Contemporary Authors

• The Chessman MacAdam/Cage (San Francisco, CA), 2012
• The Eulogist Permanent Press (Sag Harbor, NY), 2017

1. The eulogist LCCN 2017024218 Type of material Book Personal name Burton, Jeffrey B., author. Main title The eulogist / Jeffrey B. Burton. Published/Produced Sag Harbor, NY : Permanent Press, [2017] Description 360 pages ; 23 cm ISBN 9781579625023 (hbk.) CALL NUMBER PS3602.U76977 E95 2017 CABIN BRANCH Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 2. The chessman LCCN 2012013111 Type of material Book Personal name Burton, Jeffrey B. Main title The chessman / by Jeffrey B. Burton. Published/Created San Francisco : MacAdam/Cage, c2012. Description 347 p. ; 24 cm. ISBN 9781596923706 (hardcover) Shelf Location FLM2013 015487 CALL NUMBER PS3602.U76977 C47 2012 OVERFLOWA5S Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms (FLM1)

• The Lynchpin - April 15, 2015 MP Publishing Ltd, Douglas, Isle of Man, England
• Sleuth Slayer - April 8, 2008 Pocol Press, Clifton, VA
• Shadow Play - October 31, 2015 Pocol Press, Clifton, VA

• Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Jeffrey-B.-Burton/e/B009YJSAC8

  Jeffrey B. Burton was born in Long Beach, California, grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, and received his BA in Journalism at the University of Minnesota. Novels in Burton's Agent Drew Cady mystery series include THE CHESSMAN (MacAdam/Cage, 2012; paperback Harlequin Suspense, 2015), THE LYNCHPIN (MP Publishing, 2015), and THE EULOGIST (The Permanent Press, 2017). His short stories have appeared in dozens of magazines. Jeff is a member of the Mystery Writers of America (MWA), International Thriller Writers (ITW), the International Association of Crime Writers, the Horror Writers Association (HWA), and MNArtists.org. Jeff lives in St. Paul with his wife, daughter, and an irate Pomeranian named Lucy.

  This roller coaster of a thriller has some luscious ingredients: moneyed surroundings, including billion-dollar mansions and the boardroom of a bloodsucking pharmaceutical company; some lengthy and artfully described fights and chases; and a killer-for-hire who, intentionally or not, runs off with the whole show. – Booklist on THE EULOGIST

  An action-packed thriller with a high body count . . . The plot grabs readers from the start, twists abound, and good triumphs—mostly. – Library Journal on THE EULOGIST

  Burton delivers an outstanding serial killer thriller that will impress even seasoned practitioners of this subgenre.
  --Publishers Weekly (A Starred Review) on THE CHESSMAN

  Jeffrey Burton's terrific mystery, 'The Chessman,' is made up of a lot of moving parts the author brings together masterfully.
  --St. Paul Pioneer Press on THE CHESSMAN

  Visit http://www.jeffreybburton.com to see more about Jeff's novels and short stories.

• Jeffrey B. Burton - http://www.jeffreybburton.com/

  Jeffrey B. Burton was born in Long Beach, California, grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, and received his BA in Journalism at the University of Minnesota. Novels in Burton's Agent Drew Cady mystery series include THE CHESSMAN, THE LYNCHPIN, and THE EULOGIST. His short stories have appeared in dozens of magazines. Jeff is a member of the Mystery Writers of America (MWA), International Thriller Writers (ITW), the International Association of Crime Writers, the Horror Writers Association (HWA), and MNArtists.org. Jeff lives in St. Paul with his wife, daughter, and an irate Pomeranian named Lucy.

• Mystery Tribune - https://www.mysterytribune.com/jeffrey-b-burton-third-times-charm/

  QUOTE:
  Whenever an idea occurs to me, I’ll jot it down on a piece of scratch paper and toss it in my idea drawer. Then I’ll let the idea ferment for awhile to frame the rest of the elements of the story. For example, a few years back I’d jotted down “serial killer in hot pursuit of his own copycat.” Originally it was going to be a short story, something along the lines of Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado, where the killer has caught his copycat and, whilst exacting revenge, explains exactly why the copycat should never have insulted him by stealing his M.O. But the story kept getting longer and longer, and eventually it grew into The Chessman.

  Jeffrey B. Burton: “Third Time’s a Charm”
  BY : MYSTERY TRIBUNE July 26, 2017
  Jeffrey B. Burton mystery author thriller chessman
  Jeffrey B. Burton mystery thriller authorJeffrey B. Burton received his BA in Journalism at the University of Minnesota and is the author of Agent Drew Cady mystery series including The Chessman and The Lynchpin. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America (MWA), International Thriller Writers (ITW), and the International Association of Crime Writers. His latest novel The Eulogist will be released in fall of 2017.

  I tell fans that I met my fictional FBI agent in real life.

  Some years back I was managing a project and an FBI agent showed up unannounced to question me about an employee who had applied for an embassy position. The agent looked as though he’d been sent from central casting—about 6’ 1”, dark suit and dress shoes, mid-forties, dark hair with gray at the temples, and an intense stare that made me fidget. He asked about the employee’s personal habits, both on and off the clock, and even questioned me about the employee’s drug use and sex life.

  The agent watched me squirm in my chair and repeat various incantations of “Don’t know. Sorry. Don’t know.” Finally, the agent gave a shrug and mentioned that these were questions he had to ask as part of the background check. Then he looked me in the eye and said, “You don’t like him, do you?”

  I was stunned. Although I’d kept my personal opinion in check, the agent had picked up on my genuine impression about the employee (a cold fish who made no attempt at pleasantries). I wanted the employee to get the embassy position—which he ultimately did—not only because he’d be out of my hair, but, who knows, perhaps being an unpleasant SOB would be a treasured commodity in a setting such as Syria. Anyway, I got a hunch that there were not many ways a person could deceive this gentleman from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I mumbled something to the effect of, “He’s not the most cordial of sorts, but there have been no problems. His work is spotless.”

  So flash forward to when I began writing The Chessman, which is about an intuitive FBI agent who’s trying to claw his way out of the darkness and murk as the result of an investigation that went horribly awry and it occurred to me who I wanted to model Special Agent Drew Cady after…the agent who paid me a visit as part of a background check on a potential embassy employee all those years ago.

  Whenever an idea occurs to me, I’ll jot it down on a piece of scratch paper and toss it in my idea drawer. Then I’ll let the idea ferment for awhile to frame the rest of the elements of the story. For example, a few years back I’d jotted down “serial killer in hot pursuit of his own copycat.” Originally it was going to be a short story, something along the lines of Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado, where the killer has caught his copycat and, whilst exacting revenge, explains exactly why the copycat should never have insulted him by stealing his M.O. But the story kept getting longer and longer, and eventually it grew into The Chessman.

  I just might be the only author to have three books in a series published by three different publishers.

  The Chessman was published by MacAdam/Cage. It got some good reviews, libraries snarfed up copies, and it went on to sell to Random House in Germany as well as to publishers in The Netherlands and Turkey. MacAdam/Cage had great success with novels like The Time Traveler’s Wife, but, sadly, MacAdam/Cage’s President—nice guy/great mentor—passed away in 2013 and MacAdam/Cage spiraled into bankruptcy in 2014 (twists and turns not only exist in mystery novels).

  My second Special Agent Drew Cady mystery, The Lynchpin (serial killers and spies, oh my) was published by MP Publishing. Editors from MacAdam/Cage had jumped ship to MP Publishing and the manuscript had been passed along. They called, buttered me up, swore that MP was an up-and-comer with a thriving San Francisco office chock full of editors and publicists just a raring to go. MP’s maiden voyage had been a collection of essays by the likes of John Grisham and Pat Conroy. Did I sign? In a New York second. Three months later MP Publishing’s entire San Fran office quit in protest over issues they had with MP’s president. MP never recovered from this implosion and my book limped along with the two remaining MP clerks, both of whom also quit before the novel came out.

  But third time’s a charm and my latest Drew Cady mystery, The Eulogist, has found a great home at The Permanent Press. I’m delighted, not only because of what their name implies, but because they’ve won numerous awards, many of their novels are critically-acclaimed, plus they published several early Reed Farrel Coleman novels.

  In terms of working with editors, I’ve had the honor of having Ed Stackler edit both The Chessman and The Lynchpin. Ed edits all of Greg Iles’ novels. His insight is invaluable. Barbara Anderson edited The Eulogist. Nothing gets past Barbara. She spots continuity errors, typos, grammar issues, and other blunders like an owl scanning for mice. Both Ed and Barbara provided copious feedback, and, after calling my dog a few less-than-hospitable names, I rolled up my sleeves and wound up incorporating most-to-all of their edits, which made the mystery novels much better reads.

  In 2015 I won the International Thriller Writers ThrillerFest’s Best First Sentence contest with: “Jennie chewed through relationships like a teething puppy.” As a result, bestselling author Grant Blackwood edited the first several chapters of The Eulogist. Grant had some excellent words of advice and I tweaked the book using each and every one of his recommendations. As for my winning sentence, a somewhat altered version of it appears in the novel.

  I do an insane amount of research, right down to the make and model of the car a character drives to a favorite dish eaten at a restaurant that he or she frequents. For example, The Eulogist touches on a rather unique relationship—a most unusual friendship—between the president of Aadalen Pharmaceuticals and the east coast head of a Mexican drug cartel. They come to view each other as opposite sides of the same coin. I did a ton of research into Mexican cartels, and how they’ve come to dominate the US illicit-drug market. I also looked at the costs incurred in bringing a new drug to market…and with funds like that floating about, the table is all but set for murder.

  So…what the heck is my latest mystery about? Let’s consult the jacket blurb:

  FBI Special Agent Drew Cady is reluctantly drawn into investigating the assassination of a sitting United States Senator. Strangely, the senator’s death is linked to a murdered Baltimore junkie with an identical M.O.—a single stab wound to the heart and a typed eulogy left at the scene.

  As Agent Cady deals with a professional hit man known only as the Canadian, a breakthrough Alzheimer’s drug, a misanthropic hacker, and a Mexican drug cartel, he peels back the layers of deceit and comes to realize that even the reddest of red herrings can bite.

  And unfortunately for all involved, the killings have just begun.

• The Big Thrill - http://www.thebigthrill.org/2017/10/the-eulogist-by-jeffrey-b-burton/

  QUOTE:
  I can’t count the number of vacations that have been stolen from me by the likes of Lee Child, Michael Connelly, John Connolly, Brad Taylor, John Sandford, Barry Eisler, Gillian Flynn, Brian Haig, etc. Instead of hiking or swimming, camping or fishing, barbecuing or just plain merrymaking with my loved ones, I’m superglued to one of their page turners and before I know it—poof!—the vacation’s over.

  The Eulogist by Jeffrey B. Burton
  OCTOBER 31, 2017 by ITW 0
  FBI Special Agent Drew Cady is reluctantly drawn into investigating the assassination of a sitting United States senator. Strangely, the senator’s death is linked to a murdered Baltimore junkie with an identical M.O. – a single stab wound to the heart and a typed eulogy left at the scene.

  As Agent Cady deals with a professional hit man known only as the Canadian, a breakthrough Alzheimer’s drug, a misanthropic hacker, and a Mexican drug cartel, he peels back the layers of deceit and comes to realize that even the reddest of red herrings can bite. And unfortunately for all involved, the killings have just begun.

  THE EULOGIST author, Jeffrey B. Burton, recently met with The Big Thrill to discuss his latest novel:

  What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

  Mystery aficionados are razor-sharp. I’m hoping THE EULOGIST is able to pull the rug out from under them a time or three. That’s what I love in a good mystery—unexpected twists and turns—more fun than a ride at the state fair.

  Was there anything new you discovered, or that surprised you, as you wrote this book?

  The novel touches on a rather unique relationship—an unusual friendship—between the president of Aadalen Pharmaceuticals and the east coast head of a Mexican drug cartel. They come to view each other as opposite sides of the same coin. I did some research into Mexican cartels, and how they’ve come to dominate the US illicit-drug market. I also looked at the costs incurred in bringing new drugs to market…and with funds like that floating about, the table is all but set for murder.

  No spoilers, but what can you tell us about your book that we won’t find in the jacket copy or the PR material?

  I was one of ThrillerFest’s Best First Sentence winners in 2015 (Jennie chewed through relationships like a teething puppy), and, as a result, Grant Blackwood was kind enough to edit the first couple chapters of THE EULOGIST. Grant had some excellent words of advice and I tweaked the novel using each and every one of his suggestions.

  As for my winning sentence, it appears in THE EULOGIST (though not as the first sentence and it has been slightly modified).

  What authors or books have influenced your career as a writer, and why?

  I can’t count the number of vacations that have been stolen from me by the likes of Lee Child, Michael Connelly, John Connolly, Brad Taylor, John Sandford, Barry Eisler, Gillian Flynn, Brian Haig, etc. Instead of hiking or swimming, camping or fishing, barbecuing or just plain merrymaking with my loved ones, I’m superglued to one of their page turners and before I know it—poof!—the vacation’s over. The authors I’ve listed should send me to Maui for a year or two in order to make up for what they’ve done. Hopefully, as an author, I can mess up some readers’ vacations. There’s really no higher compliment.

  *****

  Jeffrey B. Burton was born in Long Beach, California, grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, and received his BA in Journalism at the University of Minnesota. Novels in Burton’s Agent Drew Cady mystery series include The Chessman, The Lynchpin, and THE EULOGIST. His short stories have appeared in dozens of magazines. Jeff is a member of International Thriller Writers (ITW), the Mystery Writers of America (MWA), and the International Association of Crime Writers. Jeff lives in St. Paul with his wife, daughter, and an irate Pomeranian named Lucy.

  To learn more about Jeffrey, please visit his website.

• Fresh Fiction - http://freshfiction.com/author.php?id=36609

  Jeffrey B. Burton

  Jeffrey B. Burton's mystery/thriller (and follow-up to The Chessman), The Lynchpin, is coming to a bookstore near you in February of 2015. Jeff's mystery/thriller, The Chessman (a serial killer is in hot pursuit of his own copycat), came out to excellent reviews in 2012 and went on to sell to Random House in Germany as well as to additional publishers in The Netherlands, Turkey, and the U.K.

  Jeff’s short stories have appeared in dozens of genre magazines (mystery, horror, sci-fi, literary). Jeff's short story, The Soul Fish, received Honorable Mention in Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year in 2010. High Score and In This the Era of the Great Wilting were both published in Murky Depths in the time period that Murky Depths won the British Fantasy Award for Best Magazine. The Mourning and Letters of Transit were miniStory winners in the MNArtists.org MNLit contest in 2008 and 2010, respectively.

  Jeff is an active member of the Mystery Writers of America (MWA), the Horror Writers Association (HWA), and International Thriller Writers (ITW).

• Auntie M Writes - https://auntiemwrites.com/2015/03/22/the-chessmen-the-lynchpin-jeffery-b-burton/

  QUOTE:
  With its mix of high action and mental machinations, the unraveling of this political and economic thriller will keep readers flipping pages until the climax.
  I’m a bit of a binge writer where, if I get in the zone, twelve hours fly past and I have to remind myself to let the dogs out. Usually this occurs when I get it stuck in my noggin that it’s of paramount importance that I complete a series of related scenes or chapters before my ideas fly away or my brain leaks out of my ear. Sometimes this goes on for days, which is a good thing as I’m able to make huge strides. And the dogs have for the most part been good – only a few messes.

  he Chessmen/ The Lynchpin: Jeffery B. Burton Sunday, Mar 22 2015
  great read and new series and Series not to be missed copycat serial killer, FBI agent, MN killer, political thriller, retired FBI, serial muderer auntiemwrites 12:33 am

  Chessman

  Auntie M is happy to have interviewed author Jeffery B. Burton, whose first thriller, The Chessman could be a game of chess, with strategy needed when ex-FBI agent, Drew Cady, finds himself on the trail of serial killer who left him physically and emotionally damaged, the reason for his early retirement.

  When an SEC commissioner is murdered, a chess piece, this time a clear glass queen, is found inserted into the wound. This is the MO of the serial killer known as The Chessman, Cady’s nemesis.

  But is the notorious killer back at work? Or is someone copycatting his methods, and how will the real killer react? And how does this all tie in to a host of investment CEO’s who can out Madox the real Bernie?

  Cady will find himself mixed up in a far-reaching conspiracy as the chase to save lives heats up and takes him on a roller coaster investigation to bring down all of the players in this fast-paced thriller.

  With its mix of high action and mental machinations, the unraveling of this political and economic thriller will keep readers flipping pages until the climax.
  The-Lynchpin-by-Jeffrey-B.-Burton-e1424628005719

  Burton follows this enthralling debut with The Lynchpin, out now, bringing back Cady and his fiancee’ Terri Ingram, just the right kind of love interest for the FBI agent who keeps trying to retire.

  Recuperating from his injuries in the first book, Cady is helping Terri run her resort in northern Minnesota and works only part-time for the FBI’s Medicare Fraud Strike Force there. He should be low key now, he’s convinced, facing white collar criminals, and Cady is enjoying an easier lifestyle.

  Then a young woman’s body is pulled from Lake Superior outside Duluth, and her manner of death bears the hallmark of a sadistic killer. Just as Cady is sucked back in to this investigation, he learns that his former boss, Assistant Director of CID Roland Jund, has killed a fellow agent and is accused of being a spy.

  Cady knows nothing could be further from the truth, but even as he tries to clear Jund’s name, he must pursue this brutal murderer. Another fast-paced and compelling thriller.
  Now let’s hear from Jeffrey Burton:

  AUNTIE M: You Iive in the Minneapolis area as does some of my family. It seems such an innocuous, wholesome place for crime, yet John Sandford has made it seem downright obnoxiously filled with criminal activity in his Prey novels and you’re doing a grand job with Drew Cady in this second book. How much does writing about your own area feel comfortable and also spooky? Do you ever get hate fan mail from your neighbors?

  JEFFREY BURTON: Nearly half of The Lynchpin takes place in northern Minnesota, predominantly in Duluth. I lived in Duluth for a couple of college years, absolutely loved the city, but noticed that on overcast, foggy or rainy days, if you spotted a mansion on a hillside with Lake Superior in the background, it had the look and feel of a castle from one of the old Hammer horror films (starring Peter Cushing or Christopher Lee) where Van Helsing and company would have to journey their way through in order to find the vampire’s lair. And though The Lynchpin doesn’t contain a supernatural element, it does contain a certain amount of creepiness, and I always thought it would be fun to weave that kind of imagery into a scene. Needless to say, the Duluth City Council will not be voting to have a parade in my honor anytime soon.

  My favorite neighbor stopped by after reading one of my novels and said, “Jeff – you’re an awesome neighbor and I enjoyed reading your mystery, but, based on your writing, I think I’m going to get a restraining order.”

  I like to think he was joking.

  AM: Your publisher is from the Isle of Man; how did you connect?

  JB: MP Publishing, based in the Isle of Man, is relatively new to the scene. They began acquiring and distributing e-books in 2008. They released their first original title, a touching collection of essays by the likes of John Grisham and Pat Conroy called Don’t Quit Your Day Job: Acclaimed Authors and the Day Jobs They Quit in 2010.

  The first book in the Agent Drew Cady series, The Chessman, was published by MacAdam/Cage Publishing. MacAdam/Cage had some great success with novels like The Time Traveler’s Wife, but, sadly, David Poindexter, MacAdam/Cage’s President—nice guy and incredible mentor—passed away in 2013 and MacAdam/Cage spiraled into bankruptcy in 2014 (twists and turns not only exist in mystery novels). The Lynchpin then worked its way from MacAdam/Cage to MP Publishing through mutual editors and I signed with MP in the fall of 2013.

  AM: An an author I tell people all that time that each writer must find the routine that works for him or her and that these vary widely. Tell readers what a typical writing day for Jeffrey Burton is like.

  JB: I’ll jot ideas down on a piece of scratch paper and toss them in my idea drawer. Then I’ll let them ferment for a while in order to frame the rest of the story. A few years back I’d jotted down “serial killer in hot pursuit of his own copycat.” Originally it was going to be a short story, something like Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” where the killer has caught his copycat and, while slowly obtaining his vengeance, he explains exactly why the copycat should never have insulted him by stealing his M.O. But the story kept getting longer and longer, and eventually it grew into The Chessman.

  I’m a bit of a binge writer where, if I get in the zone, twelve hours fly past and I have to remind myself to let the dogs out. Usually this occurs when I get it stuck in my noggin that it’s of paramount importance that I complete a series of related scenes or chapters before my ideas fly away or my brain leaks out of my ear. Sometimes this goes on for days, which is a good thing as I’m able to make huge strides. And the dogs have for the most part been good – only a few messes.

  AM: As a mystery writer, I know the ending when I start: who is the murderer and why–but I leave what I call the ‘muddled middle’ to figure out as I write. Are you a writer who plots and outlines the entire novel or do you allow for happenstance?

  JB: When I begin writing a mystery novel, I’ll come up with a concept that I feel would be interesting to pursue. I’ll put together an informal outline as everything is subject to change once I begin writing. Sometimes I’ll head off in a completely different direction – uncharted territory – and then I’m forced to go back and update my outline.

  AM: What’s on your nightstand To Be Read pile?

  JB: I’m all caught up on Michael Connelly, Lee Child, John Sandford, Gillian Flynn, and Barry Eisler, but I’ve just begun reading novels by James Ellroy and William Kent Krueger. Plenty of page-turners to keep me up all hours of the night.

  AM:Finally, what’s next for Drew Cady?

  JB: I’ve begun work on the next Drew Cady mystery, tentatively titled The Eulogist.

  JBurton Author Bio: Jeffrey B. Burton’s mystery/thriller, The Chessman (a serial killer is in hot pursuit of his own copycat), came out to excellent reviews in 2012. Jeff’s short stories have appeared in dozens of genre magazines (mystery, horror, sci-fi, literary). Jeff’s short story, “The Soul Fish,” received Honorable Mention in Ellen Datlow’s Best Horror of the Year in 2010. “High Score” and “In This the Era of the Great Wilting” were both published in Murky Depths in the time period that Murky Depths won the British Fantasy Award for Best Magazine. “The Mourning” and “Letters of Transit” were miniStory winners in the MNArtists.org MNLit contest in 2008 and 2010, respectively. Jeff is an active member of the Mystery Writers of America (MWA), the Horror Writers Association (HWA), and International Thriller Writers (ITW).

  Share this:Auntie M Writes

• Big Thrill - http://www.thebigthrill.org/2015/02/the-lynchpin-by-jeffrey-b-burton/

  QUOTE:
  The term refers to a high-level traitor—a mole that’s burrowed his or her way deep into one of our intelligence services and runs numerous cells from that perch. I grew up during the Cold War and, even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, figured it might be a bit of wishful thinking to assume that those involved in the spy trade handed the ball back to the referee, shook hands, and went their merry way.

  LATEST BOOKS, MYSTERIES
  The Lynchpin by Jeffrey B. Burton
  FEBRUARY 28, 2015 by ITW 135 0
  The Lynchpin by Jeffrey B. BurtonTHE LYNCHPIN is the second novel in Jeffrey B. Burton’s Agent Drew Cady mystery series. Its predecessor, The Chessman, came out in 2012 to some excellent reviews, including a starred one in Publishers Weekly, and went on to sell to publishers in Germany, The Netherlands, Turkey, and the U.K.

  The novel begins with Agent Cady having turned his life around. He’s waved goodbye to Washington, D.C., and ten-plus years of chasing violent felons for the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. He’s moved to Minnesota to be with his fiancée, and now works on the FBI’s Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Life could not be better.

  However, Cady’s tranquility is short-lived. He is ordered to help the local authorities investigate the murder of a young woman whose body was pulled from Lake Superior, then his workload doubles when his former boss kills a fellow agent and stands accused of being a spy. Cady’s plans of living the dream dissolve into a nest of killings and foreign intrigue.

  Jeffery Burton sat down for an interview with THE BIG THRILL to discuss the second entry into his series.

  What does THE LYNCHPIN refer to?

  The term refers to a high-level traitor—a mole that’s burrowed his or her way deep into one of our intelligence services and runs numerous cells from that perch. I grew up during the Cold War and, even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, figured it might be a bit of wishful thinking to assume that those involved in the spy trade handed the ball back to the referee, shook hands, and went their merry way.

  You mentioned that you met a real-life FBI agent who eventually became the model for your fictional agent. How did that happen?

  Some years back when I was managing projects, an FBI agent showed up unannounced one afternoon to question me about an employee who had applied for an embassy position overseas. The agent looked as though he’d been sent from central casting—about six-foot-one, dark suit, dress shoes, early forties, dark hair graying at the temples, and an intense stare that made me fidget. He asked about the employee’s personal habits, both on and off the clock, and even went on to question me about the employee’s drug use and sex life.

  The employee had been in my group for under a month, so the agent watched me squirm in my chair while I repeated incantations of “Don’t know. Sorry. Don’t know.” Finally, the agent gave a shrug and mentioned that these were the questions he had to ask as part of the background check. Then he looked me in the eye and said, “You don’t like him, do you?”

  I was stunned. Although I’d kept my personal opinion in check, the agent had picked up on my genuine impression about the employee (a cold fish who made no attempt at being sociable). I wanted the employee to get the embassy position—which he ultimately did—and not only because he’d be out of my hair, but, who knows, perhaps being unpleasant is a treasured commodity in a setting such as Syria. Anyway, I got a hunch that there were not many ways a person could deceive this gentleman from the Bureau and pull it off. I mumbled something to the effect of, “He’s not the most cordial of sorts, but there have been no problems. His work has been spotless.”

  So let’s flash forward to when I began writing The Chessman, the first Drew Cady mystery. The novel is about an intuitive FBI agent who’s trying to claw his way out of the darkness and murk as the result of an investigation that went horribly awry and it occurred to me who I wanted to model Special Agent Drew Cady after…the agent who paid me a visit as part of a background check on a potential embassy employee all those years ago.

  How did you find MP Publishing?

  MP Publishing, based in the Isle of Man, is relatively new to the scene. They began acquiring and distributing e-books in 2008. They released their first original title, a touching collection of essays by the likes of John Grisham and Pat Conroy called Don’t Quit Your Day Job: Acclaimed Authors and the Day Jobs They Quit in 2010.

  The first book in the Agent Drew Cady series, The Chessman, was published by MacAdam/Cage Publishing. MacAdam/Cage had some great success with novels like The Time Traveler’s Wife, but, sadly, David Poindexter, the president—nice guy and great mentor—passed away in 2013 and the publisher spiraled into bankruptcy in 2014 (twists and turns not only exist in mystery novels). THE LYNCHPIN then worked its way found its way to MP Publishing through mutual editors and I signed with MP in the fall of 2013.

  Any writing habits you’d like to share?

  If an idea occurs to me, I’ll jot it down on a piece of scratch paper and toss it in my idea drawer. Then I’ll let the idea ferment for a while to frame the rest of the elements of the story. For example, a few years back I’d jotted down “serial killer in hot pursuit of his own copycat.” Originally, it was going to be a short story, something along the lines of Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado, where the killer has caught his copycat and, whilst exacting revenge, explains exactly why his captor should never have insulted him by stealing his M.O. But the story kept getting longer and longer, and eventually it grew into The Chessman.

  In terms of working with editors, I’ve had the great privilege of having Ed Stackler edit both The Chessman and THE LYNCHPIN. Ed edits all of Greg Iles’ novels and his insight is invaluable. Both times Ed provided copious feedback, and after calling the dogs a few less-than-hospitable names, I rolled up my sleeves and wound up incorporating all of Ed’s edits, which made the books much better.

  What can we expect from you in the future?

  I’ve begun work on the next Drew Cady mystery, tentatively titled The Eulogist.

  *****

  JeffreyBBurtonB&WJeffrey B. Burton was born in Long Beach, California, but grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received a BA in journalism at the University of Minnesota. Burton is a bookworm from way back, but also enjoys skiing, swimming, football, and baseball. His other works include the novel Sleuth Slayer and a short story collection called Shadow Play. Burton is an active member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, the International Association of Crime Writers, and the Horror Writers Association.

QUOE:
action-packed thriller with a high body count.
plot grabs readers from the start, twists abound, and good triumphs--mostly
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Bailey, Sarah. The Dark Lake. Grand Central. Oct. 2017.400p. ISBN 9781538759905. $26; ebk. ISBN
9781538759912. F
DEBUT When Rosalind Ryan's body is found floating in a lake surrounded by roses, Det. Gemma
Woodstock must face a past she'd hoped would remain buried. The beautiful Rosalind, whom Gemma
envied in high school, was a teacher and writer/director of a successful school play, murdered on the
production's opening night. The locals believe that to be violated so brutally, strangled, and dumped, she
must have been involved in something sinister. It is up to Gemma to untangle the list of suspects, including
Rosalind's strange-acting older brothers, the overly emotional school principal, and maybe even a student
with ties to Gemma. The detective insists that the case isn't personal, but threats to her family and secrets
surfacing from the past prove otherwise. Australian author Bailey's first novel weaves a tale of deception,
family secrets, and flawed but relatable characters. VERDICT While the ultimate plotline is fairly
predictable, several smaller mysteries and background characters make this a worthwhile read for fans of
fellow detective-focused authors Tana French and Lisa Gardner.--Natalie Browning, J. Sargeant Reynolds
Community Coll. Lib., Richmond, VA
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Balson, Ronald H. The Trust. St. Martin's. Sept. 2017. 368p. ISBN 9781250127440. $26.99; ebk. ISBN
9781250127464. F
Making his fourth appearance (after Karolina's Twins), PI Liam Taggert has not been back to his home in
Northern Ireland since the 1990s. When he gets the call that his Uncle Fergus is dead, he agrees to return
and soon learns that Fergus was murdered, leaving the administration of his estate to Liam. The terms of the
will prohibit its distribution until the murderer is found. Did Fergus know his killer? The police suspect
Fergus's family, and Liam is sucked back into the personal and political conflicts that drove him away. Not
far from the surface of daily life in Antrim, the Troubles still smoulder, and violence is sparked if too many
questions are asked. As Liam does his best to follow his uncle's wishes, he steps into a firestorm that
endangers his wife, his child, and the family with whom he has just reconnected. VERDICT This top-notch
thriller will keep readers riveted to the very last page. The Northern Irish setting will appeal to fans of
Adrian McKinty and Stewart Neville, and the familial and political issues will attract psychological thriller
addicts.--Susan Clifford Braun, Bainbridge Island, WA
"5' Bergmann, Emanuel. The Trick. Atria. Sept. 2017. 384p. ISBN 9781501155826. $26; ebk. ISBN
9781501155840. F
DEBUT Bergmann's first novel tells the story of Moshe Goldenhirsch, the son of a rabbi in Prague who, in
the years after World War I, runs away from home to join a circus and becomes a magician performing as
the Great Zabbatini. In alternating chapters, a second story line focuses on ten-year-old Max Cohn, whose
parents are getting a divorce in 21st-century California. Max has discovered an old vinyl record of
Zabbatini's greatest tricks and is sure the magician can perform a spell of eternal love to reunite his parents.
The plot thickens with the impending Holocaust that is likely to destroy Zabbatini. VERDICT How Moshe
survives to be discovered in his old age by Max and how a link is found between the Cohn family and the
Great Zabbatini turn this novel into a magic trick of its own. Bergmann's ability to create appealing, welldrawn
characters and tell a gripping story is impressive. [See Prepub Alert, 3/27/17; "Editors' Fall Picks," p.
34.]--Andrea Kempf, formerly with Johnson Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Overland Park, KS
Burton, Jeffrey B. The Eulogist Permanent. Oct. 2017.360p. ISBN 9781579625023. $29. F
FBI agent Drew Cady, recovering from injuries sustained during a case involving a serial killer, has been
transferred to Minneapolis where he's working in a Medicare fraud unit. He has also married a resort owner
and is enjoying the calmer life. But attending a conference in Washington, DC, he succumbs to his former
boss's plea for help. Sen. Taylor Brockman has been stabbed in the heart, killed in the same manner as a
drug addict he had pardoned a decade earlier as governor of Virginia. Drew and colleague Liz Preston
realize the connection also involves an international pharmaceutical company. When Liz is killed while
chasing a Canadian assassin, Drew must finish the case on his own, aided by a loner computer genius he's
tricked into helping him. VERDICT This third entry in Burton's "Drew Cady" series (after The Chessman
and The Lynchpin) is an action-packed thriller with a high body count. However, the assassin is more
intriguing than the hero, and the writing is marred by awkward explanations ofbureaucratic acronyms. Still,
the plot grabs readers from the start, twists abound, and good triumphs--mostly.--Roland Person, formerly
with Southern Illinois Univ. Lib., Carbondale
*Diaz, Hernan. In the Distance. Coffee House. Oct. 2017. 272p. ISBN 9781566894883. pap. $16.95. F
DEBUT After immigrating to America from Sweden in the 1840s, young Hakan Soderstrom is separated
from his brother in New York and inadvertently boards a ship bound for California, arriving during the Gold
Rush. He befriends a family of Irish immigrants and join them in the goldfields until he is captured by
vigilantes, taken to a nearby town, and made a virtual prisoner. Hakan's escape begins many years of
adventures across the West. He first falls in with a naturalist who teaches him about science, then with a
group of settlers, killing religious zealots who attack their wagon train, becoming a legend-and a wanted
manacross the West. 'While set in the American West, trus is no conventional Western, as it turns the genre's
stereotypes upside down, taking place on a frontier as much mytruc as real with a main character traveling
east. In this world, American individualism becomes the isolation that is its shadow and the dream 'of
freedom devolves into anarchic violence. And while Hakan longs for community, he fmds rumself a
stranger everywhere. VERDICT Resonant historical fiction with a contemporary feel.--lawrence Rungren,
Andover, MA
*Dressier, M. The Last To See Me. Skyhorse. Sept. 2017. 272p. ISBN 9781510720671. $22.99; ebk. ISBN
9781510720688. F
In a picturesque village along the coast of Northern California, mysterious events are occurring, and a
professional ghost hunter is called in to purge the old Lambry estate of malevolent spirits and help secure
the sale of the cliffside property. But the ghost of Emma Rose Finnis, strong and relentless, has been lurking
for more than 100 years and is not ready to give up her secrets. As a child, Emma was a humble servant at
the estate. When she and one of the young Lambry men fell in love, the family saw to it that their
relationship was crushed. Now the ghost hunter and the real estate agent must work together to expose
Emma Rose, but as they do, their own life stories begin to unravel. VERDICT In this rughly atmospheric
and beautifully crafted novel, the movements of the ghost of Emma Rose are both palpable and fascinating.
This latest from Dressler (The Deadwood Beetle) is spellbinding from page one.--Susanne Wells,
Indianapolis P.L.
Duenas, Maria. The Vineyard. Atria. Oct. 2017. 544p. tr. from Spanish by Nick Caistor & Lorenza Garcia.
ISBN 9781501124532. $26; ebk.ISBN 9781501124556. F
The author of The Heart Has Its Reasons and The Time in Between returns with this sweeping 19th centuryset
historical. The bold Mauro Larrea has worked his way up from the dire poverty of his early years in
Spain by becoming a miner and eventually a mine owner in Mexico. But now he stands to lose rus hard-won
fortune. Circumstances bring him to a desperate gamble in a wild game ofbilliards in Havana, Cuba,
winning him an abandoned house and vineyard back inJerez, Spain, where the sherry trade i just starting to
thrive. There Mauro meets the beautiful Soledad Montalvo, whose family previously owned the vineyard
before misfortune struck. We can see where this story is going, but there are many twists and tU1'l1S along
the way, as well as lots of lively characters, including a few villains, and vivid scenes from Mexico City,
Havana, and Jerez. VERDICT This sprawling fanlily saga is filled with romance, intrigue, adventure, and a
bit of melodrama. It's a leisurely yet always entertailling read that will appeal to lovers ofIsabel Allende's
Zarro. [See Prepub Alert, 4/10/17.]--Leslie Patterson, Rehoboth, MA
*Egan, Jennifer. Manhattan Beach. Scribner. Oct. 2017. 448p. ISBN 9781476716732. $28; ebk. ISBN
9781476716756. F
The latest from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Egan (A Visit from the Coon Squad) centers on the Brooklyn
Naval Yard during World War II. Anna Kerrigan lives with her mother and disabled sister, Lydia, her' father
having disappeared years earlier. She works measuring ship parts at the yard but longs to be a diver, doing
salvage and repair underwater. At fIrst by chance and later by design, she encounrers Dexter Styles, a
gangster who may know something about her father's disappearance. Along the way, Anna usually takes the
most reckless path, rarely considering the long-term consequences. The setting is rich and textured, and
unexpected turns of phrase, such as a male naval officer being described as petite, starile and delight. Egan
offers thrilling accounrs of shipwreck and of Anna's diving training, avoiding ITlOSt cliches in her
depictions of the criminal underworld inhabited by Dexter and Anna's f.lther, as well as the motivations and
conflicted loyalties that that life brings. VERDICT This large, ambitious novel shows Egan at the top of her
game. Anna is a true feminist heroine, and her grit and tenacity will make readers root for her. Highly
recommended. [See Prepub Alert, 4/19/17.]--Christine DeZelar-Tiedman, Univ. of Minnesota Libs.,
Minneapolis
Graham-Felsen, Sam. Green. Random. Jan. 2018. 320p. ISBN 9780399591143. $27; ebk. ISBN
9780399591150. F
DEBUT As a member of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign staff, GrahamFelsen helped articulate
Obama's message of empathy and cooperative change across social media outlets. Here, in his debut novel,
he weaves those tQemes into a story about two friends navigating adolescence across the racial divide.
Nicknamed Green, Dave is one of the few white lcids attending Martin Luther King Middle School in
Boston. His life is occupied with a daily struggle to fIt in, which extends from his clothing to his demeanor.
Through a shared admiration for Larry Bird and the Celtics, a black classmate named Marlon becomes one
of Dave's only friends and allies. Together, they manage the awkwardness of nliddle school under constant
pressure to succeed from parents, teachers, and the larger community. As Marlon and Dave f01'l11 their
own individual identities, however, their similarities slowly become eclipsed by their di fferences, from
family backgrounds to life goals. VERDICT Based on Graham-Felsen's childhood in Bos~ on in the 1990s,
this work poignantly captures the tumultuous feelings of adolescence against the historical backdrop of a
racially segregated city and country. [See Prepub Alert, 7/31/17; "Editors' Fall Picks," p. 35.]--Joshua
Finnell, Colgate Univ., Hamilton, NY
Harrison, Phil. The First Day. Houghton Harcourt. Oct. 2017. 224p. ISBN 9781328849663. $23; ebk. ISBN
9781328849670. F
DEBUT Belfast preacher Samuel Orr seems to embody the Gospels, with his honesty about his own failings
and struggles with faith. But he shatters his fanlliy and upends his community when he has an affair and
then a child with teacher Anna Stuart. The unexpected death of Samuel's wife devastate Philip, his eldest
son, whose despair feeds into resentment toward his father. Affection for his half-brother Sam and a fragile
friendship with Anna seem to afford Philip solace, but when he deliberately disfigures Sam, he slashes the
veneer of equilibrium achieved between Anna and his family.
Though Philip disappears, his crime defines Sam's life. Thirty-five years after the incident, Sam lives in New
York and runs into Philip. Their encounter sets in motion a suspenseful and ultimately violent series of
events that change both men and their father forever. VERDICT Screenwriter Harrison's absorbing debut
will surprise readers with its ingenious plot twists and nuanced characters. Though compared with the work
ofAlbert Camus and D.H. Lawrence, Harrison's cinematic first novel stands on its own.--John G. Matthews,
Washington State Univ. libs., Pullman
Hasbun, Rodrigo. Affections. S. & S. Sept. 2017. 144p. ISBN 9781501154799. $23; ebk. ISBN
9781501154812. F
One of Grantas, 22 Best of Young Spanish-Language Novelists, Bolivian-born, Texas-based Hasbun makes
his Englishlanguage debut. In Part 1, set in the late 1950s, ex-Nazi filmmaker Hans Ertl moves with his
family to Bolivia and embarks on an expedition to unearth a lost Incan city in the Amazon jungle.
Accompanied by his two older daughters and two scientists, he finds some ruins but immolates their base
camp. Part 2 jumps ahead to the decade of the Marxist guerrilla warfare ravaging the country. Hans's wife
has died, and daughters Monika, Heidi, and Trixi have gone their separate ways. Most notably, the oldest,
Monika joins the Marxist Resistance with disastrous results. This relatively brief novel is split among seven
narrators (with the daughters' voices repeating), and the fast pacing and sparse narration mean a greater
focus on events than on development of the characters. The ironic title reflects the lack of real affection
among the characters, save perhaps for their quixotic causes. VERDICT Tracing the progress of two
generations of a dysfunctional Bolivian family set during a violent historical period, this novel captures
events in a country largely unfamiliar to most American readers. [See Prepub Alert, 3/13/17]--Lawrence
Olszewski, North Central State Coll., Mansfield, OH
Hayes-McCoy, Felicity. The Library at the Edge of the World. Harper. Nov. 2017. 368p. ISBN
9780062663726. pap. $15.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062663733. F
DEBUT The "edge of the world" is the southwestern coast of Ireland, on a fictional peninsula (think
Dingle). Librarian Hanna Casey, who has returned to her Irish hometown after discovering her English
husband's infidelity, drives the mobile library van among the villages of the Finfarran Peninsula. But all is
not sunshine in this beautiful, remote region. Developers and business interests plan to close the local
library, consolidating services distantly, further fragmenting the social interaction of the area's local
residents. When the plan is disclosed, Hanna finds herself leading the community's pushback. Nuns,
fishermen, senior citizens, young entrepreneurs, crusty curmudgeons, the local rich family recluse, and
library patrons band together to bolster their common purpose. VERDICT Making her fiction and U.S.
debut, the author of The House on an Irish Hillside delivers an appealing novel that will delight Maeve
Binchy fans. There are plenty of good discussion points about the nature of community for book clubs and
thoughtful readers.--Mary K. Bird-Guilliams, Chicago
*Hoffman, Alice. The Rules of Magic. S. & S. Oct. 2017. 384p.ISBN 9781501137471. $27.99; ebk.ISBN
9781501137495. F
Hoffman weaves a spell around the three Owens children--Franny, Jet, and Vincent--as she provides the
backstory to her best-selling Practical Magic. The family of witches has been cursed since the 17th century,
and as the Owens siblings come of age during 1960s, their second sight, magic potions, and other
supernatural abilities are not enough to keep them from the danger of falling in love and seeing their
beloved die. How each deals with the consequences and learns to fight the curse by loving more, not less, is
the key to freedom from the spell and an instruction to readers. Hoffman deftly weaves in dramatic events
from the era, including the Vietnam War and protests against it, without sacrificing the fairy-tale feeling of
her story. VERDICT Admirers of Practical Magic and readers who enjoy a little magic mixed in with their
love stories and prefer to be kept at something of a remove from the grittiness of life's tragedies will relish
this book. [See Prepub Alert, 5/3/17.]--Sharon Mensing, Emerald Mountain School, Steamboat Springs, CO
Ide, Joe. Righteous: An IQ Novel. Mulholland: Little, Brown. Oct. 2017. 336p. ISBN 9780316267779. $26;
ebk. ISBN 9780316267762. F
Isaiah Quintabe,"IQ," the Sherlock Holmes of East Long Beach, CA, uses his inductive reasoning skills to
investigate crime and has taken payment in the form of live chickens and baked goods. His Achilles heel is
an obsessive need to know who drove the car that killed his brother Marcus a decade ago. When Marcus's
old girlfriend Sarita asks IQ to help extricate her sister from a crushing gambling debt in Vegas, he can't
refuse. He has always been in love with Sarita and envisions this case ushering in their new life together. IQ
once again enlists the help of Dodson (Watson to his Sherlock) who has a pregnant girlfriend and a day job
in an attempt to go legitimate. Dodson's witty banter and dynamic personal life provide a piercing contrast
to IQ's solitary and sterile existence, and the scenes between the two are notable in this brilliantly executed
novel. Deftly weaving the search for Marcus's killer with various escapades in Vegas, Ide employs a clever
mixing of time lines that will keep readers guessing until the explosive, bloody denouement. VERDICT A
winning combination of skillful writing and flawless pacing, this second series outing is packed with
adrenaline-inducing scenes along with a colorful cast of violent and treacherous villains. [See Prepub Alert,
4/10/17; "Editors' Fall Picks," p. 32.]--Amy Nolan, St. Joseph, MI
*Keneally, Thomas. Crimes of the Father. Atria. Oct. 2017. 352p. ISBN 9781501128486. $26; ebk. ISBN
9781501128509. F
Perhaps best known for the Booker Prizewinning Schindler's Ark, released here as Schindltr's List and later'
adapted into an Academy Award-winning film, Australian novelist Keneally's literary career spans six
prolific decades and more than 30 novels. This book harkens back to both a theme in his first novel, The
Place at Whitton, and to his career path before becoming a writer: the Catholic priesthood..The novel opens
with Father Frank Docherty in a cab, returning to his hometown ofSydney, Australia, to visit his elderly
mother after being sent to Canada for his outspoken views. A terse and confrontational conversation with
the cab driver uncovers a sexual abuse scandal centered on the church's revered defender, Monsignor Leo
Shannon. As Docherty identifies the victims and reveals the truth, he begins challenging a hierarchy and
power structure that has sanctified and defined his own existence. VERDICT Through the mind of his
aggrieved and conflicted protagonist, Keneally pens an unf1inching meditation on the ways in which
canonical scripture, sacred tradition, and human conscience often coalesce to distort basic moral truths. [See
Prepub Alert, 5/15/17.]--Joshua Finnell, Colgate Univ., Hamilton, NY
King, Stephen & Owen King. Sleeping Beauties. Scribner. Sept. 2017.720p. ISBN 9781501163401. $32.50;
ebk. ISBN 9781501163425. F
Women worldwide are falling prey to an unusual sleeping sickness that shrouds them in a white cocoon.
Anyone who tries to interrupt their otherworldly slumber are killed, as the somnambulic women turn
murderous. In a small, economically depressed Appalachian town, Evie emerges half-naked from a trailer
park to smite an abusive drug dealer before she's arrested and put in the local women's prison just as the
outbreak reaches a fever pitch. While the males ponder a world without women, the enigmatic Evie remains
unaffected. Meanwhile, the sleeping women are in an alternate dimension, a near-postapocalyptic version of
their hometown. Following the renewed interest in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and an
increasing climate of wolf-whistle politics, this examination of gender stereotypes, systems of oppression,
and pervasive misogyny within American culture feels especially timely, though the exploration is centered
in a cisgender, fairly heteronormative experience. VERDICT Violent, subversive, and compulsively
readable, this latest novel from King (Mr. Mercedes), collaborating here with son Owen (Double Feature),
derives more horror from its realistic depiction of violence against women than from the supernatural
elements.--Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal and Library Journal
Lee, Mira T. Everything Here Is Beautiful. Pamela Dorman: Viking. Jan. 2018. 368p. ISBN
9780735221963. $26; ebk. ISBN 9780735221987. F
DEBUT Sisters Miranda and Lucia grow up as first-generation Chinese Americans in a loving, single-parent
home. Older sister Miranda is stable and hardworking; Lucia is more unpredictable. During college, she
travels the world, living in hostels and teaching English, unable to settle in any one place. After their mother
battles cancer and dies, Lucia begins to act even more impetuously, marrying an older man and moving to
New York City. She leaves him suddenly and takes up with a young, Latino immigrant, and they have a
baby together before Lucia suffers a mental breakdown. When recovered, she and her family move to her
partner's village in Ecuador. While maintaining her own life in Switzerland, Miranda attempts to get her
sister the medical help she needs, efforts Lucia does not always appreciate. In the end, Lucia must decide
her own fate. VERDICT First novelist Lee's story of mental illness and its effects on Lucia and those who
love her alternates points of view from among various characters. The portrayal of sisterly love and its limits
is visceral. A solid choice for general fiction readers.--Joanna Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Libs.,
Providence
McAfee, Annalena. Hame. Knopf. Sept. 2017. 592p. ISBN 9781524731724. $30; ebk. ISBN
9781524731731. F
In the wake of her failing marriage, Mhairi McPhail, armed with a book deal and her nine-year-old daughter,
sets out for the Scottish island of Fascaray to write a biography of Grigor McWatt, its most famous son, and
to establish a museum celebrating his life and works. A poet and tireless chronicler ofisland life and Scottish
history and politics, McWatt was best known for one small ballad, "Hame tae Fascaray," which became
something of a national anthem recorded by the likes of Bob Dylan and the Three Tenors. In spite of her
archival training and family connection to the island, Mhairi faces a formidable challenge as she pores
through McWatt's voluminous oeuvre and attempts to penetrate his fiercely guarded private life. His
relationship with the devoted Lilias Hogg was well documented, but there's still much to discover about
another woman, the elusive "Bonny" Jean. VERDICT If McWatt were a more compelling character, or his
story had a little more drama, it might have warranted McAfee's (The Spoiler) over-longish treatment
(complete with footnotes, glossaries, inventories and a bibliography). As it is, there is still something to
admire in this prodigiously imagined life. [See Prepub Alert, 3/13/17.]--Barbara Love, formerly with
Kingston Frontenac P.L., Ont.
*McGregor, Jon. Reservoir 13. Catapult. Oct. 2017. 336p. ISBN 9781936787708. pap. $16.95; ebk. ISBN
9781936787715. F
While on a winter vacation with her parents in a northern England village, a 13-year-old girl goes for a walk
on the moors alone and disappears. This event, plus the intrusive police investigation and fruitless search of
the area's multiple reservoirs and surrounding territory, shock the townspeople, lending the story its tense
tone. But the presumed crime remains unsolved, and though the teen is not forgotten, life goes on. As the
novel unfolds, an unrelenting accretion of declarative sentences describe the village residents, their local
traditions, the weather, the seasons, and even the wildlife, the narrative deftly getting us inside the lives of
the many characters, allowing us to understand their isolation and interdependence. Years slowly pass within
the tale yet go all too quickly--as in real life. McGregor's (This Isn't the Sort of Thing That Happens to
Someone Like You) writing is extraordinary, and while the narrative technique is initially wearing in the
way village life can be--the monotony, the knowledge of everybody's business--it coheres remarkably into a
knowable, comforting, ultimately compelling world. VERDICT This treatise on timelessness and human
nature was recently long-listed for the Man Booker Prize. Highly recommended.--Reba Leiding, emeritus,
James Madison Univ. Lib., Harrisonburg, VA
Macmillan, Gilly. Odd Child Out Morrow. Oct. 2017.448p. ISBN 9780062697837. $25.99; pap. ISBN
9780062476821. $15.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062476852. F
*Macmillan's third novel (after What She Knew and The Perfect Girl) reveals the story of the friendship
between two 15-year-old boys and the issues each face through the police investigation into their
involvement in what appears to be a tragic accident. Noah Sadler, an only child from a privileged family, is
pulled from a canal with serious injuries while his Somali-born friend, Abdi Hasad, looks on. Brought in to
investigate the matter, Det. Jim Clemo finds that it may not have been an accident and, with social tensions
in Bristol already high and a reporter determined to use the story to ratchet them even higher, learning what
really happened becomes increasingly urgent. VERDICT With characters who are sympathetic and
believable, Macmillan's latest will keep readers in suspense to the very end. Highly recommended.--Lisa
0'Hara, Univ. of Manitoba Libs., Winnipeg
Mercier, Pascal. Lea. Grove. Sept. 2017. 304p. ISBN 9780802121660. $25; ebk. ISBN 9780802189301. F
Martijn van Vliet and Adrian Herzog meet accidentally in a cafe in Provence, France. Both have daughters,
both have lost their wives, and both are casting about for a reason to continue living. Martijn befriends
Adrian so he can tell him his story. His daughter Lea was lost in grief after her mother's death until she hears
a violin played in a train station. The performance captivates her, and she declares that she would learn to
play the violin. Her latent talent is revealed, sweeping her into a world of performance and practice. Her
father neglects his career to support her and remain close to her. But cracks begin to appear in her mental
stability, and her father, concerned for her welfare, carries out a daring and illegal plan to bring her back
from the brink of collapse. Mercier (Night Train to Lisbon) tells a heartbreaking story of a father's love for
his child. His two main characters emphasize the parallel lines in the lives of men and the differences that
make their experiences unique. VERDICT This tragedy, told in the style of Somerset Maugham, will appeal
to serious fiction readers.--Joanna Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Libs., Providence
*Namdar, Ruby. The Ruined House. Harper. Nov. 2017. 528p. tr. from Hebrew by Hillel Halkin. ISBN
9780062467492. $29.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062467508. F
Winner of the 2014 Sapir Prize, Israel's equivalent of the Man Booker Prize, this artfully translated work
features Andrew Cohen, a 52-year-old professor of cultural studies at New York University. Urbane and
sophisticated, the divorced Cohen lives a stylish, carefully curated existence on the Upper West Side of
Manhattan at the turn of the millennium. Though he considers himself a rational, secular, intellectual Jew,
with disdain for the garish religiosity of his ancestors, he begins experiencing strange visions involving the
ancient Temple in Jerusalem. This existential crisis takes on nightmarish qualities, as his hallucinations as
well as his daily encounters begin to offer incessant and tormenting glimpses of death and decay. As the
dated chapters move toward what the readers know will be a contemporary slaughter, the tension and horror
multiplies. VERDICT Though Cohen's relentless, inexorable decline can get a little repetitive, and the
conclusion feels somewhat anticlimactic, this is an imaginative and visionary work about one man's
spectacular mid-life crisis, framed by sacred texts and filled with poetic and portentous passages.
Reminiscent of the work of Nicole Krauss.--Lauren Gilbert, Sachem P.L., Holbrook, NY
Roberts, Paige. Virtually Perfect. Kensington. Sept. 2017. 352p. ISBN 9781496710093. pap. $15; ebk.
ISBN 9781496710109. F
DEBUT When her famous cooking show Healthy U is canceled, followed by her monthly magazine column
and cookbook deal, Lizzie Glass quickly becomes a hasbeen, leaving New York City and moving in with
her mother. But her Aunt Linda pulls some strings and lands Lizzie a summer job as a personal chef to her
boss's family, the wealthy Silvesters. From their outlandish beach house on the Jersey Shore to summer
parties that put celebrity shindigs to shame, the Silvesters are not ashamed to flaunt their luxurious lifestyle.
However, the more Lizzie learns about the family, in particular their daughter Zoe, the more she learns how
looks can be deceiving. Roberts's spot-on debut novel delves into the virtually perfect facade of an internally
imperfect family. The author also eloquently splashes.in a dash of humor, from scenes of an overweight,
overly tanned, and chauvinistic family friend who ends up drunk in the ER, to an Eagle ice sculpture with an
oversight. VERDICT Readers who enjoy novels with cooking themes will laugh and commiserate with
Lizzie as she sweats her way through a summer of gourmet requests, grandiose demands, and secrets she
learns about almost too late.--Erin Holt, Williamson ety. P.L., Franklin, TN
*Scott, Sophfronia. Unforgivable Love: ARetelling of Dangerous Liaisons. Morrow. Sept. 2017. 544p.
ISBN 9780062655653. pap. $15.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062655677. F
Scott (All I Need To Get By) reimagines Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's 18th-century French classic Les
Liaisons dangereuses setting it in 1930s Harlem. The manipulative Marquise de Merteuil is played here by
Mae Malveaux, an heires used to getting her way. The unprincipled Vicomte de Valmont is Valiant Jackson,
who could have any woman, but Mae is the one he desperately wishes to possess. Much to his chagrin, Mae
poses a bargain ofsorts: to seduce her innocent cousin Cecily and ruin her engagement' with Frank
Washington. As a reward, Mae promises Jackson that she will spend a night with him. ButJackson has plans
of his own: to entice the married, church-going Elizabeth Townsend. Her faith in his good character will be
Elizabeth's downfall. VERDICT Readers of classic and historical fiction will find this fresh retelling a
fascinating read.--Adriana Delgado, Palm Beach Cty. Lib., Loxahatchee, FL
*Thien, Madeleine. Dogs at the Perimeter. Norton. Oct. 2017. 272p. ISBN 9780393354300. pap. $15.95;
ebk. ISBN 9780393354317. F
Mei, a Cambodian war refugee from Phnom Penh, relates a harrowing story of genocide under the rule of
the Khmer Rouge regime. She and her family are torn apart as they are thrust into this reign of terror. Family
members "disappear"; food, housing, and medicinal supplies are scarce, making life a daily struggle for
survival; and everyone lives in constant fear. Escaping to Canada, Mei becomes Janie, changing her name in
a desperate act to start a new life. In stream-of-consciousness style, Canadian author Thien offers a
perceptive look into a truly nightmarish world, effectively capturing the essence of someone suffering from
prolonged posttraumatic stress. Janie's need for family, memories, and fulfillment ofher desi res have been
superseded by a crushing, despotic regime that kills not only people but souls. VERDICT First published in
Canada in 2011 and released here after the success ofDo Not Say We Halle Nothing, which was short-listed
for the Man Booker Prize, this second novel by Thien is a moving, powerful, beautifully written study that
illuminatesJanie's reality. An important addition to the canon ofdiaspora and refugee literature.-Lisa
Rohrbaugh, Leetonia Community P.L.,OH
*Todd, Jack. Rose & Poe. ECW. Oct. 2017. 248p. ISBN 9781770413993. pap. $15.95; ebk. ISBN
9781773051017. F
Todd's innovative novel (after Rain Falls Like Mercy) is loosely based on Shakespeare's The Tempest but
can be appreciated by those unfamiliar with the play. Instead of a magical island, the story takes place in
isolated Belle Coeur Valley. Prospero Thorne has been forced from his law practice by partner Anthony
Coyle; his daughter, Miranda, attends Harvard Law School but returns during breaks to the valley people
she's loved and known since childhood. Such a friend is Poe Didelot. This giant, simple man lives with his
protective mother, Rose, tends his small herd of goats, and meticulously builds a magnificent stone wall for
Thorne. Enter Sebastian Coyle, the son of Thorne's former partner, who befriends Miranda. She foolishly
thinks they can bring the families together. Instead, Sebastian assaults her, leaving the country to avoid
justice, and Sheriff Dunn reluctantly arrests Poe because he was found at the scene. After the trial verdict, a
fierce rainstorm floods the area, which Thorne is convinced he has caused. VERDICT Todd offers
fascinating embellishments to Shakespeare's story, and as elements of magic filter through this modern
retelling, his own plans for his characters shine through. Ultimately upbeat, this story stands on its own and
is splendid from start to finish.--Donna Bettencourt, Mesa Cty. P.L., Grand Junction, CO
Westbrook, William. The Bermuda Privateer. McBooks. Sept. 2017. 328p. ISBN 9781590137444. $22.95. F
DEBUT In the late 1700s, the wry and often contemplative Capt. Nicholas Fallon commands The Sea Dog,
a privateer schooner that protects his employer's lucrative salt trade in the Caribbean. With first mate and
longtilne childhood friend Beauty McFarland, he tangles with the notorious pirate Wicked Jak Clayton,
which begins the adventure of a lifetime. From heated sea battles to falling in love, Westbrook's novel
details the peril of maritime life in the 18th century as empires sparred for trade and riches. While this title
will satisfY nautical fiction enthusiasts, it doesn't belabor historical minutiae and terminology but
seamlessly weaves those details into the story line while jumping right into the action. Westbrook's captain
and crew are the embodiment offriendship, courage, and allegiance on the high seas. VERDICT Full of
adventure and intrigue, this first novel will be a solid entry point to a compelling series in the making. A
strong choice for Patrick O'Brian fans.--Ron Samul, New London, CT
*Whittall, Zoe. The Best Kind of People. Ballantine. Sept. 2017. 448p.ISBN 9780399182211. $28; ebk.
ISBN 9780399182228. F
Accusations ofsex crimes with students send local hero and former teacher of the year George Woodbury
and his family into a spiral of disruption and psychological damage that changes their lives forever. The
wealthy Woodburys, pillars of the community, are rocked to the core, as no one truly knows whether George
is innocent or guilty. His wife, Joan, stumbles through denial, anger, rage, and finally a degree ofacceptance
with the help of her work as a trauma nurse, her therapist, and a support group. Daughter Sadie, 17, escapes
to her boyfriend's house, where she numbs her pain with marijuana and lots ofsex. Older son Andrew
struggles to support his father while reliving the ostracism he suffered when he came out as gay in their
small, close-knit community. Whittall's writing is so strong and heartfelt that readers will wonder how such
a young writer is able to offer this depth of emotion and psychological insight. This Giller Prize finalist is
the Canadian author's first work to be published in the United States. VERDICT Sure to provoke debate and
send book discussion groups into overtime.--Lisa Rohrbaugh, Leetonia Community P.L., OH
SHORT STORIES
Bae Suah. North Station. Open Letter. Oct. 2017. 320p. tr. from Korean by Deborah Smith. ISBN
9781940953656. pap. $15.95; ebk. ISBN 9781940953700. F
One word describes Bae's latest: enigmatic. The seven stories that comprise her first translated-into-English
collection (and her third collaboration with prolifically adroit British translator of choice Smith) are more
fragments than linear narratives. In the opening "First Snow, First Sight," unreliable memory between two
people separated for eight years is di sected and reconstructed. "Owl" conflates books, stories, and dreams.
The title story features a couple longing to stop tinle to avoid parting. "The Non-Being of the Owl" is a
meditation on death, while "MollSon" discusses travel and encounters along the way. Representation and
identity are examined in "Dignified Kiss of Paris Streets," the title of a photograph that in fact depicts the
narrator's respiratory system. Even more than her novels (Recitation; A Greater Music), Bae's short works
den1.and deliberate attention as her words and sentences diverge, detour, elide, and suddenly (sometimes)
resume an abandoned narrative path. VERDICT Intrepid readers ready for a labyrinthine literary challengethink
Borges, Kafka, Faulkner-will enjoy deciphering Bae's quizzical, uncommon stories.--Terry Hong,
Smithsonian BookDragon, Washington, DC
*Eugenides, Jeffrey. Fresh Complaint. Farrar. Oct. 2017. 304p. ISBN 9780374203061. $27; ebk. ISBN
9780374717384. F
Among our most highly regarded contemporary writers, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Eugenides (Middlesex;
The Marriage Plot) offers his first collection of short fiction. Not unexpectedly, the work is superb, but
perhaps most noteworthy is the compassion and generosity of spirit that informs it. Notable also is
Eugenides's ongoing focus on the fluid riature of personal identity and the transitional moments in our lives
when we must grapple with who we are, who we wish to be, and who we find ourselves becoming. The title
story is a disturbing portrait of a 16-year-old Indian American woman who goes to extraordinary lengths to
avoid an arranged marriage. "Find the Bad Guy" is a humorous story about a divorced husband and father
who is irresistibly drawn back to his home and family despite a temporary restraining order. "Complainers"
tells a beautiful, heartbreaking story about the end ofa 40-year friendship. These stories skillfully explore
the often elusive quest for happiness and self-knowledge, along with the many complexities that atend
relationships with family, friends, and lovers. VERDICT Es ential for all fans ofliterary fiction. [See Prepub
Alert, 4/24/17.]--Patrick Sullivan, Manchester Community Coli., CT
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Fiction." Library Journal, 1 Sept. 2017, p. 101+. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A504090942/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=19d89fc0.
Accessed 25 Apr. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A504090942

QUOTE:
Add a few points for some expertly handled action sequences, subtract a few points for some
logical slackness--just why was it so important to leave those eulogies?--and you have, on balance, a pretty
average thriller.

Burton, Jeffrey B.: THE EULOGIST
Kirkus Reviews.
(Aug. 15, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text: 
Burton, Jeffrey B. THE EULOGIST Permanent Press (Adult Fiction) $29.95 10, 31 ISBN: 978-1-57962-
502-3
His third case pits Special Agent Drew Cady, who thought he'd left the Washington office of the FBI for a
quiet desk job with the Medicare Fraud Strike Force in Minneapolis, against the assassin who leaves a
eulogy with every corpse.We'd all like to be well-remembered after death, but few of us get the pre-emptive
boost accorded the victims of the contract killer dubbed the Canadian, who's nice enough to include a duly
flattering send-off at every crime scene. The first beneficiary of this largesse seems to be Sen. Taylor
Brockman, D-Va., stabbed so neatly in the ribs that the experts think it was a professional hit. But wait: only
a week ago, some perp with the exact same M.O. seems to have killed drug-wasted pharmaceuticals scion
Thaddeus Jay Aadalen, whom Brockman had gotten pardoned after he was sentenced to 14 years in prison
for his involvement in a car accident that resulted in the death of his classmate Evan Sandin. Roped back
into the action while he's on a routine visit to D.C., Cady (The Lynchpin 2014, etc.) questions TJ's parents:
no response, especially from his father, who stepped down as CEO after he suffered an incapacitating
stroke. He questions Evan's father, vindictive retiree Karl Sandin, at his trailer park in Lynchburg: nothing.
For better or worse, however, the Canadian is intent on providing new evidence, or at least new crime
scenes. Soon after the remarkably similar murder of TJ's older brother, Colin, who might have been a more
steadying influence if he hadn't been keeping company with major drug dealer Jorge Hierra, Cady and
company get a lead that promises a major break in the case--if they can keep the Canadian from breaking
them first.Add a few points for some expertly handled action sequences, subtract a few points for some
logical slackness--just why was it so important to leave those eulogies?--and you have, on balance, a pretty
average thriller.
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Burton, Jeffrey B.: THE EULOGIST." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2017. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A500365060/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=44d8d838.
Accessed 25 Apr. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A500365060

QUOTE:
In the end, the rule-breaking
Cady uses a blend of courage and smarts to untangle a farrago of crimes in an overloaded plot that some
readers may have trouble following

The Eulogist
Publishers Weekly.
264.29 (July 17, 2017): p199.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text: 
The Eulogist
Jeffrey B. Burton. Permanent, $31.95 (360p)
ISBN 978-1-57962-502-3
Burton's intricate third Drew Cady mystery (after 2015's The Lynchpin) takes the FBI special agent from the
Minneapolis field office to Washington, D.C., where he joins special agent Elizabeth Preston in investigating
the stabbing death of Sen. Taylor Brockman. Brockman's murder is quickly linked to the murder of troubled
college kid TJ Aadalen, a scion of the powerful Aadalen Pharmaceutical family. After TJ went to prison for
drug trafficking, Brockman, then the governor of Virginia, issued him a controversial pardon. Both
Brockman and TJ were killed with a single, skilled knife thrust to the heart, and a sardonic eulogy note was
left with each body. While Cady and Preston chase clues, an assassin identified only as the Canadian carries
out assignments with brutal efficiency. A skilled hacker adds to the muddle. In the end, the rule-breaking
Cady uses a blend of courage and smarts to untangle a farrago of crimes in an overloaded plot that some
readers may have trouble following. (Sept.)
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Eulogist." Publishers Weekly, 17 July 2017, p. 199. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A498996925/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=fedd9fe6.
Accessed 25 Apr. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A498996925

QUOTE:
delivers an outstanding serial killer thriller that will impress even seasoned
practitioners of this subgenre.
Burton
has established himself as someone definitely to watch.

The Chessman
Publishers Weekly.
259.13 (Mar. 26, 2012): p59.
COPYRIGHT 2012 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text: 
* The Chessman
Jeffrey B. Burton. MacAdam/Cage, $25 (352p) ISBN 978-1-59692-370-6
Burton (Sleuth Slayer) delivers an outstanding serial killer thriller that will impress even seasoned
practitioners of this subgenre. Three years earlier, Drew Cady left the FBI, damaged physically and mentally
after pursuing a serial killer known as the Chessman, who inserted chess pieces into the fatal wounds of his
victims. Now, a possible copycat killer has murdered Kenneth Gottlieb, the new SEC commissioner, in
Washington, D.C., leaving in Gottlieb's body a clear glass queen, "the same make that the Chessman utilized
in the previous homicides." Cady and the bureau were convinced at the time that they found the Chessman's
body, but what if he wasn't dead? Cady must reinvestigate the original crimes to see what they might have
missed the first time. The convolutions are both mind-boggling and well-conceived, and Burton excels at
balancing scenes of action and pursuit with deduction. Whether or not Cady returns in another book, Burton
has established himself as someone definitely to watch. (May)
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Chessman." Publishers Weekly, 26 Mar. 2012, p. 59. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A284552439/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=2c5ba9d8.
Accessed 25 Apr. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A284552439

Sleuth Slayer
Kam Aures
MBR Bookwatch.
(May 2008):
COPYRIGHT 2008 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Full Text: 
Sleuth Slayer
Jeffrey B. Burton & Bruce W. Burton
Pocol Press
6023 Pocol Drive, Clifton VA 20124-1333
ISBN 9781929763320, $17.95, www.pocolpress.com/
"Diminutive, Yoda-faced P. Jax Thornton III sat on my sagging couch, nursed the tepid root beer I'd poured
him, from what was maybe a halfway rinsed coffee mug with a busted handle that'd been turning into a Petri
dish in my sink." It is 2:30 am and mystery writer Guy Davitt is awakened by a visit from fellow writer Jax
who has concerns about the recent deaths of two other mystery authors. A month ago, Angus MacDougall
was found dead with the cause of death determined to be alcohol poisoning. Just the day prior to Jax's visit,
Alexandra Case was found dead due to smoke inhalation. Jax believes that these deaths are more than just a
random coincidence.
Although at the time Guy had dismissed Jax's suspicions, he soon found himself placing more value in his
friend's beliefs. Shortly after their talk Jax was the victim of a fatal car crash on a twisting canyon road.
Therefore, yet another mystery author was dead. After Guy pays his respects to the Thornton family, Jax's
father tells him that he is welcome to clean out Jax's writing area and take whatever he wants. Guy uses this
as an opportunity to see if he can find any evidence confirming Jax's suspicions that there is a mysterywriter
serial-killer out there.
To see what others think about the recent chain of events, Guy posts the information that he has in a mystery
writers' chat room. In the numerous responses to his post, he receives a rather unusual comment from
someone he does not know with the user name of "Scythe." "Scythe's" coded, chilling comment infers that
Guy is going to be one of the next victims. Soon after, another writer, Frances Whiting, shows up on Guy's
doorstep claiming that she too had almost been a murder victim as she was attacked on her yacht, but had
escaped. Together they work to determine who is behind the serial slayings and to try to unravel the
mystery.
As you can see in the quote at the beginning of my review, Burton and Burton are very talented at writing
descriptive passages. Whether I wanted to or not, I could vividly picture what was growing inside of that
coffee mug. This skillful writing combined with a strong plot will have you turning the pages in anticipation
of what is coming next. There are many twists and turns throughout the book and just when you think you
have it all figured out you will be proven wrong.
"Sleuth Slayer" is a fast-paced novel from start to finish with no dull moments in between. The writing is
suspenseful and the characters are memorable. I think that any fan of the mystery genre will truly enjoy this
book. I would love to see this novel become the beginning of a series and I look forward to reading more
from the authors in the future.
Aures, Kam
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
Aures, Kam. "Sleuth Slayer." MBR Bookwatch, May 2008. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A178796374/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=097e19fe.
Accessed 25 Apr. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A178796374

QUOTE:
falls short of the high standard set by its impressive predecessor.

The Lynchpin
Publishers Weekly.
261.51 (Dec. 8, 2014): p59+.
COPYRIGHT 2014 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text: 
The Lynchpin
Jeffrey B. Burton. MP Publishing (www.mppublishingusa.com), $14.95 trade paper (288p) ISBN 978-1-
84982-308-1
Burton's sequel to 2012's The Chessman falls short of the high standard set by its impressive predecessor.
FBI agent Drew Cady has taken a break from the pursuit of violent psychopaths to serve a stint on the
Minneapolis Medicare Fraud Strike Force, and to solidify his relationship with resort manager Terri Ingram,
but he soon becomes involved in two separate homicide cases. After 23-year-old Katrina Mortensen is
fished out of Lake Superior, the police discover that she was drained of her blood and infused with
embalming fluid--while she was still alive. Meanwhile, Cady's old boss, Roland Jund, an FBI assistant
director, claims he strangled an intruder who attacked him in his house in the middle of the night. When the
dead man is identified as the husband of Jund's lover, his assertion of self-defense becomes a harder sell.
Fans of The Chessman dismayed by the routine plotting that follows will hope Burton returns to form next
time. (Feb.)
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Lynchpin." Publishers Weekly, 8 Dec. 2014, p. 59+. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A393350284/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=ace58fe1.
Accessed 25 Apr. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A393350284

"Fiction." Library Journal, 1 Sept. 2017, p. 101+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A504090942/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 25 Apr. 2018. "Burton, Jeffrey B.: THE EULOGIST." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2017. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A500365060/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 25 Apr. 2018. "The Eulogist." Publishers Weekly, 17 July 2017, p. 199. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A498996925/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 25 Apr. 2018. "The Chessman." Publishers Weekly, 26 Mar. 2012, p. 59. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A284552439/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 25 Apr. 2018. Aures, Kam. "Sleuth Slayer." MBR Bookwatch, May 2008. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A178796374/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 25 Apr. 2018. "The Lynchpin." Publishers Weekly, 8 Dec. 2014, p. 59+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A393350284/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 25 Apr. 2018.

• Thriller Books Journal
  http://www.thrillerbooksjournal.com/lynchpin-jeffrey-b-burton/
  Word count: 796

  QUOTE:
  Burton has woven these twin plots, the investigation of a series of sadistic serial killings and of a spy ring featuring senior FBI and CIA operatives, into a gripping thriller.
  Drew Cady is an engaging character with a fine investigative nose.
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  You Are Here :Home » New Releases » The Lynchpin – Jeffrey B. Burton
  1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
  The Lynchpin – Jeffrey B. Burton
  Nicola Mira January 4, 2015 New Releases, Reviews No Comment
  the-lynchpin‘The Lynchpin’ is the second novel by Jeffrey B. Burton featuring FBI Special Agent Drew Cady. Yes, an FBI sleuth is the hero and protagonist of a crime novel.

  Why the surprise? I have read about FBI agents in crime fiction countless times before. M. Connelly has written novels centred around Special Agent Rachel Walling, though I only met her as a character in his Harry Bosch novels. But I’ve never read a novel with a federal agent in the leading role – my failing, I’ll admit – and never before I found one painted in quite the same light as Drew Cady. He is dedicated, tenacious and brave, and intuitive as the best in the business. But he ticks other surprising boxes (for a fictional FBI agent) too: he’s likeable, maverick, laid-back and with a sense of humour.

  Cady has waved good-bye to ten years of chasing violent felons, in the aftermath of the investigation featured in Jeffrey B. Burton’s first novel, ‘The Chessman’. He is now healing his physical and mental wounds in scenic northern Minnesota, helping his fiancée run a lake-side resort and working part-time for the FBI’s Medical Fraud Strike Force in Minneapolis. No suits and formal shoes, it’s jeans and sneakers as he basks in the glow of a new, relaxed lifestyle.

  But trouble comes hunting for him in the sinister form of the body of a young woman washed ashore on Lake Superior. The young woman has died in such a horrific and unusual way that it just has to be murder, and by a sadistic killer too. A reluctant Cady is co-opted into the investigation by the distraught Duluth police and teams up with a tough cop who’s as spare with words as she is decisive in action, and together they start a painstaking search to identify the dead girl and piece together the puzzle of her disappearance and death.

  The novel’s prologue however features a night-time break-in by an unnamed assassin who ends up dead at the hands of his intended victim. Who turns out to be Roland Jund, Drew Cady’s former boss at the FBI. While the dead assassin turns out to be another FBI agent, with whose wife Jund was having an affair. And in no time Cady, out of allegiance for Jund, is plunged into a secret intelligence affair that stretches back to the Cold War era.

  Jeffrey B. Burton has woven these twin plots, the investigation of a series of sadistic serial killings and of a spy ring featuring senior FBI and CIA operatives, into a gripping thriller. But the two strands remain essentially unrelated, tied together only by hard-working, much-travelled Cady’s efforts in both. Crime never stops and neither do crime-fighters, but I felt that either plot could have merited a full novel. Both in fact contain enough elements and characters to populate a fully-fledged mystery story.

  Burton does a fine job of juggling timelines and narrative pace but the fact that one of the two investigations is successfully cleared by roughly the middle of the novel I found an anticlimax. For no other reason that I felt the story was interesting enough – and Burton clearly a crime writer with enough ability – to stand alone as a gripping serial-killer novel.

  The fact remains that Drew Cady is an engaging character with a fine investigative nose. He’s far from the unwavering, bureaucratised FBI detectives often depicted elsewhere, and though he does eventually come out literally with guns blazing in a Western-style shoot-out (Burton liked to read Louis L’Amour as a kid…), he’s not shy of showing his softer side, as loyal colleague and compassionate man of the law. Even when Cady or other characters slip into acronym-happy FBI talk or act out a bit of standard-issue cop behaviour, there’s plenty to like in Burton’s main characters. As well as plenty of convincing investigative details, and certainly plenty of pace and tension in the narrative, enough in fact for more than one novel!

• TwinCities.com
  https://www.twincities.com/2012/08/16/minnesota-author-s-mystery-has-lots-of-moving-parts/
  Word count: 511

  QUOTE:
  terrific mystery, “The Chessman,” made up of a lot of moving parts the author brings together masterfully.

  Minnesota author ‘s mystery has lots of moving parts
  By MARY ANN GROSSMANN | mgrossmann@pioneerpress.com | Pioneer Press
  PUBLISHED: August 16, 2012 at 11:01 pm | UPDATED: November 10, 2015 at 3:50 pm
  Drew Cady retired from the FBI after a killer called the Chessman crippled Cady’s hand and his emotions.

  So Cady isn’t eager to help the agency when, several years later, it appears the Chessman is back. Corpses are turning up exhibiting the killer’s trademark — a chess piece stuck in each victim’s wound. Is it Chessman or a copycat?

  That’s the barebones outline of Minnesotan Jeffrey Burton’s terrific mystery, “The Chessman,” made up of a lot of moving parts the author brings together masterfully.

  When Cady’s former FBI boss begs the former agent to re-examine the Chessman cold case, Cady agrees only because he always thought the original case was wrapped up too neatly. Digging into old files, he gets too close to the truth for his own good. It isn’t a spoiler to reveal that Chessman, who is lying low, is not happy that someone has stolen his M.O.

  Cady is an appealing protagonist. He’s smart, sympathetic and not a show-off.

  Burton’s fast-paced plot includes a decades-old drowning after a wild party, a con man who’s making millions on a Ponzi scheme, an FBI mole and scary enforcers who work for the heads of two criminal mobs.

  You don’t have to know anything about chess to understand what’s going on in this story. Burton provides a commentator who explains the killer’s message when he leaves specific chess pieces in his victims.

  Burton’s got a great ear for dialogue. Whether Cady is meeting with a roomful of FBI agents or talking to a woman to whom he is attracted, their discussions are spot-on. And he knows how to write horror-filled scenes, one of which involves a chainsaw.

  “The Chessman” was praised by critics when it was published earlier this year. Publishers Weekly’s starred review said: “The convolutions are both mind-boggling and well-conceived, and Burton excels at balancing scenes of action and pursuit with deduction. … Burton has established himself as someone definitely to watch.” Other critics praised Burton’s book for a twisty plot, “high drama and intrigue” and a satisfying ending.

  Burton’s stories have appeared in dozens of magazines, from mystery, horror and sci-fi to literary. His story collection “Shadow Play” was published in 2005 and a mystery novel, “Sleuth Slayer,” in 2008.

  Mary Ann Grossmann can be reached at 652-228-5574.

  What: Jeffrey B. Burton signs copies of “The Chessman”

  When/where: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, Once Upon a Crime, 604 W. 26th St., Minneapolis

  Publisher/price: MacAdam/Cage, $25

  Information: 612-870-3785, Onceuponacrime@earthlink.net

• New York Journal of Books
  https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/chessman
  Word count: 630

  QUOTE:
  Burton also does an excellent job in describing the gritty action scenes, creating an element of suspense and horror that may cause some readers to flinch. Other parts of the story have some pretty incredible action that makes this novel a thriller as well. Easy to picture this story up on the big screen.
  Well done; well written.

  eviewed by:
  John M. Wills
  “The Chessman succeeds in drawing in the reader with action and drama, wearing us down with mystery and suspense, and finally rewarding us for our tenacity by giving us a well-deserved, satisfying ending. . . . Well done; well written.”

  “Chess demands total concentration.”
  —Bobby Fischer

  The Chessman is not unlike the game of chess itself: It’s all about strategy and out thinking your opponent. Jeffrey Burton has succeeded in creating a visual of this fact, allowing the reader to strategize and attempt to think one or two moves ahead as they delve further into this exciting novel.

  But while the story is about a mysterious copycat serial killer that confounds the authorities, it’s also about several hardcore bad guys who take delight in torture and murder. That said, The Chessman is not for the faint of heart: Rapes, drownings, beatings, and other miscellaneous inhumane acts are an integral part of the story. The mayhem is perpetrated by characters author Burton created, yet whom I imagine, aren’t entirely fictional.

  The story’s protagonist, ex-FBI Special Agent Drew Cady, is reluctantly brought back into the Bureau to help find the copycat killer because of his knowledge about the original killer. And while Cady was able to solve that case, he was maimed and almost killed in the process. The ordeal of that investigation sullied his reputation and cost him his marriage. Now that a murderer of the same ilk as the chessman has surfaced, Cady has a shot at rebuilding his self-esteem as well as his standing among his peers.

  The Chessman is a journey with peaks and valleys that are sure to challenge readers. The author plants clues along the way, some of which will aid the reader in determining who wears the white hats, while others are meant to detour readers away from the truth. Regardless, it all adds up to one heckuva good story. And while there may be perhaps a few too many characters, Mr. Burton does a fine job in developing the ones who carry the story.

  Equally enjoyable is the fact that there is a puzzling financial component involved—one that makes Bernie Madoff’s scheme look childish in comparison. That element adds contemporary realism and forces the reader to try to analyze the mechanics of the fraud. The two dynamics—murders and Ponzi schemes—make The Chessman a timely and compelling mystery.

  The Chessman succeeds in drawing in the reader with action and drama, wearing us down with mystery and suspense, and finally rewarding us for our tenacity by giving us a well-deserved, satisfying ending.

  Mr. Burton also does an excellent job in describing the gritty action scenes, creating an element of suspense and horror that may cause some readers to flinch. Other parts of the story have some pretty incredible action that makes this novel a thriller as well. Easy to picture this story up on the big screen.

  Well done; well written.

  John M. Wills is the author of Gripped by Fear (TotalRecall Publications), the second novel in the Chicago Warriors Thriller Series. His book, Targeted, won 1st Place in 2011 at the Public Safety Writers Association Convention. He is also a former Chicago Police Officer and retired FBI Agent.

• Readers' Favorite
  https://www.readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-lynchpin
  Word count: 395

  QUOTE:
  I loved this book. Absolutely loved it. And this is coming from a person who reads a lot of mysteries. The Lynchpin is an exciting, inventive and highly realistic read that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. I simply could not put this book down once I started it

  BOOK REVIEW
  Reviewed by Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite

  There's no genre I love more than mysteries. And there's almost nothing more exciting to me as a reader than finding an author I haven't discovered before that has written a book I absolutely love. Well, in The Lynchpin by author Jeffrey B. Burton, I've found both. Follow the story of Special Agent Drew Cady, after he's left both Washington D.C. and the FBI's criminal division, and re-settled in Minnesota, where he's helping his fiancee run a resort and working for the FBI's Medicare fraud task force. Cady is enjoying his new life and allowing himself to heal, both mentally and physically, from the scars of his previous position. But when a young woman's body surfaces on Lake Superior with a highly disturbing issue, and his former boss and mentor from the criminal division is accused of killing a fellow agent and becoming a spy, Cady is thrown back into his former investigative role, like it or not.

  I loved this book. Absolutely loved it. And this is coming from a person who reads a lot of mysteries. The Lynchpin is an exciting, inventive and highly realistic read that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. I simply could not put this book down once I started it, it was just that good. Author Jeffrey B. Burton has a gift at drawing characters and situations so beautifully that the reader will feel as if they are right there in the moment, experiencing everything first hand. And I can truly say that I did not anticipate the ending, a highly unusual occurrence for me. Any reader who enjoys mysteries, investigative procedurals, action, suspense, or simply a great read would love this book. This is the first book that I've read by Jeffrey B. Burton, but I can assure you, it will not be the last. This book was fantastic, and I simply cannot recommend it any more highly.

• Crime Fiction Lover
  https://crimefictionlover.com/2017/09/the-eulogist/
  Word count: 598

  THE EULOGIST
  September 29, 2017 Written by RoughJustice Published in Kindle, Print, Reviews 0 Permalink
  Written by Jeffrey B Burton — The Eulogist is book three in Jeffrey B Burton’s Agent Drew Cady series. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t read The Chessman or The Lynchpin yet, because it works perfectly well as a stand alone mystery. Any necessary back story is quickly dealt with in the opening chapters.

  FBI Agent Cady is in Washington, DC to testify before the Senate about Medicare fraud when he is dragged into an investigation by his former boss in the agency’s Criminal Investigation Bureau, Director Roland Jund. Jund wants to put the old team back together for a murder investigation of the highest urgency – a Senator has been killed in his Washington apartment.

  So, Cady finds himself leaving the fascinating world of healthcare fraud behind and back working a dangerous investigation with his old partner, Agent Liz Preston. Senator Taylor Brockman of Virginia was killed with a stiletto to the heart, and a eulogy left by his corpse. Brockman had no particular political enemies, and his marriage was one of convenience that suited both him and his wife. He had the occasional late night female visitor to his flat, but that was something his wife knew about and accepted.

  The first hours of a murder investigation are critical to its success, and the victim’s high up position intensifies the pressure on the team, whose investigation is in danger of stalling. They catch a break when the Baltimore police inform them of a murder that might be related to their case. The modus operandi is identical, a stab to the heart and a eulogy left at the scene, even if the circumstances are vastly different.

  The second victim, TJ Aadalen, should have had it all. As the youngest son of Maurice Aadalen, CEO of Aadalen Pharma, his future was gold plated. But it was tarnished by an expanding drug habit leading to a conviction for vehicular homicide and jail time. After his release, he turned tricks for drug money in the worst parts of Baltimore. Aadalen contributions to the Brockman campaign followed by TJ’s pardon by the late senator make Cady and team certain there’s a link between the two deaths.

  The investigation criss-crosses back and forth across the country as Cady and the FBI chase down leads. Did the father of the child TJ Aadalen killed commit these murders? Is there any link to an FDA investigation into a new Alzheimer’s drug that Aadalen Pharma is developing? In addition, the author introduces ‘the Canadian’, an assassin from Toronto whose thrill is the kill. Be prepared for a surprise or two with this one. Burton does a good job of playing with your assumptions when it comes to the Canadian.

  The Eulogist is a perfectly serviceable, if not outstanding, thriller. Cady is a personable lead; engaging, and capable when needed, but there is nothing to distinguish him from a thousand other agents or cops. Likewise, the plotting is fine, with a couple of twists late on that I didn’t see coming, but nothing out of the ordinary. You can be pretty confident that you’ll enjoy reading The Eulogist, but it lacks that special X factor required to get into the top category of procedural mysteries.

  For more crime fiction set in Washington, click here.

  The Permanent Press
  Print/Kindle
  £8.88

  CFL Rating: 3 Stars

• Auntie M Writes
  https://auntiemwrites.com/2017/10/11/jeffrey-b-burton-the-eulogist/
  Word count: 268

  QUOTE:
  A thriller with action scenes, Cady is a hero with old-fashioned sensibilities thrust into a thoroughly modern world. An exciting read.

  Jeffrey B Burton: The Eulogist Wednesday, Oct 11 2017
  complex mystery and Continued series winner and great read and thriller auntiemwrites 12:36 am

  FBI Special Agent Drew Cady is in Minneapolis in a boriing but safe job for him in The Eulogist. Sent to Washington DC to testify on more boring stuff, he is seconded to the investigation into the stabbing death of Senator Taylor Brockman.

  He will be assisted by Special Agent Elizabeth Preston, whose black belt and smarts make Liz an able partner.

  They quickly establish a link between this murder and a similar stabbing death, that of a privileged youth-turned-drug trafficker whom Brockman pardoned when serving as Governor of Virginia.

  Burton has added a most unusual premise: what happens when a murderer leaves eulogies with each body? These two deaths are just the beginning of the killings of a man known as The Canadian. Scenes in Toronto and Minneapolis add to the frenetic pacing.

  There will be hackers and those eulogy notes from what turns out to be a hired assasin before Cady and Preston unravel the complex plot. With difficulty obtaining evidence from the families, it soon appears the Eulogist’s notes may offer the best clues they have.

  A thriller with action scenes, Cady is a hero with old-fashioned sensibiities thrust into a thoroughly modern world. An exciting read.

  Share this:Auntie M Writes

• Bookpleasures.com
  http://www.bookpleasures.com/websitepublisher/articles/8449/1/THE-EULOGIST-Reviewed-By-Dr-Wesley-Britton-of-Bookpleasurescom/Page1.html
  Word count: 561

  THE EULOGIST Reviewed By Dr. Wesley Britton of Bookpleasures.com
  By Dr. Wesley Britton Published August 31, 2017 Crime & Mystery
  Dr. Wesley Britton

  Reviewer Dr. Wesley Britton: Dr. Britton is the author of four non-fiction books on espionage in literature and the media. Starting in fall 2015, his new six-book science fiction series, The Beta-Earth Chronicles, debuted via BearManor Media. For seven years, he was co-host of online radio’s Dave White Presents where he contributed interviews with a host of entertainment insiders. Before his retirement in 2016, Dr. Britton taught English at Harrisburg Area Community College. Learn more about Dr. Britton at his
  WEBSITE

  View all articles by Dr. Wesley Britton

  Author: Jeffrey B. Burton

  Publisher: Permanent Press (September 30, 2017)
  ISBN-10: 157962502: ISBN-13: 978-1579625023
  https://www.amazon.com/Eulogist-Jeffrey-B-Burton/dp/1579625029

  The Eulogist is the latest FBI special agent Drew Cady mystery following The Chessman (2012) and The Lynchpin (2015). If the preceding novels are anything like The Eulogist, readers should expect surprising and fresh twists to well-established murder mystery formulas.

  In The Eulogist, the strangeness starts with the very first pages when we see Senator Taylor Brockman tied to a chair, forced to listen to his murderer deliver the senator’s pre-mortem eulogy. Shortly afterward, druggie Thaddeus Jay Aadalen—known as T.J. -- is found dead in his car, stabbed through the heart just like Brockman had been. He too has an eulogy for detectives to find, in his case a Thomas Gray poem hidden in his glovebox.

  Agent Cady is drawn into investigating these two cases even though he’s only in Washington D.C. as the FBI liaison for the Medicare Fraud Strike Force out of Minneapolis. Along with representatives from other like groups, Cady is there to assist testimonials before the United States Senate Committee on Finance. But the FBI pulls Cady away from such tedious duties and pairs him with agent Liz Preston to look into the murders which don’t end with the senator and the druggie.

  Like most contemporary mysteries, things get very complicated very quickly. We meet the hired assassin known as the Canadian who reveals much about their background, notably his, or her, admittedly being an adrenalin junkie. Threads of the investigation dig into a breakthrough Alzheimer's drug, a reluctantly helpful hacker, two potential heirs to a drug fortune, and alternating points of view showing just how the Canadian and the investigators go through their various procedures.

  One distinguishing aspect of the novel is an often sarcastic streak of humor. One example is a moment where a character reflects on the concept of someone dying “doing so while doing what they loved.” The character wonders how that idea makes any sense when most people would rather live and not die at all, whatever the circumstances. Few people are likely thinking “At least I’m doing what I love” as they crash into a cliff, are eaten by sharks, or the like.

  Burton mixes in some obligatory murder mystery tropes including a number of red herrings, very unexpected twists, and surprises that seem to come out of the blue in the final pages. In short, murder mystery fans should feel very comfortable with The Eulogist while they enjoy the inventiveness of Jeffrey Burton.

• Booklist Online
  https://www.booklistonline.com/
  Word count: 191

  QUOTE:
  This roller coaster of a thriller has some luscious ingredients:

  This roller coaster of a thriller has some luscious ingredients: moneyed surroundings, including billion-dollar mansions and the boardroom of a bloodsucking pharmaceutical company; some lengthy and artfully described fights and chases; and a killer-for-hire who, intentionally or not, runs off with the whole show. While the good guys fret, we hope this psycho will be back soon. Drew Cady, the star of The Chessman (2012) and The Lynchpin (2014), thought he was done with mayhem when he abandoned the FBI's Criminal Investigation Division to investigate Medicare fraud. But a U.S. senator is killed, then a junkie, both by an artful knife thrust between the ribs, and Cady is drawn back into the game. There are things to fault here. The plot is overcomplicated and the explanation, when it comes, could use explaining. But Burton's obvious glee in telling his story carries it along give the media an inch and they'll orchestrate a riot. And watch the killer, in the silent blink of an eye kip-up to a standing position, retrieving the stiletto. --Crinklaw, Don Copyright 2017 Booklist

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