Tag: Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller Page 52 of 62

This is one of those that I struggled for over a week to finish. I can only hope it’s coherent. The short version: Get this book. Read this book.

Dead Perfect

by Noelle Holten
Series: DC Maggie Jamieson, #3

Kindle Edition, 449 pg.
One More Chapter, 2020

Read: December 30, 2020-January 2, 2021

What’s Dead Perfect About?

So, Dead Wrong left us with:

‘Just had a call come in. Police are on the scene. Body of a female has been found. Initial description sounds just like your friend Dr Moloney. I’m so sorry, Maggie …’

Obviously the important thing there is “sounds just like,” because it isn’t Moloney* but the body looks so much like her, that no one can be blamed for assuming it was Moloney. It’s quickly determined that it’s not her, but Maggie and Kate Moloney’s colleagues are having difficulty finding her. Making sure that the tension is as high as it can get in a first chapter.

* That’s not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb, which I should’ve read before diving in.

But even before we get to that, there’s the Prologue. It seemed ominous but fairly typical. Then I looked up one word that I didn’t know, orbitoclast, “A surgical instrument for performing transorbital lobotomies, resembling an icepick.” Then I reread the Prologue and got seriously creeped out.

Kate’s located (and given a talking-to about keeping her phone with her), the body is identified, but that just clarifies the issues at the heart of the investigation. We knew Kate had a stalker, and it seemed like the stalker was getting more intense, more threatening. There’s almost certainly a connection between the murdered woman, the stalker, and Kate. But Maggie has to prove that before they can act on it.

So Maggie and her team dive into the murder investigation, but Maggie’s attention is divided between finding out what happened to this woman and preventing the same thing from happening to Kate. This is probably not the best way to tackle the problems, but it’s not like Maggie is going to let either objective out of her hands.

And then another body is found.

Maggie’s State of Mind

It’s been a while since things were stable for our series protagonist, she’s been caroming off emotionally and mentally challenging cases for so long that she’s got to be close to unraveling. She’s barely had her chance to catch her breath from the events of Dead Wrong before she’s plunged into this race to save her friend’s life.

Add in the pressure of the press, getting used to the shift in the dynamic between her and friend/new boss, and her personal life—she’s not in the best headspace for this (or any) investigation. I think it’s starting to show, she makes some errors in judgment, she’s not dealing well with people, and unless this series is about the downfall of DC Maggie Jamieson, something’s going to have to change.

Although I can totally see Holten pulling off Maggie hitting rock bottom and trying to recover from that, come to think of it. So maybe that’s what we’re starting to see.

Supporting characters

I’ll touch on this more later, but one of the best things about the series is this great world that Holten’s creating. And it’s filled with some great characters, I have a few thoughts about some of the more prominent from this book.

We’ll start with DS Nathan Wright, he’s trying to acclimate to his new position and the way that changes the way he relates to and interacts with his team and friends—and seems to be doing it as well as you can hope. But he’s not perfect, and the transition isn’t smooth. It’s a minor thing, and I don’t imagine many authors would spend the time to do it, but I think it says a lot about the world that Holten’s creating that we see this.

That said, his team needs some more blood. and there’s a newly minted DC he’s got his eye on to help. Everyone’s very excited when Kat Everett is seconded to the investigation, and then she largely disappears. She’s eager, she’s bright, and then it’s like she doesn’t exist until the end when she plays a decent-sized role. It felt a little strange, is all I’m saying. Also, I’m not sure anyone needs a series where a “Kat” and a “Kate” play a major role, I’m just thinking someone needs a new nickname.

A reporter that made few friends, and probably a couple of enemies in Dead Wrong resurfaces. Julie Noble is well on her way to being a regular feature of this series, but for the moment, I don’t know what to think of her. I expect books four and five will solidify my impressions. She promises to be interesting—but I’m not sure in what way yet.

Lastly, there’s poor PC Bethany Lambert. She’s the unit’s go-to worker. Miscellaneous errands, thankless tasks, things requiring technological expertise, and more fall to her. I lost track of how many things Maggie threw her way to do—on top of her own assignments. I have multiple notes about how they’re working this woman to death, and even tweeted Holten about it. I’ve been assured that Bethany likes to be overworked, and that it’ll be addressed soon. But I’m telling you now if she snaps and takes out a lot of pent-up aggression on Maggie, I’ll be cheering her on.

The Killer

I’ve spent more than a week trying to write this post and failing because of this section right here. I still don’t know how I’m going to write something that I like and that doesn’t give anything away.

Sure, I could not talk about The Living Doll Killer, but Holten does something here that I feel compelled to write about. So I’m stuck. You’ll have to read the book to get the unsettling reason for the name, but that won’t keep me from using it.

We get a lot of information at some point in the novel from LDK’s own mouth. Now, I’m not sure the reader or police are supposed to believe everything told to them by LDK, but for the moment, I’m going to pretend I do.

Holten comes as close as possible to giving us a serial killer that the reader can empathize with. Sure, that’s not that close at all, but that doesn’t disprove my point.

I can say that I picked out the LDK straight off, but that’s all I got right. The “how” of the killings is bad, the “what” (abducting and killing) is disturbing, but the “why” will cast everything in a different light and somehow make it all worse (and, at the same time, almost understandable).

I can’t think of a serial killer with this kind of backstory and motivation. And for a fictional serial killer, there’s a strong “Yeah, I can imagine reading about this in the paper” kind of vibe. When I talked about her debut, I said that “Holten writes humans, not caricatures or types.” That applies to LDK, too.

The World Around Maggie Jamieson

This is the Maggie Jamieson series, and she is the core of it. But Holten has put her in the middle of a complex world. We touch base in this book with characters from the first two books—particularly from the first book, and we see a lot of growth and development. These people have put in the time and effort to change their lives and move on from the nightmares we met them in.

The way Holten has set up the series guarantees it won’t just be DC Jamieson and her boss (and the rest of her team) bouncing from investigation to investigation, they’ll brush up against these people, focusing on them for significant periods.

I really appreciate this design and am eager to see how it’s developed.

So, what did I think about Dead Perfect?

I got sucked into this story fast, and if anything above sounds critical, it’s only because I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about them (and talking about three or four niggling points out of one hundred is more interesting to write about than fanboying over the other 96 or 97). I was quickly invested in what was going on—and was soon thankful that it wasn’t Kate’s body in the opening chapter.

And yes, I was convinced that Holten had killed her off at the end of Dead Wrong.

I had many, many opinions about how Maggie and Kate were behaving over the course of this investigation (positive and negative), and sincerely wished that DS Wright would have sat them down in his office and talked some sense into both of them. I’m not sure that I usually spend quite as much time talking back to books about what protagonists are doing/thinking as I did in these pages.

And then the reveals about LDK? Didn’t see any of them coming (other than the one I mentioned). I love it when an author does that.

And then, just like she did last time, Holten doesn’t let you fully absorb and reflect on the conclusion of the novel without hitting you with an image that makes you want the next book now, not in a few months.

So what did I think about it? It was great. I need Book Four next week, and probably Five a couple of weeks after that.

4 Stars

The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello by Chris McDonald: A Cozy Mystery for People who Don’t Read Cozies

By HCNewton

On January 13, 2021

In Chris McDonald/Frost, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, The Stonebridge Mysteries

The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello

by Chris McDonald
Series: The Stonebridge Mysteries, #1

Kindle Edition, 94 pg.
Red Dog Press, 2021

Read: January 9, 2021
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

The Would-Be Sherlock

Adam Whyte is a late bloomer, or at least he expects to be.

He remembered reading that Susan Boyle had been 47 when she auditioned on whatever talent show she’d gone on, and the guy who founded McDonald’s didn’t do it until he was 59. Some people simply came into their own a little later in life – like a fine wine.

He’s still a couple of decades away from those ages, and if he can’t apply himself a bit better, he’s going to be living with his mother until then. Just like he has since he dropped out of college and began holding a series of dead-end jobs.

From a young age, he loved playing detective and even started university to study Psychology with an eye to joining the police. Now, he binges the Mark Gatiss/Steven Moffat Sherlock. When he discovers a dead body at the hotel he’s staying at for a wedding, he decides to take it upon himself to solve the crime he’s convinced was committed (even if no one else thinks there’d been any crime), dragging his friend Colin along.

His Watson

His friend Colin, on the other hand, has his life together. He works at an assisted care facility and likes it. He has an easier time talking to people—and getting them to talk to him.

Early on, Colin realizes that Adam’s cast him as a Watson-figure and wonders why he was the sidekick (he could handle the sight of blood, for starters, unlike his friend), but it takes almost no time for him to realize why he is. I appreciated both his ambition and quick understanding about his own nature.

Interestingly, for a Watson, Colin’s not the narrator, nor the exclusive point-of-view character. I’m sure I’ve seen this before, but since reading this book, I haven’t been able to think of another example.*

* Reader, you’re invited to make me feel foolish by listing a few examples in the comments.

Their First Case

After a night of heavy, heavy drinking, most of the wedding gifts are stumbling around and trying to recover. But the best man doesn’t make an appearance, and Adam is sent to get him. Sadly, Adam discovers his body and notifies the police. Once they arrive, Adam is dismayed at the small number who show up and even more dismayed at the cursory look they give the victim and his room. It’s a busy weekend, so it will be some time before paramedics are able to come and get the body.

Adam and Colin don’t believe the police’s conclusion—Danny had too much to drink and choked on his own vomit. They instinctively know that Danny didn’t die from overindulging—he’d drank them under the table without trying too often to believe that. With nothing else to do for the rest of the day, they decide to look into things themselves.

It ends up being good that the body hasn’t been removed yet, they’re able to sneak back into the room, and Colin’s able to give their friend’s body a closer look. Then they start asking a few of the guests and the groom some questions. People indulge them and answer—mostly for their own amusement it seems. The pair start to uncover some actual evidence, which leads them to more and quickly, a theory emerges for Adam.

Then he just has to come up with a way to prove his theory—hopefully in a way worthy of Cumberbatch.

So, what did I think about The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello?

This is a quick and enjoyable read. It’s a clever little mystery—most (maybe all) of the clues are there for the reader to pick up and put together with (or before) Adam. For me, at least, this is what I want in this kind of story—a little bit of fair play so that I can match wits with the sleuth (amateur or not).

The language is a little rougher than I’m used to seeing in this kind of story, and the protagonists aren’t the norm either. Honestly, they’d both be a better fit for a harder-boiled, more noir-ish fare. I’m not criticizing this, I’m trying to describe it.

Nor am I complaining—McDonald makes this work. Maybe it’s the contrast between what I’m used to seeing in “cozy” mystery and what he gives, maybe it’s just the strange charm that the boorish Adam displays that does it. I’m not sure I can describe why it works, I’m just enjoying the fact that it does. Also, the language and protagonists are what make this novella/series what I suggest in the headline—something for people who aren’t drawn to the aesthetic of a cozy, but like the way they work.

The one thing that I’d be tempted to grumble about is the length of the novella and the resulting lack of depth to the story. But both of those are by design, so I’ll hold my tongue. And really, if my gripe is that I didn’t get enough of something that I liked, it really just says that I’m a glutton.

I don’t know when the second Stonebridge Mystery will be available, but I’ll be waiting for it when it is. Spend a few minutes with this unlikely crime-fighting duo and you’ll likely be waiting with me.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

My thanks to Red Dog Press for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including a copy of the novella) provided.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello by Chris McDonald

By HCNewton

On January 13, 2021

In Book Tour, Chris McDonald/Frost, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, The Stonebridge Mysteries

I’m excited to welcome the Book Tour for the first installment in The Stonebridge Mysteries, The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello by Chris McDonald this morning. I was supposed to be part of a Cover Reveal for this last month, but the material fell prey to a spam filter. Thankfully, all this material got through just fine, so I only owe Red Dog Press one apology. Check back next hour for my take on the novella, but for now, let’s start by learning a little about this book, okay?

Book Details:

Book Title: The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello by Chris McDonald
Series: The Stonebridge Mysteries
Publisher: Red Dog Press
Release date: January 12, 2021
Format: Paperback/Ebook
Length: 94 pages

Book Blurb:

Wedding bells are chiming in the idyllic, coastal town of Stonebridge. For Sam and Emily, it should be the happiest day of their lives. But on the morning of the ceremony, the best man is found dead. The police quickly write his death off as a tragic accident, but something doesn’t seem right to wedding guest and groomsman, Adam Whyte.

Armed with an encyclopedic, but ultimately ridiculous knowledge of television detective shows and an unwarranted confidence in his own abilities, Adam and his best friend (and willing Watson) Colin, set out to uncover what actually happened to Daniel Costello.

About Chris McDonald:

Originally hailing from the north coast of Northern Ireland and now residing in South Manchester, Chris McDonald has always been a reader. At primary school, The Hardy Boys inspired his love of adventure before his reading world was opened up by Chuck Palahniuk and the gritty world of crime. A Wash of Black is his first attempt at writing a book. He came up with the initial idea whilst feeding his baby in the middle of the night, which may not be the best thing to admit, considering the content. He is a fan of 5-a-side football, heavy metal and dogs. Whispers in the Dark is the second installment in the DI Erika Piper series, and Chris is currently working on his latest series, The Stonebridge Mysteries, to be published by Red Dog Press in 2021.

Purchase Links:

Amazon ~ Red Dog Press

My thanks to Red Dog Press for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including a copy of the novella) provided.

My Favorite Crime/Mystery/Detective/Thriller Fiction of 2020

By HCNewton

On January 11, 2021

In Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, News/Misc.

Finally, we’re at the end of my 2020 wrap-up, it feels like I’ve been at this for a month, not just 11 days. Like I’ve said previously, my intention was to be done three or four days ago, but oh, well.

In a real sense, this was a challenging list to come up with, but the first 7 jumped to mind instantly, even back in December when I started to think about what might show up. It was those last three that I had to labor over—there were so many good candidates (see the list at the end of this post for the six-way tie for 11th place).

Once again, I’ll note that I limit my lists to things I read for the first time (so the nine Robert B. Parker books I re-read last year didn’t make up most of this list). I’d be willing to guarantee anyone reading this page will enjoy at least 6 of these (which six will vary from reader to reader). I’m tempted to say that all the listed books are guaranteed for everyone, but people’s tastes are too varied, so I’ll hedge my bet. Try these, and you’ll be glad you did.

(in alphabetical order by author)

The Revelators

by Ace Atkins
My original post
Here, in book 10, Ace Atkins wraps up storylines he’s been building up for ages, characters move on (some are even still alive when that happens), and what comes next for Quinn Colson and his community is anybody’s guess (although, I’m pretty sure there’ll be a white, corrupt politician behind it, because…well, it’s Tibbehah County). A dynamite novel.

5 Stars

Deep Dark Night

by Steph Broadribb

My original post
Lori and JT are finally pressured to do the shady work for the FBI Agent that’s been looming over her head forever, and it goes horribly, horribly wrong. Which is a treat for the reader. You’ve got the JT, Lori, and a whole bunch of unsavory people trapped on the top floor of a Chicago highrise, and the thrills start from there. Strong character development in the middle of some of the tensest action you can imagine. Great ride.

4 1/2 Stars

The Law of Innocence

by Michael Connelly

My original post
I was slightly afraid of that when I read the blurb for this—did we really need two books from Connelly in 2020 where the protagonist is suspected of a murder that there’s no chance at all that he committed? By the beginning of Chapter Two, any trepidation had vanished. By the end, this may be my favorite Lincoln Lawyer book yet. The courtroom action was fantastic. I absolutely loved it.

4 1/2 Stars

The Curator

by M. W. Craven

My original post
What a great hook. What a fantastic series of twists. What a wonderful concept for a killer and modus operandi. Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are a couple of my favorite characters and they got to shine here. I just want to rave and rave and rave about this book, but I have things to do, so I’d better move on.

5 Stars

King of the Crows

by Russell Day

My original post
There’s no way I can sum up my appreciation for this book in this post. Set in a world recovering from a pandemic, there’s a straightforward crime story at the heart of this novel—it’s just surrounded by so many layers, that you can miss it—there’s the disease, there’s the horrible social and political context (both mid- and post-Outbreak), there’s what the characters are going through otherwise—and the whole thing is drenched in social commentary about 2020 society, e.g., sexism, economics, medical care. Yeah, it was bad timing that this book came out in 2020 when the last thing that many people want to read is a novel about a disease that’s out of control. But this had been in the works for months before anyone had heard of COVID-19. I’ve wondered what I’d think of this book if I’d read it last Fall. I’d still like it, I’d still be impressed by it—but I don’t know if it would resonate with me the same way. There’s almost nothing about Gondii that’s comparable to COVID-19. But the way that people and governments respond—well, that’s pretty different, too. but if you can’t see what’s going on around us reflected in this novel? You’re not paying attention. That Day appears so prescient says something about his skill and observation (and a lot about Western culture, too).

5 Stars

Lost Hills

by Lee Goldberg

My original post
A young detective takes advantage of Social Media stardom to get herself a promotion she’s not quite ready for. But she’s determined to get there. She has to overcome her own lack of experience and a department that resents her. Eve Ronin’s first homicide case starts with a grizzly scene and the apparent murder of a woman, her two children, and a dog. Soon, she’s finding herself racing with an out-of-control wildfire that’s about to wipe out any evidence related to the case and the killer’s last victim. A great start to what promises to be a fun series.

4 1/2 Stars

Luck and Judgement

Peter Grainger, Gildart Jackson (Narrator)

My original post
DC Smith and his trainee are brought along with some other government investigators to look into a missing person/death on an oil rig. Smith’s the only one who doesn’t think it’s an accident. He begins to investigate the death as a murder and uncovers a lot more than he bargained for. Humor, heart, and humanity are the bedrock of this series and all of them shine forth in this procedural.

4 Stars

A Bad Day for Sunshine

by Darynda Jones

My original post
This is pure, escapist fun. Think Gilmore Girls mixed with Veronica Mars. A single mom is a new sheriff of a quirky little New Mexico town, with a spunky daughter. There’s a kidnapping, an escaped convict, a missing deputy, and cursed cupcakes. Great dialogue, witty repartee, a mother-daughter relationship that will earn Jones many fans. This is as much fun as you can pack into a police procedural without making it a comedy, but still full of grim, grisly, depravity and darkness. It’s a nice serving of literary comfort food. There’s a freshness to this voice that I just loved, but my appreciation for this book (and the series it launches) goes deeper.

4 1/2 Stars

How the Wired Weep

by Ian Patrick

My original post
There are two protagonists here—one is a small-time criminal, the other is a London Detective Sergeant who recruits and handles informants—excuse me, Covert Human Intelligence Sources. The criminal is fresh out of prison and is being used to get information on an up-and-coming local gang leader. There’s plenty of moral ambiguity to go around here, which is probably pretty realistic for this line of work (on both sides of the law). Patrick gives a more intimate, more powerful novel than he has with his Sam Batford series with this fascinating look into a side of policing most novels don’t.

4 1/2 Stars

Of Mutts and Men

by Spencer Quinn

My original post
I’ve been a fan of this series since chapter 3 or so of the first book. Here in the tenth novel, Quinn is better than ever. There are some really strong emotional moments in the novel, some character growth (not in Chet, our animal narrator, never fear), and a mystery even more complex readers are used to from Chet and Bernie. Still, this is a series about a down-on-his-luck PI and his canine partner—a mix of goofy fun and solid PI fiction, fun, fun, stuff.

4 1/2 Stars

Books that almost made the list—and did in various drafts (links to my original posts): The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes; The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton; The Ninja Daughter by Tori Eldridge; Rattlesnake Rodeo by Nick Kowalski; Far from the Tree by Rob Parker, Warren Brown (Narrator); and Light it Up by Nick Petrie

Free Fire (Audiobook) by C. J. Box, David Chandler: Pickett’s on the Case in a Prosecution-Free Zone

By HCNewton

On January 11, 2021

In Audiobook, C. J. Box, Fiction, Joe Pickett, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Free Fire

by C. J. Box, David Chandler (Narrator)
Series: Joe Pickett, #7

Unabridged Audiobook, 11 hrs., 5 min.
Recorded Books, 2010

Read: December 3-7, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

What’s Free Fire About?

As it appeared certain at the end of In Plain Sight, Joe was fired as a Game Warden. He’s working on his father-in-law’s ranch, trying to make it by (his family no longer lives in state property, either). Sure, Marybeth’s business is doing pretty well, but it’s not the same.

Then Governor Rulon comes calling. He liked Joe the first time they met, and he’s pretty sure that Joe is the kind of straight-arrow he can count on. Someone figured out a weird loophole in the overlapping state and federal laws that govern the area of Yellowstone National Forest, and shot and killed several people and was unable to be prosecuted for it. Rulon’s hands have been tied and he can’t do anything about it. But he’d like Joe to go down and take a look, reporting to him, so Rulon can tell voters he looked into it.

Joe’s a Game Warden again, but one at large. No one at Yellowstone is happy to have yet one more person poking around there. But Joe has a job and he’s doing to do it right, no matter what feathers he ruffles.

Family Drama

We don’t get nearly enough time with the Pickett clan. Despite his hardships, things are good with Joe and Marybeth. Things could be better for the kids—because of their ages, and Joe’s very public lack of a job.

Joe and the family are living in a house on Marybeth’s Father-in-Law’s ranch—where Joe is working. The relationship between the Father-in-Law and the Picketts is pretty strong. Maybe even stronger than the relationship between Marybeth’s mother and the Picketts (the fact that Joe likes him probably accounts for a lot of that).

But it looks like things aren’t all happy on the ranch—there’s a lot of problems and who knows how long that’ll work for everyone.

Competition for Stephanie Plum?

Not in a million years, did I think I’d compare Joe Pickett to Stephanie Plum. But this Wyoming Game Warden might be as hard on vehicles as that New Jersey bounty hunter. It’s not as laughable yet, but it’s getting there.

I actually enjoy it more than I’d think I would.

I Did Not See that Coming

Now that I get to this point in the outline, I realize that there are two things I didn’t see coming. The first is that here in book seven, we get a lot of Joe Pickett backstory. If you’ve ever wondered what Joe’s childhood was like—or why we only hear about Marybeth’s family, this book will tell you.

But what I meant to talk about when I wrote the headings was this: Nate Romanowski shocked me. I’ve talked before about Nate serving as Joe’s Hawk/Joe Pike/Bubba Rogowski/Henry Standing Bear figure. We know what to expect from these figures—they’re the heavies. They do the morally/legally questionable things. They’re more likely to be the violent type (and more effective at the violent things anyway). But what Nate does here made me audibly gasp. I’m not saying he was wrong I just didn’t expect it.

At the same time, there are things that happen to him at the beginning and end of the novel that were surprising, but they rank among the “huh, that’s interesting,” kind of thing, not a “what did I hear?” kind of thing.

A Word About the Narration

Actually, I don’t really have anything to say here, Chandler delivers another solid job. He is the voice of Joe Pickett to me at this point. The two go together now.

So, what did I think about Free Fire?

I thought Box did a great job of coming up with a way to keep Pickett as a Game Warden and at the same time not making Twelve Sleep, WY to have a murder-rate that rivals Cabot Cove, ME.

Putting him in Yellowstone was just icing on the cake, and the angle of this prosecution-free zone in the Park is brilliant. At this point in the series, readers know the regular cast of characters and this world—Box can lean into them—or start defying expectations—as he needs to. This is a comfortable place for fans to spend time, and judging by the number of times Pickett comes back? It stays that way. I get that and am already eager to get back to spending time with the Pickett clan.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

My Favorite Audiobooks of 2020

By HCNewton

On January 6, 2021

In Audiobook, News/Misc.

Given the large number of audiobooks I listened to in 2020, I sort of felt like I had to focus on them for one of these posts. But how to keep this from being just a rehash of the other best of lists? Well, I focused on the audiobook experience over the content. What was it like to listen to it? How engaging was it, how did the narrator do? Was it a good match in terms of tone, content, and performance?

Truth be told, this was a harder choice than I expected. Also, a couple of books that were in my mental rough draft didn’t make it to the final version when all was said and done (I’m still not sure I made the right call on a couple of these).

(in alphabetical order by author)

Dark Jenny

by Alex Bledsoe, Stefan Rudnicki (Narrator)

My original post
Stefan Rudnicki brilliantly captures the humor, the confusion, the determination of Eddle LaCrosse and the situation he finds himself in—and then the horror, revulsion, and anger he has when he discovers what’s really going on. Starting with one of Bledsoe’s best books, Rudnicki goes on to bring it to life.

4 Stars

Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares

by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan, Ryan Gesell (Narrator), Tara Sands (Narrator)

My original post
For me, this book came along at the right time—its particular brand of silly and escapist sweetness was exactly what it turned out that I needed. Add in a couple of stellar performances from Ryan Gesell Tara Sands and it’s just a delight. They can make you believe (even temporarily) in the magic of Christmas and young love.

3.5 Stars

Luck and Judgement

by Peter Grainger, Gildart Jackson (Narrator)

My original post
I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep on saying it: there’s a certain magic, an ineffable alchemy about Jackson narrating Grainger’s work. It’s just fantastic, I think I’d have liked these audiobooks with another narrator (or in print), but I don’t think I’d have liked them as much.

I could’ve listed each book in this series here, but I limited myself to this one because it’s an atypical crime for a novel, the solution (and how Smith and his team come to it) is offbeat, there’s some great humor and great emotional beats, too. It’s Grainger at his best and Jackson delivers it perfectly. There is a strong sense of humanity in these books, not just in the protagonists, but in the victim, the killer, the witnesses, the people who aren’t the killer but who aren’t up to anything legal/moral/ethical…everyone. There’s no one cartoon-y or over the top (in any direction).

4 Stars

The In Between

by Michael Landweber, Brittany Pressley (Narrator), Mark Boyett (Narrator)

My original post
This is the story of what happens to a family when a young child goes missing during a teleportation trip that his parents make successfully (to put it too succinctly) It’s a gripping listen and wonderfully performed. As you may have guessed Brittany Pressley narrates the chapters from the mother’s point of view, and Mark Boyett takes the father’s. I don’t think I’d heard anything by either of them before—but I’ll keep my eyes peeled for their names when I browse for audiobooks in the future. They truly did wonderful jobs. They got the emotion of the moment, the tension—and occasional moments of fun, joy, or relief—as well as giving a real sense of the characters. It didn’t happen often, but even when a character usually only seen in a Lillian chapter showed up in a Jackson, you could recognize them (and vice versa)—which was nice. Landweber wrote a great story but Boyett and Pressley brought it to life.

5 Stars

Greenlights

by Matthew McConaughey

My original post
When Chris Hardwick interviewed McConaughey recently he described the audiobook as McConaughey playing McConaughey, which is a great way to put it, and I wish he’d posted this before I wrote about the book so I could’ve borrowed it then. But that’s it exactly, Yes, it’s his stories, but yeah, he’s performing. It feels like you’re sitting around the campfire or a table in a bar, listening to a great storyteller at work.

3.5 Stars

Crossing in Time

by D. L. Orton, Noah Michael Levine (Narrator), Erin deWard (Narrator)

My original post
Typically, when I post about an Audiobook, I close with a discussion about the narrator(s). But I started with it when I posted about this novel because Levine and deWard did such a great job, they’re the highlight of the experience for me. Typically, when there is a male narrator and a female narrator—the female will read all the narration and dialogue in the female character POV chapters, and the male will read all the narration and dialogue in the male character POV chapters. But here, deWard reads all the female dialogue, no matter the narrator (and vice versa). That’s a nice touch, and once I got used to it, I really appreciated it. Particularly, it helped the conversations between characters feel like conversations—there was a little bit of talking over each other, and so on. And when the two laughed together? That was either fantastic work by the narrators or by the editor (or both).

I’m not that sure how much I’d have enjoyed this book in print, but the way these two embodied the book made it one of the highlights of the year.

4 Stars

Far from the Tree

by Rob Parker, Warren Brown (Narrator)

My original post
This was an Audible Original, so the Audiobook experience is a big part of it. Brown was a great choice of narrator—he’s the perfect voice for this material. He captured and shaped the tone as he needed to, and gave the right performances for each character.

I can’t help feeling like I need to say more, but I just don’t know what else to say. If I had problems with the performance, I’d probably be able to go on longer, but when a narrator gets it right, like Brown does here, what else is there to say? It was a brutal, brutal experience, with more twists than I can count, and a plot so complex I’m not able to talk about it in this small space.

4 Stars

Back to Reality

by Mark Stay & Mark Oliver, Kim Bretton (Narrator)

My original post
This is sort of a Fringe-inspired take on a Back to the Future/Freaky Friday mashup, and it’s as odd, and fun as that description makes it sound.

I’ll frequently (maybe too frequently?) talk about an audiobook narrator bringing the text to life. And Kim Bretton does that. But she does more than that—she fills it with life. Dynamic, energetic, vibrant…are just some of the adjectives that spring to mind. I was very happy when I just looked over her other audiobook credits and saw a couple of titles I was already thinking about—if she’s doing them, I’m giving them a try. (although, if I never hear her do another American male accent, I’d be more than okay).

Funny, sweet, amusing, heartfelt, laugh-inducing, touching, comic, imaginative—and did I mention humorous? This is 606 minutes of pure entertainment. I really encourage you to put this in your ear-holes. It’d probably work almost as well in print—Bretton’s great, but she has to have something to work with—but in audio? It’s close to a must-listen.

4 Stars

The Answer Is . . .: Reflections on My Life

by Alex Trebek, Narrated by: Ken Jennings, Alex Trebek

My original post
Jennings was a great choice of narrator, since his time on Jeopardy!, the two are linked in the collective consciousness, and they clearly have a good relationship. He sounds like a natural when it comes to narration. But his work is overshadowed by the few chapters he didn’t read.

Trebek read a few chapters himself—the one about why he swears so often (it surprised me, too), the one talking about notable Jeopardy! contestants (like Jennings), the one about his wife (Trebek didn’t like the idea of someone else talking about his wife that way), and the last chapter, where he discussed his cancer and coming to terms with his impending death. I understand why he couldn’t do the entire book himself, but I’d have preferred it (nothing against Jennings—I’d have been content with Jennings doing the whole thing). But I’m so glad he did those chapters, you could hear the sincerity in his praise for Jennings, Eddie Timanus, Cindy Stowell, and others; his love for his wife; and the resolution and contemplation he’d put into his final days

4 1/2 Stars

Dawn Patrol

by Don Winslow, Ray Porter (Narrator)

Wow. Despite this being my first and favorite Winslow novel, I wasn’t inclined to grab the audiobook. But then it was on sale and a fellow Winslow-fan recommended Porter’s take on the book. I didn’t know that Porter did audiobooks before this, but he’s on my list to watch for now.

I don’t know how to describe this—I was blown away. I’ve read the book two or three times, but Porter made it feel like it was all new. I was gripped. I was entertained. I was heartbroken. It’s as good as you can ask for an audiobook to be.

5 Stars

Pub Day Repost: Bone Canyon by Lee Goldberg: Eve Ronin Digs Up Bones, Secrets and Ugly Truths in this Great Follow-Up

By HCNewton

On January 5, 2021

In Fiction, Lee Goldberg, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Bone Canyon

by Lee Goldberg
Series: Eve Ronin, #2

eARC, 288 pg.
Thomas & Mercer, 2021

Read: December 20-23, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

What’s Bone Canyon About?

A wildfire was wiping out good swaths of L.A. County as the last novel wrapped up. Now, just a few weeks later, several things that were hidden pre-fire have been exposed—some of those things are human remains. Eve Ronin and her partner are called out to the site of one such discovery. They’re able to identify the remains, they belong to a young woman who’d reported being raped and soon disappeared six years previously.

Eve assumes there’s a link between the rape, disappearance, and her death. This is solidified when it’s determined the woman was murdered. Even if it proves untrue, she needs to start her investigation somewhere, so she starts by looking over the initial investigation and is less than impressed with the way it was handled. So, she plunges into re-investigating the rape and disappearance while also trying to get a handle on this murder. It’s not long before she’s getting pressured to drop the rape angle.

When another group of remains is found in the same general area—these belonging to an older woman, things get more complicated. How many murderers is she looking for?

Duncan “Dunkin’ Donuts” Pavone

I only gave Eve’s partner four sentences in my post about Lost Hills, I think I should’ve spent a little more time on him, I have a sneaking suspicion that he’s the secret weapon in this series. He seems like a Spenser’s Frank Belson-type (I have to admit I see Ron McLarty, TV’s Belson, in my mind during his scenes). He’s a slob, constantly covered in crumbs (donut or otherwise), cynical, seemingly lazy—but at heart a dedicated and good detective. Watching him at work in the interrogation room should be enough to make anyone doubt the image he projects.

When we first meet him, he’s got his eyes on his retirement date and is counting down to it, which is why he’s saddled with the homicide detective no one wants as a partner. He seems to tolerate Eve and will sprinkle some tips and cynicism her way. But that’s about it. By the end of the first novel, there’s more than toleration at work. By the time Bone Canyon opens, he’s really trying to mentor her, trying to guide her, and prepare her as much as possible for her future (not that he’s obvious about it, or even willing to admit it, but it’s there). In a lot of this novel, it’s clear that he cares for Eve as a partner, and is likely more concerned with the future of her career than she is. He won’t necessarily agree with all of her wild theories, but he’s at least willing to entertain them, to look for evidence to back them up.

It’s a nice shift, and if she can win Duncan over, there’s reason to hope that she can get others in the Department to work with her.

While I’d been hoping that Goldberg would find a way to keep him in the series after his retirement (somewhere around 100 days after this novel), I wasn’t sure he would. I guess I’m still not positive that he will, but Goldberg provided a way to do so. I’m relieved—Eve needs a cop she can trust in her life, even if he’s retired.

Which leads me to:

Cop or Politician?

Several times, superiors in the Sheriff’s office, a friendly D.A., and her own mother accuse Eve of playing political games with this case for her own career advancement. In Eve’s mind, she’s not making political moves for her own gain, but for the sake of the case. It’s all about justice for the victims, she insists. She doesn’t trust anyone in the Department, so she has to go at things in her own way.

Sure, she made some moves circumventing the chain of command to keep things moving, to prevent leaking and anyone stopping her. But she denies being overtly political about this, and only admits it in retrospect. Which I found a little odd, remembering something she thought about the Harry Bosch audiobook she was listening to in Lost Hills:

[Bosch’s] problem, she thought, was that he didn’t know how to play politics. She’d already proven that she could.

As much as Eve thinks of herself as a loner—due to circumstances forcing her into the role, rather than that being her nature—there are events here to teach her that ain’t necessarily true. She’s never going to win any popularity contests (Duncan will testify that she’s unlikeable), but if she pays attention, Eve’s going to find more allies. She doesn’t have to be Renée Ballard.

* We know she’s a Harry Bosch fan, I wonder what Eve thinks about Ballard.

…or Is She a Media Star in the Making?

The other thing that’s constantly being thrown at Eve is her social media stardom—the viral video that got her promoted into the Homicide Division was just the start. Someone leaked video of her heroics at the close of the previous novel which just compounded things for her. So many of her fellow detectives and deputies just assume she’s all about getting fame and glory for her own advantage (many of these people are just jealous and would do whatever they could to get a share of her fame so they could cash in on it). It’s truly the last thing she wants, unlike the other accusation.

Ironically, her family is pushing her to embrace this notoriety and cash in on it (mostly for their selfish benefit, not her good)—and both an agent and a TV Writer/Producer are circling her. Everyone’s telling her that a series/movie is going to happen no matter what, if she wants any influence on how it happens, she has to sign up.

Goldberg had already firmly established that this series takes place in the shadow of the Entertainment Industry, would-be actors, film crew members, bona fide stars, and others (like a fellow detective) wanting to get into the industry. So this subplot doesn’t feel out-of-place at all, it’s the world Eve Ronin deals in.

I really like this aspect of the story—as long as it doesn’t become too dominant—and watching Eve try to figure out how to use her notoriety to help (or at least, not hinder) her police work is as interesting as watching her figure out how to survive as a political animal.

Now, that’s a nice touch…

There’s a little treat for readers of Goldberg’s Ian Ludlow series. I loved it. But if you’re not reading that series, don’t worry, you won’t even realize that you missed something.*

* Still, I should take a beat to ask you why you aren’t reading the Ian Ludlow books. You should fix that. Click here to see what I’ve had to say about those.

So, what did I think about Bone Canyon?

This rocked. I think it was a step up from Lost Hills, which I’m pretty sure was the best thing Goldberg has written. He does all the same things that made Lost Hills a success and then progressed them a little bit. I raced through these pages—both because the prose invites you to and because I just had to see how it all ended.

Eve’s a great character—she’s flawed, she has a lot to learn, but she has potential as a detective and is driven to fulfill that potential. Her cases are twisty enough to keep you guessing and turning pages. and Goldberg’s writing is at his best.

I liked Lost Hills enough that pre-ordered this book as soon as I could, and have already done the same for the third book, knowing only its title (I’d buy books 4 and 5 right now, too, for what it’s worth). They’re that good—and I think you’ll likely agree. Jump on the Eve Ronin train, you’ll be in for a great ride.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this, but aside from giving me something to opine about, this didn’t impact what I said.

4 1/2 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions expressed are my own.

Twisted Twenty-Six by Janet Evanovich: Stephanie’s Discontented but Provides Readers with the Best Book in Years

By HCNewton

On January 5, 2021

In Janet Evanovich, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Stephanie Plum

Twisted Twenty-Six

by Janet Evanovich
Series: Stephanie Plum, #26

Paperback, 305 pg.
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2019

Read: December 25, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

“You still want to chase after this guy?”

“You bet your ass. Just because he made fools out of us three times, don’t mean one of these times we won’t luck out. Notice he called us losers and not quitters. That’s on account of we never quit. In my mind, that’s the difference between being a loser-and a winner. A winner is willing to look like a idiot for as long as it takes to get the job done. I figure you stick with i it long enough ~ and you win. Unless you die or come down with some disease like shingles or cancer of the rectum. If I ever got cancer of the rectum, I’d go to the best rectumologist out there. Like I’d get a celebrity rectumologist. I wouldn’t mess around with some local yokel.”

“All good to know,” I said.

I don’t even need to provide dialogue tags to that, do I? If you’ve read a single Stephanie Plum novel, you know who’s saying what there.

What’s Twisted Twenty-Six About?

When we last left Stephanie*, her Grandma Mazur had left for a getaway with her new love, who just happens to be a semi-retired mobster. We pick up a week or so later, Grandma Mazur and Jimmy Rosolli had been married, and then forty-five minutes later, Rosolli died (of natural causes, I feel compelled to add). Still, even a 45-minute marriage makes Grandma a widow, but more importantly, a widow of some status in the neighborhood.

* Yeah, I know, right? I’ll talk about that in a minute.

We don’t know a lot about Jimmy’s criminal life, but among his group, he had a particular importance. He was “Keeper of the Keys.” Now, no one—not Grandma, not the cops, not almost anyone that Stephanie can talk to about Jimmy knows what that means. The few that do know, aren’t talking to anyone about them (also, they don’t believe Stephanie or Grandma when they say they don’t know where the keys are).

So Jimmy’s partners are looking for the keys, their rivals are looking for the keys. And everyone thinks Grandma Mazur either has them or can get them (she is the beneficiary of his will, after all). And none of these men are willing to take any means necessary to get her to talk. Stephanie, Ranger and Morelli team up to keep Grandma Mazur and the Plums safe.

All the while, Stephanie and Lulu are on the hunt for people who missed their court dates for the Bail Service, Stephanie is dealing with a destroyed car, Stephanie is fending off advances from Ranger—and not doing fending off much from Morelli, you know, typical stuff.

A moment of chronological accuracy

At one point, Stephanie is lamenting to Lulu about how her life isn’t working out the way she wants and states her age—a larger number than Lulu is ready for (okay, I wasn’t ready for that amount of candor, either—but the math works), and a sign that maybe Evanovich is going to start aging her in real time. It’s not long before Stephanie blows off that moment of honesty as a joke and we’re elft wit an indeterminate age again.

Still, for a couple of poages, it looked liek Evanovich might have been making a big step.

Old Dog, New Trick?

From the start of this series, there’s been a little carry-over from one book to the next—Stephanie’s sister’s marriage and kids, glacially slow advancement of her relationships with Ranger and Morelli, and so on. But largely, these are stand-alone books and can be read in any order.

Until now (obviously).

The end of Look Alive Twenty-Five leads into this book. The ending of this book propels the reader into Fortune and Glory (aka Tantalizing Twenty-Seven). This is new. This is a positive movement, there’s something to sink our teeth into. Not much, maybe, but it’s something.

I’m not sure why Evanovich has changed her approach. I’m not sure I care, either. I’m just happy to see that it has happened, and wonder where she’s going with all of this.

So, what did I think about Twisted Twenty-Six?

“I don’t want to do this job anymore. I’m not good at it. I don’t like it. I don’t like being in the bad neighborhoods looking for the bad people.”

“What would you rather do?”

“I don’t know,” I said.

“Do you have a direction?”

“No.”

“Babe.”

“Yeah, I’m a mess.”

“You aren’t a mess,” he said. “You’re just a little burned out.”

“It’s more than that. I’m stagnant. There’s no growth in my life.”

“That’s okay as long as you like what you’re doing. Not everyone needs to keep moving up the ladder.”

I have to read a State of the Series in these words (see also: the quotation at the top). I doubt that Evanovich set out to do that, but “mess,” “stagnant,” and directionless are words I’d use to describe this series lately. But like Stephanie’s (no doubt) futile efforts at self-improvement, over the last couple of books I’m seeing signs that Evanovich might be trying to add some direction and clarity to the series

I do not think it’ll ever reach the comedic heights it once hit. Nor do I think that Evanovich is going to suddenly become the new Grafton (not that I’d complain), but it seems like she’s taking the storytelling component of this seriously again. I could be 2-3 books away from again wondering why I’m sticking with these series. But until I get to that point, I’m going to enjoy the ride.

As for this book? It was fun—I admit to laughing out loud on a few occasions. I liked the story (I’m not convinced the bad guy was set-up correctly before the reveal, but…I’m not going to argue about it). The action was decent. I didn’t roll my eyes at the destruction of the car, and best yet, I think this is one of the best uses of Stephanie’s parents in ages (if not ever).

This might actually be a decent jumping-on point (Look Alive Twenty-Five would be marginally better) for this long-running series. This is definitely one to use to come back to the series after a time away. Or if you’re just plugging away with a new annual entry, you’ll be satisfied. Give this series a shot, it’ll be worth it.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

Persons of Interest (Audiobook) by Peter Grainger, Gildart Jackson: DC Smith’s Tie to a Murder Victim Leads to a different Twisty Case

By HCNewton

On January 4, 2021

In Audiobook, DC Smith & Kings Lake, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Time’s gotten away from me on this one, been trying to get it done since August and keep getting distracted. But…I won’t let myself listen to the next one until I get this posted. So…

Persons of Interest

by Peter Grainger, Gildart Jackson (Narrator)
Series: A DC Smith Investigation, #4

Unabridged Audiobook, 10 hrsl, 30 min.
Tantor Audio, 2017

Read: August 14-18, 2020
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

Allen wrote a short email of his own to Detective Inspector Reeve. The first version included the phrase, “Tell Smith to carry on as normal.” Then he had second thoughts and deleted that, telling Smith to carry on as normal might not be wise, because “normal” for Smith was not the same as it was for other people. [guessing on punctuation, etc.]

What’s Persons of Interest About?

DC Smith is called to a nearby prison to answer some questions. It appears that a murdered prisoner had a connection to Smith. Smith has never had anything to do with this man. Oh? Then why does he have your phone number? This is technically true, but it hasn’t been Smith’s number since the first book in the series. DC’s written off pretty quickly as a suspect (thankfully! I’ve made it clear that I just don’t like those stories), but he is curious about the man having his number.

But he can’t focus on that—the case belongs to a different jurisdiction, in the first place. In the second place, there’s a major new drugs task force temporarily in Kings Lake and he needs to focus on the new initiative. DC is enough of a cynic to have little use for it, seeing it as a PR stunt more than anything else.

Sadly, because of this task force, Smith and his team realize that something has happened to the drug trade in Kings Lake recently, power has shifted and the old players aren’t in the game anymore, or are playing a diminished role. So who’s running the show now, and how did this happen without any of the police aware?

Oh, and there is that nagging curiosity in the back of his mind about the murdered prisoner.

The On-Going Arcs

I really appreciated the way that Smith is still dealing with the, er, shortcuts he took to make sure he passed his physical exam. It was semi-comedic in the previous book, but that’s over and now DC is paying for it.

The new team member is becoming part of the crew but there’s still some room to grow—which is how it should be. There are some other internal moves, and potential moves, even some cooperation where I wouldn’t have expected it. I’m looking forward to seeing how it all resolves. I’m being vague, but it’s hard not to be without spilling details.

The story involving DC’s True Crime Writer friend was really scaled back, and I kept wondering if it was going to come into play more in this book. It didn’t, which I assume means that it’ll play a big role in Book 5. Which works for me. It’s not my favorite part of any of these books, but I’m really curious about how it’s going to play out.

Jackson’s Narration

Everything I’ve said before still holds. The perfect combination of text and narrator, protagonist and portrayer.

That’s it, that’s all I can say.

So, what did I think about Persons of Interest?

The reason that it’s taken me months to post about this book is that I don’t know what else to say about this series. I think that there are a couple of more compelling police procedural series out there, but I can only handle so much of them at one time. It feels like I could listen to this series on a loop and be perfectly content for a few weeks.

I love the cast, I love the way Smith’s mind works, I love his quiet little humor (he reminds me of a more realistic Francis Xavier Flynn making jokes that only he will understand or appreciate), I really like the cases this team works, and Jackson’s narration puts it over the top.

I’m not 100% convinced that this case was as compelling as the previous three, but the way Grainger tells the story makes up for that. I can’t wait to get back to Kings Lake Central and see what they get up to next.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

The Friday 56 for 1/1/21: Dead Perfect by Noelle Holten

By HCNewton

On January 1, 2021

In Currently Reading, DC Maggie Jamieson, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, News/Misc., Noelle Holten, Quotations, The Friday 56

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it

from 56% of:
Dead Perfect

Dead Perfect by Noelle Holten

…I apologize if this is slightly repetitive. Remember when we were talking about strange people you may have come across or who’ve made you uncomfortable? Can you just remind me of them again and maybe what made you feel weird around them?’

‘Erm … All right. Is this one of those times I have to just give you what you ask and trust that you have your reasons?’

‘I’m afraid it is.’