FMAM MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS
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THE FMAM MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEW is the place to come
to find out what to read next. Want to know what readers are saying
(as opposed to critics) about the books you see around you? You’ve
come to the right place! And, if you appreciate a critical review
we’ll have those, too. Come in, sit down and see what’s
write with the world! (Or, right in the world of write!) New reviews this month from: . Dr. Cynthia Clark . Harriet Klausner . C.E. Japhe . Aldo T. Calcagno (aka Mystery Dawg) |
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June 2009
Boston Scream Pie
Rosemary & Larry Mild
Hillard Harris
$16.95, 180 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59133-264-0
Paco LeSoto, a retired detective, and his wife Molly are hoping for a nice, quiet retired life. But 17 year old Caitlin Neuman has others ideas about that. Caitlan is having disturbing nightmares about a teenager and a harrowing car accident.
Caitlin was a twin but lost her twin in car crash but nothing like she is dreaming about. In fact that car crash also killed her parents. She now lives with her grandmother. Convinced that these dreams are more than dreams she hires Paco to help her. And when she sees the girl from that dream she follows her to an office building. Armed with what she is sure is the girl’s identity she goes back to Paco.
In the mean time, Delylah has lost one husband and is immediately searching for the next and has found in millionaire Newton Each has two children and Newton’s daughter Lisa is having a really rough time adapting to her new family. Chester and Ellen, Delylah’s children are a nightmare.
It is Lisa who Caitlan followed that day. At first Paco and his wife blow off Caitlin’s dreams but when Lisa dies under mysterious circumstances Paco decides answers are in order. As Paco investigates a conspiracy emerges one that proves deadly.
BOSTON SCREAM PIE is a delightful cozy. Molly, Paco’s wife is described as excellent cook who butchers words. At first this is cute but it gets old fast and irritating. A couple of times I had to stop and think about what she was supposed to be saying rather than just reading and enjoying. The flow would be broken. Aside from that, BOSTON SCREAM PIE is a fast, charming read.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
The Dead Man
Joel Goldman
Kensington/Pinnacle Paperback,
April 7, 2009, $6.99, 384 pages
ISBN: 0-7860-2040-7
Jack Davis is former FBI. He left the FBI under a cloud. His daughter now deceased fell into a bad crowd and embezzled about five million dollars. By the time Jack found her she had OD ed and died in his arms. The money was never found. He left the FBI due to a physical condition – he shakes, at times uncontrollably. Tics.
Milo Harper, a very rich man and researcher, needs Jack’s help. One of Milo’s studies seems to have come to life. In the dream study, some with nightmares are dying in the same manner as their nightmare. The first death was ruled an accident, the second a suicide. But, the families have hired Bolt, a legal gun to sue the research center and it seems all in it for causing the deaths. Milo wants Jack to reinvestigate the deaths in the hopes to prove that they were something other than the research center’s fault.
When a third nightmare death occurs, the possibility that someone has breeched the records and is killing participants occurs to Jack.
In the meantime a strange woman is in Jack’s house. She turns out to be Lucy the owner’s daughter. She had been in prison and is now out with no place to go. Prior to prison she was a sheriff and offers unique assistance to Jack.
To further complicate matters, two FBI agents decide that Jack does know where the money is and the harassment begins.
As Jack investigates the deaths secrets are uncovered and nightmares are lived.
THE DEAD MAN is a riveting thriller. It is highly enjoyable with the ups and downs of a roller coaster. I like flawed characters and having a main character with Tics disease is great however, for me calling attention to it so much became distracting. It became a book about Tics rather than a mystery to be solved.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give is a 3.8.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
Killer Cuts
Elaine Viets
NAL Hardcover
May 5, 2009, $22.95, 272 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0451226860
Trying to avoid a greedy ex-husband Helen Hawthorne has changed her name and is living low. She has landed in Fort Lauderdale and working in one of the chic est salons. She works for Miguel Angel hair artiste to the stars. He is doing Honey’s hair for her wedding to the slob TV host King Oden. King is a tabloid type. He gossiped his way to the top and recently someone sold him a juicy tidbit that only could have come from Miguel’s Salon.
Miguel and Helen prepare Honey’s hair at Honey’s house on her big day. The King walks in naked and drunk. He is abusive and quickly he and Miguel and get into a fight where Miguel threatens his life. Shortly after the nuptials the King is found floating in the pool. But where is Miguel? Helen tried to leave, not wanting to be discovered living under an assume name but is stuck there. But no Miguel.
Later, Helen discover Miguel left the wedding wearing one of Honey’s dresses, a blue one. One similar to the bridesmaids dresses. One like the dress the woman standing over the body in the pool is wearing. This catapults Miguel into suspect number one.
Helen is engaged to be married to a wonderful man, a PI. They are about to be married and as such he has taken a time off. Helen wants to clear Miguel and he helps. But their trek takes them on a journey they do not expect.
KILLER CUTS is a delightful, fun, charming cozy. It is a fast and enjoyable read. Elaine Viets is a master of the hiding in plain site in a comical manner. She is a master. As her characters come to life in zany yet lovable ways you can't help but enjoy their unfolding.
On a scale of 1 to 5. I give it a 5.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
The Serpent and the Scorpion
Clare Langley-Hawthorne
Penguin
$14.00, 304 pp.,
ISBN: 978-0-14-311339-3
Still reeling from the murder of her father, headstrong, idealistic Ursula Marlow is struggling to keep her father’s textile empire afloat. The brunt of much controversy and gossip amongst London’s elite due to her rebellious ways, Ursula finds herself a pioneer in the women’s suffragette movement. She also finds herself in the middle of another murder mystery involving her new-found friend Katya, the wife of a wealthy Russian, and Katya’s sister. Complicating matters are the apparent attempts of someone to put her out of business, the political unrest of early 20th Century England and the Middle East, and her own struggle with maintaining her independence amidst the social mores of the time. And of course, there’s the love interest, Lord Wrotham-he wants to get married, she’s afraid of losing herself in his shadow.
The author has clearly done her research on some of the political and social issues of the period. THE SERPENT AND THE SCORPION isn’t for all tastes, but fans of mystery/romance blended with social and political history will find it an interesting read.
White Tombs
Christopher Valen
Conquil Press
$14.95, 347 pages
ISBN: 978-0980001723
Julio Perez has been shot dead. Detective Santana and his partner Rick Anderson are assigned. Perez was a leader in the community. In checking the last phone call, Santana discovers it was from Rafael Mendoza. As they arrive at Mendoza’s he takes a header and lands on the sidewalk.
Rick then shoots the man apparently running from Mendoza’s apartment, Ruben Cordova. That puts Rick on administrative leave pending an IA investigation. The Mayor’s investigator Kehoe has also put himself into the middle of the case aggravating Santana. Before long Kehoe takes over the case, names a suspect, and declares the case closed.
But not for one minute does Santana believe that Angeline Torres (the suspect) is guilty. So why has Kehoe acted like this? Why won't he investigate further? Why was Santana ordered to step down? Then there was the picture they found that he forgot to turn over to Kehoe. The heads are missing but it is clearly two men in an act. Who are they and why was the picture hidden?
Against orders, Santana continues to investigate opening doors he never expected and reawakening his own secrets and nightmares.
WHITE TOMBS is a well crafted who dun it. I don't get the title but I enjoyed the story immensely. It is action packed as Santana takes the journey through the doors of how the puzzle of the murders fit together. Well done.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 5.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
Finale
Paul Toth
Raw Dog Screaming Press
ISBN: 978-1-933293- (hc) $29.95
978-1-933293- (pbk) $13.95
June 2009
In his third novel following Fizz and Fishnet, Toth has written a novel that compels the reader to look inside himself and question how life has evolved. Few people have the ability to question one’s faults, let alone confront them head on, and survive to tell about them. Jonathan Thomas does this as the lead character of Toth’s excellent novel Finale.
When Jonathan Thomas receives a threatening letter apparently sent by an ex-girlfriend, he pursues the sender but finds himself unraveling another mystery he would have better left unsolved. Finale tells the story of this wanderer's journey to a faultline deep within himself.
The novel’s unique structure of chapters descending from eight to zero allows us, the reader, to follow the journey and gauge the progress of self discovery all the while the short, brilliant poems that serve as chapter interludes (earthquakes as they are title and progress in seismic order), helps to propel the novel to its startling conclusion. To talk about any particular scenes or characters may give away the pleasure of reading this wonderful novel.
Toth is a skilled writer who has selected words to paint pictures, or a movie, for each of the scenes. While the reader may get caught up in the story, one has to appreciate the beauty of the words on the page and how eloquent the descriptions and phrasing of the sentences are to this novel. Toth may be one of the lesser known masters of story telling, however, as the buzz about this novel is certain to grow, he will without a doubt gain a larger and well deserved readership.
I strongly recommend that you put Finale on your summer reading list. Upon completion of this book, you too may start to look back at your journey and then realize the brilliance that Toth has brought out in this novel.
Aldo T. Calcagno (aka Mystery Dawg)
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