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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October 2007
Ha'penny
Jo Walton
Tor, Oct 2007, $25.95
ISBN 9780765318534
In 1941 the Farthing Group negotiated a peace deal with Hitler that gave the Nazis the continent and made Great Britain his ally. Now eight years later, the once proud English democracy is gone replaced by a repressive regime that persecutes minorities and dissidents through violent police state tactics.
However an angry underground insurgency has caused problems for the government; culminating with a bomb exploding on the streets of London. Scotland Yard Inspector Carmichael, whose investigation into the murder of the Farthing group leader Sir James Thirkie has alienated him with the brass and the politicians, is assigned the lead because he is expendable. Pressure mounts once again for him to fix blame on some scapegoat person preferably a homosexual or a group like the Jews rather than find the truth. However as he did in the FARTHING affaire, he keeps digging. What he finds makes no sense as a vast conspiracy consisting of members of the NRA, the House of Lords, the Communist Party, and a number of other activist groups plot to assassinate the Prime Minister and Hitler with hopes of causing a revolution.
Whereas FARTHING is a terrific alternate historical police procedural, HA’PENNY is more of a fabulous alternate historical suspense thriller. Walton’s world is based on the premises that the British hierarchy “exiled” Churchill and avoided war with Hitler by appeasing the Nazis. Once again the conspiracy is over the top, but the investigation is clever as loner Carmichael struggles with the directions the clues take him even as his supervisors question his loyalty. These two tales are must reading for the Harry Turtledove fans who will appreciate another well written 1940s spin.
Harriet Klausner
The Vampire Shrink
Lynda Hilburn
Medallion, Oct 2007, $15.95
ISBN: 9781933836232
In Denver, the patient insists her name is Midnight and that she is friends to vampires especially the charismatic eight century old handsome master Devereux. Dr. Kismet Knight assumes she is dealing with a new form of psychosis as Midnight is extremely graphic in describing the underground vampirism lair as if a society of undead lives without humans knowing it.
To her shock, Devereux arrives at Kismet’s office claiming to be a vampire. Hiding her disbelief behind her professional visage, Kismet thinks it is too bad he is a nut because he is a sexy hunk. Devereux begins to show her his strange powers leaving Kismet to begin to believe in vampires. After a client arrives at her office almost totally drained of blood, FBI Special Agent Alan Stevens, who works the vampire beat, questions Kismet. As Devereux binds her to him insisting she is his kismet, Alan tries to bind her to him through the power of love. Confused, Kismet is not sure who to trust even as someone, perhaps one of the two males claiming she is their destiny, tries to kill her.
Kismet Knight’s conversion from cynic to believer makes for a fun paranormal thriller as the heroine becomes the VAMPIRE SHRINK. Readers will understand her transformation from scorning skeptic with dreams of fame and fortune to psychologist to vampires as the story line is told in the first person mostly from Kismet’s perspective. Adding to the satirical entertainment is the odd romantic triangle between the Fed, the vampire master, and the shrink. Lynda Hilburn writes an enjoyable biting frolic that will turn skeptical readers into true believers of her talent.
Harriet Klausner
Beg For Mercy
Toni Andrews
Mira, Sep 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780778323655
In the Balboa Peninsular of California, Mercy Hollings believes her skill with the “presses" should be used by her to help other people through positive suggestions. Her plan is to assist people through hypnotherapy as she understands the need of cautiousness when manipulating others as controlling people is unethical and can lead to dangerous unintended consequences.
Mercy and her best friend Sukey have too much to drink. At a bar with Sukey she meets kind eyes Sam Falls. Intoxicated she misuses her gift to "presses" Sukey's odious boyfriend Rocko to behave nicer. However, her misuse has led to a series of steps that places her friends in danger. Meanwhile glib Dominic Dellarosa knows of Mercy’s ability and her error; he also seems to know much about her past. He apparently wants to use her talent for his benefit; if she fails to adhere to his demand, Sukey will be the first to die, but he has angered her and she will show no mercy to anyone who steps inside her circle though Sam willingly takes the risk.
Although Rocko’s annoying dialogue requires a mercy lobotomy, fans will enjoy this fine paranormal thriller. The story line is fast-paced especially when Rocko is off-stage as Mercy knows she crossed the ethics boundary by doing an amoral act even if she can rationalize her manipulation due to imbibing too much. Told mostly in the first person by the heroine, fans will appreciate the dilemma of too much power can at times corrupt the most conscientious ethical person.
Harriet Klausner
The Bone Man
Vicki Stiefel
Leisure, Oct 2007, $7.99, 358 pp.
ISBN 9780843959371
The founder and head of MGAP (Massachusetts Grief Assistance Program), Tally Whyte has left her job since her foster mother, Massachusetts medical examiner Veda Barrow died. Her replacement Addy Morgridge asks her to come in to see an amazing archeological find. An Anasazi pot with a skull in it was found in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. A forensic archeologist Didi Cravitz reconstructed the skull and the face looks exactly like Delphine who owns the Native Arts. Her assistant Zoe says she is on a on a buying trip and doesn’t want to be disturbed.
When Tally goes back to see Didi, she finds her dead lying in a pool of blood. Didi used her last seconds of life to write an incomplete message in her blood on the floor. Nobody else sees the writing a male is in the store gets rough with Tally asking where the fetish is. Tally figures out what Didi started to write with her blood. She gets shot at, attacked, and ends up in the hospital. She realizes to find the answers she has to go to Chaco Canyon where she is shot at, attacked and ends up needing medical attention. She refuses to give up her quest at finding out what everyone wants the fetish partly because it is a treasure but mostly because she doesn’t know why so many people are willing to kill to get it.
This is an amazing thriller with action on almost every page. The paranormal elements fit right into the storyline making it more realistic since Le Pueblo tribes and the Anasazi practice magic. The heroine is strong, independent and sees things nobody else does, things that save her life. She is determined to find out what is going on with the fetish and wouldn’t stop even if it puts her in danger. Vicki Stiefel writes a brilliant psychological thriller.
Harriet Klausner
Revenant
Carolyn Haines
Mira, Sep 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780778324171
Since her daughter died two years ago, reporter Carson Lynch numbs the grief with vodka and work. Her career in the balance, Carson returns home to Biloxi, Mississippi hoping to regain her equilibrium on the local newspaper. Her assignments are minor league but palpable by her night time partner, a bottle of vodka.
However, a potential international story surfaces when five women wearing bridal veils and missing their ring finger are found buried in a parking lot; the work of a serial killer years ago. Soon afterward more corpses are found in the identical condition of those found buried in the parking lot. As the Biloxi police investigate the homicides, Carson does likewise.
Carson Lynch is terrific as she provides the audience with a first person investigative Noir in the vividly described setting of post Katrina Biloxi. She makes the whodunit fun to read as still struggles with her loss, which is only numbed by imbibing yet when she gets involved in what appears to be either a copy cat serial killer or a second round of homicides, she turns professional. Readers will enjoy her amusing dark asides and her dangerous investigative escapades on the streets of Biloxi.
Harriet Klausner
Blood Eagle
Robert Barr Smith
Medallion, Oct 2007, 24.95
ISBN 9781933836102
In 1965 divided West and East Germany serve as one of the fronts in the Cold War. Whereas the western allies adhere to the Containment Doctrine, the Soviet Union wants to unite the country as part of their bloc. Others also want to unite Germany with the deadly neo-Nazi Fatherland Party using terrorism to try to bring down the fledgling democracy.
In one bombing the wives and children of US Army Major Tom Cooper and British SAS Captain Simon Berwick died. Both men vowed to insure that vigilante justice brought by them to the perpetrators occur, as their moral codes have been destroyed making life meaningless. They have the opportunity when they are assigned to find three elderly Germans who the Fatherland Party leaders seek for their roles in the alleged suicide of Hitler’s niece and mistress Geli Raubal in 1931 in his flat with his gun.
This is an action-packed thriller that grips readers who ignore the plausibility index and willingly accept contemporary terrorism activity in 1965. The fast-paced story line focuses mostly on the two numbed NATO soldiers, but also flashes back to 1931 and 1951 when key historical events (to this plot) happened. It is fascinatingly that the western military pair has no scruples since their families were murdered while the neo-Nazis believe in the values of the Fourth Reich; this leads the audience to wonder about adhering to one’s values. Fans of over the Berlin Wall thrillers will appreciate this entertaining race across Germany in which there are no heroes as all the players assume that everyone including themselves are expendable pawns.
Harriet Klausner
Sword of God
Chris Kuzneski
Jove, Oct 2007, $7.99, 336 pp.
ISBN 9780515143560
The MANIAC Special Forces are an elite ops team who do wet work in the field; their members consist of the best men from all branches of the armed forces. Jonathan Payne, a business man who was once a MANIAC leader and ex-soldier P.J. Jones who works for his company are visited by Colonel Harrington who tells them that a covert member Trevor has disappeared.
The colonel hopes Payne and Jones can find him or at least learn what happened to him. They are flown to Jejo Island where Trevor was last supposed to be running black ops. They find a blood splattered cave that looks like a slaughter house. An eight year old boy was in the cave and sees the blood everywhere in the cave. When Payne and Jones catch up with them the boy tells then what he has seen and heard that caused American soldiers to wipe out a village on the island. Using the information the boy gives them, they fly to Mecca to prevent an incident that would anger every Muslim and demand a Jihad for the destruction of the United States.
SWORD OF GOD is an over the mountain action packed thrill a minute novel that is reminiscent of the works of Jack Higgins and tom Clancy. The scariest think about this novel is that it is believable as it seems a modern day Crusades appears inevitable. The friendship and trust that Payne and Jones share after much work is touching and adds a measure of humanization as they play their part against the stage of world events.
Harriet Klausner
The Secret Cardinal
Tom Grace
Vanguard, Oct 2007, $24.95
ISBN: 9781593154561
Nolan Kilkenny still mourns the loss of his wife Kelsey and their son Toby, but his father and close family friend the Cardinal Librarian of the Holy Roman Church Malachy Donaher arrange for him to modernize information flow. Kilkenny assumes the real mission is not to make more efficient and effective the link between the Vatican Library and the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, but as an excuse to get him out of his home in Ann Arbor: it worked as he is in the Vatican.
However, dying Pope Leo XIV wants to use Kilkenny’s other skills honed by his years as a US Navy SEAL as the Pontiff informs him that an atrocity has occurred in China against the outlawed underground church. Kilkenny doubts the veracity of the report as he figures if several hundred have been killed or just jailed, it would have made the TWISTED WEB of the Internet in QUANTUM time. However, he agrees to help bring to the Vatican the incarcerated Bishop of Shanghai Yin Daoming, who has spent three decades in prison for failing to denounce the Church; and who the Pope made a Cardinal twenty years ago in secret. Kilkenny begins an over the top plan using state of the art weapon and computer technology to perform the impossible mission. Competent Chinese Ministry of State Security intelligence agent Liu Shing-Li plans to prevent Kilkenny’s dirty dozen from succeeding.
Kilkenny’s latest escapade is a fabulous thriller that rotates the mission with the Vatican preparing for the papal succession that appears imminent. The key to the exciting story line is the formidable opponent as Liu is an intelligent capable adversary who has a strong team supporting him. Although the Vatican segue is well written and fascinating, those fans who prefer a thrill a page will find the interlude slowing down this suspense filled action-packed tale as Kilkenny is a BIRD OF PREY.
Harriet Klausner
Fools Rush In
Ed Gorman
Pegasus, Sep 2007, $24.00
ISBN: 9781933648323
In June 1963 in suburban Black River Falls, Iowa, Judge Esme Anne Whitney assigns attorney and private investigator Sam McCain to end the shenanigans of a blackmailer who may derail the reelection of white Senator Williams, whose daughter is seeing a Negro David Leeds. Sam goes to the cabin of the extortionist photographer Richie Neville only to find him dead from two close-up shots to his face and nearby also killed is Leeds.
The American heartland has not been directly impacted by the civil rights movement that has the Freedom Riders all over the south and the nation listening to Negro demands for equality in DC. In Iowa, Sam quickly realizes just below the surface of calm lies plenty of anger and resentment as a black male does not date a white female. However, he also sees another scenario possible as Sam finds wads of money and photos of other victims; he ponders whether one chose to make remittance by murdering the blackmailer with the Negro being at the wrong place at the wrong time. The police want him to stay out of their case although he expects some sort of whitewashing of the truth.
Sam’s seventh song titled civil rights era mystery (see BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO and EVERYBODY’S SOMEBODY’S FOOL) is a terrific whodunit. However, it is the small town relatively serene Iowa backdrop that enables the audience to witness the demands for freedom in 1960s America; this seemingly out of the way from the prime civil rights focus allows readers to understand the scope of the movement. Ed Gorman once again combines a fine murder investigation with a touch of nostalgia inside of the grand scale of the local, regional, and national freedom marches that changed America.
Harriet Klausner
Perfidia
Elspeth McKendrick
Love Spell, Sep 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780505527394
In 1939 Sophie de Havilland left London to leave her past behind her. She traveled to Berlin, Germany to live with her aunt. However, she is amazed as to how far Hitler and the Third Reich rebuilt a country that was reeling from the Great War and subsequent peace and world Depression.
She enjoys the night life especially the cabarets in swinging Berlin with the handsome SS officers, but also hears stories of atrocities by inhumane people. Her aunt had warned her to go back to England but Sophie failed to heed what she now believes is sage advice. She begins to think of the Nazis as murderous demons especially these out of the world SS hunks that Himmler ordered to procreate with Aryan females; she had once desired these perfect male specimens. Desperate she turns to a blue eyed half-American for help in escaping the murderous treacherous regime, but begins to have doubts about he is who he claims to be as she considers he may be undercover Gestapo seeking to find doubters.
PERFIDIA is an entertaining WWII romantic suspense that grips the audience from the moment the Nazis invade Poland and never lets up until the final attempt to escape the violent regime. The story line is fast-paced as Sophie lands in one mess after another while too easily rescuing friends from the invincible all mighty Gestapo, who are every where, yet unable to deal with an inexperienced young female. Still historical romance fans will enjoy this vivid strong look from inside the Third Reich as seen mostly through the eyes of a former admirer who observing first hand the atrocities becomes an enemy of the state.
Harriet Klausner
The Bone Garden
Tess Gerritsen
Ballantine, Oct 2007, $25.95
ISBN: 9780345497604
After her divorce, Julia Hamill buys a fixer-upper in Weston, Massachusetts. While working in the garden, she digs up a skeleton. She is curious to learn who was buried here in apparently the early nineteenth century. A relative of the previous owner informs Julia that he possesses letters and other memorabilia from the lady who resided there for many years. They might obtain answers if they go through the zillion boxes he owns.
In 1830 Rose Connolly watches her sister die of child birth fever and is told to protect and hide her niece Maggie. Rose works hard to provide the best for the child at a time when Boston is besieged by the West End Reaper killer. Rose sees the killer and is aided by Harvard medical School student Norris Marshall who is awed by her courage. Norris witnesses the killer take another victim. He is found by the Watch near the corpse. Everyone assumes Norris is the West End horror except for loyal Rose who vows to prove the love of her life is innocent.
This historical thriller is different in style, tone, and setting than any previous work of Tess Gerritsen. Readers will quickly realize how much historical research has occurred as THE BONE GARDEN brings to life 1830 Boston through police corruption considered acceptable as the norm, horrific working conditions out of a Dickens novel, and the Harvard Medical School whose ethics is quit different than that of today. The characters, especially Rose and Norris seem believable partially because of the gothic-like atmosphere that enable the audience to care about them as it seems the police and the killer are coming for them.
Harriet Klausner
Blue Justice
Illona Haus
Pocket, Oct 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780743458108
Baltimore Police Department vice detective Micky Lutrell is currently posing as a hooker busting Johns with her partner Detective Jack Macklin nearby. She catches the attention of Daryl Eugene Wardell who smells of pig and rides a red pickup truck. He has lesions on his arms, but that does not prevent him from kidnapping Micky as he done with scores of other women. He tortures them, rapes them, and incarcerates them in his pigpen in a remote area where no one else lives.
Detective Kay Delaney is in charge of the task force quickly assembled to rescue one of their own. Her old sergeant shows her files of missing and dead prostitutes with witnesses claiming the John smelled like a pig. Kay finds a DNA sample from blood on the ground where apparently Micky fought her abductor; it matches up with that taken from other rape and torture cases. Kay’s prime partner is her former lover Danny Finnerty. Both understand that time is running out for Micky and they must concentrate on finding her before they concentrate on dealing with personal issues.
The third Kay Delaney “blue” police procedural (see BLUE MERCY and BLUE VALOR) is a pulse pounding tale that keeps readers on edge as the action never decelerates while the clock is running out. Ignoring their awkward dysfunctional personal relationship, Finn and Kay make a great police team as they work towards one common goal, rescuing Micky; but in spite of their superior combined efforts to save a peer, the odds of success page by page shrink dramatically. Although Daryl is the typical psychopathic deranged serial killer even with his pig deodorant, BLUE JUSTICE will appeal to fans of Nancy Taylor Rosenberg and Patricia Cornwell, Illona Haus provides a strong suspense filled thriller.
Harriet Klausner
Die for Me
Karen Rose
Grand Central, Sep 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780446616911
In Philadelphia, Warren Keyes wakes up to the smell of disinfectant ammonia, his hands and feet tied up, and little light coming from a torch on the wall of what he believes is a cave. Panicking until he hears the voice of Ed Munch, who informs him to drink some water because he needs his throat wet when his prisoner begins screaming.
Eight days later Police Detectives Vito Ciccotelli and Nick Lawrence lead the homicide investigation into what looks like a religious ritual murder of a Jane Doe found in a nearby field. Knowing they need special help as they dig for potentially other bodies, PPD brings in archeologist Sophie Johannsen, who realizes, as she sees the victims’ remains, the culprit was torturing them with medieval inquisition gadgets. Vito admires Sophie's intelligence but also is attracted to her. Meanwhile the killings continue as the culprit seeks the perfect scream from death to make his next video game seem virtually real, but needs one more expendable person to be his warrior queen; perhaps a brilliant medieval archeologist will do.
From the opening killer sequence to the climax, DIE FOR ME is an exhilarating action-packed serial killer police procedural with a romantic subplot that feels a bit out of place although it adds to the tension as the murders turn personal for Vito. The story line is fast-paced and filled with twists in a deadly triangle as the killer sets up the final scream being the archeologist. Karen Rose provides another terrific suspense thriller.
Harriet Klausner
Written in Bone
Simon Beckett
Delacorte, Oct 2007, $24.00
ISBN: 9780385340052
The Scottish police ask forensic anthropologist Dr. David Hunter to assist their investigation into a fiery death on Runa, a remote Hebridean island, as they have no expert available to look at the crime scene at this time. All that remains of the victim besides ash and bone are feet and one hand; the shack where the person died has no signs of a fire.
Dr. Hunter, Police Sergeant Fraser, and Constable Duncan travel to Runa, a small island community whose residents live off the ocean and visiting tourists. However, Hunter and the two cops accompanying him find the island inhospitable when storms batter Runa and communications to the mainland are completely cut off. Retired chief inspector Brody, who found the first corpse, assists the outsiders while the death count rises yet the islanders refuse to cooperate with the mainlanders.
Although the motive for the murder seems pathetic, Simon Beckett provides a terrific atmospheric police procedural. The story line is fast-paced with Hunter and his cohorts struggling to gain cooperation from the locals even with one of them assisting the inquiry. Filled with twists, it is us vs. them attitude that makes for a wonderful deep whodunit.
Harriet Klausner
Isabella Moon
Laura Benedict
Ballantine, Oct 2007, $24.95
ISBN: 9780345497673
It has been two years since nine years old Isabella Moon disappeared and the failure to resolve the case eats at Sheriff Bill Delaney. Rationalizing that these things do not happen in quaint Carystown, Kentucky fails to lift the despondent law enforcement official.
No one is more surprised than newcomer Kate Russell when she sees the ghost of Isabella; she follows the spirit to the spot where the little girl was buried. It takes tremendous will power for Kate to inform Bill what she saw as she has dark secrets that could lead to her arrest. Initially Bill assumes Kate is a flake, but he cannot get her statement out of his mind; so reluctantly he digs at the spot she mentioned and uncovers the corpse. Clues lead to Paxton Birkenshow, a blue blood with plenty of money. He is seeing Kate’s best friend Francie, a black woman who does not want their relationship made public as her mother believes he is weak. Paxton and Kate mutually despise each other, but she has other woes besides being a suspect in the Isabella murder; her dangerous secret has come to town to reclaim her. These secrets keep Bill busy while changing his life forever.
This is a refreshing original mystery that occurs in a twenty-first century Peyton Place like town. There are many key interesting characters with some providing a third person point of view that moves the exciting story line forward with a reasonable degree of believability and understanding. ISABELLA MOON is a multifaceted police procedural intertwined with subplots that come together to forge a well written recommended whodunit.
Harriet Klausner
Midnight Rambler
James Swain
Ballantine, Oct 2007, $24.95
ISBN: 9780345475466
Jack Carpenter was once the chief investigator of the Broward County Missing Persons Unit. He went after sexual predators preying on throwaways and runaways while also trying to help the lost youngsters when he could. Eight girls that Jack assisted have disappeared; working the case leads Jack to Simon “Midnight Rambler” Skell. Melinda the prostitute insists Simon tortured her and held her prisoner. Simon was convicted of killing a hooker; although no body was found or any bodies of the missing eight.
That case cost Jack his career as he was forced to resign due to using excess force; his marriage also collapsed subsequently. Skell is doing hard time, but new evidence surfaces when the victim he was convicted of killing is found in a shallow grave on her sister’s land. Her pimp is accused of the homicide because he lives there; Skell is to be released and freed to go after Melinda and Jack unless the former detective can stop him first as the authorities choose to ignore his plea to keep her safe. When Melinda vanishes just after a shocking radio announcement, Jack goes after pedophile serial killers to rescue her or die trying.
James Swain, known for his Tony Valentine mysteries, writes a riveting stand alone thriller starring a fascinating character; who the world believes is a washed up loser. However, Jack remains confident that he is right about Skell and sets out to affirm his theory with solid proof regardless of the danger he faces. One action scene follows another in rapid machine gun style giving readers no respite to catch one’s breath. Although over the top, the vile villains and the courageous man makes for a one sitting gripping read as High Noon comes to Florida.
Harriet Klausner
The Queen of Bedlam
Robert McCammon
Pocket, Oct 2007, $16.00
ISBN 9781416551119
In 1703 in Manhattan a serial killer frightens the community; no one in the bustling city wants to talk about the incident known as the “Thing That No One Spoke Of”. Everyone fears that this unknown Masker dubbed that by the Printmaster following the murder of the doctor. The belief is he or she is everywhere and will overhear discussions that may make you the next victim.
Twenty-three year old Matthew Corbett clerks for the New York office of the London based Herrald Agency, whose mission is to solve problems. He feels like the sheep following the clues left behind by a predatory wolf as he fumbles and stumbles his way into crime scenes. He turns somewhat nauseous when he finds the corpse of someone he loathes, pedophile Eben Ausley, orphanage headmaster where Matthew was raised. As he reluctantly continues his vigil, Matthew believes the motive resides in an asylum where “the Queen of Bedlam” lives in blissful amnesia, but the Masker remains anonymous as more murders occur.
Just a few years have passed since the two volumes of SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD, but the adventures of magistrate clerk Matthew Corbett continue this time in his home city instead of the Carolinas. Matthew remains a fresh protagonist as his bumbling amateur sleuthing brings vividly alive early eighteenth century colonial New York City. The story line is fast-paced as the young hero and his partners try to unmask a brilliant serial killer leaving the audience satiated yet also joyfully implying more to follow.
Harriet Klausner
Empire Rising
Sam Barone
Morrow, Oct 2007, $25.95
ISBN 9780060892463
In 2500 BC in Mesopotamia, the Alur Meriki warrior chieftain Thutmose-sin declares to his brutal pillaging followers that the farming village of 2000 residents on the Tigris Orak must be destroyed as it imposes on their lifestyle by defying the natural order. Instead these “dirt-eater” farmers led by former barbaric warrior Eskkar and his enslaved mistress Trella defeat the mighty army saving the city (see DAWN OF EMPIRE).
The war hero and his now wife rule Orak still struggle with nomadic raiders who Eskkar and Trella believe must be defeated in order for the city to flourish and expand. He takes an expedition north while sending another troop to the south. The Egyptian trader Korthac has plans to take control of the city from within while the warrior ruler is out conquering. Korthac sends assassins to kill Eskkar and loyal warrior bandits to ambush the southern Akkadian force. He captures the pregnant Lady Trella while using stealth and more assassination to destroy the protectors of the city left behind. He almost has control of the city, which means it is time to kill Trella, who is of no value once the devious Korthac consolidates his rule. However, one failure unbeknownst to the scheming Egyptian is that Eskkar lives with plans to save his wife and his city.
This terrific Early Bronze Age historical sequel continues the adventures of Trella and Eskkar at a point when civilization is taking its first steps from the cradle. The story line is fast-paced and filled with plenty of third millennium BC action especially the battles. However, this fine ancient historical belongs to the sense of time and place as the reader will believe you are there.
Harriet Klausner
Who’s Kitten Who?
Cynthia Baxter
Bantam, Oct 2007, $6.99, 336 pp.
ISBN 9780553590340
Veterinarian Jessica Popper has a unique practice on Long Island in which she doesn’t have an office but a clinic on wheels so she can care for her patients where it’s convenient for them on their turf. She can use less stress in her personal life because she just got engaged to Nick and is afraid it won’t last. When his parents come to visit, she and her future mother in law clash so Nick feels they need some time apart.
Luckily, Jessica has something to keep her mind occupied; a speaking part in a community theatre that is scheduled to go to Broadway. The writer and star of the show Simon Wainwright is found murdered in a trunk, his head bashed in. Jessica’s best friend and leading lady who cared for Simon asks her to find the killer which is not easy because she is dealing with thespians who know how to fake their emotions. However, the killer is watching Jessica, warning her off and if she doesn’t listen, she will be the next victim.
WHO’S KITTEN WHO? is a humorously entertaining amateur sleuth mystery especially the scenes with the heroine and her feline mother-in-law. This tale contains a finely developed mystery because there are many suspects with motives who want the victim dead. There is enough action to keep readers absorbed in the storyline but it is the characters who make this who-done-it an interesting tale as the various personalities more often squabble than work together.
Harriet Klausner
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