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See the Living Crocodiles By Conrad Voss Bark Endeavour Press Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date: March 24, 2016 Review With a hero as yummy as James Bond and an enthralling, fast paced plot, See the Living Crocodiles is an espionage thriller that shouldn't be passed by. Originally published in the late sixties, See the Living Crocodiles stands the test of time. It is a pleasure to see it made available to a new generation of readers. William Holmes is as intelligent as

The Norths Meet Murder By Frances Lockridge & Richard Lockridge Open Road Media Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date: March 8, 2016 Review The Norths Meet Murder is a novel from an earlier time. Published before the onset of WWII, it blends mystery and the charm common to the screwball mysteries of the time. While very different from the more action filled mysteries of the present, The Norths Meet Murder is a pleasure to read. I'm happy to see Open Road Media releasing it i

Dark Crimes By Michael Hambling Joffe Books Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date: March 14, 2016 Review If I was a murder victim, I would want DCI Sophie Allen on the case. Not only is she intelligent and perceptive, DCI Allen is confident without being arrogant and strong without being embittered. An easy and able team leader, she doesn't take the easy out. Contrary to stereotype, DCI Allen has a loving, supportive marriage and a good relationship with her children. Her

Bitter Poison By Margaret Mayhew Severn House Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date: April 1, 2016 Bitter Poison is a delightful British cozy that focuses on the quirky residents of Frog End. The murder is almost an afterthought, taking only a small portion towards the end of the novel. It isn't even certain that the murder is a murder, as there is no evidence. Bitter Poison will appeal most to those who enjoy British comedies depicting the small dramas, gossip and rivalries o

Antiques Fate by Barbara Allan Kensington Books Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date: April 26, 2016 Review If you are looking for a fun mystery where murder and comic hijinks abound look no further. The Trash n Treasures mysteries are a delight. But be warned, if reading in public you may not be able to avoid frequent groans and bursts of laughter that will lead observers to wonder. Antiques Fate is one of the funniest books in the series so far. The writers take a uniqu

Calamity in Kent: A British Library Crime Classic By John Rowland Poisoned Pen Press Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date: April 5, 2016 Review Calamity in Kent presents a variation on the classic "locked room" mystery. A seemingly inexplicable murder takes place in a cliff railway that has been locked for the night. (A cliff railway is a transport that takes visitors from the top of the cliff down to the beach and back again.) I say seemingly because the actual solution is qu

Kernel of Truth By Kristi Abbott Berkeley Prime Crime Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date: March 1, 2016 Review Looking to read a fun new cozy - don't wait to pick up your copy of Kernel of Truth. Kristi Abbott is a gifted writer. Her vibrant and clever descriptions leap off the page, making Kernel of Truth a fun and immersive read. I enjoyed the wide variety of characters, especially Sprocket. Even if you don't care for dogs, you will fall in love with Sprocket, Rebecca

Quick and The Dead: A contemporary British mystery by Susan Moody Severn House Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date: May 1, 2016 Review On the whole, Quick and the Dead is an entertaining mystery, but it is not without weaknesses. Alexandra Quick, the central character is supposedly a former DI. Yet for a former DI, Alex seems to have little knowledge of how to conduct an investigation. She behaves more like an amateur than a seasoned professional. It is almost as if her p

Shadow's Blade By David B Coe Baen Sci Fi & Fantasy, Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date: May 3, 2016 Review If you like fantasy/noir, David B Coe's novels are right up your alley. Justis Fearsson is a weremyste (a natural magic user) of some power. At one time, he was a police detective. Now he is a PI with the usual mix of messy divorces and more serious cases. The police regularly consult him when magic may play a role in a crime. Don't expect a hard boiled story, but there

Aunty Lee’s Chilled Revenge - A Singaporean Mystery by Ovidia Yu William Morrow Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date: April 5, 2016 Review Despite a sprained ankle, Rosie "Aunty" Lee is more than ready to tackle a challenge, whether it is cooking delicious dishes for her restaurant or solving a murder. Her natural inquisitiveness and amiable but tenacious demeanor serve her well. Often she is able to elicit answers in even the most recalcitrant suspect/witness by plying the