Crime Books

Bettie Orlemann comes from a journalistic family, being the daughter of an editor for a major publisher. She writes a biweekly column for the Delaware Valley News in Frenchtown, New Jersey, and contributes to other weeklies. She is an eclectic person with a background in dancing, medicine, politics, and retail. She is a mother, a grandmother, and presently lives with her animals in the woods in Tinicum Township, Bucks County.

In this debut Hattie Farwell mystery, a family is turned upside down when someone starts murdering its members. Sweet Annie Turner dies when a mad hit and run driver in a dark burgundy Chrysler with smoked windows tries to run down her granddaughter, Anna. A strange voice pretending to be Hattie later entices Anna to drive over when another attempt is made on her life, almost resulting in a second death:

"'Let's make sure you're dead, little girl,' the driver snarled moving as rapidly as possible down the rocky swale, crouching over the still form in the car, hammer poised. Suddenly a ferocious growl startled the attacker, and a huge gray dog rushed through the woods toward the crippled car."

Hattie springs into action when her best friend, Annie, is murdered. She is determined to get to the bottom of the murder and protect her friend's granddaughters from a crazed killer. The family's dysfunction provides the backdrop for a plot that is well conceived and ties up neater than a pin for a great denouement and satisfying conclusion. Hattie Farwell is the quintessential grandmother everyone wishes for, and her dog Wolf provides the heavy guns when called upon the do so. Orlemann is obviously a student of human nature, as the character of narcissistic and witless Alexandra is striking and fleshed out to a nice degree.

Who Killed Annie is a great little mystery to read for exquisite entertainment. It is a logical and interesting tale. The characters spring off of the page, and the read is a fast one. Hattie is a great character who is a down-to-earth strong female figure. She is the guiding force in the story, and the male characters all learn to look to her for support. A wonderful read.

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

I loved Who Killed Annie! It is a real page turner right up to the very surprising ending. I'm looking forward to her next book.

Once you feel attached to the characters, you feel destined to read on as you already know the players and are interested in their outcomes and challenges. This is what I found intriguing about this story, as the characters were entirely relatable.

I found this piece to be very informative and highly interesting. It brings up a topic that has loomed in the shadows of history for hundreds of years....that women of the past were accomplished, that they were, like books all of these years have taught us about men, highly responsible for the cultivation and acceleration of society as a whole. That women didn't just sit by and gather fruit and produce children. Bravo for these truths being shown!

My sister, Donna, of FirstWrites, printed out this story and gave it to me to read while on vacation.  I found this to be a great book with a lot of mystery and suspense along with the fact that it was very well written.  I couldn't put it down and there is nothing I would change.  I loved her characters and the fact that she used the local Bucks County area for her inspiration.

Gave this book as a gift to a child who aspires to become a police officer. He just loved it and keeps it on his nightstand next to his bed so he can read it every night.

My young cousin, whom I'm raising, has wanted to be a police officer since he could talk. After reading THIS book, he wants to be a K-9 Officer. I had to get him a second copy, for him to keep at school. My neighbour owns a day care centre, and has three or four copies for the children; she says that they're fascinated by the book, and it's a great spur to reading.

The photography is outstanding, and Officer Matsik makes for a terrific representative of the Shaker Heights Police Dept. A very positive book, which should be in the library of every child.

This book has given my daughter an understanding of the job I do as a K-9 handler in a way that makes reading fun for her. I have chosen this book for our donations to area school that I visit to enhance their library.

A wonderful `grandfather' book. My younger grandchildren want me to read it over and over. I enjoy the well written story and the photographs are excellent. Actually, all ages can appreciate this quality book.

Enjoyed the book so much that I bought two extra
copies and donated them to my neigbhorhood public
library and elementary school....two places that
always have tight budgets. Buy one for Christmas,
your kids will love you.

Vincent M. Lutterbie is a dentist by profession and a writer by hobby. He has extensive experience with disabled clients, since they make up the majority of his client base. He lives in Missouri with his wife and three children, and the occasional visiting child.

After Coffman was born in Brooklyn to a missing dad and a sorry excuse for a mother. His name was a mistake made by a hasty nurse when his mother said, "let's name him after Bob." After is beginning his career as a private investigator and opens an office at the back of an antique store run by a man who has many irons in the fire. He is staying at a rooming house run by Mother Teresa, who has a cat named Soot who dive-bombs After's room, and who cooks fabulous meals which figure prominently in the tale. After's first case involves a missing person, and within a week of taking a $100 retainer, his client is killed. After is off and running, and of course gets involved with a shady woman named Felicity who quickly ingratiates herself with After and his gang:

"All was fine with our repast. Mother enjoyed having a young lady there, Paul cleaned his glasses to have a better look, then grinned stupidly every time Felicity opened her mouth. Hal was on his best behavior, but I noticed that he managed to sit closest to her. I didn't mind as I sat across from her and studied her closely. Yes, her healthy looks were beginning to appeal to me, I felt myself being reeled in. As for her, all of her conversation was a little on the ditsy side, but delightful. She charmed everyone in the house."

After is an unlikely but endearing hero in this action-packed mystery. The poor guy is constantly being beaten up and attacked, but he has the intelligence and grit to weather his first case. He has no end of fools and con artists to deal with, and he manages to work his way through and make a few friends along the way. AFTER THE FACTS is an entertaining mystery written by a guy who likes food, the underdog, cats, and the girls. Lutterbie does a great job on this premier mystery. He has much to offer and manages to bewitch the reader with a charismatic and breezy writing style. A wonderful first effort!

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

Vincent M. Lutterbie writes a very realistic story about a guy just trying to make a living as a private investigator. He lives in a wonderful rooming house that the reader might want to live in. He cares about the people around him, he gets scared but is able to work things out, and he gets hurt by a relationship gone wrong! This story offers a real cozy feeling but with dangerous twists and turns! I hated to see it end and I hope this is the first of the adventures of "After Coffman"!

I was very satisfied with this book. Not only does the author keep you guessing as you turn each page, but he also keeps you laughing. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. The author's choice of words enable the reader to visualize every single mishap that After falls into. Read it; you'll like it.

I loved this farcical mystery. Great humor and character in this small town story.

If you like mysteries, you will love this one. Lutterbie has the ability to paint a picture of each character and each situation in the readers mind with great detail but keeps things moving along at a fast pace throughout the book. There are no "flat spots" in this novel. Lutterbie is every bit as good as Steven King and Dean Koontz. Hopefully, he will keep producing more quality books in the days ahead. I look forward to his next book with great anticipation.

"I think Al Capone's name was mentioned in every news report today," a reporter once said. This was exactly how Capone liked it, as demonstrated in the biography, Al Capone and His Gang, by Alan MacDonald. I think Al Capone was nicer than many people thought - what do you think? Read this book to form your own opinion on whether Capone belonged in prison. Capone was an infamous gangster who gained fame and fortune and wanted everyone to know. MacDonald clearly portrays Capone in this fast paced book with short chapters, and keeps the book interesting by including Capone's journal entries. Those who enjoy adventure will enjoy this Capone biography. Read this book to learn why the police had trouble convicting Capone of any crimes.

Capone was born in New York, then moved to Chicago, where he completed a lot of his mischief. Most of Capone's life experiences, as covered in this book, took place near his Chicago and Miami homes. Later, Capone was considered the most famous gangster that served time in Alcatraz Federal Prison. This was reinforced as I read about his life of gambling, betting on fixed games, murder, hiring hitmen, and bootlegging. Capone was so powerful that even the police were scared of him!

Al Capone was the main character in this biography about him. Other gangsters (enemies), police (enemies), and important people (sometimes helpful) were also mentioned in the book. Capone was my favorite character in this biography that covered his life history. I was amazed at what Capone got away with, as described throughout the book. He could have been caught many times but police didn't gather much evidence on him. I was more amazed that Capone looked out for less fortunate people, as described on page 161. He handed out $100 bills to the needy and opened a soup pantry. Capone had a nice side for those on his good side!

Reading this book went pretty quick, though it covered Capone's entire life as a gangster. I would recommend this book to any male middle school student. This was a pretty straightforward book, since MacDonald was presenting Capone's life history, and nothing was questionable. There are no other books directly related to this book.

Capone was a gangster who rose from nowhere, achieved financial success, and will never be forgotten!

From the first to last page, this book will keep you readin. Telling the full story of Al Capone, from his birth to his entry into gangs to his rise then fall, and his death. This book also has accutual gangster slang with translations. Also, it uses kid friendly comics, words, and police reports. It also dispells many rumors you may have heard about Al Capone. All in all, a great book. A must buy!

Very good book. I bought it for school because I had to do a report on a biography, and I'm very happy I chose it. It has all the facts you need to give a great presentation on a biography, and it includes lots of fun extras that will make you want to read more!

Al Capone was a real life mob boss from the 1920's and this is his story

from beginning to end. The author describes the man, Chicago, and organized

crime in the 1920's perfectly. It's almost like your with Al Capone on his daily

routs, on the streets and in jail. Money, booze, and women are what gangsters

desire and this is what the book is about.

The book was very written, and is very easy to read. The book seams like it

is at a sixth grade reading level with cartoons and hand written notes said to be

written by Al himself. It was in perfect order so you the reader could under

stand where the story was heading.

This book is a good read for anyone who likes old gangsters, prohibition, and

Organized crime. I liked this book because it wasn't strenuous to read and had

great info. about Al Capone and his gang. I give this book a four star rating.

It's not a five star rating due to the lack of information on his wife and kid.

Al Capone and His Gang by Alan MacDonald is a great book about Al Capone. It describes his life in a comic book way. It also tells about his bootleg career. The quote I like best is, "I love my job,thats what I'm good at," because I don't see how anyone could think killing is fun. This book also reveals Al's secret diary, and it's the number one source for gangster slang. I like this book because the life of Al Capone is really interesting and full of surprises. I recommend this book to teenagers who love biographies that are suspenseful and full of surprises.

I love this series, and it keeps getting better. This time the real hero is Ethan, who creates a tender alliance with another Asperger person to solve the crime. I have worked with these folks as a clinician. Jeff's realistic gentle-handed portrayal of this syndrome, and how a very healthy family works with it, is worth the price. Then add that whacky humor, and a darn good mystery and it's a home run!

Just love how Jeffrey Cohen weaves a complex tale of family, friends and mystery, and makes it all work together. The additional insights (beyond what's in the first two Aaron books) about Asperger's Syndrome really help us understand his relationship with his family and especially his son. The mystery kept me guessing all the way. A real page turner. And hilariously funny at times. More Aaron Tucker please!!

Really well done comic mystery with great gobs of Jewish humor. You'll especially like the take on the holiday season from the Jewish point of view - and it's all too true. In addition we have a good mystery, some fun locals, some real characters and a lot of caring. Jeffrey Cohen has it all in this book, and he deserves to be recognized.

In this book, the plot sings, the characterization is outstanding, and of course the humor is top notch. This book takes all of the entertainment value of the first two Aaron Tucker novels and adds even more suspense and excitement. Involving Aaron's son in the mystery-solving was a stroke of genious. The author at the top of his game with this one. Simply excellent!

Note: You don't have to read this series in order, so jump in here if you can. Once you read it, you'll be sure to go back and get the other two.

This series just gets better. I stumbled upon the first of the series by accident, not knowing about the Asperger's slant and was quite startled to find what appeared to be my own son fictionalized in those pages. Since then, Cohen's writing has become more refined and the family Tucker even more fun to visit. I enjoyed the extended family angle, waiting breathlessly for Aaron to vent his spleen on the intruding (and insensitive) in-laws. Very entertaining. The dialog is mercifully never stilted - a peeve of mine. The addition of more in-depth insight into AS was very welcome; maybe little by little we'll educate the masses concerning "our kids"! The story line has plenty of twists to keep you in the dark and the book is difficult to put down. On the down side, that makes them a very quick read! Keep them coming, Jeff.

When I first picked this book from the library I had two minutes left to pick a book. So, I look on a shelf this was the first book I caught on my eye. When we came back to school I didn't want to read it but once I past that first page I really wanted to read it, because it talks about the issues in my life. Such as, how I would get in trouble because I would pick pocket people.
They shot the guy for a reason. Maracas and Eddie know, as black and white on the streets are about to get a scholarship to a basketball school. They don't have any jobs so they can pay for the basketball camp for they can get accepted to the school, so they started robbing people's cars when they will go in the hardware store. Until one day a guy saw them robbing his car so he ran over there and Eddie pulled out his gun and shot the person. Maracas knew who the person was but just couldn't figure it out at the time. One day when Eddie's family comes over and they are taking the bus then Maracas knew who it was, it was... The next day when they went to school the cops come and arrest them for murder.
I think this book is awesome I recommend this book because it has action cover to cover. My favorite part was when they found out that they had killed the guy, but Eddie's family is on the bus, I like this part because it is intense because you want to know who the person was. I like this book so much I read it 3 times because it relates to the issues in my life. This book says that if you don't have a job than go do things like selling drugs or robbing people and when you do that you go to jail.
I think Paul Volponi is one of the best authors in the world, because he knows how to catch his reader's interest. Also, he doesn't wait to the middle of the book to give you the action part he gives it to you on the second page. I think Paul Volponi does that for he won't boar his readers. It is a really good book for teens.

I was really pulled in by this book and found it a page turner. It's got more than racial themes in it. It's also the story of friendship between boys, it's strengths and limits. Additionally, it's also the story of teenagers making poor choices and suffering the consequences of their actions.

You have two friends who are of different races, Eddie and Marcus, but they have pulled together and are tight friends through high school. Then, they both resent not having enough money for various things, and since the are both great basketball players and practices interfere with work, they decide to do some armed robbery to get some extra cash. They only do three hold ups, but things go wrong, and a gun is fired, and Marcus, the black friend gets arrested.

Eventually, Eddie is also arrested, and he was the one who shot the gun. The rest of the book circles around Marcus, and if he will turn is his friend or not since the police don't have enough evidence about the trigger man.

All of this is well written and fast paced. There is also a little romance between Rose, Eddie's sister, and Marcus.

What I feel keeps this book from being a great book, is the ending, which I will not reveal. I will only write that I think the ending keeps the character of Eddie from fully developing, and maybe that's more true to reality as he is only 17.

As a book of harsh, realistic fiction, I think this book has it nailed!

As a book of lasting, enduring literature, I think this book will be mostly forgotten in ten years and I fault the ending and the editor for letting that happen, because I feel this could have been at least better and a much more meaningful and enduring story.

That said, I do recommend this book and think it would give teen and adults a lot to discuss on a wide variety of themes such as friendship, race, honesty, and the US Judicial system.

This book stands with Children of the River as one of the best adolescent novels I have ever read. I thought about this book for weeks after reading it, and I am now working on getting it placed as required reading in our local school. The story is riveting and would capture the attention of virtually any reader, adolescent or adult.

Here's another book, I wanted to read more...more...more! What great messages the author delivered in the story. Volponi speaks of "black and white" issues, but he also goes deep into the human soul and gives guidance on how to live a content, happy life. This book could be a self-help book on dealing with the "big and small" mistakes made in life, change, stress, and growing up!

As a high school teacher-librarian, I will certainly recommend _Black and White_ to my teen readers as a fabulous read.

There are numerous quotes I admire, but my favorite is: [school office speaking to Marcus mother] "I know he's made some mistakes. But that's what adolescents do. Marcus is the type of young man who's going to learn from what he did wrong. He's going to pick himself back up and succeed. And one day, other kids from this neighborhood are going to look up to him for that." p. 131

The book is open-ended at the end. But that's okay and will leave the reader content. There will be ups and downs after the final page and much food for thought in the reader's imagination.

"Marcs and Eddie are the stars of Long Island City High School's basketball team. Marcs is black and Eddie is white, but they got past all that "racial crap" and have been best friends for years." Quote from Black and White

Marcs and Eddie are going make it to the NBA. Everyone knows it. They have scouts coming to their games to see them play. Both know it will only be a matter of time before they get their big scholarships and then they can go to the pros.

The problem is both boys are from the inner city and have little money. They could work but that would interfere with their practices and games. So, they decide to make some quick cash. Everything is fine until one night when things go horribly wrong. Now one will have to pay for their mistake.

This is an excellent novel that I cannot keep on the shelf. My students love this book. Mr. Volponi does an excellent job of portraying the struggle these young men face. The ending shocked me and when I finished reading the book I couldn't believe what happened. Amazing read. Boys who are into basketball will especially like this novel. However, I think boys and girls who want a solid story with realistic characters will enjoy this book.

Paul Volponi has written two other young adult novels including Rooftop and Rucker Park Setup. His first novel was Rikers, which could appeal to teens due to its topic.

Bloody Point is far from the run-of-the-mill FBI story. With believable characters, fantastic descriptions, and a plot with many unexpected turns, this is a book I truly enjoyed. Inspirational while extremely entertaining, Bloody Point is a book men and women will both enjoy. Well written and highly recommended.

The grieving widow pushing away the people she loves most. The partner that found out you can be healed in more ways than one.

The only thing I found wrong there were a couple of men that were interested in Cassie and you felt that she was on the verge of letting one of them into her life then they were never heard from again in the book. Maybe next book she'll explore the possibility of love again.

I can't wait for the next installment of Cassie & Jake.

This was a great book with a fast moving story. I liked that Cassie had a supportive, involved father who had wisdom to share with her. Cassie worked hard to find answers to her questions, even when it meant putting herself in danger. I had a hard time putting this book down. It is easy reading, and kept my interest. This book dealt well with several topics such as divorce, death, depression, and finding faith.
This story would be appropriate for fifteen year olds and up.

What a joy! Don't you just love it when you "discover" a great new treasure?

If you're looking for a new suspense author, who writes with a solid spiritual thread, you need look no further. Linda White, with her first published novel, will not disappoint. The strength of her research adds a powerful element of believability, and her main character, Cassie McKenna, becomes a woman you will want to hear from again.

I took this book with me on a quick trip to Aspen, along with another "just in case". I didn't need the other one.

If you read this book, you will join me in eagerly waiting for Linda White's next.

Bloody Point is a page turner from the first page. It is a gripping story of intrigue, deceit, lost love, tragedy, with realistic spiritual challenges and blessings. The local history of the Chesapeake Bay along with intricacies of sailing bring a special flavor to the story. Highly recommended to anyone who likes a murder mystery or detective story.

I was barely a teen in the Boston area when The Boston Strangler murders started. Recently DeSalvo's family asked to have the case reopened, no doubt due in part to this book. Their request prompted me to find more info, if any, about this case and I found this book in a library. Could not put it down. Expected the usual fact-packed but dry true crime book. Kelly has not only written a very readable and entertaining book, she has also made her case, namely, that there was more than one "Boston Strangler," and that DeSalvo was not one of them. Who some of the Stranglers might have been makes for a chilling surprise I won't give away here. Also, it provides a fascinating glimpse into the early career of F. Lee Bailey. Wish I could buy this book. It's a keeper.

Susan Kelly is a Boston area author with a deep and extensive knowledge of local police matters. She uses this information to get to the heart of a strange and shocking miscarriage of justice. It's a great book--clearly and vividly written, closely argued, brilliantly researched: an unflinching look at a brutal series of crimes, and a shameful coverup that followed. Anyone interested in true crime or indeed American social history will love this book. Fast-moving and very exciting on all levels.

I, for one, was one of those who thought Albert DeSalvo was guilty. I reached this conclusion after watching the movie many years ago and reading Gerold Frank's book. Over the years, I had heard that Albert may not have been guilty after all. After reading this book, I am convinced that Albert never was the actual Boston Strangler.

Kelly lays out the proof from court transcripts and interviews many of the detectives that originally investigated the case. The evidence she presents is quite convincing that others had firm motives for being the Boston Strangler.

The only bad part of the book, which almost caused me to give up reading it, was Kelly's over-reliance on court transcripts. In some chapters, she goes on and on with quoted court transcripts that become boring to read really quickly! The book would have been much better if she had summarized the proceedings instead on relying on court transcipts.

I read this book several years ago--and I am shocked to see it is no longer available. This is the definitive examination of the case: author Kelly looks at all the evidence, the sensationalism, and DeSalvo himself, with a scholar's objective eye. Her conclusions are disturbing and cannot be ignored. If you want to have a genuine sense of the terror in Boston from those days, this is the book. Some publisher ought to put this book out and give it the attention it so deserves.

I have just acquired a copy of this book from a second-hand bookseller, and am astonished to find that it's out of print and there has apparently never been a paperback edition. I followed the Strangler case as each new murder was reported in the UK press, and it remains the archetypal horror story for me because it proves conclusively that one isn't safe even (above all) at home. I also read Gerold Frank's account of the affair very soon after it was published in the UK and re-read it last year; I have the "confessions of the Boston Strangler" in French translation.I have never been even half-way convinced that DeSalvo was guilty, and I always doubted that only one killer was involved. (The "psychological explanation" cited by Frank as to why the killer suddenly switched from older to younger women struck me as perfectly ludicrous 30 years ago, and many recent books on profiling have merely strengthened this view).

It would be easy enough to write a book which simply challenged the official solution, but that is not what Susan Kelly does. She provides overwhelming evidence not only to demolish it, but also to explain how and why it came about in the first place. This is a book with an index, a bibliography, acknowledgments which help the reader by indicating the author's sources (most acknowledgments seem only to explain who made the coffee and watered the plants while a book was being written) and careful indications of when exact quotations from transcripts are being used. It assumes no previous knowledge of the case or the "cast", and its procedural details are much clearer than Frank's. Also, Susan Kelly is literate, and she has a dry, ironic sense of humour.

I checked the book's listing in Amazon because I wanted to know what other people thought of it. I had hoped that, unbeknown to me, the Boston Strangler affair had been rewritten and DeSalvo belatedly exonerated. Apparently this is not so. I would be interested to know if anyone (apart perhaps from F. Lee Bailey, Esq.) has challenged Kelly's arguments and, if so, on what basis - though I doubt whether that could be done. If it can't, I hope the book will soon be reissued and properly publicised. It would also be interesting to have someone re-open the only murder case in which DeSalvo was certainly involved - his own.

OK, so you don't know who Johnny Stompanato was, or how he died (mobster; stabbed to death by Lana Turner's daughter in Hollywood in the 50's). And you never had the guilty pleasure of opening the glossy pages of Life Magazine back then to see glamourous black and white photos of movie stars, or the lurid pools of black blood seeping from under the corpse of a murdered gangster, also to be found in the pages of the same "family" magazine.

Nevertheless, unsolved Hollywood crimes still seem to fascinate, and surely you've seen or heard about either Josh Hartnett's "Black Dahlia," or Ben Affleck's "Hollywoodland," both of which came out in 2006, and which deal with two such cases.

Josh Lanyon brings all of this back to life wonderfully in "Cards on the Table." His hero, Tim North, is a present-day investigative reporter writing a book about the unsolved murder of a sexy 50's starlet. To use the vernacular of the noir movie posters of the day, there's "Mystery! Suspense! Danger! Action! Romance! " and plenty of it!

Lanyon's mastery of the noir narrative style is complete, and he scatters his clues and diversions with tricky skill: even his red-herrings have red-herrings. And there's a mystery about his hero too, which when revealed may surprise you if you haven't been paying attention to the hints Lanyon drops along the way.

There's plenty of suspense, and romance: will Lanyon's hero survive the attacks of a mob chief's thug ? Will he get over himself and finally accept the love he is offered by the handsome police detective who lives in the apartment upstairs? Read "Cards on the Table," and find out. You'll enjoy the ride.

PS: And thanks to Josh, I learned a new word: heterochromia - cool.

I'm a long-time Josh Lanyon fan so I couldn't wait until this book was released. The other reviewers do a great job describing the plot, so I won't bother with a recap. I'll just say that "Cards on the Table" was an engrossing read.

Lanyon definitely has a thing for vulnerable male leads and instead of this pattern being predictable and a little boring, he uses it to provide interesting plot movement, as well as ratcheting up the sexual tension. In this time of "erotica" overload where everyone and their mother seems to be writing plotted erotic genre fiction, Lanyon stands out as someone who leaves you wanting more instead of less. I can't think of a higher accolade.

I've seen Sarah Black's work on some ebook websites, but for some reason her books never really appealed to me so I've always passed on buying them. I was really pleasantly surprised by "Murder at the Heartbreak Hotel." The "Northern Exposure-esque" setting was great, the mystery was pretty interesting, but the relationships between the ensemble cast are what set this story apart. And I loved all of the cooking details. I promptly went and bought most of her other books and enjoyed them as well.

I agree with the other reviewers-Partners is a very good read. My favorite story was Josh Lanyons. Tim and Jack had such chemistry. I was surprised that they could mean so much to me in such a short story but Tim's character was so wonderfully done. I really wished that there was another story about them.
Sarah Black's story was also well done. I also think her characters were well developed.
The mysteries were not too hard to figure out but the romance in both stories were wonderful.
I think the book was well worth the price. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

I love both writers' writings and have been looking forward to this one. Both stories meet my expectation and much more.
The plots are tightly paced, interesting with breathtaking moments, the murder mysteries intriguing and the settings very unique. But it is the amazingly well developed characters and their emotional and heartfelt romance which held me captive. Both stories might just be novellas but they are so well written that the characters easily grow on you.

I love Josh's style and his vulnerable heroes. Tim is such an endearing person and Jack is one likable cop. Their confrontations, sweet make-ups are so well expressed and their final scene really gets to me. This couple certainly brings to mind Adrien and Jake. However Tim's and Jack's love story is so much more satisfying, at this point anyway :).

I find Sarah's story sad because of the murder victim. Her side characters are quirky and charming while both Peter and Sebastian are such rarities. Peter and his cooking is adorable and who could resist Sebastian, a mountain of a man, all out to win back his man.

So glad Josh and Sarah have created this series and looking forward to the next 3 volumes in the horizon. A winner for mlrpress website, with its great M/M romance writers and titles.

Like another reviewer, I bought this because I was already a Josh Lanyon fan. I knew I would love his story - and I wasn't disappointed! Luckily, I was equally satisfied by Sarah Black's half of the book. They both create great characters, a sweet love story, and a compelling murder mystery. I could easily revisit these characters in future stories but I'm just as happy to follow the writers wherever they want to go. I now plan to make my way through everything Sarah's written so far & I can't wait to read the next three books in this series (see release dates at mlrpress.com).

I read my first true-crime book as a teenager, and it was a hard act to follow--Helter Skelter. I can honestly say that Burned lived up to all my lofty expectations. Jana Cone gives her readers just the right blend of a finely detailed factual account of the crime, investigation, and trial, combined with an intimate look at the lives and histories of all the key players in the case. And since Ms. Cone is from Georgia herself, I didn't have to suffer through the stereotypical caricatures Southerners so often become in the hands of journalists not lucky enough to be born south of the Mason-Dixon line. My only complaint is that I didn't like the ending, but since this is a true story, that's not the author's fault. Jana Cone is definitely one of those authors whose next books I will eagerly await and buy as soon as they're available.

This true story is faster moving and more gripping than most fiction. The author's research is daunting, and she describes real-life events with a sense of drama that makes BURNED a fascinating read.

Author Jana Cone has chronicled a puzzling murder case in which the outcome of the trial was questioned and a life in the balance. Cone did an exceptional job of writing the facts in the case of a woman accused of killing her mother; and made it readable.It is one thing to report a high profile murder case and another to make it read like a novel. Outstanding.

I read Burned after hearing Jana Cone speak at a local civic club. I started reading about 2:30 p.m. and finished it in eight hours. I couldn't put it down. Since I live in Omega and know many of the ones involved (though not all), I was particularly interested to see how Jana developed the town and the principals. Omega experienced all the angst and anger that Jana describes. Her reporting skills are formidable, and her storytelling straightforward. She moves the story through intricate investigative techniques and legal maneuvering, somehow keeping the reader enthralled. The reader is left to draw his own conclusions, but with all the facts in front of him, he can feel that he knows the truth. I know from Jana's past newspaper career that she is a daggum good reporter. I just didn't know how good.

"Burned" by Jana Cone is a true crime story that will rock you to the very tip of your toes. It is obvious this story took many, many hours of detailed research. The author has a knack for presenting dry facts in such a way as to make the reader sit on the edge of his seat, turning pages, eager to discover more.
Each person in this fascinating story is introduced in such a way you feel like you know them; the good, the bad and the ugly; the weak and the strong.
This is not a fun type, feel good story. It is a raw slice of real life. I would not give this book a five star rating; it merits at least ten stars! Jane Cone is a master of her craft. Hope to read more from this fine author.