Countdown - James Patterson and Brendan DuBois

James Patterson's latest collaboration - Countdown - is with Brendan DuBois.

This is a follow up to Out of Sight, featuring Amy Cornwall, but can absolutely be read as a stand alone, as I did.

Amy Cornwall was Army intelligence and she’s now in the CIA doing the same thing. She’s out on a what seems to be a straightforward mission. But, something is just off and - you guessed it - she’s going to follow her intuition. Well, she does and what she finds is a tangled web of deceit, treason, terrorists, and plans for a horrific outcome… 

Amy is a great kick butt female lead. You can’t help but be behind her all the way. She has no idea who to trust. The British agent that says he’ll help her? Her own boss wants her gone. But why? 

Patterson and DuBois have concocted a multi levelled plot that twists and turns many times on the way to the final pages. It really made me wonder about what does go on in the 'alphabet' agencies. 

Over the top you ask? Yes, it was in places, but just go with it, as it makes for a roller coaster of a read. 

Is there going to be another entry in this series? I think there's a chance of that, as Amy has some debts to settle...

See for yourself - read an excerpt of Countdown. 

Bad Day Breaking - John Galligan

I really like John Galligan's 'Bad Axe County' series. The fourth book - Bad Day Breaking - has just released. 

What do I like about this series? 

The protagonist, Sheriff Heidi Kick, has fast become one of my favorite lead characters. When I first 'met' Sherriff Heidi, I couldn't help but think bad a**, as I got to know her. She's tough, smart and determined to keep her town as crime free as possible. And she's a wife and mother to three as well. Now, as much as she wants to erase crime, there are those who are determined to get rid of Sheriff Kick and run things their way. The more things heat up, the cooler Sherriff becomes. On the outside she presents calm and cool, but inside she's paddling hard.  

Next up are the plots. Galligan's plotting is fantastic and makes for addictive reading. This time round, there's a cult that has to be evicted. But the formerly quiet group seem to have some new members with different ideas. And....we get to know more of the 'Dairy Queen's' past. There's some darkness there and an old acquaintance is determined to bring it to the light. 

I like that we are not just seeing everything from Sheriff Kick's point of view. Instead we get inside looks at what's happening at the cult, from those innocent and those with evil in their hearts. As listeners, we have more information that Heidi does and that just kept me glued to my player.

The ending is not at all what I expected, but is a great way to close this book. This listener will be eagerly awaiting Galligan's next book. 

I did choose to listen to Bad Day Breaking. I've said it before and I'll say it again - listening to a book draws me deeper into the book. That is definitely with the Bad Axe books. The reader is Samantha Desz and her voice is perfect for the mental image I've created with the characters, especially Heidi. I've appreciated that she has done all four books. The continuity is important to me with a series. Her speaking voice is measured, calm and has a wonderfully low tone that draws the listener in. The calmness matches the character perfectly. Now that's not to say she doesn't show emotion. She does, but it's contained. Desz captures Galligan's characters and plotting wonderfully. An excellent presentation of an excellent book. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of Bad Day Breaking. 

If you're a 'grit-lit' fan, you're going to enjoy this series. You could absolutely read this as a stand alone, but I would start at the beginning with the first book, Bad Axe County.

Giveaway - Dark Signal - Shannon Baker

Dark Signal is the second entry in Shannon Baker's Kate Fox series. It releases on October 17/17 - and I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader!

From Forge Books:

"Dark Signal by Shannon Baker is the second installment in the Kate Fox mystery series, called "A must read" by New York Times bestselling author Alex Kava, starring a female Longmire in the atmospheric Nebraska Sandhills.

Reeling from her recent divorce, Kate Fox has just been sworn in as Grand County, Nebraska Sheriff when tragedy strikes. A railroad accident has left engineer Chad Mills dead, his conductor Bobby Jenkins in shock. Kate soon realizes that the accident was likely murder.

Who would want to kill Chad Mills? Kate finds that he made a few enemies as president of the railroad workers union. Meanwhile his widow is behaving oddly. And why was his neighbor Josh Stevens at the Mills house on the night of the accident?

While her loud and meddling family conspires to help Kate past her divorce, State Patrol Officer Trey closes in on Josh Stevens as the suspect. Kate doesn’t believe it. She may not have the experience, but she’s lived in the Sandhills her whole life, and knows the land and the people. Something doesn’t add up—and Kate must find the real killer before he can strike again." Read an excerpt of Dark Signal.

"Now a resident of Tucson, Baker spent 20 years in the Nebraska Sandhills, where cattle outnumber people by more than 50:1. Shannon is proud to have been chosen Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ 2014 and 2017 Writer of the Year. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Western Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.

Baker moved seven times in less than ten years, from the Nebraska Sandhills, to Boulder, CO, Flagstaff, AZ, back to Boulder and a short stint in southwestern Nebraska. It might be schizophrenic, but helpful for writing great western settings. She’s hoping to let a little moss grow on the rolling stone, as she’s settled in Tucson with her favorite person, and her dog, Jezebel, the crazy Weimaraner." You can connect with Shannon on her website and follow her on Twitter.

And if you'd like to read Dark Signal, I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US only. Ends October 21/17.

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Giveaway - The Color of Fear - Marcia Muller

I have a wonderful giveaway for the mystery lovers today! Marcia Muller's latest Sharon McCone mystery, The Color of Fear, has just released - and I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader! This is the 32nd book in the series!

What's it about? From Grand Central Publishing:

"In New York Times bestselling author Marcia Muller's captivating new mystery, private detective Sharon McCone's investigation hits closer to home than ever before...

When a knock on the door in the middle of the night wakes Sharon, she's wholly unprepared for the horrifying news: her father has been the victim of a vicious, racially-motivated attack.

A nationally recognized Shoshone artist, Elwood had been visiting Sharon for the holidays, browsing for gifts in San Francisco's exclusive Marina district when he was set upon by a mob of angry young men. Now he lies in a coma, hovering between life and death.

With little progress on the investigation from the overworked, short-handed police, Sharon resolves to track down Elwood's attackers herself. But when Sharon begins receiving hate-filled, racist threats from a shadowy group, it becomes clear that her pursuit of justice may be putting her own life in jeopardy..."

"Marcia Muller has written many novels and short stories. She has won six Anthony Awards, a Shamus Award, and is also the recipient of the Private Eye Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award as well as the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award (their highest accolade). She lives in northern California with her husband, mystery writer Bill Pronzini." You can connect with Marcia on her website and like her on Facebook.

If you'd like to add The Color of Fear to your bookshelf, enter to win a copy using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US and Canada, no PO boxes please. Ends August 19/17. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Inherit the Bones - Emily Littlejohn

Inherit the Bones is Emily Littlejohn's debut novel - and the first book in the Detective Gemma Monroe novels. (I always enjoy getting in on the ground floor a new series!)

Littlejohn opens up the book with a pretty topical crime - clowns. Well, only one clown - found viciously murdered when a travelling circus stops in town. But when the identity of that victim is discovered, old crimes, old cases and old fears are reignited. Two young brothers were abducted and killed years ago in Cedar Valley. Gemma was the one who found those bodies also - deep in the Colorado woods. The killer was never found - but lives on in infamy as The Woodsman.

Gemma is such a great protagonist! Gemma has made her home in the small town of Cedar Valley, Colorado since she was a child and is now part of the police force. I was immediately drawn to her in the first few pages. She's intelligent, determined, no pushover - and six months pregnant. (I had a Fargo moment when I read this.)

Littlejohn has set the stage for the next entries in this series - the settings and descriptions of time and place have given me a solid mental image of the town and surrounding area. Littlejohn makes her home in Colorado - and the details drawn from a personal view add much to the book The supporting cast of characters are well drawn and fleshed out. We get to know the rest of the police force. Finn is the partner forced on Gemma  - I enjoyed their banter and struggle to build a functional working relationship. Littlejohn gives Gemma an interesting personal storyline as well. Her partner (and the baby's father) does not make an appearance until the final pages of the book, but we learn of their troubled relationship as the book progresses.

Littlejohn's plotting is quite inventive. There are many suspects to choose from, but she kept me guessing until the last bit of the book. Well done! I really enjoy solving the crime along with the detectives, putting the pieces together as they work through the clues. There's some really great creepy suspense filled scenes as well.

I'm looking forward to seeing what other cases Littlejohn comes up with for Gemma and the Cedar Springs force. And now that Gemma has a child, it will be interesting to see how she handles being a parent with being a detective. Read an excerpt of Inherit the Bones.

And one of my favourite mystery authors has this to say about Inherit the Bones...."

"I couldn't put down Inherit the Bones. Small town Colorado police detective Gemma Monroe is a human and fallible heroine I can't wait to meet again, and Littlejohn's prose is lyrical and gripping - the book is a sure bet for one of the finest debut novels of the year." - Deborah Crombie, author of the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma Jones mystery series

"Emily Littlejohn was born and raised in southern California. She has called Colorado home since 2003. If she’s not writing, reading, or working at the local public library, she’s enjoying the mountains with her husband and sweet old dog. She has a deep love of horror stories, butter pecan ice cream, and road trips. Inherit the Bones is her first novel." You can connect with Emily Littlejohn on her website and like her on Facebook.

The Counterfeit Heiress - Tasha Alexander

The Counterfeit Heiress is the latest in Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily series. This is the ninth in the series, but the first for me.

The Lady Emily mysteries are set in the 1890's and take place in various European cities.

This latest entry finds Lady Emily at a masquerade ball. Another guest seems to mistake her for someone else. There is someone costumed very similarly to Emily, but this woman is passing herself off as a reclusive heiress named Estella. She is caught out by Cecile, a friend of both Estella and Emily. The impostor is later found dead on the grounds of estate. Who was she? Why was she impersonating Estella? Who was the man who approached Emily? And - where is the real Estella? Along with her husband Colin, who handles inquiries for the Queen, friends Cecile and Jeremy, the quartet begins investigating a case that takes them from London to Paris.

This was such a fun period piece! Alexander has done her research - I found the detail so interesting - from societal customs and mores, day to day living, but especially the tombs and catacombs. Bookish references (Charles Dickens) are always enjoyed by this reader.

Alexander's dialogue is quick, smart and and rapier sharp between all of the main characters. The relationship between Emily and Colin is loving, but saucy!

Historical mysteries are always lovely to sit down and savour. The action is slower and the solving of the puzzle more methodical. As readers we are privy to more information that our protagonists have in The Counterfeit Heiress. Estella's story unfolds in chapters alternating the investigation. Midway, I had an idea of what would be the outcome, but I was more than happy to enjoy the journey to the final pages.

Definitely recommended for historical fiction fans.  Read an excerpt of The Counterfeit Heiress.

You can keep up with Tasha Alexander on Facebook as well as on Twitter.

The Edge of Dreams - Rhys Bowen

I'm familiar with Rhys Bowen's name - her books have been recommended to me by patrons who know I enjoy mysteries. Bowen's latest book, The Edge of Dreams is the fourteenth entry in the Molly Murphy series - but a first for this reader - and it won't be my last!

Molly is the wife of Daniel Sullivan, a New York Police captain at the turn of the century. Even though this book is quite far along in the series, I was able to easily become familiar with the characters and their lives.

Daniel has been receiving taunting notes from a serial killer. The pressure is on the police to find him before he kills again. But when Molly is involved in a serious 'accident',  the case may be getting too close to home. Although he is reluctant to bring his work home, he does share his concerns with Molly. Molly has a wonderfully nimble mind. Before her marriage, she worked as a private detective.

Bowen captures the time periods and its mores perfectly. Historical events are woven throughout the story.  I loved the detail of time and place as well. Day to day activities, cooking and shopping and more paint a warm picture of days gone by. I quite enjoyed the polite sparring between Molly and her mother-in-law over what 'correct' behavior should entail.

Supporting characters 'Gus' and 'Sid' are wonderfully avant garde, living life according to their own rules. Gus has studied with Sigmund Freud exploring his dream theories. This study is called into play with the second plot line of The Edge of Dreams. A young woman's family has died in what initially appears to be a terrible accident. But was it? Why is she unharmed? She can't remember anything but fragments of dreams and nightmares. Can this new method unlock answers?

Molly investigates quietly and capably, without drawing attention to herself or stepping on her husband's toes, both personally and professionally. The relationship between Molly and Daniel is particularly well written - kind, loving and believable. I enjoyed the measured pace of the investigations and the 'old fashioned' methods employed to solve the mysteries.

Bowen has crafted a pair of good whodunits that were somewhat easy to solve, but it was fun to solve them along with Molly and Daniel. But, for this reader, it is the characters that will have me returning to this historical mystery series. Read an excerpt of The Edge of Dreams.

You can keep up with Rhys Bowen on Facebook, as well as on Twitter.

The Catch - Taylor Stevens

The Catch is Taylor Stevens' fourth entry in her Vanessa Michael Munroe series.

Vanessa Michael Munroe is....well, she's deadly, with incredible physical skills and she's brilliant - she speaks many languages and easily assimilates into the situation or culture she finds herself in. She can read people and situations and think three moves ahead. For a living, she hunts people, finds information and fixes things. After her last case resulted in a horrific personal loss, Michael has retreated to the continent that seems to draw her back time and time again - Africa.

She's laying low, having taken a job with a small company that provides security for ships travelling the waters that Somalian pirates troll, providing information and greasing palms. When the owner pressures her to join the latest security job as a guard, she finds herself in the middle of a mess. The owner is lying, the hold is full of Russian guns, but it seems to be the captain that the pirates are after. And Michael's quiet retreat is no more.

Stevens has again crafted another intricately plotted thriller. Munroe is on her own this time, with no back-up. The action slowly builds through the first few chapters and then hits high gear for the rest of the book. The details of the settings and culture are vivid and detailed.

But, it is the character of Michael that is the real draw of this series. It's so much fun to have such a kick*** female character. The action scenes are great, but there's a deeper level to this character as well. She is the walking wounded and Stevens does a fantastic job depicting Munroe's inner emotional turmoil and her physical struggle to control herself. Each book out, we learn a little bit more about Munroe and her background. Having read of Stevens' background, I wonder how much of her own life has been woven into her books.

The Catch has a satisfying ending, but the door is open for the next entry is this series....one I'll pick up for sure. Read an excerpt of The Catch. You can keep up with Taylor Stevens on Facebook and on Twitter.

Gone - Randy Wayne White

Randy Wayne White created his Florida marine biologist character Doc Ford back in 1990. Twenty some years and nineteen books later, Doc and his pal Tomlinson are recognized as iconic additions to the mystery genre. (The original book Sanibel Flats was named as one of the American Independent Mystery Booksellers Association as one of the Hundred Favorite Mysteries of the 20th Century)

White writes what he knows - Florida and fishing. White takes a departure from the Ford novels to introduce us to a great new character - Hannah Smith - in his newest book Gone. I found this character fascinating as she is written as a descendant of the legendary Florida Smith women - Sarah, known as the Ox Woman and Hannah, known as Big Six.

Our Hannah is the fourth generation. She works as a fishing guide in the Gulf Coast and Sanibel Island area, having inherited the business from her late uncle. She also inherited an almost defunct private investigation agency. One of her regular charter customers, Mr. Seasons, is aware of this and asks Hannah to look for his missing niece Olivia. Seasons believes her local connections and tenacity will be of benefit.

Gone takes us into the dark side of the Florida wealthy and their pleasures - and those who prey upon them. Descriptions of the area, the fishing, the people and settings are detailed and really bring the book to life. The plot is quick and suspenseful, with lots of action. (and I can actually see this as a action flick with bikinis and rum drinks)

Hannah is a character I know I'm going to like even more as her story continues. She's honest, forthright, resourceful - and big and strong like her ancestors. Her weakness seems to be in knowing her own self - she is only now beginning to see that she is also a beautiful woman. My only complaint about Gone would be the amount of time White spent emphasizing this point - it grew a bit tiresome. Hannah's personality was also a bit uneven - unerringly sure of herself at one point, then fussing over a new blouse and bra. I'd much rather see the strong Hannah. The supporting characters are all a bit different as well - I did enjoy her gay best friend Nathan and her mother's attempts to thwart an ugly house construction. But again, they also placed too much emphasis on Hannah's love life (or lack of it).

Doc Ford does make a cameo 'appearance'. Gone was a great vehicle to introduce us to Hannah. I'm sure the rough edges will be smoothed out by the next book and I look forward to seeing where White takes Hannah next - and if Doc is in the mix as well. Read an excerpt from Gone. You can find Randy Wayne White on Facebook.

(And watch for the next Doc Ford thriller coming out March 5, 2013- titled: Night Moves)

Prime Suspect Series - Lynda La Plante

British television series are incredibly popular at the library. I was familiar with Lynda La Plante's name as she is responsible for many of the much watched series check outs - including the first three episodes of the hit Prime Suspect. (originally starring Helen Mirren) I jumped at the chance to read the books.

The Prime Suspect books were all written in the early 1990's when high ranking policewomen were not the norm. Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison debuted in Prime Suspect.

Tennison has risen through the ranks, but has hit a brick wall (or a glass ceiling). She's on the homicide squad, but has yet to lead an investigation - until the Della Mornay case. Della is a sex trade worker, found stabbed to death by her landlady. Jane is determined to find the killer and prove that she is just as good as any man at the job. And indeed she is - or better. But the 'old boys' club is just as determined to keep her 'in her place.' Jane is not a character I immediately warmed to. Her ambition drives her at all costs, including her personal life.  She comes across as impersonal and cold at work, but it's necessary to try and gain the respect of the men she is leading. La Plante has created some particularly nasty cops for Tennison to lead - especially Otley. He does anything and everything to thwart her, including hiding evidence, sending her on wild goose chases and trash talking her. But I found myself warming up to her as the book progressed and respecting her determination to solve the cases. I preferred this persona to the personal glimpses of home life. La Plante's plotting is excellent; the mystery was believable. Once the 'prime suspect' is identified, the race is on to prove the case. Read an excerpt.

I was eager to see where Jane was in the second book Prime Suspect 2: A Face in the Crowd. Jane has earned the respect of her immediate squad, but the politicos still don't want her in charge. When a body is found buried in a backyard in a poor district in London, tension ratchets up. The residents of the district are predominantly black and the police don't have a good record with them. This time round Jane must battle not just the higher ups that want things hushed up, but the racism that rears it's ugly head in the squad room. Jane is still attempting to have a bit of a personal life, but it backfires on her with serious consequences. Again, excellent plotting. The characters are all well drawn, like them or not and Jane is starting to grow on me. The dialogue and situations spring to life, reading easily. Read an excerpt.

Prime Suspect 3: Silent Victims finds Jane in charge of the Vice Squad. A 'rent boy' is found burned to death in the apartment of a drag queen nightclub star. But this time when Jane identifies her 'prime suspect', she's in dangerous waters. A powerful public figure is the man behind the killings of young male prostitutes. And no change, the higher ups want this one hushed up at all costs. And the price could be very high this time - all Jane has worked for is on the line. Does she choose ambition or justice? La Plante excels at creating situations and characters that just make you want to shout out loud. Read an excerpt.


Now that I've read the books, I think I'll be the next patron checking out the DVD series. I want to see Mirren's portrayal of Jane Tennison. My opinion of Jane changed from book one to book three. She still isn't likable and really, it wouldn't work if she was. But her intellect and her sense of justice shine through, despite her unwavering ambition. These are the first La Plante books I've read and I really quite enjoyed them. La Plante has a number of other series - the Anna Travis books look good. See what others on the TLC tour thought - full schedule here.

Breakdown - Sara Paretsky

Picking up the latest Sara Paretsky book is like sitting down with an old friend to hear a new story. Paretsky penned her first book featuring private investigator V.I. Warshawski in 1982. Nearly thirty years later, the newly released Breakdown is the fifteenth book in this long running series.

V.I. receives a frantic call from her cousin Petra late one night - a group of girls holding a initiation ceremony based on their favourite author's vampire books get more than they bargained for when they stumble across a corpse - staked through the heart. And these aren't just any teens - they're the offspring of some of Chicago's wealthiest and politically powerful families. Rescuing the girls makes V.I. late for a meeting with her old friend Leydon Ashford. By the time V.I. makes their meeting, it's too late - either troubled Leydon has jumped from a balcony or she was pushed. In a coma, she is unable to let anyone know what happened. As V.I. decides to investigate further into both of these seemingly disparate occurrences, she is warned off - by more than one party. Of course, that only fuels V.I.'s fire....

What has made this such an enduring series? V.I. has aged and her life has progressed in real time. She was a character I liked from the first book and my opinion hasn't changed. She's true to her principles and beliefs, always with an eye towards justice. Now, that's not to say that she won't bend the rules just a bit to get the results she needs. And she's tough, having taken more than her fair share of hard knocks. But she gives as good as she gets. She says what she thinks, she's smart, loyal and someone you'd want on your side. "...sometimes you are so single-minded in your search for answers that you don't always think of the consequences."

Paretsky's plotting is always good - the mysteries are intricate and not easily solved. It is the personal issues and plot lines that elevate this series beyond a simple whodunit. It almost feels like V.I. and her friends and family are real people. The writing and reading flow effortlessly.

You can certainly read Breakdown without having read any of the others in this series, but I bet you'll be hunting down her backlist once you discover this fantastic female protagonist!

You can find Sara Paretsky on Facebook and on Twitter.