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Keller's Fedora by Lawrence Block Subterranean Press Sci Fi & Fantasy Pub Date 30 Apr 2017 Review Putting on a new hat means trying on a new profession. In Keller’s case that means doing a bit of detective work before getting his hands dirty. Kill the lover of a philandering wife, no problem. Discover who that lover is, well that is more of a challenge. (Especially since the wife is a nymphomaniac with a capital N). Being a hitman comes naturally, a detective not so muc

Fires & Murmur by Lorenzo Mattotti, Jerry Kramsky Dover Publications Comics & Graphic Novels Pub Date 15 Feb 2017 Review Absolutely gorgeous. Fires and Murmur is expressionist art in the form of a surreal graphic novel. The paired stories are tantalizing, if disturbing, dreams that stir the imagination and linger in memory. Reading was like gazing at a piece of art. I found myself pausing, repeatedly looking back and thinking about what I’ve seen. Fire and Murmur is b

Four Stars For Danger by John Burke Endeavour Press Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 24 Feb 2017 Review Four Stars for Danger is a pretty good thriller with just a touch of the gothic. It is important to realize that this is a reprint of an older title, otherwise you might be a bit put off by the chauvinism. Ellen Sawyer may be the lead character, but it is her male support who manages to solve all the intellectual aspects of the puzzle as well as guides her out of the physi

Dancing with Death A country house mystery by Amy Myers Severn House Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 01 May 2017 Review Dancing with Death is an excellent period cozy that takes the form of a classic manor house murder mystery. During a house party Ghost Hunt, a guest is found murdered. As the suspects number among the fashionable elite, scandal must be minimized. Naturally, Lord and Lady Ansley have their doubts about the competency of the police. As a result, Chef Nell Dru

Death of a Ghost by M. C. Beaton Grand Central Publishing Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 21 Feb 2017 Review I always enjoy the Hamish Macbeth mysteries, but I have to say that Beaton has outdone herself with her newest novel. Death of a Ghost is fantastic. As police Sergeant in rural Scotland, Hamish Macbeth has to rely on his wits and his knowledge of people rather than forensics. He genuinely cares about the people in his community. Hamish may lack ego and ambition, but

Except for One Thing by John Russell Fearn Endeavour Press Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 24 Feb 2017 Review I love old mysteries, so it is a pleasure to explore Endeavour Press’s publications. Except For One Thing was first released in the late 40s but is just as enthralling today. It pits the genius and ego of chemist Richard Harvey, the murderer, against the determination and persistence of Chief Inspector Garth. Even better, the killer takes part in the investigation.

Borrowed Souls: A Soul Charmer Novel Chelsea Mueller Talos Sci Fi & Fantasy Pub Date May 2 2017 Review Borrowed Souls has some potential. It is has an original premise. (Souls can be rented so that the stain of sin does not affect the individual- of course it does presume God is a complete idiot, in my opinion would be more interesting if people only believed it mitigated sin and instead does something different). Otherwise it is your standard urban fantasy. Girl forced

Cut To The Bone Alex Caan Mystery & Thrillers Skyhorse Publishing Pub Date : 7 March 2017 Review Cut To The Bone does just what it claims - it grabs the reader and holds them fast, proving just how vulnerable they are. Alex Caan’s debut thriller/police procedural tackles a number of modern issues, particularly the dangers of living a life online, both physical and psychological. Social media has a profound impact, and online celebrities are on the rise, but are people who t

The Case of the Curious Cook Cathy Ace Severn House Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 01 March 2017 Review The women of WISE enquiries return with another unusual case. As always, Cathy Ace’s cozy mysteries are a delightful departure from the formulaic murder mysteries frequently served to readers. These are character driven stories, with unexpected but completely believable plots. In this case, the puzzle of books being left at a bookstore leads to the discovery of miniatures

Midnight Curse Disrupted Magic, Book 1 by Melissa F. Olson 47 North General Fiction (Adult), Sci Fi & Fantasy Pub Date 07 Feb 2017 Review In the first book of the Disrupted Magic series, Melissa F. Olson goes back to focusing on her original heroine, Scarlett Bernard, nullifier of magic and supernatural clean up expert. The paranormal population of LA rely on her to keep humans from discovering the hidden supernatural world. In Midnight Curse, Scarlett discovers her friend M