Silent Knife by Shelley Freydont: Book Review

Shelley Freydont creates scenes and characters in Silent Knife that will transform even the Scoogiest. Escape to the Christmas village of your dreams in this holiday mystery of a Santa slaying and good cheer.

Overview: Christmas festivities in Celebration Bay take a turn for the worse when a Santa want-to-be is found murdered out of costume. The town's official Santa is a major suspect. Is this a case of jealousy between two Santa's or could a deeper secret lurk in this snowy Norman Rockwell village? The event planner who recently moved to town has a lot on her hands to keep the holidays from turning into a public relations nightmare.

Christmas Cozy

"It was unnerving to move to a seemingly idyllic town and discover that things weren't always as peaceful as they appeared."

Review: Shelley Freydont captures a believable heroine in Liv Montgomery, the ex-New Yorker who navigates the inner workings of this town where, "...gossip could be malicious."

While the mystery is well developed and the novel brims with village atmosphere, I somehow felt like an outsider in Celebration Bay. I wanted to get to know the characters beyond their stereotypes. For example, Dolly "plump and friendly" owns Apple of My Eye Bakery and the librarian wears a shall and "tortoiseshell glasses attached by a black cord." And what about Ted? He is the able body assistant to Liv who dons reindeer sweaters and keeps a private life that remains a mystery.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed my time reading Silent Knife. The book's premise to solve a  murder around a holiday event will lead to more fun cozies I'm sure. Maybe there's romance too ahead for Liv Montgomery and that studly editor who assists her in sleuthing. I look forward to finding out!

Hawaii sighting in Silent Knife: "It's the artist's rendering of Kapua, the mischievous god of ancient Hawaii."

Snappy dialogue: "She was like a bad penny: no one could figure out how to lose her."

Mystery Rating: 8 Candy Corns for putting me in a nostalgic holiday mood.

Win my copy of Silent Knife in exchange for 1 credit on Paperback Swap. Leave a comment that you would like my gently used copy. I'll draw a name in November. Winner must buddy me on Paperback Swap and exchange a credit for the book. If you're not on Paperback Swap, join today and start sharing books.

Silent Knife by Shelley Freydont. The Berkley Publishing Group, 2013. ISBN: 9780425252383

Scalping the Red Rocks: Book Review

When I was reading Scalping the Red Rocks by Greg Lilly, I enjoyed not only the murder mystery but also the relationship between two men, Derek and Topher.

Gay alert! Yes, we're talking gay murder mystery here. Instead of taking us into the bedroom of these two men, however, the focus is on their emotional connection. Another word might be romance.

I also liked how being gay was not the focus of the book. It seemed normal and accepted behavior which it should be.

Of course the setting is Sedona which has a liberal and new age feel. I've been there and have seen its beauty. It's not hard to imagine what would happen if a big development like the one Lilly writes about, might ruin the view and community for locals. With so much disapproval by community members, it might lead to, yes, m-u-r-d-e-r.

But scalped? This is my first mystery where the dead guy ends up with a final hairdo.

Derek is the new guy in town (an outsider) and wants to solve the mystery of his real estate agent's death. Actually, it's his Aunt's agent. Derek is there to help her relocate. The dead guy had ties to the development, as does Derek, so he has a personal stake in solving the crime. Plus, Derek is the one who found the body.

Lilly writes a good mystery. The ending surprised me. And about that relationship between Derek and Topher? Well, you'll have to read the book and see for yourself if something develops between them.

What's the most unusual death you've read in a mystery?

(Scalping the Red Rocks by Greg Lilly, copyright 2010, Cherokee McGhee, ISBN 9780979969461). I'm linking this review to the GLBT 2011 Reading Challenge.

The Girl In The Green Raincoat: Review and Free Book

The Girl in the Green Raincoat
by Laura Lippman

HarperCollins/William Morrow Publishers
Copyright 2008, 158 pages, ISBN 9780061938368

Rating: 4/5

Quote from Book: "One man, three wives. Two dead, one missing."


My Plot Summary in 100 Words or Less: There's more to the missing girl in the green raincoat than private investigator Tess Monaghan ever imagined. She's watched the girl walking in the park every day with her dog. Then one day she spots the dog running through the park alone. What happened? The problem is that Tess can only watch the action from her bed. She's confined there in the final months of her pregnancy. Friends can help her do the legwork. And Tess has a strategic mind to unravel clues. But not everyone wants secrets revealed and Tess may find her pregnancy is more final than she intended.

My Reaction: Once you're in Lippman's grip there's no letting go until the climactic end. Lippman puts a new spin on Hitchcock's Rear Window and makes it her own. Told with style and plot twists even Hitchcock would find impressive.

Lippman knows how to write believable characters that readers connect with. And she can also send a chill up your spine when there's danger. I felt a roller coaster of emotions at the end.

After I finished the novel I couldn't stop thinking about the story. I finished on Tuesday and it's still lingering in my mind. There are messages to take away from the book and to learn from. One is about family and relationships. The most important message is one that I can't discuss for fear of spoiling the ending. My advice is to grab a copy of your own and see where the green raincoat takes you.

Win A Free Copy: Thanks to the slowness of media mail coming to Hawaii, I have two copies of The Girl in the Green Raincoat from the publisher. One is going to a lucky reader. Maybe you? The other stays in my private library. I'm not letting this one out of my sight. 

Limit Two Entries Per Person: Comment on this post and you're automatically entered. For an additional entry share this review on Facebook or Twitter. Leave a second comment that you've done so.

Contest is open to everyone. I'll even mail the book outside the United States. Winner to be announced on Sunday, February 6. A random number generator will select the winner.

My thanks to Trish at TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a host. Visit the TLC website for a list of blogs hosting this tour. An added Mahalo to Megan from HarperCollins for sending me the review copy.

For more information on award winning author Laura Lippman, visit her website and Facebook fan page.

Busy Body by M.C. Beaton

Busy Body
By M.C. Beaton

Minotaur Publishing, Copyright 2010
278 pages. ISBN 9780312387013

Rating: 4/5

Quote from Book: "What sinks of iniquity these little villages can be."

Have any of you read all twenty-one books in the Agatha Raisin series by M.C. Beaton? I've read seven so far and not in any particular order.

In case you've never met Agatha before, she's an ex-Londoner who now lives in the Cotswolds. Formerly head of a PR firm in London, Agatha now heads up her own detective agency. Think of her as a middle aged, more modern version of Miss Marple.

Plot Highlights

When the latest book, Busy Body, was released I decided to see what Agatha has been up to. Last time I checked she was getting married to James. Apparently it didn't work out and Agatha is alone again. I wonder if these two will ever get it right?

With her romantic life a mess and the holidays approaching, Agatha leaves England to spend Christmas in Corsica. The holiday she fantasizes doesn't materialize. Agatha throws in the towel to return to her village for Christmas.

During her brief absence a real Scrooge has been running around the village citing people for their decorations. The village can't even put up their holiday tree without being fined for safety violations.

Is it no wonder that this Scrooge ends up dead with so much animosity between him and the villagers? And the woman who may have seen his murder soon follows in the same path.

With two murders to deal with our Agatha has a lot on her plate. James makes an appearance again too but I'm not saying anything about a future romance. It's not until the next Christmas rolls around that Agatha can tie up all the loose ends.

My Thoughts

Busy Body can be read any time of year. While Christmas plays a role at the beginning and end, the plot moves between two continents over a twelve month period.

This is another fun cozy from M.C. Beaton that sparkles. With its rich character development and well thought out mystery, I was sad to see the book end. Spending time with Agatha is like visiting an old friend over tea. She's welcome in my home anytime.

If you haven't read an Agatha Raisin book you can start anywhere in the series. M.C. Beaton does a great job introducing facts from previous books. You'll catch up in no time.

What's your favorite Agatha Raisin novel?

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo: Book Review

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
by Stieg Larsson

Audio Book Read by Simon Vance

Rating: 5/5

Quote from Book: "To Sally, who showed me the benefits of the sport of golf."

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo explores Sweden's dark side. The country's cold winter landscape provides a stark backdrop for this story that kept me up at nights. I'm probably one of the last bloggers to read Stieg Larsson's compelling drama. Now I'm hooked on the series.

There are family secrets to uncover here, a mystery to solve, corruption to expose and justice to deliver. 

What happened to Harriet when she disappeared 40 years ago?

Henrik, her uncle, wants to know. He's been receiving Harriet's signature gift on his birthday, a framed flower, every year since her disappearance. Now 82, he may not have much time left to find out Harriet's fate which has alluded the authorities all of these years.

Enter Blomkvist, a journalist convicted of libel with spare time on his hands. Henrik hires him to write the family biography and secretly delve into the mystery of Harriet's disappearance.

Helping him is "the girl with the dragon tattoo," Lisbeth Salander. Only in her 20's she proves to be a formidable and brilliant researcher. Salander has a way of leaving a mark on those who do her wrong. It's all justified.

Larsson's writing is impressive.

He expertly weaves together the investigation. I was amazed how Blomkvist could identify someone in a photograph taken over 40 years ago for example.

Not only does Blomvkist and Salander solve Harriet's disappearance, they also uncover corruption, sexual violence, and clear Blomkvist's name. The violence is intense.

I listened to the audio version on Audible narrated by Simon Vance.

It was compelling and I had a difficult time hitting the stop button. I was always looking for excuses to come back and listen. Vance did an expert job reading the novel, especially the voices of the male characters.

Possible Spoiler Alert Follows: If you read the book what do you think about this question?

I asked myself what I would do if I knew the identity of a sexual predator. Would I go to the authorities to stop the violence and save lives, or remain quiet if exposure would mean jail time for a murder I committed. This is the decision one character made in the book. I won't say who.

Other Reviews:

Rose City Reader

(FTC: I signed up for a free one-month membership on Audible and downloaded the audio on my iPhone. This was the October book selection for our Lihue Library book group).

Night of the Living Deed: Book Review and Giveaway

Night of the Living Deed
By E.J. Copperman

Berkley Publishing, Copyright 2010
336 pages, ISBN 978-0425235232

Rob's Rating: 4/5

Reading Challenge: 2010 Cozy Mystery Challenge

Quote From Book: "It's disconcerting to date a man more interested in your house's architecture than your own."

Rob's Review if the AP Comes Calling:

Here's a new mystery series from the Jersey Shore featuring ghosts, a fixer-upper and guest house in the making. This well crafted cozy delivers a hauntingly good time. It won't haunt you late at night but will leave a smile on your face with its strong characters and memorable lines. If Hollywood is listening this story would be a fun sitcom; in the style of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir from the 1960's.

Rumor has it that author E.J. Copperman may be a ghost himself and channeled through acclaimed mystery writer (the very alive) Jeffrey Cohen.

My Synopsis:

Private Investigator Paul Harrison and his client Maxie Malone have two things in common; they are dead and not happy haunting Maxie's 100 year old home at 123 Seafront. 

The authorities listed their deaths as suicide but they know it was murder. How do two ghosts, with endless time on their hands, launch an investigation? Paul has the know-how but needs someone with a pulse to help.

When new owner Alison Kerby arrives, and she's able to see our two ghosts, their luck may be changing. Alison only wants to fix up Maxie's former home and reopen it as a guest house. A murder investigation is the least of her concern until she starts getting death threats too.

There are secrets about 123 Seafront that have murderous consequences. Will Alison live to perform more good deeds or will she join the ghostly duo of Paul and Maxie? Either way this trio is on a roll and I see more haunted mysteries in their future.
 
Giveaway: Win a New Copy of The Night of the Living Deed

Leave a comment on this post by midnight, June 18, and you're automatically entered. Winner will be selected by random draw. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you.

I'll accept entries from outside the USA/Canada if you have a book blog.

This giveaway is for a new paperback copy which will be sent from Barnes and Noble at my expense.

Follow Author E.J. Copperman

Join him on Facebook, Twitter or his blog.

FTC Advisory

The author had a contest for an autographed Advanced Reader's Copy. All I had to do was count the birds on the cover. I came the closest and won.

Farm Fresh Murder by Paige Shelton: Book Review and Giveaway

Farm Fresh Murder
By Paige Shelton

Berkley Publishing/Penguin Group, 2010
292 pages

Rob's Rating: 4/5

Reading Challenge: 2010 Cozy Mystery Challenge





When I find myself cooking with one hand and holding a book in the other, I know I'm reading something good. That's been my experience this week with Farm Fresh Murder by Paige Shelton.

This mystery marks the debut of a new amateur sleuth to delight farmers' market enthusiasts everywhere.

Who killed the peach vendor? 

Becca wants to know. Twice divorced, this mid-30's knockout wants to solve the crime before it damages business at Baily's Farmers' Market. She has a personal interest in the market too since her twin sister Allison is the manager.

When Becca isn't solving crimes, she grows strawberries and pumpkins on her South Carolina farm and then makes jams and preserves to sell. Joining her at the market are a lot of colorful vendors among the produce, art and bake stands. Could one of them be a murderer? Some are connected in ways Becca never knew before and a shared secret has boiled over leaving a lot of pulp to mash through.

Abner is identified as the chief suspect. This older guy grows fantastic wildflowers for the market. Abner found the body and had threatened the victim earlier. Becca is sure of his innocence but Abner is withholding information that could clear his name. Why?

Becca's sleuth power is the pectin needed to extract the facts, preserve the market, and create a thick confection of fun.

While I'm waiting for Becca's next adventure, I plan to use her recipes from the book and make jam. There's also a Lemon Meringue Pie recipe that looks to die for.

Win An Autographed Copy of Farm Fresh Murder

Courtesy of Author Paige Shelton 

Update: Contest Ended Midnight May 8. 
Winner is Molly at My Cozy Book Nook.

Visit Paige Shelton's Facebook page, website and blog.

FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy to review.

Mahu Vice: Book Review and Contest for DATW Tour

A warm Aloha to those joining me for the Detectives Around The World tour. When Jen's Book Thoughts announced the event, I jumped at the opportunity to write about my favorite Hawaii homicide detective, Kimo Kanapa'aka.

Kimo is a regular guy who happens to be gay. His character defies the stereotypes many have of gay men. Kimo can throw a punch and take one too. He lives his life openly on the police force and wants to be known as good cop rather than a good "gay" officer.

There are four books in the Mahu series and all are set on the island of Oahu. They offer not only a compelling mystery but also capture the culture of the islands and the lifestyle I love so well. Some day I hope Kimo "island hops" over to Kauai where I live to solve a crime.

"Mahu is a Hawaiian word for gay, often used in a derogatory way, but I've reclaimed it," writes author Neil Plakcy. "In my stories and novels, readers meet strong, handsome, confident gay men who embrace their sexuality."

Free Book To A Lucky Winner: Enter Here and complete the on-line form for a chance to win a new copy of the Mahu book of your choice. Choose either Mahu, Mahu Surfer, Mahu Fire or Mahu Vice. Winner will be announced on April 25. If you live outside the USA or Canada, you must have your own book review site to enter.

Mahu Vice Book Review: Kimo is taking risks with multiple partners after his break-up with fire inspector (and closeted) Mike Riccardi. Both men have hurt each other but there is still fire between them. It takes an arson and murder of a young Chinese man to reunite these men professionally. Will they be able to solve the crime that may threaten Kimo's career? There's still a lot of tension and heat between these two men that must be worked out on the side. 

Plakcy skillfully creates a realistic who-done-it with action and romance. I wasn't sure what I wanted more; to solve the mystery or to see if these two men worked things out in bed. As with each Mahu mystery, Plakcy doesn't disappoint and delivers a page turner under the hot Hawaiian sun with local cultural and surf added. It's a great escape to Hawaii.

Rob's Rating: 5/5 and I can't wait for the next book.

Meet Author Neil Plakcy: Assistant Professor of English at Broward College in South Florida. Neil is a member of Sisters in Crime, vice president of the Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America, and a contributor to gay anthologies. His Mahu Fire won the Hawaii Five-O award for best police procedural, presented by Left Coast Crime, and was a finalist for the 2008 Lambda Literary Award for best gay mystery.

Author's Website: Mahu Books. Neil is also on Facebook and Twitter.

Location, Location! Jen asked us to include something about the book's setting. In Mahu Vice, Kimo finds his mom demonstrating for Native Hawaiian rights. There's a lot of history on this subject that many don't know about. Honolulu is home to the only Royal Palace in the United States. It's named Iolani and is a must see when you're in the islands. The monarchy was overthrown by the United States in 1893 and the Queen imprisoned in the palace. President Clinton issued a formal apology to the Native Hawaiian people on the 100th anniversary of the overthrow. Native Hawaiian rights remain a sensitive and important issue in the islands (and may play a role in the next Mahu book scheduled for release later in 2010).

This post also qualifies for the 2010 GLBT Reading Challenge.

FTC Note: I purchased by copy of Mahu Vice at Borders in Lihue, Kauai.

Mahu Vice by Neil Plakcy, Alyson Books, Copyright 2009, 279 pages, ISBN 978-1-59350-111-0.

A Deadly Business by Lenny Bartulin

Running a used bookstore in Sydney is one tough business. Owner Jack Susko can land a good punch and take one too. When he's asked to locate some used poetry books his life is suddenly at risk. To further complicate matters, Jack starts a romance with a woman who may not be all that she appears.

This book is the opposite of Lorna Barrett's cozy Booktown Mystery series. Even though there is the prerequisite cat (which every bookstore needs), in this bookshop fists fly and the language gets rough. If you don't like reading the F word, this may not be your cup of tea. 

Author Lenny Bartulin does a great job developing the character of Jack Susko. I kept reading every page because I wanted to see what happened to the guy. Not to mention how poetry books could be involved in murder.

There was one thing I didn't like.  The opening chapter gave too much information. We find Jack hanging over the edge of a cliff looking up at a woman who is pointing a gun. Why reveal the sex of the person? With only several female characters in the book (not counting the cat) it became clear who was involved. There were enough twists along the way, however, that kept me involved to the end.

Bartulin puts a macho spin on running a used bookstore. It's not for the faint of heart and can be, "A Deadly Business."

Question: What type of bookstore mystery do you prefer?

Rob's Grade: A B C D

Note: I purchased my signed (used) edition of "A Deadly Business" in Australia at Gertrude and Alice Bookstore Cafe, Bondi Beach.

A Deadly Business by Lenny Bartulin, Scribe Publications Australia, copyright 2008.