Tag Archives: murder mysteries

Currently Reading – April 24

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There was so much going on this week, I only managed to read one book. But a good one it is. Murder in Second Position by Lori Robbins is the sequel to Murder in First Position (read last week.)

As in the first book, Leah Sidorova is faced with murder at the American Ballet Company. First to be found dead is Pavel, a new, and universally disliked, director. Leah founds him dead at the foot of the stairs and instantly comes under suspicion.

The administrative assistant, Savannah, is particularly nasty. Even Leah’s friend Olivia seems distant.

At the same time, the company is preparing for a new production. Besides practicing well known ballets, they are trying to learn a new, and in Leah’s opinion, mediocre dance. Several dancers wipe out and Leah begins to wonder if someone is targeting the company. When Savannah is murdered and then the Business Manager is attacked.

But Leah devises a way to reveal the malefactor with the assistance of her mother, her friend Gabi, Madame, and three balletomanes Leah affectionately calls the Weird Sister.

As with the first book, the birds-eyed view of the ballet world is fascinating. Recommended.

Currently Reading

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Week of April 5

Now that I have completed reading the books for my Malice Domestic panel, I am branching out. This week I read the newest book by an old and favorite author (Ann Cleeves – The Heron’s Cry), and a book by a new author, to me at least (Nancy Allen – the Code of the Hills).

Cleeves’s new book is the second in her Matthew Venn series.

Venn is called to an artist’s colony. Dr. Nigel Yeo has been stabbed to death by a shard of glass from one of his daughter’s glass creations. Dr Yeo is an unexpected victim. A good man, and very concerned about the treatment of mental health patients, he has been investigating the suicide of young man.

Then the owner of the artist’s colony is found murdered in exactly the same way. Since Matthew’s husband Jonathan is connected to this colony, he must tread carefully.

Although the Vera and Jimmy Perez mysteries are my favorites, the Matthew Venn books are very enjoyable as well.

The second of the two is The Code of the Hills by Nancy Allen.

Although she is probably more well – known as a co-writer with James Patterson, this mystery that she wrote alone is great as well. Elsie Arnold is a state prosecutor tasked with trying an incest case. Kris Taney has been accused of the rape of his two oldest daughters.

Everyone lies to Elsie, including Kris’s wife and the two daughters. Then a Evangelical group becomes involved – and Elsie is targeted. Her car is vandalized in some particularly horrible ways.

Elsie herself is not entirely admirable. She drinks too much and her choice of men leaves a lot to be desired. But she works on the case to the best of her ability.

The author, who spoke to my Sisters in Crime group via Zoom, referred to her early series as ‘Hillbilly noir” and noir it is.

Absolutely fascinating!

Currently Reading – week of April 4

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This week I finished the final two books that my panel authors will be discussion at Malice Domestic. I always enjoy finding new authors.

The first book I read was The Murderess Must Die by Marlie Wasserman.

This is a fictionalized account of a true crime. Martha Place was accused of the murder of her stepdaughter Ida and the attack with an axe on her husband William, She was poorly represented by counsel and became the first woman to be executed via the electric chair. Horrifying and Thought provoking.

The second book is one that I read when it was first released: Death at the Emerald by R.J. Koreto.

This is the third in the Lady Frances Folks Edwardian mysteries. Frances Is asked by Lady Torrance to look for her daughter Louisa, who ran away to become an actress. I really hope the author pens a few more in this series. Beautiful written and charming.

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Week of March 28.

This week I read two of the five books we will be discussing at Malice Domestic. I previously read Front Page Murder.

Cry of the Innocent, by Julie Bates, takes place right before the American Revolution begins. Widow Faith Clarke runs a tavern in Williamsburg.

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She is far more worried about her tavern and inn than about the rumblings of revolt among the citizens. Then a wealthy and influential man, widely reputed to engage in the slave trade, is murdered in her spare room. A young slave, Stella, is accused of the crime. Faith is sure the slim young woman is not guilty and embarks on an investigation of her own.

So many of the themes raised in this mystery are relevant to today. The characters are wonderfully drawn. Recommended.

The second book I read is Death on the Homefront, by Frances McNamara. This is another war book, although the war in this book is World War I.

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Tensions rise as the threat of the United States involvement in World War I increase. Emotions against Germans rise and those who fight for peace are considered traitors.

Emily Cabot is present when a young woman about to make a brilliant society marriage is murdered. Hazel is Emily’s daughter’s best friend. A waiter with a German surname is arrested; public emotion against the Germans is rising. A civilian run force is trying to find spies and saboteurs, and attacking anyone they feel are treasonous. At the same time, violent worker protests are threatening bombings.

Emily watches with fear and trepidation as her adult children are caught up in the events, making dangerous choices.

Recommended.

Currently Reading

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week of March 21.

The first book I read this week was The Bluff by John Dedakis.

Another in the Lark Chadwick series. Lark in invited to anchor a news show at the local television station at the same time one of the students in her journalism class is hired by editor Lionel. They are assigned a land scam story in which a large number of senior have been defrauded of plots of land.

As they investigate, Lark begins to read the diary left by Lionel’s daughter Holly. Both Lionel and his wife Muriel were devastated by Holly’s death in a climbing accident.

But Lark begins to suspect the accident was really murderer.

The characters are well drawn and the mysteries are captivating. Recommended.

The second book I read is Betrayal at Ravenswick.

Fiona Figg works for British Intelligence during World War I. She is sent to Ravenswick in disguise as a man, Dr Vogel, to confirm whether a man staying there is actually a German spy. Shortly after his/her arrival, a murder occurs at the ‘Big House”. Fiona can’t help herself. Despite being told not to involve herself in local matters, she begins to investigate.

Because of her interference, she becomes a suspect and has to be extracted by way of a phony arrest.

Glad to return to her woman’s role, she continues her volunteer work at the hospital. Captain Clifford, on the scene at Ravenswyck and now also assigned to British intelligence, displays an interest in Fiona. She is able to manipulate him into finding evidence and clearing the accused innocent man.

My main problem is that the mystery at Ravenswyck disappears when Fiona returns to London and is only reintroduced towards the end. It felt like another book was sandwiched into the middle.

Next week, I will be discussing the books of my panelists. I will be moderating a panel: Historical; the Rapture of Research, at Malice Domestic on April 22. The conference, the first in=person since 2019, will run from April 21 through April 25. I am looking forward to it. I always love finding new authors and what could be better than talking about books?

Currently Reading – week of Dec 7

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Last March, after the Sinsters in Crime Chapter the Mavens of Mayhem hosted their third annual Murderous March Conference, I picked up several of the books written by participants.

A Darker Shade by Laura K. Curtis, and the Curse of the Braddock Brides by Erica Obey were romantic suspense. Throwbacks to an earlier era when that was practically all I read. Both were charming and fun although the Curtis book had more of the gothic vibe.

A Darker Shade is a ghost story. Molly Allworth has been in service since leaving college. Now, her finances are precarious. When the agency offers her a post in Maine, she jumps at it. Soon she is in a remote house in Maine, caring for a little girl who claims she saw her mother’s ghost before she stops speaking all together. And Molly soon realizes something terrible is going on. The master of the house, Nathaniel Prescott, dismisses any belief in the supernatural. As for Molly, as winter closes in the the events grow more dangerous and frightening, even her attraction to Nathaniel may not make her stay.

The Curse of the Braddock Brides was instantly appealing since it takes place in the Hudson Valley, not to far from where I live. Libba Wadsworth is outspoken and knows her own mind, a bluestocking in the vernacular of the times. He4r family has already been dogged by scandal and now Libba, with her cutting remarks, pushes away all the vacuous suitors who apply for her hand. Then she meets two men, Lord Hardcastle, in want of a wealthy wife, and the far more appealing, but rakish, Will Ransome. Are either who they claim to be?

Great fun!

Currently Reading

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In the Irish Hostage, Bess travels to Ireland to serve as a maid of honor in a wedding. That wedding, does not go forward, however, since the groom is abducted and feared dead. Another death, which appears to have no relation at al to the disappearance of the groom, occurs nearby.

The description of the Irish Troubles (the novel takes place not long after 1916) is absolutely captivating and Todd does a wonderful job of making the reader feel Bess’s emotions: attraction to one of the Irish men, fear for her safety and more.

In a Fatal Lie, Ian Rutledge investigates the murder of a man but his investigation rapidly become so much more. The victim was hunting for his young daughter, abducted from her pram. What had he discovered before his murder? Another winner from Todd, although Hamish plays a smaller role.

I also want to note the death of Caroline Todd, one half of the writing duo with her son Charles, at 86. The new Bess Crawford and Ian Rutledge had already been turned in. It remains to be see what happens to the characters now.

Murderous March 2021

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The conference begins tomorrow at 1 pm. Free but registration is required.

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2021

(Note: All times are Eastern)

1.00 – 2.00 pm

Pitch Workshop – moderator Jenny Milchman *

What Agents Want & How to Give It to Them
Figuring out how to woo an agent or small press editor can be as puzzling as a good mystery. In this informal session, writers will receive an overview of the publishing process today, learn how to describe their book and themselves as writers, and discover the secret to a difficult-to-turn-down pitch.

2.15 – 3.45 pm

Master Class I – Sujata Massey (Guest of Honor) *

A Journalistic Approach to Writing a Novel: How to Add the Right Details Without Becoming an Encyclopedia
Sujata will break down the journalism techniques she uses for creating pictures on the page, weaving real facts with the fictitious. She’ll also give tips on how to cultivate valuable sources in government and academia and the importance of sensitive representation of characters with different cultural backgrounds.

4.00 – 5.30 pm

Master Class II – Alison Gaylin (Special Guest)

Creating Lead Characters: Series versus Standalone
From hardboiled crime-solvers to noir antiheroes to the unreliable narrators of psychological suspense, compelling lead characters are a key element in crime fiction. We’ll discuss how to create protagonists that are multi-faceted, surprising and real – whether they’re driving one story or an ongoing series.

6.00 – 7.00 pm

Meet-the-Authors Cocktail Hour
Authors will introduce their series or latest book and present a brief reading. Bring your favorite drink!

Saturday, begins 10 am EST.

10.00 am                     Welcome and Conference Overview by Frankie Y. Bailey, President,  Mavens of Mayhem

10.30 – 11.30 am         Historical Mysteries Panel – Shakers, Quakers, Revolutionaries, and Depression-era cops. Journey with us to exciting mysteries of the past

11.45 am – 12.45 pm      Short Stories and Other Shorts Panel – No matter where you are on your writing journey, short fiction presents an opportunity to try something new, refine your craft, and have the satisfaction of writing “the end” after just 10,000 words. Tune in as these authors share their insights and inspirations behind writing short fiction, and tips on getting started and where to submit.

1.00 – 2.00 pm              A Conversation with our special guests Sujata Massey and Alison Gaylin 

Don’t miss this lively and informative chat with our honored guests.     Moderator – Elaine Viets *

2.15 – 3.15 pm             Gothic Romance and Romantic Suspense Panel – Step away from the comfort of your armchair and flirt with danger as this panel delves into the darkly alluring genres of Gothic Romance and Romantic Suspense.

3.30 – 4.30 pm             Police Procedurals: Fact or Fiction Panel – Ripped from the headlines!  Go behind the scenes and learn how to turn your police procedurals into page-turners as four experts from the field talk about how murder is handled in real life.

4.45 – 5.45 pm             Pathways to Publication Roundtable – This isn’t your grandmother’s publishing world! Getting a book published has changed drastically over the past decades.  Join this panel as they discuss the variety of paths to publication available to authors today.

5.45 pm                       Wrap-up

PITCHES

Publisher Harriette Sackler (Level Best Books) and agent Josh Getzler (HG Literary) will take pitches at a time and date TBA. Indicate on your registration form if you wish to pitch your manuscript. You will be contacted.

Death in the Great Dismal -Goodreads Giveaway

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I am so excited to announce a giveaway for my new book: Death in the Great Dismal. Will and Lydia travel south, to the Great Dismal swamp, They have been asked to rescue Ruth, a woman taken from Maine and sold down south. She has escaped to a village in the heart of the swamp and is living there with other fugitives.

Of course, Will and Lydia are in the village no more than a few days when the first murder occurs.

The Giveaway ends the first week of January.

Epidemics – Smallpox

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In almost every Will Rees mystery, I include at least one profession and one illness. In Simply Dead, for example, I studied hoop making (for barrels) and lumbering. One of the characters is severely ill with diabetes.

In A Circle of Dead Girls, tuberculosis was the disease of choice. Because the story is set against the early days of the circus, I included details about wagons and early magic tricks.

In Will Rees Number 10, A Murder of Principle, I am including smallpox. Like Covid-19, smallpox was a viral disease and greatly feared.

The initial symptoms were similar to the flu, Covid-19 and many other viral diseases: fever, muscle pain, fatigue and headache. Before the distinctive rash erupted, small reddish spots appeared on mucous membranes of the mouth, tongue, and throat. 

The characteristic skin rash form within two days after the reddish spots on the mucous membranes. The rash was formed of pustules with a dot (that became filled with fluid) in the center. These spots scabbed over and then the scabs fell off, usually resulting in scarring.

The origin of smallpox is unknown although the theory says the virus developed in certain African rodents 60,000 or so years ago. The earliest evidence of human illness dates to the third century BCE with Egyptian mummies It is a lethal disease with a fatality rate for the ordinary kind of about 30 percent. Higher among babies. The Malignant and Hemorrhagic forms are over ninety percent fatal. Occurring in outbreaks, it killed hundreds of thousands, including at least six monarchs in Europe. In the twentieth century it is estimated to have killed 300 million alone. As recently as 1967, 15 million cases occurred worldwide.

In 1796, Edward Jenner discovered that milkmaids who had contracted cowpox, a much less serious disease, did not come down with smallpox. He began a trial and proved that inoculation with cowpox prevented smallpox. Inoculation with the live virus had already begun but, although the disease tended to be less severe and less fatal, some people still died. The cowpox was safer.

Later, the vaccine was made of the killed virus. In Great Britain, Russia, the United States vaccination was practiced. However. My father contracted small pox as a toddler and lived to tell the tale. I am old enough to remember my smallpox vaccination and still bear the scar on my upper arm.

A concerted global effort a to eradicate smallpox succeeded with the last naturally occurring case in 1977. (The last death was in 1978. A researcher contracted the disease from a research sample.) WHO officially certified the eradication of smallpox in 1980.