Murder Mystery Books

Leigh Thompson was a medical news reporter for NBC-TV. He built three of the first Intensive Care Units, was a Professor of Medicine, wrote countless scientific papers and lectured worldwide. He has a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and an MD. Maurice is a high school teacher and assistant to the Editor of the Women's Page of the local newspaper. She has many interests, including history and preservation, as well as science and producing meetings worldwide.

Charleston presents the Spoleto Festival each Memorial Day, which includes theater, opera, dance, and music. But this year's festival is conducted by an arrogant and cruel maestro whose captivating opera turns out to be a tale twisting Charleston's history into a craven story of debauchery. To add injury to insult, the diva topples into the orchestra pit just as she is hitting her climactic celestial note, impaling herself on an antique bassoon. Two more performances yield the same number of deaths. Is it mayhem, or murder? It is up to Medical Examiner Mary Elizabeth's team and a local football hero criminologist named Bubba to figure out the score:

"`Not quite so fast, Dr. Simons,' replied Dirk. `We've still got one peak on the blood analysis that I can't find in urine, in hair, in the vitreous humor, or in any of the pill bottles we have sampled. We've never seen this peak before in this laboratory and it is not in the usual references about drugs.'"

The team of Maurice and Leigh Thompson produce a fairly credible mystery yarn. Although it is evident that science and medicine is their love...they pay attention to the details of the plot thoroughly enough to keep the reader immersed in scientific procedures in pharmacology protocols while masking the true killer. Their sense of humor is ribald, and characters are drawn out to create an enjoyable theater of the absurd in which the scientists and detectives have to function. The ending is eye-opening and somewhat tragic, which brings the reader full circle in this irreverent tale of intrigue. This reviewer's guess is that the authors had a great time writing this book. It is one funny mystery from a couple who offer up a lifetime of fascinating experiences to bring to their craft.

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

Charleston characters, customs, cuisine, and history run through every paragraph of this thriller that will not only keep you on the edge of your seat but make you disturb your neighbors with laughter. You had better have one of those golden screws in your navel holding it on lest you laugh your a... off. Each character is so life-like you want to talk to them. Each death is so unique can you figure out if it is foul play, or in the case of the third death fowl play. When cyanide shows up as a bioterrorist threat to wipe out the lowcountry things move along at a rapid clip to an amazing climax, wrapped around local spirituals and 300-year old history. Buy it today but read it in a sound proof booth.

Only Charlestonians could have captured the unique culture and characters of the Holy City so perfectly. Every page is filled with wry humor and local color. The authors are to be congratulated for their ability to use the most precise forensic sciences like CSI, the most devastating characterizations like Biography, with believeable protagonists like Law and Order all wrapped in the style of Tom Clancey combined with Saturday Night Live. As poisoning and murder begin to take center stage there is news of a shipment of a half-million lethal doses of cyanide that threatens a bioterrorist event in this usually pleasant community. Leading Charleston families will recognize not only their names but their behaviors in this gripping story that wraps todays and tomorrows events around 300 years of history with an ending you won't guess. Read it in one setting, but be sure you won't disturb your neighbors with your laughing out loud at every page if not every paragraph. Where is the sequel?

Leaping from today's headlines this mystery skilfully weaves Charleston's culture and characters around a don't-put-me-down mystery. At the annual arts festival, Spoleto, stars triumph then die on stage. The first might be an accident as the diva is impaled on a bassoon "like a stuffed shrimp at Shucks." Then in an irreverent passion play, in which Pilate gets to flip for the sentence, the actor playing Christ dies on the cross. Two accidents in three days? Bad luck? Or murder. Bubba, the sleuth, and Mary Elizabeth, the medical examiner, team up in romance and using the most modern science, right out of CSI. When the prima ballerina collapses in convulsions, foul play must be on stage, but it takes all their ingenuity to discover the cause and the culprits and not before a shipment of cyanide threatens to end Spoleto and Charleston. Humourous mayhen with action on every page makes this a must-read and not so much scary as fun.

The world famous Spoleto music festival is the setting for this nail biter of a novel. Part farce, part suspence, this first novel by a husband wife team of medical experts is graced both by a driving plot and the obvious medical expertise of the authors. One thing this novel never does is take itself too seriously, and there is its strength. Bravo!

In the small Florida town of Laguna Key, things are not usual. The Bad Girl's Bar and Grill local bar is owned by former horror scream queen, Danni Keene. The one and only security guard (whose main job is to watch over Sophie, the blind daughter of Laguna Key founder, Mr. Whit) failed out of the FBI Academy.

The dead bodies start piling up at the very beginning of the story, wasting no time. The brother of the homeless man found dead behind Danni's bar is a circus clown--but not that kind of clown, the old-fashioned, more dramatic kind of clown, complete with puppets-and lots of merriment for the town. Then there's the lounge singer hired by Danni (a Barry Manilow impersonator), and also the vandalism against the bar.

This book reminded me of a good Jimmy Buffet song. It was laid back, fun and truly took me to Florida. The book is very fast-paced, with never a dull moment. There are enough twists and turns to keep you interested, but not so many as to make it hard to follow. The resolution is satisfying, and plausible.

I enjoyed this book because I found the characters interesting and engaging, the location was described very well, but not overly so, and the mystery was fun.

I hope author Kelby writes more about the citizens of Laguna Key, I'll be waiting in line to revisit my new friends!

Armchair Interviews agrees.

Being a Carl Hiaasen fiction fan, I've been looking for an author who is his spiritual heir and Ms. Kelby fills that bill and then some. The mind-numbing combination of Florida heat and humidity brings the crazies and crackpots and it's not too much of a stretch to imagine yourself running across the folks who populate the story. A kilt-wearing Scot with rudimentary wings, two ancient Swedish crones who windsurf, an ex- slasher movie queen who adopts both an injured vulture and a shih tsu who resembles Barry Manilow are all part and parcel of the characters who are witness to the two murders that disrupt the placid life in a Key's retirement community. How they solve the mystery of the murderer, unite lovers and stir up the uneventful life on Laguana Key, is something you'll want to witness yourself. So grab a copy, your favorite beverage and snuggle in for a good read. Would that we all had a Bad Girl's Bar and Grill to visit in real life!

The jest of the book has been covered already in reviews, but I just wanted to give my take on it. I was officially sick of all the cozy mystery series that seem to have popped up lately so I grabbed this book on a whim. I ended up loving this book, cover to cover. Kelby's writing style reminds me of Christopher Moore (very quick wit and quirky)and her story lines are along the lines of Carl Hiaasen. She manages to make the wacky characters real without being cartoonish. Kelby even manages to give the vultures and shih tsu dog personalities. Highly recommended.

Deserved or not, Florida has a wacky reputation. Blame the heat, blame the wildlife, blame Walt Disney. But for whatever reason, eccentrics of all stripes find a home in the Sunshine State. One of the most amusing tents in the freak show belongs to the horde of comic writers riffing on Florida today. Is there a better word than "horde" to describe a group of comic writers? From this book, I learned that the word for a group of vultures is a kettle; maybe a group of comic writers should be a "cackle." Speaking of vultures, you know you're in sure comic hands when the first chapter describes a corpse in a sweltering dumpster, discovered by the vultures perched on the rim, and it's funny.

N. M. Kelby knows and loves her oddballs, all of whom drift in, out, around and through the Bad Girl's Bar & Grill, a former Polynesian tiki hut, now known for its nightly viewings of "Wheel of Fortune," its Barry Manilow impersonator, and its house drink --- the key lime pie martini --- served in a martini glass with crushed Graham crackers around the edge. (Google to find recipes...they're out there!) Located in Laguna Bay, Florida, the BGBG has a light-hearted philosophy geared toward flirting, fun, spiritual generosity, and getting your own damn coffee. Really, even with the corpse rotting in the dumpster, wouldn't you like to go right now?

The BGBG is owned by Danni Keene, former horror movie queen. It's her job to coolly blast the vultures with a fire extinguisher when they get to be too much. She has seen a lot --- enough so that she is not the least bit surprised when Solas MacKay, Scottish circus clown, blows into town with his troupe, looking for his long-lost brother. (Hint: check the dumpster.) But Danni has problems, not the least of which is the Laguna Key Development Corporation, whose members have their hearts set on a clean, orderly, expensive Laguna Key. When they're not dressing up as the cast of "The Andy Griffith Show," they hatch plans to destroy the BGBG as it attracts the very sort of riffraff gated communities were designed to keep out. Wouldn't a nice golf course be better?

Mr. Whit, local businessman and all-around rich guy, has been in cahoots with the LKDC so he can buy the property. But he's been driven a little mad by the tragedy that befell his daughter Sophie, blinded in a scuba-diving accident and abandoned by her husband. Mr. Whit's habit of tasering people just might get him in trouble someday, as well as his quest to find the right wine to pair with deep-fried candy bars.

Who can sort all this out? Brian Wilson, an FBI dropout currently working as a caretaker for Mr. Whit and a guardian for Sophie, does his best. Smothering his irritating habit of whistling Beach Boys songs --- apparently there are times when "Surfer Girl" is appropriate and times when it is not --- he puts his old investigative skills to work and solves the case in time for the circus parade.

Along the way, the book touches on slave cemeteries, the plight of the homeless, and elderly twin Swedish circus performers whose only English word is "ta-dah!" Kelby also throws in a couple of love stories for good measure. Wit, charm, a murder or two --- everything you need is here. Dig your toes in the sand and have a good time. It's the Bad Girl way.

--- Reviewed by Colleen Quinn

Brian Wilson (not that BW) works as a security guard at gated Laguna Key, a Florida beach community. His prime task is to keep safe the daughter of his employer blind Sophie Whit.

Her dad is planning to expand his minor fiefdom by buying land. He has been successful with everyone he offers money to except for the owner of Bad Girl's Bar and Grill. Former horror B-film actress Danni Keene refuses to sell in spite of constant harassment and vandalism that she assumes is directed by Whit. Meanwhile things turn uglier when Brian finds the corpse of a homeless activist while the victim's brother Solas Mackay has set up his traveling puppet troupe in the Bad Girl's Bar and Grill parking lot. With a Barry Manilow imitator, everyone seems to be having a good time except a stunned half-Whit who plots over fast food to do whatever is necessary to possess Danni's property.

This is an interesting slice of life drama with the murder mystery enhancing the tale. The key cast members seem genuine as each struggle with what they are doing with their lives. Retirement in Southern Florida is showcased at its best and worst by the crew of MURDER AT THE BAD GIRL'S BAR AND GRILL as these zanies make for an amusing yet poignant look at those still working in these communities.

Harriet Klausner

Murder by Tradition is an excellent title with multiple shades of meaning. The plot is believable and well executed. The characters have behaviours and beliefs that correspond. A Super Read ,it is indeed.

_Murder by Tradition_ is an excellent fictionalized account of an actual, brutal, premeditated murder of a gay man, for no reason other than the fact that he was gay. The story is very well told and I didn't want to put the book down from beginning to end.

The first half is devoted to the discovery of the facts of the case and of the identity of the killer. The second half the story of the trial. The suspense is not in discovering the identity of the gaybasher, but in whether or not he will escape punishment.

The victim was stabbed 39 times and bled to death, but the killer has deep wounds on his own hands and claims he was defending himself from a gay man who tried to force him to have sex. There were no witnesses. Can Detective Kate Delafield discover the clues that will convince a jury of what really happened?

Katherine V. Forrest, in her Kate Delafield series manages to present a tight, taut mystery along with a political statement, which she doesn't present in a heavy-handed manner. The two just seem to blend seemlessly and if you want to ignore the message (if you can), then you can simply enjoy the mystery. Kate and her dullard partner, Ed Taylor, investigate the murder of Teddie Crawford, a very "out" gay man. In fact, even he calls himself a queen. Teddie was stabbed about 40 times, which indicates to Kate that it was more than just a simple robbery. The first half of the book describes Kate and Ed cornering the killer. The fact that the killer, himself, was hurt badly is a big help to Kate as well as the description given by one of Teddie friends, Gloria. Watching Kate using her interrogative skills to trap this man is very tense, especially since she knows that without a confession all they have is circumstantial evidence. As good as the "law" part of the story is, the "order" part is really more fascinating and suspenseful. Kate has found out that the killer's attorney is someone she knows slightly but someone who knows her secret. Throughout the trial, she wonders how he will try to bring it out and taint her testimony. Sadly, no matter what the outcome of this fictional trial, Forrest shows that gaybashing is alive and well in these United States.

I read this book in one afternoon. I was drawn in by the emotion of the killing as well as the trial. I found this book to display the court system at it's weakest and loved the heroine, Kate.

I loved this book. I just found the Kate Delafield series and can't wait to read all the books in this series.

In the Delafield series, this book ranks as one of the most, if not the most, meaningful stories. It didn't have the love scenes I so deeply enjoy reading but the story line more than made up for that. Excellent reading!

The family has gathered home for Christmas. Even the prodigal son and a long lost granddaughter have come home for the holidays. The ailing patriarch of the family is murdered in a locked room with no mode of escape for the murderer. Poirot solves the murder with his usual flair. Interesting group of characters. It's a very good mystery that will keep you guessing.

I read this book because of a recomindation from my mother, I read it and was totally suprised. I told my sister that it was so good that she read it, she loved it too. It is a pretty good story and I will bet you you would not guess it in a million years.

I can't believe this book is out of print! It's definitely one of the best mysteries Christie ever wrote. A feuding family gathers for a reunion during the Christmas holidays, summoned by their obnoxious old father, and when Dad turns up dead as the proverbial doornail, it has to be a family member that committed the crime. Well, it was a family member, all right... I'm not giving away the surprise, but suffice to say you can't always trust your nearest relations, and sometimes you don't even know who they are. Christie was a national treasure and this book is one of the prime jewels in the treasure chest. Somebody please reissue this book and fast. There's a whole generation out there waiting to discover a gem.

No mystery written by Agatha Christie could ever be bad; even her worst is good, and _Murder For Christmas_ (or _Holiday For Murder_, the title under which I found it) is far from her worst.

Ms. Christie's dedication states that she purposefully designed this story to be bloody--and so it is, but have no fear; the gore is not great, and it is handled with tact and a delightful use of familiar quotations. Her characters will draw you in with their relative personality and depth... relative, because--as always--the story is really too short and too focused on plot and mystery to make every suspect live and breathe for the reader. That's all right, though. They're still interesting to read about, which is what truly matters. And as with every book she writes, Christie has also put together a delicious puzzle that will keep one turning the pages until the very end. I did manage to figure out the culprit in advance, but rather than being disappointed, I was delighted: it's always a pleasure to beat even the great Hercule Poirot to the punch!

This story will make a fine addition to the Christie fan's bookshelf. I'd recommend it as a quick holiday read for anyone: light, fast-paced, and clever, it's a pleasing tidbit that could serve as a great stocking stuffer, or as a gift either for another or yourself on any day of the year.

What better way to spice up your holidays than with a little murder in the family?! Christie gives us her version of Scrooge in crusty ole curmudgeon Simeon Lee who has amassed a fortune in the diamond mines of South Africa. As Christmas approaches, he invites all his family, many of them long-estranged, to spend the holidays at his palatial estate Gorston Hall. Christie proceeds to do what she does best---she gathers a group of diverse characters related by blood or marriage, reveals their worst traits, and allows one person to be murdered while pointing the finger at each of the survivors. Simeon Lee has concocted a sadistic game to play on his family. The game begins when he allows his family to hear him give instructions to his lawyer to change his will. The game continues when he gives each of them a thorough dressing down for their weaknesses, stupidity, and greed. The game reaches a climax in Simeon's study where one person is found with a slashed throat.

"Murder for Christmas" was also published as "A Holiday for Murder" and "Hercule Poirot's Christmas." It is notable not only as an excellent example of the locked-room mystery, but also as the most bloody of the Christie mysteries. Noted for her cozy murders via poisoned chocolates and a foreign substance in the afternoon tea, in this one Christie gives us all the blood and gore she is capable of. Her brother-in-law had requested that she come up with a "good violent murder with lots of blood" and this is her answer to him hoping it will satsify his lust. Though not anywhere close to today's violence on tv, this is the bloodiest of the genteel novels Dame Agatha wrote.

Unfortunately for the clever murderer, Hercule Poirot happens to be spending Christmas with the Chief Constable of the county and is therefore conveniently on hand to assist in sifting through the many red herrings and false identities that make this novel complex and exciting.

If you're yearning for a good old-fashioned English country-house Christmas with lots of interesting characters on hand, you'll find this one most satisfying.

I really enjoyed this book. The author has captured the essence of the unique culture of Michigan's upper peninsula as the backdrop for the story. She has also given us some quirky characters who are all the more believable because of their idiosyncrasies. The mystery was fun to read and I flew through it in 2 days, using every spare minute I could find to keep reading. I'm looking forward to reading the other two "Yooper" mysteries (and hope that there will be even more in the future). Gertie may stumble onto things by accident, but her pure spunk wins the day.

By the way, the author includes some traditional U.P. fare in recipes at the end of the novel. I'm hoping that "Gertie" does publish a cookbook some day - I'd love to see it

It was funny and clean. Reminds me of Minnesota hunting season. Would recommend it to any one.

A game warden is murdered in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on opening day of bear season. Little Donny, Gertie's grandson, has gone missing. The warden was murdered at Little Donny's tree stand.

Gertie's son, Blaze, is the sheriff, but he is after Little Donny as he thinks he is the murderer. Gertie believes in her heart that he's innocent.

Gertie and her two friends, Kitty who also believes she is Gertie's bodyguard, and Cora Mae who is after all the men, set out to find Little Donny, prove his innocence, and find the real killer.

Grandma Johnson, Gertie's mother-in-law who lives with her (against her wishes), doesn't make things easy. Then when Little Donny's mother descends on Gertie to await word on her son, Gertie kicks it up into high gear.

Blaze keeps trying to get Gertie for driving without a license. She keeps working at dodging him.

Gertie and her associates are a hoot. I love this series. You never know what Gertie will do next. I wish I knew Gertie. She sounds like she'd be a lot of fun!

The setting of Michican'ts Upper Peninsula is great. It really adds to the story.

I highly recommend this book and series!

Deb Baker's MURDER GRINS AND BEARS IT has hero Gertie back in top form. Against the wishes of her son the local sheriff, she gathers her associates, her fake badge, and her stun gun and sets out to solve the murder of a game warden. You don't have to be familiar with Michigan's Upper Peninsula to enjoy Gertie's antics, but if you have been there, it will be no surprise to meet this little old lady who drives without a license and investigates without a qualm. Gertie is hilarious, she's fearless, and she's priceless.

The Stephanie Plum of the geriatric set is back in Deb Baker's sequel to Murder Passes the Buck. Having decided to create her own (unlicensed) investigative agency "The Trouble Busters," widow Gertie Johnson acquires the auctioned-off, vandalized sheriff's truck (that sheriff is Gertie's son and that she was the vandalizer is another story) and arms herself with a trusty bag of weapons that includes a taser, cattle prod, mace, and handcuffs. What she's not ready for is the body that is discovered near a hunting blind with the main suspect being her favorite - and missing - grandson. While her son is determined to keep her off the roads (Gertie never managed to learn how to drive or get a license), Gertie sets out to prove Little Donny's innocence with a posse that includes her single and predatory best friend Cora Rae, the police dog that Gertie unintentionally managed to get fired, and her self-proclaimed bodyguard Kitty.

Once again Ms. Baker has created a hilarious mystery that whips along to a dramatic finish. Gertie is plagued with family members who hinder her as much as they help, yet her love for them always shines through. Moments of laugh-out-loud humor are balanced by Gertie's vulnerability as she battles to protect her grandson and ferret out a murderer by following the clues that her son ignores. This Yooper Mystery series continues to grow stronger and readers will be eager for Gertie's next appearance.

I read this book in one sitting. The plot is well crafted. The story is fast paced. And there's a lot of subtle humor in it. Having lived in Texas, I recognized personality traits from various characters in the book. I could see the images in my head as Monique telling the story. Gripping! And entertaining. It's a great book. Perfect for a long plane trip!

This is a great read and a very enjoyable ride! I enjoyed the story, but even more, I genuinely liked the characters. They really came to life for me. While I am a South Texan, I can assure you that you don't need to be one yourself to enjoy this book. It was all too easy to read this book in one sitting. The pace made for a very enjoyable Sunday. I can't wait for the next from this author.

I read this book in one sitting. The plot is well crafted. The story is fast paced. And there's a lot of subtle humor in it. Having lived in Texas, I recognized personality traits from various characters in the book. I could see the images in my head as Monique telling the story. Gripping! And entertaining. It's a great book. Perfect for a long plane trip!

Glenda Langley tells a great story using Monique, a career waitress at Skagg's B-B-Q in Mesquite Springs, as her narrator. Complete with a Texas drawl and a sense of humor that won't quit, Monique tells of the troubles that result when Clairesse, a beautiful young fellow waitress, falls in love with Bubba, a young man who unwittingly gets involved with a group of racists. Look for an unexpected twist. It will sneak up on you. It's a book you won't be able to put down, full of color and conflicting sentiments of folks in a small Texas town who must grapple with the realities of a murder that is the result of racial prejudice. Murder in Mesquite Springs is a fast, engrossing read. Don't miss it.

This book like totally rocks. I like, so relate to these people! Hard as it is to believe, they really do exist, you know. Scary... Murder in Mesquite Springs gives a very realistic and non-sensational look at a major problem in this country - the recruitment and ultimate disposal of people by racist organizations.

Greg has written a first hand account of New Orleans during and after Katrina wrapped in an excellent mystery. It's very moving and makes one totally feel for the people of New Orleans and the failure of Bush and his Republican administration in this disaster. Anyone who votes Republican in the next election is asking for the same in the future.

In Greg Herren's latest mystery, his characters are involved both in the central motivating event of the book and in finding their bearings after Katrina. He unravels the mystery-element of the story with finesse and describes adjustments to the aftermath of the hurricane with insight and compassion. Another Winner!

Private Investigator Chanse MacLeod has finally gone home to his beloved New Orleans, but though he has seen the news clips as the mass destruction of Katrina, he is still stunned with what happened to the city. Not long after returning he learns that his last client Iris Verlaine before the Hurricane was murdered on the same night she had hired him.

Chanse feels obligated to accomplish Iris' assignment to find her long time missing father. He also feels obsessed to find out who killed Iris. However, not only is the city different; his late client's family oozes charm that makes the detective feel welcome and therefore wary.

Chanse is terrific as he sees the horror of Katrina in many ways while traveling the city. Little thinks like street signs and known landmarks are gone. The two mysteries are cleverly designed to bring out post Katrina New Orleans in a way few tales have been bale to do. To fully comprehend Chanse's shock compare MURDER IN THE RUE CHARTRES to his previous Big Easy cases (see MURDER IN THE RUE DAUPHINE and MURDER IN THE RUE ST. ANN).

Harriet Klausner

Herren, Greg. "Murder in the Rue Chartres", Alyson, 2007.

Gay New Orleans, Post Katrina

Amos Lassen

As a New Orleanian by birth and having experiences Hurricane Katrina first-hand, I was anxious to read Greg Herren's "Murder in the Rue Chartres". I have always enjoyed Herren work and I did once again. It just hurts to read about my hometown while I am located somewhere else. Herren gives us a view of New Orleans that is amazing, deep and sensuous and this novel is fast moving as it shows the French Quarter in all of its gay glory. It's good to have Greg Herren back writing about the Big Easy.
Herren has introduced us to his gay detective, Chanse MacLeod, in other books--"Murder in the Rue Dauphine" and "Murder in the Rue St. Ann. After Katrina, MacLeod returns to a different New Orleans. The city and the man have both been shattered and in need of rebuilding. Chanse has come home to rebuild himself but he soon discovers that Iris Verlaine who had been his last client before the hurricane was murdered the same night that she had hired him to locate her father who had been missing for quite a long time. Chanse feels both compelled and obligated to solve the murder and he soon finds himself completely taken in by the Verlaine family and a web of intrigue and secrets. It seems everything in the family is tainted with blood.
With the city of New Orleans as a backdrop to the story the book gives us a wonderful mystery as well as an in-depth look at one of America's most famous cities. We see a different New Orleans than most of us have known and it is a sad but vibrant picture that Herren provides. He tells it like it is in the way we like to read. Here is another wonderful mystery that will keep you guessing as well as providing an inside look at the damage that occurs because of a natural disaster.

Six weeks after the devastation Hurricane Katrina brought to his adopted hometown, New Orleans, private investigator Chanse MacLeod returns to try to resume his life there. Being one of the lucky ones, his apartment came through the storm relatively unscathed, but he is stunned and shocked by the surreal visions of what is left of the city and its formerly vibrant and joyful inhabitants.

Right before he left, he had been hired by Iris Verlaine, heir to a family shipbuilding empire, to find her missing father. While Ms. Verlaine subsequently canceled his contract before the storm, he still held her retainer check which he wanted to return to her. When he found out that she had apparently been murdered the same night that she called, he felt a need to look into that (and the missing father) to find closure at a time when very little in his own life seemed to make sense. Aided by Iris' brother Joshua, who rehired Chanse, and by his friends in the police department, Venus and Blaine, as well as his best friend, journalist Paige, Chanse uncovers a murder plot that encoumpases an unsolved arson at a gay bar, the unethical director of a nursing home, as well as how much greed and bigotry can tear apart a well-respected New Orleans family. In my opinion, it is Herren's best mystery novel to date, complete with fully-developed realistic characters pushing their personal agendas beyond any recognition of right or wrong.

But this is more than just a mystery novel. "Murder in the Rue Chartres" is also a love story ... showing the dedication of the residents of New Orleans to the spirit of their city, and the unfortunate emotional, psychological and substance abuse problems brought on post-Katrina ... not just from the devastation from the storm but by the well-publicized lack of proper action by the federal government in preparing the city for the hurricane as well as its criminally-deficient lack of assistance in cleaning up afterwards. It is clear that, more than any of his other works, the emotions expressed here are from deep in Greg Heren's heart, and I have not read a more honest and riveting account of post-Katrina New Orleans anywhere else. An exceptional book, which everyone should read, in my opinion. Five big BOLD stars out of five.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 3 Daffodil mysteries and hope that "Murder is the Pits" isn't the last one. I have visited New Smyrna Beach several times and enjoy feeling part of the story as I can picture myself in the settings. The author does a wonderful job of bringing her characters to life and, in this novel; she expands on them and adds some new ones. It's delightful.

In the 3rd book in the DAFFODILS Mystery series, long-time friends and sorority sisters Ruthie, Leigh, and Penny Sue find themselves in New Smyrna Beach awaiting the upcoming trial of a drug smuggling ring. They have been told to be ready to testify, and the three friends settle in for a visit while hoping that they do not have to testify in the case. While staying in Penny Sue's daddy's condo after her divorce, Leigh has been awaiting her divorce settlement and looking to purchase a unit in the complex. She is joined by Ruthie and Penny Sue, and soon after their arrival, a hurricane starts to threaten the Florida coastline.

Packing in supplies, the three hunker down waiting for the storm to pass. When an elderly woman's condo is broken into and she has a heart attack, Leigh's neighbor, Guthrie Fribble, comes to warn Leigh and her friends. Concerned about the coming storm, Guthrie stays with the ladies during storms and helps in their investigation when strange things start to occur. Brand new aluminum pipes and storm shutters are found rusted and broken, a family dog and elderly neighbor are found dead with "glitter" all over the carpet in the condo, and the ladies are followed by a black Taurus. When a brand-new neighbor is shot before their eyes, the DAFFODILS wonder if their drug smugglers could be out to get them. Working hard to stay afloat during hurricane season and dodging bullets from unknown enemies, the DAFFODILS use their wits and good spirits to discover who is trying to silence them for good.


I loved this book! It was funny, heart-warming, and zany all at once. The DAFFODILS share a common bond like many women...they were friends in their younger years and grew apart with marriages, jobs, and children. They are reunited after their divorces, and find that they are able to renew their friendship with little thought to the time that has passed. In this installment, they endured hurricanes, murder attempts, and dead bodies, and found a way to laugh and work together through it all. I love the fact that two of their most important supplies during a hurricane turned out to be wine (but any alcoholic beverage probably would do!) and chocolate. Truly, women after my own heart! The mystery had me guessing until the end with its many twists and turns, and I was kept breathless with the anticipation of each new hurricane. This is a wonderful book about the power of friendship and the strength of human character in the face of adversity, combined with a twisting mystery that will leave you guessing until the very end.

The first book in the series is called "The Turtle Mound Murder". Enjoy!

Leigh, Ruthie and Penny Sue reunited in New Smyrna Beach for the third time; are preparing to give depositions in the trial of the drug smugglers they routed in the first Daffodils (Divorced and Finally Free of Deceitful Licentious Scum) mystery - The Turtle Mound Murders.

Aging hippie and neighbor Guthrie (Fred) Fribble shows up on their doorstep, brimming with local gossip and news. It seems that another, rather elderly neighbor, known as Nana, is in the hospital after a home invasion robbery scared her into a heart attack. He also notifies them that there's a Category 3 hurricane potentially heading towards Florida. The ladies quickly make preparations to weather proof the condo. Later Guthrie returns sporting a frozen chicken atop the Ace bandage on his knee to beg for shelter and company during the storm. "Publix ran out of ice" he says to explain the poultry. He injured his knee when he heard a strange noise outside his condo and fell while attempting to investigate. Further investigation links the strange noises with other odd events, including Nana's heart attack and several deaths. Coincidence? Or is someone out to silence the Daffodils?

To perk up their spirits, the Daffodils and friend Chris agree to participate in a charity racing event, that will raise money for less fortunate hurricane victims. This event has to be postponed when the second storm in as many days is announced to be bearing down on Florida. The ladies evacuate to a luxury hotel on higher ground. But there are strange men lurking around the hotel, so they have to plot a quick escape. Eventually they make it safely to race day only to find out that the other teams aren't all interested in just the racing...

The best so far of the Daffodils books. The author has really fleshed out her characters, and by the third book they are as familiar as old friends. Leigh's levelheadedness, Penny Sue's flirtatious nature and Ruthie's New Age slightly flaky spirituality make them the ideal team. The character interactions, the gentle teasing and feminine in-jokes add to their appeal and invite the reader to imagine themselves as part of the sisterhood. It will be interesting to see what predicament Mary Clay is going to put the Daffodils in next.

"Murder in the Pits" was another great mystery from Mary Clay. I have throughly enjoyed the "daffodils" since the first book, "Turtle Mound Murder". (which I bought in the gift shop at the Riverview Restaurant in New Smyrna Beach!!)I have visited New Smyrna Beach FL on many occasions, and reading about the various places the girls visit, brings back nice memories of the area, I was hooked on the Daffodils!! My favorite character in the latest mystery is Guthrie. A bit weird and goofy but, a guy with a big heart and willing to help the girls with anything!! I look forward to the next in the series and hope that Guthrie will continue to be a part of the daffodil mysteries.

Using her mother's name as a pseudonym may seem strange, but Linda Tuck-Jenkins, a/k/a Mary Clay, chose this route because her DAFFODILS murder mysteries series is a change of pace from her first book, STARPEOPLE: THE SIRIAN REDEMPTION. Although Tuck-Jenkins originally followed a career path in mathematics and economics, she never forgot her love of mysteries which began with Carolyn Keene's Nancy Drew mysteries. Although her mysteries feature divorced women, Tuck-Jenkins is a happily hitched woman.

Only Mary Clay could find humor in the recent Florida hurricanes. But when the DAFFODILS (Divorced and Finally Free of Deceitful Licentious Scum), Leigh, Ruthie, and Penny Sue are reunited and ensconced in Penny Sue's father's condo. Originally brought together to testify against mafia types described in the BIKE WEEK BLUES, the ladies seem to be a magnet for murder. True to form, a neighbor tumbles off his deck, but this is no accident. Penny Sue begins receiving anonymous roses, and the DAFFODILS meet an unlikely odd couple in the persons of Guthrie, a reformed hippie, and his hunky mate, Timothy:

"Timothy had changed into a tank top and running shorts. I had to admit the man was a fine specimen of humanity. Penny Sue obviously agreed, since she was swigging wine with her eyes fixed on his muscular thighs. Considering the oppressive heat - the heat index had to be 103̊--I was Afraid she might burst into flames."

Mary Clay has done it again! She has produced a hilarious pre-menopausal combination of divorced women who band together in thick and thin. The combination of Leigh's level-headedness, Penny Sue's sashays and wine guzzling, with Ruthie's forays into the New Age spirit world is enough to brighten any reader's day. The women splash money and daffodil symbols around to raise funds for hurricane relief and climb into race cars to gain national attention, all the while protecting themselves from Russian and Italian mafia. Clay's own particular brand of the psychology of human nature reflected in the DAFFODILS will have the readers rolling in the aisles. A triumph!

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

Steve Allen had so much talent, not the least of which was writing. He writes as good a detective novel as almost every other writer. He's funny, fast paced, and has the unique ability to mix fact and fiction, a fascinating combination. Some characters in the book are real (Steve and his wife, Jayne, for example) and others are not (the murderers). While weaving his plot, he gives the reader an inside glimpse of Hollywood which is always clever and insightful. I not only say "Don't miss this book", I say, "Don't miss ANY of Steve Allen's books."

This book was excellent, with a bevy of intertwined suspects and multiple murders, set in a situation where the protagonists - Steve Allen and his real life wife Jayne Meadows - are in personal danger. Mr Allen does an outstanding job of leading the reader astray with well thought out red herrings, but pulls together a spectacular grand finale, coming back from the dead to provide a unique entertainment show, where he reveals the killer to all. Too bad Steverino isn't around to continue his murder series.

This is my first Steve Allen mystery. I loved it. I prefer light cozy type mysteries without graphic violence, vulgar language, etc. Steve writes himself and his wife Jayne Meadows as the sleuths in a high seas mystery reminiscent of the English houseparty genre. Isolation and inability to contact the authorities force the Allen's to sort through many suspects and motives as a series of bodies appear, while simultaneously coping with multiple crises creating urgent need for resolution of the mystery. The plot is intricate, the clues in plain sight but easy to miss or misunderstand. He gives the reader a fair chance to deduce the plot points. Many real life folks are entwined with fictional characters often thinly disguised representatives of the rich and famous such as Princess Diana; The characters are complex, and the story is witty and suspenseful. Steve Allen is a kind and gentle man, funny, and intelligent, and it shows strongly in the story. I especially like the picture he painted of his wife Jayne, and the wonderful way he represented the passion, trust and friendship possible in a lifelong marriage without a single scene involving heavy breathing (well the romantic kind anyway). It was a pleasure to spend the time with him. I intend to read all his other books.

This was a very humourous and lighthearted book which was a joy to read. Steve Allen and his wife Jane Meadows make a cute detective duo in this easy-to-read mystery whodunit. The duo is booked on an atlantic cruise filled with humor, love, betrayal, and secret plots---all of the ingredients for a delightful mystery book.

Murder on the Atlantic, written by great TV comicSteve Allen, follows in the tradition of Murderin Vegas, in Manhattan and on the Glitterbox -- all by Steve Allen. Steve, his lovely wife Jayne, and their friend Cass, all find themselves investigating murder on the luxury liner Atlantis. There's enough suspense to keep it witty, and enough wit to keep it suspenseful. Allen is a sort of an everyman (despite his fame) who solves mysteries with pedestrian panache!

Annie Capshaw is working both full-time at a bank and at nights helping her on and off again boyfriend Jim MacDonald get his restaurant "Bellywashers" up and running. The last thing she needs is to discover the dead body of a friend. The police say it was suicide but Annie and her friend Eve aren't so sure and begin to look into Sarah's death. They soon discover that there are any number of people that wanted Sarah dead. The more Annie and Eve investigate, the more they become targets.

"Murder on the Menu" is the well-done second book in Miranda Bliss's Cooking Class cozy mystery series (the first was Cooking Up Murder). The characters are all developing nicely, especially Annie. She is still dealing with the consequences of a divorce that left her with such low self-esteem that she is afraid to get seriously involved with Jim. By the end of the book she took a major and welcome step forward in her life that made her a deeper character. Eve is another great character - blonde, beautiful, a bit ditzy, but a major asset to Annie when solving the mystery. Jim wasn't as major a character in this book, but he's there when Annie needs him. The restaurant elements are extremely well done and believable. The murder elements are well written and well plotted, with just a handful of suspects, but a few red herrings set up some nice plot twists to keep readers guessing.

"Murder on the Menu" is a delicious cozy mystery.

Cute, loveable cozy with fun characters. Enough drama to keep you interested but not too much to put you off. Book 2 in the series.

This book is prefect for the beach or just the weekend at home.Its a book that gets the actionand stays with it. Its not full of bad words or talks about blood and guts,it just tells a story of friends who finds a mystery.I liked it and read the next book.

I really liked this book. It has so many twists and turns that really keeps you guessing. Just when you think you have the mystery figured out, something else pops up that makes you change your mind. The ending is pretty abrubt which was a little disappointing, but other than that this is a great book for anyone who likes the cozy mystery genre.

Even though thirty-five-year-old Annie Capshaw, and her drop dead gorgeous Southern belle best friend, Eve DeCateur spent six days a week taking cooking classes at the trendy Tres Bonne Cuisine in Clarendon a few months ago, neither of them learned much about whipping up exquisite meals. Instead, they were schooled in something much different: murder. After solving their first case, and hooking up with their cooking school teacher, the hunky Scotsman Jim, however, they're prepared to take on a new bit of the food industry: running a restaurant.

After a failed marriage, Annie Capshaw feels that she is done with men. The constant presence of wonder chef Jim, however, has left her wondering if it's time for a change of heart. But there's little room for romance now that Jim has undertaken a new endeavor...opening up and running a restaurant called Bellywasher's. Luckily, Jim hasn't forgotten about Annie or her bombshell best friend, Eve DeCateur. Eve has been generously handed the position of hostess, and Annie has been graciously bestowed the honor of running everything behind-the-scenes - from balancing the books, making sure there's never a shortage of celery, and keeping on top of the decorating scheme. Things are slow going at first, with just a few customers appearing every now and then; but when a rave review appears in a local newspaper, things change - and fast. Suddenly Bellywasher's is the new place to be, and customers are lining up in droves just to get a seat. Of course, these aren't your typical customers. These are the elite of Washington. People with money to burn, and secrets oozing out of their pores. When Annie and Eve find their friend Sarah dead in her bathtub, the two know that something smells a little fishy. Sarah - a staff member for a powerful congressman contemplating running for Vice President of the United States - had everything to live for, and couldn't have been happier, and the two refuse to accept her death as a suicide. When the police refuse to acknowledge their reasoning, however, Annie and Eve decide to take matters into their own hands. With a new furry friend in tow, the two begin delving into the world of high-priced players, political aficionados, and more secrets than you could ever have imagined. But if they want to come out of this investigation alive, Annie and Eve will have to get out of the kitchen, before things really begin to heat up.

After reading Miranda Bliss' COOKING UP MURDER, I realized that it was absolutely impossible not to fall in love with the oft-times self-deprecating, narcissistic Annie Capshaw and the bell-of-the-ball, beauty queen Eve DeCateur, and found myself scouring the shelves for MURDER ON THE MENU. I couldn't be happier with the result. MURDER ON THE MENU possesses all of the charm of COOKING UP MURDER, with a few new twists and turns, and a little more insight into what makes Eve and Annie tick. Annie and Eve are such fun, fabulous characters, whose personalities are wonderful contrasts to one another - Eve is carefree and bubbly, while Annie is a nervous worrywart. Together they create a delectable duo whom you can't help but eat up with a spoon. The presence of Jim, and his Scottish roots add a little gritty nature to the storyline; while the whole political, secretive backdrop is a nice touch that schools readers in the way of the world. Bliss does a wonderful job of incorporating facts about running a restaurant into the book, and tying the tale up in a way that leaves you eager to find out what will happen next. Sizzling, spicy, tasty - this is one sequel that will leave you hungry for more!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer