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Crime & mystery | - 111 items found in your search |
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Allan, Barbara Antiques Roadkill: A Trash 'n' Treasures Mystery
New York Kensington Books August 1, 2006 0758211910 / 9780758211910 Hardcover
From the Publisher&newline;Determined to make a new start in her quaint hometown on the banks of the Mississippi, Brandy Borne never dreams she'll become the prime suspect in a murder case.&newline;&newline;&newline;Moving back in with her eccentric, larger-than-life mother, Brandy Borne finds small-town Serenity anything but serene. It seems an unscrupulous antiques dealer has swindled Vivian out of the family's heirlooms. But when he is found run over in a country lane, Brandy becomes Murder Suspect Number One-with her mother coming in a very close second.&newline;&newline;&newline;The list of other suspects is impressive-the victim's business seems to have been based on bilking seniors out of their possessions. And when the Borne &doublequote;girls&doublequote; uncover a few very unsavory Serenity secrets, they become targets for a murderer whose favorite hobby seems to be collecting victims.&newline;&newline;&newline;Don't miss Brandy Borne's tips on antiques!&newline;&newline;&newline;Publishers Weekly&newline;In this pseudonymous series debut, a run-of-the-mill cozy by the husband-and-wife team of Barbara Collins (Too Many Tomcats) and Max Allan Collins (True Detective), newly divorced Brandy Borne, who's on an antidepressant, returns home to Serenity, a little town on the Mississippi River, and to her slightly deranged mother, Vivian, who's also on meds. To Brandy's horror, Vivian has sold their antique furniture to an unscrupulous dealer, Clint Carson. Since the Bornes weren't the only ones this swindler has scammed, it's no surprise when Carson gets his comeuppance-run over on a road near his farmhouse. More bizarre accidents and violence follow. Humor partly redeems a plot that suffers from too many digressions and extraneous details. The authors also collaborated on the novel Bombshell (2005). (Aug.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information. 4.0 Stars
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Apodaca, Jennifer Dying To Meet You: A Samantha Shaw Mystery
New York Kensington May 1, 2003 0758200749 / 9780758200747 Hardcover
Publishers Weekly&newline;Fans of Apodaca's first mystery to feature Samantha Shaw, Dating Can Be Murder (2002), rejoice. The owner of Heart Mates dating service and single mother of two is back for more amateur sleuthing in the small town of Lake Elsinore, Calif. To promote her business, Sam hires former Heart Mates client and graphic artist Faye Miller to design a brochure. But when Sam stops by the motel where Faye is temporarily residing (after leaving her husband), Sam finds Faye dead at her computer table, the &doublequote;glossy brochure stuck up like a flag in her loose fingers.&doublequote; The victim's meek and mild estranged husband emerges as the main suspect, but the more Sam delves into Faye's dating history the more complicated the murder investigation becomes. A newspaper campaign against her dating service doesn't help matters, nor does she entirely welcome the assistance of gorgeous hunk and ex-cop Gabe Pulizzi. Sam bumbles along good-humoredly and determinedly, until the plot reaches its knock-down, smashing climax. (May 6) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.&newline;&newline;Kirkus Reviews&newline;One corpse is excusable, but two will definitely get you on the wrong side of the law. So when reformed soccer mom Samantha Shaw finds her protégé Faye Miller strangled in room 120 of the Night Haven Motel, dishy Detective Logan Vance tells her that even though she managed to solve her late husband Trent's murder and to trace the source of the drug money some thugs thought he might have stashed somewhere (Dating Can Be Murder, 2002), this time she absolutely, positively has to leave the investigation to the authorities. But Vance's firm jaw and chiseled chest are wasted on Sam, who has ultrasexy p.i. Gabe Pulizzi sneaking up on her in the shower. Besides, Faye's computer-nerd husband Adam practically begs Sam to prove him innocent of the murder by next Saturday so that he can attend Faye's funeral without getting busted. It's clear that she's going to ignore Vance, if only to disprove the local newspaper's suggestion that Faye met her killer through Heart Mates, Sam's dating service. Using a homeless kitten as a pretext, Sam confronts Jim Ponn, the printer who was Faye's first Heart Mates matchup, and coffee shop owner Dominic Danger, her second and last date. But when a mysterious SUV tries to muscle her T-Bird off the road, Sam realizes that she may be facing a killer even her leather halter-top can't distract. Helter-skelter plotting and frequent random rehashing of old business get in the way of what might have been a pretty decent mystery. 4.5 Stars
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Ashley, Mike The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Modern Crime Fiction
Running Press May 10, 2002 0786710063 / 9780786710065 Paperback
From the Publisher&newline;&newline;&newline;Never before has there been a comprehensive, inexpensive reference guide and overview to the genre of crime fiction like The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Crime Fiction. Veteran editor Mike Ashley's historical introduction gives an overview of the crime genre, showing the background and development of crime fiction from the earliest days with Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler through to the modern exponents of the craft such as Elmore Leonard and Ian Rankin. His A to Z covers five hundred entries on the major writers in the crime fiction field, from Edward S. Aarons to Mark Zubro, from the cult favorites to the best known, including Marjorie Allingham, Patricia Cornwell, Colin Dexter, Jim Thompson, and Minette Walters. The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Crime Fiction packs more information into its author entries than more expensive hardcover reference works. Each entry gives a brief biographical background with highlights for the cross-referenced key works, provides a full bibliography, and notes significant films/series adapted from their works. There are also added bonuses of a crime fiction glossary that defines the genre's special terms and expressions, such as &doublequote;hardboiled,&doublequote; &doublequote;impossible crime,&doublequote; and &doublequote;police procedural&doublequote; and four appendices covering key characters, key books and magazines, key films and TV series, and awards and award winners, including the Edgar Awards, the Dagger Awards, the Shamus Awards, and other important awards. Crime fiction buffs, mystery booksellers, and anyone interested in crime fiction will find The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Crime Fiction to be an indispensable reference and an unbeatable bargain.&newline;&newline;&newline;Publishers Weekly&newline;Mammoth series regular Mike Ashley (The Mammoth Book of Historical Whodunits, etc.) returns with his latest crime reference doorstopper, The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Crime Fiction. &doublequote;From cozies to noir,&doublequote; from Harold Adams to Mark Richard Zubro and from Alfred Hitchcock Presents to Year of the Dragon, Ashley compiles clear, educational entries for the felony buff, including a guide to Internet sites and an index of key sleuths and bad guys across the decades. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.&newline;&newline;Library Journal&newline;Compiled for crime buffs by a veteran of numerous Mammoth titles, this hefty A-to-Z guide profiles 500 modern crime-fiction authors and 300 television series and major films in two sections. In his introduction, Ashley defines crime fiction as the breaking and enforcing of law, limits the scope to the post-World War II era, and outlines the development of the genre. The parameters are broadly designated to encompass, among others, legal thrillers, historical mysteries, suspense and noir, fun and games or puzzle mysteries, traditional cozies or mysteries, and the fiction of private investigators, police detectives, and gangsters and villains. Espionage, spy, supernatural, and horror fiction are excluded. Although the work is comprehensive, it is not all-inclusive, as selection is based on popularity and influence as well as originality and creativity. The entries, organized to provide quick, easy access, vary in length from one-half to one or two pages. Each author entry provides a brief, analytic biography, followed by the standard data: name (with cross references to pennames); birth and death dates; nationality; novels; awards, web sites, and bibliographies, if any; similar writers; and final facts or summary statements. For TV series and film entries, concise synopses follow the year of release, country of origin, length in minutes, and producers, directors, writers, and leading actors. This source does not offer the in-depth criticism provided by Frank N. Magill's Critical Survey of Mystery and Detective Fiction or Hans Bertens's and Theo D'haen's Contemporary American Crime Fiction. Nevertheless, it is an inexpensive resource that offers concise, up-to-date ready-reference data and analysis designed for the purpose of readers' advisory. Recommended for literary collections. Marilyn Rosenthal, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY Copyright 20 4.5 Stars
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Bailey, Robert Private Heat
New York M. Evans and Company, Inc. February 25, 2002 0871319705 / 9780871319708 Hardcover
From the Publisher&newline;The first in the Art Hardin Mystery series is now available in paperback! Private detective and retired colonel Art Hardin is approached about a job protecting a woman from her soon-to-be ex-husband. But when the ex-husband is found murdered, the niece attempts suicide, and Hardin is brought in for the crime, it's no longer a case he's willing to walk away from--even if he could.&newline;&newline;Publishers Weekly&newline;While this debut novel, winner of the First Coast Writers Festival's Josiah W. Bancroft Jr. Award, has its faults, it deserves praise for sheer action and suspense. PI Hardin, a retired counter intelligence officer, is asked by a prominent Grand Rapids, Mich., lawyer to protect his niece from her estranged police officer husband, who is likely to beat her up on sight. The husband turns out to be the least of Hardin's worries, as the plot immediately becomes increasingly violent and complex, requiring one to pay close attention to who did what to whom and why or be lost forever. Bailey has a good sassy sense of humor. He also has a peculiar vernacular of his own. For instance, in a scene in which two characters smoke, the author writes, &doublequote;He started plumbing his costume for a cigarette.&doublequote; Plumbing? His &doublequote;costume&doublequote; is a pair of overalls. A few lines later: &doublequote;I took a long pull on my smoke, extracted it from my face, and looked out over the river.&doublequote; Now, for a bit of local color: &doublequote;Popsicle sticks weathered to gray and the silver pull tabs from beverage cans littered the ground.&doublequote; Pull tabs on the ground? This detail would seem to set the action a generation or so ago, but in fact period and, for that matter, place are irrelevant in this hard-boiled homage, in which the villains get stacked up like cordwood. Bailey's prose can be eccentric, but there's no denying his narrative drive, which keeps the reader moving right along until the last page. Agent, Andrew Zack. (Feb. 13) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.&newline;&newline;Library Journal&newline;Private detective Art Hardin reluctantly serves as &doublequote;minder&doublequote; for a high-class lawyer's niece, who plans to have the abusive cop she's divorcing served with a restraining order. Coincidentally, she may be a material witness in the murder of her boss/lover and the disappearance of millions of dollars. Well-focused episodes feature corrupt cops; the smart-ass niece; her hulking, drug-addicted, and soon-to-be murdered ex-husband; and the opinionated, almost-framed &doublequote;hero.&doublequote; Clever plotting, crisp prose, and thrilling action commend this to all collections. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information. 5.0 Stars
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Baldacci, David Total Control
Vision December 1, 1997 0446604844 / 9780446604840 Mass Market Paperback
From the Publisher&newline;Sidney Archer thought she had the perfect life: a loving husband, an adorable baby daughter, and a great career as a senior partner in a major Washington law firm. But when her husband is killed in a plane crash, her whole world begins to disintegrate. The FBI believes her husband is responsible for the bombing -- and that he may still be alive!&newline;&newline;Library Journal&newline;With sales of his first novel, Absolute Power (LJ 11/15/95), topping 300,000 copies and a movie version scheduled for release in spring 1997, Baldacci is living high on the hog. In this second effort, a woman seeks the truth about her husband's death in a plane crash. 3.5 Stars
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Bernhardt, William Blind Justice
New York Ballantine Books August 23, 1992 0345374835 / 9780345374837 Mass Market Paperback
From the Publisher&newline;&newline;&newline;Out of corporate life and on his own, lawyer Ben Kincaid sees the seamy side of the law every day. There's no glamour and little reward when it comes to defending the lowlifes who beat down his door. But when a friend is set up for murder, Ben has no choice but to enter the world of hardball litigation and face a judge who despises him in a trial he is guaranteed to lose.&newline;&newline;BLIND JUSTICE is a riveting, emotion-packed thriller in which guilt and innocence remain obscure and justice is a matter of opinion.&newline;&newline;Publishers Weekly&newline;Lawyer Ben Kincaid has been fired from Tulsa's toniest law firm and is out on his own on the wrong side of town. His clients pay him with live chickens, and a divorce client's ex-husband threatens him with a gun that shoots a flag saying ``Boom.'' Into this lighthearted milieu falls Christina McCall, an old friend, ace legal assistant at Ben's former firm and prime suspect in the gruesome murder of Tony Lombardi, her ex-client and a suspected mob drug-runner. Everything is stacked against Ben and Christina in this courtroom mystery: the presiding judge is Ben's exceptionally unfriendly ex-boss, and the FBI agents in charge of the case are willing to use extra-legal means to obtain the evidence to convict Christina. Lawyer Bernhardt ( Primary Justice ) leavens this workmanlike drama with a variety of interesting characters--including Ben's pawnbroker neighbor who sends him dead gophers in the mail--but can't seem to get the mix of drama and humor quite right. We're convinced of Christina's innocence from the start, and that significantly reduces the tension. (Oct.) 4.5 Stars
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Brand, Christianna Death in High Heels
Carroll & Graf February 12, 1996 0786703369 / 9780786703364 Paperback
From the Publisher&newline;&newline;&newline;When Scotland Yard's young Mr. Charlesworth calls at Christophe et Cie about a murder, he finds five charming young women-all pretty, all suspects, all ready to obstruct his investigations. He would be hard pressed to say which causes more problems-when there is a second murder, or when he falls in love with the main suspect. 4.0 Stars
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Braun, Lilian Jackson The Cat Who Played Brahms
New York, NY Jove June 1, 1987 0515090506 / 9780515090505 Paperback
From the Publisher&newline;Is it just a cas of summertime blues or a full-blown career crisis? Newspaper reporter Jim Qwilleran isn't sure, but he's hoping a few days in the country will help him sort out his life.&newline;&newline;With cats Koko and Yum Yum for company, Qwilleran heads for a cabin owned by a longtime family friend, &doublequote;Aunt Fanny.&doublequote; But from the moment he arrives, things turn strange. Eerie footsteps cross the roof at midnight. Local townsfolk become oddly secretive. And then, while fishing, Qwilleran hooks on to a murder mystery. Soon Qwilleran enters into a game of cat and mouse with the killer, while Koko develops a sudden and uncanny fondness for classical music... 4.5 Stars
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Brown, Dan Deception Point
Atria September 2, 2003 0743490304 / 9780743490306 Hardcover
From the Publisher&newline;&newline;&newline;A shocking scientific discovery. A conspiracy of staggering brilliance. A thriller unlike any you've ever read....&newline;&newline;When a NASA satellite discovers an astonishingly rare object buried deep in the Arctic ice, the floundering space agency proclaims a much-needed victory - a victory with profound implications for NASA policy and the impending presidential election. To verify the authenticity of the find, the White House calls upon the skills of intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton. Accompanied by a team of experts, including the charismatic scholar Michael Tolland, Rachel travels to the Arctic and uncovers the unthinkable: evidence of scientific trickery - a bold deception that threatens to plunge the world into controversy. But before she can warn the president, Rachel and Michael are ambushed by a team of assassins. Fleeing for their lives across a desolate and lethal landscape, their only hope for survival is to discover who is behind this masterful plot. The truth, they will learn, is the most shocking deception of all.&newline;&newline;&newline;Publishers Weekly&newline;Struggling to rebound from a series of embarrassing blunders that have jeopardized its political life at the start of this lively thriller, NASA makes an astounding discovery: there is a meteor embedded deep within the arctic ice. And it isn't just any meteor. Inside the huge rock, which crashed to earth in 1716, are fossils of giant insects proof of extraterrestrial life. Yet, given NASA's slipping reputation, the question arises: Is the meteor real or a fake? That uncertainty dogs NASA and its supporters in Brown's latest page-flipper, a finely polished amalgam of action and intrigue. Trying to determine the truth are intelligence agent Rachel Sexton and popular oceanographer Michael Tolland, both among the first to suspect something is amiss when the meteor is pulled from the ice. Their doubts quickly make them the targets of a mysterious death squad controlled by someone or something that doesn't want the public to hear the meteor may be a fraud. Together, Sexton and Tolland scramble across arctic glaciers, take refuge on ice floes, are rescued by a nuclear submarine, then find themselves trapped aboard a small research vessel off the coast of New Jersey. All the while, the nation's capital is buzzing as to whether NASA has engaged in deception. Or is NASA just a dupe for aerospace companies that have long wanted a bigger share of space contracts? Brown (Angels & Demons) moves into new territory with his latest. It's an excellent thriller a big yet believable story unfolding at breakneck pace, with convincing settings and just the right blend of likable and hateful characters. He's also done his research, folding in sophisticated scientific and military details that make his plot farmore fulfilling than the norm. (Nov.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.&newline;&newline;Library Journal&newline;In the midst of a particularly nasty presidential campaign, a discovery is made in the Arctic wilderness that could turn the tide of the election and forever change the course of history. President Zachary Herney is a decent politician who unfortunately seems to have channeled the spirit of Warren Harding and seeks advice in selecting his advisors. When notified of the discovery, Zachary sees a chance to get his reelection campaign back on track and asks a National Reconnaissance Office spook to check into the claims. It just so happens she is the daughter of Zachary's opponent, a sleaze ball who is raking NASA over the coals for the billions it spends on often failed missions. There's intrigue aplenty, both in the Arctic and in Washington, and Brown (The DaVinci Code) does not disappoint with this genuine page-turner. Reader Richard Poe excellently captures the tension, suspense, and terror with his well-modulated voice. He infuses all of the characters with a distinct personality. Essential for all libraries.-Joseph L. Carlson, Allan Hancock Coll., Lompoc, CA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.&newline;&newline;Kirkus Reviews&newline;A mostly tedious third technothriller from the author of Angels and 3.5 Stars
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Brown, Rita Mae Murder at Monticello
Bantam September 1, 1995 0553572350 / 9780553572353 Mass Market Paperback
From the Publisher&newline;Mrs. Murphy digs into Virginia history-and gets her paws on a killer.&newline;&newline;The most popular citizen of Virginia has been dead for nearly 170 years. That hasn't stopped the good people of tiny Crozet, Virginia, from taking pride in every aspect of Thomas Jefferson's life. But when an archaeological dig of the slave quarters at Jefferson's home, Monticello, uncovers a shocking secret, emotions in Crozet run high-dangerously high.&newline;&newline;The stunning discovery at Monticello hints a hidden passions and age-old scandals. As postmistress Mary Minor &doublequote;Harry&doublequote; Haristeen and some of Crozet's Very Best People try to learn the identity of a centuries-old skeleton-and the reason behind the murder-Harry's tiger cat, Mrs. Murphy, and her canine and feline friends attempt to sniff out a modern-day killer. Mrs. Murphy and corgi Tee Tucker will stick their paws into the darker mysteries of human nature to solve murders old and new-before curiosity can kill the cat-and Harry Haristeen.&newline;&newline;Publishers Weekly&newline;Ailurophiles will purr as the inimitable Sneaky Pie Brown and her human coauthor, Rita Mae, return in their third adventure (after Rest in Pieces). Drawing deftly on archeological investigations at Thomas Jefferson's beloved Monticello, the Browns open with the discovery of the remains of a well-to-do Caucasian male, dated to 1803, beneath the hearth of a slave's cabin. Mary Minor (``Harry'') Haristeen, postmistress of nearby Crozet, Va., and other friends of Monticello search for the man's identity in historical and genealogical papers, unaware that their investigations will bring them perilously close to a modern secret so closely guarded that someone has already killed to protect it. The animals, as usual, crack the case. Mrs. Murphy, a gray tiger, teams up with Welsh corgi Tee Tucker, fat cat Pewter and her ex-mate, tomcat Paddy Murphy, to bring to light a set of long lost journals linking past and present. Once again, Mrs. Murphy has the last word on the pathetic human condition. ``You know, humans believe in things that aren't real. We don't,'' she observes. ``It doesn't matter if a cat is black or white as long as it catches mice.'' (Nov.)&newline;&newline;Library Journal&newline;Make no bones about it, when a skeleton is discovered at Monticello, famed feline sleuth Mrs. Murphy (Rest in Pieces, Bantam, 1992) will find the murderer.&newline;&newline;BookList&newline;Cheers for the return of tiger cat Mrs. Murphy and corgi Tee Tucker, back to help Mary Minor &doublequote;Harry&doublequote; Haristeen, postmistress of Crozet, Virginia, solve a nearly 200-year-old mystery. It begins with a skeleton discovered in a slave cabin during restorations at Monticello--and continues with the present-day murder of Kimball Haynes, head of archaeology there, who has discovered secrets of miscegenation recorded in a doctor's long-hidden journals. The author and her cat coauthor, Sneaky Pie, use the same approach here as in their two earlier books, &doublequote;Wish You Were Here&doublequote; (1990) and &doublequote;Rest in Pieces&doublequote; (1992), with human characters discussing such subjects as slavery and the complexities of race relations while the animals comment, in italics, on the behavior of the humans. Not for everyone (some readers may bog down in Thomas Jefferson's family history and the genealogical detail) but an entertaining treat for animal-loving mystery/history fans. 3.5 Stars
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Burke, James Lee Black Cherry Blues: A Dave Robicheaux Novel
Avon December 1, 1990 0380712040 / 9780380712045 Mass Market Paperback
From the Publisher&newline;&newline;&newline;Ex-cop Dave Robicheaux: His wife had been murdered ... Now they're after his little girl...&newline;&newline;From the Louisiana bayou to Montana's tribal lands,he's running front the bottle, a homicide rap, aprofessional killer ... and the demons of his past.&newline;&newline;San Jose Mercury News&newline;Pulsating Adventure.&newline;&newline;Detroit Free Press&newline;Wonderful writing...Don't miss this book. It's one of the years best.&newline;&newline;Library Journal&newline;Burke brings back Dave Robicheaux in this gripping sequel to Heaven's Prisoners ( LJ 4/1/88). Dave, a former homicide cop, is trying to run his fishing business, care for six-year-old-orphan Alafair, and come to terms with the violent death of his wife, Annie. A chance encounter with an old friend haunted by a troubling secret sets off a chain of events that leaves Dave framed for murder. Desperate to prove his innocence and protect Alafair, Robicheaux is forced to conduct his own investigation. Robicheaux is a complex and very believable character, battling alcoholism, haunted by his wife's death, struggling to hold onto his Catholic faith. Surrounded by violence, he is a man of integrity trying to find an honorable way out. As such he should appeal to fans of Travis McGee and readers of well-crafted suspense. Skillfully evoked settings add to the book's appeal. Highly recommended.-- Beth Ann Mills, New Rochelle P.L., N.Y.&newline;&newline;Jonathan Yardley&newline;Burke is off on a chase that is at once engrossing and...convincing.-- Washington Post&newline;&newline;Lewis Beale&newline;Burke's writing crackles with style and authority.-- New York Daily News 4.0 Stars
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Cannell, Stephen J. White Sister
St. Martin's Paperbacks June 26, 2007 0312347367 / 9780312347369 Mass Market Paperback
Editorial Reviews&newline;&newline;From Publishers Weekly&newline;With his frenetic fifth Shane Scully novel, bestseller Cannell (Cold Hit) dishes out the action in forklift-sized servings. Casting aside the rules like never before, LAPD detective Scully conducts his own seek-and-destroy mission after his wife, fellow cop Alexa, is found shot in the head. As Alexa clings to life, Scully's efforts to track down her attacker lead him into the violent, vengeful world of rap music, lorded over by two of its most feared executives, Lou Maluga and his wife, Stacy, known in the trade as &doublequote;the white sister.&doublequote; Without pause to sleep or eat, Scully fights and claws his way along, burning friends, violating laws, using his charm as well as his fists before coming face to face with his enemy in Las Vegas. Cannell's hard-boiled, if at times over-rehearsed prose is well suited to his subject matter, though some readers may have trouble with his hero's tendency to suddenly shift character from tough guy to touchy-feely 21st-century man. (Aug.)&newline;Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.&newline;&newline;Review&newline; &doublequote;A strong piece of fiction that leads readers...through the harrowing underbelly of L.A. &doublequote;&newline;-Daily News&newline;&newline;&doublequote;A very satisfying thriller written by a born entertainer.&doublequote;&newline;-New York Post &doublequote;A terrific read.&doublequote;-New York Sun&newline;&doublequote;Cannell dishes out the action in forklift-sized servings.&doublequote;-Publishers Weekly &doublequote;One of the hallmarks of Cannell's writing is his ability to have characters who speak as real people would...&doublequote;-Sunday Journal (Albuquerque, NM) 4.0 Stars
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Carr, Caleb The Angel of Darkness
Ballantine Books May 27, 1998 0345427637 / 9780345427632 Mass Market Paperback
From the Publisher&newline;&newline;&newline;In one of the most critically acclaimed novels of the year, Caleb Carr- bestselling author of The Alienist-pits Dr. Laszlo Kreizler and his colleagues against a murderer as evil as the darkest night. . . .&newline;&newline;Over My Dead Body.com - J. Ashley&newline;...I realized why Carr makes the bestseller lists.....[W]hat I got was a darned good read....The book moves swiftly, and pages turn before you know it. The main characters are lively and energetic, and their energy rubs off on the rest of the story, which is mainly a police procedural, a courtroom drama, and a frantic investigation all rolled into one....If you're afraid of flying, read this on your next flight, and you won't even notice you're in the air.&newline;&newline;Publishers Weekly&newline;The multitudes who enjoyed The Alienist are in for a surprise when they open this comfortable sequel to that mega-seller. Gone is the crisp, educated narration of New York Times reporter James Moore, replaced by the hotter, more ragged tones of former street urchin Stevie, a relatively minor figure in the first novel. That's a bold move on Carr's part. Conan Doyle never replaced Watson, but not too bold, as it cuts staleness. Otherwise, the novel retreads its predecessor's prowl through Olde New York and resurrects its catchy crime-busting crew of alienist Laszlo Kreizler and his carefully typecast assistants, as well as a flurry of historical figures (Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Teddy Roosevelt, et al.) whose appearances again blend into the action like stones into cake batter. Why tinker with success? Carr doesn't really, though for variety's sake he takes Kreizler and company upstate for a spell as they gather evidence against the monstrous Libby Hatch, a serial killer whose kidnapping of an infant gets Kreizler on her trail and smack up against society's sentiments about the sanctity of women. Carr also offers some courtroom dramatics as Libby is put on trial, defended by Clarence Darrow. Like The Alienist, this is a talky thriller, paced less by its bursts of violence (culminating in the U.S. Navy invading Greenwich Village) than by its broodings; psychological, moral, legal, about the roots of evil. To experience it is to plunge into a meticulously reconstructed past where ideas count and where the principals take their time exploring them. Just so, readers will want to take their time exploring Carr's cleverly crafted sequel, a novel whose myriad pleasures exude the essence of intelligent leisure reading.&newline;&newline;Library Journal&newline;Boyd Gaines skillfully delivers a wide range of voices and characterizations in narrating this potboiler (LJ 10/15/97), the sequel to Carr's The Alienist. The time is June 1897. The place is New York City. The story is narrated by 13-year-old, streetwise Stevie Taggart, who is a member of a team of detecting irregulars. The kidnapping of an 18-month-old child sets the story in motion. The ongoing investigation uncovers a sociopath named Libby Hatch, who is a suspect in the deaths of a frightening number of children, including her own. Using the relatively new fields of forensics and psychoanalysis, and calling on the assistance of some well-known &doublequote;names&doublequote; (Teddy Roosevelt, Franz Boaz, Cornelius Vanderbuilt), the team runs Libby Hatch to earth. But where is the child she recently abducted? The clever zigzags of this thriller finally answer this question. Well recommended. &newline;&newline;--Joanna Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Sch. of Continuing Education, Providence&newline;&newline;Over My Dead Body.com - J. Ashley&newline;...I realized why Carr makes the bestseller lists.....[W]hat I got was a darned good read....The book moves swiftly, and pages turn before you know it. The main characters are lively and energetic, and their energy rubs off on the rest of the story, which is mainly a police procedural, a courtroom drama, and a frantic investigation all rolled into one....If you're afraid of flying, read this on your next flight, and you won't even notice you're in the air.&newline;&newline;Time&newline;Fascinating....Good Courtroom Drama...In a brilliant bit of historical casting, Clarence Darrow, a rising courtroom wizard from C 4.0 Stars
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Carr, Caleb The Angel of Darkness
Ballantine Books May 27, 1998 0345427637 / 9780345427632 Mass Market Paperback
Editorial Reviews&newline;&newline;From Library Journal&newline;Boyd Gaines skillfully delivers a wide range of voices and characterizations in narrating this potboiler (LJ 10/15/97), the sequel to Carr's The Alienist. The time is June 1897. The place is New York City. The story is narrated by 13-year-old, streetwise Stevie Taggart, who is a member of a team of detecting irregulars. The kidnapping of an 18-month-old child sets the story in motion. The ongoing investigation uncovers a sociopath named Libby Hatch, who is a suspect in the deaths of a frightening number of children, including her own. Using the relatively new fields of forensics and psychoanalysis, and calling on the assistance of some well-known &doublequote;names&doublequote; (Teddy Roosevelt, Franz Boaz, Cornelius Vanderbuilt), the team runs Libby Hatch to earth. But where is the child she recently abducted? The clever zigzags of this thriller finally answer this question. Well recommended.?Joanna Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Sch. of Continuing Education, Providence&newline;Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.&newline;&newline;From Kirkus Reviews&newline;An absorbing if overlong sequel to Carr's popular 1994 thriller, The Alienist. As in that novel, the figures of ``alienist'' (i.e., psychologist) Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, investigative journalist John Schuyler Moore, and Kreizler's assistant Stevie ``Stevepipe'' Taggert (who tells the story) figure prominently in the investigation of a peculiarly dastardly crime. The year is 1897, and Carr's plot is initiated by the kidnapping of a Spanish diplomat's baby--then thickens, quite pleasurably, as suspicion falls on Elspeth Hunter, a malevolent nurse who is actually Libby Hatch, a malevolent gang moll and the suspected murderess of her own children. The pursuit, capture, and attempted conviction of Libby involve such notable historical figures as painter Albert Pinkham Ryder, women's-rights crusader Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Libby's defense attorney Clarence Darrow (who dominates a fascinating extended courtroom scene), and (back also from The Alienist) New York City Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt, who commandeers the US Navy to aid in the story's climactic pursuit. Carr overloads his tale with digressive comments on ever-worsening political relations between the US and Cuba (though one can argue such passages' relevance to the novel's initial mystery), and disastrously slows down the otherwise absorbing courtroom scenes by including needless detailed summaries of cases of child murder offered as precedents. But these are minor blemishes. Carr has learned to plot since The Alienist, and this novel usually moves at a satisfyingly rapid pace. The ambiance is convincingly thick and period-flavorful, the murderous details satisfyingly gruesome, and even the somewhat shaky central ethical question--whether ``a woman's murdering her own kids . . . could actually be looked at as her trying to gain control over her life and her world''--is quite convincingly presented. As for the nefarious Libby--presented, with perfect appropriateness, only as others see and hear her--she rivals Lydia Gwilt of Wilkie Collins's Armadale as the pluperfect villainess, and the centerpiece of an enormously entertaining and satisfying reading experience. (Author tour) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. 4.0 Stars
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Caunitz, William J. Chains of Command
Onyx May 1, 2000 0451409183 / 9780451409188 Paperback
Editorial Reviews&newline;&newline;From Publishers Weekly&newline;New York City cops fight corruption and murder while drug rings battle one another in this stellar, labyrinthine police procedural from the bestselling Caunitz (One Police Plaza). The shooting of Officer Johnny Rodriguez, a corrupt street cop in the mainly Hispanic neighborhood of Washington Heights who doubled as a spy for Internal Affairs, threatens the future career of Deputy Police Commissioner Suzanne Albrecht, to whom he reported. Albrecht wants to be New York's first female commissioner, and a scandal around her informants could quash her chances. So Suzanne transfers her old flame Lt. Matt Stuart (familiar from Caunitz's previous novels) out of his post in Intelligence, setting him up as the new head of Washington Heights' 37th Precinct, and charging him to investigate Johnny's death. The obvious suspect is local drug lord Tio Paco, but Stuart discovers a dirtier cop with a vengeful agenda, and a deadly female shooter on the Italian mob's payroll. Info from Matt's undercover sources, and some timely wiretaps, hint at a bigger story. Colombia's Cali cartel and the Russian mafiyah have jointly controlled the supply of drugs to Washington Heights' Dominican bosses and largely black street pushers. But now the Italians and the Chinese tong gangs are teaming up to try to displace the Russians and Colombians. Bodies pile up, secrets accumulate and power shifts and shifts again as Matt and his crew join forces with the Intelligence division to find major corruption in the police and intrigue among the drug dealers. The narrative lures the reader down one bloody path and onto another, dropping just enough clues to keep the big secrets till the end. Once again, Caunitz, himself an NYPD officer for 30 years, combines suspense with details about the milieu he knows: here, however, greater power is accorded to women, both within the NYPD and in the ranks of the drug dealers. All five city boroughs, along with Long Island, play roles in the novel; all the locations are crisply rendered, and the busy characters sharply drawn. The narrative pace never fails, and a perfect ending provides justice for all without a maudlin note. (Sept.) FYI: Caunitz died in 1996, leaving half of the manuscript for this novel. It was completed by his long-time friend Christopher Newman.&newline;Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.&newline;&newline;From Library Journal&newline;Caunitz, a 30-year veteran of the NYPD and author of six best-selling novels, wrote half of this novel before his death in 1996, leaving friend Christopher Newman (creator of the popular Joe Dante series) to complete it. The book begins with the murder of a cop (with $5000 in his pocket) and his mistress (who has ties to the Cali drug cartel) in Washington Heights. Their deaths signal serious trouble for First Deputy Police Commissioner Suzanne Albrecht, who is in line to become the next commissioner and is worried that a scandal in the Heights will ruin her chances. So she enlists the aid of Matt Stuart, a lieutenant in the NYPD's intelligence division. When two street dealers are murdered, threatening to set off a territorial battle over the area's drug market, Albrecht and Stuart must act fast to avert a blood bath and save a political career. Caunitz is known for his thoughtful writing and accurate portrayal of procedure and police personnel, and his talents are displayed here to great effect. Readers everywhere will miss him. For all libraries.AJo Ann Vicarel, Cleveland Heights-University Heights P.L., OH&newline;Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. 3.0 Stars
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17 |
Chappell, Helen Dead Duck
Fawcett June 29, 1997 0449150011 / 9780449150016 Mass Market Paperback
Editorial Reviews&newline;&newline;Product Description&newline;JUDGE FINDLAY S. FISH NEVER KNEW WHAT HIT HIM. . . .&newline;&newline;The murder weapon was an expensive antique snow goose decoy--a treasure that a zillion others at the Eastern Shore Decoy Jamboree would gladly kill for.&newline;&newline;Reporter Hollis Ball of The Watertown Gazette wasn't too crazy about Judge Fish, who recently gave a convicted wife murderer a light sentence. But Hollis is certain that her old schoolmate didn't bash the judge, as the police suspect.&newline;&newline;So she lets her dead ex-husband--that charming ghost Sam Wescott--suck her into finding the real killer. When they succeed, Hollis will have the story of her life . . . if she lives to write about it.&newline;&newline;From the Inside Flap&newline;JUDGE FINDLAY S. FISH NEVER KNEW WHAT HIT HIM. . . .&newline;&newline;The murder weapon was an expensive antique snow goose decoy--a treasure that a zillion others at the Eastern Shore Decoy Jamboree would gladly kill for.&newline;&newline;Reporter Hollis Ball of The Watertown Gazette wasn't too crazy about Judge Fish, who recently gave a convicted wife murderer a light sentence. But Hollis is certain that her old schoolmate didn't bash the judge, as the police suspect.&newline;&newline;So she lets her dead ex-husband--that charming ghost Sam Wescott--suck her into finding the real killer. When they succeed, Hollis will have the story of her life . . . if she lives to write about it. 3.5 Stars
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18 |
Child, Lee Running Blind
New York Putnam Adult July 13, 2000 0399146237 / 9780399146237 Hardcover
From the Publisher&newline;&newline;&newline;Across the country women are being murdered by a killer who leaves no evidence, no wounds, no signs of struggle, and no clues to a motive. They are perfect crimes. In fact, only one thing links each victim: they all knew Jack Reacher.&newline;&newline;Publishers Weekly&newline;Jack Reacher, the wandering folk hero of Child's superb line of thrillers (Tripwire, etc.), faces a baffling puzzle in his latest adventure: who is the exceptionally crafty villain murdering women across the country, leaving the naked bodies in their bathtubs (which are filled with army camouflage green paint), escaping the scenes and leaving no trace of evidence? The corpses show no cause of death and Reacher's sole clue is that all the victims thus far were sexually harassed while serving in the military. There's got to be some sort of grand scheme behind the killings, but with no physical evidence, FBI agents bumble around until they finally question Reacher, a former military cop who handled each of the dead women's harassment cases. After Reacher convinces investigators he's innocent, they--curiously--ask him to stay on as a case consultant. Reacher doesn't like the idea--he's too much of a lone wolf--but he has little choice. The feds threaten him and his girlfriend, high-powered Manhattan attorney Jodie Jacob, with all sorts of legal entanglements if he doesn't help. So Reacher joins the FBI team and immediately attacks the feds' approach, which is based solely on profiling. Then he breaks out on his own, pursuing enigmatic theories and hunches that lead him to a showdown with a truly surprising killer in a tiny village outside Portland, Ore. Some of the concluding elements to Child's fourth Reacher outing--how the killer gains access to the victims' homes, as well as the revelation of the elaborate MO--fall into place with disappointing convenience. Yet the book harbors two elements that separate it from the pack: a brain-teasing puzzle that gets put together piece by fascinating piece, and a central character with Robin Hood-like integrity and an engagingly eccentric approach to life. (Aug.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|&newline;&newline;Library Journal&newline;Child's Jack Reacher series has improved with each successive book, of which this is the fourth (following Tripwire). A serial murderer is on the loose, killing women across the country in the same bizarre fashion: there are no fatal wounds on the corpse and no evidence or clues. Other than the killer's unknown method, the only thread tying the victims together is that they have all served in the military--and they all knew Reacher. What is the motive? What is the murder weapon and manner of death? How does the killer gain entrance to the heavily secured homes of these fearful and suspicious women? Why is each corpse immersed in a tub full of paint? Reacher, the archetypal loner/wanderer, seems more domesticated here, although he fights powerfully against it. With numerous plot twists and turns, Child puts Reacher through his paces brilliantly, arriving at an unusual solution. Highly recommended for all public libraries. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/00].--Fred M. Gervat, Concordia Coll. Lib., Bronxville, NY Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\u005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu005cu000a&newline;Kirkus Reviews&newline;Soldier-turned-soldier-of-fortune Jack Reacher goes after a serial killer in a conventionally but nonetheless deeply satisfying whodunit. In today's armed services, you lose even when you win-at least if you're a woman who files a sexual harassment complaint. Amy Callan and Caroline Cooke were both successful in their suits, which ended the careers of their alleged harassers. But Callan and Cooke ended up leaving the service themselves, and now they're both dead, murdered by a diabolical perp who keeps leaving behind the same crime sc 3.5 Stars
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Clark, Carol Higgins Jinxed
New York Scribner August 27, 2002 0743205820 / 9780743205825 Hardcover
From Barnes & Noble&newline;Private investigator Regan Reilly is back, just settling into her L.A. office routines when a weird assignment comes her way. A promising young Hollywood star has been kidnapped, and associates want Regan to solve the disappearance with as little publicity as possible. Regan's somewhat unconventional gumshoe work takes her into glitzy Tinseltown gatherings, upscale vineyards, and new age cult hangouts. Fast, funny, and very good reading.&newline;&newline;From the Publisher&newline;&newline;&newline;The New York Times bestseller that Nelson DeMille said &doublequote;will keep...readers entranced and entertained from cover to cover.&doublequote;&newline;&newline;Savvy young Los Angeles P.I. Regan Reilly faces an unusual challenge when she gets an urgent call from Lilac Weldon, owner - with her two hippie brothers - of the run-down California winery Altered States. Lilac asks Regan to find her actress daughter, Whitney, AKA &doublequote;Freshness,&doublequote; in time to attend the wedding of Lilac's wealthy aunt Lucretia Standish, a 93-year-old silent-film star. The Weldons have learned from a secret source that each family member will receive a gift of $2 million from Lucretia - but only if they all attend.&newline;&newline;Lucretia's bridegroom, a 46-year-old con man and former actor, knows he must keep Whitney away; they have met before and she is wise to his game. How Regan foils his plot makes for an exciting climax to this comic suspense novel, filled with Carol Higgins Clark's inimitable characters.&newline;&newline;Publishers Weekly&newline;Clark's sixth rollicking mystery featuring L.A. PI Regan Reilly (Fleeced, etc.) boasts a wonderful cast: Lucretia Standish, a wealthy 96-year-old former silent-film star (who claims to be 93); Lucretia's sneaky, fortune-hunting fianc , 40-ish Edward Fields; as well as the old lady's late (fifth) husband's family, a clutch of superannuated hippies who manage Altered States, a winery/hotel near Santa Barbara. Regan must track down a missing young actress and scion of Lucretia's late husband's family, Whitney Weldon, aka &doublequote;Freshness Lilac,&doublequote; the name her hippie mother gave her. Adding to the fanciful mix are 21 tattooed bikers who have made Lucretia their pet; Regan's mother, who, like the author's own, is a successful novelist; television and movie people; and a host of other amusing California types. The redoubtable Lucretia made $60 million by being smart enough to dump some dot.com stock that Edward had foisted on her, but she's not smart enough to see through his schemes as their wedding day approaches. She drags him to Altered States to meet her eccentric family in her brand-new Rolls Royce, escorted by her idolizing bikers. It's up to Regan to sort everything out, and thanks to the transcontinental e-mail aid of her sweetheart, Jack &doublequote;no relation&doublequote; Reilly, she's more than equal to the task. As usual, Clark provides plenty of fast-paced fun, with all the substance of a soap bubble, and best of all, nobody gets hurt. (Aug. 27) FYI: Clark has coauthored two novels with her mother, Mary Higgins Clark, He Sees You When You're Sleeping and Deck the Halls. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.&newline;&newline;New York Daily News&newline;&newline;&newline;&doublequote;Clark pours a Zinfandel that's light and fruity and perfect with cheese.&doublequote;&newline;&newline;&newline;School Library Journal&newline;Adult/High School-A fun detective romp set in California wine country. Regan, a private investigator, must find Whitney, an actress, before her great-aunt Lucretia's wedding as Whitney's family, former hippies running the Altered States Bed & Breakfast and Meditation Center, will receive a fortune if everyone attends. Lucretia, an aging silent-film star, inherited a fortune and then made more money in a dot-com enterprise. Of course, the groom and his cronies are criminals out to thwart the family attendance by kidnapping Whitney so that they will receive more money. Add to this framework a motorcycle gang, two friends in their 90s, buried treasure, news coverage, and wildfires for an exciting mystery. The story moves quickly with snappy dialogue and short chapters. Locales change frequently until the conclusion with everyone on location at the B & B.-Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High Schoo 3.0 Stars
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Clark, Johnnie M. Guns Up!
Ballantine Books June 12, 1984 0345315073 / 9780345315076 Mass Market Paperback
From the Publisher&newline;THIS GUT-WRENCHING FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF THE WAR IS A CLASSIC IN THE ANNALS OF VIETNAM LITERATURE.&newline;&newline;&doublequote;Guns up!&doublequote; was the battle cry that sent machine gunners racing forward with their M60s to mow down the enemy, hoping that this wasn't the day they would meet their deaths. Marine Johnnie Clark heard that the life expectancy of a machine gunner in Vietnam was seven to ten seconds after a firefight began. Johnnie was only eighteen when he got there, at the height of the bloody Tet Offensive at Hue, and he quickly realized the grim statistic held a chilling truth.&newline;&newline;The Marines who fought and bled and died were ordinary men, many still teenagers, but the selfless bravery they showed day after day in a nightmarish jungle war made them true heroes. This new edition of Guns Up!, filled with photographs and updated information about those harrowing battles, also contains the real names of these extraordinary warriors and details of their lives after the war. The book's continuing success is a tribute to the raw courage and sacrifice of the United States Marines. 5.0 Stars
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