WHEN THE HOUSE BURNS--Review

WHEN THE HOUSE BURNS

by Priscilla Paton

ISBN: 978-1-68492-081-5

copyright 2023, released by

Coffeetown Press 

 Deb Metzger is a large active police detective. She partnered in a Twin Cities unit called the G-Met with detective Erik Jansson. The case Ms Metzger leads involves the death of a a Realtor estranged from her husband. It becomes clear from the outset the adulterous  victim has been murdered and there are several possible perpetrators. Almost immediately readers will be drawn into a swamp of characters all with possible motives.  Metzger and Jansson breathe frustration as the torn web of evidence that hangs over the murder tangles the duo in cul de sacs and dead ends. An encampment of homeless transients further complicates the case but provides a rich source of unusual actions and detection. Nicely organized and richly described, this is not a novel for casual reading. It requires attention and is rewarding with a deeply satisfying sense of place, character and motivations.

BRAKING POINTS--Review

Braking Points

by Tammy Kaehler

ISBN 978-1-4642-0099-1

A 2013 release from Poisoned Pen Press.

 For any reader of crime fiction  also interested in automobile racing here is a dandy novel.  It is the second Kate Reilly racing story. Fans can learn a whole lot of inside stuff about car racing--the book even contains simple diagrams of some of the hilly tracks where the action occurs. The author is careful to restrict her explanations of racing techniques and technology tightly to the plot. And while the intensity of the narrative is never lost, the author is careful to move the story in time to the roaring cars speeding around the non-oval tracks. 

Kate Reilly is one of a few female drivers in the sport and she enjoys an equal position within the team for whom she drives, if not the entire population of competitive auto racing.  In  an accident judged by many to be her fault, she wrecks her car racing in Wisconsin and seriously injures one of the male stars of the sport. Even before track officials complete their study and evaluation of the accident, Reilly is the target of Internet and other media attacks. So the story follows her attempts to regain a positive reputation as an award-winning driver who can withstand intense negativism from fans, a secret attempt to permanently drive her from the sport and even cause her serious injury or death.

The descriptive scenes with Kate driving in races are among some of the the best high-risk, high energy racing scenes I have ever read. The author is really good at these descriptions.  The story line as Kate works to repair her reputation and discover who the saboteur is and his or her motivation is also very well done and seriously compelling. For readers  not particularly keen on auto racing, the human elements are just as engaging. Well conceive, well formed and very well written. I recommend this story.

 

THE GOOD AND THE DEAD--Review

The Good and The Dead

by Seymour Shubin

ISBN: 1-885173-82-2

A Write Way Publishing release in 2000

A fine, dark, finely constructed murder mystery with a Prologue that should be carefully read.
Ben Newman is a crime writer. He writes for a publisher of multiple true crime and police/detective  magazines.When the story begins, Newman is waiting for one of his many police contacts, a detective who has often brought Newman into the developments of murder and other crime investigations in their city.  The detective, one of several police contacts Newman has carefully developed to feed him sometimes private and elaborate details of cases they are working on so that Newman can continue to make his living as a free lance contributor to several of his New York publisher's true crime and police procedural periodicals.It's a good if often pressurized existence. Newman's life is about to be turned sideways. A deeply disturbing phone call from his brother reveals his sister-in-law has died suddenly under suspicious conditions and his brother may fall under suspicion.  

Ben goes immediately home to his brother to support him in the ensuing investigation and that's when a series of violent murders befall the citizens of the city, more and more of whom are known and even linked to Newman himself. He begins a deep dive into his own history parallel to the work of the police, even as he has to deal with increasing suspicion aimed at his brother. For the first time in his life Ben Newman must use the techniques and attitudes he has learned as a true crime writer working closely with law enforcement to solve a series of murders that seem to emotionally entangle him more and more.

The scenes are artfully drawn, the language precise and evocative, descriptions well-drawn so that most readers, regardless of the kind of early schooling they participated in, vital to the narrative, will find themselves recalling, remembering and comparing their own youth. An excellently devised and constructed if occasionally upsetting novel with long reality that is more than well worth the read.

DEADLY YELLOWSTONE--Review

DEADLY YELLOWSTONE:

 a 13 author anthology  

ISBN: 978-1-960556-04-2:

 a 2024 Thalia Press release: 

 One is never certain when choosing an anthology to read, what will be found inside the covers. In this case knowledge of its editor helped a good deal, and expectations were born out. Except. Conclusions are sometimes abrupt. In each of the thirteen stories the development, writing, characters and scenes are all faithfully and carefully developed. Narrative pace never flags and readers will be drawn in,even those or perhaps especially readers with no personal experience of this grand and spectacular national park. Apart from the solid enjoyment readers will get, the stories provide some fascinating insights through the closed doors of the institutional operation. But make no mistake, these are fine, carefully constructed tales that all use Yellowstone and its inhabitants, human and animal in creative, if thoughtful and murderous ways. An eminently satisfying anthology.

A MURDER OF CROWS-- review

A MURDER OF CROWS 

 by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett

  ISBN: 978-147-1412424 

A 2022 release from Embla Books 

 Billed as a cosy mystery, this UK crime novel is far more complex and mysterious than the typical cozy. Readers can acquire clues to the depth and breadth of the story by looking at the map in the front of the printed edition of the novel. Principal character is Dr. Nell Ward, a licensed, educated and trained ecologist. In the UK that's an important job requiring a substantial scientific education and a willingness to penetrate grubby situtions populated by nasty lives of bats, insects and other critters, often dismissed out of hand by developers and most other humans. Habitat research surveys are legally rquired in new development on previously existing farms and plantations. Such surveys have financial implications and Dr. Ward is an ecologist who considers the job of vital importance to the environment. We find her searching through brambles and a long-closed, abanoned tunnel at Manor House Farm where she becomes emeshed in a murder investigation. In fact, she becomes suspect, not illogically, due to certain indiscretions in her past which give any police team investigating the murder, pause. Dr. Nell Ward is a woman of talent, intelligence and conviction who carries a checkered past. Protecting her reputation as a lady, helping to preserve bat and critter habitat and moving forward with her nascent love life in the company of fellow scienctists and college buddies, while helping solve the murder, moves this rich and entertining novel forward, if not always at the best pace. This is, however, a well-plotted, incident-rich story following several fascinating characters. If the pace slows occasionally, the narrtive is bolstered by the main narrative and the work of Dr. Nell Ward and her scientific coleagues. Dr. Ward is a modern woman well worth appreciation.

THE SILENCE OF THE LOONS--Commentary

THE SILENCE OF THE LOONS ISBN: 1-932472-36-3 A 2005 release from Nodin Press Frankly, I have personal interest in this collection of short stories from Minnesota authors. One of the thirteen tales of mystery is one I wrote. Minnesota is an active place with many well-known and talented writers and my fellow members of the Minnesota Crime Wave decided to bring more of them to public awaareness. Our local publisher agreed. So, I will not offer a critical assessment of the stories because of my apparent prejudice. I do however want to note that several well-regarded authors, including Janet Rudolph and Laura Lippman have contributed accolades for the stories herein contained. Thirteen tales of mystery all based in a limited environment. Yes, when we invited Minnesota authors to submit we required tales of murder, mystery and crime set, of course in Minnesota. But we also set another requirement. We created a list of eight clues or elements and we required the writers to use at least four of the eight clues or elements in their story. The creative minds of our author friends were immediately engaged and we were intrigued. The result was this anthology of Minnesota mysteries. The collection is easily and widely available. And, oh yes, here are the required Clues: A headless barbie doll; a page torn from a dictionary; footprints in the snow; the sound of a train whistle; a temporary tattoo; the scent of Obsession; a wig; a soiled ballet slipper.

THE INTRUDER -- Review

THE INTRUDER by Freida McFadden A Poisoned Pen release, 2025 Cashiered teacher Casey is living her current life in an isolated cabin somewhere on the fringes of society. Readers unfamiliar with this author cn get a strong and accurate sense of the author's style and of Casey by reading the first and second paragraphs of the novel. A storm is brewing and the author adroitly uses it as a motivting forces to introduce other characters an other lives. This novel, mysterious, long-reaching, moody and extremely well written quickly draws readers into the narrator's life, both as a child and an adult. It is almost impossible to discuss th novl without revealing the book's secrets. That would be unfair to the reader. Solet this reviewer end by stating this is a thoughtful, careful dramatic and gripping story.