FMAM MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS
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September 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 childen and Newton’s daughter Lisa is having a really rought time adapting ti 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 excllent 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 embezzeled about five million dollars. By the time Jack found her she had ODed and died in his arms. The money was never found. He left the FBI due to a physical condition – he shakes, at times uncontraollably. Tics.
Milo Harper, a very rich man and reseracher, 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 thrid nightmare death occurs, the possibility that someone has breeched the records and is killing particiapnts occurs to Jack.
In the meantime a strnage 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 sherriff and offfers unique assistance to Jack.
To further complicate matters, two FBI agents decide that Jack does know where the money is and the harrassment 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 charatcer 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 greeding ex-husband Helen Hawthorne has changed her name and is living low. She has landed in Fort Lauderdale and working in one of the chicest 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 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
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, Santanna 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 adminstrative 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 investiagte further? Why was Santanna 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 reawakeing 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
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