KN Magazine: Reviews
Valley of the Shadows by Steven Cooper/Review by Sharon Marchisello
Valley of the Shadows
By Stephen Cooper
Seventh Street Books
$15.95
ISBN 978-164506000
Publication Date: September 2019
*Killer Nashville is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you purchase a book from the links on this page, Amazon will give Killer Nashville a small percentage of the total sale. Killer Nashville receives zero compensation from publishers who have been selected for the Book of the Day.
Book of the Day
Valley of the Shadows (Seventh Street Books) is the third installment in the Gus Parker / Alex Mills mystery series by Steven Cooper.
This character-driven whodunnit / police procedural opens with the investigation into the death of wealthy socialite Viveca Canning, shot dead on the floor of her ransacked Phoenix mansion. Despite the disarray, the only thing missing is an original, untitled painting by Salvador Dali. Viveca served on the Board of Directors of the cult-like Church of the Angels Rising, and until a recent change to her will, her entire fortune was earmarked for the church. The revised document leaves the money to her grown children, Bennett (a rising star in the church) and Jillian, who was banished from the church because of her homosexual lifestyle.
The point-of-view alternates between Detective Alex Mills, lead investigator on the Viveca Canning case, and Gus Parker, medical-imaging technician by day and part-time psychic elevated to fame after being cited in a bestselling memoir by his friend and mentor, Beatrice Vossenheimer, and the fact that he's dating mega-rock star Billie Welch. Despite having little in common, Alex and Gus have learned to respect each other and work together to solve cases by looking at evidence from different angles; over the years, they have become friends.
The personal lives of the main characters are as much a part of this drama as the mystery of who killed Viveca Canning and why. Alex is distracted by his anguish over his beloved wife Kelly's breast cancer diagnosis. Gus struggles with his feelings about the status of his long-distance relationship with Billie, who is married to her music, and his budding attraction to TV news reporter Aaliyah Jones, who disappears while investigating the underside of the Church of the Angels Rising. Viveca Canning was one of her sources.
Although a bit heavy on the curse words, Cooper's prose is fresh and peppered with clever metaphors and creative turns of phrase. The reader can feel the sweltering heat and visualize the hauntingly beautiful desert landscape. Even without reading the earlier books in this series, readers will have no problem becoming fully engaged with these three-dimensional characters.
Steven Cooper, a past panelist at Killer Nashville, is the author of Dig Your Grave and Desert Remains. A former investigative reporter, he has received numerous accolades including Emmys and a national Edward R. Murrow award. He has lived all over the country, including the Phoenix area where this series takes place, but currently resides in Atlanta.
Sharon Marchisello (sharonmarchisello.com) is the author of two mysteries published by Sunbury Press, Going Home (2014) and Secrets of the Galapagos (2019). She has also published short stories, travel articles, and a nonfiction book about personal finance, Live Well, Grow Wealth. 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. Residing in Peachtree City, GA, Sharon does volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society and the Fayette County Master Gardeners, and she writes a blog about personal finance, Countdown to Financial Fitness https://sharonmarchisello.blogspot.com/.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo/Review by Emma Boyd
Ninth House
By Leigh Bardugo
Flat Iron Books
$28.95
ISBN 978-1250313072
Publication Date: October 8, 2019
*Killer Nashville is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you purchase a book from the links on this page, Amazon will give Killer Nashville a small percentage of the total sale. Killer Nashville receives zero compensation from publishers who have been selected for the Book of the Day.
Book of the Day
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo is her first book in the “new adult” genre. This is important for fans of Bardugo’s earlier works which were all firmly in the middle-grade genre. If your pre-teen brings home this book, you may want to read it first. There is sex, violence, cursing, etc., basically all of the hallmarks of a book by Stephen King, Joe Hill, Charlaine Harris or Lev Grossman (all of whom gave Ninth House great reviews). If you like their styles of writing, then you should appreciate Bardugo’s work as well.
Ninth House is the tale of Galaxy (Alex) Stern, a freshman at Yale University in New Haven Connecticut. As we have seen in the news, there seem to be many ways to get into Yale. One can be exceptionally brilliant, exceptionally wealthy, or be of a distinguished pedigree with powerful connections. Alex is none of these. But she is uniquely talented. She can see the dead. This is not a skill she wants. In fact, she has spent most of her life trying to hide the fact that she can see “greys.” But there are secret forces out there searching for those that can detect the “uncanny” and they have found Alex. Despite being woefully unprepared for the scholastic rigors of an Ivy League university (she is a high school dropout), Alex is offered a full ride to Yale. In exchange for this, she is to use her gift to benefit the secret societies at the university. She must also pass the classes—which I think was a nice touch by Borduga. Alex is smart. The question is whether or not she is smart enough to get out of this alive.
When I see that a book has received good reviews from four of my favorite authors, I am going to read the book. And my expectations of that book are going to be high. I was not disappointed in the least by Ninth House. I enjoyed the multiple POV style of the book and the flash backs that supported the characters' development. The pacing of the novel might have slowed down at times, but overall it felt "right." I delighted in the bits of historical facts sprinkled throughout that lent a degree of “truth” to the story. I was also intrigued by the author’s own personal history that seemed to mirror that of the main protagonist, Alex. I would classify Borduga’s style as a bit of Lev Grossman (The Magicians) and Charlaine Harris (The Sukie Stackhouse books) mixed together. There is not quite the level of horror that Stephen King can manifest, nor the dizzying plot twists that Joe Hill is known for. But, I am eager to see what Borduga writes next.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood/Review by Liz Gatterer
The Testaments
By Margaret Atwood
Nan A. Talese
$28.95
ISBN 978-0385543781
Publication Date: July 2019
*Killer Nashville is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you purchase a book from the links on this page, Amazon will give Killer Nashville a small percentage of the total sale. Killer Nashville receives zero compensation from publishers who have been selected for the Book of the Day.
Book of the Day
The Testaments is the long-awaited sequel to Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaids Tale. I highly recommend reading these books - but do read them in order. Also, do not be concerned if you watch the television series based on the original novel. Atwood seemed to take a “what you hold true on earth, I shall hold true in Heaven” sort of philosophy when crafting this new novel. I also think she was very cleaver to leave a large time gap between the novels as this allows for the show to continue and not spin off into its own universe.
Set about 15 years after June's tale, The Testimonies focuses on the lives of three different women from Gilead: Aunt Lydia, Agnes, and Daisy. By writing this novel as “testimonies”, Atwood seems to hint that some degree of legal action has taken place against Gilead and that perhaps, the insanity has ended or may be ending.
Agnes
Born in the “time-before” but too young to remember anything of her life from then, Agnes’ testimony shows how, to the indoctrinated, the life of a woman in Gilead could seem perfectly normal. She fondly remembers her childhood – up until the death of her mother. Although she does not want to be a Wife, her privileged position as a daughter of a Commander facilitates her being admitted to the society of The Aunts. She is happy. Due to the needs of the Aunts and a special dispensation, Agnes is taught to read and write. Although she is a devoted daughter of Gilead because of this ability eventually, even she cannot ignore all of the cracks in Gilead’s idyllic façade.
Daisy
Daisy is a teenage girl from Canada. Raised on the opposite side of the boarder she does not share the Gilead beliefs. She is fiercely independent, skeptical of almost everything, and desperate to belong somewhere. By contrast to Agnes, Daisy is unhappy, and angst ridden. Basically, she is like most girls of the 21st century and in my opinion, rather unsympathetic.
Aunt Lydia
When I read The Handmaids Tale it was incredible to me that any educated woman would willingly take part in such cruel and sanctioned degradation of other women. The Wives and the Aunts seemed to be either deluded zealots, sadists – or a combination of both. Definitely more evil than godly. Unlike the other two accounts in this novel, we are not reading Lydia’s testimony, but rather her memoirs. Aunt Lydia is writing to “the reader”. I’m not sure if this makes her tale appear more or less believable. Her portions are certainly part explanation, part confession and do bring some degree of clarity and rationality as to how it all could have happened. It also alludes to the fact that she has not been able to be deposed . . .
I read The Handmaids Tale as a teenager and it was life-changing for me. After reading it, I was politically aware for the first time and have lived every day since with the belief that you have to be aware. You have to let your voice be heard. You have to make a choice. After all, a frog can be boiled alive if he is not aware that the water in the pot around him is getting hotter. The Testimonies is a less galvanizing tale, but still, very much worth the read. Perhaps, because I am older now, I can have some sympathy for the devil. But, not too much. There is still very much a cautionary sense to Atwood’s work. If you are hoping for a fairy-tale ending for June, or for it all to be explained . . . you probably won’t get everything what you want, but you should get enough to be satisfied.
Hemlock Needle by Keenan Powell/Review by Joy Gorence
Hemlock Needle
By Keenan Powell
Level Best Books
$16.95
ISBN 978-1947915091
Publication Date: January 2019
*Killer Nashville is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you purchase a book from the links on this page, Amazon will give Killer Nashville a small percentage of the total sale. Killer Nashville receives zero compensation from publishers who have been selected for the Book of the Day.
Book of the Day
2020 Silver Falchion Nominee
The cold and isolation of Anchorage, Alaska provides the backdrop for Keenan Powell’s captivating novel, Hemlock Needle. The narrative centers around the disappearance of Esther Fancyboy, the mother of Evan. At a Yup’ik gathering during the Christmas holidays in Anchorage, Esther tells her son, Evan, that she will be right back before she walks out into the cold winter weather. She does not return. Three days later, Cora, her mother, seeks the help of Maeve Mallory to locate her daughter.
Cora and Maeve share a history, and when the police refuse to consider the seriousness of Esther’s disappearance, Cora seeks Maeve’s assistance. Although Maeve is in danger of losing her license to practice law, she agrees to help Cora. The author provides an explanation for the lack of police concern based on a cultural bias that provides an undercurrent for the conflicts in the story. With the help of Tom Sinclair, a friend and investigator, Maeve becomes involved in more than a mere missing person enquiry. Fighting the elements of both a harsh winter and personal demons, Maeve refuses to surrender to defeat.
Keenan Powell masterfully combines the atmosphere of the times with the elements of a true suspenseful novel. Although she does not provide the warmth of a fireside tale, she does dig into the injustices of society and reveals the dark side of humanity alongside the resilience of the human spirit.
Joy Gorence is new to Killer Nashville. She is an author, world-traveler, English professor (ret.), and avid reader. Originally from Long Island, NY she now lives in South Florida with her husband, Bill and their two pampered kitties.
Saint Bob Day by K.C. Wilson/Review by Sharon Marchisello
Saint Bob Day
By K.C. Wilson
Black Rose Writing
$17.95
ISBN 978-1684333073
Publication Date: July 2019
*Killer Nashville is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you purchase a book from the links on this page, Amazon will give Killer Nashville a small percentage of the total sale. Killer Nashville receives zero compensation from publishers who have been selected for the Book of the Day.
Book of the Day
2020 Silver Falchion Nominee
Saint Bob Day, the second novel by K.C. Wilson, has been nominated for a Silver Falchion award.
Sixty-one-year-old Bob Day is content with his low-profile life, working in the maintenance department of the Belle Rive Lodge and Club. His boss adores him and he gets along with most of his colleagues, although they know little about him apart from the fact that he likes to give everyone creative nicknames. The only employee who is not a fan is Constance Featherton, front desk shift manager, who claims Bob creeps her out.
In the first chapter, Bob saves three lives in one day, in three separate instances of being in the right place at the right time. But being hailed as a hero is the last thing Bob wants; he's in the witness protection program.
Sure enough, after the publicity, unwelcome acquaintances from Bob's past turn up at the Belle Rive Lodge, and two of them end up dead. One is a relative of Constance Featherton. Bob didn't kill these men, but he was in close enough proximity to be considered a person of interest. Hotel management is concerned. Bob attracts the attention of local law enforcement and the press. His handler from the U.S. Marshals Service gets involved.
Then a new guest arrives at the lodge—Aronoyad Wilgushku, a.k.a. Larry Wilhoite, the man Bob helped send to prison. The con artist has been released and has reinvented himself as business tycoon Lee J. Wilkes, and he inserts himself into the daily operation of the Belle Rive. Life for Bob has irreversibly changed.
Saint Bob Day is part caper, part deadpan humor. Bob is an endearing character with a fatalistic attitude.
K.C. Wilson, a North Florida writer, is the author of The Route, songwriter for The Rubes, a 2012 Nilsen Prize finalist and winner of the 2016 Wexford Film Festival Screenplay contest. His short fiction and poetry have appeared in various publications.
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 disease, and a nonfiction book about personal finance, Live Well, Grow Wealth. Her psychological suspense novel, Secrets of the Galapagos, will be released by Sunbury Press next month. One of her short stories was published in an anthology, Shhhh… Murder! (Darkhouse Books, 2018). 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. Residing in Peachtree City, GA, Sharon does volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society and the Fayette County Master Gardeners, and she also writes a blog about personal finance, Countdown to Financial Fitness https://sharonmarchisello.blogspot.com/.
The Institute by Stephen King/Review by Liz Gatterer
The Institute
By Stephen King
Schribner
$30.00
ISBN 978-1982110567
Publication Date: September 2019
*Killer Nashville is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you purchase a book from the links on this page, Amazon will give Killer Nashville a small percentage of the total sale. Killer Nashville receives zero compensation from publishers who have been selected for the Book of the Day.
Book of the Day
Stephen King is my favorite author. I was in third grade when I did my very first book report on his novel Christine. The principal called my mother to explain that this was not an appropriate book for a child to read. To which she replied "If she can read it, I will allow her to read it." And thus began my life long love of reading, passion in the fight against censorship, and my undying admiration for my mother. So, please forgive me if my review is a little schmaltzy.
The Institute is Stephen King's latest work featuring extraordinary children. I think he loves to use children in his books because they are more resilient and noble than most adults. And, because of this, they can bring out nobility and resiliency in adults. It may be a bit formulaic, but if it ain't broke...
Luke Ellis is extraordinary. Intellectually gifted beyond anything his parents and teachers can believe. His is clever and kind and his future is wide open. Then, he is kidnapped from his home in the middle of the night and taken to The Institute. He doesn't know where he is, why he is there, or what has happened to his parents. But he is not alone. There are other kids at The Institute and they are gifted as well. But not like him. They can move things with their minds or read another person's thoughts. It all seems like a mistake.
A thousand miles away Tim Jamieson, is stumbling away from his old life. With nowhere to go and plenty of time to get there, he is pin-balling from one place to another. Temporarily coming to rest in a tiny town in rural Georgia. He accepts a job as a Night-Knocker (sort of a low-level, night-time, town security guard). But fate puts folks where they are supposed to be and, if we are lucky, they figure out what they are there for before it's too late.
Stephen King is such a great writer because he takes the absolute worst, most horrible elements of human nature and uses them to pull out the best in others. In his novels, good trumps evil every time - eventually.
The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger/Review by Emma Boyd
The Gifted School
By Bruce Holsinger
Riverhead Publishing
$26.00
ISBN 978-0525534969
Publication Date: July 2019
*Killer Nashville is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you purchase a book from the links on this page, Amazon will give Killer Nashville a small percentage of the total sale. Killer Nashville receives zero compensation from publishers who have been selected for the Book of the Day.
Book of the Day
The Gifted school explores the lives of 5 families competing for coveted spots in a new public magnet school for academically gifted children in the idillic city of Crystal, Colorado. Told from multiply viewpoints, it is a study of what lengths some parents will go to get their progeny into an elite program regardless of their actual abilities and how, “wanting the best” for your child can often lead parents to do the worst things.
Holsinger does a commendable job at revealing character through action. While as a reader we are given insight into what the characters are thinking and feeling, it is what they do that paints the truest picture of their nature. The characters are designed well. They are both flawed and appealing. They feel crafted to be people that one would know and maybe even like. That readers might see themselves in these characters and think “they are like me – but at the same time, not me. Of course, not me.” Until they realize maybe they are “exactly like me.” Which means that Holsinger knows his target audience well. Being a real-life professor at a top-tier university, Holsinger must have first-hand experience with students whose best interests were not served by being accepted into that program as well as the parents that did whatever they could to put them in that position. What parent doesn't want to believe that their child is "Gifted and Talented"?
The multiple view points that Holsinger employs in this novel appealed to me because they are so varied. Rose is a successful professional who believes her success to be due solely to her own efforts. She is resentful of those that had advantages she did not have and sees little value in those that do not strive for "more". Thus she is constantly pushing her daughter to do more. Beck is the result of privilege without discipline. He is the cool-guy, that because of his looks, talent, and trust fund... could do what he pleased—until his looks started to fade and the trust fund ran out. His twin boys are good kids - but he is not really aware of the fact that they are separate beings from himself and from each other. Ch''ayña is a grandmother desperately trying to keep her family connected to the traditions she was raised with. Brought to this country by her adult daughter she does not speak the language nor understand the benefit of a school that is far away from where they live with students that do not look like or act like she does. She knows that her grandson is very special, but wants protect him from those that she thinks will exploit his talents and lure him away from his family. The other points of view are from the children. Emma Z is almost precocious and competitive to the point of almost being predatory. She is privileged and pampered. Due to her pedigree much is expected of her. Tessa is the rebellious teen whose mother has pretty much given up on her. But she hasn't counted herself out yet. When others see something in her she may rise to the challenge. Then there is Zander. The real brains of this outfit that is pretty much too smart for his own good. I find that by using both adult and youth perspectives, Bolsinger is able to more succinctly paint a detailed picture of the motivations and effects of over zealous parenting.
The Gifted School is Bruce Holsinger’s third novel. His previous works were academic texts or historical fiction. I believe that he is adept at this genre as well. I enjoyed this fast paced, psychological fiction and I look forward to his next novel.
One Good Deed by David Baldacci/Review by Joy Gorence
One Good Deed
By David Baldacci
Grand Central Publishing
$26.00
ISBN 978-1538750568
Publication Date: July 2019
Book of the Day
David Baldacci has created, Aloysius Archer, a WWII veteran, who vies for the reader’s attention and accomplishes that within the first page. In One Good Deed, Archer’s focus for life begins with the opening line “It was a good day to be free of prison.” His release from Carderock Prison and his arrival in Poca City presents new challenges for Archer. The city sucks him in the same manner that “he sucked in the hot, dry air” of Poca City. His new life begins with securing a job for Mr. Pittleman, who seems to own most of the town. Although the reader may question Archer’s acceptance of the offer, the author entices the reader to acquiesce with Archer’s decision. Later on, when Archer is wrongly accused of a murder, he is determined to maintain his freedom. Luckily, his experiences in World War II have honed his skills of observation. With the introduction of a cast of characters, Archer’s appeal through his actions and interactions with others becomes enhanced.
Baldacci has once again delighted us with his storytelling techniques and his ability to manipulate our attention. He has created a cast of believable and complex characters. The reader sees the characters through Archer’s point of view. When Archer first meets his parole officer, Miss Ernestine J. Crabtree, “[H}is first thought was she looked nothing like her name. His second impression was the name did her justice just fine.” (p. 32). The complexity of her character is foreshadowed by his initial comment. Baldacci provides descriptions of characters that are succinct and visually complete. With a focus on using nouns and noun phrasing, he conveys physical descriptions that affect Archer psychologically. His description of Miss Crabtree continues with “...behind her black shell glasses, her eyes were blue and wide, the irises plump, with the overall effect being what he thought some might call vivacious. At least they held the potential if she let her hair down, in more ways than one” (p. 32). In addition, the tension juxtaposed with Archer’s observations makes for an intriguing story. Baldacci guides us along to the observe the world along with Archer. Baldacci also has the ability for the reader to observe Archer through his interaction with the other characters. In their eyes, Archer is cool, distant, but confident. All characters, although minor, play a significant role in pacing the narration. Mrs. Gibbons, who works in the clerk’s office, provides the vehicle for action that Archer must take, and she creates, although subtly, a springboard for the growing tension.
With his ability to continually build climatic action through dialogue and description, Baldacci entices us to read non-stop to the end of the novel and hope for “an abundance of possibilities” for Archer in future episodes.
Joy Gorence is new to Killer Nashville. She is an author, world-traveler, English professor (ret.), and avid reader. Originally from Long Island, NY she now lives in South Florida with her husband, Bill and their two pampered kitties.
A Perfectly Natural Murder by William Griggs/Review by Sharon Marchisello
A Perfectly Natural Murder
By William Griggs
Independently Published
$12.95
ISBN 978-1081552299
Publication Date: July 2019
Book of the Day
A Perfectly Natural Murder, William Grigg's first published novel, has been nominated for a Silver Falchion award.
The story opens with an insurance company office party where several guests are sickened and hospitalized after eating a homemade bouillabaisse. One doesn't make it. Toxicology experts, including the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, determine the cause of the woman's demise to be paralytic shellfish poisoning, sometimes associated with red tides. A natural death. Or was it?
Three characters alternate narration, and the timeline jumps around a bit to cover events and relationships pre- and post- party. The first narrator is Buck Grand, a disabled veteran suffering from PTSD, who works in the employee services division. Among his duties are oversight of the company's food service and safety, as well as ghostwriting outgoing Vice President Jeffrey Spencer's book on management. Another viewpoint character is Adrianna Canter, young claims lawyer and budding love-interest for Buck. She succumbs to the poisoning at the party, but recovers. The third narrator is the victim, Evelyn Robbins, Jeffrey's administrative assistant (and rumored former lover) who was universally disliked.
Once it has been determined that Evelyn's death was not a homicide, the police don't get involved, so most of the employees resume their normal lives. Buck is most concerned with proving that he could not have known the shellfish was contaminated, and no amount of cooking or care in storage could have prevented the poisoning. Thus, there was no negligence, and the employees of the insurance company can feel confident that the food served in their cafeteria is safe. Adrianna's main focus is an investigation into leaks about active claims from an insider to personal injury lawyers who end up winning huge settlements against the company.
Something about the toxin doesn't add up. Is Evelyn's death related to Adrianna's investigation? And someone thinks Buck and Adrianna might be venturing too close to the truth…
William Grigg served as a spokesperson for the Food and Drug Administration during the Tylenol poisoning crisis and for the US Public Health Service, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at other major turning points. He has worked as a reporter and contributed to several nonfiction books. His wife, Martha Livdahl Grigg, is also an author.
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 disease, and a nonfiction book about personal finance, Live Well, Grow Wealth. Her psychological suspense novel, Secrets of the Galapagos, will be released by Sunbury Press next month. One of her short stories was published in an anthology, Shhhh… Murder! (Darkhouse Books, 2018). 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. Residing in Peachtree City, GA, Sharon does volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society and the Fayette County Master Gardeners, and she also writes a blog about personal finance, Countdown to Financial Fitness https://sharonmarchisello.blogspot.com/.
Murder in an Irish Pub/Review by Joy Gorence
Murder in an Irish Pub
By Carlene O'Connor
Kensington
$26.00
ISBN 978-1538730171
Publication Date: February 2019
Book of the Day
When the “Dead Man’s Hand “is introduced in the first chapter of Murder in an Irish Pub, it is obvious that the player with that hand at the International Poker Tournament will soon be a victim of foul play. Early the next morning, Siobhan O’Sullivan of the Garda Siochana discovers the body. Because there does not seem to be a way in or out of the locked room, his death is initially ruled a suicide. Siobhan, however, is convinced that Eamon Foley was murdered, which presents a conundrum for the police force and the reader. With a myriad of characters who have some relationship to Siobhan, the protagonist, the reader along with Siobhan travels through a labyrinth of lies to finally uncover the truth.
With the theme foreshadowed in the opening line, “Siobhan O’Sullivan dimmed the lights...” (p.30), the author sets the stage for a mystery. People may not always be what others perceive. Though the discoveries made by Siobhan, the reader begins to wonder who may be responsible for the murder. With twists and turns, the reader also discovers that Siobhan, a new officer of the police force, has the skills that will lead her to finding the answer to the mystery.
The pacing of the plot keeps one turning the pages as the protagonist deals with the tensions of her family and her superior, Macdara Flannery. As residents of the Kilbane, Siobhan and Macdara must keep their relationship a secret, which also adds to the tension. With the pacing of the plot and extensive use of colorful characters, it is not obvious throughout most of the novel how the crime will unravel. Unravel, however, it does.
At times, it seems that the pieces of the puzzle fall into place for the reader through the eyes and narration of Siochana. When the tale finally unravels, the reader can put the book aside and not wonder what will be in store for Siobhan or the “good folks of Kilbane.” It does leave an opening, however, for more adventures of Siobhan.
Joy Gorence is new to Killer Nashville. She is an author, world-traveler, English professor (ret.), and avid reader. Originally from Long Island, NY she now lives in South Florida with her husband, Bill and their two pampered kitties.
Murder at First Pitch by Nicole Asselin/Review by Joy Gorence
Murder at First Pitch
By Nicole Asselin
Pandamoon Publishing
$13.99
ISBN 978-1950627219
Publication Date: August 31, 2019
2020 Silver Falchion Candidate
Book of the Day
Nicole Asselin opens the door to baseball fans in Murder at First Pitch, the first in the series of her Ball Park Mysteries. The protagonist, Madeline Boucher, in her thirties, learns her job will no longer exist after her technical writing contract is complete. Her Boston employer informs her she has one month to find new work in a shrinking job market. Apprehensively, she turns to her family. Luckily for her, she has the family business for support, and she rediscovers her love for the Abington Armadillos Ballpark and team. Her grandfather had bought the team years ago and turned it into a “lucrative business.”
When she reveals to her mother that she needs to find a job within a month’s time, her mother is elated to offer her a position as their social media consultant. It is a warm homecoming for her because she grew up at the park with her parents and brother. Madeline easily fits into her new position.
As the opening day of the games approaches, Madeline realizes that her easy pace in her new employment is about to take a turn for the worse. On the day of the opening games, Madeline uncovers a man’s body in the dugout. When the local news coverage points a finger at her brother for the murder and he is arrested, she becomes entangled in learning the truth behind the murder. With the support of Davis, the head of security at the park, she stumbles upon a web of intrigue.
Joy Gorence is new to Killer Nashville. She is an author, world-traveler, English professor (ret.), and avid reader. Originally from Long Island, NY she now lives in South Florida with her husband, Bill and their two pampered kitties.
The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza/Review by Joy Gorence
The Girl In the Ice
By Robert Bryndza
Grand Central Publishing
$9.99
ISBN 978-1538730171
Publication Date: (reprint) February 2019
Book of the Day
Robert Bryndza’s spine-chilling novel The Girl In the Ice begins with Andrea’s final hours before her murder. Lee Kinney, a young man trying to get to work at the Horniman Museum, discovers her body under the ice. The police are called, and Chief Inspector Marsh places DCI Erika Foster in charge of the murder investigation. However, she has to navigate the murky waters of politics and the animosity of DCI Sparks, which hinder her progress. When it is disclosed that Andrea was the daughter of Lord and Lady Douglas-Brown, Erika is commanded to “go easy” (p.33). Erika, however, “despised” (p. 33) Britain’s class system, and she refuses to compromise her investigation.
Bryndza never names or identifies the sexual orientation of the murder but refers to culprit as “the figure.” Interspersed through the narration, the reader becomes privy to the murderer’s thoughts. The figure reveals that this is not the first murder, nor will it be the last. Bryndza reveals only a few clues, which keeps the plot moving along with a series of twists and turns. As the climax builds, the pacing and length of the chapters mimic the intensity of the investigation. The setting, subtly treated as a character, continues with a “fresh onslaught of snow” (p.39) and keeps the truth hidden throughout the novel. As Erika digs deeper into the cover-up of this murder, she finds a series of events and people that seem to be connected. With tenacity, she relentlessly pursues the truth, which comes at a cost.
A spell-binding novel of intrigue and suspense, Bryndza has created a thriller that reveals a truth about the façade of humanity.
Joy Gorence is new to Killer Nashville. She is an author, world-traveler, English professor (ret.), and avid reader. Originally from Long Island, NY she now lives in South Florida with her husband, Bill and their two pampered kitties.
Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly/Review by Joy Gorence
Dark Sacred Night
By Michael Connelly
Grand Central Publishing
$16.99
ISBN 978-1538731758
Publication Date: April 30, 2019
Book of the Day
Michael Connelly once again has created a riveting, suspenseful novel, Dark Sacred Night. This time, Detective Renee Ballard of the Hollywood Division is called to the scene of a grisly murder at the beginning of her watch. With few clues that would indicate foul play, she heads back to the office only to find Harry Bosch looking through a file cabinet labeled “Detective Cesar Rivera: Hollywood Sex Crimes Unit.” Although Bosch, who does work for the San Fernando PD, has retired, he has promised to look into a decade’s old case of a murdered young girl, Daisy Clayton. It is more than a favor for her mother, Elizabeth. Bosch finally levels with Ballard and explains what case he is investigating. Bosch is drawn to solving this case for personal reasons.
Bosch and Ballard have a penchant for discovering the truth. Consummate detectives, they have a common interest, making justice prevail. The reader soon discovers that their experiences have a thin thread of commonality. When Ballard offers her help to Bosch, he is guarded. They eventually join forces and build a trusting relationship. Connelly creates subplots as Ballard and Bosch work on their independent cases. They each allocate times to work and share information on their “off-time” to bring justice for the murder of Daisy. Their work together heightens the intrigue as they become embroiled in uncovering the truth.
Michael Connelly weaves the narrations of the Bosch and Ballard, which enhances the pace of discovery for the reader. He has joined two outstanding detectives in a case that will leave the reader wanting this dynamic duo to solve more than this one mystery.
Joy Gorence is new to Killer Nashville. She is an author, world-traveler, English professor (ret.), and avid reader. Originally from Long Island, NY she now lives in South Florida with her husband, Bill and their two pampered kitties.
Beyond the Truth by Bruce Robert Coffin/Review by Jim Biggs
Beyond the Truth
By Bruce Robert Coffin
Witness Impulse
$11.99
ISBN 978-0062569530
Publication Date: October 2018
2019 Silver Falchion Winner
Best Procedural
Bruce Robert Coffin's third installment in the Detective Byron Mysteries series, Beyond the Truth is an excellent read. It is a realistic and well researched example of a police procedural. I've not worn a badge myself, but I know plenty that have and believe that this series is about as authentic as it gets.
Detective John Byron of the Portland, Maine police department is called out to investigate a "police-involved shooting". Officer Sean Haggerty, a School Resource Officer for Portland High School was picking up an overtime shift when the call came in about an armed robbery at a local laundromat that was close to his location. He responded, observed two figures running away from the area and pursed them. One of the individuals got away, the other shot at Haggerty who returned fire. Haggerty was unharmed, but the assailant was dead. There was no gun found at the scene, nor bullet casing. It seemed that Haggerty had shot an unarmed man. A man that turned out to be the local high schools top basket star and only 17 years old. But there is much more to the story than what the initial facts reveal.
It's not easy tackling such a tough subject as this, but Coffin did - and did it well. His characters are not perfect people - not the officers, the investigators, the perpetrators, or their parents and Coffin portrays them as they are - warts and all. He doesn't let any of his characters off easy and I admire him for that. His writing style is as detailed and honest as he portrays Detective Byron to be. The subplots are interesting and provide a little relief from the gravity of the main story while not slowing down the pace of the novel. All in all, this is a fine example of what a police procedural should be and I enjoyed it enough to go back and get the first and second novels.
I commend Coffin's willingness to tackle such a timely and divisive topic as this and to write it in such a way that is fair to both sides of the political issue.
Silent Rage by D.E. Funk / Review by Gary Frazier
Silent Rage
By D.E. Funk
Independently Published
$9.99
ISBN 978-1728758923
Publication Date: November 2018
2019 Silver Falchion Winner
Best Suspense
There’s a silent rage brewing inside young Russell Thomas. Bullied, abused, and neglected, both at home and at school, Russell increasingly desires to escape his sorrowful life the only way he knows how: by lashing out at his tormentors. The only question is, can anyone stop his rage before it’s too late?
Libby Teach, herself a survivor of an attempted killer as a young child, is seemingly the only one to recognize the signs in Russell, due in part to her studies in psychology and criminology. But will anyone listen? Will anyone help?
Author D.E. Funk lays out the moral dilemma for her main characters in convincing fashion in her new novel, Silent Rage, won the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award for Suspense.
Funk, who has graduate degrees in criminal justice and social studies, puts both areas of expertise to good use in Silent Rage, as she capably crafts Russell’s home life: His mother was raped by a serial killer, she’s addicted to drugs, sells herself for sex to help make ends meet, and lives with an abusive boyfriend, Wayne Jetsoe, in a dilapidated, drug-infested trailer park. With odds like those, is it any wonder Russell is so ostracized by his childhood peers and so full of pent-up anger?
Libby’s efforts to intervene on his behalf – both through her police officer boyfriend and in her capacity as his teacher – largely fall on deaf ears. Despite her best efforts, it isn’t long before the killing starts.
While Funk allows her story to fall into some rabbit holes, her realistic portrayal of hardships and circumstances beyond the control of her characters keeps the overall novel grounded. Silent Rage is gripping, bleak, depressing, and, above all, an unforgettable read.
Robert Frazier is a former newspaper reporter and editor. He reviews books for Killer Nashville, BookPage, and his blog. 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.
Fistful of Rain by Baron R. Birtcher/Review by R.G. Belsky
Fistful of Rain
By Baron R. Birtcher
Permanent Press
$29.95
ISBN 978-1579625184
Publication Date: April 2018
2019 Silver Falchion Winner
Book of the Year
Best Action-Adventure
Readers' Choice
I loved Baron R. Birtcher's last book South California Purples, and I've been eagerly waiting for this new one to come out. Wow, I sure wasn't disappointed!
Fistful of Rain is a sequel that picks up with the story of cattle rancher/law enforcement officer Ty Dawson. It's set in 1975, which allows Birtcher to eloquently write about a small town in the West dealing with the aftermath of the chaotic '60s - while at the same time coming to grips with new political issues like Watergate and the end of the Vietnam war.
A seemingly small crime of livestock theft in the area quickly turns into arson and then multiple murders. The violence pits town residents against a mysterious "hippie" commune living on the land there - with Dawson in the middle.
Ty Dawson himself is a fascinating character. A tough lawman (I'd describe him as sort of a cross between Longmire and Matt Dillon) who loves his ranch and his family and always tries to do the right thing in the turbulent world around him.
The story is incredibly compelling too. Lots of twists and turns that stretch back over years, then a mind-blowing ending that puts everything into place.
This is a terrific new book by a terrific writer. Highly recommended!
R.G. Belsky is a journalist and crime fiction author. His newest book BELOW THE FOLD - second in a series,s was published on May 7. Belsky has worked as a top editor at the New York Post, the New York Daily News, Star magazine and NBC News. He has also published 12 mystery novels. Belsky won the Claymore Award at Killer Nashville in 2016. He has finished as a Finalist for both the Silver Falchion and David Awards. And his first Clare Carlson book, YESTERDAY’S NEWS, was named Outstanding Crime/News Based Novel by Just Reviews in 2018 and was also a Finalist for Best Mystery of 2018 in the Foreward/INDIE Awards.
Treachery in Tuscany by Phyllis Gobbell/Review by Joy Gorence
Treachery in Tuscany
By Phyllis Gobbell
Encircle Publications, LLC
$16.99
ISBN 978-1893035973
Publication Date: January 2018
2019 Silver Falchion Winner
Best Cozy
Treachery in Tuscany by Phyllis C. Gobbell captures the essence of Florence and the countryside, which helps to enhance the plot and its subplots. The description “south of the Arno River” (pg. 8) effortlessly transports the reader to the “piazzas dominated by the magnificent churches, Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella, the Piazza della Signoria with its old Town Hall, and the Medici family’s palace…” (pg.10). Even the lines for the tour and the climbing of the stairs of the Duomo are essential for evoking a taste of the city of Florence. However, it is the last statement, “And that was how I would think of Sophia Costa—Sophie—even when nightmares blurred my memories” (pg.4) that ends the first chapter and entices the reader to continue. Ms. Gobbell keeps one riveted to uncovering the mystery of Sophia’s murder and her connection with the other characters in the book. The narrative’s steady pace builds tension in the plots and subplots.
By placing her characters within the confines of a city draped in historic mystery and intrigue juxtaposed with the essence of the nearby countryside struggling to maintain its identity, the undercurrents of betrayal and duplicity become pronounced. The innocent in these situations become the victims of the deceitful. In Treachery in Tuscany, the fragmentation of relationships becomes evident for all characters involved, which keeps the reader captivated while the setting provides a solid framework for the novel.
The two fragmented sentences that introduce the novel convey Jordon’s emotional reaction to the events she describes to the reader. The realization of finding oneself in another country that one has visited, even briefly, is like greeting an old friend after many years of separation. The excitement and the realization of Jordon’s journey speaks to the audience as her relationships develop through the pages. Her reaction to Sophia, a young girl, who becomes entwined in the mystery, portrays Jordon as a caring mother. Her relationship with her uncle, Alex, also reflects her commitment to family ties, as does her shock in leaning of the conceit of Raffaele, a member of the Moretti family. Her meaningful relationships with other characters are built upon solid foundations. At times, however, her relationship with Paul, her love interest, does present moments of tension that help to move toward a climax in the novel.
Her nemesis in the novel, Bella, is the catalyst for Jordon and Paul’s misunderstandings, which leave the tenacious Jordon at a crossroad in her relationship with Paul. By the end of the novel, however, conflicts are resolved, and Florence, once again holds memories that may propel her to the next encounter.
Joy Gorence is new to Killer Nashville. She is an author, world-traveler, English professor (ret.), and avid reader. Originally from Long Island, NY she now lives in South Florida with her husband, Bill and their two pampered kitties.
A Knife in the Fog by Bradley Harper / Review by Emma Reed
A Knife in the Fog
By Bradley Harper
Seventh Street Books
$15.95
ISBN 978-1633884861
Publication Date: October 2, 2018
2019 Silver Falchion Winner
Best Mystery
A Knife in the Fog is a wonderful read. Not normally a fan of the “Sherlock Holmes” genre, I have passed on reading many such novels, but this one was different. It is written from the point of view of young (29 years old) Arthur Conan Doyle as he assists the London police as a “consultant” investigating the notorious Jack the Ripper. He is joined in his investigations by Professor Joseph Bell, Doyle’s real-life inspiration for the Sherlock Holmes character and an amazing (albeit fictional) Miss Margaret Harkness. What I enjoyed most about this novel was that it was not a Sherlock Holmes inspired story, but a story about events that could have inspired Doyle to write Sherlock Holmes. Fact and fiction are wonderfully blended together.
Writing Historical Fiction is challenging – especially when there are readers, like myself, out there that have to fact check everything, but also when you decide to start with such famous and infamous characters as Arthur Conan Doyle and Jack the Ripper. Bradly Harper’s research is spot on. I could find no fault with what he presented as “facts”. It is his ability to use those facts that made the plausibility of the novel very interesting to me. I believe this story could have happened. The truly fictional characters, like Mis Margaret Harkness, were just as believable and fully developed as the factual characters. The qualities they bring to the story seasoned the tale to perfection.
I really enjoyed that Harper did not try to make Doyle more than he was. There were qualities of Doyle’s character that I found disappointing, but real people are disappointing sometimes. Perhaps it is our warts that make us the most interesting.
Better Days by Len Joy/Review by Kathryn Lane
Treachery in Tuscany
By Len Joy
Independently Published
$9.99
ISBN 978-1717911421
Publication Date: September 2018
2019 Silver Falchion Candidate
BOOK OF THE DAY
Better Days by Len Joy, peppered with humor, is an exciting and entertaining novel. The lead character Darwin Burr, a legendary high-school basketball champion, indirectly reminds me of Rick Blaine in Casablanca in the sense that both men are the epitome of the anti-hero. Darwin avoids taking responsibility for anything beyond his cushy job and family life. That’s where the comparison to Casablanca ends.
Darwin is married to a woman who chides him about his inherent laziness. Manager of an auto parts distribution center and working for his best friend, Darwin’s primary responsibility is pairing up as golf partner with his flamboyant, wheeler-dealer boss – Billy Rourke. Executives of auto parts companies entertain Billy lavishly, and Billy always brings Darwin along, adding stress to Darwin’s marriage. The two men have been friends since their high school days.
Darwin’s wife, Daina, who escaped from Latvia when she was nineteen, expects Dar, as his friends call him, to live the American Dream of getting ahead and making money. Darwin is quite content managing the distribution center and playing golf with Billy.
When it comes to sports, Dar’s heart is in basketball. And it’s Billy’s enthusiastic and charming recounting of the story of Claxton wining the Illinois state basketball championship in ’75 that keeps Dar’s legendary status alive. Billy, in contrast to Dar, is a bigger than life character. Or at least wants to be!
Billy is into everything, including making money on the side. He always counts on his friend and ally Darwin to sign off on the legal documents of his risky deals, a pattern that eventually lands them an FBI investigation.
That’s when Dar’s life begins to unravel. At the same time, he’s asked to step in and help coach his daughter’s varsity basketball team, saving Dar’s sanity from the craziness at work and the FBI probe. But soon complications set in as he falls for the young substitute coach, not much older than his teenage daughter.
Daina, a social worker, contributes her own problems when she brings home a teenage girl from a dysfunctional family who is also the star on the basketball team Dar is coaching. As this young woman walks into the Burr household, so do her problems. By protecting the young woman, Daina’s past emerges, including secrets she has kept hidden from Dar.
A novel with strong characters, each with a unique voice, will captivate you and keep you turning the pages to figure out if Billy is guilty, if Dar is implicated, and what will happen to the Burr family. Will Dar’s anti-hero attitude change him when serious issues arise? Or will he continue down his path of least resistance?
The Hour of Death by Jane Willan/Review by Bill Hopkins
The Hour of Death
By Jane Willan
Crooked Lane
$27.00
ISBN 978-1683317593
Publication Date: October 2018
2019 Silver Falchion Candidate
BOOK OF THE DAY
This is a British village murder mystery. That genre is not as breathless and rapid as a lot of American series, but you have to love this one. The Hour of Death by Jane Willan is the second installment of the series featuring Sister Agatha (a wannabe writer) and Father Selwyn (her confidant). It takes place in Pryderi, Wales and involves the nuns who reside at Gwenafwy Abbey. An unfortunate death takes place in the parish hall. The coppers don’t think it’s a homicide so the scene is swept clean of all forensic evidence. Maybe. Sister Agatha plunges ahead with a murder investigation because she not only wants to be a mystery novelist but also yearns to be a real-life detective.
What I found appealing about this story is the development of characters and the way they behave in the midst of the Welsh countryside side where a nasty old capitalist is determined to destroy a “fairy meadow” and put up cheap houses.
Sister Agatha, with her trusty notebook at the ready, does her best to interrogate people without seeming to be a real detective approaching reluctant suspects. Although I hadn’t read the first in the series, I was able to cobble together the backstory on Sister Agatha. In fact, every page (it seems) reveals some new fact about Sister Agatha or her surroundings. I also appreciate her comments about real-life books she’s reading and about the authors who wrote the books. Add to that, she describes her own book she’s writing and the problems she’s having with her characters in that book. This leads to a bunch of puzzles.
This book made me literally laugh out loud. I’m going back to read the first in the series. I don’t doubt that I’ll be just as entertained by the first as I was the second!
Retired judge Bill Hopkins is from Missouri. His poems, short-stories, non-fiction, and plays have appeared in different venues. Bill is a member of Sisters In Crime, Horror Writers Association, Heartland Writers Guild, and SEMO Writers Guild. He and his wife Sharon Woods Hopkins (also a mystery writer) live in Marble Hill. COURTING MURDER was Bill’s first novel in the Judge Rosswell Carew series. The second novel RIVER MOURN won first place in the Missouri Writers’ Guild Show-Me Best Book Awards in 2014. THE ANGEL SPOKE MURDER, the latest and seventh novel, was published in 2019.
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