intensifies to such heart-stopping degree that it is almost hard to read more—yet, it is impossible to put down. Following the strange turns of events that seem to overshadow every step forward with head shaking steps back, it seems the drama has run it's course, as the young kidnap victim has been returned to her mother. However, by the number of pages left to read, it's obvious that there's a quarter of the story yet untold. It's a rare drama that can successfully take a reader on a roller-coaster ride to a climax, only to realize that it's premature and still lead to an exciting and satisfying end. But when Nikki goes undercover to be taken by the coyote and his small band of kidnappers and killers the adventure begins again.
The first book in this series, Waking Up in Medellin, won the 2017 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Book of the Year Award. Coyote Zone is the perfect sequel. It is a well-written and suspenseful tale that all thrill-seeking readers of adventures will enjoy. We look forward to more Nikki Garcia adventures in the future.
Robert Selby is a screenplay writer, book reviewer, and volunteer at Killer Nashville
Unholy City by Carrie Smith / Review by Sheila Sobel
Unholy City
By Carrie Smith
Crooked Lane Books
$27.99
ISBN 978-1683313298
Published November 7, 2017
Book of the Day
Secrets, lies, and motives abound in the third book in Carrie Smith’s Claire Codella Mystery series, Unholy City. Three bodies and a plethora of suspects bring Detective Claire Codella, Detective Brian Haggerty, and Detective Eduardo Muñoz back together again. The rector, the vestry members, the organist and the homeless men living in the church basement shelter find their lives under the microscopic lens of Detective Claire Codella in this fast-paced mystery set in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Still struggling with post-cancer perceptions of the fragile female and anxious to get back on top of her career, Claire inadvertently snatches the investigative lead on the murder of senior churchwarden Philip Graves from Detective Brian Haggerty, creating tension in both their professional and romantic relationships. As the story unfolds and the body count rises, the lives of the prime suspects unravel and long-standing church associations splinter.
Once again, Carrie Smith deftly weaves common issues which face women in the workplace together with an exciting who-dun-it.
For fans of Silent City and Forgotten City, books one and two in A Claire CodellaMystery series, Unholy City is a must-read. If one is new to the series, Unholy Cityquickly educates the reader to recurring characters. A good standalone, a terrific series.
Sheila Sobel’s debut novel Color Blind was the winner of the 2017 Killer Nashville Reader's Choice Award for Best Tween/YA Fiction and Finalist for the 2017 Silver Falchion Award for Best YA Fiction. She was also nominated for the 2016 Allegra Johnson Prize in Novel Writing through the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.
As a Senior Auditor for Warner Bros., Sheila oversaw production costs for films including “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” the “Matrix” trilogy, “The Dark Knight” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” After working on 70+ Independent and Studio movies, Sheila stepped away from the film business to complete her first YA novel.
Sheila is a member of International Thriller Writers (ITW), Sisters in Crime (SinC), Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Children’s Book Writers-LA (CBW-LA) and Women in Film (WIF). She lives in Southern California with her husband, two rescue dogs and one rescue cat.
A Season to Lie by Emily Littlejohn / Review by Sharon Marchisello
A Season to Lie
by Emily Littlejohn
Minotaur Books
$25.99
ISBN 978-1250089410
Published November 14, 2017
Book of the Day
A Season to Lie, Minotaur Books, is the sequel to Emily Littlejohn's compelling debut novel, Inherit the Bones, which was a Killer Nashville Silver Falchion nominee.
The story opens when Detective Gemma Moore returns from maternity leave, trying to ease back into the job on a part-time basis. On her first night, she and her partner Finn are assigned to investigate a prowler reported at the Valley Academy, a prestigious private school. Instead, they discover the stabbed body of a world-famous author who had been masquerading as a visiting professor at the school. In the victim's mouth, they find a cryptic note, "This is only the beginning."
Suspects abound. Teachers, staff, and students are caught in lies. There are reports of a mysterious "Rabbit Man" lurking in the forest surrounding the school. A faceless bully known as Grimm has been terrorizing the students, and everyone wonders if Grimm could be the murderer—or maybe even the victim. And then there's a second murder.
Alistair Campbell, a shady developer who recently came to town with a crew of ex-convicts, begins stalking Gemma's family. Alistair tempts Brody, the father of Gemma's baby daughter, with a lucrative offer to go on the road with him and forsake his promise to be a stay-at-home dad while writing a grant-funded geology textbook.
Although Brody and Gemma are living together and raising their daughter as a family unit, Gemma still can't bring herself to tie the knot. She harbors unresolved feelings of betrayal from an affair Brody had with a co-worker, even though he has assured her it is over for good. In the last book, Gemma resented being paired with Detective Finn, whom she found uncouth and a bit unethical, but in this book, their partnership is blossoming into one of mutual trust and respect, with their diverse strengths complementing each other to solve crimes. I predict romantic sparks in future installments; after all, opposites attract.
A Season to Lie, full of twists and turns, will keep the reader guessing until the end. Emily Littlejohn, a California native who has made her home in Colorado, writes so beautifully about the gorgeous ski-town setting that you can see the majestic Rocky mountains, smell the snow-covered evergreens, and feel the bitter winter cold as you immerse yourself in Gemma's story.
Sharon Marchisello is the author of Going Home, (Sunbury Press, 2014) a murder mystery inspired by her mother's battle with Alzheimer's. She earned a Masters in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California and is a member of the Atlanta Chapter of Sisters in Crime. She lives in Peachtree City, GA, with her husband and cat, does volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society, and writes a personal finance blog, Countdown to Financial Fitness.
Inherit the Bones by Emily Littlejohn / Review by Sharon Marchisello
Inherit the Bones
By Emily Littlejohn
Minotaur Books
$25.99
ISBN 978-1250089397
Published January 1, 2017
Book of the Day
Inherit the Bones, published in 2016 by Minotaur Books, is a compelling, beautifully written debut novel by Emily Littlejohn. It was also a 2017 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion nominee.
The story screams for a hard-boiled detective, but playing against the stereotype, the protagonist is female, six months pregnant, and conflicted about whether she can trust her baby's father enough to marry him. While Brody is away on an extended business trip, Detective Gemma Monroe is tasked with investigating the murder of a clown from a traveling circus. The young man's throat has been torn open in a jagged wound.
Shortly after the medical examiner performs an autopsy and runs the clown's fingerprints, she reveals to Gemma the identity of the victim: Nicky Bellington, son of the town's mayor, who supposedly fell over a cliff to his death three years ago. (The body was never found.) Gemma must visit the town's most prominent family and inform Nicky's parents, aunt, grandfather, and twin sister Annika that their loved one survived the fall, let everyone believe he was dead for three years, and then came back to town under a false identity, only to be murdered.
Cedar Valley, a small tourist town in the Colorado Rockies, sees very little crime. But its citizens are still haunted by an unsolved mystery from 1985 when two young boys went missing. Although the boys disappeared before Gemma was born, she feels a special connection to the case, because in 2011, while hiking with Brody, she found a skull. The case was reclassified from a disappearance to a murder, and old wounds reopened. Despite exhaustive investigation and attempts to connect the boys' deaths to the murder of a young woman who was found floating in the river shortly after their disappearance, both crimes remain unsolved and most likely unrelated. The boys' killer has been nicknamed "The Woodsman."
But now that Nicky Bellington has been murdered, Gemma starts to uncover clues that may connect his death to the older unsolved crimes. If only she and her fellow police officers can stay alive and out of danger long enough to put all the puzzle pieces together...
Inherit the Bones, is a fast-paced mystery with strong characters and a surprise ending. Emily Littlejohn, originally from Southern California, now lives in Colorado, which obviously inspired the dramatic setting. Look for Sharon's review of the second novel in the Gemma Monroe series, A Season to Lie (November 14, 2017), tomorrow!
Sharon Marchisello is the author of Going Home, a murder mystery inspired by her mother's battle with Alzheimer's. She has a Masters in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California and is a member of the Atlanta Chapter of Sisters in Crime. She lives in Peachtree City, GA, with her husband and cat, and does volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society.
The Marianated Nottingham and Other Abuses of the Language by Charley Pearson / Review by Laura Hartman
The Marianated Nottingham and Other Abuses of the Language
By Charley Pearson
Charles E. Pearson
$14.98
ISBN 978-0997299304
Published April 1, 2016
Book of the Day
2017 Silver Falchion Winner Best Anthology or Collection
The Marianated Nottingham (yes, I have spelled the title exactly as the author intended. Once you read it you will understand) is a fun YA compilation of screenplays, ballads, and a few short stories. At the beginning of the book is the foreword, do not skip these few pages. They are a glimpse into the thoughts of a very funny man who will delight and entertain you for the next few hundred pages.
A series of short screenplays are sprinkled throughout the book. They are based upon the same company; Microhard Software Company. It is not for the faint of heart, but definitely for the people who find hilarity in odd situations like I do.
The main screenplay, The Marianated Nottingham is the true story of Robin Hood as told by Pearson. It is a totally different Robin and band of Merry Men than you have read before. The characters are the same, but they play many different roles than in the previous telling of their tales. I love the crazy spin on a classic that Pearson takes. Reminiscent of fractured fairy tales for children, Pearson brings us the adult version. It is smart, witty and absolutely laugh-out-loud funny at times. I don’t want to add a spoiler here, so will suffice to say the recurring references to things that have not been invented yet were some of my favorite parts.
The author’s wit and humor makes this book a fast and fun read. He pulls you into his crazy version of Nottingham making it a totally believable place with the usual characters spun differently supporting the depth of the tale. At first, I was leery of the screenplay format. But honestly, Pearson was brilliant by not writing this in prose. The story flows swiftly and surely via conversations and stage directions. After a few pages I didn’t even notice the difference between a conventional novel verses screenplay other then it was a much easier, faster way to digest the action.
Pearson is a best-selling author just waiting to be discovered by the masses. If you are a fan of Christopher Moore, you will love The Marianated Nottingham. The minute I began this book it reminded me in spirit of the sharp, funny writing of Lamb and Fool by Moore. Now that Pearson is on my radar, I will be sure to seek out his other books as soon as they are available.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from the publisher/author in connection with Killer Nashville in return for my review. Copyright © 2017 Laura Hartman
Laura Hartman is a short story author and book reviewer. She has work appearing in A Woman’s Touch: 11 Stories of Murder & Misdemeanors and The Killer Wore Cranberry, A Second Helping. She began reviewing books for GenReviews in 2011 and currently reviews for publicist Maryglenn McCombs, Penguin First to Read and NetGalley. She is a writer by day and a reader by night.
The Jealous Kind by James Lee Burke / Review by Laura Stewart Schmidt
The Jealous Kind
By James Lee Burke
Simon & Schuster
$27.99
ISBN 978-1501107207
Published August 30, 2016
Book of the Day
Anyone familiar with the music of alt-country artist Rodney Crowell knows that 1950s Houston had little in common with the 1950s of television sitcoms. In James Lee Burke’s The Jealous Kind (Simon and Schuster, 2016), seventeen-year-old Aaron Holland Broussard’s life bears no resemblance to TV’s Cunninghams or Cleavers. His gritty Houston is a darker West Side Story, with a skyline the color of “the glitter of thousands of razor blades.” There are violent teenage gangs everywhere, toting chains and switchblades, and no one dares to cross into the opponents’ part of town. Moreover, oil has created wealth, and wealth begets people to exploit it—the kind who “look like they’re glued together from other people’s body parts.” This is the world Aaron is cautiously navigating—until he dumps caution to the pavement and spits on it.
Aaron gets on the mob’s bad side when he interferes with Grady, a connected man’s son who is mistreating his girlfriend. Aaron instantly falls in love with the girl, Valerie, further enraging his new nemesis. Aaron’s best friend, Saber Bledsoe, is foolish without fear and finds ingenious ways to enrage their enemies. The bad guys strike back, framing Aaron and Saber for a nasty crime against a man the boys have good reason to hate.
Saber befriends two criminals in his short jail stay, and suddenly Grady’s expensive cars come up missing. Saber clearly has more moxie than brains, and Aaron reflects that a conversation with him is akin to “talking to the driver of a concrete mixer (backing through) a clock shop.” But Aaron refuses to turn his back on his friend, even when the organized criminals suspect him of wrongdoing and threaten to hurt Valerie, Aaron’s pets, and his parents. The mob doesn’t forgive and forget. Aaron must come up with another way out of the trouble he and Saber are in—as well as try to figure out who is responsible for a murder the police aren’t interested in solving.
It is obvious Aaron survives to tell us the tale. The reader isn’t sure if the same is true for Saber and Valerie, as there is a sense of escalating danger and impending doom for most of the story. Houston as a setting is so vividly drawn it is a character in itself. The sparkling image of the 1950s that post-Baby Boomers were raised on is clearly a whitewash this book corrects like a slap to the head. The Jealous Kind is a mystery, a love story, and a coming-of-age story, wrapped up in one excellent package. Open it and enjoy the gift.
Laura Stewart Schmidt is a lifelong reader who was inspired by “good books for bad children” such as Harriet the Spy and Otis Spofford. She has a degree in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Laura worked for several years as a community education coordinator, encouraging parents to read to their children and setting up reading clubs for middle-school students.
Laura spent two years as a family court advocate for at-risk youth and parents suffering from substance addiction. She also worked for several years at an agency offering one-on-one support for children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families.
Her current writing project is:
DON’T FEAR, MY DARLING, a suspense novel in the tradition of Hallie Ephron’s THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN. Louisa is grieving her cherished grandfather’s death and stumbling through a series of demeaning jobs when she finds the perfect position–a live-in secretary to an elderly author, Marguerite Roberts. Louisa’s Native American heritage teaches respect of elders, and she is puzzled that Marguerite’s family members have nothing to do with her. But Louisa soon realizes there is much more to the job than she expected. Nothing in the family is what it appears to be, and Louisa begins to fear for Marguerite’s life–and her own.
Laura lives near St. Louis with her husband and two dogs. She is a member of Sisters in Crime http://www.sistersincrime.org/ and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) https://www.scbwi.org/.
Seven Suspects by Renee James / Review by Danny Lindsey
Seven Suspects
By Renee James
Oceanview Publishing
$26.95
ISBN: 978-1608092550
Published: October 3, 2017
Book of the Day
Seven Suspects is the third and latest installment of The Bobbi Logan Detective Series. I'm not sure why I chose this book. After all, a deep South, straight, male, baby boomer, retired Army officer is hardly the intended audience. Add to that the fact that I am not accustomed to, and usually not appreciative of first-person present tense writing, particularly from the POV of a transsexual woman.
Bobbi Logan has seemingly made a successful transition from male to female. Her salon is successful, and her life (mostly) in balance. Sex appears to be confusing, as one who has not chosen her path might imagine. She is haunted by the memory and experience of being raped, and her freedom of movement is circumscribed by that. A stalker exacerbates the situation, and Bobbi decides to take the initiative. Her list of suspects, and their interactions with her form the bulk of the book. A former lover and police detective at various times supports her, assists her, and attempts to dissuade her from aggressively ferreting out her adversary, all the time adding to the tension. The ending and the denouement leave the reader surprised, satisfied, and prepared to follow Bobbi’s character into the next installment in the series.
I did not expect to like it. Funny thing is, I liked it. A lot. Quirky? Yes. Overly (to me) concerned about being assaulted? Yes. Unrealistic? Yes, again, to me. But I liked the flow, the story, the book, and would most certainly recommend it. I'm still not sure why. But I may re-read it, and will certainly look for Renee James' next work.
Danny Lindsey keeps trying to retire. After a 20-year Army career and a 25-year second one in the private sector, he’s finally settled down. His current gig is as the Veteran Employment Services Manager for a Huntsville, A.L. based non-profit, Still Serving Veterans. Both full careers were characterized by numerous writing assignments, from war plans to operating policies and procedures, then on to white papers, analyses of alternatives and competitive contract and grant proposals. Now his writing consists of blogs for the website www.ssv.org, podcasts for the local NPR affiliate, and a half dozen Pulitzer-worthy, albeit unpublished novels.
Update: Danny won the 2017 Killer Nashville Claymore Award with his manuscript Serial Justice - so he will not be unpublished for long!
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