Reviews: "Best American Mystery and Suspense, 2023" and "Fire-Hunter"

There are a couple new reviews of mine out in the world. Unfortunately, none of them are here, so I figured I’d point them out anyone interested enough to jump to a few websites.
     The first is a review of the terrific The Best American Mystery and Suspense, 2023, edited by Lisa Unger. It can be found at the Mystery Scene website.
     The second is a review of a cult classic (and still enjoyable) young adult title from long ago: Jim Kjegaard’s 1951 novel, Fire-Hunter. It is available at the new Jim Kjelgaard blog.
     For my U.S. readers, have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! For everyone else, have a great week!

My Reviews Elsewhere: "The Plague of Thieves Affair"

My review of The Plague of Thieves Affair is live and available at Ed Gorman’s blog. The Plague of Thieves is an historical detective novel set in late-nineteenth century San Francisco, and has the flavor of a Sherlock Holmes tale—including a Sherlock impersonator—with two whodunit mysteries and grit enough to make it interesting.

Read the review.

Purchase a copy of The Plague of Thieves Affair at Amazon.

Mystery Scene Reviews

The latest issue of Mystery Scene Magazine—No. 142—is now available at newsstands everywhere. The issue is packed (as usual). It features an in-depth article about BBC’s Foyle’s War, an interview with Robert J. Randisi, and comprehensive look at the Library of America’s Women Crime Writers of the 1940s and 1950s.

Issue No. 142 also includes two book reviews I wrote. The titles: Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo) by C. Joseph Greaves, and Ivory by Tony Park. Tom & Lucky is an historically accurate look at the 1936 trial of Lucky Luciano, and Ivory is a scorching adventure thriller set in Southern Africa. The reviews are both available online at Mystery Scene’s website—click the titles in the previous sentence.

Mystery Scene is available at many newsstands, including Barnes & Noble, and available for order at MS’s website.

My Reviews Elsewhere: "The Sundown Speech"

My review of Loren D. Estleman’s most recent Amos Walker novel, The Sundown Speech, is live and online at Ed Gorman’s blog. The setting is post 9/11; twelve or so years ago. And, as Mr. Estleman explains in the Afterword, it is an expansion of a novella he wrote as a serial for the Ann Arbor News. It is also pretty terrific.

Read the review.

Purchase a copy of The Sundown Speech at Amazon.

My Reviews Elsewhere: "High Stakes"

My review of Carolyn Hart’s enjoyable novel High Stakes is live and online at Ed Gorman’s blog. It is cold war romantic suspense with a nicely executed plot, likable characters, and a satisfying twist.

Read the review.

Purchase a copy of High Stakes at Amazon.

My Reviews Elsewhere: "Fate of the Union"

My review of Fate of the Union—the second Reeder and Rogers thriller—by Max Allan Collins and Matthew Clemens is live and online at Ed Gorman’s blog. FU—I couldn’t resist—is an entertaining, fast paced political thriller with a crowd of shady characters and a bunch of action.

Read the review.

Purchase a copy of Fate of the Union at Amazon.

My Reviews Elsewhere: "Beating the Bushes"

My review of Christine Matthews’ fine novel Beating the Bushes is available at Ed Gorman’s blog. Beating the Bushes is a smoothly written and entertaining thriller.

Read the review.

Purchase a copy of Beating the Bushes at Amazon.

My Reviews Elsewhere: "The Girl Without a Name"

For some reason Mystery Scene Magazine is allowing me to do a few book reviews for its print and online editions. The first is for Sandra Block’s entertaining novel The Girl Without a Name. It is available in Mystery Scene No. 141, and on its website. It is the first, but it won't be the last (with any luck).

Read the review. 

Purchase a copy of The Girl Without a Name at Amazon.

My Reviews Elsewhere: "The Girl with the Deep Blue Eyes"

My review of Lawrence Block’s forthcoming novel The Girl with the Deep Blue Eyes is available at Ed Gorman’s blog. The Girl with the Deep Blue Eyes is nicely plotted, very erotic (not for the sexually squeamish) noir novel with a twist to the recipe.

Read the review, and the read the book.

Purchase a copy of The Girl with the Deep Blue Eyes at Amazon. As of this moment Amazon has the hardcover available for $12.64,

My Reviews Elsewhere: "Dry Stone Walls"

I’m doing a few book reviews for Ed Gorman’s blog and my review of Robert J. Randisi’s entertaining whodunit Dry Stone Walls is live even as you read. Dry Stone Walls is the first in a new series featuring retired NYPD Captain of Detectives Truxton Lewis. It is set in Kentucky Blue Grass country. It is published by Riverdale Avenue Books.   

Read the review, and then read the book.

Purchase a copy of Dry Stone Walls at Amazon.

My Reviews Elsewhere: "The Darkness Rolling"

I’m doing a few book reviews for Ed Gorman’s blog and my review of Win Blevins’ and Meredith Blevins’ excellent mystery The Rolling Darkness is live even as you read. The Rolling Darkness introduces new series character Yazzie Goldman. It is set in Monument Valley shortly after World War 2, and features a cast filled with notable Hollywood names such as John Ford, and Linda Darnell. It is wonderfully entertaining, and taps into the Navajo culture, with a twist, much like Tony Hillerman did with his Chee and Leaphorn novels. It is published by Forge. 

Read the review, and then read the book.