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WORK TITLE: A Good Death
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.chriscollettcrime.co.uk/
CITY: Birmingham, England
STATE:
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
NATIONALITY: British
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: no2004081307
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/no2004081307
HEADING: Collett, Chris
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PERSONAL
Married; children: two.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Mystery writer; university lecturer. Former special needs teacher.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Chris Collett is the author of the popular “D.I. Mariner” mystery series. She has also worked as a teacher of children and adults with special needs, and is a university lecturer on this subject. In addition to her crime fiction, Collett is editor of the book Disability and Inclusion in Early Years Education.
The Worm in the Bud
The Worm in the Bud introduces Detective Inspector Tom Mariner, who is off duty when he decides to respond to a radio call to investigate an apparent suicide. The victim is journalist Edward Barham, found dead at his home with a suicide note and a puncture wound. It so happens that Mariner had seen Barham picking up a prostitute in a pub that night, and the detective is not entirely sure that the death is as straightforward as it appears. Checking Barham’s house, Mariner and his partner, Constable Tony Knox, discover Barham’s autistic brother, Jamie, hiding in a cupboard under the stairs.
Though Jamie must have witnessed events, he is unable to tell the police what he had seen. Mariner suspects foul play, and theorizes that Barham may have been killed because he had been investigating a local gangster. But without evidence or other witnesses, it is crucial that he find a way to communicate with Jamie–which will not be possible until the severely autistic man learns to trust the detective.
Commentators enjoyed the book’s setting in the tough post-industrial city of Birmingham, in England’s West Midlands. They also appreciated Mariner’s complexity as a police detective who has seen more than enough of humanity’s dark side without it compromising his strong moral code. By contrast, Knox provides some comic relief as a garrulous ladies’ man, but he, too, has a keen sense of justice and can be trusted to support Mariner whatever may happen. In 2017 The Worm in the Bud was republished as Deadly Lies.
Blood Money
Blood Money, the fourth “DI Mariner” book and the first to be published in the United States, examines themes including human trafficking, infertility, and animal rights. Mariner is due for a vacation with his partner, Anna, after an emotionally exhausting police raid of a site where destitute young women immigrants are being kept as sex slaves. Eager for a break after that grueling assignment, he must put his personal life aside when a baby girl, Jessica Klinnemann, is abducted from a day-care center. Among the possible suspects are a woman struggling with infertility; an advocate against day-care; and an animal rights activist whose protests have focused on the work of Jessica’s father.
Though Jessica turns up, happy and unharmed, on the doorsteps of the local church, Mariner must find out who had taken her. A writer for Publishers Weekly enjoyed the book’s complex plot and said that readers “will find a great deal to like” in the novel.
Stalked by Shadows
Mariner is assigned to two seemingly unrelated cases in Stalked by Shadows. Lucy Jarrett, a newlywed, is being harassed by disturbing emails, junk mail, and anonymous phone calls. Her husband expresses no concern, but Lucy is afraid to be alone and reports the threatening behavior to the police. Meanwhile, a woman is found dead in her home. The victim, Nina Silvado, was a ballet instructor and the widow of a police inspector whose mysterious death has remained unsolved. Her death has been made to look like a suicide, but police realize that it had actually been murder.
As they look for clues in these cases, Mariner and DC Millie Khatoon discover that these two very different cases share a connection. In a starred review, a Publishers Weekly contributor praised the book’s “clever plotting and brilliant characterization.”
Blood and Stone
Mariner becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation in the sixth book in the series, Blood and Stone. Having taken time off work to mourn the death of his lover, he is on a walking holiday in rural Wales when a dead body turns up in the woods. The local police seem suspicious of Mariner from the first, and carefully question him about his itinerary and his reasons for being in the area. More killings are uncovered, and it looks particularly bad for Mariner when the body of a fellow hiker is found, with his throat slit, in the detective’s room.
Mariner eventually manages to convince local police that he is not their man, and he sets out to help them solve the case. Clues lead him to a huge organic farm that is secretly growing marijuana and that appears connected to a Russian billionaire. A plus for Mariner is his introduction to Suzy, a historian who has taken a job researching the history of the expansive local estate on which the Russian lives. A contributor to Publishers Weekly found the book weakened by numerous minor characters and insufficiently explained plotting. But Booklist reviewer Emily Melton admired the novel’s “gripping plot” as well as its engaging and complex characters.
A Good Death
A Good Death, the eighth book in the series, focuses on the case of a house fire that has killed an elderly man. Suspecting arson, which may have been racially motivated, Mariner works to find clues. Meanwhile, a man has been reported missing, and Mariner gets that case as well. Oddly, the missing man is due to be married in two weeks. Checking the man’s apartment, Mariner find women’s garments that do not match the size worn by his petite fiancée, leading him to suspect that the suspects that the future bridegroom had been having an affair.
Busy with two puzzling cases, Mariner is also dealing with crises on the home front. He is quarreling with his partner about an issue that seems irresolvable. And his late lover’s brother, for whom he is guardian, is ill and in a nursing facility. Emily Melton, writing in Booklist, described A Good Death as a “cleverly plotted story that’s part police procedural and part philosophical consideration of assisted suicide.” A reviewer for Publishers Weekly also admired the book, noting its “fully-fledged female characters” and its sensitive handling of the theme of discrimination.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, October 1, 2013, Emily Melton, review of Blood and Stone, p. 36; November 1, 2014, Emily Melton, review of Dead of Night, p. 30; December 1, 2016, Emily Melton, review of A Good Death, p. 30.
Kirkus Reviews, October 1, 2013, review of Blood and Stone; December 1, 2016, review of A Good Death.
Library Journal, October 1, 2013, Teresa L. Jacobsen, review of Blood and Stone, p. 60.
Publishers Weekly, June 29, 2009, review of Blood Money, p. 114; May 10, 2010, review of Stalked by Shadows, p. 33; September 2, 2013, review of Blood and Stone, p. 34; November 3, 2014, review of Dead of Night, p. 89; December 5, 2016, review of A Good Death, p. 52.
ONLINE
Chris Collett Crime, http://www.chriscollettcrime.co.uk (October 16, 2017), Collett Website.
Reviewing the Evidence, http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com/ (October 16, 2017), Sharon Wheeler, review of The Worm in The Bud.
Severn House WebSite, http://severnhouse.com/ (October 16, 2017), Collett profile.*
Chris Collett
LinkedIn
#author #chris collett
#crime novelist #creator
#di tom mariner #murder
#birmingham #england uk
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Collett is a wonderful writer, subtle, clever, strong on atmosphere and character.
Yorkshire Post
Blood of the Innocents
latest news
Working with new publisherJoffe Books to revise early editions in the series. Look out for Mariner #1 revised edition, out at the end o... READ MORE >
Spent a fascinating couple of hours this week talking to Jason Dean of the West Midland fire investigation team, researching Mariner #8... READ MORE >
phentermine... READ MORE >
Great new review for Dead of Night! "From a brilliant, twisting plotline to likable and believable characters, as well as a powerf... READ MORE >
It started, as most good stories do, with an idea that wouldn't go away. To exorcise it, I wrote it down. The scene led to more scenes, and before I knew it I had the skeleton of a story. It took me a couple of years to flesh it out and a little longer to pluck up the courage to show anyone, but eventually it became The Worm in the Bud; the first outing for Detective Inspector Tom Mariner.
So what was that idea? As a special needs teacher I've worked with children and adults with autism spectrum disorder, many of whom have little or no means of communication. What would happen, I wondered, if the sole witness to a serious crime was a man with ASD who had no way of disclosing what he saw?
Why Birmingham? The obvious answer is that I have now lived here for longer than I have lived anywhere else. But perhaps my conscience played a part too. Like most people who don't know the city, I was mostly disparaging of what I understood to consist entirely of spaghetti junction, the concrete jungle of the Bull Ring and row upon row of tower blocks. I very quickly learned how wrong I was. And what Birmingham has in spades, is everything a crime writer could possibly want.
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A Good Death
The Worm in the Bud
Blood of the Innocents
Written in Blood
Blood Money
Stalked by Shadows
Blood and Stone
useful linksthecwa.co.ukthecra.co.ukwritingwestmidlands.orgbirminghamliteraturefestival.org
Servern House Amazon Sainsburys Waterstones Kobo Hachette Bookish Little Brown Book Good Reads
Chris Collett
Chris Collett grew up in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, before training, in Liverpool, as a teacher for children with learning difficulties. After graduating she moved to Birmingham to work in schools and local authority services for children with special needs and disabilities and their families. In 1983 she married and moved to Bournville, where she still lives with her husband and two children and has worked variously with children, young people and adults with learning and mental health issues.
Chris is now a university lecturer, teaching undergraduate students on subjects including special education needs, disabilities and inclusion, and equality and human rights. When she isn't working, Chris enjoys walking, badminton, photography, reading, cinema, theatre and comedy.
When asked how she became an author, Chris has said: 'By confounding my own and other people's expectations. I still can't manage to shake the idea that 'people like me' don't become writers. I think of myself as a teacher who happens to write.'
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Print Marked Items
Collett, Chris: A GOOD DEATH
Kirkus Reviews.
(Dec. 1, 2016):
COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Collett, Chris A GOOD DEATH Severn House (Adult Fiction) $28.99 2, 1 ISBN: 978-0-7278-8687-3
A burned body and a missing husband-to-be are only two of many headaches for a detective inspector.DI Tom Mariner
and his girlfriend, Suzy Yin, are house hunting, though not for shared space. They both know they're better off as
weekend lovers, Tom in his Birmingham home and Suzy wherever she can find more space for her book collection than
in her postgrad student flat. Estate agent Gaby Boswell, who promises to help, turns up at a reception for Mariner's
sergeant, who belongs to Gaby's church. That night, Mariner, awakening to smoke, hastens across the canal to help
rescue Salwa Shah and her two children. But he can't save her father, who's trapped in his bedroom. Salwa, whose
husband is away on business in Sana'a, Yemen, says that she and her family have been on the receiving end of
complaints and harassment, although the chief perpetrator, Mariner learns, has an alibi. While the Fire Investigation
team painstakingly goes over the house to determine the cause of the blaze, Mariner gets a cry for help from Gaby,
whose normally reliable fiance, Sam Fleetwood, has vanished only days before their wedding. On the homefront,
Mariner's worried about his "bedroom difficulties," even though Suzy is patient with him, and he faces new problems
with his late lover's autistic brother, for whom Mariner acts as guardian. The discovery first of Sam's wallet, then of a
second burned corpse in the Shahs' house leaves Mariner a body with no ID and an ID with no body. A large bank
withdrawal in the Shah case, signs of a mysterious other woman in Sam's, and a late-breaking lady-in-jeopardy subplot
promise the Brum cop a full dance card. Collett (Dead of Night, 2014, etc.) packs this eighth series entry with subplots
and secondary dramas that never quite make up for an implausible killer and a tacked-on conclusion.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Collett, Chris: A GOOD DEATH." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA471902093&it=r&asid=3536ca6a8397fc0c53a176cf95dc1e0b.
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Collett, Chris: BLOOD AND STONE
Kirkus Reviews.
(Oct. 1, 2013):
COPYRIGHT 2013 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Collett, Chris BLOOD AND STONE Creme de la Crime (Adult Fiction) $28.95 11, 1 ISBN: 978-1-78029-052-2
A British detective's much-needed vacation turns into a nightmare. Devastated by the death of his former lover Anna
Barham, DI Tom Mariner seeks relief in a walking tour of Wales. He doesn't know that Glenn McGinley has the same
plan, though with a different motive. After a killing spree, Glenn wants to complete a mission of revenge. Mariner's
more specific purpose is to revisit the hostel where he stayed as a younger man. To his amazement, Elena Hughes, the
daughter of the hostel's owner, still lives there and remembers their long-ago romance fondly enough to let Mariner
stay at the hostel, along with an inept fellow hiker. A long lull in which nothing much happens ends with the death of a
young man working at a nearby organic farm and a murder in which Mariner is a suspect. As if a case of stolen
identity, a robbery at Mariner's house back in Birmingham, and a plot point that turns on a couple of parsnips, and
nearly adds Mariner to the growing pile of bodies, weren't enough, holdovers from previous cases add to the sudden
change from calm to chaos. However, a counterbalance to the blood and betrayal is the hope of romance and a
satisfying resolution of Anna's legacy to Mariner, for whom you really want something to go right. Collett (Stalked by
Shadows, 2009, etc.) struggles to balance a grieving hero, a mass murderer and a travelogue of Wales in an unevenly
paced narrative.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Collett, Chris: BLOOD AND STONE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2013. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA344130584&it=r&asid=61c9c7847d30cb8ea687a8e38b34f711.
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A Good Death
Emily Melton
Booklist.
113.7 (Dec. 1, 2016): p30.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
A Good Death. By Chris Collett. Feb. 2017. 240p. Severn, $28.99 (9780727886873); ebook (9781780108322).
DCI Tom Mariner returns in a cleverly plotted story that's part police procedural and part philosophical consideration
of assisted suicide. Mariner is running two parallel investigations, one a missing-person case and one involving a
horrific house fire. The fire has burned the home of the Shah family, Yemeni immigrants who have made a new life for
themselves in England. The father was out of the country at the time, and while Mrs. Shah and the two children
escaped, her father was not so lucky. Mariner suspects arson, focusing on who might have had a grudge against the
Shahs. The missing person is Sam Fleetwood, who was due to get married in a few weeks. The police figure he may
have gone off to have a last fling, but when Sam's car is found, burned out and abandoned, the case takes on a new
urgency. The story features multiple disparate plot strands, but Collett skillfully weaves the tangled threads together
into a satisfying conclusion. Well written, thoughtful, and entertaining, this one's a good pick for those who like
procedurals with some meat on their bones.--Emily Melton
Melton, Emily
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Melton, Emily. "A Good Death." Booklist, 1 Dec. 2016, p. 30. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA474718459&it=r&asid=4e1fb97befc541938406996121e00df8.
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A Good Death: A D.I. Tom Mariner Mystery
Publishers Weekly.
263.50 (Dec. 5, 2016): p52.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
A Good Death: A D.I. Tom Mariner Mystery
Chris Collett. Severn, $28.99 (240p) ISBN 9780-7278-8687-3
Fully-fledged female characters distinguish Collett's eighth police procedural featuring Det. Insp. Tom Mariner, a
Birmingham, England, police officer (after 2015's Dead of Night). In particular, the women of the Shah family stand
out as they face discrimination and deal with family needs that their male counterparts can just ignore (or leave to stayat-home
wives or mothers). The focus, though, is on Mariner, a thoughtful, observant man who struggles to do the right
thing for his friends, colleagues, and lovers. The reader follows him with interest as he and his team investigate two
very different crimes--a death by arson and the case of a man who has gone missing just two weeks before his
wedding. The motives are initially unclear: is the arson the result of a hate crime against the Shah family, or is there
something even more sinister behind it? Has the future bridegroom met with foul play, or has he simply run away from
the prospect of a stifling marriage? Mariner uncovers some surprising truths. (Feb.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"A Good Death: A D.I. Tom Mariner Mystery." Publishers Weekly, 5 Dec. 2016, p. 52. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA475224851&it=r&asid=d70fdffd7d98c760ad89ec078668e324.
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Blood and Stone
Emily Melton
Booklist.
110.3 (Oct. 1, 2013): p36.
COPYRIGHT 2013 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Blood and Stone. By Chris Collett. Oct. 2013. 256p. Creme de la Crime, $28.95 (9781780290522).
Cop Tom Mariner is taking a vacation in Wales to try to recover from the most dreadful year of his life: an
overwhelming workload, too many unsolved cases, the breakup of his relationship, and--most devastating of all--the
subsequent murder of his ex-lover. Settling into a remote hostel where he once stayed as a youth, Tom looks forward to
long walks and solitude. But it seems his work follows him wherever he goes. A young man from the village was
recently murdered, and, soon after, Tom discovers the mutilated body of a man near the local estate of a Russian
oligarch. His professional instincts take over, and, as more murders take place--one at the hostel where Tom is staying--
he feels a professional obligation to help find the killer and unravel the case before any more bodies turn up. A gripping
plot, a likable yet flawed hero, and plenty of unusual twists make this one an excellent choice for fans of British
procedurals.--Emily Melton
Melton, Emily
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Melton, Emily. "Blood and Stone." Booklist, 1 Oct. 2013, p. 36. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA348978737&it=r&asid=4ee2c144231eaf60f183f2805f872242.
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Blood and Stone
Publishers Weekly.
260.35 (Sept. 2, 2013): p34.
COPYRIGHT 2013 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Blood and Stone
Chris Collett. Severn/Creme de la Crime, $28.95 (256p) ISBN 978-1-78029-052-2
Collett's uneven sixth Tom Mariner. mystery (after 2009's Stalked by Shadows) takes the troubled Birmingham
detective inspector to Wales, where he's hoping a two-week walking holiday will help him recover from the death of
his former lover in a road-rage incident. Unfortunately, Mariner, a credible and sympathetic lead, ends up a suspect in
the murder of a man found hacked to death in a remote mountainous area. On the plus side, Mariner begins a hesitant
flirtation with a pretty historian he meets in his wanderings. Their relationship is one of the book's highlights. Some
readers, however, may have trouble keeping track of the well-crafted but too-numerous minor characters, including a
terminally ill ex-convict bent on revenge and an ex-girlfriend turned innkeeper. As the body count rises, it's not clear
who did what to whom, and questions remain unanswered. That may be what happens in real life, but it's less than
satisfying on the page. (Nov.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Blood and Stone." Publishers Weekly, 2 Sept. 2013, p. 34. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA342568595&it=r&asid=5690400f89f48af4867f16a4e31400b2.
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Dead of Night: A Tom Mariner Mystery
Publishers Weekly.
261.44 (Nov. 3, 2014): p89.
COPYRIGHT 2014 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Dead of Night: A Tom Mariner Mystery
Chris Collett. Severn, $26.95 (256p) ISBN 978-0-7278-8434-3
In British author Collett's gripping seventh mystery featuring Birmingham Det. Chief Insp. Tom Mariner (after 2013's
Blood and Stone), the police are slow to investigate the disappearance of Grace Clifton, the 18-year-old daughter of a
domineering local council leader, because they assume she's a runaway. When a package addressed to a police officer
turns out to contain the clothes that Grace was last seen wearing, "pressed and perfectly folded," the real detective
work begins. Meanwhile, Mariner must break in a new team while juggling a fresh love interest and the care of his
grown autistic foster son, Jamie. Mariner feels the strain, especially after another young woman goes missing and the
pattern repeats itself. Collett carefully depicts the slow, plodding drudgery of actual police work amid a web of red
herrings, blind alleys, and glimpses of Mariner's private life. Procedural fans are in for a really good time. (Jan.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Dead of Night: A Tom Mariner Mystery." Publishers Weekly, 3 Nov. 2014, p. 89. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA389934670&it=r&asid=bab3dae477694cab7bc0eb7f1d1db112.
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Stalked by Shadows
Publishers Weekly.
257.19 (May 10, 2010): p33.
COPYRIGHT 2010 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
* Stalked by Shadows
Chris Collett. Piatkus (Trafalgar Square, dist.), $8.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-7499-
0954-3
Clever plotting and brilliant characterization fill the satisfying fifth DI Mariner investigation (after 2007's Blood
Money). Newlywed Lucy Jarrett begins receiving malicious e-mails, mysterious hangups, and multiple pieces of junk
mail that she didn't ask for; she's soon afraid to be alone, but her husband doesn't seem to care. Nina Silvado, a wellrespected
ballet instructor and widow of a police inspector who died under mysterious circumstances, is found dead in
her home, the victim of a gruesome murder staged to look like a suicide. DI Tom Mariner and DC Millie Khatoon are
assigned to the apparently unrelated cases, and as clues come to light, so does a connection. With humanizing looks
into the lives of the main characters and devilishly clever plot twists and turns, Collett knows just how to keep police
procedural fans happy. (July)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Stalked by Shadows." Publishers Weekly, 10 May 2010, p. 33. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA226474870&it=r&asid=42bc70a19093f295c21e312e681b9e16.
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Blood Money
Publishers Weekly.
256.26 (June 29, 2009): p114.
COPYRIGHT 2009 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Blood Money
Chris Collett. Piatkus (Trafalgar Square, dist.), $8.95 (266p) ISBN 978-0-7499-3907-6
Fans of complex British police procedurals will find a great deal to like in net. Insp. Tom Mariner's fourth
investigation, the first available in the U.S. After a raid on an establishment where young female immigrants are held in
sexual slavery, Mariner is looking forward to a holiday with his significant other, Anna, but the trip is postponed when
Mariner's station receives an alert about infant Jessica Klinnemann, abducted from a reputable day-care center. Possible
abductors include an infertile woman from the local hospital, an anti-day-care advocate, and an animal rights activist
protesting Jessica's father's work. When a local vicar finds a happy, healthy Jessica on the church doorstep, Mariner
knows the hard work is just beginning. Despite a disappointingly untidy ending, readers will enjoy the police work and
look forward to future Mariner stories. (Sept.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Blood Money." Publishers Weekly, 29 June 2009, p. 114. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA203029146&it=r&asid=7e3c9dd2c8071c80a4383b8625a4fb96.
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Dead of Night
Emily Melton
Booklist.
111.5 (Nov. 1, 2014): p30.
COPYRIGHT 2014 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Dead of Night.
By Chris Collett.
Jan. 2015. 256p. Severn, $28.95 (9780727884343); e-book (9781780105864).
When 18-year-old Grace Clifton vanishes, DI Tom Mariner is called in. That Grace is the daughter of a powerful town
councillor only adds to an already stressful case. But when a package containing the missing woman's clothes--all
freshly laundered--arrives, the case is elevated to a new level. Then another woman vanishes, and Tom knows if he
doesn't find at least one promising clue, his entire career could be in danger. Finally, a breakthrough leads to the arrest
of a suspect, but is he the right person? Cleverly plotted, with an unexpected shock ending, plenty of suspense, and a
likably genuine cast of characters, this is a strong new entry in an increasingly popular police-procedural series.--Emily
Melton
Melton, Emily
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Melton, Emily. "Dead of Night." Booklist, 1 Nov. 2014, p. 30. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA391309080&it=r&asid=ac9ae4018c6cc3c5c06b6abd63af36fe.
Accessed 27 Sept. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A391309080
---
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Mystery
Teresa L. Jacobsen
Library Journal.
138.16 (Oct. 1, 2013): p60.
COPYRIGHT 2013 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution
permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
FAMILY REUNIONS go badly for a number of characters this month. If readers like tales in which the characters need
to dip far back into the family's past to solve a current crime, then they will have abundant choices. Take M.C. Grant's
reporter helping a young woman find her missing dad in Devil with a Gun. Or Susan Moody's highly gothic A Final
Reckoning, which draws a young woman back to the scene of her sister's murder 23 years earlier. And don't expect to
sleep a wink once you start Peter James's newest in his DI Roy Grace series, Dead Man's Time. A son has spent nine
decades seeking answers in his father's abduction, and at age 95 he's not done yet.
It's not all dark, however. Jane O'Connor's sophomore entry, Almost True Confessions: Closet Sleuth Spills All,
abounds with sarcastic wit along the lines of Elinor Lipman. Michael Nethercott's delightful debut, the 1950s-set The
Seance Society, has a nifty Rex Stout flavor.
In the finest tradition of collaborative efforts, editor and contributor Jonathan Santlofer has corralled a team of 20 bigname
crime authors and produced a bang-up, serial-style novel, Inherit the Dead. Not only is it an exciting read, but it's
a fund-raiser for Safe Horizon, the nation's largest provider of domestic violence services, as described in Linda
Fairstein's preface. Just a thought: librarians might try promoting this title with their local government agencies and/or
support groups for battered women and children. Perhaps one of the contributing authors could headline a library
event? Think locally, act globally!
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
NEWLY TRANSLATED
* Parot, Jean-Francois. The Chatelet Apprentice: The First Nicolas Le Floch Investigation. Gallic. Oct. 2013. 404p. tr.
from French by Michael Glencross. ISBN 9781906040062. pap. $15.95. M
One dark night just outside Paris, two men dump body parts. An old woman observes. Thus opens an amazing story
that leads all the way to Louis XV's court. Now, consider Nicolas Le Floch, the young Parisian police investigator
assigned to find a missing police commissioner, Guillaume Lardin. While inexperienced, Nicolas is wise beyond his
years. Trusting few--his carefully chosen sidekick, Insp. Pierre Bourdeau is key--Nicolas proceeds. By trial and error,
through lies and reexaminations, he discovers that ruthless men and women could have easily conspired to dispose of
Guillaume. More important, he learns that state secrets are at stake. Guillaume's fate may be moot, but Nicolas won't
rest until he finds the missing documents. Embodying the new idea of evidence-based investigating. Nicolas also
exudes heroic instincts. Despite great danger to body and reputation, he perseveres. VERDICT This adventure-laden
French historical set in 1761 has long been a best seller in its original French and is finally available in the United
States. With swashbuckling style, Parot's pre-revolutionary French characters will captivate readers with their sly
humor, dastardly deeds, and, yes, honorable intentions. Don't miss!
HAUNTED BY MAU MAU
Adams, Jane A. Secrets: A Naomi Blake Novel. Severn House. Nov. 2013. 204p. ISBN 9780727882905. $27.95. M
Molly Chambers, a British diplomat's widow, appears less than shocked when an apparent assassin dies in her home.
Strangely calm, Molly is more rattled than she lets on; she's been harboring secrets going back to her childhood in
Kenya and young married life in the Belgian Congo. Back then, she, her husband, and colleague Gustav Clay helped
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rescue children stranded by war. Somewhere along the way, though, Gustav parted company and went rogue. Gustav,
now dying and determined to silence anyone who can besmirch his reputation, stalks Molly. The local police implore
Alec Friedman, her honorary nephew and a former DI, to get Molly to cough up a clue or two. Alec's wife, ex-cop
Naomi, might be blind, but she knows Alec's in danger, too. It's time to pull in extra favors. VERDICT Once again,
Adams superbly blends history with her briskly plotted procedural in a dynamic story that's sure to send readers to their
search engines. This thought-provoking entry is number eight (after Night Vision) for Adams's fascinating British duo.
Faherty, Terence. Eastward in Eden: An Owen Keane Mystery. Crum Creek. Oct. 2013. 244p. ISBN 9781932325492.
$26. M
Adrift and depressed in the summer of 1997, Owen Keane heads to Kenya, at the urging of a mutual friend, to help out
Father Philip Swickard, a former seminary classmate. Father Swickard has been quite vocal with his opinions, and his
priestly stature doesn't give him immunity in Kenya's unsettled political climate. Locally, the recent appearance of a
mysterious man claiming to be the reincarnation of a long-dead chief, Wauki (killed in the late 1800s by the British),
has heightened tension. Then there's a sword that's been stolen from a retired British schoolteacher, a longtime resident.
The pace quickens when Owen is kidnapped, the mysterious man is killed, and Father Swickard is arrested for his
murder. With a. young boy as his guide, Owen listens, solves the mystery, and rediscovers purpose in his life.
VERDICT Readers are transported immediately into Kenya's border region by Faherty's graceful prose. His unhappy
protagonist may be uncertain, but he's profoundly curious. It's been 14 years since the last full-length (Orion Rising)
outing for the ex-seminarian amateur sleuth created by a multiple award-winning crime author. Recommend to fans of
Paul Theroux.
CHECK THESE OUT
Child, Lee & others. Inherit the Dead. Touchstone: S. & S. Oct, 2013, 320p. ed. by Jonathan Santlofer. ISBN
9781451684759. $25,99. M
A rich divorce's estranged daughter, Angelina Loki, has gone missing, and the mother, Julia Drusilla, hires PI Pericles
(Perry) Christo to find her. Ostensibly, the reason is an inheritance due on Angel's upcoming 21st birthday; Angel must
sign documents on that day in order to claim her fortune. Perry can't afford to turn down the case, even though it smells
fishy from the get-go. Trolling the length of Long Island and back to Manhattan, the puzzled PI meets a boatload of
shady characters, almost all familiar to ardent crime fiction readers. There's the oddball father, the sleazy boyfriend, the
married politician lover, the disloyal best friend, and even a shadowy character following Perry. Deducing what
happened to Angel is quite the chase! VERDICT Readers can't go wrong with this juicy thriller written serial style by
20 popular authors (including Child, CJ. Box, and Val McDermid) that pays homage to classic noir fiction (Dashiell
Hammett, anyone?). If Sandra Brown and others' No Rest for the Dead caught your patrons' attention, then grab this
one, too. It's just right for season-in-a-box binge viewers, and all publishing profits go to a good came, Safe Horizon.
* Collett, Chris. Blood and Stone: A Tom Mariner Mystery. Crime de la Crime: Severn House. Nov. 2013. 252p. ISBN
9781780290522. 28.95. M
A walking holiday in Wales should help DI Tom Mariner come to grips with his ex-lover's shocking death. But,
unbeknownst to Tom, a highly focused serial killer from Liverpool, Glenn McGinley, has snuck into Wales to complete
some unresolved business. Meanwhile, just under Tom's nose, a dead body turns up in the woods, and he becomes
involved in the local investigation. The man-hunt for Glenn hasn't quite worked its way to where Tom is staying;
nonetheless, Tom's work colleagues take notice. But when Tom narrowly escapes death one night and another life is
taken, he's shaken. If Tom's trails intersect with Glenn's, perhaps his name is on the killer's bucket list, too. VERDICT
Collett's sixth series entry (after Stalked by Shadows) demonstrates her aptitude for juggling multiple story lines and
for creating memorable characters. Never flagging in this outing, she sustains a high level of intensity covered by a thin
sheen of nostalgia.
Grabien, Deborah. Comfortably Numb. Plus One. (JP Kinkaid Chronicles, Bk. 8). Oct. 2013. 298p. ISBN
9780986008511. pap. $17.95. M
Agreeing to perform a New Year's Eve megaconcert in an Emirates kingdom almost proves fatal for the wildly popular
rock band Blacklight. Only a provision stipulating that proceeds go toward the band's favorite charities makes it
palatable for them to work again with Emir Ali al-Wahid, a former college mate of bandleader Malcolm Sharpe. (Years
back, al-Wahid's twin daughters had wreaked havoc with the group and its entourage.) Now ensconced in a palatial
palace, the band prepares for their concert. But guitarist JP Kinkaid and his wife, Bree, feel a sick premonition when
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they hear strange noises one night, followed by the discovery of a corpse in the swimming pool. Troubled, the couple
investigate and find a second death rite. The emir strikes back, making the band feel like virtual prisoners. Now the
Blacklight team must strategize carefully and claim some sort of justice for the victims. VERDICT Grabien is a master
of the rock-and-roll narrative. With its ruminative style, this work is not for thriller fans, but anyone who's wondered
about celebrity lifestyles will admire the author's series featuring the multiple sclerosis-afflicted JP. It's not necessary to
have read the entire series, but starting with the fifth title, Book of Days, which details the bad behavior of the emir's
daughters, would enhance the readers' experience with this one.
Grant, M.C. Devil with a Gun: A Dixie Flynn Mystery. Midnight Ink. Oct. 2013. 312p. ISBN 9780738734996. pap.
$14.99. M
Seeking that perfect Father's Day story, San Francisco reporter Dixie Flynn trips over something much grittier than she
expected. As a child, hairstylist Barley lived through a harrowing home invasion during which her father was abducted.
Now Barley has placed an ad in the paper, hoping for a miraculous reunion with her long-lost father. Dixie sees the ad,
garners Bailey's trust, and immerses herself in this wild tale. Russian mobster Krasnyi Lebed still hunts Bailey's father
(who escaped somewhere along the way), and Bailey, along with her troubled younger sister, is bait. Dixie partners an
audacious attitude with a steady stream of jokes to keep her sanity as she confronts Lebed. Although the tough-gal
facade can't protect her when she gets beaten up, gutsy Dixie digs in for more. VERDICT A San Francisco setting, a
feisty female journalist, and Russian mobsters: What's not to like? Grant massages the formula well, creating an
engrossing and speedy case, even though some of the situations ring improbable. The sophomore series entry (after
Angel with a Bullet) for the journalist will appeal to Sue Grafton fans. Grant is a pseudonym for Canadian journalist
Grant McKenzie, who also writes standalone thrillers.
James, Peter. Dead Man's Time. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Oct. 2013. 416p. ISBN 9781250030184. $25.99; ebk. ISBN
9781250030191. M
Brighton's DS Roy Grace's hackles go up immediately when an elderly woman, Aileen, is killed in her home. All signs
point to a high-end antiques robbery. But the victim's brother, Gavin Daly, a robust nonagenarian himself, is furious
about Aileen's death and starts pulling multiple strings (legal and otherwise) to track the killers. A rare and valuable
watch once owned by their Irish mobster father is at the crux of the crime. Tragically, he was abducted from their New
York City apartment back in 1922, and Gavin has devoted his long life to learning his father's fate. Toss in a global
black-market antiques trade, long-simmering Irish mafia tensions, and a dash of Spanish crime bosses, and expect
thriller salad. Meanwhile, should Roy get too complacent about his personal happiness, there are a couple of people
eager to destroy him, too. VERDICT Few authors can dish out thrills and suspense as readily as James, and his ninth
DS Roy Grace procedural (after Not Dead Yet) is heady proof. His characters may be one-dimensional, but nonstop
action is the reader's reward in this fast-paced potboiler of a read that is perfect for Gangs of New York fans.
Moody, Susan. A Final Reckoning. Severn House. Nov. 2013. 236p. ISBN 9780727882882. $28.95. M
Chantal Frazer's life was upended when her older sister Sabine, who was working as an au pair for a wealthy British
family, was murdered in a brutal attack that also claimed three young victims. The children's mother was convicted of
the crime and sent to a mental hospital; another child survived and went on to live "normally." Now, two decades later,
Chantal is inexplicably drawn back to the haunted home that recently has been transformed into a beautiful boutique
hotel. Chantal wants to understand her sister's plight better. Surprisingly, Gavin Vaughn, the survivor, comes back to
visit at the hotel's grand opening, along with other key players from that sad page in the home's history. As in all good
gothic thrillers, suspicions hover, the house holds clues, and Chantal makes some dangerous choices. VERDICT
Moody's (Losing Nicola) stunningly gothic psychological stand-alone mesmerizes from page one. Bring out your art
history notes so you can keep pace with the clues in this intricately structured romantic suspense title. Readers may
figure out the real story before the heroine does, but just knowing the endearing Chantal is in danger makes for an
addictive read.
Nunes, Maxine. Dazzled: A Nikki Easton Mystery. Five Star: Gale Cengage. Oct. 2013. 256p. ISBN 9781432827304.
$25.95. M
Aspiring actress Nikki Easton is puzzled when her friend, starlet and nude model Darla Ward, doesn't return her calls.
The police dutifully take her missing-person report, but Nikki despairs of any action. Then a multiple murder drug
scene hits the airwaves, and the dead blonde at the scene is finally identified as Darla. Nikki isn't so sure, and with the
help of LAPD detective Jack Adder, she begins a torturous investigation of her own. Truly, this is Hollywood at its
tawdry worst, with sleazy moguls, narcissistic actors, ruthless drug dealers, and desperate addicts running amok. Nikki
and Jack start a torrid affair that only serves to complicate the situation, clouding her ability to understand what's at
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stake. VERDICT This Chandleresque (not surprising, considering Nunes's screenwriting and newspaper background)
debut falters in pacing stops and starts but definitely evokes a strong neonoir mood. Nunes excels at crafting vivid
character snapshots and a running commentary on the entertainment industry, but the journalist in her hasn't quite
shifted to novelist mode.
O'Connor, Jane. Almost True Confessions: Closet Sleuth Spills All. Morrow. Oct. 2013. 316p. ISBN 9780061240942.
pap. $14.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062236487. M
Miranda "Rannie" Bookman agrees to copyedit a hush-hush book that threatens to be a gossipy tell-all about a
prominent New York City society centenarian. Suddenly, other people attached to the project are dying, and Rannie
speculates that the book is the motivation. Perhaps her teen kids and her ex-cop lover complicate Rannie's amateur
sleuthing, but they inadvertently give her the avenues to snoop more efficiently. The trouble is, Rannie's hunches
("justifiable paranoia") are correct, and now she's the killer's next target. VERDICT Working upstream from her
phenomenally popular "Fancy Nancy" children's series, O'Connor proves how well she can write snappy and comic
adult fiction. Share with readers who relish Elinor Lipman's or Jeanne Ray's style of humor and female leads. This is
the second case for the Manhattan-based copy editor sleuth (Dangerous Admissions), whose prowess with grammar
holds her in good stead.
* Thomas, Paul. Death on Demand. Bitter Lemon. Oct. 2013. 294p. ISBN 9781908524171. pap. $14.95. M
A husband's offhand remark about hiring a hit man loses its humor when someone offers to take care of the task. The
Auckland, New Zealand, case was never solved, and only Maori DS Tito Ihaka suspected the moneyed husband.
Ihaka's rough edges and zeal effectively doomed him, and six years ago, he was reassigned to the Wellington area.
Now, new revelations indicate that Ihaka's instincts were right; he is brought back to reopen the cold case. Before long,
things turn hot as a complicated case involving grifters and shifting identities means more victims will fall. VERDICT
New Zealand's irascible cop Tito Ihaka has been MIA since Thomas's last series entry in 1996 (Guerilla Season), and
his return pleases on so many levels. Thomas is a past winner of the Ned Kelly Award, and this one looks to be a future
nominee as well.
COZY CORNER
Nethercott, Michael. The Seance Society: A Mystery. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Oct. 2013. 304p. ISBN 9781250017390.
$24.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250028358. M
PI Lee Plunkett is not impressed by a Samhain event aimed at those wanting to communicate with their departed loved
ones, but his fiancee, Audrey, and his colleague, Mr. O'Nelligan, fred the occasion stimulating. The event sponsors,
inventor Trexler Lloyd, medium C.R. Kemple, and actress Sassafras Miller, have quite a thriving little operation.
Weeks later, Lloyd's machinery (designed to help contact spirits) backfires, and he dies in his home. Something doesn't
jibe with local police detective George Agnelli, though, and he hires Plunkett and O'Nelligan to investigate the death.
(His department suspects accidental electrocution.) Interviewing the assorted household members and various affiliates
reveals a rude surprise: Lloyd was supposed to fake dying that evening. When a second victim falls, the PIs go full
bore, coordinating a rousing parlor-room finale. VERDICT As relaxing as a game of Clue, Nethercott's cozy debut set
in 1956 Connecticut sparkles with a mix of W.B. Yeats and Elvis quotations, well-placed red herrings, and an
endearing trio of protagonists. This delightful debut is sure to resonate with Rex Stout's "Nero Wolfe" fans. Nethercott's
Plunkett and O'Nelligan duo got their start in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.
ADDITIONAL MYSTERIES
Alexander, Tasha. Behind the Shattered Glass: A Lady Emily Mystery. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Oct. 2013. 272p. ISBN
9781250024701. $24.99; ebk. ISBN 9791250024718. M
Lady Emily Hargreave, recently home from solving Venetian crimes in last year's Death in the Floating City, finds
scandal on her own doorstep when a neighboring lord staggers into her dinner party and dies. As she and her husband,
Lord Colin, investigate, both their neighbors and their servants fall suspect. Looking into the victim's past, Lady Emily
discovers that the Marquess of Montagu had a long history of trifling with the ladies, many of whom had motive to kill.
Visiting Lord Flyte adds further complication when he falls in love and announces his intentions to court a local
servant. The drama intensifies as Lady Emily uncovers secrets that affect the fortunes, careers, and reputations of
members of Lord Montagu's household and her own. VERDICT Fans will enjoy the series return to Anglemore Park
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and its cast of characters. Newcomers will relish the upstairs-downstairs plotlines and Lady Emily's particular talent at
interrogation.--Catherine Lantz, Morton Coll. Lib., Cicero, IL
Paretsky, Sara. Critical Mass: A V.I. Warshawski Novel. Putnam. Nov. 2013. 480p. ISBN 9780399160561. $26.95;
ebk. ISBN 9781101636503. M
Paretsky's latest V.I. Warshawski novel (after Breakdown) has her famed private investigator investigating the science
behind the atomic bomb. Answering a distress call, V.I. finds a horrific crime scene but little evidence of the woman
she seeks. The investigation quickly snowballs as she learns about the connection of the missing woman's family to her
friend Lotty Herschel. As a child, Lotty escaped Nazi Austria on the Kindertransport with her friend Kitty Binder; now
Kitty's daughter, Judy, and Judy's estranged son have disappeared. V.I. uncovers connections among computer design,
physics research, and family secrets that lead to dangerous encounters and the reasons behind their disappearances. She
finds decades-old truths hidden in the name of pride, vanity, and capitalism. As usual, V.I.'s quest is fraught with plenty
of danger and white-knuckle moments. VERDICT Paretsky's crime novel turns quickly from a simple missing-persons
case into one involving national security, intellectual-property patent law, corrupt local officials, drug lords, and
wartime family secrets. It is as much a breathless mystery as a historical delving into science and wartime academic
politics. An intellectual mystery that will please the author's many fans. [See Prepub Alert, 4/29/13.]--Julie Kane,
Sweet Briar College Lib., VA
Robinson, Thatcher. White Ginger. Seventh St: Prometheus. Oct. 2013. 293p. ISBN 9781616148171. pap. $17; ebk.
ISBN 9781616148188. M
Bai Jiang is a souxon, a people finder, working in San Francisco's Chinatown. Raised within the brutal world of the
triad (Chinese organized crime), she is uniquely situated to help those in need in this secretive and brutal culture. A
practicing Buddhist with a lethal fighting style, our heroine is an intriguing contradiction. This mystery opens with Bai
and her partner Lee accepting an assignment to rescue a young Chinese girl sold into the sex trade. It isn't long before
Bai realizes that triad politics, her ex-husband Jason, and even the safety of her daughter are in play. VERDICT The
taut writing and excellent action sequences make this debut an engrossing read. The chemistry between Bai and her ex
add a sensual flavor, but the Chinese proverbs titling each chapter prove a bit trying (especially since the same phrase is
repeated in the chapter), and the author would do well to omit this in the next installment. Readers who like their
suspense novels propelled by a strong female protagonist against the backdrop of a foreign culture will want to give
this book a shot.--Amy Nolan, St. Joseph, MI
DEBUT OF THE MONTH
* Florio, Gwen. Montana. Permanent. Oct. 2013. 256p. ISBN 9781579623364. $28. M
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Downsized by her Baltimore newspaper, war correspondent Lola Wicks heads west to northern Montana for a muchneeded
reunion with fellow journalist and longtime friend, Mary Alice. A searing prolog tells readers that Mary Alice
has just died violently, and, needless to say, Lola is stunned when she finds her friend's body. Obviously, Mary Alice
was on to something so dangerous it cost her her life. Lola's first instinct is to suspect Johnny Running Wolf, a slick
Native American gubernatorial candidate who runs an intense campaign. The killer might think he snagged all of Mary
Alice's latest research, but Lola knows her friend's tricks, and she haphazardly deciphers Mary Alice's clues until she
unearths a startling long-held secret so implausible that it sounds almost laughable. But if it's so farfetched, maybe
someone can explain why Lola's life is seriously on the line. VERDICT Breathless pacing, strong characterizations,
and a nuanced plot blend into an unforgettable read. With its strong sense of place and an intriguing ethnic character
mix, consider for fans of Loft Armstrong, C.J. Box, and Wayne Arthurson. Florio is a veteran journalist, so she knows
her stuff. [Dakota, the second volume in the series, is scheduled for a 2014 publication date.--Ed.]
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
NEWSWORTHY
Looking ahead
Be on the watch for fun new Publications in early 2014.
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Poisoned Pen Press (poisonedpenpress.com) announced the winner of their 2013 Discover Mystery[TM] Award: Eileen
Brady, for her book Dog Shows Are Murder. Brady's protagonist is a veterinarian. Finalists were: Peggy McKeep
Barnhill's Uniformly Dead, Judy L. Murray's Murder in the Master, and Carmen Will's A Practicum for Murder.
Gigi Pandian's "Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery" series has been scooped up by Henery Press. Pandian is a winner
of a Malice Domestic Grant. Artifact (book one) is out, and the second title (Pirate Vishnu) is slated for an early 2014
publication.
CROSSING THE BAR
We were saddened to learn of the death of four crime fiction authors this past summer. Not only were they literary
luminaries, they were well-known people whom many librarians and fans counted as friends. Please check your library
holdings, and consider a testimonial; readers will appreciate knowing more about these writers' lives.
* DIANNE DAY, a longtime Californian who came via Mississippi, passed away in early July. While she wrote under
different names, Day was best known for her historical series featuring the turn-of-the-century single woman Fremont
Jones.
SIGNATURE WORK: The Strange Files of Fremont Jones
* LEIGHTON GAGE was best known for his "Chief Inspector Mario Silva investigations" series but also was the
founder of the international crime blog Murder is Everywhere (murderiseverywhere.blogspot.com).
SIGNATURE WORK: The Blood of the Wicked
* ELMORE LEONARD--Edgar Allan Poe Grand Master. Mysteries, Westerns, movies--you name the genre, Leonard
made his mark on it.
SIGNATURE WORK: Get Shorty
* ELIZABETH PETERS (BARBARA MERTZ) created characters so well known that they act as shorthand for
readers' advisory work (think: Amelia Peabody). She was also an Edgar Grand Master.
SIGNATURE WORK: The Crocodile on the Sandbank
QUOTABLE
"Stealthily but merrily, he would have yanked open drawers, read hidden letters, rummaged through the closet, and
even pried up a floorboard or two if he felt so inclined--all in the name of professional sleuthing. I, on the other hand,
was a milder sort of shamus. A nervous thrill, chiefly unpleasant, shot through my abdomen as I contemplated the
opportunity before me."--Michael Nethercott, The Seance Society
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
SERIES LINEUP
Corris, Peter. The Dunbar Case. Allen & Unwin. Oct. 2013. 248p. ISBN 9781743310229. pap. $19.95. M
Nineteenth-century maritime disasters aren't his usual territory, but PI Cliff Hardy wades into the ultimate cold case
with his usual bravado. Corris is one of Australia's premier crime writers; this is his 38th case for Hardy (after
Comeback).
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Curtis, Waverly. The Big Chihuahua: A Barking Detective Mystery, Kensington. Oct. 2013. 316p. ISBN
9780758274977. pap. $7.99. M
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Pepe and Geri suspect a dog-worshipping cult outside of Seattle of causing a misguided woman's demise. Third in a
refreshingly funny canine series (after Chihuahua Confidential).
Ernst, Kathleen. Heritage of Darkness: A Chloe Ellefson Mystery. Midnight Ink. Oct, 2013. 348p. ISBN
9780738736983. pap. $14.99. M
All is not serene in rural Iowa when a craft instructor's corpse turns up in an antique trunk. Historian Chloe's sleuthing
instincts kick in; this is her fourth cozy outing (after The Light Keeper's Legacy).
Graham, Barbara. Murder by Sunlight: The Charity Quilt. Five Star: Gale Cengage. Oct. 2013. 292p. ISBN
9781432827274. $25.95. M
A Fourth of July celebration really heats up when an outdoor quilt display reveals a corpse. For Sheriff Tony, his
troubles are just beginning. Graham's fifth entry (after Murder by Vegetable) nicely mixes mayhem with small-town
meddling, Tennessee style. Quilting pattern included.
Hall, Tarquin. The Case of the Love Commandos: From the Files of Vish Puri, India's Most Private Investigator. S & S.
Oct. 2013. 312p. ISBN 9781451613261. $24.99; ebk. ISBN 9781451613292. M
Vish Puri becomes embroiled in a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story set in India. As she is wont to do, his mother
helps investigates in her own inimitable style. Do try Hall's fourth entry (after The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken)
in his charming and gently humorous series.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Hart, Ellen. Taken by the Wind: A Jane Lawless Mystery. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Oct. 2013. 320p. ISBN
9781250001870. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250036438. M
The 21st case (after Rest for the Wicked) in a long-standing and much-lauded Lambda Literary Award-winning series
finds PI Jane vowing to find two runaway teen boys, secretly worrying that they might have been abducted.
Meanwhile, her personal and business relationships continue to be a challenge.
Mayor, Archer. Three Can Keep a Secret: A Joe Gunther Novel. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Oct. 2013. 324p. ISBN
9781250026132. $25.99. M
Disastrous Hurricane Irene has left Vermont reeling, and Joe's VBI team ends up with a hodgepodge batch of cases that
might be related. Old crimes collide with new in this consistently excellent series. This is case number 24 (after
Paradise City).
Roby, Kinley. Beyond Redress: A Harry Brock Mystery. Five Star: Gale Cengage. Oct. 2013. 368p. ISBN
9781432827267. $25.95. M
Action abounds when PI Harry Brock's new client is a prime suspect in a Latino activist's murder. In his ninth case
(after Birds of Winter), the southwest Florida setting is key.
Spencer-Fleming, Julia. Through the Evil Days: A Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery. Minotaur: St. Martin's.
Nov. 2013. 356p. ISBN 9780312606848. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250022653. M
Demand will be high for the eighth entry in this multi-award winning series (after One Was a Soldier). Pregnant Clare
is directly in harm's way in this chilling January tale.
Teresa L. Jacobsen, retired librarian, was a training coordinator for Solano County Library, and previous to that, a
fiction evaluator/reference librarian for Santa Monica Public Library. She has written occasional feature articles for LJ
and reviewed fiction regularly since 2004. She is an unabashed mystery fan who enjoys bringing new readers into the
fold
Jacobsen, Teresa L.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
9/27/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506567175088 18/18
Jacobsen, Teresa L. "Mystery." Library Journal, 1 Oct. 2013, p. 60+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA343753795&it=r&asid=6a06dc402546a2f968fe22327444be9b.
Accessed 27 Sept. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A343753795
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THE WORM IN THE BUD
by Chris Collett
Piatkus, May 2004
327 pages
18.99GBP
ISBN: 0749906855
Buy from Amazon.com
Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada
Jamie Barham is autistic. His verbal communication is limited, which is bad news for DI Tom Mariner, as it looks like Jamie witnessed the murder of his older brother Edward, a Birmingham journalist.
Before I go any further, THE WORM IN THE BUD does not appear to be an attempt to cash in on the runaway success of Mark Haddon's THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME. Instead, it comes across as a book by an industry professional with a particular story to tell. Chris Collett, the author, apparently teaches adults and children with learning difficulties.
At one point it looked as if the autism angle might unbalance the mystery, but Collett gets away with it. The danger of issue-based crime novels is that they can turn into a polemic where this mystery angle takes a very distant back seat. But aside from possibly a touch too much information on day centres and residential homes, Collett does a good job of combining the two disparate elements into a convincing mystery.
The plot is serviceable, if a little lacking in tension in the middle. It combines a police procedural with the human interest angle of Eddie and Jamie's high-flying sister Anna, who suddenly finds herself with the challenge of looking after the brother she barely knows who has a range of special needs. Meanwhile Mariner, a copper with the obligatory fouled-up private life, must find out who wanted Eddie dead. There are several likely candidates lurking around, including a local crimelord. I did guess whodunit, but not until right to the wire where the tension finally ratchets up several notches.
The characters could do with a little more plumping up, but my suspicion is that Collett has a sequel up her sleeve, which may see Tom and Anna fleshed out a little more. THE WORM IN THE BUD is an impressive debut with an unusual angle and a book that avoids easy answers.
Reviewed by Sharon Wheeler, September 2004
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