MURDER-GO-ROUND: REVIEWS BY HARRIET KLAUSNER
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Harriet Klausner, was chosen the number
one reader in the entire USA by BOOK Magazine. What does that mean
to you? She reads constantly and knows what's out there and wants
to let you know, too. Read on for tips to great books from the wonder
reader Harriet Klausner. |
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November 2005
PREDATOR
Patricia Cornwell
Putnam, Nov 2005, $26.95, 406 pp.
ISBN: 0399152830
Dr. Kay Scarpetta is now working at the Natural Forensic Academy where
she is the director of forensic science and a consulting forensic pathologist
for the Broward County Medical Examiner?s office. Pete Marino works there
as the head of investigations and a part-time death investigator for the
Broward County?s Medical Examiner?s office. Benton Wesley is at Harvard
working on PREDATOR, a study using cutting edge technology to discover
whether the brains of mass murderers are different than the average person.
Hog calls Pete Marino who asks Scarpetta to look into the Johnny Swift
case. Johnny?s twin brother discovered him dead. Evidence at first suggested
suicide but now the theory is murder might have occurred. Lucy Farinelli,,
Kay?s niece is tracking Johnny?s last days in the hopes of getting some
answers because he was special to her. She picks up Stevie for a one night
stand and notices tattoos on her breasts and buttocks. Benton, who is
asked to examine a body sees the same tattoos that were on Stevie?s body.
A thug is keeping track of Benton while Kay needs to find the key that
will unlock the answers they all seek.
This is a very different book then all the other Kay Scarpetta novels
as this is told in the third person and is a stand alone book meaning
that it doesn?t require reading previous novels in the series. The key
protagonists go their way as if the previous events in their life didn?t
really change them. This crime thriller is a fantastic work with equal
parts of action and character development, but as always the research
done on the book is scientifically correct and meticulously researched.
Harriet Klausner
NATURAL
SELECTION
Liz Wolfe
Medallion, Nov 2005, $6.99, 325 pp.
ISBN: 1932815228
Former Portland homicide detective Paige Blackwell has become more than
just a private investigator as she has bought a thirty percent share of
Parker Security Investigations. Now she has to find a way to pay for it
and it looks like Lady Luck has dealt her a winning hand when TV producer
Wader Culver offers Paige a chance to become a member of the team for
the ultimate reality show Xtreme Survival
Paige agrees and flies to a Caribbean Island with five other group participants.
The plan is to survive as a group in the wilderness for two weeks and
each member receives $50,000 dollars. The pilot who flies them to their
locale accidentally overhears a conversation in which Wade and three other
men plan to hunt and kill the group. He warns them in time for Paige,
as the team leader to hold the group together while evading the hunters
and seeking a way off the island. When the group compares notes they find
that each one has been involved in some way with Eastland Industries.
If they get off the island Paige is determined to find out who wants six
innocent people dead.
NATURAL SELECTION is the ultimate cat and mouse thriller as the cats have
all kind of weaponry and the mice have to scurry about if they want to
stay alive. The action scenes are breathtaking and very visual so that
readers actually feel what the group is feeling. The characters, including
the secondary cast, are well developed and enhance each other's skills
forging a good team. Readers will definitely enjoy this adrenaline pumping
heart stopping thriller.
Harriet Klausner
EYE
OF THE BEHOLDER
Merline Lovelace
Mira, Nov 2005, $6.99
ISBN: 0778322300
In Morgan Falls, Oklahoma USAF Reserve Captain Miranda "Randi"
Morgan attends the funeral of her friend, lover, and fellow pilot Captain
Tyler Keane who died in combat. Tyler's father Sam blames Randi for his
son's death vowing vengeance.
Oklahoma University physics professor Dr. Pete Engstrom visits Randi to
arrange for his research team to study the Heavener rune stone on her
property. Reluctantly she agrees to allow him access although she worries
that wealthy Sam is using this to cause her trouble. Soon Randi finds
herself in a custody fight with her ex over their four year old son whom
she ignored and Sam who claims he is Spence's grandfather. Adding to her
troubles is someone wants her dead even as she falls in love with the
physicist who reciprocates her feelings.
EYE OF THE BEHOLDER is a superb romantic suspense thriller, which contains
a subplot involving reservists coming home in body bags that will grip
the audience with how much our soldiers and their families sacrifice including
their lives for the war on terrorism; no one else in spite of the President's
claims otherwise including this reviewer and the White House sacrifice
for this effort. The story line is action-packed as Randi struggles with
her former mentor Sam wanting to harm her at all costs as he blames her
for his son's death. Though one final twist seems unreal, Merline Lovelace
provides a deep tale of how a hurting grieving parent can suffer a battle
fatigue like syndrome when a son or daughter dies in combat.
Harriet Klausner
THE
GIRL WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
Ann Major
Mira, Nov 2005, $6.99
ISBN: 0778322246
When he was a preadolescent, Shanghai Knight saved two years old Mia Kemble
from being ran over risking his life in the process. Instead of gratitude
her father Caesar, the driver, loathes Shanghai who was acclaimed a hero.
Now a teen Mia still worships Shanghai, but though he likes her he hates
her father who he believes stole everything from his drunken loser of
a dad. An incident forces Shanghai to leave town with Mia promising to
find him when she becomes an adult.
Fifteen years later, Mia is held prisoner by Mexican drug lord Tavio Morales,
who actually saved her life when a plane with her husband Shanghai's brother
Cole crashed into the sea. Her father and her daughter Vanilla think she
is dead. Her only hope for rescue lies with Shanghai but he let her down
a few years ago when he impregnated her only to leave her.
This exhilarating romantic suspense thriller needs a bit of patience to
comprehend the chronological order of events, which abruptly leap from
a young Mia vowing to find her beloved to her captivity; complicating
matters are her thoughts back to sleeping in Vegas with Shanghai but marrying
her brother and an FBI sidebar involving Tavio's sibling. Once all that
begins to converge as the story line concentrates on Mia's incarceration
and attempts to escape, fans receive a terrific thriller starring a courageous
heroine, an obsessed crazed drug lord, and a hero ready to rescue his
beloved.
Harriet Klausner
NIGHT
GAME
Christine Feehan
Jove, Nov 2005, $9.99, 512 pp.
ISBN: 0515139769
Both genetically enhanced, Iris "Flame" Johnson and Gator Fontemont
met when he rescued her. They are attracted to one another, but Gator
has always been a lone ranger so he struggles with his need to be with
her and Flame trusts no one. However, he learns she remains in danger
from Dr. Peter Whitney, whom Gator thought dead (see SHADOW GAME); he
willingly risks his life to keep her safe.
Realizing he is enhanced like her, Flame fears Gator plans to return her
to the evil Whitney. She detests the fact that she cannot get him out
of her mind as she feels an irresistible attraction to him that she assumes
is just one more inbreeding mechanism devised by Whitney. She distrusts
her growing love for Gator as much as she expects him to betray her. Together
they might defeat their common enemy, but separately they will probably
die or worse be re-imprisoned by Whitney that is if he is the cat chasing
them.
The latest Ghostwalker Game thriller is a terrific paranormal entry because
of the personalities of two loners, both ready to explode (especially
the heroine) and neither easily trusting others particularly those who
Whitney experimented on. The story line is action-packed never slowing
down, but also has the haunting of Katrina as pre-hurricane New Orleans
serves as the backdrop. Christine Feehan is on her A-game with her latest
paranormal thriller.
Harriet Klausner
DARKER
THAN MIDNIGHT
Maggie Shayne
Mira, Nov 2005, $6.99, 384 pp.
ISBN: 0778322297
Since he was arrested for murdering his wife, Steph, a crime he does not
remember or anything else from that night, Michael "River" Corbett
has been drugged and confined to a state mental hospital. He is not sure
if he is paranoid from the drugs that leave his mind fuzzy and in a fog,
but River believes someone has tried to kill him. He escapes from the
institution heading to Blackberry, Vermont to learn whether he killed
his spouse and if not, who did.
Fourteen years ago, Cassandra "Jax" Jackson's father killed
the man who murdered his other daughter, but the court declared him not
guilty due to diminished capacity; Jax's police career in Syracuse died
in that courtroom so she accepts a job in Blackberry. When the by the
book Jax meets River she fails to take him in as something in his look
makes her believe he is no killer. As they team up seeking to learn who
murdered Steph, a ghost send clues to the "besieged" teenager
Dawn Jones, who if she wants to be left alone, must help River and Jax.
Readers will agree from the start that River is innocent because the killer
seems obvious relatively early on yet no one will put down DARKER THAN
MIDNIGHT until the end to affirm their theory is correct. The who-done-it
story line is enhanced by the paranormal elements as Steph tries to reach
from the grave to right a wrong that she partially caused. Fans will root
for the lead couples to more than just survive the twilight; like Steph
they want Jax and River together, but the chances of that happening seems
so remote.
Harriet Klausner
A
GRAVE MISTAKE
Stella Cameron
Mira, Nov 2005, $16.95
ISBN: 0778322343
New Orleans Detective Nat Archer heads to nearby Toussaint to enlist the
aid of his partner Guy Gautreaux, on a leave of absence. Nat tells him
someone shot and killed Pip Sedge in the French Quarter; the victim had
ties to Toussaint. Guy says no as he still heals from a tragedy.
Pastry shop owner Jilly Gable wants Guy though he does all he can to discourage
her even though he desires her too. He is concerned that a woman claiming
to be Jilly's mother Edith, who deserted her years ago, wants to be back
in her life. Edith has brought her husband antiques dealer Sam Preston
with her. Guy does not trust the Prestons or their bodyguard although
he admits he has only a feeling about the duo. Still he investigates because
he will not allow any harm to come to Jilly, but is unaware of the link
back to New Orleans.
Though the flood puts a damper on this Bayou romantic suspense thriller,
readers will still appreciate this fine tale. The hero is a good guy trying
not to get involved, but unable to keep out especially since he is falling
in love with the upbeat Jilly. She is the more intriguing character with
her need to belong to a loving family sending her willingly into accepting
the Prestons and ultimately into danger. Stella Cameron provides a strong
tale, but the real world provides an eerie feel to the Louisiana background.
Harriet Klausner
HARD
TRUTH
Mariah Stewart
Ballantine, Nov 2005, $6.99
ISBN: 0345476670
Nine years old Melinda Egan vanished without a trace. Not long afterward
her older brother Jason, a nasty youngster, also disappeared. The locals
assume they just ran off.
Years later, a section of the Stiles farm is sold. To the shock of the
new owner, human bones are found that are later identified as those of
Jason. At about the same time Lorna Stiles has returned home to settle
her late mother's estate. She is totally unsatisfied with the police investigation
because she demands to know what happened to her best friend Melinda.
Her friend Regan Landry introduces Lorna to former FBI Agent T.J. Dawson,
a private investigator, who agrees to look into the murders especially
the disappearance of Melinda. As Lorna fears a family member is a serial
killer who used or perhaps still using the Stiles farm as a personal cemetery,
T.J. soon believes his job is to keep Lorna safe from this murdering psychopath
who he feels still lives.
Mariah Stewart is simply amazing as she has over the past few months consistently
kept the quality level of her thrillers stratospherically high though
she has released several novels. Her current tale, HARD TRUTH, is a fabulous
romantic investigative thriller that never slows down from the moment
the first corpse is found until the climax. Fans will want to read the
previous tale COLD TRUTH and look forward to the next story DARK TRUTH
as this is an author who provides fantastic serial killer tales that keep
the audience's attention throughout.
Harriet Klausner
FEAR
THE NIGHT
John Lutz
Pinnacle, Nov 2005, $6.99
ISBN: 0786016345
The Night Sniper kills the Manhattan store owner making him the third
victim. He taunts the police and demands that his only competition retired
detective Vincent Repetto oppose him in a game of cat and mouse. Assistant
Chief Lou Melbourne begs Lou to come out of retirement, but the former
cop says no as he wants to spend time with his beloved wife Lora and their
twenty year old daughter Amelia; besides he left on disability with a
collapsed lung from his last case.
The Night Sniper refuses to accept a no from Vin. To force Vin to participate
he kills a friend Dal Bricker in front of Vin. Now the twenty year veteran
comes out of retirement to take on a vicious serial killer who sees this
as a superheavyweight contest between two champions with similar childhoods
only Vin had his beloved aunts to save him.
Though the temperament of the Night Sniper is so similar to other serial
killer novels, fans will feel the suspense that builds up until the final
confrontation. The story line is action-packed with incidents that seem
innocuous and everyday at first turning lethal when the killer acts. Readers
will enjoy FEAR THE NIGHT while wondering whether the Night Sniper will
kill those close to his opponent as part of his efforts to win his game
of death.
Harriet Klausner
HULA
DONE IT
Maddy Hunter
Pocket, Nov 2005, $6.99, 338 pp.
ISBN 0743482921
She has the perfect job as a tour guide for a senior travel club but every
time Emily Andrews takes a trip with her group, someone gets murdered
and she is in the thick of the investigation. The trip on the cruise ship
the Aloha Princess touring the Hawaiian Islands is no different. Professor
Dorian Smoker, a lecturer on the famous explorer Captain Cook is thrown
overboard as witnessed by his teaching assistant Bailey.
On his person was a book written by seamen Griffin Ring which contained
a map of buried treasure located on Kauai given to him by one of the members
of Emily's travel group. She wanted him to authenticate it for her. Luckily,
another member of the group made a photo copy of the map and they look
for the treasure. Professor Smoker had many enemies including two groups
who disagreed with his portrayal of Captain Cook. Also on the cruise is
an ex-student he flunked which cost her a once in a life time job and
a couple of students he slept with. When a second murder occurs and Emily
is attacked, she and the group investigate all the suspects hoping to
find the killer.
HULA DONE IT is a fabulous cozy that is filled with intrigue, humor and
a protagonist who is a combination at Calamity Jane and the Stooges (yes,
all three of them). There are some scenes that are so hilarious readers
will laugh so loud that tears will stream down their eyes. The secondary
cast is a delightful crowd that will charm readers with their eccentricities.
Maddy Hunter writes a great who done it that doesn't contain violence
or blood but tells a good story.
Harriet Klausner
SIX
FOR GOLD
Mary Reed & Eric Mayer
Poisoned pen, Nov 2005, $24.95, 274 pp.
ISBN: 1590581458
In Constantinople, the Lord Chamberlain John the Eunuch is arrested for
the murder of Senator Symacchus in the Hippodrome. The Empress Theodora
demands justice, which means an eye for an eye or perhaps a tongue. Instead
Emperor Justinian gives John a chance to buy some time to have his innocence
proven. He exiles John to Egypt to learn why sheep are committing suicide
on a settlement up river from Alexandria while the eunuch's best friend
Anatolius investigates the senatorial murder.
John boards the Minotaur only to find his wife Cornelius and his elderly
servant Peter waiting to go with him. John and his entourage reach their
destination, the city of Mehenopolis, home of a sacred ancient shrine
to the snake deity. The city turns out to be more Byzantium than Constantinople
is as it hosts many visitors to the shrine and residents who want to make
their fortune from the foolish outside believers. Anyone of them could
be the cause of why the sheep are slashing their throats.
SIX FOR GOLD is a fabulous historical mystery that showcases an era when
Christianity and paganism battle for supremacy. The vivid story line brings
to life an area of Egypt rarely if ever used in novels so that the audience
obtains an even greater taste of the true first "world war"
fought over religious principles. John is a terrific protagonist struggling
to solve the case of the suicidal sheep even as he ponders what will happen
to him and his family once he returns home because the investigation he
left behind will turn into a cold case by the time he comes home. Mary
Reed & Eric Mayer once again make the John the Eunuch mysteries one
of the best historical tales on the market today.
Harriet Klausner
DREAMBOAT
Judith Gould
Nal, Oct 2005, $23.95, 320 pp.
ISBN: 045121661X
In Albany, New York hair colorist Crissy Fitzgerald feels lonely and tired.
Her friend Jenny persuades her to come with her to the Nine One One Club
where she meets Tom Gentry. Out of character for her, they go back to
her flat where they make love. As she dreams of love, he wants nothing
further to do with her.
Jenny persuades Crissy to take a month off to tour Greece and leisurely
come home on the trans-Atlantic cruise ship Sea Nymph. The ship is the
jewel of Vilos Shipping Lines, whose owner Georgios Vilas is nearly bankrupt
and trying a desperate final game plan to save the firm at all costs.
Meanwhile on board she meets handsome Georgios' son Mark and ship Dr.
Luca di Salerno, who both vie for her attention. As she falls in love
with Luca, Mark tries to takes matters into his own hands while Jenny
is jealous although she has caught a septuagenarian fiancé.
Even though Jenny is obviously a me-me only self-centered soul from the
start, her reactions to her friend turning into a beautiful butterfly
that initially comes across as competitive rivalry becomes overdone once
she decided to marry the septuagenarian for money. Still Crissy makes
this a strong romantic suspense as she wonders about the trunk brought
on board by the handsome Mark. He, in turn, has spent his life as a hedonist,
so when he wants her, he tries to rape her even after she rejects him
for Luca. Fans of romantic suspense will enjoy this deep terrorist dramatic
backdrop, but Crissy keeps the tale sailing smooth.
Harriet Klausner
GETTING
OLD IS MURDER
Rita Lakin
Dell, Nov 2005, $6.99, 336 pp.
ISBN: 0440242584
Based on thirty years of reading mysteries retired librarian Gladdy Gold
believes a serial killer is murdering the residents of her Lauderdale
Lakes retirement community. The cops assume that the increase in deaths
is caused by the age of the residents, seventies and older for the most
part.
However, she does nothing about this until her best friend Francie dies
in a fittingly manner for her: death by chocolate. Unable to accept that
the healthy Francie just keeled over due to age, Gladdy and her four remaining
gladiators begin investigating though their joints hurt and they must
be in bed by 9:00. As they get closer to the truth that a serial killer
is cleverly murdering the residents, Gladdy concocts a plan to catch this
murdering putz (universal usage) although the gladiators keep thinking
oy! vey!
GETTING OLD FOR MURDER is a terrific cozy filled with elderly Yiddish
chick lit humor. The story line is mostly told by Gladdy, but contains
a host of other individuals with plenty of kvetches and of course Gladdy's
GAS (geriatric amateur sleuths) gang. Fans of South Florida who-done-its
starring septuagenarian and octogenarian retirees trying to keep their
medicines straight will enjoy Rita Lakin's amusing tale.
Harriet Klausner
FOOL'S
GOLD
Jennifer Skully
Harlequin HQN, Oct 2005, $5.99, 384 pp.
ISBN: 0373770812
Cottonmouth, California Sheriff Tyler Blaxton takes leave to assist his
upset sister Maggie Felman in Goldstone, Nevada. Maggie believes her spouse
Carl, an outhouse excavator, is having an affair with some bimbo. Tyler
takes Carl to a bar for drinks and talk, but learns nothing but meets
beautiful Simone Chandler, author of erotica romances on the net.
While Tyler and Simone are attracted to one another, he also finds Carl
behaving mysteriously and strange, but believes he is not having an affair
with anyone. As Tyler digs deeper, he observes his brother-in-law acting
especially belligerent with odious developer Jason LaFoote. Still in spite
of his efforts to learn the truth behind Carl's recent actions, Tyler
fails to uncover anything of note until an unknown third party raises
the ante with murder.
With references to the witch sisters of the Wizard of Oz and an intriguing
love at first sight romance, FOOL'S GOLD starts off as a family drama
that about half way into the plot switches into a murder mystery. The
audience will treasure and reread the subplot when the focus is on Tyler
and Simone; when the story line concentrates on the estrangement between
Maggie and Carl, fans will wonder why they do not communicate, what he
hides in his trailer, and what caused the split (explained too late).
The who-done-it is cleverly devised leaving fans with a truly golden tale.
Harriet Klausner
AS
DOG IS MY WITNESS
Jeffrey Cohen
Bancroft, Nov 2005, $16.95, 280 pp.
ISBN: 1890862436
Michael Huston is walking the family dog Dalma the Dalmatian one night,
eager to get back to his wife when a person wearing a hood so he isn't
recognizable shoots and kills him. The police go to gun experts twenty-two
year old Justin for some information about the gun that killed Michael
and find the gun in his room. He admits to killing the man but doesn't
give a motive and since Justin has Asperger's syndrome, the police aren't
interest in the why of it.
Freelance writer Aaron Tucker becomes involved when his friend Lori Shery,
the founder and president of ASPEN, asks him to find the real killer since
he has successfully solved two homicides that baffled the police. While
Aaron tries to help Justin, he is coping poorly with his detestable visiting
in-laws, dealing with a New Jersey Jewish mafia chieftain who knows more
about the case than he is saying, and helping out a friend whose work
is being sabotaged. In addition to all these jobs, he must squeeze in
some time on his paying job, revising his screen play.
Readers who like a wholesome who done it with no blood, gore or profanity
will definitely wants to read the entire series Aaron Tucker mystery novels.
AS DOG IS MY WITNESS is the best work in this charming and often humorous
series because the who-done-it is superbly constructed with quite a few
viable suspects but readers also learn and understand somewhat what Asperger's
syndrome is and how it impacts the entire family.
Harriet Klausner
NEW
YEAR'S EVE MURDER
Leslie Meier
Kensington, Nov 2005, $22.00, 256 pp.
ISBN 0758206992
On the day before Christmas Eve, the Stones of Tinker's Cove, Maine, receive
a letter from the college that their daughter Elizabeth attends stating
that since their income went up last year, they owe $10,000 that previously
would have been covered by a scholarship. The problem is that this year
the Stone's income has dramatically dropped due to the economy; they don't
have a clue how they are going to raise the money.
Elizabeth entered a contest sponsored by Jolie magazine that won her and
her mother along with five other mother-daughter duos complete makeovers.
Elizabeth tells her that all the contestants will be judged and the winner
will win $10,000 which makes Lucy want to win more than ever. While they
are receiving their makeover, the fashion editor is murdered and Elizabeth
is hospitalized when she becomes ill. The causes of the death and the
illness are anthrax. Lucy is determined to find out who sent it to the
office so that they can figure out how the editor and her daughter came
in contact with it. That decision almost gets her killed by a terrorist
organization though not the kind one usually reads about in the papers.
Fans who appreciate the Jessica Fletcher books and Miss Marple stories
will love this fine cozy amateur sleuth mystery. Leslie Meier modernizes
the heroine, who is a likeable, believable and understandable character.
The jealousies, uncertainties and in fighting between the workers at the
magazine give the audience plenty of suspects who wanted the fashion editor
dead. Leslie Meir has written a charming holiday mystery that readers
will love for its' humor and originality.
Harriet Klausner
STALKING
THE PUZZLE LADY
Parnell Hall
Bantam, Nov 2005, $24.00, 320 pp
ISBN 0553804170
Sherry Carter is pleased that her outgoing Aunt Cora "the Puzzle
Lady" Felton takes the credit for constructing the crossword puzzles
because she is so shy while her aunt is the poster girl of extroverts.
Cora wants to resign because she doesn't want to go on tour as the spokesperson
for the new and improved Granville Grains Corn Toasties. The only reason
she agrees to do it is because she needs the money, having lost heavily
due to poor investments.
Cora doesn't know that someone is in the shadows, watching every move
she makes while sending her crossword puzzles. When the sender gets impatient
that Cora fails to make contact with him, he kills a young actress who
is posing as one of the older children that is in the crowds at each stop.
Cora is uneasy because her high school friend Freddy Fosterfield is turning
up everywhere she goes; while Sherry who is on tour with her aunt is being
hassled by her abusive ex-husband Dennis. When the publicity person on
the tour is murdered, suspicion falls on Dennis but Sherry believes he
is innocent of the two killings and tries to prove it. This angers her
lover Aaron and irritates Cora but neither as much as an irate killer.
The latest Puzzle Lady mystery is an exciting amateur sleuth tale in which
Cora unwittingly is trapped in a cat and mouse game with a murderer who
starts out as an infatuated person and evolves into a cold-blooded killing
machine. Parnell Hall focuses on the violence of stalkers who are obsessed
by a celebrity and shows why it is a hard crime to solve. This entertaining
crime caper also has the usual numerous humorous moments and puzzles to
solve that lead to clues.
Harriet Klausner
BALLOONS
CAN BE MURDER
Connie Shelton
Intrigue, Nov 2005, $24.00, 234 pp.
ISBN: 189076860X
Just prior to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, balloonist
Rachel Fairfield hires RJP Investigations to keep her safe while she tries
to set an altitude record in three days. Rachel shows sleuth Ron Parker
and his sister Charlie two threatening letters that she received in the
last couple of weeks. She insists her estranged father William sent the
notes because her testimony sent him to prison when she was a teen and
the wording is his. Ron explains that his agency is too small to protect
her from an assassin amidst a crowd of 50,000, but the client says to
just keep an eye on her dad, recently released form prison.
Charlie, whose marriage to firefighting helicopter pilot Drake Langston
has problems, looks into alternative threats of which there are two possibilities,
an abusive former lover and a person accusing her of costing him his inheritance
while Ron looks into William's activities. Neither Parker expected the
incidents to turn increasingly dangerous towards their client nor themselves,
as someone is trying to insure that Rachel fails at all costs.
The latest Charlie Parker case is a fabulous private investigative thriller
that also contains a powerful subplot centering on the heroine's estranged
relationship with her spouse as both fails to communicate what disturbs
them. The protection of Rachel is intriguing as the Parkers know they
cannot keep her safe if she is going airborne during the gala, but try
their best to watch the known threats. Connie Shelton brings the air balloon
rave and its New Mexico locales alive as fantastic backdrop to this enchanting
thriller.
Harriet Klausner
DELETE
ALL SUSPECTS
Donna Andrews
Berkley, Nov 2005, $23.00, 256 pp.
ISBN 042520569X
When the computer programmers made artificial intelligence personalities
(AIP), nobody expected one of them, Turing Hoppper, to gain sentience
or to make friends with humans. Her biggest concern of the moment is finding
her clone T-2 stolen by Nestor Garcia, a criminal who wants to use her
intelligence in planning his career. Turing's friend private investigator
Tim Pinesoki is hired by Mrs Stallman to investigate her grandson's business.
He was the victim of a hit and run driver; a witness thinks the driver
was trying to murder Edward.
Mrs. Stallman thinks that the attempted murder was linked to his web hosting
business and to the friends her grandson let use free space on his server
for their website. To get her mind off her problems, Turing decides to
help Tim as does her friend Maude Graham who is the front person for Turing's
businesses. It takes them a long time to get inside because they don't
have the user name or password but when they do get in, they realize someone
is running illegal porn sites and someone else is using phiset spams to
collect credit card and banking information. When the neighbor who saw
the hit and run is murdered, Turing and company realize they are dealing
will a very dangerous individual who will not hesitate to kill anyone
who gets too close to uncovering the truth.
For an AIP, Turing Hopper has more personality then most humans do and
her quest to understand carbon based entities is something a sentient
AI would do. Luckily, she is a decent silicon based entity who only bends
the law to prevent her sentience from being discovered. The mystery is
constructed with a variety of suspects; many of whom committed criminal
acts but only one went so far as murder. Donna Andrews has written another
great amateur sleuth who-done-it.
Harriet Klausner
NOW
YOU DIE
Christiane Heggan
Mira, Nov 2005, $6.99, 384 pp.
ISBN: 0778322289
Upon discovering the corpse, cartoonist Zoe Foster calls 911. However,
when the cops arrive, there is no body. Zoe has no idea what happened
except that she believes strongly that she saw a dead woman who somehow
vanished.
Zoe, whose sleuthing experience resides totally with the comic strip female
detective, Kitty Floyd which she draws, decides to investigate. As she
digs deeper, Zoe feels the male race has welcomingly invaded her space.
First her ex-husband promised even after the divorce to be there for her.
Then there is the cop who took down her statement and in spite of the
lack of evidence tends to believe her. Finally another blast from the
past has returned into her life. Three hunks and a corpse, what more can
a woman ask for; however someone watches her progress very carefully in
case it becomes essential to twist the plot line by murdering the cartoonist.
This action-packed romantic amateur sleuth tale grips the audience from
the moment the body disappears and never slows down until the final confrontations
(romantically and perilously). Zoe is a super lead player keeping the
story line moving on two fronts; her personal life and the case until
the two aspects coalesce into a strong thriller with a dangerous culprit
waiting to strike while several men try to keep the heroine safe. Christiane
Heggan provides a powerful romantic suspense investigative tale that will
bring this popular author a myriad of new diehards.
Harriet Klausner
THE
SCORPION'S GATE
Richard A. Clarke
Putnam, Nov 2005, $24.95, 320 pp.
ISBN: 0399152946
In 2010, Supported by the Chinese, a coup has taken out the despotic leaders
of Saudi Arabia replacing it with the Republic of Islamyah. The zealots
in charge begin to bring their anti-western fundamentalist Islamic fervor
to nearby Bahrain by blowing up favorite haunts where the hated infidels
reside. The area is quickly falling into chaos with the Chinese pushing
for more discontent to further extricate the west out of the region.
Secretary of Defense Henry Conrad pushes a military solution to the Middle
East crisis as he wants to invade Islamyah so that the United States can
regain control of the oil. Others want to take over the entire region
by force while some believe we must use diplomacy to mute the growing
influence of the Chinese. Though the middle of winter in DC, the heat
is on in the capital and not just because the weather is spring-like as
both sides escalate the hostilities with nuclear war between the United
States and China imminent unless cooler heads prevail.
THE SCORPION'S GATE is a fabulous thriller in which anti-terrorist expert
Richard A. Clarke extrapolates what the future might hold based on what
if consequences of decisions made by the current administration. The story
line is frightening as the scenario seems plausible as Mr. Bush's legacy
to the world (it will solve the long term solvency of the social security
issue). Though Mr. Clarke makes the error of many first time novelists
of trying to get everything into the plot, futurologists will appreciate
this strong look at what might be forthcoming (who in the 1970s predicted
we would still be fighting the war against drugs today?).
Harriet Klausner
SEASIDE
Scarlett Thomas
Justin Charles, Nov 2005, $24.95, 320 pp.
ISBN: 193211209X
In the seaside town of Torquay, eighteen years old twins Alexandra and
Laura Carter seem like typical teens until one dies. The police investigation
supports an apparent suicide yet in spite of the slashed wrists, some
things do not add up properly. First and foremost the suicide note left
behind is signed by Laura, but the surviving sister claims she is Laura.
Novelist Emma Winters offers successful amateur sleuth university instructor
Lily Pascale (see DEAD CLEVER and IN YOUR FACE) ten thousand pounds to
determine whether the victim was murdered, who committed the act if it
is a homicide, and which twin lives. Though she vowed to never do any
more investigations, the money is great and the case interesting so Lily
accepts heading to wintry Torquay unaware the danger that awaits her there
if she gets too close to the truth.
Readers along with the police and others will wonder which teen lives
and did the survivor pull a Cain and Abel on her sister. The story line
is character driven as Lily investigates the case in the freezing seaside
town. Lily is a terrific protagonist as her inquiries make for a fine
time for sleuth fans. This is one mystery readers will find fascinating.
Harriet Klausner
MURDER
UNCORKED
Michele Scott
Berkley, Nov 2005
ISBN: 042520684X
In Los Angeles, wannabe actress waitress Nikki Sands serves a nasty bimbo
and her hunk, but the woman treats her like dirt for doing her job quite
well. Nothing satisfies the bimbo especially when Nikki displays her knowledge
of wines. When a drink she is carrying spills on the bimbo, Nikki saves
her boss the trouble of firing her by quitting. She goes across the street
to get a drink when the hunk follows her. Derek Maleveaux buys her dinner,
but asks Nikki to select the wines; she does a perfect job at that. Impressed,
Derek, owner of Maleveaux Estate, a winery in Napa Valley, hires her on
the spot.
They fly to his estate, but even before she unpacks Nikki notices something
strange outside. She investigates only to find the murdered corpse of
renowned winemaker Gabriel Asant. While the police look at Derek as the
prime suspect, Nikki, who has had TV experience as a detective, decides
to use her skill to uncover the identity of the real culprit but is unaware
that if she gets to close she could be next.
Besides educating readers on what wines to use with different repasts,
MURDER UNCORKED is a superb amateur sleuth tale starring an upbeat heroine
and a fabulous prime suspect. The story line is fast-paced even before
Derek flies Nikki to his estate as the audience will enjoy the lead female's
failed efforts to appease the bimbo customer from Hades. The romance between
the lead couple is a light blending that augments a fun who-done-it.
Harriet Klausner
THE
DARK HORSE
Patricia Simpson
Tor, Nov 2005, $6.99
ISBN: 0765353245
CommOptima CEO Tobias Benton believes he has located the legendary Fountain
of Youth inside a cave in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. On the outside
"door" is letters written in ancient Nimian. Tobias knows the
person capable of breaking the code to allow entry; he assumes forced
access will prove dangerous as he expects booby traps everywhere.
Tobias sends for employee Claire Coulter offering her a deal she cannot
refuse. She will go to the site and translate the Nimian runes for him
in exchange for her brother obtaining the kidney transplant he desperately
needs to live.
Needing money to keep his ranch Dark Horse Ranch owner Jack Hughes reluctantly
agrees to escort Tobias and Claire to the cave, a three day ride by horseback
though he hates going near there, having suffered a paranormal experience
there as a teen. At the same time Set, an Ancient One, seeks the healing
powers of the Fountain too and plans to use the human pawns to help him
attain his objective; afterward he will dispatch these worthless creatures.
This terrific paranormal romantic suspense thriller has some tenuous ties
to the previous Forbidden Tarot tale, THE DARK LORD, but clearly can be
perused without reading the first tale. Claire is a wonderful protagonist
willing to sacrifice everything including ethics and love to save her
sibling's life; she adds a deep moral dilemma/fiber to the tale. Jack
is also interesting as he denies love while Tobias is fixated on finding
the Fountain of Youth. However, the most fascinating character remains
Set, whose appearances are somewhat limited yet tells quite a back tale
involving the Golden Ones and much more.
Harriet Klausner
CHRIST
THE LORD: OUT OF EGYPT
Anne Rice
Knopf, Nov. 2005, $25.95, 336 pp.
ISBN 0373728449
At seven years of age Jesus was living on the Street of Carpenters in
Alexandria Egypt, an ordinary child who played and learned the studies
all Jewish boys must know. The fact that he turned clay pigeons into real
birds and that he struck dead a child who bullied him and then brought
him back to life didn't really impinge on his consciousness although Mary
and Joseph know who he is and why he was born to the Virgin Mary. An angel
tells Joseph it is time for them to return to Israel so they travel to
their homeland.
They stop at the Temple in Jerusalem but a riot breaks out between the
rebels and Herod's troops. They journey to Nazareth, but on the way Jesus
stops to heal his Uncle in the river Jordan. A curious child, he listens
to the hints about his birth and wants to know what was so special about
it. Neither Mary nor Joseph feel he is ready to know these things but
when Jesus heals a blind man, he knows he must find out the truth including
why his mother says he was born not of man.
Anne Rice's portrayal of Jesus as a young child shows him as both divine
and human though he is not aware yet of his origins or his purpose in
life. The character gradually comes to realize he is not like other children
and wants to know why, something any curious seven-year old would try
and find out if they were in his shoes. Perhaps the most beautiful trait
Anne Rice's Jesus possesses is a wisdom that belies his years and comes
out at the most inopportune times. Though well-written, reader bias will
either laud Ms. Rice's latest work or condemn her interpretation of the
boy destined to become the Savior.
Harriet Klausner
Harriets's Archived Reviews
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